Committee Summary for Senate Transportation (02/04/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB150 00:00:00.160 - 12:00:47 PM	Public Hearing	defining electric vehicle charging station and charging a fee for annual testing by the division of weights and measures.	Watters, David(D)[CT]2024
SB151 00:18:41.400 - 12:19:28 PM	Public Hearing	relative to accessible parking permit verification and fraud prevention.	Abbas, Daryl(R)[C+]2024
SB152 01:13:07.920 - 1:13:54 PM	Public Hearing	authorizing the sale of toll credits to fund a newly established noise barrier construction fund for the design and construction of noise barrier projects.	Ricciardi, Denise(R)[C-]2024
SB155 01:23:45.080 - 1:24:32 PM	Public Hearing	relative to highway toll credits.	Reardon, Tara(D)
SB156 01:46:29.599 - 1:47:16 PM	Public Hearing	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
SB40 01:56:20.280 - 1:57:07 PM	Executive Session	relative to safe boater education certificates.	Lang, Timothy(R)[C+]2024
SB12 01:58:27.000 - 1:59:14 PM	Executive Session	relative to adding eligibility for a disability placard for certain veterans.	Watters, David(D)[CT]2024
SB51 2024-XXXXh 01:59:13.440 - 2:00:00 PM	Executive Session	relative to decal fees and the statewide public boat access program.	Watters, David(D)[CT]2024
SB39 02:01:43.880 - 2:02:30 PM	Executive Session	relative to establishing an alternative driver education program.	Lang, Timothy(R)[C+]2024
SB70 02:04:44.639 - 2:05:31 PM	Executive Session	creating a mobile driver's license and non-driver identification card.	Lang, Timothy(R)[C+]2024
SB156 Committee Amendment 02:07:38.599 - 2:08:25 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

SB150: Senator David Waters, District 4 Support00:00:00.160 - 12:00:47 PM; Senator Waters introduced Senate Bill 150, which aims to establish an inspection protocol and fee for electric vehicle charging stations, similar to gas pumps. He explained that the bill targets commercial stations and proposes a fee of $175 per meter per annual testing. The bill also necessitates changes in the definition of a registered service technician and the creation of a new position funded initially by the agricultural products regulatory fund. The senator mentioned that an amendment is needed to ensure the fee replenishes the fund and highlighted the increasing number of stations expected due to various funding sources. He emphasized the need for inspections to ensure consumers get what they pay for, likening it to the regulation of gas pumps.
SB150: Commissioner Sha Jasper, Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food Information Only00:05:10.360 - 12:05:57 PM; Commissioner Jasper provided factual information about the responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture's Division of Weights and Measures, which currently tests devices that deliver products by weight or measure. He clarified that while they believe they have the authority to test electric vehicle charging stations, they lack the funding and equipment. He mentioned that the proposed fee of $175 would cover costs over time, and an amendment is needed to direct the fee to the appropriate fund. Jasper also noted that other states are already testing these devices and finding errors, stressing the importance of consumer confidence in the measurements provided by charging stations. He estimated that implementing the program would take until at least January 1st of the following year.
SB150: Director Cheryl Ager, Division of Weights and Measures Information Only00:09:40.560 - 12:10:27 PM; Director Ager, in response to questions, confirmed that Vermont and New York are currently testing electric vehicle charging stations. She addressed concerns about the financial burden on businesses installing these stations, explaining that the proposed annual fee equates to less than 50 cents a day, which they do not consider overly burdensome. She also noted that the specialized testing equipment is estimated to cost $122,000.
SB150: Sam Evans Brown, Executive Director of Clean Energy New Hampshire Information Only00:13:19.320 - 12:14:06 PM; Sam Evans Brown testified that Clean Energy New Hampshire does not have a position on SB150 but offered suggestions and concerns. He echoed concerns about the current state of EV charging infrastructure, highlighting the thin margins due to low adoption rates and the need for a sustainable business model. He emphasized the importance of infrastructure to support travelers from Massachusetts and Quebec passing through New Hampshire. Brown also supported the need for consumer protection in EV charging and suggested that any regulatory role should focus initially on fast charging infrastructure, particularly publicly available stations, to ensure effective regulation and enforcement.
SB151: Grant Bossy, Deputy Chief of Staff for the New Hampshire Senate Support00:18:41.400 - 12:19:28 PM; Grant Bossy introduced Senate Bill 151 on behalf of Senator Daryl Abbas, emphasizing the importance of enforcing parking laws for handicap spaces. He highlighted the bill's provisions to increase fines for misuse of handicap placards from $250 to $500, increase the local share of fines, and introduce a lesser fine for failure to display the placard. He noted that an amendment was proposed to remove a provision requiring driver's information on the placard due to privacy concerns, suggesting the committee pass the bill without this provision to better enforce parking laws.
SB151: Luana Pets, Bedford, New Hampshire Support00:22:12.520 - 12:22:59 PM; Luana Pets, along with her 13-year-old son Logan who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, shared their experience of moving to New Hampshire for medical treatment and facing challenges with handicap parking enforcement. She recounted an incident where a UPS driver parked in handicap spaces without repercussions and criticized the lack of enforcement by law enforcement. Pets supported SB151 to ensure better enforcement of handicap parking laws to make spaces available for those who need them.
SB151: Lisa Bodwin, Director of Strategies for Disability Equity Support00:25:37.520 - 12:26:24 PM; Lisa Bodwin supported SB151 and recounted an incident at Tuscan Village in Salem where a UPS driver parked in handicap spaces without being ticketed, highlighting the lack of enforcement. She discussed the fraudulent use of placards leading to dismissed tickets and the need for increased fines and better enforcement tools like photo IDs on placards. Bodwin suggested a solution involving a white plastic sleeve to cover the photo for privacy but emphasized the need for effective law enforcement to protect accessible parking rights.
SB151: Senator Daryl Abbas, District 22 Support00:40:19.640 - 12:41:06 PM; Senator Daryl Abbas, the prime sponsor of SB151, supported the bill's provisions to increase fines for misuse of handicap placards and to enhance enforcement. He addressed privacy concerns related to a provision requiring photographs on placards, which he proposed to remove via an amendment to avoid stalling the bill. Abbas emphasized the need for better enforcement due to rampant violations and suggested that increased fines could financially incentivize police to enforce the law more effectively.
SB151: Kristen Evans, Director of Policy for AEL New Hampshire Oppose00:47:39.640 - 12:48:26 PM; Kristen Evans opposed SB151 due to the provision requiring a photo or additional identifying information on disability placards, citing privacy and security concerns. She argued that such a requirement could lead to targeted harassment and discrimination against individuals with disabilities, particularly those with invisible disabilities. Evans supported efforts to reduce fraud but suggested alternative enforcement mechanisms that respect privacy. She would support the bill if the amendment removing the photo ID requirement is passed.
SB151: Vanessa Blae, Director of Policy and Planning, New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities Oppose00:50:39.799 - 12:51:26 PM; Vanessa Blae expressed concerns about SB151, focusing on privacy issues and the financial burden of mandatory identification for disabled individuals. She mentioned that while preventing fraud is important, the bill as written might compromise the privacy of disabled people and force them to spend money on identification from the DMV. She indicated that an amendment addressing these concerns could potentially change their stance on the bill.
SB151: Liz Mhad, Bureau Chief of Registration, DMV Information Only00:52:08.319 - 12:52:55 PM; Liz Mhad provided information about the current process of issuing handicap placards and clarified that law enforcement can look up placard numbers in their system to identify the holder. She mentioned that both permanent and temporary placards are issued, with different durations and that the system has a hard stop for renewal. She also noted that she was unsure if a photo of the placard holder is accessible to law enforcement.
SB151: Lori Safford, Pelham Support00:56:31.559 - 12:57:18 PM; Lori Safford shared her personal experiences with the challenges of accessible parking due to her sons' Duchenne muscular dystrophy. She described incidents where handicapped parking spaces were misused and emphasized the lack of enforcement by law enforcement. She supported SB151 for its provisions to increase fines and encourage enforcement, hoping it would address the widespread disrespect for handicap parking laws.
SB151: Benjamin Safford, Pelham Support01:03:41.880 - 1:04:28 PM; Benjamin Safford recounted his personal struggles with accessible parking, including an incident where he was blocked in a parking space. He emphasized the importance of van-accessible spots for people with disabilities, especially those who are medically fragile, and urged the committee to support SB151 to improve the situation.
SB151: Sam Safford, Pelham, reading testimony from Kathy Spinny, Pelham Support01:06:02.880 - 1:06:49 PM; Kathy Spinny's testimony, read by Sam Safford, highlighted her daughter Kelly's experiences with accessible parking. She described frequent misuse of van-accessible spots and a lack of enforcement by law enforcement, which impacted her daughter's ability to participate in community activities. She strongly supported SB151 to enforce the law and improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
SB151: Luciana Pets, Bedford Information Only01:09:45.759 - 1:10:32 PM; Luciana Pets addressed a point made by the DMV representative, stating that according to a captain from the Manchester Police Department, they do not have access to look up handicap placard numbers. She also expressed no objection to having a photo on the placard, especially if it's facing inward, to protect her son's rights and improve enforcement of parking regulations.
SB152: Senator Fenton, District 10 Support01:13:07.920 - 1:13:54 PM; Senator Fenton opened the hearing for Senate Bill 152, which authorizes the sale of toll credits to fund a noise barrier construction fund. This fund would be used for the design and construction of noise barrier projects. The bill aims to leverage New Hampshire's Turnpike toll credits to create a dedicated fund, allowing the sale of up to $10 million annually to finance highway noise mitigation projects. This approach is seen as a fiscally responsible solution to address noise pollution affecting communities near major roadways, enhancing residential livability and community health without raising taxes or tolls.
SB152: Senator Murphy Support01:14:34.120 - 1:15:21 PM; Senator Murphy, not the primary sponsor but strongly supportive of the bill, shared a personal story about a constituent, Ralph Dutton, from Bedford, who was severely affected by noise pollution from the widened Everett Turnpike. The noise made his backyard unusable and devalued his home. Senator Murphy emphasized the effectiveness and cost of noise barriers and the lack of funding at the time. He stressed the importance of protecting property rights and highlighted similar issues in other towns like Raymond, Rochester, and Windham. He urged support for the bill as a solution to a growing problem in Southern New Hampshire.
SB152: Danielle Shandon, Director of Finance for DOT Information Only01:19:43.880 - 1:20:30 PM; Danielle Shandon discussed the funding mechanism proposed in the bill, focusing on the sale of Turnpike toll credits. She explained that the federal pilot program for selling toll credits, authorized under the bipartisan infrastructure law, is currently on hold and cannot accept new members. She raised concerns about the potential challenges of selling toll credits, including the lack of a current market and the possibility of needing to sell more credits than anticipated to meet funding needs. She emphasized the uncertainty and potential risks involved in relying on this funding method.
SB155: Tara Reen, Senate District 15, representing Concord, Bow, and Hopkinton Support01:23:45.080 - 1:24:32 PM; Tara Reen introduced Senate Bill 155, aimed at allowing municipalities and nonprofits to use toll credits for transportation projects, similar to the state Department of Transportation. She explained that the current law restricts the use of toll credits to state projects, creating inequities for local communities. She highlighted examples of projects in Concord that faced funding challenges due to these restrictions. She stressed that passing SB 155 would reduce disparities and enable more transportation projects without increasing state expenditure, emphasizing the potential benefits for local communities and nonprofits.
SB155: Danielle Shandon, Director of Finance for DOT Information Only01:30:48.920 - 1:31:35 PM; Danielle Shandon provided information on how toll credits are earned and spent, focusing on their impact on federal programs. She explained that toll credits are earned through Turnpike construction and renewal activities but are not always approved by the federal government due to calculation requirements. She presented data on the average toll credits earned and used over the past decade and discussed the potential impact of municipalities and nonprofits using toll credits on the federal funding available for projects. She expressed concerns about the sustainability of the toll credit balance if usage is not moderated.
SB155: Paving Company Representative Oppose01:43:26.880 - 1:44:13 PM; The representative from a local New Hampshire paving company expressed opposition to Senate Bill 155 due to concerns about its impact on the state's 10-year transportation plan. They highlighted the challenges of planning and employment when projects are delayed due to funding shortages. The company fears that allowing more entities to use toll credits could further delay Turnpike projects, which are critical for their business operations. They emphasized the broader funding issues in the state and the potential negative effects of the proposed bill on their industry and the state's transportation infrastructure.
SB156: Denise Rardy, State Senator, District 9 Support01:46:29.599 - 1:47:16 PM; Senator Rardy introduced Senate Bill 156, which aims to modernize New Hampshire's motor vehicle title system by allowing the Division of Motor Vehicles to partner with third-party vendors for electronic title transfers. This bill would streamline title processing, making transactions more efficient, secure, and accessible for car buyers, dealerships, financial institutions, and the state. The legislation would reduce paperwork, minimize processing delays, and enhance fraud prevention while ensuring strong security standards for third-party service providers. The senator highlighted the benefits of faster title transfers, improved record accuracy, and reduced administrative burdens on the DMV, bringing New Hampshire's vehicle registration process into the 21st century.
SB156: Jennifer Oi, Title Bureau Administrator, Division of Motor Vehicles Support01:49:04.400 - 1:49:51 PM; Jennifer Oi, representing the Division of Motor Vehicles, supported Senate Bill 156, explaining that it was requested by the director to advance the electronic title project. The passage of the bill would enable the DMV to receive title applications electronically and improve efficiency in lean communication through electronic channels. This would provide greater service to customers and stakeholders while protecting consumer information. She confirmed that approximately 17 states have a mandatory electronic title system and 14 operate voluntarily.
SB156: Dan Bennett, President, New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association Support01:51:07.520 - 1:51:54 PM; Dan Bennett, representing the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association, expressed strong support for Senate Bill 156, emphasizing the importance of moving into the electronic age for the automotive industry. He highlighted the benefits of electronic title, lean, registration, and temporary plate services, which would make the process more efficient for consumers, dealers, DMVs, and lenders. Bennett mentioned that multiple states are already using such systems, suggesting a voluntary program for New Hampshire. He noted the need for a small amendment to the bill to clarify the delivery method of the certificate of title, suggesting it should say 'mail or deliver' to align with other parts of the bill.
SB40: Committee Information Only01:56:20.280 - 1:57:07 PM; In the executive session, a motion was made and seconded for Senate Bill 40 to pass. The bill was then voted to be placed on consent, with no opposition except from Senator Ward, who requested to take it out.
SB12: Committee Information Only01:58:27.000 - 1:59:14 PM; During the executive session, a motion was made and seconded to pass Senate Bill 12. The bill was unanimously approved to pass and then moved to consent, with Senator Fenton requesting to take it out.
SB51 2024-XXXXh: Committee Information Only01:59:13.440 - 2:00:00 PM; In the executive session, a motion was made and seconded to pass Senate Bill 51 with an amendment. The amendment was described as a minor housekeeping change requested by the Department of Environmental Services. The bill with the amendment was passed unanimously and moved to consent, with Senator Apprentice requesting to take it out.
SB39: Committee Information Only02:01:43.880 - 2:02:30 PM; During the executive session, a motion was made and seconded to re-refer Senate Bill 39. Senator Apprentice discussed the bill's history and the proactive steps taken by the DMV to address the issue of wait times for driver's education programs. The motion to re-refer was passed unanimously and then moved to consent, with Senator Apprentice requesting to take it out.
SB70: Committee Information Only02:04:44.639 - 2:05:31 PM; In the executive session, a motion was made and seconded to pass Senate Bill 70. The bill, aimed at updating the driver's license mobile application, was unanimously approved to pass and then moved to consent, with no opposition except from the speaker who requested to take it out.
SB156 Committee Amendment: Committee Information Only02:07:38.599 - 2:08:25 PM; During the executive session, a committee amendment was proposed for Senate Bill 156 to change the wording from 'mailed' to 'mail or deliver' on line six of section four, as suggested by Dan Bennett. The amendment was unanimously approved, and the bill, as amended, was passed unanimously. It was then moved to consent, with no opposition except from the speaker who requested to take it out.
SB156 Committee Amendment: Vivian Information Only02:09:54.520 - 2:10:41 PM; Vivian confirmed that the current session covered all scheduled items for discussion, and there were no further items to address. The session was about to conclude, with a motion to adjourn and come out of the executive session. Vivian's input helped in confirming the completeness of the agenda before moving to end the session.
SB156 Committee Amendment: Unnamed Speaker Information Only02:10:57.639 - 2:11:44 PM; An unnamed speaker discussed the productivity of the day and mentioned that no executive session was planned for the following week. They highlighted upcoming deadlines, specifically mentioning that all fiscal notes must be completed by March 6th, and reminded everyone of the Senate break, indicating the need to be mindful of the legislative calendar.

Ricciardi, Denise(Chairman)(R)[C-]2024	McConkey, Mark(V Chairman)(R)	Ward, Ruth(R)[C+]2024
Prentiss, Suzanne(D)[F]2024	Fenton, Donovan(D)[F]2024