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HB 489 · 2025 · House · Transportation Committee

Blue lights for volunteer emergency workers

AI-generated

allowing volunteer emergency workers to use a rear facing blue light on their private vehicles when involved in emergency service.

Permits volunteer emergency workers to install and use a rear-facing blue light on their private vehicles while engaged in emergency service duties.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 15, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill allows volunteer emergency workers to use a rear-facing blue light on their private vehicles when involved in emergency service.

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

“When blue colored lights are installed on a private vehicle owned by or leased to a law enforcement officer, such lights shall be covered when the vehicle is being driven by someone other than a law enforcement officer.”
Section 1
“A blue colored light installed on emergency response vehicles other than those vehicles used by a sworn law enforcement officer, state probation and parole officers, and state correctional officers in the performance of their official duties shall be limited to a single, rear-facing blue colored emergency light on each vehicle.”
Section 1
“A private ambulance service that is no longer contracted with a city, town, or village district shall remove the single rear-facing blue colored light upon the expiration of the contract.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Rich NalevankoRPrime
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture

Also: Rep. Glen AldrichR, Rep. Mark ProulxR, Rep. Mark WardenR

Public testimony

12 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

25% support75% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill provides additional important safety to our EMS volunteers. I support this bill.”
— James Gruber, Alsteadsupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–6
    Overall
    63% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseDivisionInexpedient to LegislateFailed125–217
    Overall
    37% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Transportation27:07–34:016m 54slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Transportation1:46:18–1:52:406m 22slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor5:57:38–6:00:352m 57slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — failed, division 125-217; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2025Public hearingSenate Transportation16:10–21:385m 28slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Transportation HJ 3 P. 13
  2. Feb 18, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/18/2025 09:50 am LOB 203
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 10:00 am LOB 203
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/04/2025 (Vote 10-6; RC) HC 17 P. 46
  5. Mar 14, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MF DV 125-217 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 98
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 98
  8. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 10
  9. Apr 8, 2025SenHearing: 04/08/2025, Room 101, LOB, 01:15 pm; SC 16
  10. May 15, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/15/2025; SC 21
  11. May 15, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/15/2025; SJ 13

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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