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Senate Finance approves amendments to House Bill 1 and 2 after debate over budget priorities
Summary
The Senate Finance Committee approved amendments to House Bill 1 (amendment 2638s) and House Bill 2 (amendment 2637s) following discussion about the biennial budget, rainy day fund draws and education and housing priorities. The first amendment passed on a voice vote; the second passed on a roll call.
The Senate Finance Committee voted to adopt amendment 2638s to House Bill 1 and amendment 2637s to House Bill 2 after extended discussion about revenue estimates, rainy day fund draws and program priorities.
"For the record, my name is Michael Kane with the legislative budget assistant," Michael Kane said as he described the committee's surplus statement and the two amendments posted under the committee's website. Kane told the panel the Senate's estimates show a $93.4 million deficit in fiscal 2025 that will require a draw from the rainy day fund, and that projections put an estimated $50.4 million transferred back into the rainy day fund by the end of the biennium.
The committee debated the budget's effects on housing, health care, education and renewable energy funding. Senator Lang said he would not support House Bills 1 and 2, arguing the bills "do really nothing to lower cost for Granite Staters" and that they would increase costs in multiple areas including housing and health care. Other senators offered contrasting views: some praised restorations to Medicaid and investments in education and transportation, while others raised concerns about voucher expansion, potential legal risks from settlements or lawsuits and risks to long-term services.
Kane walked senators through line items, noting a projected rainy day fund balance of roughly $249 million by the end of the biennium under the Senate plan and a roughly $19 million balance in the Education Trust Fund — compared with about $0 in the House plan and about $13.9 million in the governor's proposal, according to Kane. He also cited agency-reported lapses and recent settlements that affected the estimates.
Committee members pressed on policy trade-offs. Senators who opposed parts of the budget cited cuts or program changes they said would increase costs for vulnerable residents, reduce state support for municipalities through changes to rooms-and-meals tax distributions, or eliminate entities aimed at reducing prescription drug costs. Supporters pointed to restored Medicaid funding, new or continued investments in higher education and transportation, and measures intended to speed permitting and support housing development.
The committee handled the measures sequentially. Amendment 2638s to House Bill 1 was moved, seconded and adopted on a voice vote; the chair announced, "The ayes have it." Amendment 2637s to House Bill 2 was moved, seconded and approved on a roll-call vote. Senators recorded as voting yes in the roll call that appears in the transcript include Senator Rosenbaum, Senator Lang, Senator Birdsall, Senator Carson, Senator Pearl and the chair. The transcript records the final disposition as passage for both amendments.
The committee completed its business and adjourned after the votes.
Votes at a glance: House Bill 1 — amendment 2638s: adopted (voice vote; chair announced "The ayes have it"). House Bill 2 — amendment 2637s: adopted (roll-call vote; senators recorded yes in transcript include Rosenbaum, Lang, Birdsall, Carson, Pearl and the chair).
