The Finance Committee convened Oct. 30 and moved a large group of bills to the regular and consent calendars while sorting which measures were already addressed in the enacted budget. Committee members placed many bills on consent because funding or policy language had been included in House Bill 1/HB 2, while several bills prompted protracted debate and recorded roll-call votes.

The most contested items included HB 97, the Department of Environmental Services wastewater and infrastructure appropriation; HB 197, a proposal to restore part of the state retirement contribution the sponsor called the "property tax relief act of 2025"; HB 219, changes to the renewable portfolio standard meant to return about $5.7 million a year to ratepayers; and HB 365, a measure to fund vouchers for indigent voters to obtain proof-of-citizenship documents. Committee action ranged from unanimous 25–0 recommendations to split tallies such as 14–11 and 16–9 on individual bills.

On HB 97 (wastewater and infrastructure), Representative Griffin moved that the committee declare the bill inexpedient to legislate, noting that section 379 of HB 2 appropriated $22,500,000 for FY2026 and $2,500,000 for FY2027 and that state revenue projections limited further funding at this time. Representative Run urged the committee to increase the FY2027 amount to $5,000,000 to defray local bond principal and interest and support municipal wastewater projects that can enable higher-density housing. After roll call the committee reported HB 97 as an "expedient to legislate" recommendation (tally announced 14–11).

On HB 197, which would restore a partial state contribution to the New Hampshire Retirement System for Group 1 and Group 2 members, sponsors and opponents debated whether prior reductions to the state subsidy had directly increased property taxes and how any restoration would affect municipal budgets. Representative Munz argued the bill would deliver meaningful property-tax relief to cities, towns and school districts; other members said prior changes had been borne by retirement-system members and that the relationship to property-tax bills was complex. The committee recorded a majority procedural outcome and asked for a minority report on the measure.

HB 219 drew an energetic exchange about energy policy and ratepayer costs. Representative Campbell described the bill as returning about $5.7 million per year from the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) fund to ratepayers; Representative Muddins warned that lowering the value of renewable energy certificates could weaken investor interest in renewable projects and make New Hampshire more dependent on natural gas, while supporters emphasized immediate rate relief. The committee voted to report HB 219 "ought to pass as amended" by 14–11.

HB 365, a bill to reimburse municipalities (through a $50,000 biennial appropriation in the amendment) for the cost of obtaining birth certificates or equivalent proof of citizenship for indigent voters, split the committee. Supporters framed it as preserving access for a small fraction of voters who otherwise would be unable to meet new documentation requirements; critics said the bill lacked a clear reimbursement process and would create administrative burdens for municipal clerks. The committee reported HB 365 as OTPA, 16–9.

Several other bills were adopted as amended or placed on consent with little or no debate because their policy or funding had been included in HB 1/HB 2. Examples include HB 54 (alternate treatment centers; reported OTP, 25–0), HB 111 (right-to-know ombudsman timing; ITL, 25–0), HB 164 (records-management appropriation; OTPA as amended, 25–0), HB 215 (landfill reporting; OTPA, 25–0), and HB 246 (conservation district climate resilience grants; reported 25–0 with an amendment specifying $100,000 over the biennium).

Division 2 (education and related bills) advanced many measures as ITL or by unanimous vote because relevant provisions or appropriations were carried in HB 2. Division 3 (health and human services, behavioral health and social services) moved through bills including an interim study on whether the state should change how it manages Social Security/SSI/VA benefits for children in foster care (HB 661 was sent to interim study) and a replace‑all amendment and committee action on HB 751 to study licensure approaches for outpatient substance-use-disorder treatment facilities.

Votes at a glance

- HB 54 (alternate treatment centers): reported OTP (25–0). No appropriation in committee. Evidence: roll call recorded as 25–0.
- HB 97 (DES wastewater/infrastructure): reported as an expedient to legislate after roll call (14–11). HB 2 contains section 379 appropriating $22,500,000 (FY2026) and $2,500,000 (FY2027).
- HB 111 (right-to-know ombudsman timing): ITL (25–0).
- HB 164 (records management/archives): OTPA as amended; amendment 2,979 appropriates $150,000 (FY2027) for a local government records manager (25–0).
- HB 197 (Property Tax Relief Act of 2025): committee adopted procedural motions and will include a minority report; committee debate recorded but no final appropriation vote in Finance (varied procedural outcomes recorded).
- HB 215 (landfill reporting): OTPA as amended (25–0). Policy only; no appropriation in committee.
- HB 216 (workers' compensation/time-credit limit for disability): ITL (25–0).
- HB 219 (Renewable Portfolio Standard changes to return funds to ratepayers): OTPA as amended (14–11).
- HB 246 (conservation district climate resilience grants): OTPA with amendment specifying $100,000 over the biennium (25–0).
- HB 365 (voter-document vouchers for indigent voters): OTPA as amended; roll call 16–9.
- HB 572 (Partners in Housing / funding debate): motion of ITL passed (14–11); sponsors signaled amendments would be filed.
- HB 607, HB 611, HB 619, SB 63 and many Division 2 education bills: ITL or consent calendar (many unanimous 25–0 results) because the policy or money was incorporated into HB 1/HB 2.
- HB 661 (foster‑care federal benefits): sent to interim study (motion adopted; committee cited complexity and administrative/IT costs).
- HB 704 (caregiver respite / senior volunteer): OTPA as amended (25–0).
- HB 751 (licensure / outpatient SUD facilities): committee adopted a replace‑all amendment to form a study committee and reported the item as OTPA after the amendment (14–11).

What to watch next

- HB 97: committee reported as an expedient to legislate but local officials and sponsors signaled they will press to restore additional appropriations or pursue minority recommendations.
- HB 197: sponsors signaled an amendment and minority report; the relationship between retirement contributions and property-tax relief will continue to be debated.
- HB 219 and HB 365: both drew significant testimony and split committee votes and will appear on the regular calendar for fuller floor consideration.

Sources and evidence

This article is based on the Finance Committee transcript for Oct. 30. Roll-call tallies and direct attributions above follow the committee clerk's recorded roll calls and speakers' statements in the transcript.