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Committee adopts ITL on HB 95, sends HB 189 and HB 627 forward
Summary
The Science, Technology and Energy Committee voted in executive session to hold in committee (ITL) HB 95-FN, adopt HB 189 as amended (OTPA), and approve HB 627 (OTPA) and place it on the consent calendar. Vote counts and procedural next steps were announced on the floor.
By voice and roll call on Jan. 28, the Science, Technology and Energy Committee took formal action in executive session on three bills: the committee voted 15–3 to recommend ITL (inexpedient to legislate) on HB 95-FN, voted 11–7 that HB 189 as amended ought to pass, and approved HB 627 as ought to pass by an 18–0 margin and placed it on the consent calendar.
The votes came at the start of the committee’s Jan. 28 meeting during an executive session called to consider several pending energy bills. HB 95-FN, a bill requiring the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative to file a certificate of deregulation with the Public Utilities Commission, drew extended discussion in executive session before the committee voted to ITL. Representative Nader moved the ITL recommendation; Representative Cloget seconded. Representative Wendy Thomas and others filed a minority report.
HB 189, a proposal to define “clean energy” and to direct the state’s 10-year energy strategy toward technology that includes low greenhouse-gas emitting sources and small-scale nuclear, was amended in committee (Amendment 2025-0105h) and the amendment was adopted by a 10–8 vote before the committee voted 11–7 in favor of HB 189 as amended (OTPA).
HB 627, enabling the Public Utilities Commission to designate mobile carriers as Lifeline service providers to expand access to telemedicine and basic connectivity for low-income residents, passed unanimously, 18–0. The committee agreed to place HB 627 on the consent calendar; the sponsor and the committee chair will draft the committee report.
The committee recorded next steps for each item: majority and minority report authors and due dates were announced during the session. Representative Nader was named to write the majority report on HB 95; Representative Wendy Thomas will write the minority report. Vice Chair Thomas will write the majority report on HB 189 and Representative McGee will write the minority report. The chair will write the HB 627 committee report.
