Committee Summary for House Executive Departments and Administration (04/09/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB74 00:02:14.480 - 12:00:35 PM	Public Hearing	relative to real property annual reporting requirements of state departments for permitting programs.	Pearl, Howard (R)[B]2025
SB74 00:24:33.840 - 12:22:54 PM	Executive Session	relative to real property annual reporting requirements of state departments for permitting programs.	Pearl, Howard (R)[B]2025
SB196 00:31:28.880 - 12:29:49 PM	Public Hearing	relative to the exemption from competitive bidding requirements for certain state agency projects.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB196 00:41:49.440 - 12:40:10 PM	Executive Session	relative to the exemption from competitive bidding requirements for certain state agency projects.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB193 01:02:18.319 - 1:00:39 PM	Public Hearing	requiring the head of each state agency to submit a strategic plan for program activities.	Sullivan, Victoria(R)[A-]2025
SB193 01:35:45.360 - 1:34:06 PM	Executive Session	requiring the head of each state agency to submit a strategic plan for program activities.	Sullivan, Victoria(R)[A-]2025
SB196 1568 01:41:55.040 - 1:40:16 PM	Executive Session	relative to the exemption from competitive bidding requirements for certain state agency projects.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB2011 01:47:14.480 - 1:45:35 PM	Public Hearing	Unclear	Likely Text to Speech Error on Bill #

SB74: Grant Bosi, Deputy Chief of Staff for the New Hampshire Senate Support00:02:14.480 - 12:00:35 PM; Grant Bosi introduced Senate Bill 74 on behalf of Senator Pearl, the prime sponsor. The bill aims to provide the legislature with more detailed information about the state's permitting process, focusing on state agencies like the Department of Environmental Services (DES). It requires agencies to report on the number of permit applications granted, denied, pending, and those taking longer than 90 days. DES claims a need for new staff to track this, while the Department of Transportation (DOT) states its software cannot track permits pending over 90 days. Senator Pearl believes this information should already be tracked within existing budgets. A floor amendment was introduced to delay the first report to February of the next year, and the Senate approved the bill on a voice vote.
SB74: Brian Gould, Lawyer from Concord Support00:04:57.919 - 12:03:18 PM; Brian Gould, a lawyer from Concord with 35 years of experience in commercial litigation and environmental permitting, provided background on the bill. He explained the baseline rule under the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires state agencies to determine application completeness within 30 days and rule on the application within 60 days, or it is deemed approved. He highlighted issues with state agencies requesting extensions for decision-making times, using examples from DOT and DES. Gould emphasized the importance of balancing regulation needs with the impact on developers and individuals, and stressed the necessity for comprehensive data on permit timelines to make informed legislative decisions. He noted that delays in permitting can kill business deals and affect economic activity.
SB74: Nate Graves, Business and Industry Association, statewide chamber of commerce Support00:17:51.360 - 12:16:12 PM; Nate Graves from the Business and Industry Association expressed support for Senate Bill 74. He emphasized the need to understand actual permitting timelines to assess and potentially modify them, as current statutory timelines are not always followed by state agencies. Graves highlighted the importance of this information for addressing issues like housing shortages and ensuring that regulatory processes do not unduly burden property rights or economic activity. He stressed the need for comprehensive data to guide legislative decisions on permitting processes.
SB74: Representative Pearson Information Only00:21:11.440 - 12:19:32 PM; Representative Pearson discussed the importance of collecting data for actionable purposes rather than merely for the sake of collecting it. He questioned the actionable events that would result from the data collected under Senate Bill 74 and expressed concern about the lack of apparent action beyond data collection.
SB74: Representative Lamb Support00:22:14.320 - 12:20:35 PM; Representative Lamb supported Senate Bill 74, stating that understanding the impact of regulations on property owners and making the process knowable is crucial. He believes the bill would be beneficial in ensuring transparency and fairness in regulatory processes.
SB74: Representative Power Support00:23:18.400 - 12:21:39 PM; Representative Power supported the bill, noting that the information it provides is essential for streamlining the permitting process, an effort supported by the governor. He believes the data will help ensure that any changes to permitting timelines are made correctly.
SB74: Representative Sykes Information Only00:25:44.760 - 12:24:05 PM; Representative Sykes humorously mentioned being prepared for other bills but did not provide a substantive comment on Senate Bill 74.
SB74: Representative Pearson Information Only00:24:33.840 - 12:22:54 PM; Representative Pearson emphasized the importance of data in making effective policy decisions, stating that without data, decisions are merely guesses. He sees the bill as an efficiency measure.
SB74: Representative Sykes Information Only00:25:44.760 - 12:24:05 PM; Representative Sykes humorously suggested that the clerk should read the calendar better, indicating readiness for other bills but not providing substantive comments on Senate Bill 74.
SB74: Committee Members Vote00:26:32.640 - 12:24:53 PM; The committee voted on Senate Bill 74, resulting in a unanimous decision to pass the bill with 13 votes in favor. The bill was placed on consent and forwarded to the finance committee for further review of the fiscal note.
SB196: Senator David Waters, District 4 Support00:31:28.880 - 12:29:49 PM; Senator David Waters introduced Senate Bill 196, which aims to increase the threshold for in-house projects from $500,000 to $1 million for the Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services and two other departments. He explained that this change is necessary due to inflation, as projects that once cost $500,000 now cost around $1 million. Waters mentioned an amendment to strike lines 12 through 16 to remove the addition of two new positions, as the departments already have the capacity to handle these projects with existing staff.
SB196: Representative Pearson Information Only00:34:50.960 - 12:33:11 PM; Representative Pearson questioned the fiscal note, which indicated no new positions were authorized despite the bill's language suggesting otherwise. Senator Waters clarified that the fiscal note was based on the original draft and that the departments confirmed they do not need additional staff.
SB196: Representative Daric Information Only00:35:59.280 - 12:34:20 PM; Representative Daric inquired about the revenue decrease noted in the fiscal note for the Division of Public Works Design and Construction. Senator Waters explained that this decrease reflects where the expense shows up, as projects between $500,000 and $1 million will now be handled in-house, affecting the revenue of the other department but not the overall state budget.
SB196: Nicole Desile Bixler, Deputy Adjutant General, Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services Support00:39:52.400 - 12:38:13 PM; Nicole Desile Bixler confirmed that the department does not need additional staff to handle the projects under Senate Bill 196. She explained that the projects in question are typically renovations like roofs and boilers, which fall between the $500,000 and $1 million range due to inflation. The department has a registered architect capable of managing these smaller projects in-house.
SB196: Representative Leyon Information Only00:41:49.440 - 12:40:10 PM; Representative Leyon is working on converting a Senate amendment into a House amendment to delete the contingency about adding new positions, as it could raise questions throughout the legislative process. The committee will not vote on the bill until the amendment is ready.
SB193: Senator Victoria Sullivan, Senate District 18, Manchester Wards 5 through 9 and the town of Litchfield Support01:02:18.319 - 1:00:39 PM; Senator Victoria Sullivan introduced Senate Bill 193 FN and mentioned that she has an amendment worked out with Health and Human Services, which she will present after the initial introduction. She represents Manchester Wards 5 through 9 and the town of Litchfield.
SB193: Senator Victoria Sullivan, Senate District 18, Manchester Wards 5 through 9 and the town of Litchfield Support01:02:55.359 - 1:01:16 PM; Senator Sullivan supports the bill and discusses the need for transparency in the use of federal grants, particularly in Manchester, where the costs and outcomes of Title One funds are unclear. She mentions the amendment she worked on with HHS, which allows agencies to submit existing reports instead of creating new ones, aligning with budget appropriations and revolving funds under Chapter 9. The amendment aims to reduce duplicative efforts and streamline the process for agencies. The commission will select up to five programs annually to evaluate, focusing on significant projects to improve fund utilization and agency support.
SB193: Meredith Telus, Director of the Division of Program Quality and Integrity for the Department of Health and Human Services, and Francesca Hennessy, Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Administrator within Program Integrity Information Only01:08:19.520 - 1:06:40 PM; Meredith Telus and Francesca Hennessy discuss the existing reporting mechanisms within HHS and the potential impact of the bill. They highlight the similarity of the bill's requirements to existing budget processes under RSA 94, expressing concerns about duplicative efforts. They support the amendment proposed by Senator Sullivan, which would allow the use of existing budget reports. They mention the resource-intensive nature of the bill's requirements, estimating significant time and effort to meet the bill's demands, particularly in defining and evaluating programs. They suggest including agency representatives on the commission for better collaboration and effectiveness.
SB193: Sean Jasper, Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food Information Only01:23:25.120 - 1:21:46 PM; Commissioner Jasper clarifies his stance on transparency and the bill, emphasizing his commitment to open government. He expresses confusion about the bill's objectives and the feasibility of implementation within his department, which already operates efficiently and generates revenue. He questions the practicality of the bill's requirements for regulatory agencies like his, highlighting the need to prioritize tasks and the potential negative impact on enforcement activities. He doubts the usefulness of the reports generated under the bill and questions their ultimate purpose.
SB193: Committee Members Vote01:35:45.360 - 1:34:06 PM; The committee discusses the retention of Senate Bill 193, with some members expressing interest in refining the bill's implementation. Others argue that the bill's current form is too labor-intensive and lacks clear outcomes. A motion to retain the bill is proposed and seconded, with some members supporting the idea of working on it further to make it more specific and efficient, while others are skeptical about its practicality. The vote results in a decision to retain the bill for further consideration.
SB193: Committee Members Information Only01:35:45.360 - 1:34:06 PM; The committee concluded the discussion on Senate Bill 193, with the session ending at 01:35:45.360.
SB196 1568: Representative Lyon Support01:41:55.040 - 1:40:16 PM; Representative Lyon moved to pass Senate Bill 196 with amendment 1568. The amendment was discussed and voted on first, with Representative Lyon's motion being seconded.
SB196 1568: Unnamed Speaker Information Only01:42:50.199 - 1:41:11 PM; The speaker explained amendment 1568 to Senate Bill 196, noting that it removes funding contingency for two positions within the Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services as they were deemed unnecessary by the deputy agent general. The amendment replaces sections with an effective date 60 days after passage.
SB196 1568: Various Committee Members Support01:44:15.440 - 1:42:36 PM; The committee voted to adopt amendment 1568 to Senate Bill 196. The vote was unanimous with the exception of Representative Bailey, who abstained.
SB196 1568: Unnamed Speaker Support01:45:09.440 - 1:43:30 PM; The committee then voted on the motion to pass Senate Bill 196 with amendment 1568. The motion was supported, and the bill was added to the consent calendar.
SB196 1568: Chairwoman Information Only01:46:15.199 - 1:44:36 PM; The chairwoman announced the schedule for the next week, noting that there would be no session, and hearings were scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
SB2011: Grant Bossy, Deputy Chief of Staff for the New Hampshire Senate Support01:47:14.480 - 1:45:35 PM; Grant Bossy, representing Senator Dan Inis, explained that Senate Bill 2011 allows the Department of Personnel to convert certain unclassified positions to classified exempt positions voluntarily. It also empowers agencies to request similar conversions.
SB2011: Charlie Arlinghouse, Commissioner of Administrative Services Support01:48:19.520 - 1:46:40 PM; Commissioner Arlinghouse detailed that Senate Bill 2011 would create salaried positions for state employees, currently paid hourly. He highlighted that this would be voluntary and would not change the union status of employees. The bill also includes housekeeping changes and aims to reduce lag time in establishing labor grades for new unclassified positions.
SB2011: Maver George, Deputy Director of Personnel Support01:49:33.000 - 1:47:54 PM; Maver George supported the bill, emphasizing its simplicity and the voluntary nature of the conversion to salaried positions.
SB2011: Representative Schmidt Information Only01:52:42.480 - 1:51:03 PM; Representative Schmidt, as a member of the JCEC, noted that the agency's suggested labor grade for new positions is usually accepted by their consultants, highlighting the efficiency of the process.
SB2011: Representative Sers Information Only01:55:08.320 - 1:53:29 PM; Representative Sers inquired about the cost implications of moving from hourly to salaried positions, to which Commissioner Arlinghouse responded that there would be no fiscal impact as the pay rate remains the same.
SB2011: Representative Bailey Information Only02:02:29.040 - 2:00:50 PM; Representative Bailey discussed the distinction between exempt and non-exempt employees regarding overtime pay, with Arlinghouse clarifying the implications of the bill on overtime.
SB2011: Representative Pearson Information Only02:05:46.239 - 2:04:07 PM; Representative Pearson raised concerns about the voluntary nature of the bill and its impact on employees choosing different classifications, which Arlinghouse addressed by emphasizing employee choice.
SB2011: Representative Sers Support02:09:44.119 - 2:08:05 PM; Representative Sers moved to pass Senate Bill 2011, citing its voluntary nature and no cost to the state.
SB2011: Representative Broad Support02:10:52.320 - 2:09:13 PM; Representative Broad seconded the motion to pass Senate Bill 2011, agreeing with Representative Sers' rationale.
SB2011: Representative Pearson Information Only02:12:01.800 - 2:10:22 PM; Representative Pearson expressed concerns about fiscal notes on bills and their impact, which was addressed by clarifying the bill's fiscal note.
SB2011: Representative Bailey Information Only02:13:18.639 - 2:11:39 PM; Representative Bailey questioned the implications of the bill on overtime and fiscal impact, leading to further discussion on the potential effects.
SB2011: Representative Lamb Information Only02:14:36.239 - 2:12:57 PM; Representative Lamb discussed the decision-making process for employees regarding their classification, emphasizing personal responsibility.
SB2011: Various Committee Members Support02:15:51.599 - 2:14:12 PM; The committee voted to pass Senate Bill 2011, with the motion supported by a majority and added to the consent calendar.

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