Committee Summary for Senate Finance (03/10/2026)

Gray, James(Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Innis, Daniel(V Chairman)(R)[B]2025	Carson, Sharon(R)[B]2025
Watters, David(D)[D-]2025	Birdsell, Regina(R)[B-]2025	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025
Rosenwald, Cindy(D)[F]2025	Pearl, Howard (R)[B]2025

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB1624 00:08:47.774 - 12:32:48 PM	Public Hearing	relative to the elimination of certain special funds.	McGuire, Dan(R)[A]2025
HB1624 00:08:47.774 - 12:32:48 PM	Executive Session	relative to the elimination of certain special funds.	McGuire, Dan(R)[A]2025
HB1088 00:13:19.756 - 12:37:20 PM	Public Hearing	transferring funding for the water well board from the general fund to a special nonlapsing fund.	Donnelly, Tanya(R)[B+]2025
HB1435 00:30:03.465 - 12:54:04 PM	Public Hearing	relative to changes to the Winnipesaukee river basin control replacement fund.	Bogert, Steven(R)[B+]2025
SB545 00:45:03.465 - 1:09:04 PM	Executive Session	relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program.	Rosenwald, Cindy(D)[F]2025
SB645 00:47:00.000 - 1:11:01 PM	Executive Session	relative to income eligibility for the New Hampshire child care scholarship program and reallocating certain revenue to fund the program.	Reardon, Tara(D)[F]2025
SB498 00:52:00.000 - 1:16:01 PM	Executive Session	relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.	Birdsell, Regina(R)[B-]2025
SB661 00:53:00.000 - 1:17:01 PM	Executive Session	relative to pooled risk management programs.	Carson, Sharon(R)[B]2025

HB1624: Dan McGuire, Epsom Support00:08:47.774 - 12:32:48 PM; Dan McGuire introduced HB 1624 as the annual bill from the joint committee on dedicated funds. The bill addresses three funds overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services: the recovery monument special fund, which had a $1,000 donation and whose underlying monument legislation was repealed, with funds to be transferred to the alcohol abuse prevention fund; the radiation long-term care fund related to Seabrook decommissioning, which has no money and is unnecessary due to federal insurance; and the mosquito control fund, unused for nine years with no money. The bill proposes to eliminate these funds.
HB1624: Committee Chair Information Only00:08:47.774 - 12:32:48 PM; The committee moved into executive session on HB 1624. Senator Rosenwald moved for Ought to Pass, seconded by Senator Birdsell. With no discussion, the motion passed 4-0. It was initially placed on consent but pulled off by the sponsor. The committee then moved out of executive session.
HB1088: Senator Rosenwald, District 13 Support00:13:19.756 - 12:37:20 PM; Senator Rosenwald introduced House Bill 1088-FN.
HB1088: Stephen Roy, DES Drinking Water Bureau Information Only00:13:19.756 - 12:37:20 PM; Stephen Roy, head of Hydrology and Conservation Section at DES, explained that the bill establishes a non-lapsing fund for Water Well Board fees to make the board self-funded. Currently, fees go to the general fund but are insufficient to cover expenditures, resulting in a net loss. Recent fee increases approved by JLCAR will generate revenue to fund two positions for licensing, construction standards, and enforcement, reducing reliance on general funds.
HB1088: Brad McKernan, DES Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau Information Only00:13:19.756 - 12:37:20 PM; Brad McKernan detailed the fiscal impacts, noting current fees bring in about $50,000 annually against $103,000 in expenditures. New fees are expected to generate $242,000 yearly based on 2,400 well records at $100 each. The fund will cover staffing, with initial savings to the general fund but plans for a second position. He addressed senator questions on fiscal notes, clarifying net impacts and the need for dedicated funding to implement fee collection.
HB1435: Representative Bogart, Belknap County Support00:30:03.465 - 12:54:04 PM; Representative Bogart introduced HB 1435, emphasizing its importance for ratepayers in Belknap County and the Winnipesaukee River Basin. The bill adjusts the replacement fund for the state-owned sewer plant from 5% to 2% of assessed value to address skyrocketing contributions due to a recent reevaluation. The fund is for short-term repairs like pipe breaks and pumps, not full plant replacement, which would be bonded. He noted the plant is 50 years old and efforts to transfer ownership to the consortium.
HB1435: Ted Dears, DES Water Division Information Only00:30:03.465 - 12:54:04 PM; Ted Dears, assistant director at DES, deferred to the representative's overview but addressed fiscal questions. The fund, collected since the plant's creation 45 years ago, acts as an emergency fund for maintenance. The bill's retroactive application to the last assessment reduces the FY26 impact by $994,340, the difference between 5% and 2% rates, benefiting payers while maintaining repair capabilities.
HB1435: Wesley Anderson, Winnipesaukee River Basin Advisory Board, Laconia Information Only00:30:03.465 - 12:54:04 PM; Wesley Anderson, chair of the advisory board from Laconia, provided a letter of testimony aligning with prior explanations but offered no additional verbal details in the transcript.
SB545: Senator Rosenwald Information Only00:45:03.465 - 1:09:04 PM; Senator Rosenwald discusses receiving a new amendment to Senate Bill 545 that removes the elimination of the resource limit for the Medicare savings program, clarifying automatic enrollment into the low income drug subsidy, which is 100% federal funds with no state cost.
SB545: Committee Chair Information Only00:46:00.000 - 1:10:01 PM; The Chair acknowledges the amendment and notes that Republicans have not caucused on the bills, so no action will be taken today, but any amendment can be brought forward.
SB645: Committee Chair Information Only00:47:00.000 - 1:11:01 PM; The Chair raises concerns about inconsistencies in the HHS committee's replace all amendment to Senate Bill 645, noting issues with funding from revenues above plan versus original liquor funds, and the $21 million cost over the biennium. Emphasizes careful management of funds already allocated for budget cuts and other priorities like settlements or rainy day fund.
SB645: Senator Waters Support00:50:00.000 - 1:14:01 PM; Senator Waters understands the funding challenges but suggests considering a pass and table motion next week to express Senate support for the child care scholarship program policy, allowing time to address funding later.
SB645: Committee Chair Information Only00:51:00.000 - 1:15:01 PM; The Chair notes that pass and table is an option among others and invites Senator Waters to discuss further after the meeting without violating RSA-91A.
SB498: Senator Bartzell Information Only00:52:00.000 - 1:16:01 PM; Senator Bartzell provides an update on Senate Bill 498, stating that discussions with the Department of Insurance, Anthem, and HHS are progressing toward an amendment, with a precursor already available and expecting something within the week.
SB661: Committee Chair Information Only00:53:00.000 - 1:17:01 PM; The Chair announces that due to emails from HealthTrust, they will not proceed with voting on Senate Bill 661 today and need to regroup. Discusses potential amendments: one from Senator Pearl on investing member equity funds with liquidity considerations, and another from HealthTrust to access member equity when contingency fund is below 20%, but prefers limiting to amounts above minimum. Raises questions about House support, references a companion House bill, possible 420 model, consultations with actuaries and attorneys on 2014 court decision, and invites questions or calling HealthTrust forward.