The House Finance — Division I work session reviewed 17 retained bills and issued committee recommendations on each. The committee recommended “ought to pass” for bills including landfill permitting reporting (HB 215), local records retention (HB 164) and a small conservation districts grant (HB 246); it recommended “inexpedient to legislate” on measures including wastewater infrastructure funding (HB 97) and the Partners in Housing appropriation (HB 572). Several roll-call votes were unanimous; several were split 5–4 or 7–2.

The recommendations affect appropriation and policy language on wastewater funding, housing incentives, a proposal changing calculation for the travel-and-tourism appropriation, and a change to the state's renewable portfolio standard. Representative Griffin, who moved to ITL HB 97, summarized the fiscal rationale: “the intent of the bill is being met but not the full funding and we don't have the money to fund [HB 97] as written.” Representative Sweeney, who moved to recommend OTPA on several items and to ITL others, repeatedly said the budget picture constrained new appropriations this session.

Why this matters: several of the bills involve direct appropriations or formulas that affect the state's budget planning (rooms-and-meals-derived calculations for tourism funding, the renewable-energy fund flow, and one-time appropriations for local programs). Close 50 committee votes mean those items will have a clearer path — or continued contention — when the full Finance Committee and the full House consider them.

Key contested items

- HB 97 (wastewater infrastructure appropriation): The committee voted 5–4 to recommend ITL (inexpedient to legislate). Representative Griffin moved the ITL motion, arguing the Senate had already reduced the appropriation and the state lacks the funds to meet the bill as drafted. Representative Rung opposed the ITL and said wastewater funding is critical to enable housing development. Outcome: ITL, 5 yes, 4 no.

- HB 572 (Partners in Housing program appropriation): The committee recommended ITL, 5–4. Supporters described the program as a tool to help workforce housing; opponents cited the current fiscal constraints and noted the policy had already been placed in HB 2 without an appropriation. Representative Sweeney moved ITL; Representative Veil spoke for funding but acknowledged budget limits.

- HB 219 (changes to the minimum electric renewable portfolio standard): The committee approved an amendment to move the bill's effective date and then recommended OTPA (ought to pass as amended) on a 5–4 vote. Debate focused on the bill's near-term fiscal effect: adopting the bill now would reduce general-fund receipts relative to the budget passed in HB 2. A committee amendment aligned the bill with the HB 2 schedule, moving the effective date so the change affects the next biennium rather than the current one.

Other notable actions (selected)

- HB 54 (allows alternative treatment centers to operate for profit): Recommended OTP, 9–0. The committee recorded a cost estimate of approximately $13,000 and noted prior committee passage and a House roll-call in favor.

- HB 215 (requires landfill permit applicants to submit harms/benefits report; applies to new privately owned landfills after amendment): Amendment passed and bill recommended OTP as amended, 9–0. Representative Ebel introduced a narrowing amendment; Representative Germana described the bill's purpose as creating a "net public benefit analysis." The amendment limited the requirement to new privately owned landfills.

- HB 111 (right-to-know ombudsman extension / exemption): Recommended ITL, 9–0. The committee noted the ombudsman position had been made a contracted position and administratively attached to an agency via prior legislation.

- HB 216 (workers' compensation creditable service toward retirement): Recommended ITL, 9–0. Sponsors said they lacked reliable data on how many workers would qualify and described the vote as cautious because the fiscal exposure was unknown.

- SB 63 (funding the Division of Travel and Tourism): Recommended ITL, 9–0. Committee discussion clarified that the bill changes the formula used to calculate a general-fund appropriation tied to the meals-and-rentals tax and that municipalities' shares were not directly affected.

- HB 607 (Hampton Beach Area Commission funding): Recommended ITL, 9–0. The committee said the policy had been placed in HB 2 and no additional action was required this session.

- HB 611 (repayment by indigent criminal defendants for appointed counsel): Recommended ITL, 9–0 as redundant with language already in HB 2.

- HB 619 (appropriation to solid waste management fund): Recommended ITL, 9–0 as redundant with language in HB 2.

- HB 624 (local river management advisory committee grant, $40,000): Recommended ITL, 5–4. Supporters highlighted river protection value and low cost; opponents cited the current fiscal constraints.

- HB 640 (transparency reporting about federal agency operations in state): Recommended ITL, 9–0. The chair and other members expressed skepticism about practical value and fiscal prudence; an LBA/Fiscal note estimated costs in the tens of thousands annually.

- HB 164 (local records retention, online storage for municipal records): Recommended OTPA as amended, 9–0. The committee accepted a committee amendment moving the appropriation to the fiscal year ending 06/30/2027 and accepted an LBA summary of estimated IT costs (~$51,000 total, about $10,000 per year over a five-year subscription profile).

- HB 246 (conservation district climate resilience grant program; $50,000): Recommended OTP, 9–0. Supporters said the $50,000 appropriation would support farmers and local conservation; the bill drew unanimous support.

- HB 365 (proof of U.S. citizenship assistance for indigent voters): Recommended OTPA as amended, 7–2. Supporters described the bill as a low-volume assistance program for voters who lack acceptable ID; opponents raised concerns about undefined terms such as "indigent" and implementation costs. The committee amended the effective/appropriation timing and advanced the bill.

Votes at a glance (bill → committee recommendation, tally)

- HB 54 → OTP, 9–0
- HB 97 → ITL, 5–4
- HB 111 → ITL, 9–0
- HB 197 (payment of portion of retirement system contributions) → ITL, 5–4
- HB 215 → OTP (as amended), 9–0
- HB 216 → ITL, 9–0
- HB 572 → ITL, 5–4
- SB 63 → ITL, 9–0
- HB 607 → ITL, 9–0
- HB 611 → ITL, 9–0
- HB 619 → ITL, 9–0
- HB 624 → ITL, 5–4
- HB 640 → ITL, 9–0
- HB 164 → OTPA (amended), 9–0
- HB 219 → OTPA (as amended), 5–4
- HB 246 → OTP, 9–0
- HB 365 → OTPA (as amended), 7–2

What committee members pressed for or against: Members voting against funding measures repeatedly cited the state's constrained fiscal outlook and the fact that many of the programs or policy provisions have been placed (or partially placed) in the biennial budget (HB 2). Members in favor of limited appropriations argued that small, targeted investments (wastewater, housing partnership grants, conservation grants) are necessary to unlock private investment or protect natural resources.

Next steps: These committee recommendations will be reported to the full House Finance Committee and then appear on subsequent calendars for floor consideration. The chair scheduled a full Finance Committee executive session on October 22 for further work.