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HB 535 · 2025 · House · Science, Technology and Energy Committee

Redefining public utilities commission authority

AI-generated

relative to defining the role of the public utilities commission.

Clarifies and eliminates certain grants of authority to the public utilities commission and requires the commission to approve settlement agreements signed by all parties in contested cases unless a provision is found contrary to law.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · March 20, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill clarifies and eliminates certain grants of authority to the public utilities commission, and requires, in any contested case before the commission to which the department of energy and the office of the consumer advocate are parties, the commission to approve by order any settlement agreement to which all parties are a signatory, unless the commission determines after hearing that any settlement provision is contrary to law. This bill is at the request of the office of the consumer advocate.

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 agency administratively attached to the department of energy pursuant to RSA 21-G:10.”
RSA 363:1
“The department of energy may at any time personally, or by its experts or agents, inspect the property, works, system, plant, devices, appliances and methods used by any public utility, or its books, papers and records.”
RSA 365:6
“Any expert or agent of the department of energy [or the commission], who shall make a demand on behalf of the commission or the department to be allowed to inspect as provided in RSA 365:6, shall produce written authority to make such inspection signed by [the chairperson of the commission or] the commissioner of the department of energy.”
RSA 365:7
“In any contested case before the commission to which the department of energy and the office of the consumer advocate are parties, the commission, in a timely manner, shall approve by order any settlement agreement to which all parties are a signatory, unless the commission determines after hearing that any settlement provision is contrary to law.”
RSA 365:20-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

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

Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

5 signed in online

80% support20% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate9–8
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseDivisionLay HB535 on Table (Rep. Sweeney)Adopted194–153
    Overall
    56% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy4:43:32–4:47:384m 6slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy1:32:36–1:33:451m 9slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor7:04:42–7:10:035m 21slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB535 on Table (Rep. Sweeney) — adopted, division 194-153
  • Dec 17, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamDied on Table, Session ended

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 Science, Technology and Energy HJ 3 P. 15
  2. Jan 28, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2025 01:00 pm LOB 302-304
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/04/2025 10:30 am LOB 302-304
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 302-304
  5. Mar 4, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 03/04/2025 (Vote 9-8; RC)
  6. Mar 10, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseLay HB535 on Table (Rep. Sweeney): MA DV 194-153 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 87
  8. Dec 17, 2025HouseDied on Table, Session ended 12/17/2025 HJ 19

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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