Committee Summary for Senate Energy and Natural Resources (01/15/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB450 00:03:05.360 - 12:00:11 PM	Public Hearing	relative to a state parks pass pilot program for recovery centers and community mental health centers.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB450 Committee amendment to change dates to 2029 00:10:51.040 - 12:07:57 PM	Executive Session	relative to a state parks pass pilot program for recovery centers and community mental health centers.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB445 00:13:01.040 - 12:10:07 PM	Public Hearing	relative to adjudicative proceedings where there is a council or board with jurisdiction.	Pearl, Howard (R)[B]2025
SB589 00:36:06.079 - 12:33:12 PM	Public Hearing	relative to establishing a multi-agency report on transmission corridors, interstate trucking charging terminals, and port electrification; authorizing a pilot program for microgrid development; and requiring guidelines for cybersecurity of distributed energy resources.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025

SB450: Senator David Waters Support00:03:05.360 - 12:00:11 PM; Senator Waters introduces SB450, which authorizes 10 community mental health centers to receive state park passes for their clients to access outdoor recreation benefits for mental health. He notes the low cost of about $100 per pass, similar to those provided to libraries. He mentions a drafting error on lines 11 and 14, where the repeal date should be 2029 for the three-year pilot to evaluate participation and impacts. He explains the bill was previously stalled in the House due to inclusion of recovery organizations but is now focused on mental health centers. He provides a supportive letter from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources highlighting research on outdoor recreation's benefits.
SB450: Senator Manki Information Only00:06:29.199 - 12:03:35 PM; Asks for clarification if the pass covers only state-owned properties.
SB450: Senator Ros Information Only00:06:29.199 - 12:03:35 PM; Inquires if the pass covers parking fees at parks like Hampton Beach, and confirms with the sponsor that it only covers admission.
SB450: Holly Stevens, Director of Public Policy at NAMI New Hampshire Support00:07:33.120 - 12:04:39 PM; Holly Stevens supports SB450, emphasizing that one in five adults and one in six youth in New Hampshire experience mental illness, with many not receiving care. She cites research showing nature-based activities reduce depression and anxiety symptoms and improve stress management. The 10 community mental health centers served 54,000 individuals in 2024, mostly low-income Medicaid recipients who lack funds for recreation. The bill would enable clients to check out park passes for community engagement and health benefits.
SB450 Committee amendment to change dates to 2029: Committee Chair Vote00:10:51.040 - 12:07:57 PM; The committee votes unanimously to move into executive session, adopt a committee amendment to correct repeal dates to 2029, pass the bill as amended on consent, and assign it to Senator Waters.
SB445: Senator Howard Pearl, District 17, Lowden Support00:13:01.040 - 12:10:07 PM; Senator Pearl introduces SB445 to align DES license and fine appeals with permit appeals by routing them to the independent environmental councils, improving due process and avoiding internal firewalls. It allows non-attorneys with juris doctorates as hearing officers and includes cleanup language for outdated references and wastewater certificates. He notes low volume of cases and hopes DES can answer detailed questions.
SB445: Senator Waters Information Only00:15:45.440 - 12:12:51 PM; Asks if the bill allows commissioners to make judgments without hearings, with appeals following, and defers to DES for confirmation.
SB445: DES Commissioner Support00:16:48.560 - 12:13:54 PM; The Commissioner supports the bill to eliminate internal appeals' poor optics and firewalls, routing directly to environmental councils for impartiality. He explains current processes hinder communication with staff and proposes amendments for stays on actions during appeals unless immediate risk exists. He notes the bill streamlines intertwined statutes.
SB445: Adam (DES Staff) Support00:21:06.960 - 12:18:12 PM; Adam details amendments to correct drafting errors, missed inclusions, and ensure stays apply to fines, licenses, and certifications. He outlines the current multi-step appeal process and how the bill simplifies it by going directly to councils, reducing costs and confusion.
SB445: Senator Waters Support00:24:08.880 - 12:21:14 PM; Praises the bill for fairness, cost, and time savings, questions amendment details on imposing fines without hearings and appeal stays.
SB445: Senator (Unnamed) Information Only00:25:03.600 - 12:22:09 PM; Asks about the history of hearings in statute, estimated as decades old under RSA 541A.
SB445: Senator McC Information Only00:26:12.480 - 12:23:18 PM; Seeks clarification that the bill covers DES licenses and certifications like septic and wastewater operators, even if not termed 'licenses', and confirms inclusion.
SB445: Senator Waters Information Only00:28:26.080 - 12:25:32 PM; Questions if section 46's stay provision applies to permit fines, noting potential issues if fines are paid before appeals resolve, and DES agrees to review.
SB445: Senator Rosenol Information Only00:30:54.399 - 12:28:00 PM; Asks how DES determines immediate risk to human health, referencing an asphalt plant in Nashua and interplay with HHS on particulate matter risks. DES explains their environmental public health section handles such assessments.
SB445: Robert Duval, Chair of the Air Resources Council Support00:34:58.560 - 12:32:04 PM; Robert Duval, chair of the Air Resources Council for about 20 years, spoke on behalf of the council in support of SB445, including the amendments. He works closely with Commissioner Scott and the air division. The council, which would handle appeals for air issues, agrees that these appeals are better served by the board rather than within the department, benefiting the public and the department.
SB589: Senator David Waters, District 4 Information Only00:36:06.079 - 12:33:12 PM; Senator David Waters introduced SB589 FN, explaining its components derived from a recent microgrid study authorized by HB558. The bill covers multi-agency reports on transmission corridors for interstate trucking, charging terminals, port electrification, a pilot program for microgrids, and DOE guidelines for cybersecurity in distributed energy resources and water treatment facilities. He highlighted the microgrid study's identification of five potential sites in New Hampshire and the need for continued work on models, regulation, financing, and cybersecurity. Waters proposed revisions based on discussions with DOE, such as authorizing a phase two study instead of immediate pilots and integrating cybersecurity into it. He emphasized planning for power supply to identified sites without state commitments, using highway corridors for transmission, potential small modular reactors, port electrification benefits for air quality and costs, and the urgency of cybersecurity standards to address vulnerabilities from foreign-manufactured components. He noted collaboration with DES on water cybersecurity and suggested amendments to clarify recoverable expenses apply only to study costs.
SB589: Bob Scully, New Hampshire Motor Transport Association Oppose00:52:44.720 - 12:49:50 PM; Bob Scully, representing the New Hampshire Motor Transport Association and the trucking industry, opposed the study in SB589 FN, specifically the interstate trucking piece. He suggested striking 'interstate trucking' on line 4 and lines 6 on page 2 to line 6 on page 3 to remove it. Scully distributed studies on heavy-duty truck electrification, noting no such electric trucks operate in New Hampshire due to high costs ($435,000 vs. $140,000 for diesel), massive batteries (24,000 lbs), limited range, productivity issues, and charging equivalent to powering 100 homes per truck. He raised concerns about recoverable expenses potentially burdening ratepayers and the tens of millions in costs for stations that New Hampshire companies wouldn't use, as they'd charge at home bases. He clarified opposition is only to the trucking part.
SB589: Commissioner Bob Scott, Department of Environmental Services (DES), with Jenna McKenna Support00:58:24.079 - 12:55:30 PM; Commissioner Bob Scott of DES supported the cybersecurity sections of SB589 FN for drinking water and wastewater systems, emphasizing their importance for public health and financial protection. He detailed DES's efforts over five years, including partnerships with DHS CISA and EPA for free assessments using ARPA funds (up to $50,000-$100,000 grants), which revealed challenges for small systems where staff handle multiple roles. DES shifted to contracting with the Overwatch Foundation for remedial support, providing three years of free appliances, firewalls, patching, and training to build sustainable in-house capabilities. Scott advocated for mandatory basic cybersecurity standards and rules, noting existing authorities but seeking clarity; he supported changing 'may' to 'shall' for rulemaking by July 1, 2027. He mentioned DES administers diesel emission retrofit and Volkswagen settlement funds for electrification, working with DOE and DOT. Scott deferred to DOE on transmission corridors and trucking but stressed urgency for water cybersecurity, agreeing it must advance regardless of other bill parts.
SB589: Josh Elliot, Director of the Division of Policy Programs, Department of Energy (DOE) Information Only01:09:45.839 - 1:06:51 PM; Josh Elliot from DOE had no position on the cybersecurity section for water systems but addressed the bill's other sections. He appreciated proposed removal of recoverable expenses on page 2, lines 12-13, as assessing study costs (including generation) to distribution ratepayers would be inappropriate. For the microgrid pilot on page 2, line 17, he noted the recent microgrid investigation's completion and suggested a phase two study instead of pilots, as it's premature; DOE is willing to draft language. He proposed integrating distributed energy resource cybersecurity into phase two for a holistic approach, considering existing utility plans and rule flexibility over rigid rulemaking. Elliot viewed the task force on transmission corridors, charging terminals, and port electrification as a legislative policy decision; DOE would collaborate with other agencies if directed. He confirmed DOE could handle power issues for identified sites through regular processes like BEA if the bill doesn't pass. On microgrid sites, he referenced the report's map (page 14) identifying broad Eversource service territory areas without specific towns for sensitivity reasons.
SB589: Michael Aalto, Eversource Information Only01:18:28.159 - 1:15:34 PM; Michael Aalto from Eversource provided brief feedback on SB589 FN, appreciating discussions with Senator Waters. He flagged recoverable expenses on page 2 for DOT study and microgrid pilot costs, questioning inclusion in utility assessments. He recommended changing 'transmission resilience' to 'distribution resilience' on page 2, line 19, as microgrids operate at distribution levels. Regarding small modular reactors, he suggested flexibility (e.g., 'may include') to avoid limiting microgrid opportunities. For the broad pilot language on five sites without geographic, size, or timeline limits, he proposed deferring to the microgrid working group, where Eversource participates. He offered to answer questions.

Avard, Kevin(Chairman)(R)[B]2025	Pearl, Howard (V Chairman)(R)[B]2025	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
Rosenwald, Cindy(D)[F]2025	McConkey, Mark(R)[B]2025