Committee Summary for Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (04/08/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB91 00:05:42.240 - 8:19:33 AM	Public Hearing	relative to the presence of a fire department at a fireworks display.	St. Clair, Charlie(D)[D-]2025
Unclear 00:07:16.919 - 8:21:07 AM	Executive Session	Unclear
HB230 00:16:59.279 - 8:30:50 AM	Public Hearing	relative to the adoption of public health ordinances by municipalities.	Harvey-Bolia, Juliet(R)[A-]2025
HB426 01:05:45.920 - 9:19:36 AM	Public Hearing	relative to property tax exemptions for charitable organizations for the prior tax year.	MacDonald, John(R)[B+]2025
HB426 01:16:40.239 - 9:30:31 AM	Executive Session	relative to property tax exemptions for charitable organizations for the prior tax year.	MacDonald, John(R)[B+]2025
HB421 01:19:06.040 - 9:32:57 AM	Executive Session	relative to notice of tax exempt-status filing procedures by town officials or offices.	Pearson, Mark(R)[B]2025
HB265 01:25:39.719 - 9:39:30 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) requiring that a public body's meeting minutes include start and end times of the meeting and the printed name of the recording secretary.	Smith, Marjorie(D)[F]2025
HB230 01:32:44.560 - 9:46:35 AM	Executive Session	relative to the adoption of public health ordinances by municipalities.	Harvey-Bolia, Juliet(R)[A-]2025
Unclear 01:40:42.880 - 9:54:33 AM	Executive Session	Unclear

HB91: Senator Lane Information Only00:05:42.240 - 8:19:33 AM; Senator Lane introduced House Bill 91, which is about the presence of the fire department at fireworks displays. No one was present to testify on the bill, and the hearing was closed.
Unclear: Unnamed Speaker Information Only00:07:16.919 - 8:21:07 AM; The committee moved into executive session to discuss pending bills. There was discussion about an amendment related to advertising in newspapers, specifically amendment 1510s, which needed further review and changes. The committee decided to wait until the next week to finalize the amendment.
Unclear: Unnamed Speaker Information Only00:09:03.519 - 8:22:54 AM; The committee discussed Senate Bill 54, which was postponed for further review. The committee also discussed upcoming House bills and planned a meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss potential revisions, particularly regarding campaign finance rules and voter registration issues.
Unclear: Unnamed Speaker Information Only00:09:49.360 - 8:23:40 AM; There was a discussion about campaign finance rules, specifically the interpretation of donations under $50 and how it affects incidental items at events like fairs. The committee considered revising the language to clarify these rules.
Unclear: Unnamed Speaker Information Only00:11:22.079 - 8:25:13 AM; The committee discussed voter registration issues, particularly the requirement for birth certificates and the use of Real ID information from the DMV. The discussion aimed to reduce voter interference by ensuring that necessary information is available at polls.
Unclear: Unnamed Speaker Information Only00:12:53.160 - 8:26:44 AM; The committee discussed a bill regarding the primary election date change to June, which would affect the budget for multiple elections in Manchester. The committee noted the need to wait for more details before making budget adjustments.
HB230: Representative Juliet Harvey Bully, Belknap County District 3 Support00:16:59.279 - 8:30:50 AM; Representative Juliet Harvey Bully introduced House Bill 230, which aims to regulate how local public health ordinances are adopted in towns. The bill has been introduced since 2021 and is a response to issues with mask mandates and other public health regulations. The bill passed in the House with amendments to simplify the language, focusing only on nuisances rather than broader public health issues. The representative provided examples of ordinances that have been misused, such as restrictions on home gatherings, tattoo business regulations, and alcohol consumption in public spaces. The bill seeks to ensure that public health regulations are clearly defined and that there are public hearings for such ordinances.
HB230: Julie Smith Support00:31:43.440 - 8:45:34 AM; Julie Smith supported House Bill 230, emphasizing the need to prevent future 'mask madness' and the importance of public comment in city governance. She mentioned an incident in Nashua where public comment was denied during a discussion on mask mandates, highlighting the need for transparency and public involvement in health ordinances.
HB230: Wayne Witford, New Hampshire Association of Health Officers Oppose00:34:10.000 - 8:48:01 AM; Wayne Witford, representing the New Hampshire Association of Health Officers, opposed House Bill 230. He argued that the current legislation under RSA 147:1 has been effective since 1981 and allows health officers to respond quickly to emerging public health threats. He expressed concerns that the bill would limit the ability of health officers to address issues like septic system failures, mosquito control, and other local public health concerns. He emphasized the need for local control and the ability to implement ordinances promptly.
HB230: Unidentified Speaker Information Only00:38:13.200 - 8:52:04 AM; The speaker asked about the qualifications for health officers in New Hampshire, noting that they are recommended by the local board of health and approved by the Department of Health and Human Services. There was a clarification that this process had not changed recently, and a confirmation that there are no specific public health background requirements for health officers.
HB230: Unidentified Speaker Information Only00:39:44.640 - 8:53:35 AM; The speaker discussed the process for health officers making decisions, stating that recommendations go to the board of health in public meetings. They provided an example from Newbury where an ordinance was discussed in multiple public meetings and received community support.
HB230: Unidentified Speaker Information Only00:40:30.320 - 8:54:21 AM; The speaker explained the process for citizens to repeal an ordinance, stating it would involve a petition to the select board and follow the same public meeting process as other issues.
HB230: Margaret Burns, New Hampshire Municipal Association Oppose00:41:18.800 - 8:55:09 AM; Margaret Burns expressed opposition to House Bill 230. She highlighted concerns about the ambiguity of the bill's language, particularly with the removal of 'and other such regulations relating to public health.' She argued that this could lead to inconsistencies within RSA chapter 147 and leave unclear what health officers would have the authority to regulate. Burns also noted that the motivation behind the bill seemed to be to clarify health officer authority, but she felt it did not achieve this goal. She referenced RSA chapter 128 concerning the appointment of health officers, mentioning the requirement for a background check but not specific qualifications.
HB230: Unidentified Senator Information Only00:44:42.800 - 8:58:33 AM; The senator questioned whether health officers should have a background in public health, given their broad authority. They also discussed the potential impact of removing the language about other regulations relating to public health, suggesting that adding 'or similar threats to public health' might address concerns about consistency with other statutes.
HB230: Margaret Burns, New Hampshire Municipal Association Oppose00:45:29.920 - 8:59:20 AM; Margaret Burns responded to the senator's suggestion about adding 'similar threats to public health,' stating that it might not clarify the statute as intended. She argued that if the amendment was about specific issues like responses to COVID, it would be more effective to focus on those issues directly rather than broadly changing health officer authority.
HB230: Unidentified Senator Information Only00:48:34.880 - 9:02:25 AM; The senator asked if adding temporary language to the bill, requiring health regulations to be renewed regularly, would be acceptable. Margaret Burns indicated she would be willing to work with the committee on such a proposal if it followed the current process for adopting health ordinances.
HB230: Sophia Johnson Information Only00:50:16.319 - 9:04:07 AM; Sophia Johnson responded to a question about a bill passed last year, clarifying that it allowed municipalities to handle the background check part of the health officer appointment process. The Department of Health and Human Services remains the appointing body, but municipalities can now determine the grounds for removal or non-appointment based on the background check.
HB230: Unidentified Speaker Information Only00:51:01.760 - 9:04:52 AM; The speaker asked if there had been cases where the Department of Health and Human Services denied a candidate for health officer due to lack of qualifications. Sophia Johnson responded that she was not aware of any such cases.
HB230: Mark Pearson, representing Kingston Support00:54:57.599 - 9:08:48 AM; Mark Pearson, representing Kingston, supports HB230, which he says aims to clarify the responsibilities between towns and nonprofit organizations regarding tax exemptions. He highlights a past court case where a town north of his district won against a nonprofit organization, leading to a reassessment of tax exemptions. Pearson mentions that many towns have gentleman's agreements with organizations, which are not formally documented, leading to confusion and penalties. He was personally penalized for late filing but the penalty was remitted. He suggests that the bill will ensure both parties meet their obligations more clearly, thus preventing future issues.
HB230: Ken Brothers, Town Manager of Raymond Oppose01:02:45.760 - 9:16:36 AM; Ken Brothers, Town Manager of Raymond, opposes HB230, particularly line seven, which he believes puts an undue burden on towns to track tax-exempt organizations. He argues that his employees are already overburdened and that the responsibility should be on the organizations themselves. He suggests that posting notices about due dates for forms, similar to public meetings, would be a more acceptable approach.
HB426: John McDonald, representing Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro Support01:05:45.920 - 9:19:36 AM; John McDonald supports HB426, which he says serves as a bridge for nonprofits that file late between June 1, 2024, and April 2025. The bill allows these organizations to justify their late filings due to accident, mistake, or misfortune before the Board of Selectmen and provides an opportunity to appeal if denied. He worked with the Board of Tax and Land Appeals to craft the bill, although they cannot testify due to ongoing litigation.
HB426: Representative Pierce Support01:09:04.399 - 9:22:55 AM; Representative Pierce supports HB426, emphasizing the importance of considering 'accident, mistake, misfortune' for nonprofit organizations, which are often run by volunteers. He argues that these groups need some leniency and support from towns, which benefit from their services.
HB426: Peggy Henley Manatis, Executive Director of the Wright Museum of World War II in Wolfeboro Support01:10:42.800 - 9:24:33 AM; Peggy Henley Manatis supports HB426, explaining that her museum lost its tax exemption due to a late filing caused by staff medical issues and seasonal worker shortages. The late filing resulted in a $50,000 tax bill, which is more than 10% of their budget. She believes the penalty is too severe given the extenuating circumstances and supports the bill to prevent similar situations for other nonprofits.
HB426: Salvatore Prisio, Executive Director of the Capital Center for the Arts in Concord, NH Support01:13:34.320 - 9:27:25 AM; Salvatore Prisio, representing the Capital Center for the Arts in Concord, NH, testified in support of the bill. He explained that the CCA, a major cultural institution, had filed a tax-exempt status late due to unforeseen circumstances, resulting in a $150,000 penalty from the city of Concord. He argued that the penalty was excessively punitive and damaging to nonprofit organizations like the CCA, which bring significant economic activity to the city. He emphasized the need for a more forgiving penalty system similar to federal tax penalties, which would not hinder their community outreach programs.
HB426: Committee Members Vote01:16:40.239 - 9:30:31 AM; In the executive session, the committee discussed HB426, focusing on the retroactive nature of the bill and its applicability to only one year. There was a lack of opposition testimony, and no emails or input from cities or towns were noted. The committee moved to pass the bill, with a motion and second, and it was approved by a voice vote.
HB421: Senator Lang Information Only01:19:06.040 - 9:32:57 AM; Senator Lang discussed the contention around HB421, specifically whether the responsibility for sending notices should be on the town or the individual. He suggested posting notices as a potential solution but acknowledged it might not solve the issue if towns forget to post them.
HB421: Committee Members Information Only01:19:55.679 - 9:33:46 AM; The committee discussed the burden on municipalities to send out notices to charities, with concerns about the workload and cost, especially in larger cities like Manchester and Nashua. Suggestions included using newspaper notices as a more cost-effective method. The committee decided to hold the bill for further consideration.
HB421: Senator from Manchester Information Only01:24:03.199 - 9:37:54 AM; A senator from Manchester shared that the tax collector in Manchester usually contacts aldermen to remind tax-exempt businesses of filing deadlines. He noted that this method has been effective, with no missed deadlines in his 16 years in Manchester. He questioned the necessity of the bill, suggesting that organizations should manage their own filing responsibilities.
HB265: Committee Members Vote01:25:39.719 - 9:39:30 AM; The committee discussed the requirement for signatures on minutes, questioning its necessity, especially in an electronic world. They agreed to strike the requirement for signatures but keep the name of the person who produced the minutes. The committee passed the bill with this amendment.
HB230: Committee Members Information Only01:32:44.560 - 9:46:35 AM; The committee discussed HB230, focusing on the authority of health officers to make regulations. Suggestions included adding a requirement for select boards to review regulations related to public health threats periodically. The committee expressed a preference for local control but considered the need for a renewal process for certain regulations. They decided to work on an amendment to address these concerns.
Unclear: Committee Members Information Only01:40:42.880 - 9:54:33 AM; The committee discussed a bill related to fireworks, focusing on the role of fire departments in inspecting display sites. Concerns were raised about the liability and cost implications for fire departments. The committee moved to pass the bill without further discussion.

Gray, James(Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Lang, Timothy(V Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Perkins Kwoka, Rebecca(D)[F]2025
Rochefort, David(R)[B-]2025	Long, Pat(D)[F]2025