[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6366204,"mediaKeyId","2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3","parentId",2159613,"title","Senate committee hears divided views on bill to create state-run alternative to private driver’s ed","audioSeconds",2408,"startMs",207000,"endMs",2615000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3&start=207&end=2615","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3/thumbnail_207000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6366204/New-Hampshire/Senate-committee-hears-divided-views-on-bill-to-create-state-run-alternative-to-private-drivers-ed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6366204-42321cce707257da65132b9785a97a3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173076&Signature=nQ~48e3avAOYA-WgvRmIvij4ieFeCzALuk~EodB-1gifjIBSElnVBYEgwsmKbw-FNT7V1H0k2l0urfFgRdAwL2E62wqjXFmyO1X-BEvl5l5N11dAg0KwbH1YrSBMsaArF58L5XcIG6rJ99c5deua-msRBW~ydF1HHbxYU6Fgktkh72hNKJCMK2lQhVHo03woYYpDLKd9oXExXo7GfRasBgZ9cgl4v3RMOPWeiulSz2D5XlSkFgXIAXSYu7UjOkchg5ELCF8ho8MNJC1fggSsuT~YNrer~MF5EJB1CV4HmNlUiMs-lEYtE5yDsOiWI3GQ6p6GcAQpppVeVuUoA3OB6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Senate","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Transportation held a hearing on Senate Bill 39 on a proposed state-run alternative to the current mandatory commercial driver’s education program for 16- to 18-year-olds.

Senator Tim Lang (Senate District 2), sponsor of the bill, told the committee the proposal would let eligible teens complete 40 hours of supervised driving (with parental certification), an approved classroom or online knowledge course, vision and knowledge exams at the DMV, and a state-conducted practical training course “designed after our very successful motorcycle training course.” Lang said the bill is the same as last year’s proposal except it raises the program fee to $350 to make the program “revenue positive” based on last year’s fiscal note.

The fiscal estimate and operational details were the focus of most testimony. John Marasco, director of the Division of Motor Vehicles, said the DMV would “make it work” if the bill passed but expressed concern about scale, staffing and vehicle purchases. Marasco suggested a phased pilot similar to the motorcycle training program, proposing a smaller start “—500 young people a year”—to reduce startup costs and allow the industry and DMV to adapt.

Sam Bissom, state driver coordinator, explained how his office revised the fiscal estimate from last year. He said prior fiscal assumptions used unrealistic year-round, full-time staffing levels; his calculations instead accounted for realistic daily lesson capacity, holidays, sick leave and vehicle overage. Bissom said the $72,000 annual figure cited for training specialists reflects salary plus substantial state benefits and that vehicle maintenance assumptions were conservative in his estimate.

Private-sector instructors and associations strongly opposed the bill. Michael Doucette, president of the New Hampshire Driver Education Teachers Association and owner of Precision Driving School, said the proposal would “devastate and eliminate over 65 private companies with over a hundred service locations around the state” because the statutory maximum payment to contractors in the bill would be too low for private schools to remain viable. He also said the state’s training and certification costs (college tuition, supervised training hours, classroom/car training) were underestimated and would not be covered by the compensation available under the bill.

Divergent views centered on whether a state option is necessary to improve affordability and access, and whether implementation costs and market impacts had been accurately estimated. Supporters argued the mandatory nature of driver education for those under 18 creates a public-policy obligation for a low-cost option; opponents warned the bill would displace incumbent small businesses and that the fiscal note understates training, facility and operating costs.

The committee heard no vote on the bill at the hearing; members asked DMV staff to provide more detailed, regionally specific wait-time and cost data and raised the possibility of a smaller pilot program or phased rollout.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Transportation (01/28/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Transportation held a hearing on Senate Bill 39 on a proposed state-run alternative to the current mandatory commercial driver’s education program for 16- to 18-year-olds.","taxTitle","Transportation , Senate , Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",29524,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6366185,"Senate hears bill to protect statewide boat-access decal funds and preserve federal match eligibility",284,5088000,5372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3&start=5088&end=5372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3/thumbnail_5088000.jpg","/articles/6366185/New-Hampshire/Senate-hears-bill-to-protect-statewide-boat-access-decal-funds-and-preserve-federal-match-eligibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6366185-c9f9efb578f2fd337b734ac0b7b3441a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173076&Signature=Q6o5YVI9CXldPji5hEuE~CiWwV8pvyA2sj6GJHq49cusYAKloOORX~XdRHzMEC6-pYJN2R6Ew--tL2YWeUZXkjyewEfn2usCic1KCxHt9xtQ-nbnw8Gk3iwAyG4nLYlwMhYqCUQAse~NnzgrQz-5CZAHdn5INFnIshkSzH2p6bzPHWmhcMr6ZnIrCpjBNnKlwXLfyV~5zTwdpZoGrw8DfhIPGDjGEreFL-VxTWqXp6dFJctDRwrhXIKKPv4crm5q3MTneXHOpYTuXbhkqBy2kPNh82pYwWCW1elwIE5o64IiKJEUcVF-FLeOxLkZHyERfcXOgjHmNN2HAvlVTF70uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Transportation took testimony on Senate Bill 51, which would add statutory language specifying that funds collected through the $5 boat decal fee be used solely for the statewide public boat access program.

Sponsor Senator David Waters said the decal fund provides critical match dollars that the Department of Fish and Game uses to leverage federal Sport Fish Restoration Act funds. He said ensuring those dollars are not repurposed preserves the department's ability to secure federal allocations and reduces the need for bonding, which otherwise increases interest and capital costs for boat-access projects.

A Department of Fish and Game representative (Garrett) supported the clarification and said the $5 decal charge dates to 1993; adjusted for inflation the fee buys far less today. Garrett added protecting the dedicated fund helps reduce future borrowing and allows the agency to advance projects without added interest expense.

Committee members asked about a referenced project at Mount Sunapee State Park; the sponsor and Fish and Game staff said the bill preserves existing statutory language and that project-specific bonding or costs would be handled within the department’s capital planning.

No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.","Senate Bill 51 would clarify that the $5 statewide boat decal fee must be used solely for the statewide public boat access program, protecting the account used to provide match for federal Sport Fish Restoration funds and reducing future bonding needs, department officials said.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6366190,"Committee hears bill to allow VA'evaluated permanently disabled veterans to receive parking placards without extra physician paperwork",440,4438000,4878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3&start=4438&end=4878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3/thumbnail_4438000.jpg","/articles/6366190/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-bill-to-allow-VAevaluated-permanently-disabled-veterans-to-receive-parking-placards-without-extra-physician-paperwork","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6366190-77fca0c884b510aea30575bf09cddb22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173076&Signature=NiVLRnOUsxG6Y5uIp91DCmLfiJVYc-1627KSUh91W-zKwQXMwubQisMCPJ8GU9oRj6c3wAWpAfn18BvsrJt7Efg9AbrRpDZbjszBTgv97Ht-eEc-DrWnZe8D7BRdm1lPJ-JNdh8Z~f5N63NHj7PfpMENTJIjiaBZKwUpObz~1BeznLuBSCs7ZcEu60i-NE3oTrXgNtT40xJ7ZFtUhMJnJWYzWwX--K9VRIZWCqa9Kh5b0mBDa2avQaOxq~hXuJ72ncbHYg3M2XwjxtMMTuKpv7wdADBaKCFINLsoTThz-DRtAHRUiVQVTDe5wQUl3SRWtD5g197ZfK~6qUj-M~Je2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Transportation heard Senate Bill 12, which would clarify eligibility for disabled veteran parking placards. The bill removes an apparent administrative barrier that had required some veterans who already received a veteran license plate based on a VA evaluation to obtain an additional physician-signed certificate to receive a placard.

Senator Denise Ricciardi introduced the bill, saying the change would correct an inconsistency and avoid forcing veterans to get duplicate medical paperwork. Major General David Michalaitis, Adjutant General and Commissioner of the Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services, told the committee the bill would allow a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluation that finds a veteran permanently and totally disabled to serve as sufficient documentation for both a veteran plate and a disability placard. Michalaitis said the measure streamlines state government and “we support this bill.”

Kevin Grady, representing the State Veterans Advisory Committee, also testified in support and urged passage, saying the committee favors any change that reduces paperwork for disabled veterans.

Committee members asked clarifying questions; no committee vote was taken at the hearing.","Senate Bill 12 would clarify that veterans who are evaluated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as permanently and totally disabled qualify for a state disability placard without submitting an additional physician certificate. The Adjutant General and veterans' advisory groups supported the measure as a simplification for veterans.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6366195,"Senate committee hears bill to authorize optional mobile driver's licenses; DMV and director say system can be secure",557,2727000,3284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3&start=2727&end=3284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3/thumbnail_2727000.jpg","/articles/6366195/New-Hampshire/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-authorize-optional-mobile-drivers-licenses-DMV-and-director-say-system-can-be-secure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6366195-ebf3b2fd95c1403945b42620e39fbc7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173076&Signature=mQWnHM5lSRdLxdNUPvyt6aN8woUYSknZPEdvlr3IWl-PpPdSqm~DV4aHhA8kCFVCktb90uGWvlrhmC4HSOy90E2J-~UAWVYmHbxLkC~p9Lf5uF4rCz5tLTq5kAlq~95W3hs6tuuaIvHtBt792pHqacZkKQpfA4EaQiurlFqWuuk1ErBqnwrJT6sKaqAoxcR-o8-pVlVkwE5JJsE2hYCZcQCcgzWQzd6mRE40gyxeAs~ocvFJJtvlK-SNdNp8oXAT-EgHXoTuCjoibqwIiJXAw63cffg~fPR4rj83RskDcVViE2nrjEWJX0376opIcgTEphqMQ70D56SKFStCyiQ3LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators heard testimony on Senate Bill 70, which would permit the state to issue optional mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) that citizens could load onto secure smartphone wallets in addition to holding a physical card.

Sponsor Senator Tim Lang described the bill as a modernization step and emphasized it would be optional, not mandatory. He said mDLs can streamline everyday transactions—such as age verification in retail, banking and travel—and that other states have adopted similar programs.

John Marasco, director of the Division of Motor Vehicles, said the DMV supports the bill. Marasco described cryptographic protections used by mobile ID platforms and said the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) and several states are using secure digital trust services. He said early-adopter states have issued hundreds of thousands of mobile IDs and that the technology allows offline storage on devices and remote deactivation if a phone is lost.

Committee members raised privacy and law-enforcement questions. Some senators asked whether roadside officers would have compatible scanning equipment; Marasco said the statute contemplates an incremental rollout and that some jurisdictions equip officers to scan mDLs while others rely on the physical card when required.

Concerns about identity theft were raised, and the sponsor stressed the option would be voluntary for citizens who prefer the technology; those who do not want an mDL may retain a physical license. No committee vote was recorded during the hearing.","Senate Bill 70 would permit New Hampshire to offer optional mobile driver's licenses for users who opt in. The DMV director described cryptographic protections and said other states have rolled out the technology; lawmakers questioned roadside scanning and privacy protections.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":46,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6366200,"Committee hears technical fix to allow online boater safety course; marine patrol urges proctored exam",419,3034000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3&start=2615&end=3034","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159613-a91ddb9e3b83617bf64d85ea653fb4d3/thumbnail_2615000.jpg","/articles/6366200/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-technical-fix-to-allow-online-boater-safety-course-marine-patrol-urges-proctored-exam","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6366200-b4b567ccfbd982ee19c5e59571beed0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173076&Signature=ai1YVnqmc2YjIDc0yVEAB~Kgby0JkBu5PFgdXfon8xNT4b4AfOfYR4sNqPfnO~Os7~46FRR0hbxrK4l8j6kpleV1uUOADYx56uv67JfEtfuiPvywRDX~HJte9L~CoSFacGoFPoHii-KOz6i6yIOmxlTuAKEYaNSJsxMdjjme5oMYz5~5HZarvC7gV8zYl6beE8UAjexUuPN-srrK9O58efVD-9OWG3uDEpBGOF2rxc-vHQY~1HuRs1Qh4kyk7vZJ~1MdHxipNJSB55WgzuGNAigOrqYtEBGZ1N7inhoag0p5IwIguUnF7Wwl2pAp5vzeX2YzBwyVYWJJuLxiTFvcfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Transportation took testimony on Senate Bill 40, a technical amendment to prior law that would enable an online option for the boater safety education certificate and fix language the Department of Safety said it could not implement from earlier legislation.

Senator Tim Lang, sponsor, said the bill is a mechanical correction to restore an online pathway that was used during COVID and generated significantly more revenue for the state. Lang said the state took in “over $600,000” during the COVID period when online exams were permitted, compared with roughly $82,000 after returning to in-person testing.

Tom Prasal, representing Kaukami Enterprises (a vendor that administers boating exams in multiple states), said the bill keeps an in-person proctored exam requirement for those under 18 and allows online exams for others. He told the committee that vendor-collected fees during the pandemic remitted larger sums to the state and that vendors are willing to work with the department on fee splits. Prasal also pointed lawmakers to RSA 270-d:17 as the statutory destination of boating-related revenues (Navigation Safety Fund).

Tim Dunleavy, a retired Marine Patrol captain now working as a program specialist for New Hampshire Marine Patrol, testified as neutral but urged caution. Dunleavy said New Hampshire’s boating program historically used proctored classroom exams in part because proctored tests yield lower immediate pass rates and give instructors the ability to verify the test-taker and review missed items. He said classroom-taught participants average scores in the mid-90s, while online-taught students who took unproctored exams during COVID produced higher pass percentages with lower average test scores; the Marine Patrol’s data showed classroom averages about 94% versus approximately 84% when some online proctored models were used in COVID-era adaptations.

Jody Grembelis of the New Hampshire Marine Trades Association supported the bill as a way to ensure New Hampshire receives boating-education revenue rather than out-of-state vendors and emphasized the importance of New Hampshire-specific law and safety practices.

Committee members asked about proctoring, revenue flows and the Navigation Safety Fund. No committee vote was recorded during the hearing; staff and vendors said they would continue to work with the department to align proctoring, vendor controls and fee remittance.

","Senate Bill 40 would correct language from prior legislation to permit an online boater safety education certificate; proponents said the change would restore online enrollment revenue to the state, while marine patrol staff cautioned that unproctored online exams yield higher pass rates and lower per-student safety screening.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee hears divided views on bill to create state-run alternative to private driver’s ed

Senate hears bill to protect statewide boat-access decal funds and preserve federal match eligibility

Committee hears bill to allow VA'evaluated permanently disabled veterans to receive parking placards without extra physician paperwork

Senate committee hears bill to authorize optional mobile driver's licenses; DMV and director say system can be secure

Committee hears technical fix to allow online boater safety course; marine patrol urges proctored exam