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HB 1043 · 2026 · House · Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee

Employer discretion on minimum pay

AI-generated

relative to employer discretion in offering minimum payment options to employees.

Allows employers to establish their own reporting-pay policies, applying the statutory minimum pay requirement only when no alternative company policy exists.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the Senate · May 7, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill allows employers to establish their own pay policies for employees reporting to work, making the statutory minimum pay requirement applicable only when no alternative company policy exists.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“Unless an employer has established a different written policy, on any day an employee reports to work at an employer's request, he or she shall be paid not less than 2 hours' pay at his or her regular rate of pay; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to employees of counties or municipalities.”
RSA 275:43-a
“This section shall also not apply to ski and snowboard instructional employees at ski resorts, provided that these employees receive other compensation that is at least equal to their rate of pay.”
RSA 275:43-a
“No employer who makes a good faith effort to notify an employee not to report to work shall be liable to pay wages under this section.”
RSA 275:43-a
“However, if the employee reports to work after the employer's attempt to notify him or her has been unsuccessful or if the employer is prevented from making notification for any reason, the employee shall perform whatever duties are assigned by the employer at the time the employee reports to work.”
RSA 275:43-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Brian LabrieRPrimeClerk· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Bill BoydRClerk· Public Works and Highways
  • Rep. James CreightonRChair· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Mike DragoRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Denise RicciardiRVice Chair· Commerce

Also: Rep. Samuel FarringtonR, Rep. Jack FlanaganR, Rep. Michael GrangerR, Rep. Jonathan MortonR, Rep. Mark WardenR

Public testimony

96 signed in online · 7 wrote testimony

1% support99% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“All this bill does is ensure that workers are not paid fairly for their time and will lead to exploitation of workers.”
— Lauren Blanchette, Concordopposes
“We need to optimize payment options available to employees, not offer loopholes for employers to use.”
— Priscilla Dube, Concordopposes
“Allowing employers to waive or undermine minimum pay requirements would weaken wage protections, increase financial instability for workers, and erode basic labor standards that protect low-income and vulnerable employees.”
— Hannah Meiselman, Machesteropposes

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 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0386h11–9
    Overall
    55% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2026-0386hAdopted341–4
    Overall
    99% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0386hAdopted189–155How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    189–199% yea
    Democrats
    0–1540% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Murphy Moved Laid on Tableadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services1:31:33–1:33:141m 41slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services23:37–24:461m 9slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0386h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floor57:48–1:04:456m 57slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0386h — adopted, roll call 189-155; Amendment # 2026-0386h — adopted, division 341-4
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Commerce58:42–1:02:173m 35slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floor29:48–38:268m 38slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass: DIV 9Y-12N — failed; Sen. Murphy Moved Laid on Table — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services HJ 1 P. 3
  2. Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 11:30 am GP 159
  3. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  4. Feb 3, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0386h 02/03/2026 (Vote 11-9; RC) HC 10 P. 60
  5. Feb 9, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0386h: AA DV 341-4 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 14
  7. Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0386h: MA RC 189-155 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 14
  8. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 7
  9. Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 100, SH, 10:25 am; SC 13
  10. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/07/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 17
  11. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass: DIV 9Y-12N, MF; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  12. May 7, 2026SenSen. Murphy Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  13. May 7, 2026SenNo Pending Motion; 05/07/2026 SJ 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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