Committee Summary for House Legislative Administration (03/19/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB157 00:08:12.240 - 12:07:33 PM	Executive Session	establishing a study committee to examine ways to improve the usefulness of fiscal notes.	Muns, Chris(D)[CT]2024
HB331 00:18:22.000 - 12:17:43 PM	Executive Session	relative to the secretary of state's procedures for enrolled bills.	Weber, Lucy(D)[CT]2024
HB347 00:21:39.400 - 12:21:00 PM	Executive Session	relative to protection of employment for members of the general court.	Lloyd, Christal(D)[CT]2024
HB605 00:33:31.440 - 12:32:52 PM	Executive Session	relative to employment protections for members of the general court.	Read, Ellen(D)[D]2024
HB456 2025-08H 00:41:42.480 - 12:41:03 PM	Executive Session	(New Title) prohibiting the use of certain local funds for lobbying.	Potenza, Kelley(R)[A]2024
HB546 2025-0732H 01:03:27.839 - 1:02:48 PM	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to financial disclosures and the public reporting of those disclosures by the secretary of state.	Ohm, Bill(R)[B]2018
HB477 01:15:27.440 - 1:14:48 PM	Executive Session	establishing a commission to study safety and security procedures in the New Hampshire state house.	Telerski, Laura(D)[CT]2024
HR8 01:17:36.719 - 1:16:57 PM	Executive Session	resolving that the practice of suspending a constitutional officer to be outside the authority designated to the judiciary and appropriately delegated to the general court.	Belcher, Mike(R)[A]2024

HB157: Janine Nodder Information Only00:08:12.240 - 12:07:33 PM; Janine Nodder, introduced as a new member of the legislative administration, led the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of the session.
HB157: Chair Information Only00:09:01.320 - 12:08:22 PM; The Chair reminded the committee that they were continuing the discussion on House Bill 157 from a previous session where a motion to pass the bill was on the floor, moved by Representative Per and seconded by Representative Wade. The Chair anticipated that the motion might be voted down, leading to another motion.
HB157: Chair Information Only00:09:58.680 - 12:09:19 PM; The Chair called for any further discussion on House Bill 157 and, seeing none, proceeded to a roll call vote on the motion to pass the bill. The Chair noted that they had not yet reached the stage of considering an amendment to the bill.
HB157: Clerk Information Only00:10:58.279 - 12:10:19 PM; The Clerk conducted a roll call vote on the motion to pass House Bill 157. The vote resulted in the motion failing, with a majority voting no.
HB157: Chair Information Only00:12:19.279 - 12:11:40 PM; Following the failed motion to pass House Bill 157, the Chair recognized Representative Sheen for a motion to reconsider, which was seconded. The Chair explained that a yes vote on reconsideration would reset the session to the start, with no motions on the floor, while a no vote would leave the situation unclear.
HB157: Chair Information Only00:13:09.040 - 12:12:30 PM; The Chair called for a vote on reconsideration of House Bill 157, which passed unanimously. Subsequently, Representative Turkot moved for an ITL (Inexpedient to Legislate) on the bill, which was seconded by Representative Verville. The motion was discussed briefly, with Representative Turkot explaining that the ITL motion does not detract from the goals of the bill's prime sponsor but suggests a different pathway, possibly through an ad hoc study and a new bill in the fall. The ITL motion passed with a vote of 9-2. The Chair noted that the bill would not be on the consent calendar and requested a minority report by 3:00 PM.
HB331: Representative Turkot Support00:18:22.000 - 12:17:43 PM; Representative Turkot moved to pass House Bill 331, explaining that the bill aims to address the issue of bills appearing to be in legislative limbo after passing through the House and Senate. The bill would require the Secretary of State's office to publish the current location of any bill on their website until action is taken by the governor.
HB331: Representative Wall Support00:19:24.240 - 12:18:45 PM; Representative Wall supported the bill, emphasizing its importance in tracking bills after they pass through the House and Senate. They highlighted the frustration of not being able to follow bills during the enrollment phase and stressed the necessity of the bill.
HB331: Unnamed Representative Information Only00:19:24.240 - 12:18:45 PM; An unnamed representative reported that online testimony showed 116 in support and 4 in opposition to the bill.
HB331: Chair Information Only00:20:28.320 - 12:19:49 PM; The Chair called for a vote on House Bill 331, which passed unanimously with 11 votes in favor and 0 against. The bill was set to be on the consent calendar.
HB347: Representative Verville Oppose00:21:39.400 - 12:21:00 PM; Representative Verville moved for an ITL on House Bill 347, arguing that it imposes an unfunded mandate on private employers to increase unpaid vacation time. He expressed concerns about the burden on employers to replace workers and the direct impact on him as a full-time worker and state representative, advocating for the bill's dismissal.
HB347: Representative Turkot Oppose00:22:52.720 - 12:22:13 PM; Representative Turkot seconded the ITL motion on House Bill 347, highlighting issues with the bill, particularly the enforcement of civil penalties on out-of-state employers, which he deemed unworkable.
HB347: Representative Wade Oppose00:23:58.880 - 12:23:19 PM; Representative Wade expressed frustration over not being allowed to present an amendment to House Bill 347, accusing the committee of unfair practices and defending the need for the amendment. They argued that the bill aims to protect state representatives from employer retaliation for serving, and the amendment would clarify and limit its application to larger employers.
HB347: Chair Information Only00:31:25.520 - 12:30:46 PM; The Chair managed the discussion, calling for a vote on the ITL motion for House Bill 347, which passed with 8 votes in favor and 3 against. A minority report was requested by 3:00 PM, and the bill was not to be on the consent calendar.
HB605: Representative Verville Oppose00:33:31.440 - 12:32:52 PM; Representative Verville moved to recommend House Bill 605 as Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL). He argued that the bill, which deals with student loan forgiveness programs, conflicts with the state's ethics guidelines by allowing personal benefits for state representatives. He emphasized that state representatives are not state employees and should not receive such benefits, comparing it to other perks that have been removed over the years. He believes that running for office should not be motivated by such benefits.
HB605: Representative SARS Information Only00:35:54.960 - 12:35:15 PM; Representative SARS mentioned receiving communications intended for state employees, suggesting a gray area in the classification of state representatives, but did not explicitly support or oppose the bill.
HB605: Representative Richards Information Only00:35:54.960 - 12:35:15 PM; Representative Richards reported that online submissions regarding House Bill 605 showed nine in support and twelve in opposition.
HB605: Representative Verville Information Only00:37:04.079 - 12:36:25 PM; Representative Verville clarified the difference between being fired and removed from office, and appreciated the informational updates provided by state agencies to representatives.
HB605: Representative W Information Only00:38:12.880 - 12:37:33 PM; Representative W recalled a similar issue discussed the previous year, where research confirmed that state representatives are not state employees. He mentioned a potential division of the bill, but no action had been taken on it.
HB605: Chair Vote00:39:19.920 - 12:38:40 PM; The Chair called for a vote on House Bill 605, with the motion being ITL. The vote resulted in 11 in favor and 0 opposed, and the bill was placed on consent.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative Turkot Support00:41:42.480 - 12:41:03 PM; Representative Turkot moved that House Bill 456 ought to pass and introduced floor amendment 2025-08H. He explained that the amendment was redrafted for clarity, particularly the last paragraph. He addressed concerns about the bill making it difficult for town officials to attend legislative sessions, arguing that if state representatives can make the effort, so can others. He supported the amendment and the bill.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative Verbbo Support00:44:01.520 - 12:43:22 PM; Representative Verbbo supported the amendment, clarifying that it does not silence speech but prevents the use of taxpayer funds for lobbying the legislature.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative Wall Oppose00:44:01.520 - 12:43:22 PM; Representative Wall opposed the amendment, arguing that not all taxpayers can attend legislative sessions and that organizations should be allowed to speak on their behalf, even if not everyone agrees with the organization's stance.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative Richards Information Only00:45:15.520 - 12:44:36 PM; Representative Richards reported that online testimony on House Bill 456 showed 18 in support and 63 in opposition.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative Bville Oppose00:45:15.520 - 12:44:36 PM; Representative Bville opposed the amendment, expressing concern that it allows the minority's tax dollars to be used to lobby against their interests.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative Wall Oppose00:45:49.839 - 12:45:10 PM; Representative Wall expressed opposition to the bill, arguing that lobbying efforts should be privately funded rather than using taxpayer money. They highlighted the broader role of the New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) beyond lobbying, which includes representing nearly every community in the state and providing various services. They emphasized the value of NHMA's work for the towns they have represented over time and stated they had never heard complaints about the use of taxpayer money for these purposes.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative Wade Oppose00:46:59.760 - 12:46:20 PM; Representative Wade opposed the bill, arguing that separating taxpayer-funded money from other sources for NHMA's lobbying efforts is financially unfeasible. They stressed that NHMA's primary role is to advocate for taxpayers and local control, working closely with all towns to decide which bills to support. They also pointed out that the bill would prevent NHMA from taking positions on bills even if they managed to separate their funding sources, which they see as an attempt to silence the organization.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative Turkot Support00:48:43.119 - 12:48:04 PM; Representative Turkot supported the bill, emphasizing the need for transparency in how towns fund NHMA. They mentioned that in their town of Madbury, most residents are unaware of NHMA and its funding. They argued that the bill would require towns to include NHMA funding in warrant articles, thus increasing transparency. They also noted that the bill does not stop funding but aims to make the funding process more open to the public.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative Watts Oppose00:49:52.079 - 12:49:13 PM; Representative Watts opposed the bill, stating that in their small town, residents are aware of NHMA and its services, including legal advice and tracking of bills. They argued that NHMA's role extends beyond lobbying and that there is already transparency through communication between communities and NHMA. They emphasized that the communities they represent generally support NHMA's positions.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative [Unnamed] Support00:52:13.040 - 12:51:34 PM; The unnamed representative supported the bill, clarifying that NHMA represents municipalities, not taxpayers directly. They pointed out that NHMA's services, including legislative tracking, are available to anyone, not just dues-paying members. They discussed three potential outcomes of the bill: alternative funding for NHMA services, direct representation by municipalities, and the existing representation by elected officials. They also mentioned frustration from municipalities when NHMA's positions conflict with their interests, using the example of Dalton and a landfill bill.
HB456 2025-08H: Representative Wade Oppose00:54:54.640 - 12:54:15 PM; Representative Wade opposed the bill, drawing a comparison to Eversource, suggesting that singling out NHMA is unfair when other entities also use taxpayer money for lobbying. They argued that this approach does not address the broader issue of taxpayer-funded lobbying and suggested that similar bills could be proposed for other organizations like Eversource.
HB456 2025-08H: Chair Vote00:57:26.720 - 12:56:47 PM; The chair facilitated the voting process on the amendment 2025-08H to HB456. The amendment passed with a vote of 7 yay to 4 nay. Subsequently, the bill was voted on as amended and passed with the same vote count. The chair noted that the bill would not qualify for consent and that a minority report would be prepared by Representative Wade.
HB546 2025-0732H: Representative Sheen Information Only01:03:27.839 - 1:02:48 PM; Representative Sheen moved to pass House Bill 546 and introduced amendment number 2025-0732H. The amendment aims to clean up issues in the original bill, specifically removing the ethics committee from the financial disclosure process due to their exemption from campaign finance issues, while preserving the basic goals of the bill.
HB546 2025-0732H: Representative Sson Information Only01:06:00.640 - 1:05:21 PM; Representative Sson raised a question about the amendment's language regarding the first day of each month, specifically whether it should be adjusted if it falls on a weekend. The discussion suggested that it typically refers to the first business day following the date, but there was some uncertainty about the need for more precise language.
HB546 2025-0732H: Representative Wade Information Only01:07:28.039 - 1:06:49 PM; Representative Wade questioned the intent of the wording in the amendment concerning contributions or expenditures exceeding $1,000, whether it was meant to be cumulative or singular. It was clarified that the language was agreed upon with the Secretary of State's office, intended to be singular, and each event would be reportable individually.
HB546 2025-0732H: Representative Information Only01:10:37.239 - 1:09:58 PM; The representative followed up on the discussion about the amendment, noting that the original bill and the amendment refer to cumulative amounts, not individual ones, expressing uncertainty about the sponsor's intent. It was confirmed that the Deputy Secretary of State agreed with the current wording.
HB546 2025-0732H: Unnamed Speaker Information Only01:11:31.679 - 1:10:52 PM; The speaker discussed the reason for the bill being assigned to their committee rather than the election law committee, suggesting it might be due to the bill's content related to the ethics committee. They noted the presence of an amendment and the ongoing discussion about it.
HB546 2025-0732H: Clerk Information Only01:12:33.239 - 1:11:54 PM; The clerk conducted a roll call vote on amendment 2025-0732H to HB546, which passed unanimously. Subsequently, a motion to pass HB546 as amended was moved and seconded, and it also passed unanimously. The bill was then placed on the consent calendar.
HB546 2025-0732H: Unnamed Speaker Information Only01:13:18.760 - 1:12:39 PM; The speaker confirmed the unanimous vote on the amendment and the bill as amended, and noted that the bill would be on the consent calendar. They also mentioned the online testimony results, with 10 in support and 1 in opposition, but clarified that this testimony was not on the amended version of the bill.
HB477: Representative Wade Information Only01:15:27.440 - 1:14:48 PM; Representative Wade moved to retain HB477, explaining that there is an ongoing security review of the state house complex by Homeland Security. The intention is to retain the bill to align its language with the recommendations from the review.
HB477: Unnamed Speaker Information Only01:16:50.640 - 1:16:11 PM; The speaker supported the motion to retain HB477, emphasizing the importance of the ongoing security review and the need to wait for its results before proceeding with the bill. The motion to retain passed unanimously.
HR8: Representative Sheen Information Only01:17:36.719 - 1:16:57 PM; Representative Sheen moved to find HR8 inexpedient to legislate (ITL) due to the absence of the prime sponsor and lack of testimony. The motion was seconded by Representative Ball.
HR8: Representative Richards Information Only01:18:41.760 - 1:18:02 PM; Representative Richards noted the public's online testimony on HR8, with 6 in support and 10 in opposition, despite no live testimony being presented. The ITL motion on HR8 passed unanimously.
HR8: Unidentified Speaker Information Only01:20:12.560 - 1:19:33 PM; The speaker announced the conclusion of the current discussion and mentioned that no further bills are expected to be discussed the following week. They emphasized the need for all reports to be submitted by 3:00 PM. The speaker also mentioned uncertainty about upcoming bills, noting they come from various sources and they have heard of two but not seen them. They confirmed with Representative Wade about minority reports for three specific bills: HB 157, HB 347, and HB 456, and clarified some confusion about bill numbers and reports.
HR8: Unidentified Speaker Information Only01:21:53.040 - 1:21:14 PM; The speaker requested information from Representative Walt regarding who will speak if any bills are pulled off consent. They specifically mentioned needing information about bill 142 and confirmed that someone will be available to speak on it.
HR8: Unidentified Speaker Information Only01:22:52.400 - 1:22:13 PM; The speaker concluded the executive session, noting that further conversation was not forthcoming and mentioned that someone might not be available for a specific bill, possibly bill 6.

Hill, Gregory(Chairman)(R)[A]2024	Sirois, Shane(Clerk)(R)[A]2024	Sheehan, Vanessa(V Chairman)(R)[A]2024
Wall, Janet(D)[CT]2024	Notter, Jeanine(R)[A]2024	Turcotte, Len(R)[A]2024
Verville, Kevin(R)[B+]2024	Richards, Beth(D)[F]2024	Payeur, Stephanie(D)[D-]2024
Boyd, Stephen(R)[A]2024	Wade, Alice(D)	Sorensen, Carrie(D)