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HB 605 · 2025 · House · Legislative Administration Committee

Employment protections for legislature members

AI-generated

relative to employment protections for members of the general court.

Classifies service in the general court as public service for federal student loan forgiveness eligibility and provides legislators with employment protections during the legislative session.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill provides that serving as a member of state legislature shall be considered public service for purposes of federal student loan forgiveness programs. The bill also provides members of the general court with employment protections during the legislative session.

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

“Notwithstanding the provision of RSA 14-A:6, I, the tenure in office of members of the general court shall be deemed by the state to qualify as full-time public service for the purposes of federal public service student loan forgiveness programs.”
RSA 14-A:7
“No employer shall prohibit an employee who is a member of the state legislature from taking time off to attend a legislative session, to attend a legislative policy committee meeting if the legislator is a member of the committee, or to attend a legislative committee hearing on a bill the member sponsored.”
RSA 275:75-a
“Any employer who violates this subdivision shall be subject to a civil penalty, to be imposed by the labor commissioner in accordance with the procedures established in RSA 273:11-a.”
RSA 275:75-b
“The requirements of this section shall apply regardless of whether the employee has accrued paid time off or not.”
RSA 275:75-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ellen ReadDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Housing
  • Rep. Christal LloydDDeputy Ranking Member· State, Federal, and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Matthew WilhelmDDemocratic Caucus Chair

Public testimony

21 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

43% support57% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I think this is an excellent bill providing protections to state reps who are essentially volunteering their time to help make NH’s laws. They only make $100/year and are vital to our local government.…”
— Jamie Carreau, Derrysupports
“I strongly oppose this Bill. Loan forgiveness is nonsense. We do not want individuals running for office who expect others to pay off their loans. People running for office know the rules and there is no shortage of candidates.”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonopposes
“I oppose this bill as written. We hardly have student loan forgiveness for first responders, healthcare professionals, or educators.…”
— Sarah McCarthy, Manchesteropposes

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 19, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate11–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration5:31:04–5:34:223m 18slocated in the stream transcript==RESCHEDULED== Public Hearing
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative AdministrationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration31:58–34:362m 38slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient 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 Legislative Administration HJ 3 P. 18
  2. Feb 19, 2025House==RESCHEDULED== Public Hearing: 02/19/2025 01:45 pm LOB 203
  3. Mar 12, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/12/2025 09:00 am LOB 203
  4. Mar 19, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/19/2025 01:00 pm LOB 203
  5. Mar 19, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/19/2025 (Vote 11-0; CC) HC 17 P. 22
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 41

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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