New Hampshire House debates judicial evaluations, battery recycling and renewable energy refunds; several committee reports pass

The New Hampshire House convened on March 25 in Concord and advanced a broad slate of committee reports after extended debate on several high‑profile measures.

The session opened with a prayer by House chaplain Reverend Kevin Tremblay, a pledge led by Representative Dylan Dumont and a presentation of a historic 1782 Aiken Bible offered by Granite State Baptist Church.

In floor debate, members spent considerable time on HB 11‑30, a measure that alters the state’s judicial performance evaluation process and would disclose individual judges’ scores rather than only aggregate results. Representative Mark Page argued the change risks judicial independence and noted the judiciary’s estimate that implementing the bill could cost “up to a $180,000” and require new personnel; Page urged colleagues to vote against the committee’s “ought to pass” recommendation. Representative Lynch, speaking for the finance committee, said the bill adds court observations, expands evaluation coverage and includes safeguards such as keeping narrative comments private; Lynch said the changes had been developed in consultation with the Chief Justice. The House considered amendments and held division votes on the measure before adopting the committee report as amended.

HB 16‑02, which would create a statewide battery collection and recycling stewardship program, also drew extended debate. Supporters including Representative Judy Aaron argued the bill reduces fire risk and shifts the financial burden of safe battery disposal from municipalities to producers, saying the program is modeled on producer‑responsibility efforts used elsewhere. Opponents questioned whether a single stewardship organization could control the market, noted exclusions for some device‑integrated batteries, and raised concerns about confidentiality provisions for the stewardship organization’s reports. Members debated multiple floor amendments; the House voted to adopt the amended committee recommendation.

Energy policy drew sustained discussion when lawmakers took up HB 15‑42, a bill to refund certain renewable energy fund alternative compliance payments to ratepayers on a per‑kilowatt‑hour basis. Opponents warned that winding down the Renewable Energy Fund would undercut long‑term investments that lower costs for schools, towns and low‑ and moderate‑income households. Proponents said returning fund proceeds offers immediate relief for ratepayers and reduces administrative costs. The House held recorded votes and adopted the committee report with floor amendments.

Other items on the calendar included bills affecting dam maintenance funding and boat decal fees (HB 6‑29), licensing and regulation of massage establishments (HB 14‑58 and HB 14‑69), anchored seasonal floating platforms on public waters (HB 14‑77) and changes to the state fire code appeals process (HB 15‑55). Several of these committee reports were adopted after division or roll‑call votes; some tabling motions failed and floor amendments were adopted.

Throughout the session, members repeatedly raised implementation questions: who would administer new programs, where the funding would come from, and whether additional staff or security costs had been accounted for. On HB 11‑30, for example, members pressed whether funding for judge‑safety measures had been included; on HB 16‑02 they debated whether stewardship reporting could legally be kept confidential. Where fiscal notes indicated new staff or consultant costs, members pressed for clarifying amendments or delayed effective dates.

The House concluded substantive business for the day by adopting a third‑reading motion to set the late‑session procedures and then recessed to the call of the chair. Many committee reports were placed on the record and several bills advanced with adopted amendments; additional implementation details and appropriations will be resolved in later steps of the legislative process.