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HB 169 · 2025 · House · Science, Technology and Energy Committee

Public utilities commission quorum rules

AI-generated

relative to a quorum of the public utilities commission.

Defines a "majority" of the public utilities commission as a two-thirds majority regardless of vacancies and further defines the commission as a regulatory agency.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 20, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill defines "majority" of the public utilities commission to be a 2/3 majority regardless of any vacancies and further defines the commission as a regulatory agency.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“There shall be a public utilities commission, which shall be an independent regulatory agency administratively attached to the department of energy pursuant to RSA 21-G:10.”
RSA 363:1
“A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum[ to issue orders, and any hearing may be held or conducted by 2 commissioners or by a single commissioner].”
RSA 363:16
“The commission shall be composed of 3 commissioners who shall be full-time employees and who shall engage in no other gainful employment during their terms as members.”
RSA 363:1
“Of the 3 commissioners, one shall be an attorney and a member of the New Hampshire Bar and one shall have either background or experience or both in one or more of the following: engineering, economics, accounting or finance.”
RSA 363:1

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Thomas CormenDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Science, Technology, and Energy
  • Rep. Kat McGheeDRanking Member· Science, Technology, and Energy

Also: Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

4 signed in online

50% support50% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–7
    Overall
    59% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseDivisionInexpedient to LegislateAdopted203–160
    Overall
    56% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and EnergyWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy6:05:06–6:07:122m 6slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor18:34–21:523m 18slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, division 203-160

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 2 P. 8
  2. Jan 21, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2025 02:30 pm LOB 302-304
  3. Feb 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2025 02:30 pm LOB 302-304
  4. Feb 4, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/04/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 12 P. 11
  5. Feb 6, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0249h
  6. Feb 20, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 203-160 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.