Committee Summary for House Transportation (05/06/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB154 00:04:56.400 - 9:03:12 AM	Public Hearing	relative to authorized organizations issuing multi-use decal plates.	Rochefort, David(R)
SB271 00:21:54.080 - 9:20:10 AM	Public Hearing	relative to qualifications for issuing veteran license plates to include General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions.	Ricciardi, Denise(R)[C-]2024
SB273 00:42:40.880 - 9:40:56 AM	Public Hearing	relative to motorist duties when approaching highway emergencies involving a stopped or standing vehicle.	Fenton, Donovan(D)[F]2024
SB154 01:19:44.960 - 10:18:00 AM	Executive Session	relative to authorized organizations issuing multi-use decal plates.	Rochefort, David(R)
SB271 01:22:07.920 - 10:20:23 AM	Executive Session	relative to qualifications for issuing veteran license plates to include General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions.	Ricciardi, Denise(R)[C-]2024
SB273 01:25:09.840 - 10:23:25 AM	Executive Session	relative to motorist duties when approaching highway emergencies involving a stopped or standing vehicle.	Fenton, Donovan(D)[F]2024
SB154 03:09:15.120 - 12:07:31 PM	Executive Session	relative to authorized organizations issuing multi-use decal plates.	Rochefort, David(R)
SB271 03:11:19.359 - 12:09:35 PM	Executive Session	relative to qualifications for issuing veteran license plates to include General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions.	Ricciardi, Denise(R)[C-]2024
SB273 03:14:30.080 - 12:12:46 PM	Executive Session	relative to motorist duties when approaching highway emergencies involving a stopped or standing vehicle.	Fenton, Donovan(D)[F]2024
SB12 03:43:38.239 - 12:41:54 PM	Executive Session	relative to adding eligibility for a disability placard for certain veterans.	Watters, David(D)[CT]2024
SB40 03:46:41.680 - 12:44:57 PM	Executive Session	relative to safe boater education certificates.	Lang, Timothy(R)[C+]2024
SB156 03:48:52.560 - 12:47:08 PM	Executive Session	allowing the division of motor vehicles to contract with a third-party vendor to facilitate the secure transfer of title applications and information.	Ricciardi, Denise(R)[C-]2024
SB272 03:51:17.120 - 12:49:33 PM	Executive Session	relative to electric-vehicle charging station funding.	Watters, David(D)[CT]2024
SB157 04:12:23.840 - 1:10:39 PM	Executive Session	relative to inspection and registration of certain fleet vehicles and necessary amendments and administrative rules regarding the state implementation plan.	Ricciardi, Denise(R)[C-]2024
SB13 2025-11934H 04:16:13.199 - 1:14:29 PM	Executive Session	invalidating out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants.	Gannon, Bill(R)[C+]2024

SB154: David Roford, Senate District 1 Support00:04:56.400 - 9:03:12 AM; Senator Roford introduced SB154, which would amend existing statutes to allow the New Hampshire Snow Travelers Foundation to offer license plate decals. He explained that this would open a channel for tax-deductible donations to improve the state's snowmobile trail system, which is crucial for tourism. He highlighted the challenges faced due to recent flood incidents and the lack of mechanisms for individual or corporate donations to support trail maintenance.
SB154: Dan Gold, New Hampshire Snowmobile Association Support00:08:09.680 - 9:06:25 AM; Dan Gold supported SB154, emphasizing the need for the Snow Travelers Foundation to accept tax-deductible donations. He discussed the association's efforts in fundraising and the specific project of upgrading trail signs for safety and consistency across the state. He mentioned that the new signs cost between $5,000 and $10,000 per club, and with 96 clubs, it's an expensive endeavor. He estimated that the decal program could raise $10,000 to $20,000 annually, which could help fund the sign program for four clubs each year.
SB271: Grant Bossy, Deputy Chief of Staff for the New Hampshire Senate Support00:21:54.080 - 9:20:10 AM; Grant Bossy introduced SB271 on behalf of Senator Denise Rashardy, aiming to expand eligibility for veteran license plates to include those with a general discharge under honorable conditions. He argued that these veterans should be recognized for their service, as they are eligible for various other veterans benefits. He noted the support from the State Veterans Advisory Council and emphasized that the bill does not extend plates to those with dishonorable discharges.
SB271: Phil Grizzo, Bedford, New Hampshire Support00:26:04.400 - 9:24:20 AM; Phil Grizzo supported SB271, explaining the various reasons veterans might receive a general discharge under honorable conditions, including issues like PTSD, sexual trauma, and vaccine refusal. He argued that these veterans should not be excluded from the license plate program, as they are recognized as veterans by other standards and organizations. He referenced actions by the federal government to address such discharges and emphasized the need for New Hampshire to be veteran-friendly.
SB271: Kevin Grady, Hooksett, New Hampshire, State Veterans Advisory Committee Support00:30:07.679 - 9:28:23 AM; Kevin Grady, representing the State Veterans Advisory Committee, strongly supports SB271, which would allow veterans with a general discharge under honorable conditions to be eligible for veteran license plates. He explains that the committee, chartered under RSA 115, represents 20 veteran organizations and reviews legislation impacting veterans. Grady notes that the committee was unaware that veterans with a general discharge were excluded from license plates and driver's licenses, highlighting that general discharges are often given for minor infractions or failure to meet certain standards during training. He argues that those who have served honorably for the most part should be recognized with a veteran plate. Additionally, Grady mentions the committee's plan to standardize the definition of a veteran across state laws and considers further implications for other veteran benefits.
SB273: Senator Donovan Fenton, District 10 Support00:42:40.880 - 9:40:56 AM; Senator Donovan Fenton introduces SB273, also known as Cheryl's Law, in honor of Staff Sergeant Jesse Cheryl and Brigadier General John Pogo Pagoric, who were killed while on roadside duty. The bill aims to enhance safety by expanding the existing move over law to include any stopped or standing vehicle on the roadside, not just emergency vehicles. It requires motorists to reduce speed, change lanes if safe, and follow directions of authorized personnel. Fenton emphasizes the necessity of the law to protect all roadside workers and stranded motorists, supported by various stakeholders and families affected by roadside tragedies.
SB273: Dan Goodman, AAA Northern New England Support00:54:19.960 - 9:52:35 AM; Dan Goodman from AAA Northern New England supports SB273, stating that it will immediately improve road safety. He notes that nearly 25% of surveyed individuals were unaware of move over laws, despite their existence in all states. Goodman explains that the law would extend protection to anyone on the roadside, highlighting statistics on deaths related to roadside incidents. He also mentions AAA's commitment to public education campaigns to inform motorists about the new law if passed.
SB273: Matt Amatucci, New Hampshire State Police Support00:58:46.480 - 9:57:02 AM; Matt Amatucci from the New Hampshire State Police supports SB273, emphasizing its importance in enhancing road safety and honoring Staff Sergeant Jesse Cheryl. He agrees with the expansion of the move over law to all vehicles and stresses the need for public education to ensure compliance without unintended consequences. Amatucci also addresses concerns about the law's enforcement, noting that the primary goal is safety, not issuing fines, and that enforcement is typically reserved for extreme cases.
SB154: Representative Johnson Vote01:19:44.960 - 10:18:00 AM; Representative Johnson moves to pass SB154, citing support from testimony that the bill would generate financial support and awareness for the foundation. The motion is seconded by Representative Miller, and the committee votes unanimously to pass the bill with a vote of 13 to 0. The bill is placed on the consent calendar due to its fiscal note being under $10,000.
SB271: Representative Gaasan Support01:22:07.920 - 10:20:23 AM; Representative Gaasan moved that Senate Bill 271 ought to pass. He explained that the bill addresses veterans who served honorably but had to leave early due to honorable reasons such as family care issues or changes in military regulations. He clarified that the bill does not cover training or punitive discharges but focuses on veterans who completed their service but faced barriers to reenlistment, such as weight issues. He emphasized that these veterans, many of whom served overseas, deserve recognition and that this bill is a good start towards further addressing their needs.
SB273: Representative Crawford Support01:25:09.840 - 10:23:25 AM; Representative Crawford moved that Senate Bill 273 ought to pass. He expressed pride in recommending the bill due to his background in state police and driver education, emphasizing the importance of safety. He hoped his fellow representatives would support the bill for these reasons.
SB273: Representative Sykes Support01:26:20.800 - 10:24:36 AM; Representative Sykes urged his colleagues to vote in favor of the legislation, highlighting its dual purpose of educating the public on proper and safe procedures and providing the Department of Transportation with tools to enhance safety. He emphasized the importance of moving over to protect the motoring public.
SB273: Representative Johnson Support01:26:20.800 - 10:24:36 AM; Representative Johnson supported the legislation for the reasons mentioned by Representative Sykes. He also shared a personal connection, mentioning Jesse Cheryl, a resident of Bington, who is honored with a baseball tournament every summer. He noted that his family has been involved in the tournament and stressed the importance of the legislation in preventing similar incidents in the future.
SB154: Representative Johnson Support03:09:15.120 - 12:07:31 PM; Representative Johnson moved that Senate Bill 154 ought to pass. He did not provide additional comments beyond referring to his previous statements.
SB271: Representative Gison Support03:11:19.359 - 12:09:35 PM; Representative Gison moved that Senate Bill 271 ought to pass. No further discussion was provided beyond the motion.
SB273: Representative Crawford Support03:14:30.080 - 12:12:46 PM; Representative Crawford moved that Senate Bill 273 ought to pass. He did not provide additional comments beyond the motion.
SB273: Representative Johnson Support03:15:29.359 - 12:13:45 PM; Representative Johnson reiterated his support for the legislation, mentioning his previous agreement with Representative Sykes' reasons. He added a personal note about being from Lee, a neighbor to Bington, where Jesse Cheryl, honored with a baseball tournament, resided. He emphasized the importance of the legislation in preventing similar incidents and hoped it would achieve its goal.
SB12: Representative Gison Support03:43:38.239 - 12:41:54 PM; Representative Gison moved for an 'ought to pass' on Senate Bill 12, which aims to allow 100% disabled veterans certified by the VA to receive both a disabled license plate and a disability placard. He explained that currently, such veterans are only eligible for one disabled license plate, which poses challenges if their disability prevents them from driving themselves. The bill seeks to provide equal access to both a plate and a placard, similar to other disabled individuals.
SB40: Representative Coker Support03:46:41.680 - 12:44:57 PM; Representative Coker moved for an 'ought to pass' on Senate Bill 40, which would enable voter education certificates to be available online. He argued that this modernization would keep education within the state, preventing residents from seeking such education out-of-state. The bill aims to ensure that voters learn about New Hampshire-specific voting procedures.
SB156: Representative Support03:48:52.560 - 12:47:08 PM; The representative moved for an 'ought to pass' on Senate Bill 156, which was requested by the Department of Safety to modernize the title system. The bill focuses on protecting personal information and streamlining the title processing process, which the representative believed to be a sensible move.
SB272: Representative Gison Oppose03:51:17.120 - 12:49:33 PM; Representative Gison moved for an 'inexpedient to legislate' on Senate Bill 272FN, arguing against the use of taxpayer funds for electric vehicle charging stations in public municipalities. He believed that such initiatives should be handled by the private market, similar to gas stations, and that municipalities could already use warrant articles for this purpose if desired.
SB272: Representative Sykes Information Only03:52:19.279 - 12:50:35 PM; Representative Sykes expressed confusion about the fiscal note of the bill, which stated a minimal cost, and questioned the bill's purpose. He believed the bill was about enforcing penalties for non-electric vehicles parked in electric vehicle charging spots, which he supported as a legitimate government function to protect businesses.
SB272: Representative Miller Support03:53:29.680 - 12:51:45 PM; Representative Miller clarified that the bill creates a revolving fund option for municipalities to fund charging stations and includes penalties for non-electric vehicles in EV spots. He argued that the bill is enabling legislation, not mandatory, and emphasized the importance of the enforcement aspect for protecting businesses. He suggested that if the revolving fund was contentious, an amendment could be considered to remove it.
SB272: Representative Gison Oppose03:56:39.199 - 12:54:55 PM; Representative Gison responded to Representative Miller, agreeing with the need for enforcement mechanisms for designated parking spaces but disagreed with the revolving fund. He was concerned about local control given the low voter turnout and the potential for a small percentage of the population to decide on tax spending.
SB272: Representative Sinclair Support03:57:34.960 - 12:55:50 PM; Representative Sinclair disagreed with limiting municipalities based on voter turnout and supported local control. He believed that the bill should remain as is, allowing municipalities to decide on their own funding for charging stations, and emphasized that residents can influence their city council on such matters.
SB272: Representative Johnson Information Only03:58:37.560 - 12:56:53 PM; Representative Johnson shared a personal anecdote about losing an election by a small margin and questioned the feasibility of splitting the bill into separate parts to address the funding and enforcement issues separately.
SB272: Representative Coker Information Only03:59:51.040 - 12:58:07 PM; Representative Coker raised concerns about the enforcement part of the bill, specifically about how to determine if a vehicle is 'actively charging' and whether enforcement officers can easily verify this.
SB272: Chairman Walsh Oppose04:00:48.279 - 12:59:04 PM; Chairman Walsh expressed strong agreement with Representative Gison's stance against using taxpayer money for personal vehicle refueling. He acknowledged the enforcement aspect but noted the dissimilarity between the funding and enforcement issues in the bill, suggesting that an amendment might be needed to separate them.
SB272: Representative Sykes Support04:04:01.520 - 1:02:17 PM; Representative Sykes suggested retaining the bill to address unanswered questions, such as the rationale behind the $62 fine and the 20% split. He emphasized the importance of the fine for protecting private business profits from non-electric vehicles parking in EV spots.
SB272: Representative Hill Oppose04:04:53.640 - 1:03:09 PM; Representative Hill supported the 'inexpedient to legislate' motion due to the bill's complexity and the need for more comprehensive revisions. He believed that the bill had broader implications and should be reintroduced in a more refined form.
SB157: Representative Petaro Support04:12:23.840 - 1:10:39 PM; Representative Petaro moved for the bill to pass, stating that it would allow new fleet vehicles to register for a two-year inspection within one year of the same model year, while still requiring display of inspection stickers. Additionally, it would enable the state to seek approval from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, indicating a move towards rolling back certain inspection requirements.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Gorski Support04:16:13.199 - 1:14:29 PM; Representative Gorski introduced an amendment to Senate Bill 13, which would incorporate language from House Bill 452, already passed by the House. The amendment aims to prevent the recognition of work authorizations for asylum seekers, attaching it to Senate Bill 13 as a strategic move.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Miller Oppose04:18:42.080 - 1:16:58 PM; Representative Miller expressed strong opposition to the amendment and the underlying bill, arguing that it does not make the state safer and is rooted in policies that create division and fear. They criticized the policies as being motivated by hatred and rage, and not based on facts or data that would benefit New Hampshire.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Petaro Support04:20:01.600 - 1:18:17 PM; Representative Petaro emphasized that driving is a privilege, not a right, and supported the bill, arguing that it addresses the issue of fraudulent asylum claims. They highlighted the need for legal immigration and criticized the previous administration's handling of border policies.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative B Oppose04:22:19.600 - 1:20:35 PM; Representative B opposed the bill, stating that laws should be based on facts and data, not opinions. They criticized the assumptions made about asylum seekers and emphasized that the process for asylum claims is legal and slow, but existing laws allow driving privileges for those who follow the rules.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Coker Support04:28:03.040 - 1:26:19 PM; Representative Coker supported the bill, citing a significant increase in asylum seekers and questioning the adequacy of the vetting process. They expressed concern about the system being overwhelmed and suggested that the bill would help manage the situation until better solutions are found.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Ses Oppose04:30:19.600 - 1:28:35 PM; Representative Ses opposed the bill, arguing that asylum seekers are legally present and following the law. They criticized the bill for arbitrarily denying driving privileges to a specific class of legal residents, calling it antithetical to the founding principles of the country.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Gorski Support04:39:42.240 - 1:37:58 PM; Representative Gorski supported the bill, highlighting the inconsistency in vetting processes across states for undocumented immigrants receiving driver's licenses. They expressed concern about the lack of vetting in some states and the potential safety risks this poses.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Bale Oppose04:41:02.240 - 1:39:18 PM; Representative Bale questioned the enforceability of the bill, pointing out that it only applies to licenses marked for undocumented immigrants, which are issued by only two states. They argued that the bill does not solve the problem it purports to address.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Pondon Information Only04:43:05.120 - 1:41:21 PM; Representative Pondon clarified that the bill primarily affects licenses from Connecticut and Delaware, the only states marking licenses for undocumented immigrants. They noted that Delaware licenses are not supposed to be used outside the state.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Sinclair Oppose04:45:18.400 - 1:43:34 PM; Representative Sinclair opposed the bill, stating that they care about drivers knowing the rules of the road, not their background. They expressed concern that the bill could lead to more unlicensed driving and potential retaliation from other states.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Miller Oppose04:48:15.440 - 1:46:31 PM; Representative Miller criticized the bill for not benefiting the safety of New Hampshire's roads, arguing that a driver's license should only demonstrate understanding of driving laws. They expressed disappointment that the bill does not offer value to the state's constituents.
SB13 2025-11934H: Representative Johnson Oppose04:51:58.400 - 1:50:14 PM; Representative Johnson argued that moving people from the driver's seat to the passenger seat does not improve road safety. They also stated that the bill would not encourage self-deportation and is not a solution to immigration issues.

Walsh, Thomas(Chairman)(R)[A-]2024	Crawford, Karel(Clerk)(R)[B-]2024	Gorski, Ted(V Chairman)(R)[B+]2024
Sykes, George(D)[F]2024	Hill, Gregory(R)[A]2024	Plamondon, Marc(D)[F]2024
Veilleux, Daniel(D)[F]2024	Pitaro, Matthew(R)[B+]2022	Coker, Matthew(R)[B-]2024
St. Clair, Charlie(D)[D-]2024	Fox, Dru(D)[CT]2024	Foote, Charles(R)[B]2024
Johnson, Erik(D)[CT]2024	Miller, Seth(D)	Hamblen, Joseph(R)
Giasson, Henry(R)