Capitol Insight: Weekly Legislative Update 3/6/26
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fter a well-deserved legislative break, the House and Senate returned to work this week, holding public hearings, advancing bills out of committee and convening in session on Thursday. The Governor and Executive Council were also active, confirming the new Chair of the PUC and Commissioner of the Department of Transportation.
Senate Session
Adopted last year, New Hampshire currently has a law that provides limited liability to firearms manufacturers for certain optional design features. The Senate considered legislation to repeal these protections. Proponents contended that doing so would better protect Granite Staters from defective firearms, additionally argued that no other product manufacturer enjoys the same treatment, and claimed that the bill would level the playing field between industries. Opponents maintained that the existing law is equitable and already includes statutory clarity for instances in which a firearm is proven to be defective. They further expressed concern that repealing the statute could prompt manufacturers to cease production in New Hampshire and relocate elsewhere. Following a heated debate, the Senate killed the bill, as expected, along party lines.
House Session
The House took up a bill this week that would have established a state minimum wage in New Hampshire. Currently, New Hampshire has no separate minimum wage law on the books and instead follows the federal minimum at $7.25 per hour. The proposal would have increased the minimum wage to $12 per hour on September 1st, with subsequent annual increases until it reached $17 per hour on January 1, 2029. The Republican majority on the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee recommended that the bill be killed, asserting that it would serve no economic or beneficial purpose while having a negative impact on employment in the state. Democrats countered that enacting a minimum wage would provide much needed relief to lower income families amid rising costs for food, housing and healthcare. Ultimately, the House voted to table the bill, making it likely that the measure will not be revisited until the next Legislative Session.
GO-NORTH
The Executive Council placed a temporary hold on the expenditure of over $700 million to five organizations that would administer funding to certain programs as a part of the state’s Rural Health Transformation initiative. The money was slated to be distributed to the Foundation for Health Communities, the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, the New Hampshire Behavioral Health Association and the University and Community College Systems of New Hampshire under a five-year timeframe. Republican councilors emphasized that they did not oppose the plan or its stated objectives but wanted to ensure that the program would be executed properly and would remain in compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines before authorizing the funds. The lone council Democrat argued that the plan circumvents the Executive Council’s traditional oversight role by channeling the funds to five organizations that would independently determine where to direct the money. The Governor plans to hold a special meeting with the Executive Council in order to address and resolve these concerns.
SNAP Benefits
Members of the Republican party in both the New Hampshire House and Senate identified restrictions on the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for certain unhealthy foods to be a priority of their party during this term. Proposed legislation in the Senate would direct the state to seek federal approval to prohibit the purchase of candy and sugary soft drinks with SNAP benefits. Supporters argue that the program should prioritize nutritious foods and that taxpayers should not subsidize items with little or no nutritional value. Implementation challenges, however, proved to be more complex than initially anticipated, with some retailers testifying that such restrictions would require costly and complicated upgrades to Point of Sale systems. In response, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee recommended an amendment to replace the outright ban with a study commission charged with examining how the state could promote healthier food choices among SNAP beneficiaries. The bill is scheduled for consideration on the Senate floor next week.
Week Ahead
Next week will see the House and Senate taking very different approaches. The Senate will hold a ton of meetings on house bills on Tuesday and additional hearings on Wednesday in an effort to get a jumpstart on their review of House legislation. Meanwhile, the House will have full days of hearings on Monday and Friday but will have a lighter schedule on Tuesday, which is Town Meeting Day in many communities. The more relaxed Tuesday schedule may also reflect preparation for two anticipated marathon House session days on Wednesday and Thursday. The calendar for next week is so extensive that the Majority Leader advised members to “bring jammies” for Wednesday evening. The Senate will also hold a session on Thursday, but with a comparatively modest agenda of 21 bills on the regular calendar.
About Rath, Young and Pignatelli
Capitol Insight is produced with the support of the Chamber’s government relations consultant: Rath, Young and Pignatelli (RYP). RYP merges traditional legal practice areas with legislative and public policy expertise. They have earned a reputation for achieving client success through skillful and creative advocacy in private party negotiations, before courts, regulatory agencies, and legislatures.
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About The Greater Manchester Chamber
Incorporated in 1911, the Greater Manchester Chamber (GMC) is the largest business organization in New Hampshire, focusing its efforts primarily on Manchester and the surrounding communities of Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Derry, Goffstown, Hooksett, Litchfield, Londonderry, and Merrimack. It is the Chamber’s mission to bring together business and community to enhance economic success and quality of life in our region. For more information visit www.manchester-chamber.org.
