Committee Summary for Senate Finance (04/08/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB517 00:04:44.240 - 12:18:30 PM	Public Hearing	(New Title) repealing certain outreach and marketing requirements under the Granite State paid family leave plan.	Turcotte, Len(R)[B]2025
HB165 00:35:41.440 - 12:49:27 PM	Public Hearing	relative to the maximum amount of disaster relief funding provided to municipalities after a natural disaster.	Aron, Judy(R)[A-]2025
HB165 00:39:39.359 - 12:53:25 PM	Executive Session	relative to the maximum amount of disaster relief funding provided to municipalities after a natural disaster.	Aron, Judy(R)[A-]2025
HB517 00:47:23.040 - 1:01:09 PM	Executive Session	(New Title) repealing certain outreach and marketing requirements under the Granite State paid family leave plan.	Turcotte, Len(R)[B]2025

HB517: Representative Brian Seaworth, Pemroke Support00:04:44.240 - 12:18:30 PM; Representative Brian Seaworth, representing the town of Pemroke, spoke in support of HB517. He explained that the bill aims to repeal the marketing portion of the Granite State Paid Family Leave Plan. He noted that the state contracts with an insurance company to provide family leave, which is offered on a voluntary basis to employers and employees. The House committee decided to narrow the bill to focus only on repealing the marketing efforts, as they felt it was inappropriate for the state to advertise for a private insurance product. Seaworth mentioned that the repeal would save the state approximately $1.5 million, which has been included in the House budget. He believes this will not affect the existing program for state employees.
HB517: Taylor Weiss, Sutton Oppose00:10:47.680 - 12:24:33 PM; Taylor Weiss from Sutton spoke in opposition to HB517, particularly the amendment to repeal the marketing and outreach budget for the Granite State Paid Family Leave Plan. Weiss, a land surveyor, shared that he learned about the program through a flyer at a town office and signed up for an individual plan. He is currently expecting his first child and plans to utilize the program. He emphasized the importance of the program for small companies without similar benefits and how it has positively impacted his family and the town of Sutton, where his wife is the town administrator. Weiss argued that eliminating the marketing budget could lead to the eventual repeal of the entire program, which would negatively affect many families and communities in New Hampshire.
HB517: Mackenzie Nicholson, Mom's Rising in New Hampshire Oppose00:14:31.920 - 12:28:17 PM; Mackenzie Nicholson, representing Mom's Rising in New Hampshire, spoke against House Bill 517, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the marketing and outreach budget for the state's paid family and medical leave plan. She highlighted the plan's success, with over 23,000 Granite Staters enrolled within two years, and argued that repealing the budget would reduce awareness and access to the program, negatively impacting families, businesses, and the economy. She used Washington state as an example of effective outreach leading to high program awareness and positive business reactions. Nicholson also criticized the reliance on private agreements for outreach as risky and emphasized the broader economic and workforce benefits of paid leave, urging the committee to vote no on the bill to protect the program's outreach funding.
HB517: DJ Bettencourt, Commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department Information Only00:19:42.960 - 12:33:28 PM; Commissioner DJ Bettencourt of the New Hampshire Insurance Department, along with Deputy Commissioner Rich Lavers from the Department of Employment Security, provided context and information on House Bill 517. Initially, the bill sought to repeal the entire paid family and medical leave program, which they opposed. However, the amended version only targets the marketing aspect, which they see as a necessary compromise to prevent the loss of the program entirely. Bettencourt mentioned ongoing discussions with MetLife to potentially have them take over the marketing responsibilities. He addressed concerns about the individual market, suggesting that while the business community has been well-engaged, there's less motivation for MetLife to promote the individual pool, which they plan to address in their upcoming negotiations. Bettencourt also highlighted the program's success, noting the significant number of employers and individuals enrolled, and emphasized the importance of continued outreach efforts despite the proposed budget cut.
HB517: Rich Lavers, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Employment Security Information Only00:22:49.679 - 12:36:35 PM; Rich Lavers, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Employment Security, supplemented Commissioner Bettencourt's testimony by providing detailed statistics on the program's success. He noted that over 300 employers have purchased coverage for about 13,000 workers, and nearly 1,900 individuals are enrolled in the individual portion of the program. Lavers highlighted that 75% of individual enrollees are female, and a significant portion of leave is taken for bonding with a newborn child. He discussed the potential for continued outreach through various state channels and business groups, even if the marketing budget is cut, and mentioned ongoing conversations with MetLife to ensure continued promotion of the program. Lavers also emphasized the program's unique offering of affordable individual coverage and its overall success in its initial years.
HB165: Representative Judy Aaron, representing Sullivan County District 4, towns of Alstead, Acworth, Langdon, Lempster, and Washington Support00:35:41.440 - 12:49:27 PM; Representative Judy Aaron introduced HB165, aiming to increase the maximum disaster relief funding for municipalities from $25,000 to $100,000. She argued that the reduction from $100,000 to $25,000 in a previous bill was insufficient for effective disaster relief, especially given the rising costs and the needs of small communities. She highlighted the severe impact of flooding in Alstead and other towns, emphasizing the urgency of having accessible and functional disaster relief funds. Aaron also mentioned that the bill corrects language suggested by Homeland Security Emergency Management to clarify the specific application of the funds.
HB165: Senator Information Only00:39:39.359 - 12:53:25 PM; Concerns were raised about the potential for one community to exhaust the disaster relief fund if the limit is raised to $100,000. It was suggested that the fiscal committee could manage requests and potentially use unappropriated funds to replenish the disaster relief fund if necessary.
HB165: Senator Pearl Support00:44:12.720 - 12:57:58 PM; Senator Pearl supported increasing the limit to $100,000, arguing that it would provide more flexibility for major disasters without guaranteeing the full amount to any single community. The decision would still be subject to fiscal committee oversight.
HB165: Senator Waters Support00:44:57.760 - 12:58:43 PM; Senator Waters agreed with Senator Pearl, stating that $25,000 is too small for effective relief, especially considering past experiences with drought and flooding. He supported the increase to $100,000, noting that it could be a vehicle for both federal and state funding.
HB517: Senator Bazel Oppose00:47:23.040 - 1:01:09 PM; Senator Bazel opposed reducing marketing funds for the Family Leave Act, arguing that the program was still in its early stages and required ongoing marketing efforts to maintain awareness and participation, especially among state employees.
HB517: Senator Wes Information Only00:48:55.119 - 1:02:41 PM; Senator Wes discussed the budget implications of the marketing funds, suggesting that decisions on funding should be deferred until the budget process is further along, as the funds might be needed elsewhere.
HB517: Senator Rose Oppose00:50:30.200 - 1:04:16 PM; Senator Rose questioned the need for state funding to support a for-profit company like MetLife in marketing the Family Leave Act, especially since state employees were the primary target and the program was being used successfully.
HB517: Senator Pearl Support00:52:03.240 - 1:05:49 PM; Senator Pearl supported moving forward with the bill to cut marketing funds, arguing that the state's responsibility is primarily to state employees and that businesses and MetLife are capable of promoting the program on their own. He suggested that the funds could be better used elsewhere.
HB517: Senator Information Only00:53:48.079 - 1:07:34 PM; There was a discussion about the timing of the decision on the marketing funds, with some senators preferring to decide immediately rather than table the issue, acknowledging that the decision might be revisited during the budget process.

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