Committee Summary for House Executive Departments and Administration (03/04/2026)

Layon, Erica(Chairman)(R)[A+]2025	Sytek, John(Clerk)(R)[B-]2025	Slottje, Jeremy(V Chairman)(R)[A+]2025
Schmidt, Peter(D)[F]2025	Thibault, James(R)[A]2025	Howard, Heath(D)[F]2025
Sellers, John(R)[A-]2025	de Vries, Erica(D)[CT]2025	Dargie, Paul(D)[F]2025
Davis, Fred(D)[D-]2025	Bailey, Glenn(R)[A+]2025	Kelley, Diane(R)[A-]2025
Pearson, Stephen(R)[B-]2025	Grote, Jaci(D)[CT]2025	Long, Patrick(D)[D]2025
DeRoy, Susan(R)[A-]2025

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB1093 00:02:23.000 - 12:01:14 PM	Public Hearing	relative to public charter schools and the state building code and governmental land use exemptions.	Donnelly, Tanya(R)[B+]2025
HB1093 2026-1013H 00:15:00.000 - 12:13:51 PM	Executive Session	relative to public charter schools and the state building code and governmental land use exemptions.	Donnelly, Tanya(R)[B+]2025

HB1093: Representative Tanya Donnelly Support00:02:23.000 - 12:01:14 PM; Representative Donnelly introduced HB 1093 as a cleanup bill prompted by a constituent from the Salem Birches Charter School. The bill adds language to include facilities owned, operated, and occupied by public charter schools under RSA 194-B as public school buildings for renovation purposes. She explained that charter schools were not previously considered equal to public schools in facility changes, leading to issues. She offered to answer questions or refer to Jessica Wachman.
HB1093: Jessica Wachman, Dean of Operations at Birches Academy Charter School, Salem Support00:05:00.000 - 12:03:51 PM; Jessica Wachman testified about challenges faced by her school and others when purchasing and renovating buildings. Two years ago, Birches Academy bought its building and encountered zoning and permitting fees because the town attorney did not interpret charter schools as public schools, unlike traditional public schools. She paid over $20,000 in fees. Similarly, Micro Society Academy in Nashua faced over $100,000 in additional costs for traffic studies and infrastructure changes. She noted varying interpretations across towns and emphasized that all 38 public charter schools in NH could benefit from clarified language to treat them as public entities for such purposes, avoiding extra fees and requirements like excessive parking spaces.
HB1093 2026-1013H: Madam Chair Information Only00:15:00.000 - 12:13:51 PM; The Chair opened the executive session on HB 1093 and moved amendment 2026-1013H, which relocates the language to the governmental use section under RSA 674:54 for clearer treatment of charter schools as public entities, avoiding issues in the general building code. She noted agreement from the sponsor and respondent that this targeted change solves the problem.
HB1093 2026-1013H: Representative Sellers Information Only00:16:00.000 - 12:14:51 PM; Representative Sellers sought clarification on the amendment's impact, specifically on line 11 regarding treatment as governmental use under 674:54, ensuring it would not cause charter schools to lose their uniqueness or increase government involvement in their operations.