Monday, May 19
Senate Finance Committee- State House, 1:30 p.m.
The Senate Finance Committee meets every day this week as it works through the state budget. Monday’s topics include the Office of Child Advocate and the New Hampshire Retirement System.
Tuesday, May 20
House Commerce Committee- Legislative Office Building- 10:00 a.m.
House Commerce continues work on SB 297, which would expand the secretary of state’s ability to regulate shared-risk pools. Secretary of State David Scanlan has warned that these groups have been charging towns artificially low rates in order to win their business, leaving them vulnerable to insolvency. One such pool was recently sent into receivership; Scanlan warns another could be close. Towns are concerned that forcing higher rates would result in higher local property taxes.
Senate Judiciary Committee- State House- 1:00 p.m.
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on an amendment proposed by Manchester Sen. Victoria Sullivan to expand the list of crimes for which a defendant must see a judge before receiving bail. This would expand on the bail reform law signed by Gov. Kelly Ayotte earlier this year.
The committee is also expected to issue recommendations on all House bills still in its possession, which would go to the floor on Thursday.
Senate Finance Committee- State House- 1:30 p.m.
The Senate Finance Committee takes up the Judicial Branch, including the Department of Justice, the YDC Settlement Fund, and the Human Rights Commission.
Wednesday, May 21
Senate Ways and Means Committee- State House- 9:00 a.m.
After initial passage by the full Senate last week, HB 123, dealing with carbon sequestration credits in the North Country, comes before the Ways and Means Committee. Northern towns are worried that out-of-state carbon credit programs are incentivizing landowners to stop working their forest lands, leading to a dip in timber revenues.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee- Legislative Office Building- 9:45 a.m.
Senate HHS meets for the final time this session to vote on three remaining bills, including HB 316, a controversial bill to change reimbursement rates of ambulance services.
Thursday, May 22
House Session- State House- 10:00 a.m.
After a week away, the House convenes with a hefty calendar. First up will be the Parents’ Bill of Rights in Education (SB 72), which codifies the rights of parents already in law as well as requiring school boards to notify parents of those rights. The proposed amendment coming to the floor combines elements from bills introduced by Speaker Sherm Packard and Sen. Tim Lang.
Next up is SB 267, which would increase penalties for patrons of prostitution, an issue that unites law and order conservatives and women’s advocates on the left. They agree that cracking down on the demand for sex work will help curb human trafficking.
The Judiciary Committee is unanimously recommending passage of SB 148, the Adam Montgomery Bill, which would prevent convicted murderers from profiting from their crimes.
Senate Session- State House- 10:00 a.m.
The Senate will take up most of its remaining bills. Hot button issues include parental access to children’s medical records (HB 560), parental consent for the Youth Risk Behavior Survey in schools (HB 446), and allowing separate men’s and women’s sports teams, bathrooms, and prisons (HB 148).
Senate Finance Committee- State House- 2:30 p.m.
Following the Senate Session, the Finance Committee continues work on the state budget, starting with the Department of Corrections. Senate budget writers and Gov. Kelly Ayotte are hoping to reverse many of the sweeping cuts to the department included in the House spending plan.
Friday, May 23
Senate Finance Committee- State House 1:30 p.m
The Senate Finance Committee concludes a grueling week of budget work with consideration of the Department of Health and Human Services and the University System of New Hampshire. The panel needs to get its version of the budget to the full Senate by June 5.
House Calendar- https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars\2025\No25%20May%2016%202025.PDF
Senate Calendar- https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars\2025\No%2022%20May%2015%202025.PDF
