Committee Summary for House Executive Departments and Administration (11/05/2025)

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
HB244 2025-2952H 00:02:49.599 - 9:01:00 AM	Executive Session	updating and recodifying the municipal enforcement of the building and fire code.	McGuire, Carol(R)[A+]2025
HB610 2025-3076H 00:07:15.039 - 9:05:26 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to the office of the consumer advocate.	Berry, Ross(R)[A+]2025
HB727 00:22:35.120 - 9:20:46 AM	Executive Session	relative to the New Hampshire retirement system.	Foote, Charles(R)[B]2025
SB94 2025-2972H 00:24:42.880 - 9:22:53 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) repealing municipal amendments to technical requirements of the state building code in certain circumstances.	McConkey, Mark(R)[B]2025
SB193 00:33:46.240 - 9:31:57 AM	Executive Session	requiring the head of each state agency to submit a strategic plan for program activities.	Sullivan, Victoria(R)[A-]2025

HB244 2025-2952H: Chairman Erika Leon Information Only00:02:49.599 - 9:01:00 AM; Chairman Leon opens the executive session on HB 244 and moves adoption of amendment 2025-2952H. She explains that the bill recodifies statutes related to the building code from mixed sections into RSA 155-A, acknowledging the complex task and thanking the subcommittee, building code officials, and Mr. Sherman for their work. She states the committee is ready to move forward.
HB244 2025-2952H: Representative Gro Support00:02:49.599 - 9:01:00 AM; Representative Gro seconds the motion and praises the chairman's work on the amendment, indicating support without further discussion.
HB610 2025-3076H: Chairman Erika Leon Information Only00:07:15.039 - 9:05:26 AM; Chairman Leon opens the executive session on HB 610 and moves adoption of amendment 2025-3076H. She explains the amendment focuses the Consumer Advocate on ensuring residential utility customers receive safe, reliable service at the lowest cost, emphasizing consumer freedom and autonomy. It adds oversight duties to the residential ratepayer advisory board, allows a two-thirds board vote to recommend removal of the Consumer Advocate, and broadens the pool of candidates to include engineers or economists. She notes this is a moderated approach from an initial hard-line proposal, aimed at aligning goals for affordable energy without targeting the current occupant.
HB610 2025-3076H: Representative Gro Support00:07:15.039 - 9:05:26 AM; Representative Gro seconds the motion and states the amendment is much better than the initial version. He expresses concern about limiting the position to engineers or economists but recommends supporting it now and addressing that later.
HB610 2025-3076H: Donald Crease, Consumer Advocate Support00:10:33.120 - 9:08:44 AM; Donald Crease, the current Consumer Advocate, speaks in support of the amendment, noting his 10-year tenure and upcoming final two years. He appreciates the shift from abolishing the office to strengthening oversight while maintaining independence. He worked with committee members to refine the bill, emphasizing respect for the General Court and the need for the Advocate to remain a vigilant voice for ratepayers. He treats the advisory board like a nonprofit board and supports the added oversight to ensure adherence to duties without micromanaging.
HB610 2025-3076H: Representative Scitec Support00:13:43.600 - 9:11:54 AM; Representative Scitec praises the amendment for balancing oversight with removal power, avoiding micromanagement. He highlights Crease's evenhanded presentation at a climate event, emphasizing facts over bias, and stresses interest in the system, not the incumbent.
HB610 2025-3076H: Representative Schmidt Support00:13:43.600 - 9:11:54 AM; Representative Schmidt questions if the benign amendment requires a public hearing, noting the original bill's well-attended hearing. He follows up, acknowledging the shift from repeal to retention and accepting Crease's view that no further hearing is needed.
HB610 2025-3076H: Donald Crease, Consumer Advocate Information Only00:16:09.759 - 9:14:20 AM; Crease responds that the amendment addresses original concerns from the spring hearing without issues for prior testifiers. He explains attending the climate event to discuss ratepayer savings, not environmental advocacy, and accepts invitations from various groups to inform about his role. He supports the amendment as it reinforces his existing focus on ratepayers.
HB610 2025-3076H: Representative Sers Information Only00:19:21.520 - 9:17:32 AM; Representative Sers asks if the original bill sponsors were consulted on the changes from repeal to oversight, to which the chair confirms the sponsor finds it acceptable.
HB727: Representative Groa Information Only00:22:35.120 - 9:20:46 AM; Representative Groa moves inexpedient to legislate (ITL) for HB 727, explaining that the committee retained it earlier in the year during budgeting, but its provisions were incorporated into House Bill 2, which was signed by the governor, making it unnecessary.
HB727: Representative Schmidt Support00:22:35.120 - 9:20:46 AM; Representative Schmidt seconds the motion and states it has been made clear, indicating agreement.
SB94 2025-2972H: Representative Groa Information Only00:24:42.880 - 9:22:53 AM; Representative Groa moves ought to pass on amendment 2025-2972H for SB 94. He requests Mr. Sherman to explain the amendment due to its complexity.
SB94 2025-2972H: Mr. Sherman Information Only00:26:00.000 - 9:24:11 AM; Mr. Sherman explains that SB 94 parallels last year's HB 428, which limits municipal amendments to administrative matters only. The amendment deletes a provision in HB 428 that would allow technical amendments if the state lags more than two code cycles behind, preventing reactivation of technical amendments. This maintains the prohibition on technical changes, avoiding chaos, especially since the energy code is already two cycles behind.
SB94 2025-2972H: Representative Sers Information Only00:30:22.240 - 9:28:33 AM; Representative Sers questions if the amendment would allow municipalities to make changes after four years of inaction. Mr. Sherman clarifies it prevents opening the door for all codes if one lags, maintaining the intended prohibition.
SB94 2025-2972H: Representative Groa Support00:31:08.559 - 9:29:19 AM; Representative Groa moves ought to pass as amended, supporting the House position from HB 428 to maintain legislative intent, uniform state building codes, and a minimum standard across the state.
SB94 2025-2972H: Representative Schmidt Support00:31:08.559 - 9:29:19 AM; Representative Schmidt seconds the motion.
SB193: Chairman Erika Leon Information Only00:33:46.240 - 9:31:57 AM; Chairman Leon moves to refer SB 193 for interim study, emphasizing the need to ensure government efficiency and cost-effectiveness in resource allocation. She notes many departments already do this but not all, and an interim study could foster bipartisan good governance work.
SB193: Representative Schmidt Support00:33:46.240 - 9:31:57 AM; Representative Schmidt seconds the motion and agrees with the chair.