Committee Summary for Committee of Conference on SB 221, SB 213 SB 218, SB 287, SB 118 (06/16/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB221 00:03:06.640 - 8:01:52 AM	Committee of Conference	(New Title) relative to the verification of voter rolls annually.	Avard, Kevin(R)[B]2025
SB213 2025-2740s 00:14:16.720 - 8:13:02 AM	Committee of Conference	(New Title) relative to electioneering by public employees and relative to absentee voting.	Gray, James(R)[B-]2025
SB218 00:22:42.960 - 8:21:28 AM	Committee of Conference	(New Title) relative to absentee ballots.	Gray, James(R)[B-]2025
SB287 00:26:50.960 - 8:25:36 AM	Committee of Conference	requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.	Pearl, Howard (R)[B]2025
SB118 01:59:56.000 - 9:58:42 AM	Committee of Conference	(Second New Title) relative to the personal needs allowance of residents of nursing homes; making an appropriation to the department of health and human services for Hampstead hospital and residential treatment facility staff; establishing the Hampstead hospital and residential treatment facility capital investment fund; and permitting qualifying patients and designated caregivers to cultivate cannabis for therapeutic use.	Birdsell, Regina(R)[B-]2025

SB221: Committee Chair Information Only00:03:06.640 - 8:01:52 AM; The chair calls the committee of conference to order on Senate Bill 221, noting the Senate's preference for looking back to presidential elections to minimize purges from voter lists. He shares his experience as a moderator supporting this approach.
SB221: House Representative Support00:03:58.720 - 8:02:44 AM; The House advocates for annual voter roll verification with a one-year look-back extension, emphasizing that the process is now efficient due to the voter database. Accurate voter rolls are crucial for integrity, and this is better than infrequent checks.
SB221: Senate Moderator Information Only00:05:11.520 - 8:03:57 AM; Drawing from moderator experience, the speaker notes issues with purges where voters who participated in the last presidential election did not receive 30-day letters, causing problems.
SB221: Committee Chair Information Only00:05:11.520 - 8:03:57 AM; The chair suggests recessing the committee to meet again on Wednesday at 9:00 AM to further discuss and potentially concur or amend.
SB221: House Representative Support00:06:54.639 - 8:05:40 AM; Highlights population mobility, growth, and high student turnover (35-60% out-of-state students leaving after one year) as reasons for annual verification to address changing demographics and job-related moves.
SB221: Senate Representative Information Only00:08:13.199 - 8:06:59 AM; Acknowledges student concerns but suggests using return receipt requested 30-day letters to handle undeliverable mail, proposing this as a compromise to get closer to agreement. Encourages caucus discussions before Wednesday.
SB221: Committee Chair Information Only00:08:13.199 - 8:06:59 AM; Confirms recess until Wednesday at 9:00 AM.
SB213 2025-2740s: Committee Chair Information Only00:14:16.720 - 8:13:02 AM; Calls the committee of conference on Senate Bill 213 to order, presenting a draft amendment 2025-2740s. Notes the Senate's position and a suggested change from 'may' to 'shall' on page 5, line 32, as identified by Representative Quley.
SB213 2025-2740s: Senate Representative Support00:15:13.360 - 8:13:59 AM; Describes the amendment: removes 'more likely than not' from the application form while retaining it as legal criteria; clarifies proofs of identity based on prior registration status (full proofs if not registered in NH, identity and domicile if previously registered in NH, identity if at the same polling place). Invites House response.
SB213 2025-2740s: Senator Lang Support00:16:32.480 - 8:15:18 AM; Proposes a change to the House-amended bill to address concerns about gagging public employees (e.g., police chiefs, fire chiefs, planning board members) from responding to citizen questions on official matters like fire stations or zoning. Adds a carve-out in Section 4, subsection F, allowing appointed public employees to provide factual information in response to public requests about their functions.
SB213 2025-2740s: Representative Barry Support00:17:31.039 - 8:16:17 AM; Thanks the Senate for considering the House's anti-electioneering bill. Agrees to the carve-out concession, noting it was not intended to stifle budget discussions but to prevent partisan electioneering by public employees. Supports incorporating minor language changes (e.g., 'may' to 'shall') and combining amendments to move forward.
SB213 2025-2740s: Unidentified Committee Member Information Only00:18:28.799 - 8:17:14 AM; Asks if the electioneering exemption for appointed employees like fire chiefs has been written out, confirming it is in the draft despite typos (e.g., 'public employers' instead of 'employees').
SB213 2025-2740s: Unidentified Committee Member Information Only00:19:23.200 - 8:18:09 AM; Raises a concern on amendment 2025-2740s, page 1, line 31: suggests changing 'I understand I may only make such a request 14 days after the filing period' to '14 days or more after' to avoid misinterpretation as only one day allowed. Refers to the committee attorney for review.
SB213 2025-2740s: Unidentified Senator Oppose00:20:31.679 - 8:19:17 AM; Expresses opposition to both bills (213 and attached 340), arguing they complicate absentee voting without addressing logistical difficulties raised in hearings, such as ID provision burdens on vulnerable voters. Concerns include notary access and added hurdles. Critiques the broad language in 340 creating ambiguity for public employees (e.g., commenting on teaching conditions, building temperatures, or needed equipment). Acknowledges revised language but finds it insufficient to cover all committee concerns.
SB213 2025-2740s: Committee Chair Information Only00:21:44.000 - 8:20:30 AM; Suggests a break to review amendments and moves to the next bill.
SB218: Senate Representative Oppose00:22:42.960 - 8:21:28 AM; The Senate wants to eliminate outer envelopes for absentee ballots but is open to the House amendment on lines 24 (page 1) and 23 (page 2), suggesting adding 'applicable' to specify that copies of documentation are required only as relevant (e.g., no citizenship proof needed for already registered state voters).
SB218: House Representative Information Only00:24:18.720 - 8:23:04 AM; The representative discusses concerns about election processes, emphasizing that as much as possible should occur on election day, consistent with historical practices in the state. They express openness to certain aspects but highlight issues with voter registration via absentee devices without ID, which some clerks interpret as allowable. The House seeks to close this loophole to ensure uniformity in registration and voting processes. They support inserting 'applicable' in the language to address age-related concerns and clarify requirements.
SB287: Senate Representative Support00:26:50.960 - 8:25:36 AM; The Senate is willing to concede to the House's position on SB 287.
SB287: House Representative Oppose00:27:37.440 - 8:26:23 AM; The representative opposes the House position on SB 287 and raises practical concerns about the bill's impact on clerks and voters. They argue it creates unnecessary burdens, such as requiring clerks to handle, scan, and store IDs, raising privacy and right-to-know issues. They highlight difficulties for voters with disabilities who cannot visit clerk offices. The representative views the bill as rushed and another barrier to voting for legally registered individuals, noting that clerks already visit nursing homes and homes of disabled voters, as in Rochester.
SB287: Senate Representative Support00:28:43.120 - 8:27:29 AM; The Senate, in a 2-3 vote, is willing to concede to the House position on SB 287, pending any changes.
SB287: House Representative Support00:28:43.120 - 8:27:29 AM; The representative thanks the Senate for conceding to the House position and advises brevity after a successful negotiation, referencing a lesson from their father about closing a sale.
SB118: Committee Chair Information Only01:59:56.000 - 9:58:42 AM; The chair opens the committee of conference on SB 118, noting the side-by-side comparison with the House-amended version. The bill aims to provide pathways for nursing home residents' needs.
SB118: Senator Bzel Information Only02:00:48.719 - 9:59:34 AM; Senator Bzel explains SB 118 as a DHS request to adjust personal needs allowances for nursing home residents annually to match social security increases, rather than every five years. It addresses prorated sign-on bonuses for employees at Hampstead Hospital who transitioned to Dartmouth Hitchcock. It also establishes a maintenance fund for Hampstead Hospital from rent payments by Dartmouth Hitchcock, approximately $3 million annually. She opposes the House addition allowing cannabis cultivation for therapeutic uses, viewing it as unacceptable for elderly residents and mental health facilities, noting it was killed as HB53 in the Senate.
SB118: House Representative Information Only02:02:09.520 - 10:00:55 AM; The representative confirms the House's immediate reaction against the cannabis provision and notes discussions in committee caucus.
SB118: Representative Drew Support02:02:09.520 - 10:00:55 AM; Representative Drew questions the opposition to the cannabis cultivation provision, explaining it allows qualified patients in the program to grow a few plants at home to avoid travel for purchases.
SB118: Senator Oppose02:03:13.920 - 10:01:59 AM; The senator opposes including the cannabis provision in SB 118, as the Senate position is Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on it, and it does not align with helping the elderly and Hampstead facilities.
SB118: House Representative Information Only02:03:13.920 - 10:01:59 AM; The representative notes the governor opposes cannabis-related bills and would likely veto the entire bill if the provision remains, acting as a poison pill.
SB118: Senator Information Only02:04:10.800 - 10:02:56 AM; The senator emphasizes that SB 118's underlying intent has nothing to do with cannabis, and attaching it undermines the bill's purpose. The Senate's position aligns with opposing cannabis bills this year.
SB118: Representative Da Support02:04:10.800 - 10:02:56 AM; As a co-sponsor, Representative Da supports passing as much of the bill as possible, particularly the nursing home features.
SB118: Senator Berzell Information Only02:05:11.840 - 10:03:57 AM; Senator Berzell clarifies the Senate's willingness to concede to the House position without the cannabis provision, incorporating DHHS-requested tweaks for flexibility with ARPA funds and repayments, which do not alter fiscal implications.
SB118: DHHS Representative (Mr. Williams) Support02:06:19.040 - 10:05:05 AM; The DHHS representative explains collaboration with the House Health Policy Committee and bill sponsor on an amendment addressing Gopher information on ARPA fund restrictions and repayments. The amendment provides departmental flexibility without changing fiscal impacts and was adopted in both House Health Policy and Finance committees. They request adopting the House position as most helpful to the department.
SB118: Deputy Commissioner Marissa Hen Information Only02:07:19.520 - 10:06:05 AM; Invited to comment but no specific remarks provided in the transcript.
SB118: House Conferee Support02:08:26.560 - 10:07:12 AM; The conferee notes strong bipartisan support for the bill in the House and emphasizes the importance of the base bill for Hampstead and nursing home residents. They hope to find a compromise to avoid the base bill dying, recalling it passed on consent in the House.
SB118: Senator Information Only02:08:26.560 - 10:07:12 AM; The senator mentions incorporating the nursing home provisions into the budget as a backup, expressing concern about the budget's passage, which is why the committee of conference was pursued to ensure Hampstead Hospital and nursing facilities receive needed support.
SB118: Senator (unnamed, likely committee member) Information Only02:22:00.880 - 10:20:46 AM; The senator informs the committee that they are not prepared to make a decision on the Committee of Conference at this time. They discuss the context of the bill originating from the judiciary committee with a strong inexpedient to legislate (ITL) vote on a related cannabis issue, and acknowledge the House's collaborative work with DHS on other matters. The senator emphasizes upholding the prior committee's position.