Video & Transcript : 'employee speech' :
Page 89 of 500
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Chapter 4, Article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-1000, relating to public safety employees
- chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-710.04, relating to public safety employees
- China's social credit system assigned citizen scores based on behavior, associations, purchases, and speech
- Low scores result... ...behavior, associations, purchases, and speech.
- For all the talk we hear about free speech, bombs and bullets seem to rule the day instead.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Feb 19th, 2026 at 08:53 am
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- You have sat with us through countless committee meetings, late nights, and passion speeches, difficult
- long and not You have sat with us through countless committee meetings, late nights, and passion speeches
- President, Senator, so when the employee is doing that paperwork, is there only a certain time that the
- employee can do that paperwork, like.
- And I'm grateful when I get feedback from many of these employees and staff members who say the same
Keywords:
SB273, appropriations, general fund, hold harmless, local government finance, municipal revenue, county revenue, correctional facility, jail contract, private prison, detention facility, immigration detention, revenue bonds, clawback, child welfare, juvenile justice, protective services, school improvement, New MexiCare, aging services
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- , Senator Menendez, we included in both of these versions of the university community, obviously employees
- ..." ...included in both of these versions of the university community, obviously employees and students
- So the Senate bill spoke specifically to students and employees, basically people who are part of the
- First Amendment, free speech rights protected..."
- You know, protests that are allowed, First Amendment free speech rights protected.
Summary:
The Senate opened with an invocation and then took up several recognitions and memorial resolutions, including honoring retiring Senate staffer Kelvin Bass and Secretary of the Senate Patsy Spaw and her staff. Members also adopted a series of local and honorary resolutions, including designating Rockport as the Redfish Capital of Texas, San Antonio as Military City, Texas, and Bridge City as the Corn Dog Capital of Texas, along with memorial and medal-of-honor resolutions for Texans and service members. The chamber also received messages from the House reporting passage of various measures and conference committee actions.
The bulk of the meeting focused on conference committee reports and related procedural resolutions. The Senate adopted reports and/or out-of-bounds resolutions on SB 293, SB 1610, HB 46, HB 145, HB 1545, SB 650, SB 1660, HB 40, SB 2217, HB 119, HB 493, HB 3642, HB 2963, SB 2024, SB 2972, HB 2516, HB 2885, and SB 2753, among others. Topics included the Texas Civil Commitment Office, the T-Cup prescription program, wildfire mitigation and utility liability, sunset scheduling, alcohol ID swiping at retail and package stores, business court jurisdiction, election administration and data consistency, foreign adversary lobbying, poll watcher qualifications, road naming, right-to-repair, disguised vape pens, and campus expressive activity rules. Several measures passed with near-unanimous votes, while others drew more opposition, including SB 268 on medical board enforcement and SB 2753 on election procedures.
There was extended debate on SB 268, which would shift enforcement authority for scope-of-practice complaints to specialty boards rather than the Texas Medical Board. Senators raised concerns about whether the bill would weaken the Medical Board’s ability to stop unlicensed practice of medicine, while supporters argued that specialty boards should police their own licensees and that criminal referrals remain available for unlicensed practice. The Senate also discussed SB 2972 on expressive activities at public universities, with questions about content-neutral restrictions, who counts as the university community, and whether the bill provides a mechanism to challenge campus time, place, and manner rules. Both bills ultimately passed their conference reports, and the Senate later adopted a large package of resolutions by voice vote before adjourning further business.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, February 4, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- His last Friday, Elon’s accolades—none of whom are government employees, by all appearances, and have
- AGENTS AND INVALIDATED THE CONTRACTS OF THOUSANDS OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.
- The Speaker: The Chair will entertain requests for one-minute speeches.
- The Chair will entertain requests for one-minute speeches.
- THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- You heard my testimony or my speech the other day, I hope. and I really appreciate your attention to
- attendance there, and your... careful consideration of not just, you know, what I mentioned at the speech
- I'm the political kind of contact, and then I hire them as employees.
- in there works. works, but we're looking for about 10% across the board pay raise for our legal employees
- With the state law library, are you equipped with the employees and the resources to timely respond?
Committee:
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 120 May 14th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- That person could instead be an employee of a... ...school district doing something similar.
- Only Representative Bottoms can stretch a two-minute point into a 45-minute speech with four recesses
- During my opening room speech, which was attended by some family members, Speaker Becker, Rep.
- Representative Aldez gave one of his rare, passionate speeches from the well, a speech giving hope to
- I sailed around the world both as an employee and just for fun.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-01-28 (4:30PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- There is one, but every time I heard a political speech, the speech was about sending criminals back
- But I never heard a moment in a speech politically that talked about making sure that education was more
- There is one, but every time I heard a political speech, the speech was about sending criminals back
- But I never heard a moment in a speech politically that talked about making sure that education was more
- The majority of hospitality employees are immigrants.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, and adoption of the special order calendar for the day. The chamber then took up House Bill 1B on immigration, along with discussion of anticipated Senate changes. The sponsor described the bill as creating a chief immigration officer housed in the Department of Agriculture, establishing an Office of State Immigration Enforcement, expanding cooperation with federal immigration authorities, increasing criminal penalties for certain offenses by unauthorized aliens, ending undocumented-student fee waivers, and providing substantial appropriations for enforcement and related programs. Members also questioned the Senate version’s proposed mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses involving unauthorized aliens, as well as pretrial detention, 287(g) participation, DMV reporting requirements, and the bill’s effects on schools, teachers, social workers, and local agencies. The sponsor and supporting members repeatedly said the bill required broad cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and that existing federal law would control where conflicts arose.
A major portion of the debate focused on whether the bill would allow or require immigration enforcement in schools and other sensitive settings, and whether teachers, school resource officers, and social workers could be placed in conflict with federal privacy or professional obligations. Members also raised concerns about detention based on suspected status, the standard of proof for immigration-status determinations, prison and jail impacts, workforce shortages, and the fiscal effects on counties and state agencies. The sponsor said the bill did not provide DMV funding, that the state would need to study some implementation questions, and that the appropriations included $25 million for a local law enforcement participation incentive program and up to $350 million for broader implementation and coordination.
Several amendments were offered and failed. Representative Chambliss proposed protecting schools, churches, and places of worship from enforcement activity; Representative Escamani offered amendments to preserve in-state tuition for Dreamers and to grandfather currently eligible students; Representative Woodson offered a similar Dreamer-related amendment; and Representative Bartleman proposed barring local law enforcement from entering schools during school hours to detain children solely for immigration status. Supporters of these amendments argued they would protect children, preserve educational access, and prevent trauma in schools and houses of worship. The House rejected each amendment by voice vote, and the transcript ends during debate on the Bartleman school-safety amendment before final disposition is shown.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/13/26 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, February 10, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- During his 23 years as head coach of Salem High School's speech, formerly forensics and debate teams,
- captured an astonishing 20 VHSL state championships, including a record 19 consecutive state titles in speech
- He coached 103 speech state champions, 59 runners-up, and five individual debate state champions.
- His two-time recognition as the National Federation of State High School Associations Outstanding Speech
- They've already cut over 7,000 jobs of employees who administer this program to millions of Americans
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPC Public Hearing - Thu Feb 20, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Consumer Protection & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- My name is Christopher Fernandez, Executive Officer for the Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology.
- the board of Speech Pathology and Audiology<01:09:06.239><c> I'm</c><01:09:06.400><c> here</c><01:09
- Because it really is up to the scope of the physical therapist and speech-language pathologists.
- </c><01:15:49.199><c> language</c> would be diagnosed by a speech language would be diagnosed by a speech
- </c><01:16:16.639><c> language</c> the physical therapist speech language the physical therapist speech
Committee:
House Consumer Protection & Commerce
Summary:
The committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection met on February 20, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. HB 850, relating to condominiums, drew support from the Community Associations Institute and the Hawaii State Association of Parliamentarians, who said it would improve owner participation, clarify voting rules, and preserve the use of proxies as a personal choice. A Zoom testifier supported the bill’s intent but warned that special meetings can be abused and suggested further amendments to address board president authority. Members asked about proxies versus electronic voting and whether the bill would reduce proxy use; no vote was taken.
The committee also heard HB 48 on coffee labeling, with the Department of Agriculture in support, and HB 1370 on taxation, where a local brewery representative supported equal tax treatment for beer served from 5-gallon kegs and larger kegs when dispensed from a faucet, arguing the bill would clarify draft beer treatment and encourage sustainability. HB 1422 on motor carriers received comments from the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of State Parks, while representatives from a community-based shuttle initiative supported the bill and said nonprofit, community-led transportation solutions should not be regulated like traditional carriers.
HB 874, relating to child performers, received support from SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, and individual performers, who emphasized protecting minors’ earnings, safety, and schooling. Testimony also discussed whether to include social media influencers and whether to add annual income limits or trust-account protections; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said the issue was outside its wheelhouse. Later, HB 799 on healthcare drew support from health plans and HMSA, with the Department of Health requesting amendments such as a sunset date, a Maui-only pilot, and a report back before changing its position. HB 1379 on health received support from Hawaii Pacific Health, but the Hawaii Medical Board raised concerns about vague language and public-safety implications for internationally trained physicians, asking for more time to study national licensing recommendations. Finally, HB 439 on education was heard, with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board opposing the bill as drafted and warning about licensing standards and predatory third-party loans affecting J-1 teachers; the transcript ends before any action or vote on these measures.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Health Committee Jan 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- be taken in the Judiciary Committee, which will narrow the scope of the bill to avoid implicating employees
- Maria's daughter has a rare genetic condition requiring weekly speech, occupational, and physical therapy
- It's important to note that the businesses impacted by this bill are those with over 100 employees.
- It's important to note that the business is impacted by this bill or those with over 100 employees.
- These are With over 100 employees, these are not just large corporations.
Summary:
The Assembly Health Committee met on January 13, 2026, and heard several two-year bills, with AB 634 (Gonzalez) and AB 298 (Bonta) receiving the most discussion. The chair also announced consent items AB 96 (Jackson), AB 1126 (Patterson), and AB 1366 (Flora), all with motions to do pass to Appropriations. Committee procedures, witness limits, and conduct rules were reviewed at the start of the hearing.
AB 634 would prohibit the manufacture, distribution, or sale of tianeptine in California. Assembly Member Gonzalez described the drug as a dangerous substance sold in retail settings and said the bill had been amended to shift penalties from criminal to civil, narrow its scope so employees without authority over sales would not be targeted, allow cost recovery, and avoid a Commerce Clause issue. The California Narcotic Officers Association supported the bill, and there was no recorded opposition. The committee voted the bill out on a do pass to Judiciary motion.
AB 298 would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for children’s health care services in large group commercial plans. Bonta argued that deductibles, copays, and coinsurance deter care and create financial strain for families, while noting the bill would not change provider reimbursement and that he would pursue cost-saving amendments in Appropriations, especially for CalPERS. Support came from Health Access California, Family Voices of California, and several medical and pediatric organizations, while the Chamber of Commerce and health plan groups opposed it, warning of premium increases and possible employer shifts to self-insured coverage. The committee advanced the bill on a do pass to Appropriations vote, and the chair later noted the bill was on call before final add-on votes were completed. The consent calendar items were also approved, and the hearing adjourned.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) May 7th, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Keenan, employee notification. Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
- Keenan, employee notification. Question comes on adoption of the amendment.
- , said, pretty much again, I'm paraphrasing, I didn't bring any notes for this, I didn't plan the speech
- , said, pretty much again, I'm paraphrasing, I didn't bring any notes for this, I didn't plan the speech
Summary:
The Senate took up the Protect Act, a broad immigration-related bill, and first adopted Amendment 6 offered by Senator Kennedy. Kennedy framed the amendment as strengthening protections for DDS facilities and other disability-related settings, arguing that immigrant caregivers are essential to the direct care workforce and that these spaces should be treated as sensitive care environments. The chamber also agreed to print several senators’ remarks in the journal.
Members then considered a series of amendments, with many withdrawn or rejected. An effective-date amendment was adopted, while multiple amendments from Senator Tarr and Senator Keenan dealing with 287G agreements, detainers, civil arrests, notification procedures, sanctuary-related language, and other enforcement provisions were defeated. Amendment 34, expanding safe-space language to include residential schools and residential programs licensed or funded by the state, was adopted. Amendment 11 on protecting immigrant victims of crime and trafficking was not adopted.
Later, the Senate adopted Amendment 10 from Senator Edwards on courthouse curtilage and Amendment 20 establishing a commission on immigration, with Edwards noting minority-party representation would be included. Amendment 13 from Senator Miranda, protecting health care workers from retaliation when acting in good faith for patients, was also adopted. A corrective amendment from Senator Friedman was adopted, and Senator Montigny used the occasion to speak about human trafficking and the need to protect victims and prosecute traffickers.
After the Ways and Means recommendation was adopted, the bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 37-3. The Senate then took up a House amendment to a student learning and mental health bill, rejected the House changes, and appointed a conference committee. The chamber also adopted an order to adjourn and recessed until the following Monday.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works Mar 11th, 2026
Transportation, Highways & Public Works
Transcript Highlights:
- We have eight full-time employees on the ground working to improve upland habitat and upland hunting
- Just in the past year, Quail Forever, our eight employees that I mentioned earlier that are here in the
- I want to start my speech off by saying...
- I want to start my speech off by saying I love all y'all. It's only the third day of session.
Keywords:
highway designation, Pointe Coupee Parish, Falcons Band, signage, local recognition, emergency vehicles, traffic safety, road regulations, vehicles on highways, vehicle procedures, memorial bridge, designate, public signage, Louisiana Highway 315, Terrebonne Parish, seat belt, safety belt, motor vehicles, vehicle restraint, driver safety
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met on March 11 with a quorum present and heard a series of specialty license plate bills. Committee members were reminded to turn off cell phones and testimony cards were explained. Several Department of Public Safety and Corrections/Office of Motor Vehicles amendments were adopted across the bills to require OMV to create plates only when statutory conditions are met and its electronic registration system is updated.
HB 801 by Rep. Rhett Martinez created a classic black specialty license plate, with revenue directed to state police high-speed pursuit training. Members discussed the bill’s connection to a fatal high-speed chase in Martinez’s district and the need for better training and technology for law enforcement. The committee adopted amendments, including a change from “holding” to Zachary, and reported the bill favorably with amendments. HB 891 by Rep. Jacob Landry created wildlife/conservation specialty plates and adjusted revenue distribution to support Quail Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries conservation fund. Testimony from Ducks Unlimited and Quail Forever emphasized habitat work, fundraising leverage, and conservation partnerships; the bill was reported with amendments after some questioning about waterfowl management and habitat projects.
HB 587 by Rep. Dickerson created a PANS/PANDAS specialty plate to raise awareness and return money to the general fund. The bill was supported by testimony from Caitlin Jafreda, who described her daughter’s sudden onset illness, the difficulty of diagnosis, and how insurance coverage for IVIG treatment had recently helped another family. The committee also heard HB 331 by Rep. Mack for a Louisiana GOP specialty plate, HB 629 by Rep. Lyons for the Crew of Athena, and HB 428 by Rep. Baham for an LSU baseball national champions plate recognizing the 2023 and 2025 College World Series teams. All were amended and reported favorably. Rep. Walters voluntarily deferred HB 129, HB 130, and HB 854, and the committee adjourned after Rep. Broussard moved to adjourn.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works Mar 11th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We have eight full-time employees on the ground working to improve upland habitat and upland hunting
- Just in the past year, Quail Forever, our eight employees that I mentioned earlier that are here in the
- I want to start my speech off by saying, Ladies and gentlemen of the Transportation Committee, thank
- I want to start my speech off by saying I love all y'all. It's only the third day of session.
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met on Wednesday, March 11, with a quorum present and heard several specialty license plate bills. HB 801 by Rep. Martinez would create a classic black specialty plate, with revenue directed to State Police high-speed pursuit training for local law enforcement. Members discussed the need for better pursuit training in light of fatal crashes, adopted a set of amendments and a technical change, and reported the bill favorably with amendments.
The committee also advanced HB 891 by Rep. Landry, which creates wildlife conservation specialty plates and adjusts revenue distribution to support conservation groups such as Ducks Unlimited and Quail Forever, while also helping the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries conservation fund. Testimony from LDWF and the conservation groups emphasized habitat work, fundraising leverage, and conservation benefits. The bill drew extended questioning from Vice Chair Fontenot about Ducks Unlimited’s work, including its projects in Louisiana and other states and whether certain habitat practices affect duck migration; the committee then reported the bill with amendments.
HB 587 by Rep. Dickerson would create a PANS/PANDAS specialty plate to raise awareness and return revenue to the general fund to help cover treatment costs. The bill was supported by a parent and child who described the disorder and the impact of insurance coverage for IVIG treatment; it was reported with amendments. HB 331 by Rep. Mack created a Louisiana GOP specialty plate and was reported with amendments after brief discussion. HB 629 by Rep. Lyons created a plate for the Crew of Athena and was also reported with amendments. HB 428 by Rep. Baham created an LSU baseball championship plate recognizing the 2023 and 2025 national title teams and was reported with amendments. Rep. Walters voluntarily deferred HB 129, HB 130, and HB 854, and the committee adjourned afterward.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- In a speech class, would a student's speech about Olympian Johnny Weir be suddenly stopped if they mention
- Unfortunately, many public schools allow their employees to provide instruction on sexual orientation
- passed House Bill 352 last year with the intention of limiting the prerogative of public school employees
Committee:
Senate Education
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 1339 from Sen. Dave Lent, who described it as an education accountability and modernization measure that shifts schools away from compliance-driven reporting toward locally set, measurable student-outcome goals. He said the bill would reduce unnecessary reporting, provide a three-year support and intervention cycle for struggling schools, and recognize excellence while preserving local control. Victoria Young testified in opposition, arguing the bill echoed No Child Left Behind-style accountability and could unfairly single out schools, while Quinn Perry of the Idaho School Boards Association supported the bill but raised a limited concern about intervention language that could affect local authority over calendars or budgets.
The committee then took up House Bill 516, a cleanup bill related to last year’s prohibition on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity. Rep. Dale Hawkins and Doug Taylor said the bill simply removes leftover “age appropriate/developmentally appropriate” language from the prior law, arguing that the K-12 prohibition is already absolute and the extra phrase creates confusion and legal uncertainty. Opponents, including Mary Brown, Jean Henscheide, Scaruleen, Nissa Nagle, and Jeffrey Watkins, argued the change would eliminate age-appropriate instruction, parental choice, and classroom discussion of relevant history, literature, and current events, and could chill instruction affecting LGBTQ students and broader education. Supporters, including Grace Howitt of the Idaho Family Policy Center, said districts had not consistently implemented the prior law and that the bill would better protect parents and prevent what they described as inappropriate gender instruction.
Committee members pressed witnesses on whether the bill conflicted with existing Idaho Code, especially the older family-life and sex-education statute that leaves policy decisions to local school boards, and whether removing the phrase could create unintended effects on teaching topics like puberty, Supreme Court cases, or literature. After debate, Sen. Nichols moved to send HB 516 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, but Sen. Burtenshaw offered an alternate motion to hold the bill at the call of the chair. The committee adopted the motion to hold HB 516 at the call of the chair, so no floor recommendation was issued.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- In a speech class, would a student's speech about Olympian Johnny Weir be suddenly stopped if they mention
- Unfortunately, many public schools allow their employees to provide instruction on sexual orientation
- passed House Bill 352 last year with the intention of limiting the prerogative of public school employees
Committee:
Senate Education
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- There's no daycare capacity. ...because there are no employees, there's no long-term rentals, there's
- Unfortunately, there are government employees at all levels of government who mistakenly believe that
- Code 1357, Powers of Immigration Officers and Employees, it says, and may I read, Mr.
- It rates right up there with the freedom of speech, the ownership of private property. ...there with
- the freedom of speech, the ownership of private property.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and moved through committee reports, House messages, and first and second reading calendars before taking up several bills on third reading. Committee reports advanced a number of measures, including bills on elections, public notices, parks and recreation, immigration cooperation, taxation, slow-moving vehicles, short-term rentals, private property rights, and directed blood product transfusion. The chamber also received House bills and transmitted enrolled Senate bills to the House for further action.
Among the major floor debates, Senate Bill 1328 passed 30-5 after discussion about shifting legal counsel authority for the Department of Lands from the Attorney General to the department’s general counsel. Senate Bill 1260 passed 29-6 after debate over immigration enforcement language and whether the bill was necessary while related litigation was pending. Senate Bill 1345 passed unanimously to allow Idaho Tax Commission secure electronic communications through opt-in taxpayer accounts, with estimated cost savings. Senate Bill 1224 passed 35-0 to create exceptions for slow-moving farm and construction equipment when no safe pull-off exists, after concerns from law enforcement were addressed.
The Senate also passed House Bill 583, 23-12, to reinforce the state’s short-term rental law and limit local governments from imposing special restrictions beyond generally applicable residential regulations; supporters framed it as a property-rights and tourism measure, while opponents warned it could worsen housing shortages and reduce local control. Senate Bill 1326 as amended passed 30-5 to require government agents to have landowner permission, a warrant, or exigent circumstances before entering private property, with supporters citing Fourth Amendment protections and opponents warning it could hinder law enforcement and raise constitutional issues. House Bill 528 passed 25-8 to clarify access to directed blood product transfusions, with supporters emphasizing patient choice and opponents stressing blood-supply safety. The Senate then reordered the third-reading calendar, made announcements, and adjourned until the next day.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session - Part 3 - 05/17/26
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The macro businesses will remain employees of those businesses.
- Hoffman, that is one of your most eloquent speeches. Mr.
- Hoffman, that is one of your most eloquent speeches. Mr.
- President, I will cut my speech short. I'm very disappointed in this bill. I urge a no vote.
- I didn't have a speech prepared. I wanted to mention that. Thank you. I am tired, I...
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Maxion Solar, Yvonne Solar, and the quantum information that you heard from the government during her speech
- They have 3,100 employees right now, and they're ramping up to about 3,500.
- Spear on what is happening with this session and these employees being here.
- For me, I'm not going to hire an employee when I don't know what the clear-cut policy is.
- Because if I have to send an employee, I call them employees because they're our employees, right?
Committee:
Senate Senate Finance
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Funding (02/11/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- speech services, but speech services are not in the IEP, we will not reimburse.
- services</c><05:13:24.920><c> are</c> speech services but speech services are speech services but speech
- If a district hires a speech therapist, there's the cost for that speech therapist that is set by the
- therapy it says needs two hours speech therapy it says needs two hours of<05:25:14.840><c> speech</c
- </c> particular Community the average speech particular Community the average speech therapist<05:25:
Summary:
The committee first discussed HB 443, which would change terms and vacancy language for members of a higher education commission. Members raised concerns that the bill was too narrow to address broader issues with commission membership, including expired appointments, attendance expectations, and whether the Department of Education could replace the commission’s role. Several members suggested the bill was not ready for action and favored holding it for further work, possibly through a subcommittee or work session. One member suggested that if attendance standards were added, no more than two unexcused absences should trigger removal, given the commission’s meeting schedule. The chair said he would defer action and form a small subcommittee to report back before the committee deadline.
The committee then moved to HB 484, dealing with repurposing Career and Technical Education classroom space after 20 years of exclusive use. The chair explained that the bill was aimed at the Milford CTE project, where shared use of space could allow a school to repurpose part of a CTE facility while still using it for CTE-related instruction. Members discussed other possible situations around the state, including Claremont, North Conway, and Jaffrey/Rindge, and whether the bill should be limited to Milford or broadened to allow local districts more flexibility. Some members favored passing the bill now to help CTE projects move forward, while others argued for an amendment removing the requirement that the space be vacated specifically to expand the CTE program occupying it.
Testimony and discussion emphasized that the Milford project had state approval but reduced funding, requiring a smaller scope and repurposing of existing space. Supporters said the bill could help preserve CTE programs while also benefiting general education space needs, and that local districts should have flexibility after 20 years. Opponents or cautious members noted that the language might not fit every district situation and asked for feedback from Director Beard and Steve Rothenberg before final action. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion provided, and instead discussed waiting for an amendment and additional input before acting.