Commerce committee advances multiple bills, adopts amendments in executive session

The Senate Commerce Committee met March 11 in Concord and took formal action on a slate of bills during an executive session and by voice votes in public session. Lawmakers adopted amendments on multiple bills and moved most measures out of committee either with an "ought to pass" recommendation, re-referral, or placement on consent for the next steps in the legislative process.

Why it matters: The bills the committee acted on cover topics from homeowner service agreements and veterans claims to licensing of e-cigarette sales, housing-related measures and bank statute updates. Several measures now proceed to further committee consideration or to other chambers; a handful were re-referred for additional work.

What the committee did (high-level): The committee adopted amendments and recorded outcomes on multiple bills. Notable procedural outcomes included approval of amendments and ‘‘ought to pass’’ recommendations on bills including Senate Bill 164 (service agreements), SB 79 (retail/tablet/service practice bill), SB 80 (licensing and enforcement for e-cigarette sales under the Liquor Commission), SB 86 (loan guarantee/finance-related provisions with amendments increasing guaranteed amount), SB 162 (notice requirements around land purchases near military installations; amendment adopted), and others. The committee re-referred SB 66 and SB 88. The committee also voted ITL (inexpedient to legislate) on bills including SB 176 (state minimum hourly wage) and SB 177 (E-Verify requirement). Several bills were placed on consent for passage out of committee.

Votes at a glance (selected items recorded on the transcript): - SB 164 — Amendment adopted; underlying bill: "ought to pass" motion carried with two senators opposed; advances to the next stage. (Amendment described as addressing concerns raised by realtors.) - SB 66 — Motion to re-refer carried; item placed on consent. - SB 79 — Amendment 240s adopted; underlying bill: "ought to pass" motion carried (vote recorded as 3–2). - SB 80 — Amendment 0229s adopted; underlying bill: "ought to pass" as amended and placed on consent. - SB 86 — Two amendments (0515s and 0681s) adopted; underlying bill "ought to pass" as amended and placed on consent; amendment expanded guarantee cap from $100 million to $300 million and added a sunset review provision. - SB 88 — Motion to re-refer carried. - SB 162 — Amendment 0489s adopted; underlying bill "ought to pass" (vote recorded 3–2). - SB 176 — Motion of Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) carried. - SB 177 — Motion of ITL carried; placed on consent. - SB 279 (fiscal-note housing bill referenced on the record) — motion "ought to pass" carried and placed on consent; senators noted large fiscal note that will be examined by the finance committee.

Formal actions in executive session: the committee also moved House Bill 399 with committee and floor‑date technical amendments and agreed to a plan for rapid transmittal to the House (the committee stated it would not place HB 399 on consent so it could be advanced and third‑reading motions adopted quickly by the full Senate).

Context and next steps: Some bills that received unanimous voice approval will still be reviewed by other committees (notably finance for measures with fiscal notes). Several of the housing bills the committee discussed were also scheduled for referral to the Special Housing Committee following this meeting. Where the transcript records specific tallies (e.g., 3–2 results), those counts are included above; where the transcript records only voice votes, outcomes are summarized by committee action (adopted/consent/referred).

Ending note: The committee leader said several bills would be heard in full public hearings later in the morning and that some items might be pushed to next week if testimony proved lengthy. The committee announced an intent to transmit House Bill 399 quickly to the House following final technical work to correct effective dates and appointing language.