Committee Summary for House Transportation (04/14/2026)

Member	Member	Member
Walsh, Thomas(Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Crawford, Karel(Clerk)(R)[C+]2025	Gorski, Ted(V Chairman)(R)[B+]2025
Sykes, George(D)[F]2025	Hill, Gregory(R)[A-]2025	Plamondon, Marc(D)[F]2025
Veilleux, Daniel(D)[F]2025	Pitaro, Matthew(R)[A-]2025	Coker, Matthew(R)[C]2025
St. Clair, Charlie(D)[D-]2025	Fox, Dru(D)[F]2025	Foote, Charles(R)[B]2025
Johnson, Erik(D)[F]2025	Miller, Seth(D)[F]2025	Hamblen, Joseph(R)[B]2025
Giasson, Henry(R)[A+]2025

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB499	Public Hearing	(New Title) relative to the membership, duties, and reporting requirements of the traffic safety commission.	Birdsell, Regina(R)[B-]2025
SB500	Public Hearing	relative to restroom access for certain commercial motor vehicle operators.	Birdsell, Regina(R)[B-]2025
SB559	Public Hearing	reducing the minimum allowable speed limit on locally controlled roads.	Ricciardi, Denise(R)[B]2025
SB617	Public Hearing	relative to the removal of abandoned vehicles by law enforcement.	Gannon, Bill(R)[B-]2025
Unclear	Executive Session	enabling legislation for 20 mph speed limits
HB559	Executive Session	relative to staffing requirements in emergency medical transport vehicles.	Rhodes, Jennifer(R)[B+]2025
SB499	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to the membership, duties, and reporting requirements of the traffic safety commission.	Birdsell, Regina(R)[B-]2025
SB500	Executive Session	relative to restroom access for certain commercial motor vehicle operators.	Birdsell, Regina(R)[B-]2025
SB617	Executive Session	relative to the removal of abandoned vehicles by law enforcement.	Gannon, Bill(R)[B-]2025
SB617 2026-0150h	Executive Session	relative to the removal of abandoned vehicles by law enforcement.	Gannon, Bill(R)[B-]2025

SB499: Information Only 00:14:36.780 - 10:09:07 AM; Grant Bossie introduced Senate Bill 499 on behalf of Senator Regina Birdsell. The bill changes the reporting requirements for the Traffic Safety Commission to include aggregated data on the causes of traffic collisions in New Hampshire and recommendations to address them. It originated from a conference attended by Senator Birdsell. An amendment suggested by Senator Prentice to add a member from the Trauma Medical Review Committee was accepted, and the bill passed unanimously on the consent calendar in February.
SB500: Information Only 00:26:16.717 - 10:20:47 AM; Grant Bossie introduced Senate Bill 500 on behalf of Senator Regina Birdsell. The bill addresses concerns raised by female truck drivers at a conference about access to restrooms, which is a barrier to women joining or staying in the trucking industry amid a driver shortage. It requires commercial operations over a certain size with public or employee restrooms to allow truck drivers access if no public safety concerns exist.
SB500: Support 00:27:34.937 - 10:22:05 AM; Bob Scully supported the bill, highlighting the trucking industry's driver shortage and the need to attract women drivers. A survey by the American Trucking Research Institute identified lack of bathroom facilities as a major obstacle for women. The bill requires facilities over 800 square feet with public or employee bathrooms to make them available to waiting truck drivers without requiring modifications.
SB559: Information Only 00:48:47.364 - 10:43:18 AM; Representative Charles Foote introduced Senate Bill 559 on behalf of Senator Richardi.
SB559: Support 00:48:47.364 - 10:43:18 AM; Catherine began testimony in support of the bill.
SB559: Support 00:50:03.576 - 10:44:34 AM; Catherine shares her personal experience of being T-boned by a car while cycling in Massachusetts, resulting in a brain injury requiring prism lenses and increased anxiety around cyclists and pedestrians. She emphasizes that speed is critical for pedestrians, cyclists, and runners, as the difference between 25 and 20 mph can mean the difference between injury and death. She supports SB 559 as a modest step allowing towns to adopt lower speed limits on local roads based on local knowledge to save lives.
SB559: Support 00:53:00.583 - 10:47:31 AM; Jeff recounts his 2015 cycling crash causing traumatic brain injury, skull, rib, and pelvis fractures, a medically induced coma, and relearning basic functions. He argues higher speeds increase crash likelihood and severity, and no trip-shortening need justifies risking lives. SB 559 doesn't change statewide limits but allows towns to set 20 mph where safe, similar to seasonal changes. He notes Manchester employers like Amory value safe streets for attracting workers, and Portsmouth already has 20 mph streets under complete streets policy.
SB559: Support 00:56:30.000 - 10:51:01 AM; Paul explains Bike Walk Alliance advocates for safer streets for biking and walking. He notes rising pedestrian and bike fatalities in NH despite goals to reduce them, as discussed in a DOT workshop. SB 559 is bipartisan, empowers locals to set 20 mph after studies without mandates. He cites NACTO's 2020 guide and NHTSA research showing speed limit reductions alone reduce speeds and crashes. Travel time impact is minimal (9 seconds for 0.25 miles). He references Secretary Duffy's Safe Roads Initiative supporting appropriate speed limits, especially 20 mph in urban areas with vulnerable users.
SB559: Information Only 01:09:13.854 - 11:03:44 AM; Bill, DOT's highway safety and traffic administrator, provides neutral information on speed limit statutes (RSA 265:60 for statutory limits, RSA 265:61-63 for modifications via engineering studies). DOT has no opinion on SB 559 (RSA 265:63 for municipal roads) but concerns about public perception affecting state roads. He offers expertise on processes, 85th percentile speed (from 1960s, evolving with context like pedestrians), comprehensive expert systems for studies, crash history, and lack of resources for comprehensive evaluations. He discusses school zones (10 mph below usual), urban compacts under local jurisdiction, and the complexity of speed management research.
SB617: Information Only 01:34:25.079 - 11:28:56 AM; Representative Foote introduces SB 617, which addresses the removal of abandoned vehicles by law enforcement. He notes potential amendments incorporating language from another bill (1492) but proceeds with the current version. He yields to questions but has an audience available to answer.
SB617: Support 01:35:45.553 - 11:30:16 AM; Provided background on the evolution of the state police tow list from a memorandum to permanent rules under RSA 106-B:26-34, developed collaboratively to ensure vetted towing companies and public confidence. Discussed challenges and lessons learned over three years, leading to the current amendment for clarifications such as automatic reinstatement after removal, expanding criminal history checks to all employees responding to calls, modernizing language, and clarifying compliance processes. Answered committee questions confirming the statute applies only to state police, not municipalities, though lists can be shared; emphasized comprehensive vetting and few complaints; addressed ties to HB 1492 on invoice appeals and reasonable fees under RSA 262, suggesting requirements in application process to avoid criminal penalties and noting case-by-case fee determinations with appeals available.
SB617: Information Only 01:55:19.576 - 11:49:50 AM; Commented on the complexity of SB 617's relation to HB 1492 and RSA 262 regarding invoice notifications for appeals and reasonable fees. Noted that RSA 262:1 penalties require willful violations and apply to all peace officers, not just state police, affecting all tow companies. Suggested that placing invoice requirements in SB 617 would only impact state police tows, leaving local unaffected.
Unclear: Support 03:09:56.178 - 1:04:27 PM; Shared personal experience from fire service on severity of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes. Highlighted significant survivability difference between 20 and 25 mph impacts. Described the bill as enabling legislation, not mandatory, providing local bodies like city councils or town meetings tools to enhance safety on roads, especially with rising bike and e-bike use. Argued for proactive legislation to improve future safety, urging vote against the motion to allow passage.
Unclear: Oppose 03:11:24.098 - 1:05:55 PM; Acknowledged importance of safety but noted repeated similar bills. Referenced DOT position and personal involvement in safe streets and bike committees. Emphasized road design as key to safety over speed limits, as high-design speeds require constant enforcement. Suggested psychological calming like narrower lanes or bike lanes as better, non-prohibitive solutions rather than arbitrary speed drops that merely displace problems.
Unclear: Support 03:13:16.778 - 1:07:47 PM; Echoed that the bill is enabling legislation, not mandatory, giving municipalities another tool. Stressed that after engineering studies and legislative body approval, lowering to 20 mph could be appropriate for specific road stretches based on characteristics to enhance safety.
HB559: Oppose 03:14:41.981 - 1:09:12 PM; Representative St. Clair expresses concern that municipalities may not conduct proper engineering studies before setting speed limits, potentially allowing arbitrary decisions by small groups of citizens. He notes that the bill could affect urban compact roads, which are state highways maintained by local municipalities, and warns of a slippery slope to even lower speed limits like 10 mph. He emphasizes that responsibility lies with pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists to drive defensively, and speed limit reductions alone cannot fix bad driving.
HB559: Oppose 03:16:42.901 - 1:11:13 PM; The committee member supports local control but highlights issues with varying speed limits across town borders, which could catch drivers off guard without sufficient signage. They reference discussions with the Department of Transportation on setting speed limits based on clear conditions without prioritizing congestion. They cite school zones as an example of how painfully slow 20 mph feels and note that reduced speeds would apply at all times, including nights and rainy days when fewer pedestrians are present. They suggest defining what a traffic study entails before expanding such authority and will vote for inexpedient to legislate.
HB559: Oppose 03:20:10.556 - 1:14:41 PM; The committee member reminds that state law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists regardless of speed limits, either by going around or waiting. They argue that a 20 mph limit would not significantly help against bad, impaired, or distracted drivers. They agree that motorists must adjust speeds based on conditions and congestion.
SB499: Support 03:24:44.286 - 1:19:15 PM; Representative Giason explains that the bill updates an existing commission by adding a trauma medical review committee member to analyze traffic accident causations and recommend preventative measures to legislative leaders and the Governor. He describes it as straightforward.
SB499: Support 03:25:45.806 - 1:20:16 PM; Representative Ayoub supports the bill because it addresses the lack of comprehensive data on accident causes, which hinders committee decision-making. He believes it will provide better data for informed decisions.
SB499: Support 03:27:00.186 - 1:21:31 PM; Representative Sinclair will vote for the bill but expresses concern about including a trauma medical review committee member, fearing a focus on accident results rather than causes, potentially leading to misinterpretations as seen in helmet law discussions. He offers this as a cautionary note.
SB499: Information Only 03:27:00.186 - 1:21:31 PM; The Chairman agrees with Representative Sinclair's concerns but clarifies that the role is to examine causes, not results, of accidents. He notes initial reservations but believes it will be fine based on the record.
SB500: Support 03:29:29.975 - 1:24:00 PM; Representative Giason moves ought to pass on the bill.
SB500: Support 03:29:29.975 - 1:24:00 PM; Representative Foote explains that testimony highlighted a shortage of drivers in New Hampshire, with female drivers often complaining about inadequate restroom access. He argues that businesses receiving delivery services should provide basic hospitality, including restroom access, to support employees of trucking companies during pickups and deliveries, aiding the state's economy.
SB500: Support 03:30:32.455 - 1:25:03 PM; Representative Hill expresses disbelief that restroom access is denied in modern times and supports sending a strong signal with the bill.
SB500: Support 03:31:50.695 - 1:26:21 PM; Representative St. Clair echoes the comments, noting personal anecdotes of friends in contracting being denied bathrooms arbitrarily. He calls it common sense and supports the bill.
SB617: Information Only 03:33:14.095 - 1:27:45 PM; Chairman Walsh discusses two potential amendments for SB 617 that were considered but decides not to introduce them as they do not fully address the issues, particularly since the bill applies only to state police under 106-B, not 262. To improve survival chances in the Senate, he requests a third amendment from OLS to merge SB 617 with HB 1492, which passed the House overwhelmingly (285-42). This amendment would replace sections up to 9 and incorporate HB 1492's content. The committee takes a break until 1:45 to receive the amendment.
SB617 2026-0150h: Support 03:56:50.456 - 1:51:21 PM; The Chairman opens the discussion on Senate Bill 617, notes the vice chairman's presence, and recognizes Representative Giovese for a motion to ought to pass.
SB617 2026-0150h: Vote 03:56:50.456 - 1:51:21 PM; Moves ought to pass on Senate Bill 617.
SB617 2026-0150h: Support 04:10:22.852 - 2:04:53 PM; Moves to adopt amendment 2026-0150h to ought to pass. Explains that the amendment attaches the language of House Bill 1492 as passed by the House to Senate Bill 617 to uphold the House position. Notes that other drafts are not ready and may be used in the future. Describes it as necessary during the busy legislative season.
SB617 2026-0150h: Support 04:11:40.332 - 2:06:11 PM; Supports both the amendment representing HB 1492 and SB 617, stating they are common sense legislation that addresses real issues and provides relief from a consumer safety standpoint.
SB617 2026-0150h: Support 04:12:44.772 - 2:07:15 PM; Highlights that the amendment affects both codes of law—one for state police entities and one for all police entities—creating consistency. Notes that without the amendment, it would only cover one code. Acknowledges that more work on towing may be needed in the future, but this establishes groundwork.
SB617 2026-0150h: Vote 04:13:33.108 - 2:08:04 PM; Calls for a vote on the amendment, which passes unanimously. Then calls for a roll call on ought to pass as amended, which passes 15-0. Closes the executive session and thanks the committee.
SB617 2026-0150h: Information Only 04:14:33.468 - 2:09:04 PM; Echoes thanks to the committee, notes the upcoming election and that some may not return, expresses pleasure in working with everyone, and thanks substitutes and researcher Brad.