Committee Summary for House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs (04/10/2026)

Member	Member	Member
Moffett, Michael(Chairman)(R)[B+]2025	Mandelbaum, Jennifer(Clerk)(D)[D]2025	Rollins, Skip(V Chairman)(R)[A-]2025
Jeudy, Jean(D)[D]2025	Budathoki, Suraj(D)[D-]2025	Foss, Lily(D)[D-]2025
Gagne, Larry(R)[B+]2025	Lundgren, David(R)[C+]2025	Leavitt, John(R)[B-]2025
Belcher, Mike(R)[B+]2025	Plante, Raymond(R)[B+]2025	Hemingway, Wayne(R)[B]2025
Mannion, Tom(R)[A+]2025	Lloyd, Christal(D)[F]2025	Seibert, Christine(D)[CT]2025
Jones, Philip(D)[CT]2025	Manohar, Sanjeev(D)[D-]2025	Bennett, Cindy(R)[B+]2025

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB448	Public Hearing	(New Title) modifying the definition of veteran.	Innis, Daniel(R)[B]2025
SB473	Public Hearing	defining the term "field officers" within the national guard.	McGough, Tim(R)[B+]2025
SB472	Public Hearing	removing the maximum age on the tenure of office for the position of deputy adjutant general.	McGough, Tim(R)[B+]2025
SB492	Public Hearing	authorizing the department of military affairs and veterans services to license and lease property in which the department holds a property interest.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB473	Executive Session	defining the term "field officers" within the national guard.	McGough, Tim(R)[B+]2025
SB473	Executive Session	defining the term "field officers" within the national guard.	McGough, Tim(R)[B+]2025
SB472	Executive Session	removing the maximum age on the tenure of office for the position of deputy adjutant general.	McGough, Tim(R)[B+]2025
SB448 2024-1444h	Executive Session	(New Title) modifying the definition of veteran.	Innis, Daniel(R)[B]2025
SB492 2024-1443h	Executive Session	authorizing the department of military affairs and veterans services to license and lease property in which the department holds a property interest.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025

SB448: Support 00:02:22.180 - 10:46:03 AM; Introduces SB 448, noting it improves upon a similar House bill by updating cross-references in RSAs to the definition in RSA 21:50. Explains it includes general under honorable conditions discharge. No fiscal impact. Encourages support.
SB448: Information Only 00:04:16.100 - 10:47:57 AM; Asks for clarification on veterans discharged under general honorable conditions being denied benefits due to oversight in law. Confirms the issue.
SB448: Information Only 00:05:18.918 - 10:48:59 AM; Provides clarification on discharge types using DD-214. Explains eight types: two good (honorable and general under honorable), two neutral, four bad. States the bill aligns NH statute with federal by covering the two good discharges, previously more restrictive.
SB448: Support 00:06:17.487 - 10:49:58 AM; 25-year Air Force veteran from Hooksett. Explains origins from prior bill on license plates. Clarifies general under honorable is honorable. Aims to update references to RSA 21:50 for benefits like preference. Gives examples: pre-Don't Ask Don't Tell discharges for sexual orientation and COVID vaccine refusals. Seeks to level playing field for honorable service.
SB448: Information Only 00:11:25.031 - 10:55:06 AM; Neutral, monitoring. Flags assessor concerns on technical issues. Compares to HB 1287 (enrolled). Recommends removing section 1 to align with HB 1287's encompassing definition. Addresses local tax credits: requires municipal re-adoption unless specified. Suggests adding applicability section. Recommends effective date April 15 for tax alignment to avoid proration burdens. Supports goal of equal treatment for honorable discharges.
SB473: Support 00:28:02.806 - 11:11:43 AM; Introduces SB 473 as co-sponsor. Defines field officers as Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel. Simple bill, hopes for support.
SB473: Support 00:29:23.926 - 11:13:04 AM; Supports as administrative housekeeping. Historical term from Revolutionary War era, no longer used. Aligns with modern field grade officers: major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, but conservatively defines as lieutenant colonel and above for command authority.
SB473: Information Only 00:32:37.686 - 11:16:18 AM; Seeks purpose: clarifies no current statutory language, interprets historical term for modern use as lieutenant colonel in command.
SB473: Support 00:33:09.766 - 11:16:50 AM; Supports. Notes command level typically lieutenant colonel equivalent across services. Addresses administrative hurdles for Army National Guard promotions to major, which this bill may ease by clarifying field vs. field grade distinctions.
SB472: Support 00:37:10.838 - 11:20:51 AM; Introduces as co-sponsor. Removes age 65 limit for deputy adjutant general. Notes longer lifespans and better health; base on performance.
SB472: Support 00:38:10.038 - 11:21:51 AM; Begins testimony in support, but transcript cuts off.
SB472: Support 00:38:55.746 - 11:22:36 AM; The speaker explains the historical change in 2019 when the agency became the Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services, expanding responsibilities beyond just the military portfolio to include veterans services. Prior to this, the Deputy Adjutant General was a part-time one-star general with an age limit of 64 due to military retirement ages. Now, recent deputies have been retired colonels without such limits, and the age restriction is seen as discriminatory, making this the only state agency with an age limit on its deputy commissioner. The bill seeks to eliminate the '64 years of age' limit. Regarding a potential amendment to raise the minimum rank from major to colonel, the speaker opposes it, noting that only 1-3% of officers reach colonel, which would disqualify many qualified majors and lieutenant colonels. The rank should be a minimum, not a barrier, allowing flexibility for promotions as exemplified by Dwight Eisenhower's rapid rise.
SB492: Support 00:50:09.460 - 11:33:50 AM; Senator Waters introduces SB 492, which authorizes the Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services to lease or license properties it holds, clarifying tax provisions under RSA 72:23 to ensure local property taxes are paid by lessees or licensees, including penalties for nonpayment. It establishes a dedicated Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services Property Fund for revenues from leases, licenses, federal dollars, or private partnerships, to be used for purchasing, improving, maintaining, or selling property, and operating costs. The bill addresses housing challenges for military personnel at Pease and elsewhere, enabling partnerships for affordable housing like single service member units or temporary assignments. It references companion bill SB 490 for housing at Great Bay Community College and Pease. The senator notes support from the Bankers Association and local municipalities, and suggests amending the effective date from July 1 to 60 days after passage. The fiscal note's projected costs are speculative and likely for the next biennium.
SB492: Support 01:01:46.000 - 11:45:27 AM; The bill originated from a Senate orientation at Pease Air National Guard Base highlighting affordable housing as the biggest issue for over 1,200 airmen, many commuting long distances due to high Seacoast costs exceeding government housing allowances. It provides authorization to creatively use existing facilities, such as barracks in Center Stratford and Pembroke, for junior enlisted housing via public-private partnerships with property managers, as the department lacks expertise in housing management. Additional uses include leasing armories for federal civilian telework spaces to generate revenue for infrastructure. The fund should be non-lapsing to allow rental income to support maintenance of aging armories. Priority would be for E-5 and below for year-round rentals at BAH rates, starting with converting existing billeting economically without building new structures. No current on-base housing exists at Pease post-BRAC, exacerbating recruitment and retention issues.
SB492: Support 01:17:30.700 - 12:01:11 PM; Mr. Grady supports the bill after initial confusion, now understanding it enables public-private partnerships to renovate vacant properties like barracks for junior enlisted housing, addressing readiness issues from long commutes, especially in bad weather. He notes the military's outsourcing of housing management to civilian contractors nationwide and sees this as a starting point to solve New Hampshire's housing crisis for service members, potentially growing over time like the creation of the Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services.
SB473: Vote 02:24:09.989 - 1:07:50 PM; Moves ought to pass on SB 473 without amendment. The bill redefines field officers as lieutenant colonel and above, eliminating the need for Executive Council approval for promotions of majors, reducing administrative paperwork and allowing faster pinning of ranks and pay increases after federal and state processes.
SB473: Vote 02:25:19.029 - 1:09:00 PM; Seconds the motion and concurs, adding that as a former resident of Sanbornton, he assisted officers through promotion processes and notes the Executive Council bottleneck due to their workload; redefining field officers to lieutenant colonel and above streamlines promotions for majors.
SB473: Vote 02:26:41.137 - 1:10:22 PM; The committee unanimously voted 13-0 in favor of Ought to Pass (OTP) on SB 473. Representative Jones moved to place it on the consent calendar, which was approved without objection. Representative Plant was assigned to write the committee report.
SB472: Support 02:28:01.355 - 1:11:42 PM; Moved OTP, explaining that the arbitrary age cap discriminates and the role is administrative, not command-level. Recommended passing the bill to remove the restriction.
SB472: Support 02:29:19.248 - 1:13:00 PM; Seconded the motion and agreed with Representative Mannion's explanation.
SB472: Support 02:30:14.928 - 1:13:55 PM; Commented on mandatory retirement ages, noting the position is in four-year increments, not for life.
SB472: Information Only 02:30:14.928 - 1:13:55 PM; Raised a question about how SB 472 relates to SB 473 regarding ranks (major vs. lieutenant colonel).
SB472: Support 02:31:39.095 - 1:15:20 PM; Addressed the rank concern, explained no amendment was introduced to restrict to colonels or above based on testimony from Adjutant General and SFAC. Shared historical anecdote about Dwight Eisenhower's rapid promotions to illustrate flexibility in appointments.
SB472: Support 02:36:41.645 - 1:20:22 PM; Noted that removing the age cap widens the pool of candidates for the position, which is unique.
SB472: Support 02:37:53.925 - 1:21:34 PM; Described the bill as enabling legislation to provide more statutory flexibility.
SB472: Vote 02:37:53.925 - 1:21:34 PM; The committee unanimously voted 13-0 in favor of OTP on SB 472. Representative Jones moved to place it on the consent calendar, approved without objection. Representative Mannion was assigned to write the report.
SB448 2024-1444h: Support 02:43:09.766 - 1:26:50 PM; Moved to adopt amendment 2024-1444h, which strikes section one (already passed in another bill) and amends references in sections seven and eight to point to the established veteran definition. This avoids confusion, overrides local adoptions automatically, and was coordinated with the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
SB448 2024-1444h: Information Only 02:45:35.505 - 1:29:16 PM; Asked about coordination with NH Municipal Association and relation to HB1287.
SB448 2024-1444h: Support 02:46:38.505 - 1:30:19 PM; Seconded the amendment motion. Explained the amendment avoids duplication with HB1287 by stripping less clear Senate language on honorable discharge.
SB448 2024-1444h: Information Only 02:47:34.505 - 1:31:15 PM; Asked if the amendment addresses the tax abatement effective date discrepancy.
SB448 2024-1444h: Support 02:47:34.505 - 1:31:15 PM; Thanked Representative Belcher for the amendment straightening out municipal impacts.
SB448 2024-1444h: Vote 02:48:49.824 - 1:32:30 PM; The committee unanimously voted 13-0 to adopt amendment 2024-1444h.
SB448 2024-1444h: Support 02:48:49.824 - 1:32:30 PM; Moved OTP as amended (OTPA).
SB448 2024-1444h: Support 02:50:14.564 - 1:33:55 PM; Seconded the OTPA motion.
SB448 2024-1444h: Vote 02:50:14.564 - 1:33:55 PM; The committee unanimously voted 13-0 in favor of OTPA on SB 448. Not placed on consent calendar due to amendment requiring Senate concurrence. Representative Belcher assigned to write the report.
SB492 2024-1443h: Support 02:52:32.769 - 1:36:13 PM; Moved to adopt amendment 2024-1443h, changing effective date to 60 days after passage instead of July 1, to allow quicker implementation.
SB492 2024-1443h: Support 02:53:47.189 - 1:37:28 PM; Seconded the amendment motion.
SB492 2024-1443h: Vote 02:54:56.889 - 1:38:37 PM; The committee unanimously voted 13-0 to adopt amendment 2024-1443h.
SB492 2024-1443h: Support 02:54:56.889 - 1:38:37 PM; Moved OTPA. Explained the bill addresses housing affordability for active duty and Guard members (E-5 and below) by allowing leasing of state property to private contractors for affordable apartments, especially in high-cost areas like Portsmouth.
SB492 2024-1443h: Support 02:56:12.269 - 1:39:53 PM; Seconded the OTPA motion. Noted the bill provides flexibility for property management, tax treatment, and oversight.
SB492 2024-1443h: Support 02:58:33.255 - 1:42:14 PM; Commented on irony of torn-down housing at Pease AFB, noted bill creates avenues for private contracting to improve housing options, reducing long commutes.
SB492 2024-1443h: Support 02:59:37.575 - 1:43:18 PM; Expressed surprise at lack of on-base housing compared to other bases like Fort Riley.
SB492 2024-1443h: Support 03:00:53.713 - 1:44:34 PM; Highlighted housing as a broad issue affecting military recruitment and operations, praised creative approach and potential tax benefits via PILOT programs.
SB492 2024-1443h: Support 03:02:02.473 - 1:45:43 PM; Noted the bill is enabling legislation; leasing revenue funds revitalization and base projects in a lapsing fund.
SB492 2024-1443h: Vote 03:03:16.199 - 1:46:57 PM; The committee unanimously voted 13-0 in favor of OTPA on SB 492. Not placed on consent calendar due to amendment. Representative Manohar assigned to write the report.