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HB 586 · 2025 · House · Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee

Assistance program for small-town responders

AI-generated

establishing an employee assistance program for small town first responders and making an appropriation therefor.

Establishes a fund to cover the costs of enrolling first responders from small communities in the state Employee Assistance Program, sets eligibility, enrollment, and reporting requirements, and makes an appropriation for the fund.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill establishes a fund to cover the costs of enrolling first responders from small communities into the state-provided Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and outlines eligibility, enrollment, and reporting requirements for the department of health and human services. This bill also makes an appropriation for the fund.

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 is established a first responders support fund, which shall be administered by the department of health and human services.”
RSA 281-A:17-g
“First responders eligible for the employee assistance program for small communities shall include those working in communities with volunteer fire departments or with no more than 5 full-time paid first responders.”
RSA 281-A:17-h
“This fund shall be used for costs incurred in enrolling first responders from communities with volunteer fire departments or with no more than 5 full-time paid first responders into the state-provided employee assistance program (EAP).”
RSA 281-A:17-g
“All fees, monetary grants, gifts, donations, or interest generated by these funds shall be deposited with the state treasurer in a special nonlapsing fund to be known as the first responders support fund and shall be continually appropriated to the department for the administration of this section.”
RSA 281-A:17-g

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Loren SeligDPrime
  • Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader

Also: Rep. Mark ProulxR, Rep. Stephen PearsonR

Public testimony

24 signed in online · 10 wrote testimony

88% support13% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The Town of Durham is supportive of HB 586, establishing an employee assistance program for small town first responders.…”
— Todd Selig, Town of Durham · Town of Durham, NHsupports
“The Town of Lee is supportive of HB 586, establishing an employee assistance program for small town first responders.…”
— R. Andrew Robertson, Leesupports
“This bill is necessary for Towns that do not properly offer this program to their first responders. It should be a State wide system offered to all First Responders no matter what community they work in.”
— Richard Krauss, Miltonsupports

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
  • Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate11–9
    Overall
    55% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseVoice voteLay HB586 on Table (Rep. Creighton)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative ServicesWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services16:14–17:221m 8slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:48:21–4:50:242m 3slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB586 on Table (Rep. Creighton) — adopted, voice vote
  • 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 Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services HJ 3 P. 17
  2. Jan 28, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2025 11:45 am LOB 307
  3. Feb 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2025 10:00 am LOB 210-211
  4. Feb 4, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/04/2025 (Vote 11-9; RC) HC 12 P. 19
  5. Feb 5, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  6. Feb 20, 2025HouseLay HB586 on Table (Rep. Creighton): MA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 52
  7. Dec 17, 2025HouseDied on Table, Session ended 12/17/2025 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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