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HB 538 · 2025 · House · Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee

Reorganizing liquor commission positions

AI-generated

reallocating positions in the liquor commission.

Adds a division of finance and audit to the liquor commission, retitles the chief operating officer position, and revises the statutory list of non-classified positions.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 6, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill adds the division of finance and audit as a fourth division of the liquor commission and adds the director of that division to the list of non-classified positions in statute. This bill also updates the title of "chief operating officer" to "director of administration" and removes "commissioner" from the statutory list of non-classified positions.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The commission shall have [3] 4 divisions under the direction of unclassified division directors.”
RSA 176:8
“The directors shall be nominated by the commissioner for appointment by the governor with the consent of the council and shall serve for terms of 4 years dependent upon maintaining good behavior and competence.”
RSA 176:8
“There shall be a division of marketing, merchandising, and warehousing, a division of administration, a division of finance and audit, and a division of enforcement and licensing.”
RSA 176:8
“The director of the division of enforcement and licensing shall be subject to a background check by the state police prior to appointment. 67:2 State Officers;”
RSA 176:8

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. John HuntRPrimeChair· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair· Commerce

Public testimony

8 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

75% support13% oppose13% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Blockchain is a highly innovative and important technology. However, NH already has some of the highest energy costs in the country and blockchain companies are heavily energy intensive. I am concerned that this bill could further increase already unaffordable energy prices.”
— Oliver Matte, North Suttonsupports

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 5, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 2, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 10, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 29, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Executive Departments and Administration
  • Mar 25, 2025Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:14:59–1:16:081m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 2, 2025Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration0:00–7:267m 26slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass
  • Apr 10, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 23, 2025Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration23:07–27:294m 22slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled 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 Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 3 P. 15
  2. Jan 29, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/29/2025 02:15 pm LOB 302-304
  3. Feb 11, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/11/2025 10:45 am LOB 104
  4. Mar 5, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/05/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  5. Mar 5, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass 03/05/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC)
  6. Mar 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 8
  7. Mar 13, 2025HouseReferred to Executive Departments and Administration 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 8
  8. Mar 25, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/25/2025 10:30 am LOB 306-308
  9. Mar 26, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/26/2025 01:30 pm LOB 306-308
  10. Apr 2, 2025House: Ought to Pass 04/02/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 19 P. 10
  11. Apr 10, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 04/10/2025 HJ 12 P. 3
  12. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 10
  13. Apr 23, 2025SenHearing: 04/23/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:20 am; SC 19
  14. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/01/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 19
  15. May 1, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  16. May 22, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/22/2025); SJ 15
  17. May 22, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 51
  18. Jun 2, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/02/2025; Chapter 67; eff.08/01/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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