Committee Summary for House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (05/21/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB297 00:15:34.639 - 9:14:30 AM	Executive Session	relative to pooled risk management programs.	Carson, Sharon(R)[B]2025
Unclear 02:08:07.360 - 11:07:03 AM	General Working Session	Unclear

SB297: Subcommittee Chair Information Only00:15:34.639 - 9:14:30 AM; The subcommittee chair opened the session on Senate Bill 297, confirmed the presence of committee members, and mentioned the consideration of a new amendment. They inquired about specific issues that need to be addressed in the amendment.
SB297: Lisa Duket, Executive Director, SchoolCare Information Only00:17:24.799 - 9:16:20 AM; Lisa Duket, representing SchoolCare, a public entity risk pool, provided feedback on the proposed amendment to Senate Bill 297. She highlighted concerns about the language allowing co-mingling of public entity risk funds, which could lead to issues similar to past scandals. Duket also questioned the applicability of certain sections of the amendment to public entity risk pools, particularly regarding licensing requirements, reporting deadlines, and confidentiality. She emphasized the need for more time to understand and address these issues properly, suggesting a study committee might be necessary.
SB297: Representative Teresa Information Only00:34:17.040 - 9:33:13 AM; Representative Teresa inquired about the consequences if risk pools do not comply with financial reporting requirements under the proposed amendment. She compared the regulatory approaches of the Secretary of State and the insurance department, seeking clarification on how non-compliance would be handled differently under each model.
SB297: Insurance Department Representative Information Only00:39:41.440 - 9:38:37 AM; The representative from the insurance department clarified the regulatory process under the proposed amendment, explaining that non-compliance would result in an administrative process rather than immediate legal action. They addressed specific concerns about the amendment, including producer licensing exemptions, co-mingling language, excess loss insurance requirements, and financial reporting deadlines. They also emphasized the department's capability to handle the regulation of risk pools, despite the short timeframe for developing the amendment.
SB297: Representative Shares Information Only00:49:51.839 - 9:48:47 AM; Representative Shares questioned whether the insurance department's expertise in handling private insurance companies could be effectively applied to public entities like risk pools. They sought assurance that the department's tools and processes would be suitable for both types of entities.
SB297: Representative Gibbs Information Only00:52:12.680 - 9:51:08 AM; Representative Gibbs asked about the confidentiality of information under the proposed amendment, specifically whether it could lead to the revelation of personally identifiable information about claimants. They also sought clarification on the size and scope of the risk pool entities that would be regulated by the insurance department.
SB297: Representative Miles Information Only00:53:01.280 - 9:51:57 AM; Representative Miles expressed concerns about the rushed nature of the amendment and the lack of direct input from the insurance commissioner. They suggested delaying the transfer of regulatory authority to 2027 and setting a trigger amount for reserves to address the current crisis. They also questioned the fundamental change from the original bill, suggesting it should be treated as a new bill rather than an amendment.
SB297: Subcommittee Chair Information Only01:07:37.200 - 10:06:33 AM; The subcommittee chair clarified that the committee has the authority to amend bills extensively and that the original bill's title remains relevant. They explained the process of voting on the committee's recommendation and the possibility of filing a minority report for the original bill if the amendment is rejected. They also discussed the option of retaining the bill to allow more time for consideration.
SB297: Representative Herbert Information Only01:16:19.440 - 10:15:15 AM; Representative Herbert suggested that both the insurance department and the Secretary of State's office should discuss the issues further, possibly leading to retaining the bill. They emphasized the need for a solution that addresses the concerns of citizens and ensures proper management of risk pools.
SB297: Tara Tucker, Chief of Police of Greenland and representing the New Hampshire Area Chiefs of Police Oppose01:17:47.480 - 10:16:43 AM; Tara Tucker expressed opposition to SB297 as drafted out of the Senate, stating that the bill would be financially unfeasible for smaller towns like Greenland. She highlighted the budgetary constraints of small towns, explaining that they lack the flexibility to meet the bill's requirements for maintaining reserves and managing claims. Tucker argued that the majority of New Hampshire's towns are small and would struggle similarly. She emphasized the importance of a solid risk pool like Health Trust and the oversight necessary to ensure responsible coverage for public employees.
SB297: Scott D. Roach, Executive Director of Health Trust Support01:23:24.280 - 10:22:20 AM; Scott D. Roach testified in support of the amendment to SB297, explaining that the original bill would not allow Health Trust's model to operate effectively. He highlighted the importance of Health Trust holding the risk for its entities, allowing them to pay only fixed premiums, which is critical for municipal and school budgets. Roach detailed that the amendment would permit multiple risk pool models to exist, including Health Trust's model, under the oversight of the Insurance Department. He emphasized the need for stability and coverage without surprise assessments for the public sector.
SB297: Dave, representing the Secretary of State's Office Oppose01:46:19.840 - 10:45:15 AM; Dave from the Secretary of State's Office expressed opposition to the amendment and advocated for the original version of SB297 with the Carson amendment. He stressed the importance of addressing the financial concerns identified by the regulator, particularly regarding reserve levels and the potential for assessments to fall back on taxpayers. Dave argued that the original bill, combined with the Carson amendment, would prevent the issues seen in past legal battles and ensure the solvency of risk pools. He also mentioned ongoing issues with Health Trust regarding financial transparency.
SB297: Pam Brown, representing Kingston and East Kingston Oppose02:03:36.719 - 11:02:32 AM; Pam Brown opposed the amendment, expressing concerns about the potential for mid-year assessments impacting town budgets. As an economist, she criticized the operation of some risk pool nonprofits, suggesting they do not function as efficiently as commercial insurance companies. Brown argued that Health Trust's issues stemmed from underpricing premiums and highlighted the moral hazard created by the structure of these organizations. She suggested that municipalities might benefit from exploring commercial markets for insurance coverage.
Unclear: Commissioner Information Only02:08:07.360 - 11:07:03 AM; The Commissioner provided an update on the negotiations regarding the ambulance bill, which aimed to find a compromise between the House and Senate versions. The compromise includes prohibiting balance billing, setting temporary rates for two years, and conducting a new cost study. The temporary rates include an in-network rate of 325% of Medicare and an out-of-network rate of 100%, with provisions to incentivize providers to join networks. The new cost study will be more comprehensive and take into account the nuances of different provider models. The Commissioner highlighted the long-standing issue of balance billing and the financial challenges faced by EMS providers, emphasizing that the compromise addresses immediate concerns while working towards a sustainable solution.

Hunt, John(Chairman)(R)[B+]2025	Post, Lisa(Clerk)(R)[A]2025	Potucek, John(V Chairman)(R)[A-]2025
Salvi, Santosh(D)[CT]2025	Chourasia, Manoj(D)[F]2025	Ammon, Keith(R)[A]2025
Herbert, Christopher(D)[D-]2025	Osborne, Jason(R)[A+]2025	Thackston, Dick(R)[B+]2025
Walsh, Lilli(R)[B]2025	Porcelli, Susan(R)[B]2025	Spier, Carry(D)[D-]2025
Burroughs, Anita(D)[F]2025	Gibbs, Merryl(D)[D-]2025	McAleer, Chris(D)[D-]2025
Sullivan, Jared(D)[D]2025	Miles, Julie(R)[A-]2025	Presa, Adam(R)[B]2025