Nottingham School District leaders described their town's recent move from a multi-district SAU to a single-district SAU, citing closer student services, local administrative capacity and manageable costs as reasons for the change.

The New Hampshire Association of Counties told the committee a county-based model raises broad questions including appointment or election of superintendents, funding responsibilities, asset transfers, constitutional duties and rural county capacity.

Chuck Bates, executive director of New Hampshire ASBO, told the committee that School Administrative Unit (SAU) consolidation raises operational, financial and emotional challenges, citing multiple accounting systems, allocation rules, local-control resistance and unclear payback timelines.

The committee voted to advance House Bill 705, which would require carriers to publish standardized in-network negotiated rates, out-of-network allowed amounts, and prescription-drug price files; the New Hampshire Insurance Department would oversee compliance and defer to federal rules where conflicts arise.

Dr. Nate Green of the New Hampshire Department of Education explained the state's use of the SAT for eleventh-grade accountability, noted an ~82% participation rate (about 18% opt out), and cautioned that state-to-state comparisons require care because cut scores and participation rules differ.

The Hooksett Planning Board continued review of a proposed Washville automatic car wash at 1317–1319 Hooksett Road after public commenters and a competing operator called for a full traffic impact study. The board did not decide the traffic-waiver request and set a date to reconvene; DOT has reviewed the driveway separately.

The committee voted 13‑4 to report HB256 inexpedient to legislate. Supporters sought a formal study and renewed federal investigation into the 1967 attack on the USS Liberty; opponents said a state panel lacks jurisdiction and recommended a resolution and federal follow‑up.

A House committee on state‑federal relations considered HB104FN, a measure that would require a formal declaration of war before New Hampshire’s National Guard could be activated overseas. Members approved an amendment that delayed the bill’s effective date until five states adopt similar laws, but later voted the bill inexpedient to legislate.

Keene City Council held a statutorily required public hearing Oct. 16 to inform voters about a Nov. 4 ballot question that would prohibit Keno within city limits if a majority votes yes. The New Hampshire Lottery commissioner described economic impacts and retailers’ interest; public commenters and some councilors raised concerns about addiction, a

The Judicial Council told the Fiscal Committee that not hiring recommended public defenders has forced more cases to assigned counsel and contract counsel, increasing costs. The committee approved the Judicial Council item and discussed potential rainy-day fund use for supplemental costs.

The Fiscal Committee voted to adopt the minutes of Sept. 5, approved a consent calendar with several items removed for discussion, and approved departmental funding and appropriation requests across multiple agencies.

Attorney General John Formella presented a reduced litigation fund request and answered committee questions about YDC-related costs and settlement decisions. The Legislative Budget Assistant (LBA) presented an audit with five observations, including recommended policies for YDC installment payments and required administrative rules and reports.

District administrators briefed the board on New Hampshire State Board of Education ED 306 rule changes that require competency‑based credit, new pathways such as extended learning opportunities and learn‑everywhere credit, and updates to graduation credit requirements. The board approved first reads of revised summer learning (IHCA) and the new IK

Committee members debated state changes to accessory dwelling unit (ADU) law and directed staff to draft revised local language distinguishing attached and detached ADUs, with proposed maxima of 1,500 sq ft for attached and 950 sq ft for detached units for committee review.

A commissioner said they will attend next week’s Dover public hearing about a proposed contract to operate the county warming center with Dover and Rochester.

The committee pulled rules on wood processing mills, wood concentration yards and open burning from consent and granted a one-month postponement after members questioned a 5-inch diameter limit for permissible burn materials and whether the rule exceeded statutory authority.

A legislative work session voted 4-3 to adopt amendment 2025-3013h to House Bill 675, requiring a two-thirds local vote to raise district budgets beyond changes tied to student counts and inflation; the session also issued unanimous ITL (inexpedient to legislate) recommendations on several other bills.

Public Works Director Ben Berthia presented a proposed DPW budget of $5,736,333 (a $134,868, 2.41% increase). The committee discussed restoring paving funding to $650,000, testing pavement-preservation techniques, salt and fuel costs, and the impact of changing recycling-transfer Saturday hours.

Board members discussed a regional insurance pool (Interlocal Trust) bankruptcy and the state receiver's role; Wakefield School District and other affected towns are awaiting liability numbers, and Brookfield officials said the delay could push back the town's tax rate finalization.

Multiple public commenters raised concerns about preventive detention procedures and treatment of detainees, urging the delegation to consider legislative or policy changes to reduce harm and address medication and medical needs in jail.

The delegation gave preliminary approval for three municipalities to construct and fund an emergency warming center on county land, contingent on a public hearing and vote in Dover; the plan requires intermunicipal funding and later RFPs and lease terms before construction proceeds.

After a public hearing on unexpected medical and staffing costs at the county jail and nursing home, the Strafford County delegation voted to approve a $1,442,531 supplemental appropriation and authorized multiple short-term borrowing measures to cover cash-flow needs for 2025.

Plume founders described a public, EVM-compatible network and asset-management protocols intended to make real-world asset tokenization accessible to institutional investors and retail holders, and highlighted regulatory models and pilot incentives from Hong Kong, Bermuda and Singapore.

A Global Blockchain Business Council researcher told New Hampshire's Stable Token Study Commission that stablecoins and tokenization are growing worldwide, driven by payments, remittances and institutional use, but said regulatory uncertainty and reserve transparency remain key risks.

Wyoming’s Stable Token Commission told New Hampshire’s Stable Token Study Commission it is building a fiat-backed, fully reserved stablecoin to be issued by a state authority, with public rulemaking, audited reserves and plans to route interest to the state school fund.