Committee Summary for Senate Capital Budget (01/21/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB497 00:05:07.919 - 12:03:38 PM	Public Hearing	amending the capital budget.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB497 2026-0203 00:13:34.399 - 12:12:05 PM	Executive Session	amending the capital budget.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025

SB497: Senator David Waters, District 4 Information Only00:05:07.919 - 12:03:38 PM; Senator Waters introduces SB 497, explaining it adds necessary language to ensure the Community College System of New Hampshire has authority over projects approved in the previous capital budget (HB 25). He clarifies the bill references projects in paragraph 2, section 13 of HB 25, and addresses a drafting oversight where some projects were not properly referenced. He notes the citation method follows Office of the Secretary of State's guidance.
SB497: Shannon Reid, Community College System of NH Information Only00:08:56.800 - 12:07:27 PM; Shannon Reid, Director of Government Affairs for the Community College System of NH, provides detailed testimony on SB 497 as a technical correction to HB 25. She explains that HB 25 funded four projects for CCSNH, with the IT infrastructure project partially funded by new appropriations and repurposed lapsed funds. The oversight occurred in the repurposing section, which retained state agency boilerplate language managed by Administrative Services instead of CCSNH's board of trustees. SB 497 removes this and incorporates the appropriate CCSNH boilerplate, while maintaining reporting requirements to Administrative Services and the Capital Projects Overview Committee. She assures the committee of CCSNH's comprehensive policies for managing such projects.
SB497 2026-0203: Committee Discussion Vote00:13:34.399 - 12:12:05 PM; The committee moves into executive session and discusses an amendment #2026-0203 to SB 497, presented by Senator Carson. The amendment exchanges the second floor of the annex (originally allocated for Senate offices but not ready until 2027) for the fourth floor (expected completion in late spring/early summer 2027). This minimizes disruption and improves efficiency. It also involves reallocating spaces: the Senate clerk moves to a larger office, room 105 becomes a hearing room for committees like Education and HHS to reduce overflow in the LOB, and ensures every senator has an individual office. The amendment is adopted unanimously. The committee then votes to pass SB 497 as amended on a consent calendar.

McConkey, Mark(Chairman)(R)[B]2025	Gray, James(V Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Carson, Sharon(R)[B]2025
Watters, David(D)[D-]2025	Fenton, Donovan(D)[F]2025