Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with organizational business for the 2025–26 Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules. Senator Lang was elected chair and Representative Leon was elected vice chair. The committee then adopted the consent calendar and approved the minutes. The committee next took up a Fish and Game rule on freshwater fishing seasons and rules (24204), where the agency requested a narrow edit to remove language that conflicted with bass tournament rules. The committee conditionally approved the change. It then heard Department of Environmental Services rule 2465 on contaminated sites and PFAS-related soil and groundwater standards. DES staff and the commissioner defended the rule as implementing legislative directives, protecting public health, and not expanding responsibility or notice requirements beyond existing authority. Business and industry representatives objected, arguing the rule exceeded statutory authority, imposed substantial costs, provided inadequate notice, and relied on an insufficient fiscal impact analysis. After discussion, the committee conditionally approved the rule. The committee then considered Installation Standards Board rule 2469. Staff explained the rules had expired since April 2022 and were not enforced during that period, and members raised concerns that the board was relying on federal standards without a vote by an elected body. Representative Maguire moved to object, and the committee issued a preliminary objection. The committee also reviewed a related warranty seal rule, where staff noted a statutory conflict over fees and said no fees were collected during the gap between expired and newly adopted fee rules; the committee approved that final proposal. The transcript ends as the committee moves on to a Department of Agriculture rule, but no further action is shown.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee organized for the 2025-26 session by electing Senator Lang as chair and Representative Leon as vice chair, then adopted the consent calendar and approved the minutes. It next took up a requested change to Fish and Game rule 24204 on freshwater fishing season and rules, where Diane Timmons asked to strike language that would have limited anglers to two fish, one of which could be 16 inches or larger, because it conflicted with bass tournament rules. The committee conditionally approved that change. The main substantive item was DES rule 2465 on contaminated sites, including PFAS soil remediation and notification requirements. DES staff said the rule was properly noticed, that the fiscal impact statement met rule requirements, and that the rule implements legislative direction to address PFAS contamination and protect public health. Business and Industry Association representatives objected, arguing the rule exceeded statutory authority, expanded the definition of responsible parties and PFAS too broadly, imposed inadequate notice and fiscal analysis, and was not in the public interest because of economic impacts. After hearing both sides, the committee conditionally approved the rule. The committee then considered Installation Standards Board rule 2469, which had been expired since April 2022. OPLC staff said the rules had not been enforced during the lapse and explained that current practice relied on statute and manufacturer instructions, while committee members raised concerns that the rules would allow manufacturers to change standards without a vote by elected representatives. After discussion, Representative Maguire moved to object, and the committee adopted a preliminary objection. A second 2469 item on warranty seals followed, where OPLC noted a statutory conflict between RSA 205-D:12 and OPLC fee-setting authority, and staff confirmed that no fees were collected during the period when the prior rules had expired before the new fee rules were adopted.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered Representative Dan Maguire’s request for late drafting of a bill on SAU consolidation. Maguire said the Office of Legislative Services initially declined the draft for lack of detail, so he rewrote it himself, including references throughout the RSA, and argued the bill was urgent because of election-timing issues that could turn a one-year delay into a two-year delay. After questions about the deadline and the drafting process, the committee voted 5-4 to approve the late drafting request. The committee then took up several House Rules amendments. An amendment to House Rule 66 was adopted unanimously, with discussion focused on managing the House’s long work period and avoiding false assumptions about available time. An amendment to House Rule 28, dealing with legislative subpoenas and contempt procedures, was approved 5-4 after debate over whether Rules Committee approval should be required before issuing subpoenas, whether enforcement procedures should be spelled out now or left to future statute, and whether a majority vote was sufficient or a higher threshold such as three-fifths should be required. The committee also approved Representative Naer’s amendment to House Rule 2 requiring proper business attire in the House chamber, despite concerns about ambiguity, accommodations, and enforcement; supporters said the rule was meant to curb egregious casual dress and preserve decorum. Representative Diane Pauer’s amendment to House Rule 39B, which would require first drafts of LSRs to be sent to sponsors at least 10 days before sign-off deadlines, was rejected. Pauer said a late draft had previously left her with less than 24 hours to review and cost her co-sponsors. Members raised concerns about how the rule would be enforced and whether it would disrupt OS workflow and other deadlines; a suggested alternative language was discussed, but the committee ultimately voted not to adopt the amendment. Finally, Representative Osborne introduced an amendment to House Rule 44 creating a “tabling calendar” for bills, allowing three-quarters of a committee to table a bill without a public hearing and permitting a simple majority of the House to send it back for hearing before the deadline. Weber said the concept had promise but raised concerns about timing, floor time, and whether it would actually save time; the transcript cuts off before the final action on this item.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the August 27 minutes and then received updates on several ongoing performance audits from LBA staff. Christine Young reported that the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights audit is furthest along; the commission’s executive director remains on leave, the assistant executive director has left, and an investigator is serving as acting executive director. LBA has revised the draft report after receiving written feedback from commissioners, with final audit responses due December 20, an exit meeting expected in January, and a hoped-for fiscal committee presentation in February. Representative Marjorie Smith spoke at length in support of the audit process and criticized the commission’s repeated delays, saying the situation has harmed people who rely on the agency. LBA staff said the leadership turnover made this an unusual case and that they are working with Department of Justice counsel to finish the report and obtain responses. Staff also updated the committee on the state oversight of special education audit, saying it is staffed with four auditors, fieldwork should conclude this month, five observations have already been sent to the department, five more are in final review, additional observations are expected in January, and the full draft report is now expected in mid-2025 because of the audit’s broad scope, complex subject matter, repeated information requests, and a department employee being out on leave. The Education Freedom Account audit is staffed with three auditors; the team has finished its risk assessment, is finalizing the audit plan, and has begun fieldwork, but the resignation of the administrator responsible for oversight of the Children’s Scholarship Fund may affect timing. The committee also heard that the Doorway program audit had an entrance conference with DHHS on September 12, that staff have been gathering documents, and that a scope statement was presented for approval. The Doorway scope outlined a review of whether the Division of Behavioral Health effectively monitored the program from fiscal years 2022 through 2024, including participation levels, access times, and contract management. John Clinch described Doorway as a statewide network of regional hubs for opioid use disorder treatment and recovery services, funded entirely with federal money and operating with nine locations and six staff positions. Committee members questioned whether the audit should focus more on outcomes, service access outside business hours, the use of flexible needs funds, and whether the program has expanded beyond its original referral model into treatment and support. DHHS’s Jennifer Sabin said outcomes are difficult to measure across the full population because of privacy rules and fragmented records, but a prior evaluation of a small Medicaid cohort found reduced symptoms and improved relationships, employment, and housing at follow-up. She also explained that Doorways now provide some treatment and bridge services in response to community need. One member objected to approving the scope at the end of the legislative term, arguing the program is federally funded, already subject to reporting and an outside evaluation, and that the committee was too close to adjournment to take it up.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee met on November 22, 2024, approved the October 25 minutes, and then received a DHHS commissioner’s update focused on aging services. Bureau staff described progress on the system of care for healthy aging created under HB 2, including implementation of Choices for Independence waiver rate increases and eligibility changes, updated Aging and Disability Resource Center contracts, person-centered counseling, a CFI rate study, and a bureau name transition. They also outlined next steps: finishing the system-of-care plan and vision, seeking Medicaid administrative claiming for ADRC activities, IT enhancements, and a future CFI waiver amendment. Members asked for clearer budget/resource information and discussed the need to connect the conceptual plan to general fund impacts and possible managed care implications. The committee then heard about DHHS’s community re-entry work for incarcerated adults and youth. Officials said the adult program, supported by an 1115 waiver, will allow Medicaid to begin services 45 days before release, including mental health and substance use treatment, and provide a 30-day medication supply at discharge. A related youth program, required by federal law, will provide pre-release screening and 30 days of care management after release, with special attention to former foster youth. Members asked about timing, costs, and whether the programs would save money; DHHS said the initiatives are intended as preventive investments that should reduce emergency room use, boarding, and recidivism over time, though some costs will occur up front. DHHS also said it is meeting with counties to align the re-entry model with jail populations, noting that the federal waiver applies to sentenced or adjudicated individuals, not all detainees. The department said it will conduct the federally required evaluation of the program, including an interim and five-year review. Finally, the committee briefly discussed Medicaid-to-schools issues, with DHHS stating that parents or case heads must approve plans of care and can access billing information, and that the program is structured to preserve parental notice and sign-off rights.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the previous meeting minutes and the consent agenda, then moved to the regular agenda. It took up the solid waste/landfill rules (FP 2024-74-4, referred to as the 800 rules), where a member moved a preliminary objection on grounds that the rule was contrary to public interest and not responsive to public need. Supporters said the rulemaking record was highly technical, that the new rules were more protective than the existing ones, and that delaying action could leave older, less protective rules in place for pending landfill applications. The committee noted it had received more than 500 pages of testimony. The preliminary objection was adopted, triggering the agency response period. The committee then turned to the Department of Education’s minimum standards for public school approval, Proposal 2024-41, the first half of the Ed 306 rules. Before testimony, the chair emphasized that the committee was not holding a public hearing and would not rehash duplicative comments or policy disputes; the committee’s role was limited to whether the rules complied with statute and legislative intent. The proposal had already received a 4-2 recommendation of support from the education oversight committee, contingent on changing the definition of “educator” to match RSA 21-N:8-c, and the department said that change had been incorporated. Members of the public and legislators then raised process objections, arguing the Department of Education had not adequately engaged educators and school personnel, had relied on contracted drafting, had not fully incorporated citizen input, and had not properly supported the legislative oversight committee. They also argued the proposed rules conflicted with legislative intent, including concerns about class-size standards and references to older curriculum frameworks. In response, the department and State Board representatives said the process had been unusually extensive, with 13 listening sessions, three public hearings, and many changes made from public and educator feedback. They denied that the rules eliminated class-size caps, said the caps remained in the amended proposal, and stated that any confusion about drafts or committee materials was addressed as a process issue rather than a substantive failure.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on November 15, 2024, first adopting the minutes and then approving the consent calendar after several House removals were noted. The committee considered multiple Department of Health and Human Services items, including tobacco program funding, refugee resettlement, and the Money Follows the Person demonstration project, along with a Department of Insurance item on women’s health access. Most items were approved by voice vote after brief discussion. On the tobacco program item, Representative Edwards asked for the program’s headcount, staff qualifications, and performance metrics. DHHS said the tobacco program has five FTEs, mostly programmatic staff with varied public health or medical backgrounds, and described metrics such as Quit Line usage, referrals to cessation services, and participant retention and outcomes. The committee approved the item, with DHHS agreeing to provide follow-up information on staffing and metrics. A longer exchange focused on refugee data and the DHHS dashboard. Representative Edwards asked DHHS to add more detailed categories to the dashboard, including legal status, year of entry, and demographic breakdowns. DHHS said it can provide some data, such as nationality and year, but not all requested categories, especially sex and age in small groups, due to privacy and safety concerns. DHHS also explained that eligibility for refugee resettlement services is governed by federal rules and varies by category; the item was adopted after the discussion. The committee also discussed the Money Follows the Person project, where DHHS said the program currently has two FTEs and is seeking three temporary positions, with the goal of moving people from nursing facilities to community settings at lower cost. DHHS said the program is partly budgeted now and will need a later change request for additional federal funds. On the Department of Insurance item, the commissioner said the women’s health access report will focus on commercial insurance and will be coordinated with DHHS. Later, Representative Edwards raised questions about the DHHS operating dashboard, including Youth Development Center census procedures, community mental health trends, the developmental disabilities wait list, and Mission Zero; DHHS said some reports are in progress and that the Mission Zero dashboard is already publicly available. The meeting ended with several members offering remarks of appreciation and farewell to departing legislators and staff.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee resumed budget hearings and first heard from the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). The executive director described OPLC’s mission, its oversight of more than 50 licensing boards and commissions, and its work licensing and regulating roughly 240,000 occupational licensees. She said the agency averages about 100 complaints a month and 2,000 inspections a year, and presented a biennial budget of $15.1 million for FY 2026 and $15.7 million for FY 2027, including a request to convert eight temporary positions to permanent roles. She also said OPLC wants to restore mechanical and electrical inspector positions as unclassified jobs, similar to the pharmacy inspector role, and noted that the office is self-funded and would seek the change through HB 2 without additional appropriations. Members asked about OPLC’s fund balance, fee-setting process, staffing, and board structure. The agency said its fund balance is about $4.5 million, largely rolled over from prior years, and that fees are set through a cost-allocation method to stay below the threshold that would make them a tax. OPLC said it is preparing a fee package that may include both increases and decreases, and that it has not yet funded several legislatively created positions, including chief of staff and counsel roles, because current revenue is about $8 million short of the amount it is authorized to budget over the biennium. The executive director attributed the shortfall to increased statutory responsibilities, centralization of licensing work, and the shift from volunteer board work to staff-driven credentialing and enforcement. She also said most boards have five members, some larger boards have more, and the office has three public boardrooms. In response to questions about enforcement, OPLC said fines are only one possible penalty and are often less significant than license restrictions or revocation. The committee then heard from the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services. Commissioner David Tis said the department’s budget meets the governor’s 4% efficiency target and does not request new positions, but he warned that the reduction is effectively much larger once salary and health insurance increases are considered. He explained that the department, created in 2019, supports the New Hampshire National Guard and a growing veterans services portfolio, with more than 3,000 service members, about 80 buildings across 18 communities, and roughly 30 state employees in the veterans services side. He said the department brings in about $34 million in federal funds, but has struggled to execute contracts and manage accounting and procurement with limited back-end support, leading to returned federal dollars in recent years. No votes or formal actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy met to review and edit its draft majority and minority reports on the state’s COVID-19 response. Members discussed the committee’s mission, the role of federal guidance, emergency use authorization, vaccination efforts, and the need to reference the state’s COVID-19 after-action report consistently throughout both reports. They also reviewed the minority report first, with some members supporting its inclusion and suggesting only minor edits, while others noted disagreements with its framing of the state’s response. The committee then worked through the majority report section by section, making mostly grammatical and clarifying changes. Proposed edits included changing wording such as “in some cases” to “in many cases,” clarifying references to the after-action report, and revising language about the state’s response, masking guidance, and the impact of federal guidance. Members also discussed adding hyperlinks or appendices for testimony, meeting dates, and documents, and one member suggested a conclusion stating the committee’s work was not yet finished and should be continued in the next legislative session. Several members emphasized that the committee had not exhausted public testimony and that more review was needed, especially regarding long-term effects such as long COVID, speech issues, and the consequences of masking and other mandates. The committee also considered whether to amend its mission to be more forward-looking. No final vote on the reports or amendments was recorded in the transcript, but members generally agreed to continue refining the language and documentation before submission.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The hearing began with the Secretary of State, who said the office’s budget request was essentially a maintenance budget, with only a few prioritized needs from Administrative Services and DOIT. He also noted the recent election went smoothly and recounts were proceeding without issue. The committee then heard from the Right to Know Ombudsman, who described the office as a new, independent executive branch agency attached administratively to the Department of State. He reported 254 inquiries since the office opened, 71 formal complaints, and said more than half of the complaints were resolved; he also explained the office’s role in handling RSA 91-A disputes and noted that his commission expires July 1, 2025 unless extended by legislation. Committee members asked about the volume of cases, whether he would seek an HB 2 extension, and requested that he provide a more formal written request for possible future staffing needs such as a part-time clerk or attorney. The Governor’s Commission on Disability presented next. Its director explained the commission’s statutory role advising the governor, legislature, and public on disability-related programs and services, and said the office has six full-time and two part-time positions, with one part-time vacancy. He described the budget as staying within targets by reducing a part-time position from 29 to 23 hours and using that savings to cover prioritized needs, including an 88 coordinator position intended to help state agencies with disability accommodations and onboarding. He also highlighted the HRU support from the Division of Personnel, the commission’s rent arrangement through Personnel, and the ABLE Savings Plan, which allows people with disabilities to save tax-free without jeopardizing SSI or Medicaid. In response to questions, staff explained that about $90,000 in transfer income in one accounting unit comes from the Department of Education for the SILC program, and that federal funding was reduced because the office does not spend all of its federal allocation and adjusted its shared-fund accounting to better match actual spending. The Pease Development Authority then gave a brief budget overview, saying its budget is mainly salaries and benefits, staffing is unchanged, and increases are tied to future costs such as wages, benefits, and workers’ compensation, with no impact to the general fund. When asked about a high overtime line, staff said the figures come from payroll administration and are usually higher than actual costs, with the expectation that the funds will not all be used unless there are extraordinary events such as severe storms. Finally, the Board of Tax and Land Appeals described its jurisdiction over tax matters, municipal equalized valuations, eminent domain compensation, and reassessment issues. The board said it complied with the governor’s 4% budget cut by unfunding a review appraiser position, after years of staffing reductions from 12 positions to six. Staff reported 400 new appeals, about 700 open cases rolling each year, and said the board is working with Personnel to reclassify positions and address workload pressures, warning that without additional help it is struggling to keep up with its caseload.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Capital Project Overview Committee met to approve the October 2, 2024 minutes, which passed unanimously. There was no old business. The committee then heard informational updates from the Department of Environmental Services on technology and permitting modernization funded by capital appropriations and ARPA, including moving land resources management forms online, reducing paper/PDF submissions, and digitizing legacy databases. DES reported nearly 3,000 online submissions since January, completion of online wetlands and shoreland forms, and progress on digitizing about 4 million historic subsurface/septic records, with the goal of improving efficiency and public access. Members asked about the Shoreland permitting process and whether thresholds for permit-by-notification might be expanded. DES said Shoreland rules are up for re-adoption next year and that streamlining is being considered, but no specific threshold increase has been discussed yet. The committee also heard from the Community College System, where a witness clarified that a requested report on critical maintenance and IT work had been provided after some confusion about the reporting format. The chair noted the report was appreciated and that the issue was an oversight rather than intentional noncompliance. The final informational item came from Charles Hunter of the railroads, who reported that the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad received a Federal Railroad Administration CRISI grant, aided by $500,000 in New Hampshire DOT matching funds. He said the project totals about $19.5 million and will replace older rail with heavier rail to meet modern standards, along with switches and grade-crossing work, with installation planned for next year. After brief questions, the chair noted the committee would be ending and that no further meeting was needed because a new committee would be formed next session; the meeting then adjourned.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered a Department of Transportation request to sell several surplus parcels associated with the Conway bypass project. Members asked about the status of the project, how much had been repaid to the federal government, and why the properties had not been maintained. The department said the federal highway repayment had been completed, several parcels remained to be sold, and the land had deteriorated largely because of a lack of maintenance funding. It also said it would contact the town of Conway, the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, and the original sellers to see whether they had any interest in repurchasing parcels. The committee then approved the request. The committee next heard a Department of Administrative Services request to continue leasing 9,433 square feet at Hillsborough County Superior Court North in Manchester for the Hillsborough County Attorney’s office. The lease is for four years and would generate $518,700 in revenue. The committee approved that item as well. The final major item was a New Hampshire Liquor Commission request to sell surplus property at the Hampton liquor sites on Interstate 95. The commission explained that it wants to redevelop the sites through an RFP process, keep the land under the new state liquor stores, retain the on-ramps and off-ramps, and sell the remaining surplus land to a private developer. It said it received four proposals, is seeking approval to continue negotiations toward a purchase and sale agreement and master development agreement, and wants the sale price to be no less than $15 million. The proceeds are intended to retire Liquor Commission bond debt, and the commission said it will use separate capital appropriations to build two new state-owned liquor stores. After questions about the comparison to Hooksett, the role of the town of Hampton, and the expected construction costs, the committee approved the item. The meeting ended with discussion of an informational annual report on prior property dispositions and then adjournment.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a post-election budget hearing focused on New Hampshire’s two-year state budget process and the transition to the governor-elect’s administration. The chair and other speakers emphasized continuity in state operations, noting that agency leadership and staff remain in place through the transition and that the budget process is designed to be transparent, with input from agencies, public testimony, subcommittees, and the House and Senate. The discussion also highlighted the state’s overall fiscal position, including a healthy surplus, a larger rainy day fund, reduced debt, and a stronger credit rating, while acknowledging inflation, higher labor costs, and the need to manage vacancies and one-time federal funds carefully. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to the Department of Revenue Administration’s FY 2026-2027 operating budget. The commissioner said the department collected about $2.9 billion in state revenue at a cost of less than $22.7 million, with collection costs just over one-half of 1% when unrelated functions are excluded. The department’s budget was described as largely general-fund supported and consistent with the governor’s targets, while also reducing 18 vacant positions, including auditors, examiners, administrators, a paralegal, and a utility appraiser. The department said it is converting ongoing costs from the RIMS modernization project into the operating budget and seeking to move RIMS to a cloud-based platform. The DRA also outlined several prioritized needs: restoring funding for a vendor consultant and a project manager for RIMS support, restoring four audit positions and related travel, and restoring a paralegal position in the hearings bureau to handle increased electronic appeals. The commissioner reported that the upgraded RIMS system, including the Core 21 version, has improved security and efficiency and generated additional revenue through reminder notices, use of federal tax information, and automated payment plans. Additional technology and operational improvements were cited, including a high-speed scanner, upgraded fleet vehicles, and a modernized equalization web application. The hearing ended with the chair thanking the commissioner and inviting questions; no votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.