Senate committee adopts non‑germane amendment to HB 64 to expand retention bonuses for National Guard jobs

Senators on the Executive Departments and Administration Committee voted to attach a non‑germane amendment to House Bill 64 that broadens state authority to offer enlistment and retention incentives to fill hard‑to‑staff National Guard occupations.

Senator Howard Pearl introduced the amendment at the request of Major General David Michaelaitis, adjutant general for the New Hampshire National Guard. “This came at a request from General Nicolaides that identified an issue that he needed to resolve,” Pearl said when offering the language. (Transcript uses General Michaelaitis as the adjutant general who explained the policy intent.)

Major General Michaelaitis told the committee the change is aimed at improving retention in occupations that are difficult to fill and at making it easier for the Guard to offer reclassification bonuses. He described the force‑management problem: “One of the things we do is a referral bonus… We generally get about 40 referrals a year,” he said, and added that new recruits often serve three to four years and then leave. To address retention, the amendment allows state funds to be used flexibly as a retention incentive for critical jobs.

The military’s current practice already includes a state retention bonus created last year that provides $4,000 for a two‑year reenlistment when a service member is also eligible for a federal retention bonus. Michaelaitis said the new language would allow similar state funds to be targeted at “jobs that are hard to fill,” for example, military police or field artillery, and would not require new appropriations because dollars exist in an existing line item.

Kevin Grady, representing the State Veterans Advisory Committee and an Air Force veteran, spoke in support: “We do support this legislation… It’s always great when the paperwork lines up with what we're actually doing, especially when it comes to the military,” he told senators.

On the floor of the committee, senators approved a short technical amendment (13‑97) to fix filing language and then voted to add the non‑germane amendment (13‑70). The committee then passed HB 64 as amended and moved it by consent out of committee. Senator Gannon moved passage and Senator Reardon seconded during the committee’s final action to send the bill out as amended.

The amendments and final committee action mean HB 64 will leave the Senate committee carrying the additional retention authority language for the National Guard for further consideration in the legislative process.