Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, does your bill have any provisions for misuse of data?
• information leaves the original platform, companies cannot ensure equivalent protections or prevent misuse
• information leaves the original platform, companies cannot ensure equivalent protections or prevent misuse

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• counties with the most prevalent prescription opioid abuse of educational materials regarding the misuse
• counties with the most prevalent prescription opioid abuse of educational materials regarding the misuse

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders met on April 29, 2026, with Senators Pete Harckham and Rob Rolison present and a quorum established through submitted vote sheets. The chair noted this could be one of the committee’s final meetings of the year and thanked members for their participation. Nine bills were on the agenda, all of which were moved and approved without recorded opposition. The committee advanced several addiction-treatment and recovery measures, including S-1817 on encouraging and facilitating clinical research into ibogaine for drug treatment, S-4747A creating an intensive addiction recovery and mental health integrated services pilot program, S-4948A providing reimbursement for non-medical transportation to peer support services, and S-59A creating a substance use disorder treatment bill of rights. Members also approved S-83A establishing the Individual Counseling for Integrated Care Rate Enhancement Act and S-7508, which requires health care professionals to prescribe opioids, sending those bills to Finance. The committee also approved education-focused bills: S-513 requiring schools to include instruction on preventing co-occurring disorders, S-5900 directing educational materials on prescription drug misuse in counties with the most prevalent opioid abuse, and S-9272 expanding opioid overdose prevention measures in certain settings. Most bills were reported either to Finance, Education, or the calendar, with no negative votes recorded on any measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• ever since the rise of generative AI, developing research tools to protect human creatives from the misuses
• However, they only protect visual artists against very specific types of misuse.
• nationwide against providers and patients of reproductive care have raised concerns about the potential misuse

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection heard three Assembly bills. AB 412, the AI Copyright Transparency Act by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan, would require developers to let copyright holders query whether their works were used to train generative AI systems. Supporters, including voice actors, artists, labor groups, and Professor Ben Zhao, argued the bill is a narrow transparency measure that helps creators protect their rights and that the underlying technology is feasible. Opponents, including business and tech groups, argued the bill goes ahead of unsettled copyright law, is technically difficult to implement at scale, and could burden startups. The author accepted committee amendments narrowing the bill, and the committee voted 6-2 to pass it as amended to the Judiciary Committee. AB 2448 by Assembly Member Berman would require electronic health record vendors to implement technical safeguards that help providers protect sensitive reproductive and gender-affirming care information. Planned Parenthood affiliates, the Attorney General’s office, and other supporters said the bill clarifies existing law and strengthens patient privacy amid threats to reproductive care access. There was no opposition testimony. The committee voted 7-1 to pass the bill to the Health Committee. AB 2561 by Assembly Member Valencia would prohibit changes to consumers’ privacy settings without their consent, aiming to prevent apps and software updates from resetting user preferences. CalChamber and TechNet representatives said they now supported the bill after the author accepted their amendments. The committee voted 8-0 to pass AB 2561. The hearing included multiple roll calls as quorum was established and bills were held on call before final votes were taken, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• understands it, match a plate that has been put on a hot list, meaning it's stolen or subject to misuse
• Madam Chair and Captain, I think this is a powerful tool, and I have no reason to believe you have misused
• So, I am looking forward to further discussions about how we make sure these tools aren't misused.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota should have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to misuse of taxpayer dollars and theft.
• when<00:18:06.720> it<00:18:06.799> comes<00:18:06.960> to<00:18:07.200> misuse
• <00:18:07.600> of policy when it comes to misuse of policy when it comes to misuse of taxpayer

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to have other conversations, but this is in fact a situation where there were misuse of state
• <00:09:52.240> where<00:09:52.360> there<00:09:52.520> were<00:09:52.760> misuse
• uh a situation where there were misuse uh a situation where there were misuse of<00:09:53.600>
• is right that it could be dealt with in rules, but I think if there's a concern about the use or misuse

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2232 is relating to prenatal exposure to controlled substances or alcohol misuse and reporting
• the North Dakota Century Code relating to reporting requirements for prenatal exposure to alcohol misuse
• House Bill 2232 is relating to prenatal exposure to controlled substances or alcohol misuse and reporting
• the North Dakota Century Code relating to reporting requirements for prenatal exposure to alcohol misuse
• Senator Van Osting. prenatal exposure to alcohol misuse. Senator Van Osteing.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and handled a mix of conference committee appointments, appropriations bills, policy bills, and House amendments. Early in the session, the chamber appointed conference committees for SB 2399 and for House-amended SBs 2213 and 2354, and also named conference committees for HB 103, HB 1308, and HB 1169. The Senate then took up several appropriations measures, including HB 1612, which creates the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at UND; the Senate adopted an amendment shifting the funding to a one-time $250,000 Community Health Trust Fund appropriation with a required $250,000 match from other sources, and the bill passed 39-7. HB 1193, the “Back the Blue” grant, was amended to make the funding one-time and focus on officer retention, then passed 41-5. HB 1329, a government spending database proposal for school districts, was amended into a legislative study and passed 42-4. HB 1020, the water budget, received extensive amendments reducing and reallocating funding across major water projects, adding studies and oversight changes, and passed 45-0 with the emergency clause. HB 1581, a tribal tourism grant, also passed 40-6. The Senate rejected HB 1330, which would have authorized divestment from direct investments in Chinese companies; after debate over the prudent investor rule, trade impacts, and whether the bill singled out one nation in law, it failed 20-26. HB 1534, limiting property valuation increases, and HB 1266, adjusting the disabled veterans property tax credit, both failed unanimously or nearly so after committee recommendations against them. HB 1566, which would have created a regulatory framework for a product discussed as kratom, was amended on the floor to convert it into a study and then passed 31-15. The chamber also passed HB 2241 on charter schools after a House amendment changed the funding formula to the statewide average from the prior year, and HB 2022, the indigent legal counsel budget, after House changes added funding flexibility, offset lost fee revenue, and included a study on a public defender office. The Senate concurred in several House amendments and then passed a number of Senate bills. SB 2375, allowing joint negotiations between dental providers and insurers under Attorney General oversight, passed 44-2. SB 2251, clarifying that open records requests during state audits should be referred to the audited agency, passed 46-0. SB 2159, related to nuclear energy research, passed 43-3 after House amendments required Industrial Commission approval and consultation with the radioactive waste advisory council. SB 2155, changing gratis antelope license rules, passed 30-16 after debate over landowner rights and tag distribution. SB 251, setting fees and an audit for the Private Investigative and Security Board, passed 44-2. SB 2280, the prior authorization health insurance bill, passed 43-3 with a House-added study and consumer protections. SB 2023, the Racing Commission budget, passed 41-5 after a House change made internship funding one-time. SB 2232, changing prenatal substance exposure reporting requirements and related toxicology rules, passed 44-2. SB 2241, authorizing public charter schools, passed 39-7. The session ended while the Senate was still processing SB 2022’s final passage vote, but the bill had already cleared concurrence on House amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then also the language beginning on page 4144 for the substance misuse prevention special fund that the
• And then language that the Senate proposed on page 4145 for reporting about how the substance misuse
• 01:20:42.960> for<01:20:43.120> the<01:20:43.240> substance<01:20:43.760> misuse
• 41 44 for the substance misuse 41 44 for the substance misuse prevention<01:20:44.800> special
• fund is utilized and substance misuse fund is utilized and how<01:21:11.680> much<01:21:11.960

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It helps guard against misuse and abuse of funds and promotes responsible self-governance by charitable
• But I would tell you that some of the things that I, you know, more broad examples are misuse of funds

Bills: SB1873, SB1948, SB540, SB1653, SB1061, SB1534

Keywords: roofing, contractor registration, continuing education, endorsement, construction industry, fireworks, consumer safety, local governance, emergency declaration, public safety, Occupational Therapy, licensure, interstate compact, telehealth, SB1061, Oklahoma Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act, SAFE Act, mortgage licensing, mortgage broker, mortgage lender

Transcript Highlights:

• Inspector General to strengthen oversight, enhance accountability, and prevent fraud, waste, and misuse
• Why SF 856 is necessary: fraud and misuse of public funds harm the very people our programs are designed
• operations why 856 is necessary fraud operations why 856 is necessary fraud and<00:01:23.040> misuse
• of public funds harm the very and misuse of public funds harm the very people<00:01:25.640> our
• The legislation ensures that the Inspector General has the necessary tools to investigate fraud and misuse

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• crisis and it also substance misuse crisis and it also deploys<00:17:09.799> the<00:17:10.039
• disorder as well with substance misuse disorder as well as<00:20:33.480> mental<00:20:33.880>
• They have the one for substance misuse, and they have the one for mental health services.
• We talked about the mental health peer organizations, and we have them in substance misuse as well.
• We talked about the mental health peer organizations, and we have them in substance misuse as well.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee’s Division 3 held a public work session on the Behavioral Health budget on February 27, 2025. The chair opened by explaining the schedule, materials, and deadlines for the budget process, and noted there would be no motions or votes in the division that day. Division of Behavioral Health Director Ktia Fox and DHHS CFO Nathan White then walked the committee through the division’s mission, structure, and budget materials, describing the division’s four bureaus: Mental Health Services, Children’s Behavioral Health, Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homeless Services, along with the policy unit. They emphasized the division’s role in oversight, technical assistance, quality assurance, contracting, and the continuum of care from prevention and early intervention through crisis and residential services. Much of the discussion focused on major programs and funding lines, including the 988 Lifeline contract with Headrest, a technical assistance contract with UNH, Medicaid pass-through payments to New Hampshire Hospital and Glencliff, crisis response services, cold-weather homeless responses, housing supports, and the children’s system of care. Members asked about the UNH contract, the 988 program, crisis stabilization centers, and the peer certification program; Fox explained that the peer certification is a training-and-credentialing pathway for people with lived experience to enter community-based behavioral health work, not a volunteer program. The committee also discussed the “Choose Love” program, which Fox said was created after the Sandy Hook tragedy to build resilience and strength-based emotional regulation in schools and communities. On the children’s side, Fox described the system of care account as the place where many contracted services are budgeted, including community mental health centers, care management entities, rapid response services, and residential programs. Members asked about temporary staffing, and Fox said roughly $500,000 in temporary staff costs shown in the current year would not be spent next year because the money came from a nonlapsing appropriation in HB 1573 for oversight of children’s residential services. She also said provider rate increases were a prioritized need but were not funded in the governor’s current budget, and that the Children’s Behavioral Health Resource Center was not funded, resulting in about a $1 million reduction. The session ended while the division was still moving through the children’s behavioral health slides, including questions about the Fast Forward high-fidelity wraparound program and medication management.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:37:02.320> of to an actual theft or use or misuse of to an actual theft or use or misuse
• <01:52:59.119> of for and whether it involved misuse of for and whether it involved misuse
• I will note that when we do receive a credible allegation of misuse with a grantee, we do have access
• related to reporting uh possible misuse related to reporting uh possible misuse of<01:57:14.320>
• with a grantee, we do have access misuse with a grantee, we do have access to<01:57:45.840> look<

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, I'm extreme, but you know that laws get misused, and that's the way of the animal.
• , and that's the way of laws get misused, and that's the way of the<01:51:36.960> animal.
• So that therefore some of the possible misuses of when not to do, uh, the rules of evidence take place
• So that therefore some of the possible misuses of when not to do, uh, the rules of evidence take place
• of when not to do uh the rules misuses of when not to do uh the rules of<04:40:13.760> evidence

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is ripe for abuse or misuse by dissenting family members, overstepping educators or neighbors or
• This is ripe for abuse or misuse by dissenting family members, overstepping educators or neighbors or
• This is ripe for abuse or misuse by dissenting family members, overstepping educators or neighbors or
• This is ripe for abuse or misuse by dissenting family members, overstepping educators or neighbors or
• This is ripe for abuse or misuse by dissenting family members, overstepping educators or neighbors or

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 146, which would remove the requirement that a medical examiner physically view a body before issuing a cremation certificate. The prime sponsor, Sen. Suprentice, and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jenny Duval explained that the bill would not change the death certificate process or the existing waiting period before cremation; it would only eliminate the in-person viewing step. They said the current review of death certificates already catches the vast majority of cases that should be reported to the medical examiner, and that the physical view changes outcomes in less than 1% of cremation cases. The witnesses emphasized that the bill is intended to improve efficiency and reduce delays for families and funeral homes, while freeing deputy medical examiners to focus on homicides, suicides, accidents, and unexpected natural deaths. Dr. Duval cited an example where review of a death certificate, not the body, uncovered a long-ago strangulation-related homicide, arguing that the key safeguard is review of records and cause of death, not the physical view. She also said the change would save travel time and some costs for the department. Committee members asked about how death certificates list primary and contributing causes of death, whether the low percentage of findings means the current process has a deterrent effect, why cremation is treated differently from burial, and whether identification concerns are adequately addressed. The sponsors responded that identification is handled earlier by hospitals, families, and funeral directors, and that any questionable identification would already fall under medical examiner jurisdiction. They also said the bill would not alter the two-day cremation delay or other existing safeguards. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• general who operates independently of the executive branch and is empowered to investigate fraud and misuse
• The office will have the tools to independently investigate fraud and misuse, issue reports, recommend
• With recent concerns about public funds being misused, Minnesotans are demanding real oversight, and
• making sure more proactive approach to making sure that<00:11:55.839> any<00:11:56.240> misuse
• of taxpayer dollars can that any misuse of taxpayer dollars can be<00:11:58.160> stopped<00:11

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have become increasingly accessible and affordable and the potential risks associated with their misuse
• :47.520> their potential risks associated with their potential risks associated with their misuse
• <00:07:50.240> But<00:07:50.479> then misuse are also on the rise.
• But then misuse are also on the rise.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on March 21, 2025, accepted the February 21 minutes, and approved a shortened consent calendar after removing Department of Safety item 2565 for separate discussion. That item concerned drone/UAS detection for special events and critical infrastructure. Department staff said the system would help locate drones and operators and support enforcement around temporary flight restrictions, but members pressed them on privacy versus security, and the department acknowledged the issue was primarily about security. The committee ultimately approved the item after discussion. Members also approved Department of Transportation item 2572 after a question about whether increased transfer requests would affect paving; DOT said the paving program would continue as normal. Judicial Council items 2566 and 2567 were also approved without discussion. During informational items, members asked for follow-up on Fish and Game’s Hike Safe card revenues versus search-and-rescue costs, and on DHHS reporting issues, including nursing home bed counts and declining community mental health center client numbers; DHHS said it would verify the bed-count methodology and provide a written update on the mental health data. The committee then entered non-public session to discuss an ongoing legal matter and related funding process. After returning, it considered a request under RSA 21-M:11 for an additional $5 million general fund appropriation for fiscal year 2025. Several members said they would have preferred the full $15 million request, but supported the smaller amount as a temporary step during the budget process, with expectations of monthly reporting back to the committee. The motion to approve $5 million passed 6-3. The committee set its next meeting for Friday, April 18 at 11:00 a.m. and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes the misuse of personal funds held at the facility and may also include the misuse of funds
• It includes the misuse of personal funds held at the facility and may also include the misuse of funds
• It includes the misuse of resident.
• It includes the misuse of personal<00:15:35.440> funds<00:15:35.839> held<00:15:36.079>
• of funds by may also include the misuse of funds by residents<00:15:41.760> designated<00:15:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee chair opened by explaining that the committee has expanded from a traditional audit-follow-up role into an oversight role focused on whether audit recommendations are implemented and whether controls are in place to detect fraud. He said the committee was concerned about fraud uncovered in social service programs in other states and wanted to understand New Hampshire’s safeguards, especially around major contracts and program performance. Charles Buchanan, director of the New Hampshire Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and investigator Tim Brackett described the unit’s structure and mission. Buchanan said the unit, housed in the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Bureau, investigates and prosecutes fraud by health care providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of residents in health care facilities. He outlined common Medicaid fraud schemes such as billing for services not rendered, upcoding, using unqualified staff, drug substitution, kickbacks, supplemental charges, and inflated customary charges. He also described resident abuse/neglect and drug diversion in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living settings. Brackett said his role is financial investigator/auditor and noted the unit is grant-funded and must include a prosecutor, investigator, and auditor. The witnesses then explained how cases reach the unit and how they are handled. Most referrals come from the state Department of Health and Human Services’ program integrity unit and from managed care organizations’ special investigations units, which look for fraud, waste, and abuse and refer credible allegations. Other sources include qui tam whistleblower actions, the national Medicaid Fraud Control Units association, citizen complaints, provider referrals, adult protective services law-enforcement referrals, local law enforcement, and federal agencies. Once a referral is received, the unit can accept or deny it; accepted matters may be investigated criminally or civilly, while nonviable matters can be referred back to HHS or other agencies for administrative action, including repayment demands and reimbursement offsets. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The same thing if you have a prior history with health, substance misuse, criminal record, etc.
• I think all of us have probably had someone in our families who has been affected by substance misuse
• I think all of us have probably had someone in our families who has been affected by substance misuse
• substance misuse and and and recovery. substance misuse and and and recovery.
• Otherwise, that would be a real misuse and abuse of the funds regarding the special session.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:01 SERVS Informational Update- 00:01:22 Child Removal and Reunification Update: Department for Community Based Services Financials- 00:03:00 Small Business Sales Tax Websites: Department of Revenue-00:28:05 Senior Citizen Meal Programs: Department for Aging and Independent Living-00:35:50 Adjournment-01:41:57, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the September 11 meeting by motion and voice vote. It then received a brief update on the statewide emergency responder voice system, but no presenter was present. The chair said he expected a more substantive update in November and warned that if there is not real progress on acquiring needed private properties, the committee may consider further action, including possibly freezing funding. The main discussion centered on the Department for Community Based Services’ child removal and reunification work and its structured decision-making tools. Commissioner Lisa Dennis and General Counsel Wesley Duke explained that the intake, safety, and risk assessment tools are being used at very high rates and that the department is still implementing and evaluating the system. Dennis said the tools are meant to inform, not replace, professional judgment; when staff disagree with a recommendation, the worker and first-line supervisor consult and decide together. Members questioned whether the system favors keeping children in the home, whether the department has studied safety outcomes for in-home cases versus removals, and whether foster home shortages affect removal decisions. Dennis said child safety remains the top priority, that the practice has not changed, and that the department would provide additional data on outcomes later. Members also asked about permanency timelines and delays in termination of parental rights cases; Dennis said federal timelines are difficult to meet because of family progress, substance use recovery, and court delays, and she confirmed foster parent shortages were not the reason for those delays. The committee then heard a presentation from the Department of Revenue on the new My Taxes portal. Staff said the portal, launched in March, replaced DOR’s portion of the old Kentucky One Stop Business Portal and now allows businesses to file and pay multiple taxes, update account information, and receive official notices. They reported the system is available 24/7 except for scheduled maintenance every other Thursday evening, has maintained over 99% availability since launch, and now has a dedicated contact center with 50 agents plus a public help line and email. In response to questions, the department said early downtime was caused by unexpectedly high traffic, but server capacity was increased and in the last three months there had been only one day of unexpected downtime.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the financial stewards of these public funds, we take fraud and misuse of public resources very seriously
• the these public funds we take fraud of the these public funds we take fraud and<00:03:35.360> misuse
• > of<00:03:35.920> public<00:03:36.239> resources<00:03:36.959> very and misuse
• of public resources very and misuse of public resources very seriously<00:03:38.239> and<00:03
• It should already be expected that you would report fraud or some kind of misuse, and it just kind of

Bills: HF1470, HF1310, HF1837

Keywords: opioids, substance use, addiction recovery, mental health, state cabinet, HF1310, Office of Cannabis Management, cannabis, marijuana, tribal consultation, government-to-government relationship, Minnesota tribes, Tribal governments, state government, consultation, rulemaking, Indian affairs, cannabis regulation, tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relations

Transcript Highlights:

• All of the penalties for misuse of the security deposit still apply.
• Misuse of that would mean all of those penalties. So there's a strong bias to use the form.
• All of the penalties for misuse of the security deposit still apply.
• Misuse of that would mean all of those penalties. So there's a strong bias to use the form.
• All of the penalties for misuse of the security deposit still apply.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all