Committee Summary for Fiscal Committee (11/21/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
Unclear 00:06:30.960 - 10:05:16 AM	General Working Session	Unclear

Unclear: Chair (unnamed) Information Only00:06:30.960 - 10:05:16 AM; The chair calls the fiscal committee to order on Friday, November 21st, notes substitutions for absent senators, and moves to approve the minutes from October 17th. The motion passes with one abstention.
Unclear: Committee Members (various) Information Only00:07:26.160 - 10:06:12 AM; Committee members approve the consent calendar after removing specific items (25282 from tab four and 25279 from tab five). The remainder is adopted.
Unclear: Charlie Arlinghouse, Commissioner of Administrative Services; Ted Cuper, Director of Public Works Information Only00:08:15.840 - 10:07:01 AM; Arlinghouse and Cuper explain item 25282 under tab four, detailing design errors and flaws discovered during testing on a construction project in a residential neighborhood. They describe remediation efforts, a settlement from the insurance company for engineers, and project the completion in fall 2027 with work restarting next week. The item is approved.
Unclear: Senator Ridden Information Only00:08:15.840 - 10:07:01 AM; Senator Ridden questions the commissioners about the project's status, construction stoppage, and restart in their district's residential area.
Unclear: Lori Weaver, Commissioner Health and Human Services; Charlie Arlinghouse Information Only00:11:33.519 - 10:10:19 AM; For item 25279 under tab five, Weaver and Arlinghouse discuss a federally required element for an HHS building project that exceeded initial costs. They explain innovative bidding, use of ARPA funds, and lifting restrictions to allow general funds. The project is on track for occupancy in a year without relying on property sale funds. The sale of the Sununu Center property in Manchester is complicated and speculative, with an RFP for a broker forthcoming. The item is approved.
Unclear: Representative Re Information Only00:11:33.519 - 10:10:19 AM; Representative Re questions why funding for a federally required element is being addressed late in the project.
Unclear: Senator Waters Information Only00:13:29.839 - 10:12:15 AM; Senator Waters asks about the completion date and the impact of selling existing land on funding.
Unclear: Committee Members (various) Information Only00:17:34.720 - 10:16:20 AM; Discussion on item 25280 from Department of Administrative Services regarding budget true-up and rainy day fund usage. Debate on House vs. Senate estimates and lack of conference committee affecting prior budget. The item is approved.
Unclear: Representative (unnamed) Information Only00:17:34.720 - 10:16:20 AM; A representative comments that using House Ways and Means estimates might have avoided the need for this item.
Unclear: Senator (unnamed) Information Only00:18:29.039 - 10:17:15 AM; A senator defends the Senate's efforts to lower rainy day fund drawdown from 140 million (House estimate) to 47 million, clarifying this is a true-up from last year unrelated to current revenue estimates.
Unclear: Committee Members (various) Information Only00:19:46.880 - 10:18:32 AM; Item 25278 from Health and Human Services is approved without discussion.
Unclear: Donald Crease, Consumer Advocate Information Only00:21:01.039 - 10:19:47 AM; For item 25272 under tab eight, Crease explains the RFP process for utility rate case consultants, focusing on operating costs analysis rather than return on equity. He selected a Michigan firm due to expertise, efficiency, competitive pricing, and lack of in-state options. Work is mostly remote, with potential for in-person appearances. The contract aims to limit rate increases. The item is approved, with one negative vote.
Unclear: Representative Leeman Information Only00:21:01.039 - 10:19:47 AM; Representative Leeman questions the RFP process, selection of a non-local Michigan firm, and whether eliminated respondents (including Massachusetts firms) were contacted about scope changes.
Unclear: Representative Wiler Information Only00:26:39.679 - 10:25:25 AM; Representative Wiler asks if the contract will affect electric rates, given recent increases.
Unclear: J. Bucky, Director (Judicial Council) Information Only00:28:01.760 - 10:26:47 AM; For item 25261 under tab nine, Bucky explains the request for additional funds due to a new budget obligation from legislative changes shifting payment responsibility for cases from the judicial branch to the Judicial Council. Anticipates two more funding requests. Discusses recruitment challenges for public defenders due to nonprofit status, competition from Massachusetts, low attorney numbers in NH, and issues with private conflict cases. Notes the abolition of the cost containment office as it cost more than recoveries. The item is approved.
Unclear: President Carson Information Only00:28:01.760 - 10:26:47 AM; President Carson questions the budgeting process, surprise at the additional request, and suggests referencing related legislation in future requests for better tracking.
Unclear: Senator (unnamed) Information Only00:30:03.440 - 10:28:49 AM; A senator asks about the source of the new duty (legislative change at judicial branch's request).
Unclear: Representative (unnamed) Information Only00:31:10.000 - 10:29:56 AM; A representative inquires about public defense requests (150 total, 80 in jail) and recruitment issues.
Unclear: Committee Members (various) Information Only00:34:27.440 - 10:33:13 AM; Item 25266 under tab ten (State Treasurer's report on 529 plan) is approved without discussion.
Unclear: Jennifer Ramsey, Tax Policy Council, Department of Revenue Administration Information Only00:35:13.520 - 10:33:59 AM; For informational item 25265, Ramsey discusses interest and dividends tax refunds related to repeal, estimating $21 million for the current quarter (including recent $10 million), nearly exhausting credits. Little overpayments remain for tax year 2024.
Unclear: Senator Waters Information Only00:35:13.520 - 10:33:59 AM; Senator Waters asks about anticipated future refunds amid watching revenue reports and deficits.
Unclear: Representative Leechman Information Only00:37:29.920 - 10:36:15 AM; Representative Leechman notes questions on item 25274 from Environmental Services (aquatic resource mitigation fund) to be submitted via Mr. Kane, as no DES representative is present.
Unclear: Chair (unnamed) Information Only00:38:31.680 - 10:37:17 AM; The chair sets the next meeting for December 19th at 11:00 AM and adjourns the meeting.