Committee Summary for Senate Executive Departments and Administration (01/28/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB527 00:02:22.640 - 8:01:24 AM	Public Hearing	relative to written notice provided by state agencies to municipalities regarding pending applications.	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025
SB570 00:19:37.760 - 8:18:39 AM	Public Hearing	relative to the legislative ethics committee and legislative ethics.	Carson, Sharon(R)[B]2025
SB568 00:32:47.360 - 8:31:49 AM	Public Hearing	relative to the department of safety's procedures for appointing designees to verify background checks.	Gannon, Bill(R)[B-]2025
SB642 00:43:40.880 - 8:42:42 AM	Public Hearing	repealing the committee for the protection of human subjects institutional review board.	Prentiss, Suzanne(D)[F]2025
Unclear 00:53:14.880 - 8:52:16 AM	Executive Session	Unclear

SB527: Senator Tim Lang, Senate District 2 Information Only00:02:22.640 - 8:01:24 AM; Senator Lang introduced SB 527, noting it originated from the JLCAR process at the request of the Department of Environmental Services (DES). The bill aims to streamline and make more cost-effective the process of providing information, particularly by allowing electronic notifications instead of first-class mail.
SB527: Adam Crapo, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Environmental Services Support00:04:00.879 - 8:03:02 AM; Adam Crapo explained that SB 527 is a DES request to transition from paper-based to electronic permitting processes. DES is implementing a $4.6 million contract to digitize land resources permitting. The bill would allow electronic notifications to municipalities instead of mailing thousands of letters, based on outdated 1990s laws. He proposed amendments to shift notification of the rivers coordinator and local advisory committees to applicants, providing email addresses for verification, and allowing flexibility in timing. This streamlines processes for efficiency. He addressed concerns about applicant costs (de minimis), verification (staff checks and website posting), and abutters (requiring certified mail receipts from applicants). DES is open to changes to ensure notifications are received.
SB527: Brody Deayes, New Hampshire Municipal Association Oppose00:14:45.279 - 8:13:47 AM; Brody Deayes opposed SB 527 as drafted but is sympathetic to solving the notification efficiency issue. Key concerns include ensuring electronic notices are received, especially in small towns with limited staff, part-time offices, or no electronic capabilities. Not all town clerks have public emails; some use private ones. Municipalities lack capacity to monitor DES's website daily. First-class mail provides a verifiable paper record essential for hearings (e.g., dredging, conservation commissions) and legal protection. He suggested working on an up-to-date email list for clerks and safeguards like proof of receipt. NHMA is open to neutrality or support with amendments but needs more time.
SB570: Senator Sharon Carson, Senate District 14 Information Only00:19:37.760 - 8:18:39 AM; Senator Carson introduced SB 570, aimed at clarifying statutes and setting standards for legislative ethics, which are currently undefined. She noted discussions with the legislative ethics attorney and chair, indicating more work is needed. She plans to work on an amendment with the committee to meet their requests.
SB570: Ned Gordon, Chair, Legislative Ethics Committee (speaking personally) Oppose00:21:23.840 - 8:20:25 AM; Ned Gordon opposed SB 570 in its current form, noting it was defeated last year and needs significant revisions. It creates ambiguity in defining 'direct benefit or detriment' by tying it to group size ('public at large' as any reasonably large group) and intervening actions, which exist in all cases. The bill dilutes recusal provisions by narrowing 'financial interest' to only employees or those receiving compensation, undoing prior law from HB 1388. He prefers advisory opinions defining direct and substantial financial benefits (immediate, certain, not probabilistic). Recusal has worked well for over a year with no violations and public support for stricter rules. He suggested allowing conflicted legislators to speak at hearings if disclosing conflicts to retain expertise. He is willing to work on adjustments.
SB568: Senator Bill Gannon, Senate District 23 Information Only00:32:47.360 - 8:31:49 AM; Senator Gannon introduced SB 568 as a straightforward bill establishing background check procedures for a commissioner during hiring. He deferred to the officer for further details.
SB568: Victor Muzzy, Captain, NH State Police Support00:33:39.919 - 8:32:41 AM; Captain Muzzy oversees the Justice Information Bureau and provided background on SB 568. The bill addresses findings from a recent FBI CJIS audit that revealed the need to update the statute on who reviews criminal background checks for Department of Safety employees and applicants. Previously, the statute required results to go to the commissioner, which was impractical. The amendment formalizes the practice of allowing division directors and hiring managers to review them. He supports the bill but suggests amending the language to be more general, specifying reporting to the commissioner or a designated Department of Safety employee authorized to receive such information, to provide flexibility and comply with FBI guidance, avoiding naming specific positions. This avoids issues if processes change and ensures it stays within the agency. He confirmed this would pass FBI muster based on a recent meeting.
SB642: Senator Terri Terrell Rearen, District 15, Concord and Hopkinton Information Only00:43:40.880 - 8:42:42 AM; Senator Rearen introduced SB 642 on behalf of Senator Prentiss, who was unavailable. The bill repeals an obsolete institutional review board (IRB) for overseeing research on developmentally disabled services, at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
SB642: Jenny O'Higgins, Legislative Liaison for Behavioral Health, DHHS Support00:44:50.480 - 8:43:52 AM; O'Higgins explained that IRBs were created for ethical research oversight, but DHHS's IRB, established in 2005, has become duplicative due to a 2020 federal rule requiring a single IRB for multi-site studies, typically at academic or commercial institutions. Usage has dropped significantly, with only four active studies left. The board's fees never covered costs, and its governing rule has expired. Repeal is recommended to eliminate redundancy while ensuring human subjects remain protected under other IRBs. She requested an amendment to delay the effective date to January 2027 to complete ongoing studies and allow three years of record retention at a cost of about $3,000 annually, as required federally.
Unclear: Committee Members (Various, including Chair, Senator Gannon, Senator Reen, Senator Shaw, Senator Als) Vote00:53:14.880 - 8:52:16 AM; The committee entered executive session after a recess. They accepted motions to go into executive session. For SB 421, Senator Prentiss introduced amendment 0230s to add a study committee on the composition, duties, and responsibilities of emergency medical services boards (Medical Control Board and EMS/Trauma Services Coordinating Board), complementing the original bill's updates to the Trauma Medical Review Committee. They incorporated prior amendment 0081s adding members (physician designee from rehab center and NH Office of Highway Safety representative). A committee amendment combining both was adopted unanimously, followed by Ought to Pass (OTP) as amended unanimously. For SB 642, a committee amendment was adopted to change the effective date to January 1, 2027, followed by OTP as amended unanimously. For SB 568, a committee amendment was adopted based on Captain Muzzy's proposed language to generalize reporting of criminal history to the commissioner or a designated authorized Department of Safety employee, followed by OTP as amended unanimously. Other bills were discussed: SB 420 held for further consultation; SB 423 amended via 2024-0355s to add community mental health centers and fix language issues, then OTP as amended; SB 425 held; SB 470 held; SB 494 amended via 2026-0171s to address concerns from fire marshal, OPLC, and electricians on data sharing and licensing (e.g., clarifying data export as secure bulk spreadsheets, flexibility in updates), then OTP as amended; SB 522 passed OTP unanimously, supported for bolstering arts funding amid tax credit issues; SB 527 held; SB 567 held pending agreed language on temporary licensing; SB 570, 573, 640 held; another bill (implied SB something) held for stakeholder task force. The session adjourned with motions to exit executive session.

Pearl, Howard (Chairman)(R)[B]2025	McGough, Tim(V Chairman)(R)[B+]2025	Gannon, Bill(R)[B-]2025
Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2025	Reardon, Tara(D)[F]2025