Transcript Highlights:

• You'd be surprised at how many vehicles don't have the sticker on their license plate.
• of the time is that when they pull a vehicle over for whatever reason, they still run your license plate
• of the time is that when they pull a vehicle over for whatever reason, they still run your license plate
• From the best that I can tell is that they already run the plate and they recognize that the information
• that they need is already coming from running a plate, getting all that information on that vehicle

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 533, which would eliminate the vehicle registration sticker program. The sponsor said the stickers are often unreadable or obscured, law enforcement already runs plates during stops, and the change would save the Idaho Transportation Department an estimated $300,000 while keeping the agency neutral. Senators asked about other states that have ended sticker programs and the original purpose of the stickers; the sponsor said the visual color system was once used to identify expired registrations, but that is no longer effective. The committee moved the bill to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation, and the motion carried. The committee also introduced RS 33330, sponsored by Senator Hart, to clarify what constitutes a valid right-of-way and highway. Hart described a recent Shoshone County dispute involving an old, incomplete road process and a vague legal description that led to litigation over access across private property. The proposal would require a record, survey, and public hearing process, and would make clear that counties or highway districts are not obligated to maintain every public right-of-way. The motion to introduce the RS passed. Members then received an update from the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (ELTAC). The administrator reviewed the agency’s role serving cities, counties, and highway districts through training, technical assistance, and administration of federal and state transportation programs. She highlighted federal aid projects, the T2 training center, grant-writing assistance, the Children Pedestrian Safety Program, and the Leading Idaho Local Bridge Program, noting major investments, completed bridge projects, and the use of state funds to accelerate repairs and reduce local taxpayer burden. The committee asked about ELTAC’s coordination with ITD and how local governments seek funding help. Finally, the committee approved the February 10, 2026 minutes and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you're saying there's enough people at the plate that they're going to eat that?
• Point 240, reinvestment veterans reinvestment, that was the Senate. The Senate.
• Veterans home at the bottom of the page, 240, we ended up at the Senate on that one.
• The top four are Senate, the first four are Senate. 10, 9.30, one-time transfer from veterans, if you

Committee: House Conference Committee on Budget

Summary: The conference committee spent most of the meeting working through House Bill 2, the education budget, with repeated debate over how to close the remaining gap in the foundation formula. Members discussed fund swaps involving the blind pension fund, capital commission fund, lottery proceeds, state school money, and classroom trust funds, with several senators arguing the committee should fully fund the formula if possible and warning against leaving schools with a shortfall. The committee also reviewed child care subsidies, Parents as Teachers language, school safety and assessment-related items, Title I reallocation language, and a compromise on flexibility percentages for certain education lines. Several members raised concerns about language restricting virtual Parents as Teachers visits and about child care subsidy language tied to enrollment-based payment and prospective payment, while others defended the compromise as a way to balance provider concerns and budget limits. House Bill 3, covering higher education, was also reviewed. The committee largely accepted Senate positions on appropriations, with a compromise on the St. Louis Community College nursing program and a new proposal directing the Department of Higher Education to develop a new funding model by December 1, 2026. That language drew concern from some members, who said the timeline was too aggressive and asked for more flexibility, but supporters said prior work on performance funding justified the deadline. The committee then moved through House Bill 2004, transportation, agreeing to a mix of Senate positions and compromises on items such as safety operations, low-volume roads, port funding, and road improvements, including a larger-than-expected appropriation for Clarendon Road tied to a State Fair relocation plan. House Bill 5, general administration and IT, generated the most controversy over new language directing a plan for state IT modernization and cloud migration; several members objected that it was too prescriptive, resembled a resolution, and could favor a specific vendor, but the chair said the goal was accountability and oversight. The committee left some House Bill 5 items open for further negotiation, then later returned to finalize several dollar amounts and a shorter conference proposal on the IT language. The committee also worked through House Bills 7, 8, and 9, mostly adopting Senate positions with a few compromises. House Bill 7 covered economic development and tourism items, including Main Street, Missouri One Start, broadband, Juneteenth, and the Great American State Fair, with some items set aside for later or moved to other bills. House Bill 8 focused on public safety and veterans’ funding, including school safety apps, fentanyl testing, crime lab workload, DNA testing, veterans’ programs, and Highway Patrol fleet and fuel items; members debated whether to keep fleet and fuel funding separated or rolled together, and several items were set at compromise levels. House Bill 9, covering mental health and corrections, was handled more briefly, with most items following Senate positions and a few compromises, including probation and parole funding and a reduction on one appropriation. The committee then recessed and later resumed with House Bill 2010, beginning work on another budget bill with a mix of Senate, House, and compromise positions on early line items, but the transcript cuts off before that bill is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• You cannot add dispatching duties to a counselor's plate without funding.
• actually oversee correctional health, behavioral health, public health, our FQHC lookalike, EMS, veteran
• I'm here for our relatives, our children, our parents, our veterans, our young people, and our friends
• I'm here from our relatives, our children, our parents, our veterans, our young people, and our friends
• Recent topics have included veterans' suicide prevention messaging and suicide prevention for boys and

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the North Shore near Covington bears his name, continuing his legacy within the local Marine and veteran
• Fire and police civil service provides relative to points awarded to veterans in competitive fire and
• Fire and Police Civil Service provides relative to points awarded to veterans in competitive fire and
• Under current law, veterans receive five points on the fire and police civil service exam if they served
• So to clean it up a little bit, what this does is update it and allow any veteran who has served at least

Bills: HR153 , HR154 , HR155 , HR156 , HR157 , HR158 , HCR57 , HCR58 , HCR59 , HR133 , HR134 , HR135 , HR136 , HR137 , HR138 , HR139 , HR140 , HR141 , HR142 , HR144 , HR145 , HR146 , HR147 , HR148 , HR149 , HR150 , HR151 , HR152 , SCR28 , SB141 , SB169 , SB206 , SB233 , SB417 , SB421 , SB429 , SB437 , SB477 , SB510 , SB521 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HB55 , HB385 , HB394 , HB396 , HB406 , HB608 , HB622 , HB676 , HB772 , HB897 , HB902 , HB943 , HB1030 , HB1035 , HB1038 , HB1045 , HB1049 , HB1056 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1092 , HB1100 , HB1117 , HB1160 , HB1161 , HB1162 , HB1177 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB1216 , HB1239 , HB1240 , SB127 , HB284 , HB1 , HB2 , HB3 , HB312 , HB313 , HB383 , HB314 , HCR3 , HB983 , HB1126 , HB21 , HB24 , HB29 , HB31 , HB39 , HB45 , HB77 , HB136 , HB150 , HB263 , HB273 , HB299 , HB315 , HB376 , HB377 , HB431 , HB444 , HB450 , HB519 , HB533 , HB538 , HB559 , HB562 , HB663 , HB664 , HB715 , HB717 , HB805 , HB822 , HB823 , HB834 , HB864 , HB867 , HB1017 , HB1018 , HB1068 , HB1134 , HB1137 , HB1234 , HB1235 , HB1236 , HB211 , HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB241 , HB244 , HB306 , HB345 , HB366 , HB446 , HB511 , HB514 , HB655 , HB730 , HB743 , HB1027 , HB1037 , HB1043 , HB1082 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1230 , HB1237 , HB1238 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , HB401 , HB51 , HB58 , HB140 , HB982 , HB1010 , HB132 , HB193 , HB635 , HB690 , HB1003 , HB750 , HB911 , HB151 , HB180 , HB192 , HB310 , HB961 , HB1146 , HB977 , HB181 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB9 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB615 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1113

Keywords: commendation, robotics, high school, competition, education, Tomato Festival, community celebration, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, fundraising, local heritage, Holocaust, remembrance, Yom HaShoah, Jewish history, condolences, community service, law enforcement, legacy, Shreveport, D.A.R.E. Program

Transcript Highlights:

• Even the veterans aren't paying attention. We've moved into sophomore hazing now.
• 24-hour posting rule in accordance with Senate Rules 11.10 and 11.18, so the Senate Committee on Veteran
• cemeteries, to Veteran Affairs.
• , to Veteran Affairs.
• Senate Bill 2705 by Hagenbuch, relating to fees for the issuance of certain specialty license plates,

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, and adopted the previous day’s journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with remarks highlighting UTRGV’s growth, degree production, research expansion, medical school, and role in serving the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. The chamber also recognized the doctor of the day and adopted additional resolutions, including one for Denton County Days at the Capitol and another recognizing Texas HBCU Day. The Senate gave extensive recognition to outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp through Senate Resolution 368. Senators from both parties praised his long public career, leadership of the A&M System, support for regional universities, and bipartisan approach. The resolution was adopted after multiple members added their names. The chamber also heard from advocates with the Texas Streets Coalition, and received gubernatorial nominations for the State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. On legislation, the Senate passed several major bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to address teacher vacancies, bilingual certification testing, paid leave options, classroom removals, and appeal rights, then passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment on parents’ right to direct a child’s education, advanced on a 22-9 vote. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, aimed at preventing foreign influence and intellectual property theft at public institutions of higher education, passed unanimously. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the business entities bill, also passed after debate over corporate governance and shareholder protections. Senate Bill 857, authorizing law enforcement to tow certain vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed despite some concern about towing abuses during disasters. The Senate also took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536 on dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, but the transcript ends as that bill is being laid out.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 236, I think that's the number, is a a very simple license plate bill.
• And it is unlike every other license plate bill.
• But unfortunately, the motorcycle community, who is very eager to adopt and put this license plate on
• their bikes, is not able to because the MVD cannot create the motorcycle size plate, which will look
• If we pass and adopt this bill, so all this bill is doing is allowing for this size license plate. and

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• This amendment deletes lines 132 through 147, referencing the first responder resiliency license plate
• Florida currently has a salute firefighters specialty license plate, the proceeds of which benefit the
• , the license plate number and validation sticker.
• bottom of the license plate as long as law enforcement can identify the state issuing the plate.
• State issuing the plate. That's the amendment. Are there questions of the sponsor?

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• at no Blue Star family specialty license plates to be made available at no charge to the parent, child
• President, when those license plates are affixed to the vehicles of those who have suffered the loss
• President, when those license plates are affixed to the vehicles of those who have suffered the loss
• And we honor the individuals whose life was lost so that that plate could be issued.
• Whose life was lost so that that plate could be issued and attached to that motor vehicle. Mr.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a campaign finance and ballot question transparency bill, taking up a series of amendments. Several amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on safety-based redactions, standardized valuation/liability reporting, higher contribution limits, municipal ballot question reporting, tax-exempt entities in ballot campaigns, and post-election audits for all statewide elections. Amendments by Senators Rausch and DiDomenico were adopted, including late contribution reporting and retroactive reporting with an emergency preamble. Senator Feingold’s amendment to prohibit pay-per-signature arrangements for petition gathering was also adopted after a roll call vote. The bill, Senate No. 2898, An Act improving campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees, was then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The Senate next took up Senate No. 2903, An Act honoring Blue Star families, which would provide specialty license plates at no charge to the parent, child, or spouse of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Senators spoke in support, emphasizing the sacrifice of officers and their families, including the recent funeral of Officer Stephen LaPorteur. The bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The chamber also approved several committee extension orders. These extended deadlines for the Committees on Aging and Independence, Education, Public Service, and Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, with members noting the limited number of bills and the need for additional time to complete review, cost analysis, or respond to commission reports. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., dispensed with printing a calendar, and adjourned in memory of Stuart H. Altman.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we'll move on to Tab 10 by Senator Jones: license plates for Miami Northwestern Alumni Association
• So this bill is one we did last year, and this just proposes a new license plate for Miami Northwestern
• This bill is one we did last year, and this just proposes a new license plate for Miami Northwestern
• Congratulations, and another new license plate. All right, any senator...
• Congratulations, and another new license plate.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard and advanced several measures. SB 654 on traffic infraction enforcement was presented as a comprehensive cleanup of camera-based enforcement for red lights, school zones, and school bus violations. The sponsor said the bill aims to improve consistency, transparency, privacy limits, and due process, including clerk fee retention, virtual hearings, recordkeeping, limits on data use, school district approval for bus cameras, and reporting requirements. An amendment clarifying reporting and liability-transfer procedures was adopted without objection. Members raised questions about information sharing, facial recognition, school-zone flashing lights, private school buses, and bus stop safety; the sponsor said those issues were either already covered in statute or outside the bill’s scope, though he was open to future clarification. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 1080, which received a delete-all amendment concerning FDOT direct payments to first-tier subcontractors and takeover agreements with sureties. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. A block of appointments to various boards was then considered together and reported favorably after a single confirmation vote. Later, SB 382 on electric bicycles and scooters was substantially revised with a strike-all amendment. The new version keeps pedestrian-yield and audible-signal rules, adds a 10-mph limit when pedestrians are within 50 feet, creates an e-bike task force, and requires crash data collection and reporting. Members discussed whether the speed rule applies to shared-use paths, how it would be enforced, whether licensing or speedometers should be required, and whether the bill could create barriers for seniors or others who rely on e-bikes. Supporters emphasized safety, data collection, and the need for stakeholder input; the bill was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 684, which allows electronic signatures in connection with total-loss vehicles and vessels, and SB 880, creating a Miami Northwestern Alumni Association specialty license plate. The meeting ended after all bills and appointments were approved and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• at no Blue Star Family specialty license plates to be made available at no charge to the parent, child
• President, when those license plates are affixed to the vehicles of those who have suffered the loss
• President, when those license plates are affixed to the vehicles of those who have suffered the loss
• And we honor the individuals whose life was lost so that that plate could be issued. whose life was lost
• so that that plate could be issued and attached to that motor vehicle.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:42:32.160><c> readers</c> and capability of license plate readers and capability of license plate
• </c> central repository for all license plate central repository for all license plate reader<00:46:59.000
• <00:47:25.560><c> readers,</c> plate readers, plate readers, those<00:47:27.040><c> added</c><00:47:27.240
• </c><00:48:25.240><c> data</c> case may require a plate data case may require a plate data from<00:48
• So, I'm very license plate data.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This amendment deletes lines 132 through 147, referencing the first responder resiliency license plate
• Florida currently has a salute firefighters specialty license plate, the proceeds of which benefit the
• , the license plate number and validation sticker.
• bottom of the license plate, as long as law enforcement can identify the state issuing the plate.
• State issuing the plate. That's the amendment. Are there questions of the sponsor?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So when you go down and we like to eat steak in Oklahoma and when we sit down to a plate of steak right
• I believe that was off a plate, whatever the plate says on the maximum load, and I believe there's been
• a ruling that says we can't use the plate load; that it has to be actual load.
• there has to be actual load. to reach the actual megawatt in a two-year period of actual load and not plate

Bills: HB3183 , HB4316 , HB4484 , HB3469 , HB3464 , HB3173 , HB3989

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: electric utilities, grid congestion, transmission technology, advanced power flow controllers, dynamic line rating, energy efficiency, rural water service, district organization, emergency legislation, Oklahoma, water management, state vehicles, state-owned vehicles, state-leased vehicles, motor vehicle use, commuting use, personal use, fleet management, Corporation Commission, field inspectors

Transcript Highlights:

• you know as of May 1st or thereabout how many illegal aliens is Minnesota government paying gold-plated
• you know as of May 1st or thereabout how many illegal aliens is Minnesota government paying gold-plated
• at those numbers, if we have over 20,000 illegal aliens today that are being paid for their gold-plated
• We shouldn't be paying for health care, the gold-plated Cadillac coverage, for dead people.
• disenrolled because they are inaccurately, wrongly, or fraudulently enrolled in our generous gold-plated

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the past decade, automated license plate recognition systems have quietly become a tool for law
• First, license plate readers are a valuable law enforcement tool.
• SB 1013 implements a maximum data retention time of 30 days for license plate reader data.
• to a hot list. ...by defining legitimate sources and reasons for license plates being added to a hot
• We want to take license plate pictures here, and if we're not...

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on AI, privacy, and surveillance. SB 903 would prohibit AI from independently providing psychotherapy or presenting itself as a licensed mental health provider, require disclosure and informed consent, and reinforce confidentiality and privacy protections for therapy records. Supporters, including a mother and therapist whose son died by suicide after extensive chats with ChatGPT, argued the bill is needed to prevent harmful, crisis-related interactions. Behavioral health groups and labor/privacy organizations supported the measure, while TechNet, the California Medical Association, and the California Hospital Association opposed unless amended, saying the bill could restrict useful clinical tools and create conflicts around triage, screening, and data use. The committee passed SB 903 4-0 to Appropriations, with members noting the need for further work on definitions and implementation. SB 1119 would create a broader framework for chatbot safety for children, including annual risk assessments, crisis response protocols, default child protections, parental controls, notice and time limits, restrictions on advertising and use of children’s data, incident reporting, audits, and a private right of action. The author and supporters again cited the death of Adam Raine as evidence that chatbots can reinforce suicidal ideation and isolate children. Common Sense Media and several labor and privacy groups supported the bill. CalChamber, TechNet, the California State Sheriffs’ Association, and other industry and local government groups opposed unless amended, raising concerns about vague standards, overlap with SB 243, prescriptive design mandates, and litigation risk. The committee approved SB 1119 4-0 to Judiciary, with amendments to be taken there. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader data by requiring DOJ audits, employee training, and a 30-day retention limit for most data. Supporters said the bill responds to documented misuse and over-retention of data that mostly belongs to innocent drivers. Law enforcement groups opposed, arguing the retention limit would hinder investigations and reduce the usefulness of ALPRs in serious or delayed cases. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 1292, a local control bill for six cities, would allow camera or sensor-based enforcement of curb and loading zones, with a human reviewing each violation before issuance. Supporters said it would help cities manage congestion and unsafe blocking of bike lanes and loading zones; privacy advocates warned about expanding automated surveillance. It passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard SB 1101, which would require higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when personal information is shared with federal agencies and limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters framed it as a transparency and anti-doxing measure in response to recent federal investigations and subpoenas; there was no opposition testimony. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The committee then began hearing SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, which would require advance notice and reporting when employers displace workers due to technology and give displaced workers priority for openings, but the transcript cuts off before the hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were the ones that were at the plate.
• meetings they were the ones at the high school you know hockey team they were the ones that were at the plate
• We lost our associate director, a 34-year veteran who helped build it from the ground up, launched our
• A local volunteer led the effort to gather personal stories of World War II through Gulf War veterans

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held its second hearing on a large docket of technology, internet, cybersecurity, broadband, and media bills. Early testimony focused on community media funding legislation, with lawmakers and local access advocates arguing that as cable subscriptions decline and streaming grows, revenue tied to cable franchises no longer supports community television and PEG programming. Supporters said community media remains a key source of local news, government meeting coverage, and civic transparency as newspapers disappear or consolidate. A related bill on cable contract oversight also drew support, with testimony that the Department of Telecommunications and Cable is backlogged and should more actively review municipal-provider agreements and report its workload to the committee. Another major topic was a proposal to create a Massachusetts Innovation Fund for state IT modernization. The Alliance for Digital Innovation backed the bill, saying agencies need flexible upfront capital to replace outdated systems and improve cybersecurity, and pointing to the federal Technology Modernization Fund as a model. The witness noted that funding for the state program still needs to be identified. The committee also heard strong support for a bill requiring free broadband in public housing, with Rep. Emmela Goodwin and MAPC describing internet access as essential for jobs, school, telehealth, and civic participation. They said the digital divide in Massachusetts is driven largely by affordability rather than infrastructure, though questions were raised about costs, wiring, and whether all housing sites already have broadband access available at the curb. A substantial portion of the hearing centered on bills to limit addictive social media feeds for minors. Supporters, including lawmakers, parents, teens, and advocacy groups, argued that algorithmic feeds contribute to addiction, anxiety, body image problems, and other harms, and said the bills would restrict surveillance-based curation and overnight notifications while leaving search and followed accounts available. Opponents, including FIRE, CCIA, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, argued the bills would require invasive age verification, threaten privacy and cybersecurity, burden adults’ anonymity, and likely face First Amendment challenges. They also warned the measures could disadvantage smaller businesses and may be unconstitutional based on recent court rulings in other states. The committee also heard support for blockchain-related bills creating a commission, a pilot program, and consumer education efforts, with testimony that Massachusetts has the talent but needs a coordinated state strategy. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• With staffing and the way it is currently, most of those shops—I'll give an example of the plate shop
• Do they make also license plates? >> Yeah. We have quite a few working in our license plate shop.
• Do they make also license plates? >> Yeah. We have quite a few working in our license plate shop.
• Do they make also license plates? >> Yeah. We have quite a few working in our license plate shop.
• We have quite a few working in our license plate shop. Our... ashtrays when I used to smoke.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The public hearing was on an SP 15 replace-all, non-germane amendment to Senate Bill 15, a proposal to require hard labor for certain serious offenses in the New Hampshire prison system. Representative Jennifer Rhodess, the co-sponsor, said the bill is intended to make incarcerated people productive, help reduce costs, and serve as a deterrent; she also noted a two-year effective date for implementation and said anyone who refuses hard labor would receive a 50% sentence increase. She framed the work as ordinary labor already done by many people in the state and said the committee would later hear related testimony and possible amendments. Committee members questioned how the proposal would work in practice, especially for people already incarcerated, the difference between current prison work and the bill’s “hard labor,” and the impact on prison security and staffing. Rhodess said the bill only applies going forward, not retroactively, and that the Department of Corrections could better address operational details. Members also discussed the terminology, noting that “capital murder” is not a current New Hampshire charge and that the relevant offense is first-degree murder with mandatory life without parole. Department of Corrections officials Jane Graham and Nicholas Duffy testified in a neutral position but raised significant implementation concerns. They said the department would need more resources, vehicles, security equipment, and possibly armed supervision for higher-risk crews, and noted a 47% corrections officer vacancy rate. Duffy described current work programs inside prisons and in the community, including correctional industries, kitchen and education jobs, transitional work crews, and community service projects such as road work and landscaping. He explained that current community crews are limited by custody level, court approval, staffing, and safety, and said C1 and C2 inmates are already in transitional or work-release settings, while C3 and higher inmates would pose greater risks if taken outside the walls. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, there was a lack of available license plates.
• produced and shipped at least five plates to each county.
• produced and shipped at least five plates to each county.
• Thank you. the plates, we uh proactively uh the plates, we uh proactively uh produced<00:28:08.799><c
• U I have a list plates to each county.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its June 3 meeting and received an opening update on transportation revenues. Leadership noted that the gas tax formula dropped 4.1 cents on July 1, reducing road fund revenue by about $125 million, and warned that city, county, rural, and secondary road funding will be affected. The chair said the committee would likely have to be selective about transportation project requests given the reduced revenue outlook. The main presentation was an update on the I-69 bridge project. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials said the project is the missing link in the Henderson-Evansville corridor and is being delivered in three sections, with Kentucky leading section two. They said section two is a $933 million project, with Kentucky’s share described as $58 million and the balance Indiana’s, and that toll revenue will be used to finance the project through a TIFIA loan and Garvey bonds. Officials said Kentucky and Indiana have executed an agreement under House Bill 546 to use tolls, are working on a broader bi-state development agreement, and will ask the General Assembly next session to carry forward $150 million in general funds without conditions and to ratify the agreement. Members asked about the timeline, toll sharing, whether tolls would sunset, and whether US 41 bridges would remain open for local traffic; officials said construction is planned for 2027, tolling would begin in 2031, toll revenue would be shared 50/50, and at least one US 41 bridge would remain open for local use. The committee then heard a combined update from the Department of Vehicle Regulation and the Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing on implementation of several recent changes. Officials reported that the new registration category for special-purpose vehicles is fully operational statewide, with all counties enrolled and 292 vehicles processed so far; they also said counties received at least five plates each and that the program is permissive, not mandatory. They described implementation of Senate Bill 43’s medical review board reforms and third-party driver’s license issuance framework, saying the medical review process has been updated and that third-party partners may eventually handle easier transactions such as renewals, name changes, and address changes, while initial issuances would remain at KYTC regional offices. They also reported that the sheriff’s inspection process has been integrated into CAVIS, reducing paperwork and fraud and improving tracking. Members asked about communication to counties and cities with differing local rules, the number of counties participating, and how to coordinate multiple policy changes; officials said all counties are enrolled, though not all have submitted applications, and that they are still finalizing the scope of third-party services.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> historic resources to expend moose plate historic resources to expend moose plate funds<00:40:50.319
• money so with that um if you moose plate money so with that um if you have<01:25:03.760><c> any</c><
• Attorney General’s office if DHR could legally use a portion of its annual Moose plate appropriation
• Yes, then there are many agencies that receive Moose plate money as a whole.
• money, partially, on administrative costs of overseeing the Moose Plate program.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up several bills in executive session, beginning with HB 568 on subdivision regulations concerning water supply. Representative Donnelly moved ITL, arguing the bill would create costly studies, that towns already have jurisdiction over needed studies, and that the issue was not widespread. The committee voted ITL 9-7. HB 582, dealing with safety requirements for personal watercraft, was also moved ITL on the grounds that existing law already covers the issue and the bill was unnecessary after recent action on personal flotation devices. Representative Derby opposed the ITL, saying the bill was a common-sense safety measure and would restore a misdemeanor penalty, but the committee voted ITL 9-7. The committee then retained HB 595, relative to coastal resilience zones, after members said the bill was important but needed more work and time because of its complexity. Members noted it should be revisited later, and the motion to retain passed 16-0. HB 607, funding the Hampton Beach Area Commission and making appropriations, received an ought-to-pass recommendation 15-1, with support from members who described Hampton Beach as an important economic driver and one dissenting member saying the state should not bear the full cost. The committee also adopted Amendment 2025-3 on HB 624, establishing a local river management advisory committee grant program, by a 16-0 vote; the amendment shifted funding decisions to the Department of Environmental Services based on demonstrated need and a first-come, first-served process. The bill as amended then received an ought-to-pass recommendation 16-0 and was placed on consent. Later, the committee retained HB 629, funding the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams, after members said the dams need attention but the bill required more work because suggested amendments had just been received. That motion passed 16-0. HB 644, concerning drones in state parks, was ITL’d because the Department of Parks and Recreation is already working through rulemaking on UAS use in remote areas, and the committee voted 16-0 for ITL. HB 657, the short notice booking act access for New Hampshire residents to state parks, was also ITL’d at the request of the prime sponsor, passing 16-0. The committee then adjourned and announced a later hearing on HB 663, which would allow the Division of Historical Resources to use a portion of Moose plate funds for administering its grant program; testimony from the sponsor and the division supported the bill as clarifying existing authority, and no final vote on HB 663 was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we looked at is the license plate funds, for example, are not being used in a proficient manner
• What we looked at is the license plate funds, for example, are not being used in a proficient manner
• What we looked at is the license plate funds, for example, are not being used in a proficient manner
• What we looked at is the license plate funds, for example, are not being used in a proficient manner

Keywords: 1182, all