Committee Summary for Senate Executive Departments and Administration (04/23/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB470 00:04:52.240 - 8:01:48 AM	Public Hearing	relative to the use of general anesthesia, deep sedation, and moderate sedation in dental treatment.	Kofalt, Jim(R)[A+]2025
HB470 00:20:33.320 - 8:17:29 AM	Executive Session	relative to the use of general anesthesia, deep sedation, and moderate sedation in dental treatment.	Kofalt, Jim(R)[A+]2025
HB538 00:23:46.799 - 8:20:42 AM	Public Hearing	reallocating positions in the liquor commission.	Hunt, John(R)[B+]2025
HB538 00:26:47.880 - 8:23:43 AM	Executive Session	reallocating positions in the liquor commission.	Hunt, John(R)[B+]2025
HB227 00:28:01.919 - 8:24:57 AM	Executive Session	relative to licensure for psychotherapy activities or services.	Layon, Erica(R)[A+]2025
HB509 00:30:56.159 - 8:27:52 AM	Executive Session	relative to the contents of the attorney general's annual report detailing state forfeiture information for the preceding fiscal year.	Popovici-Muller, Daniel(R)[A-]2025
HB552 00:33:09.120 - 8:30:05 AM	Public Hearing	relative to coverage of children under the state retiree insurance plan.	Newsom, James(D)[CT]2025
HB552 00:36:56.480 - 8:33:52 AM	Executive Session	relative to coverage of children under the state retiree insurance plan.	Newsom, James(D)[CT]2025
HB85 1495 00:37:46.560 - 8:34:42 AM	Executive Session	relative to temporary licensure for student respiratory therapists.	McGuire, Carol(R)[A+]2025
HB282 00:48:02.680 - 8:44:58 AM	Public Hearing	(New Title) increasing the maximum benefits for first responders critically injured in the line of duty, relative to the determination of education adequacy grants and calculation of certain group II benefits within the retirement system.	Trottier, Douglas(R)[IN]2025
HB248 01:05:56.079 - 9:02:52 AM	Public Hearing	(New Title) relative to notice requirements regarding state employee investigations and relative to legislative ethics requirements.	Flanagan, Jack(R)[B]2025
HB248 2025-1647s 01:09:08.880 - 9:06:04 AM	Public Hearing	(New Title) relative to notice requirements regarding state employee investigations and relative to legislative ethics requirements.	Flanagan, Jack(R)[B]2025
HB248 2025-1647s 01:39:17.520 - 9:36:13 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to notice requirements regarding state employee investigations and relative to legislative ethics requirements.	Flanagan, Jack(R)[B]2025
HB268 01:51:45.320 - 9:48:41 AM	Executive Session	relative to hearings before the board of tax and land appeals.	Lynn, Bob(R)[B]2025
HB183 01:55:12.719 - 9:52:08 AM	Executive Session	relative to reporting requirements for emergency medical services personnel.	Proulx, Mark(R)[C+]2025
HB210 02:02:11.560 - 9:59:07 AM	Executive Session	establishing a commission to study the state flag and its history.	Cormen, Thomas(D)[F]2025
HB435 02:08:55.280 - 10:05:51 AM	Executive Session	relative to the definition of professional engineer.	McFarlane, Donald(R)[A]2025

HB470: Erica Leyon, Rockingham 13, Derry Support00:04:52.240 - 8:01:48 AM; Representative Leyon introduced House Bill 470 on behalf of the prime sponsor Jim Kofalt. The bill addresses concerns about access to care, health care costs, and patient safety related to sedation and anesthesia administration by dental professionals. It was a response to proposed rule changes by the New Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners that would have restricted qualified dental professionals from administering sedation and anesthesia. These changes were seen as out of sync with national standards and could have increased costs and shifted procedures to hospitals, negatively impacting patients, especially those with developmental disabilities. Despite recent acceptable rule changes, Leyon supports passing the bill to ensure that future rulemaking aligns with the protective standards for children and maintains access to care.
HB470: Carol McGuire, Merrimack 27 Support00:09:51.200 - 8:06:47 AM; Representative McGuire supports House Bill 470, emphasizing its alignment with the recently adopted rules and its importance in ensuring that future rules remain in line with national standards. She believes that putting these details in statute is crucial to prevent the rules from deviating into uncharted territory.
HB470: Lori Rosado, Concord, New Hampshire Dental Society Support00:11:28.320 - 8:08:24 AM; Lori Rosado, representing the New Hampshire Dental Society, supports HB470. She explained that the bill ensures that the state's anesthesia guidelines align with national standards, supporting both access to care and patient safety. She highlighted the importance of maintaining the current delivery model, which has been safely used in New Hampshire for decades, and avoiding unnecessary costs and trauma to patients, particularly children, by not sending them to emergency rooms when oral surgeons can provide immediate care.
HB470: Tommy Burke, Bedford, New Hampshire Society of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Support00:14:36.399 - 8:11:32 AM; Dr. Tommy Burke supports HB470, noting that it was introduced in response to the dental board's proposed anesthesia rules that would have deviated from national standards, potentially affecting patient safety and access to care. He commended the dental board for adjusting their proposals to be more consistent with national guidelines. While supporting the bill, he mentioned that re-referral could be acceptable during the implementation of these new rules. He also addressed concerns about the number of cases required for proficiency, explaining that the adjusted number of 20 cases over two years (or 10 per year) is a balance between safety and access to care in New Hampshire.
HB470: Nick, OPLC Information Only00:19:31.039 - 8:16:27 AM; Nick from OPLC stated that they have no position on HB470 and are prepared to operationalize whatever the legislature decides.
HB470: Committee Vote00:20:33.320 - 8:17:29 AM; The committee voted to re-refer HB470.
HB538: Carol McGuire, Merrimack 27 Support00:23:46.799 - 8:20:42 AM; Representative McGuire introduced House Bill 538, which proposes changes within the liquor commission. The bill changes the name of an existing position, adds a salary grade for the finance director as recommended by a previous audit, and deletes an unfilled commissioner position. It involves deleting two positions and adding two positions, all within the same labor grade.
HB538: Joseph Mik, Chairman of the Liquor Commission, with CFO Tina Demier Information Only00:24:37.440 - 8:21:33 AM; Joseph Mik, the Chairman of the Liquor Commission, along with CFO Tina Demier, provided testimony on HB538, describing it as a cleanup bill. He explained that the commission used to have three commissioners, but it was changed by the legislature to a chairman and a deputy commissioner. The bill aims to eliminate two positions and replace them with a Director of Finance and Auditing, a change delayed due to the transition from a 40-year-old legacy system to the new NextGen system. The new position requires expertise in the old Mapper system, Microsoft, and D365. The commission waited to ensure the new system was in place before implementing these changes.
HB538: Committee Vote00:26:47.880 - 8:23:43 AM; The committee closed the hearing on HB538 and moved into an executive session. They voted to recommend HB538 ought to pass without amendments.
HB227: Committee Vote00:28:01.919 - 8:24:57 AM; The committee discussed HB227, which pertains to the lure of psychotherapy activities and services. They moved and seconded a motion to recommend ought to pass without any discussion.
HB509: Committee Vote00:30:56.159 - 8:27:52 AM; The committee discussed HB509, with a motion to recommend Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL). The discussion included concerns about the implementation and privacy issues with listing detailed personal information. The motion to recommend ITL was seconded and passed without further discussion.
HB552: Dave Luno, representing Hopkinton and Bow Support00:33:09.120 - 8:30:05 AM; Representative Dave Luno introduced HB552, which aims to modify the state of New Hampshire's retiree health insurance plans by eliminating the requirement for children aged 19 to 26 to be full-time students to qualify for coverage. He noted that the premium is paid entirely by the retiree, not affecting state costs. The bill had previously passed the commerce committee unanimously and had support from administrative services, specifically Joyce Pitman, who confirmed no cost to the state. Luno expressed hope that the bill would pass without modifications and reach the governor's office to benefit state retirees.
HB552: Representative Magcguire Support - 8:30:05 AM; Representative Magcguire signed in in favor of HB552, but no further details on their testimony were provided.
HB552: Committee Vote00:36:56.480 - 8:33:52 AM; The committee moved into an executive session and voted to recommend HB552 ought to pass without amendments.
HB85 1495: Senator Information Only00:37:46.560 - 8:34:42 AM; The senator discussed amendment 1495 to HB85, which involves a trainee license for respiratory therapists. The amendment proposes that for the first two months, trainees would be under direct supervision to assess their competency. After this period, they could potentially work under general supervision, provided there is documented evidence of their competency. The senator had met with the hospital association and a respiratory therapist who felt comfortable with the amendment, believing it provided necessary oversight and safety.
HB85 1495: Senator McGu Oppose00:40:06.320 - 8:37:02 AM; Senator McGu expressed strong opposition to the trainee license for respiratory therapists as proposed in HB85. He highlighted the critical nature of respiratory therapy in life-or-death situations, expressing concerns about patient safety, the potential confusion between trainees and fully licensed therapists, and the lack of precedent for such trainee licenses in other critical healthcare areas. He argued that the amendment could lead to dangerous situations in emergency settings and opposed it due to these concerns.
HB85 1495: Senator Re Information Only00:44:02.720 - 8:40:58 AM; Senator Re clarified that after two months, the trainee's ability to work under general supervision would be contingent upon documented evidence of competency. He emphasized that the hospital could extend direct supervision beyond the two-month period if necessary, and he appreciated the expertise brought by Senator McGu to the discussion.
HB85 1495: Committee Vote00:47:08.359 - 8:44:04 AM; The committee voted on amendment 1495 to HB85, which passed 3 to 1. They then moved and seconded a motion to recommend HB85 ought to pass as amended. The motion passed, and the bill will be taken out of the consent calendar for floor discussion.
HB282: Representative Pearson Support00:48:02.680 - 8:44:58 AM; Representative Pearson explained that the bill aims to adjust a pool of funding to align with current economic conditions and the reality of catastrophic events, without enhancing individual benefits. He highlighted the increased number of first responders at accident scenes due to new Department of Transportation requirements, which could lead to catastrophic events consuming the pool of money in one incident. He stressed that the bill is not a budget item but available money for catastrophic events. He provided examples of incidents in Manchester and Concord to illustrate the need for the bill, and clarified that it covers immediate needs and gaps in workers' compensation for critical injuries.
HB282: Brian Re, President of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire Support00:55:42.240 - 8:52:38 AM; Brian Re supported the bill, emphasizing that the critical injury benefit under current law is specific to permanent damage to internal organs or senses. He noted that while the benefit hasn't been grossly used, the frequency of catastrophic incidents has increased globally. He stressed the importance of being proactive to ensure that first responders are protected, and clarified that the bill does not require a budgeted item as the governor would draw a warrant on the money.
HB282: Danielle Albert, Deputy Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Labor Information Only01:00:37.760 - 8:57:33 AM; Danielle Albert provided context on the bill, explaining that the benefit it impacts is additional to other workers' compensation benefits. She detailed the eligibility criteria, which includes being a group two retirement system member at less than 100% maximum medical improvement. She outlined how claims are processed and funded through general funds, not by insurance carriers or employers. She clarified the categories of injuries covered and the cap on payouts per claimant, noting that the bill only changes the available pot of money per biennium from $500,000 to $1 million.
HB248: Representative Flanigan, representing Hillsborough 45 (Hollis, Brookline, Mason, Greenville) Support01:05:56.079 - 9:02:52 AM; Representative Flanigan introduced the bill, expressing concern over the practice of suspending employees with pay for extended periods without resolution. He argued that if an employee has done wrong, they should be terminated, and if not, they should not be paid for long periods without a decision. The bill passed unanimously in the House Labor Committee with an amendment to exclude those under collective bargaining agreements. He emphasized the straightforward nature of the bill and its focus on non-collective bargaining or management employees.
HB248 2025-1647s: Senator Carson Bzel Information Only01:09:08.880 - 9:06:04 AM; Senator Carson Bzel was about to introduce the proposed non-germane amendment number 2025-1647s to House Bill 248 but the transcript ends before any detailed testimony on the amendment is provided.
HB248 2025-1647s: Senator Mcoo Information Only01:11:26.560 - 9:08:22 AM; Senator Mcoo introduced the non-germane amendment to HB248, which deals with notice requirements for state employee expansion. The amendment seeks to further define who qualifies as an employee, the form of compensation, and the relevant organizations involved. Senator Mcoo mentioned that the amendment adds language after section one and specifically targets lines 16 and 17 of the bill.
HB248 2025-1647s: Representative Greg Hill, Marramac 2 (Northfield) Information Only01:12:45.239 - 9:09:41 AM; Representative Greg Hill, who chairs the legislative administration, provided background on the legislative ethics bill and its relation to the non-germane amendment. He mentioned the collaboration with the ethics committee and the complexity of drafting ethics-related amendments. Hill emphasized the need for re-referral of the amendment due to the specific nature of legislation and the importance of handling conflicts of interest, particularly through recusal as a safe harbor. He also discussed the definition of 'public at large' in the context of the amendment, suggesting it weakens the previous work and law. He highlighted the potential issues with the amendment's language on direct benefits and detriments, specifically criticizing the use of 'public at large'.
HB248 2025-1647s: Unidentified Speaker, Northfield Information Only01:21:15.040 - 9:18:11 AM; The speaker discusses the issue of a legislator having a household member who is a lobbyist, suggesting that such situations should be handled through ethics inquiries rather than legislation. They express concern about making legislative changes before the issue has had time to develop and be fully understood.
HB248 2025-1647s: Unidentified Speaker Information Only01:22:04.560 - 9:19:00 AM; The speaker continues discussing the scenario of a legislator's spouse or household member being a lobbyist, advocating for handling such cases through ethics inquiries rather than statutory changes. They emphasize the importance of maintaining public perception of legislators' ethical conduct and suggest re-referring the bill for further discussion, possibly over the summer, due to the amendment not being germane and lacking full hearings or discussion. They also express concern about non-germane amendments not returning to the original committee.
HB248 2025-1647s: Unidentified Speaker Information Only01:24:45.840 - 9:21:41 AM; The speaker concludes their thoughts on the amendment, expressing a preference for not accepting it as an amendment to the current bill but rather sending it back for further review through legislative administration. They mention a concern about the legislative process where non-germane amendments do not go back to the original committee, potentially getting lost in the system.
HB248 2025-1647s: Committee Members Information Only01:39:17.520 - 9:36:13 AM; The committee discusses HB248 and the non-germane amendment 2025-1647s. They consider the underlying bill, which is about providing status updates to suspended state employees every 90 days. Some members express skepticism about the value of the updates, suggesting it could create more problems than solutions. A motion to recommend the bill as inexpedient to legislate (ITL) is made to facilitate discussion, but a committee amendment is suggested to remove the 90-day update requirement and retain a 7-day notice for suspension reasons. The amendment incorporating the non-germane amendment and the committee's changes is passed, and the bill is recommended to pass as amended (OTPA).
HB268: Committee Members Information Only01:51:45.320 - 9:48:41 AM; The committee discusses HB268, which relates to the board of tax and land appeals. They express concern about potential changes in House Bill Two that could impact the board's existence. The bill is recommended to pass without amendments.
HB183: Committee Members Information Only01:55:12.719 - 9:52:08 AM; The committee discusses HB183, which proposes changing the reporting requirement for emergency medical services from 24 hours to 7 days. Concerns are raised about the longer time frame being too long, and a suggestion to compromise at 48 hours is considered. However, the current system's flexibility is acknowledged, leading to a decision to maintain the status quo. The bill is recommended as inexpedient to legislate (ITL).
HB210: Committee Members Information Only02:02:11.560 - 9:59:07 AM; The committee discusses HB210, which pertains to changing the state flag. Some members express opposition to the bill as it is currently worded, feeling it favors changing the flag unnecessarily. A suggestion to extend the effective date to allow more time for consideration is not seconded. The bill is recommended as inexpedient to legislate (ITL).
HB435: Committee Members Information Only02:08:55.280 - 10:05:51 AM; The committee discusses HB435, which relates to the definition of a professional engineer. Concerns are raised about the bill's intent to exclude certain activities that are typically considered engineering. The bill is recommended as inexpedient to legislate (ITL).

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