Committee Summary for Senate Ways and Means (05/21/2025)

Lang, Timothy(Chairman)(R)[C+]2024	Murphy, Keith(V Chairman)(R)[B+]2024	Rosenwald, Cindy(D)[CT]2024
Fenton, Donovan(D)[F]2024	Sullivan, Victoria(R)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB349 2025-2214S 00:03:08.640 - 8:01:59 AM	Public Hearing	relative to the practice of optometry and authorization to perform ophthalmic laser procedures.	Kofalt, Jim(R)[A+]2024
HB123 00:08:19.759 - 8:07:10 AM	Executive Session	(Second New Title) defining pre-sequestration timber tax revenue, establishing a moratorium on carbon sequestration and establishing a commission to study the effects of carbon sequestration in New Hampshire forests upon state and local tax revenue, effective forest management, and the health of New Hampshire’s logging industry.	Davis, Arnold(R)[B]2024

HB349 2025-2214S: Senator Dan Enis from Bradford, New Hampshire Support00:03:08.640 - 8:01:59 AM; Senator Enis introduced amendment 2025-2214S to address an issue with setting the tax rate for a new school district formed in his district. The amendment aims to create an exception to the usual tax rate calculation to prevent residents from facing a significantly larger tax bill in December. He mentioned that the Department of Revenue Administration supports the amendment and can implement it without issues.
HB349 2025-2214S: Russ Holden, Superintendent of the Pasquani School District, SAU 108 Support00:05:59.199 - 8:04:50 AM; Russ Holden, the superintendent, explained that HB 349 allowed the formation of the Pasquani School District, comprising the towns of Bridgewater, Hebron, and Groton. He highlighted an issue with the tax bill due to the transition from the old school district's tax rate to the new one. The amendment would help establish a tax rate that accurately represents the Pasquani School District.
HB349 2025-2214S: Adam Donor, Assistant Director of the Municipal and Property Division at DRRA Support00:07:11.680 - 8:06:02 AM; Adam Donor confirmed that the DRRA helped draft the amendment and supports its implementation. The amendment changes the basis of the initial tax rate from the Newfound Regional School District to the Pasquani School District.
HB123: Committee Chair Information Only00:08:19.759 - 8:07:10 AM; The chair explained that HB123 was originally about expanding a statewide tax but was rewritten by the Senate Energy and Agriculture Committee to create a study commission on carbon sequestration versus timber tax. The chair suggested that since the bill no longer expands the tax as originally intended, it should be passed as it came out of the Energy and Agriculture Committee, allowing the study commission to proceed and address the implications.
HB123: Committee Vote00:09:24.720 - 8:08:15 AM; The committee voted to pass HB123 with an 'ought to pass' recommendation and placed it on the consent calendar.