Committee Summary for Committee of Conference on SB 221, SB 213, SB 218 (06/18/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB221 00:02:39.519 - 8:01:20 AM	General Working Session	(New Title) enabling electric utilities to own, operate, and offer advanced nuclear resources, and relative to purchased power agreements for electric distribution utilities and limitations on community customer generators.	Harrington, Michael(R)[A]2025
SB213 2024-2798h 00:03:29.280 - 8:02:10 AM	General Working Session	(New Title) relative to electioneering by public employees and relative to absentee voting.	Gray, James(R)[B-]2025
SB218 00:10:02.560 - 8:08:43 AM	General Working Session	(New Title) relative to absentee ballots.	Gray, James(R)[B-]2025
SB221 00:34:46.000 - 8:33:27 AM	General Working Session	(New Title) relative to the verification of voter rolls annually.	Avard, Kevin(R)[B]2025

HB221: Committee Chair Information Only00:02:39.519 - 8:01:20 AM; The chair opens the session at approximately 9:03 and discusses HB221, proposing to adopt the House's position with modifications. They suggest creating an abbreviated re-registration form for purged voters, including name, voter ID, and other details required by the Secretary of State. This aims to streamline the process for moderators during purges, allowing voters to show identity without full re-registration if domicile and ward haven't changed. The chair plans to consult the Secretary of State and reconvene briefly for review.
SB213 2024-2798h: Senator Lang Support00:03:29.280 - 8:02:10 AM; Senator Lang proposes two minor changes to amendment 2798. First, on page 1, line 4, change 'legislative body' to 'governing body' because legislative bodies like town meetings do not appoint or hire people; governing bodies such as select boards do. Second, in the House-amended bill, change 'measure' to 'warrant article' in several places, including line 14 and page 1 line 15, as 'measure' is undefined in statute while 'warrant article' is defined, preventing public employees from making statements in favor of warrant articles before voters.
SB213 2024-2798h: Unidentified Member Support00:04:50.880 - 8:03:31 AM; The member supports the proposed changes as they tighten the language without altering the statute's meaning, updating terms to match current intent.
SB213 2024-2798h: Senator (Opposing) Oppose00:06:52.639 - 8:05:33 AM; The senator appreciates the language changes but maintains opposition to SB213, preferring the Senate's position of not advancing the bill. They reference a Goffstown Library survey showing current law works well, allowing public employees to use expertise in decisions like classroom heating, school administration, and police security discussions, even with budget impacts. Concerns include a potential chilling effect on employees, ambiguity in scenarios like discussing elections in civics class, and risks to public safety workers and teachers. They urge holding the Senate position and removing HB340 language from SB213.
SB213 2024-2798h: Senator (Opposing, continued) Oppose00:07:53.919 - 8:06:34 AM; Building on prior comments, the senator argues SB213 is unnecessary given recent passage of more restrictive language in SB287, which requires re-providing registration evidence for absentee ballots, infringing on voting rights. They reiterate concerns about the bill's impact on public employees and elections.
SB213 2024-2798h: Senator Lang (response) Support00:10:02.560 - 8:08:43 AM; Senator Lang confirms no change in position supporting the bill.
SB213 2024-2798h: House Members (collective) Support00:10:02.560 - 8:08:43 AM; House members confirm no change in position and accept the Senate proposal on SB213.
SB218: Senator Lang Support00:10:02.560 - 8:08:43 AM; For SB218, Senator Lang proposes adding 'applicable' on page 1 line 24 and page 2 line 23 to clarify proof requirements based on voter status (identity only if already registered in the ward, identity and domicile if registered elsewhere in state, all three if new). They suggest removing sections 5 and 6 from the Senate version (or equivalent in House-amended) to align with House position against pre-processing, but note section 6 may need to stay pending Secretary of State confirmation due to outer envelope provisions allowing moderator actions. This removes pre-processing introduced during COVID, addressing objections to handling absentee ballot issues at pre-processing rather than election day.
SB218: Unidentified Member Support00:14:10.480 - 8:12:51 AM; The member supports adding 'applicable' for clarity but opposes the bill overall, though views the changes as improvements.
SB218: House Members (request) Information Only00:15:23.920 - 8:14:04 AM; House members request 10 minutes to review the proposed changes to SB218 before proceeding.
SB221: Committee Chair Information Only00:34:46.000 - 8:33:27 AM; The chair reconvenes the session and proposes taking up SB221 first, suggesting an amendment to add language in Romans 7 (likely a reference to RSA 659:13 or similar) requiring the Secretary of State to develop forms for re-registering voters removed from the list. The chair notes this seems reasonable and mentions the position in absentia.
SB221: Sent Position Representative (possibly in absentia) Support00:35:33.440 - 8:34:14 AM; The representative supports the proposed amendment to add language about the Secretary of State developing necessary forms for voter re-registration after removal from the list.
SB221: Senate Representative Oppose00:35:33.440 - 8:34:14 AM; The representative acknowledges the amendment as constructive but opposes the bill overall, citing last year's Senate position against it. They argue that unnecessary purging of voter rolls denies voting rights, especially combined with HB1569 and new absentee voting restrictions. They suggest joining ERIC as an alternative to maintain clean rolls without this bill.
SB221: House Representative Information Only00:36:34.720 - 8:35:15 AM; The representative proposes striking language on page three, line 23, of the Senate version of SB218: 'errors identified during this process shall be processed directed by the Secretary of State.' They express concern that the language is vague and grants too much broad authority, preferring errors to be handled by supervisors of the checklist under existing statute.
SB221: Committee Chair Information Only00:37:29.680 - 8:36:10 AM; The chair confirms amendments for SB218: removing sections five and six from the Senate version, adding back opening language, and striking the specified sentence on page three. The chair asks if anyone is confused and notes the amendments will be written for signature. The Senate votes three yeses, and the House agrees to the compromise.
SB221: Senator Perkins Oppose00:38:37.680 - 8:37:18 AM; Senator Perkins opposes SB218 as amended, arguing that ongoing tightenings on voting rights in New Hampshire, which are already safe and secure, have led to over 100 voters being turned away, including mothers, veterans, elderly, and consistent voters. They cite no incidents of fraud justifying further restrictions and note combinations with HB287, SB213, and SB218 make voting harder. Disability advocates have raised alarms, emphasizing that the real danger is disenfranchising eligible voters, not fraud.
SB221: Senator Pinquoka Information Only00:38:37.680 - 8:37:18 AM; Senator Pinquoka provides a constructive comment on SB213's amendment under section F, suggesting removal of the phrase 'in response to requests from the public' regarding public employees providing factual information on official functions. They argue that public employees, as experts in safety and education, should be allowed to share their positions proactively to inform policy, without needing a public request.