Committee Summary for House Finance (02/20/2026)

Weyler, Kenneth(Chairman)(R)[A-]2025	Griffin, Gerald(Clerk)(R)[A-]2025	McGuire, Dan(V Chairman)(R)[A]2025
Wallner, Mary Jane(D)[F]2025	Daniels, Gary(R)[A-]2025	Leishman, Peter(D)[D-]2025
McGuire, Carol(R)[A+]2025	Ebel, Karen(D)[F]2025	Muns, Chris(D)[CT]2025
Sweeney, Joe(R)[A]2025	Seaworth, Brian(R)[A-]2025	Preece, David(D)[CT]2025
Nalevanko, Rich(R)[B+]2025	Mooney, Maureen(R)[B+]2025	Murray, Kate(D)[F]2025
Cambrils, Jose(R)[B+]2025	Popovici-Muller, Daniel(R)[A-]2025	Rung, Rosemarie(D)[CT]2025
Kelly, Eileen(D)[F]2025	Hakken-Phillips, Mary(D)[F]2025	Telerski, Laura(D)[CT]2025
Stringham, Jerry(D)[D-]2025	Erf, Keith(R)[A]2025	Farrington, Samuel(R)[A+]2025

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB661 2026821h 00:02:06.489 - 1:30:32 PM	Executive Session	relative to the department of health and human services management of social security payments, supplemental security income payments, and veterans benefits for children in foster care.	Wallner, Mary Jane(D)[F]2025
HB1515 690h 00:20:26.758 - 1:48:52 PM	Executive Session	repealing the child care grant program administered by the department of health and human services.	Turcotte, Len(R)[B]2025
HB1566 00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM	Executive Session	making a contingent appropriation to the department of health and human services for the purpose of providing recruitment and benefit grants to child care employers.	Wallner, Mary Jane(D)[F]2025
HB1750 00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM	Executive Session	making a supplemental appropriation to the department of health and human services for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).	Pearson, Mark(R)[B]2025
HB1042 2026-0859-H 00:50:26.758 - 2:18:52 PM	Executive Session	raising the unified contingent credit limit.	Sweeney, Joe(R)[A]2025
HB1166 01:15:00.000 - 2:43:26 PM	Executive Session	relative to the contents of the budget trailer bill.	Harrington, Michael(R)[A]2025
HB1311 01:25:00.000 - 2:53:26 PM	Executive Session	establishing a regulatory analysis fund to evaluate the economic impact of proposed rules and making an appropriation therefor.	Layon, Erica(R)[A+]2025

HB661 2026821h: Representative Mooney Support00:02:06.489 - 1:30:32 PM; Moved amendment 2026821h to HB661, explaining the bill's history and purpose to set up separate accounts for federal benefits of foster children using ABLE accounts. Discussed complications, recent federal executive order and HHS letter encouraging states to implement this, and the amendment's provisions including pursuing federal resources. Estimated cost $280,000 for consultants. Moved ought to pass as amended.
HB661 2026821h: Representative Walner Support00:02:06.489 - 1:30:32 PM; Supported the bill, emphasizing the importance of benefits for foster children who have lost parents or are disabled, providing them resources upon aging out to avoid homelessness and state assistance later. Highlighted the traumatic experience of foster care and the bill's long-term benefits.
HB661 2026821h: Representative McGuire Oppose00:02:06.489 - 1:30:32 PM; Opposed the bill due to open questions on long-term costs and preferred interim study as originally recommended. Noted recent executive order affecting 37 states and suggested using research instead of spending $280,000 on consultants. Shared experience with Massachusetts program where 75% of benefits go to care providers.
HB661 2026821h: Committee Vote Vote00:17:06.489 - 1:45:32 PM; Roll call on ought to pass as amended: Passed 13-12 (later corrected to 13-12 or 14-11), with minority report by Rep. McGuire.
HB1515 690h: Representative Mooney Support00:20:26.758 - 1:48:52 PM; Moved amendment 690h to retain federal funding request for child care workforce program from HB2, deleting only the state funding requirement in section 6. Explained the program's $15 million federal cost and its origin from previous budget.
HB1515 690h: Representative Wallner Oppose00:20:26.758 - 1:48:52 PM; Opposed the amendment and bill, arguing it undermines the child care workforce program essential for addressing child care shortages by reducing workforce capacity.
HB1515 690h: Representative Wallner (later) Support00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM; Changed vote to support the amendment to move forward and seek clarity on federal funds usage for the program, noting foggy interpretations from DHHS.
HB1515 690h: Committee Vote Vote00:20:26.758 - 1:48:52 PM; Amendment adopted unanimously by show of hands. Ought to pass as amended passed 14-11.
HB1566: Representative Farrington Support00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM; Moved ought to pass as amended on HB1566.
HB1566: Committee Vote Vote00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM; Ought to pass as amended passed 25-0, placed on consent.
HB1750: Representative Melvanco Oppose00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM; Moved inexpedient to legislate (ITL) on HB1750.
HB1750: Representative Stringham Support00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM; Opposed ITL, explaining HB1750 restores $4.4 million state funding for SNAP admin costs increased by federal HR1 from 50% to 75% starting Oct 2026. Highlighted program's value to 75,000 recipients and $154M federal benefits to NH economy, risks of error rates above 6% leading to penalties.
HB1750: Representative Nellovanco Oppose00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM; Supported ITL, citing unused emergency funds ($1.7M) from shutdown, no loss of SNAP benefits, and controllable error rates despite hiring freeze.
HB1750: Representative Moser Support00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM; Supported funding, noting error rates are controllable with trained staff, recent reductions shown, and risks of snowballing penalties exceeding $15M if unfunded.
HB1750: Representative Mooney Oppose00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM; Supported ITL, reiterating bill only affects admin costs, $4.4M figure is fluid and likely higher, questioned paying for federal cuts with 250 staff overseeing 50 programs under hiring freeze.
HB1750: Committee Vote Vote00:35:26.758 - 2:03:52 PM; Motion for ITL on HB1750 (discussion ongoing, no final vote in transcript).
HB1042 2026-0859-H: Representative Campbell Support00:50:26.758 - 2:18:52 PM; Introduced amendment 2026-0859-H to reduce the cap on line 10 from $450 million to $400 million, describing it as a bipartisan agreement and a better compromise than the Senate's $500 million.
HB1042 2026-0859-H: Representative Sweeney Support00:55:00.000 - 2:23:26 PM; Moved ought to pass as amended and spoke in support, explaining that the bill adjusts the contingent credit limit for the Business Finance Authority without appropriating funds or issuing debt. Highlighted the BFA's strong track record, low loss rates, self-funding nature, and safeguards like collateral and approvals. Noted no negative impact on bond rating and the amendment's reduction to $400 million as a disciplined update for economic development.
HB1042 2026-0859-H: Representative Munns Oppose01:05:26.758 - 2:33:52 PM; Announced intent to vote against the bill, agreeing on the need for economic development but emphasizing other priorities like housing, infrastructure, and childcare. Cited testimony from the state treasurer that current guarantees are at 65% of the debt limit and urged considering other state priorities before doubling the guarantee to $400 million.
HB1042 2026-0859-H: Representative Stringham Oppose01:10:00.000 - 2:38:26 PM; Expressed support for prioritizing workforce availability and housing over business attraction guarantees, stating that in the medical tech space, housing is a key challenge, and preferred directing credit toward building high-quality jobs.
HB1166: Chair (unnamed) Information Only01:15:00.000 - 2:43:26 PM; Explained the budget process, noting that HB2 includes items without HB1 line items, such as reorganizations or second-referral bills, and that the proposal in HB1166 is unworkable as it would require an HB3, preferring to send such bills to policy committees or retain and fund them appropriately.
HB1166: Representative McGuire Oppose01:17:00.000 - 2:45:26 PM; Moved inexpedient to legislate on HB1166.
HB1166: Representative Waldner Support01:18:00.000 - 2:46:26 PM; Voted in favor of ITL but noted the bill serves as a reminder to be cautious with HB2 contents, urging careful review in future budget sessions to ensure members understand the document.
HB1166: Representative Munns Support01:20:26.758 - 2:48:52 PM; Voted in favor of the bill (against ITL), charging at a 'windmill' for budget process improvements as mentioned by Representative Waldner.
HB1311: Representative Carol McGuire Oppose01:25:00.000 - 2:53:26 PM; Moved inexpedient to legislate and explained that while the intent is good for analyzing rule impacts, LBA analyses are sufficient, and complex economic analyses are rare. Argued against a dedicated fund and special process for infrequent needs, suggesting ad hoc handling through fiscal committee if necessary.