Committee Summary for Senate Executive Departments and Administration (04/15/2026)

Member	Member	Member
Pearl, Howard (Chairman)(R)[B]2025	Gannon, Bill(V Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025
Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2025	Reardon, Tara(D)[F]2025

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB1458	Public Hearing	(New Title) relative to the licensing of massage establishments and massage, reflexology, structural integration, and Asian bodywork facilities.	Layon, Erica(R)[A+]2025
HB1469	Public Hearing	(New Title) relative to the licensing requirements for massage therapy establishments.	Foote, Charles(R)[B]2025
HB1555	Public Hearing	relative to the administration and enforcement of the state fire code.	Layon, Erica(R)[A+]2025

HB1458: Support 00:06:39.026 - 9:01:55 AM; Representative Leon introduces HB 1458, sponsored by her as chair of the House ED&A Committee and the Commission to Fight Sex Trafficking with Illicit Massage Parlors. She explains the bill addresses sex trafficking in storefronts disguised as massage businesses, requiring proprietors of establishments with more than one practitioner to obtain a license, provide identification like social security or taxpayer ID, and undergo state police and FBI background checks for convictions related to kidnapping, human trafficking, rape, sexual assault, prostitution, or child sex abuse images. The bill ensures the proprietor holds a massage or bodywork license to prevent complicity in non-consensual activities. It is designed to be low-cost, processed through existing systems, with delayed implementation for fee setting and FBI language validation. Leon emphasizes making New Hampshire inhospitable to traffickers without burdening legitimate businesses and offers to work on blending with related bills.
HB1458: Information Only 00:14:45.626 - 9:10:01 AM; Senator Altshuler asks if Representative Leon worked with the Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force of New Hampshire and got their buy-in.
HB1458: Information Only 00:15:48.106 - 9:11:04 AM; Senator Lang questions the specific statutes cited for disqualifying convictions and whether similar requirements apply to reflexologists, suggesting clearer citations for OPLC decisions.
HB1458: Information Only 00:17:47.146 - 9:13:03 AM; The senator points out an inconsistency in allowing two or more practitioners for reflexologists versus one for massage therapists, seeking clarification on definitions and recommendations for alignment.
HB1458: Information Only 00:19:56.926 - 9:15:12 AM; The senator seeks clarification on the definition of proprietor and whether a partnership where only one holds a license would preclude others from ownership.
HB1458: Support 00:22:10.342 - 9:17:26 AM; Representative McGuire supports HB 1458 reluctantly due to the new burden on legitimate massage establishments but views it as a good first step to scope the problem of human trafficking fronts without excessive imposition. She notes it requires a proprietor license and background check, aiding identification of honest businesses and providing law enforcement a clear crime indicator for unlicensed operations.
HB1458: Information Only 00:24:22.582 - 9:19:38 AM; The senator expresses concern that the bill might shift illicit activity to other professions like physical therapy.
HB1469: Support 00:27:25.501 - 9:22:41 AM; Representative Foote introduces HB 1469 as a result of multi-year collaboration among legislators, law enforcement, human trafficking survivors, anti-trafficking organizations, victim advocates, town officials, business owners, massage therapists, and community members to eliminate illicit massage businesses (IMBs). The bill requires OPLC licensing for massage establishments with more than one licensed practitioner, closing gaps where only individuals are licensed. It targets exploitative models and human trafficking, noting 105 confirmed sex trafficking cases in 2024 and 15 IMBs shut down, representing 40% of such operations. Foote invites stakeholder testimony and defers technical questions.
HB1469: Support 00:28:20.781 - 9:23:36 AM; Co-sponsor Representative Mannion supports the bill, addressing concerns about impacting legitimate owners by arguing it would help their businesses flourish by eliminating illegal ones. With 30 years of law enforcement experience, he states it licenses the business itself, complementing HB 1458 by preventing use of 'paper' operators without records.
HB1469: Information Only 00:30:16.072 - 9:25:32 AM; The senator asks about a reasonable license cost, noting unknown numbers of establishments and the goal of self-supporting programs.
HB1469: Information Only 00:32:00.060 - 9:27:16 AM; The senator confirms much will be left to rulemaking, allowing practitioner input.
HB1469: Information Only 00:33:12.129 - 9:28:28 AM; The senator inquires about mixed-use establishments like wellness centers offering massage, whether the whole facility needs licensing, and clarification on multiple employees.
HB1469: Oppose 00:35:14.948 - 9:30:30 AM; Representative McGuire opposes immediate implementation of HB 1469 due to unknown costs, details via rulemaking, and greater burden on legitimate businesses compared to proprietor licensing. She argues it inappropriately positions OPLC as enforcers against traffickers, suggesting delay to assess problem scope after implementing proprietor licensing first, as legitimate businesses would bear enforcement costs.
HB1469: Information Only 00:37:51.926 - 9:33:07 AM; The senator notes the bill's effective date of July 1, 2027, providing time for rulemaking with stakeholder involvement, and questions the assertion that massage organizations would perform law enforcement, clarifying licensing involves standard checks and inspections.
HB1469: Information Only 00:40:17.926 - 9:35:33 AM; The senator raises concern about lacking specific rulemaking authority in the bill for implementation.
HB1469: Support 00:42:19.861 - 9:37:35 AM; Audra Doody, a survivor of human trafficking and prostitution, testified in strong support of HB 1469. She explained that her organization has seen a 500% increase in individuals supported, from 660 in 2024 to 3250 in 2025, including people from New Hampshire and other New England states. She emphasized the need for statewide regulations on massage parlors to combat trafficking, as traffickers move operations across borders and locations. Doody shared personal experiences of exploitation in Manchester, NH, describing horrific conditions in massage parlors where victims are treated inhumanely, often non-English speakers unable to consent. She advocated viewing prostitution as a public health crisis and noted that legitimate parlors follow rules, while illicit ones are obvious but ignored. She praised SB 267 for increasing penalties on sex buyers and submitted written testimony.
HB1469: Support 00:46:44.840 - 9:42:00 AM; Chief George Feole, with 46 years in Derry police and secretary of the NH Association of Chiefs of Police, supported HB 1469 on behalf of his department and the association. As a member of the commission studying human trafficking in illicit massage businesses, he described six such businesses in Derry in spring 2025, near schools and a child advocacy center, leading to prostitution arrests. Despite closures, new ones reopened, requiring intensive enforcement with federal and local partners. He called these criminal syndicate operations and stressed the bill provides tools to regulate them statewide, ending the 'whack-a-mole' game. He submitted testimony from Merrimack and Salem police chiefs, urging an 'ought to pass' finding. Captain Green added on investigations and compliance checks.
HB1469: Support 00:58:42.937 - 9:53:58 AM; Michael Fowler, Derry's Town Administrator for 1.5 years and previously Public Works Director, supported HB 1469 based on years of combating illicit massage businesses. Derry enacted a local ordinance in 2023 requiring business licensing at $150 per practitioner, closing six of eight establishments in 2025 via health, police, and code enforcement. He noted the statewide issue, with displaced businesses moving elsewhere, and stressed smaller towns lack resources. Fowler highlighted OPLC's failure to revoke a convicted proprietor's license despite Derry's reports, underscoring the need for establishment licensing beyond individual therapists.
HB1469: Support 01:04:21.440 - 9:59:37 AM; Carleen Ferrier, a 38-year RN in NH settings including corrections and VA, spoke in support of HB 1469 on behalf of herself and the NH Nurses Association (1,200+ members). Nurses encounter trafficked victims in ERs, clinics, and labor/delivery, often post-exploitation. She shared her daughter's story of identifying a trafficked woman in labor. The bill prevents trafficking by licensing establishments, not just individuals, as traffickers use clean fronts. She submitted written testimony with references, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach to this public health crisis.
HB1469: Support 01:07:52.812 - 10:03:08 AM; Pamela Kiley and Meg Chianti from the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, umbrella for 12 crisis centers, supported HB 1469. They lead victim services for the NH Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force since 2020, identifying trafficking in every county via forced labor and prostitution, with illicit massage businesses (IMBs) as key venues. IMBs enable 'whack-a-mole' operations, criminalizing victims while shielding traffickers. The bill licenses businesses to enable scrutiny and connect victims to services. They included a letter from national anti-trafficking group The Network, which aided shutting 15 IMBs via landlord engagement and offers OPLC training. This legitimizes therapeutic massage, enhances public safety, and holds systems accountable beyond individuals.
HB1469: Support 01:19:12.776 - 10:14:28 AM; Dennis Man briefly supported adding rulemaking authority (541-A) and emphasized HB 1469's focus on business licensing over therapist or proprietor alone, as shown by Derry's successful pilot. Proprietor licensing fails as clean fronts are used; business licensing closes gaps.
HB1469: Information Only 01:20:53.990 - 10:16:09 AM; David Lovejoy from the NH DOJ provided information without taking a position. The DOJ combats trafficking via the Landlord Engagement Project, educating landlords to evict IMB tenants, addressing the 'whack-a-mole' issue where businesses dissolve and relocate. They investigate with law enforcement but face challenges with language barriers and mobility. He deferred on misdemeanor sufficiency, noting the bill aims to create a licensing regime for health/safety and barrier to illicit entry.
HB1555: Support 01:24:45.070 - 10:20:01 AM; Rep. Erica Leon, sponsor from Derry, introduced the streamlined HB 1555, originally broader to protect businesses from unexpected fire code compliance costs but narrowed to allow appeals of local fire officials' decisions, similar to building code appeals. It enables review by the state fire marshal and code modifications for safety without excessive burden. Examples included a business facing millions in costs and a community group spending $250,000 on cisterns/pumps for sprinklers despite non-combustible materials. The bill ensures uniform, expert-reviewed application of codes statewide, adapting for cases like unnecessary sprinklers under non-combustible decks.
HB1555: Support 01:27:46.190 - 10:23:02 AM; As a co-sponsor, he noted that the bill passed unanimously in the policy committee and was voice voted in the House, but faced policy objections in the finance committee despite no financial concerns. He emphasized that it is solid policy, as local officials may lack expertise, time, or resources to keep up with developments, while the state fire marshal can ensure common standards across the state for fair and equal protection under fire codes.
HB1555: Information Only 01:29:43.078 - 10:24:59 AM; The bill was pared down from a larger version. The office is neutral from a safety perspective but supports it as it fills gaps in the appeals process from local to state level and allows the fire marshal to approve alternative design methods akin to variances in the building code. They handled 2,600 technical inquiries last year, but end users currently hesitate to appeal directly. This formalizes appeals and addresses inconsistencies, especially in municipalities without code enforcement (about 50%). He anticipates workload increases, including potential need for more staff, and supports delaying the effective date to align with the budget cycle. The process would be low-cost via online application and coordinate with local officials.
HB1555: Support 01:38:43.216 - 10:33:59 AM; The bill provides a necessary appeal process when builders and municipal inspectors disagree on code interpretations, avoiding court or deferral to the inspector. It bridges miscommunication gaps, as seen in cases where builders contact the fire marshal for clarification. It ensures life, safety, and asset preservation without jeopardizing standards. He supports delaying the effective date if needed to ensure the fire marshal's office can handle the workload adequately, noting the high volume of current requests.
HB1555: Support 01:42:04.203 - 10:37:20 AM; Local code enforcement officials sometimes interpret fire and building codes in ways not aligned with state codes, necessitating a broader perspective for fair appeals to someone with more expertise.