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HB 1704 · 2026 · House · Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee

Individual bargaining for public employees

AI-generated

permitting public employees to bargain individually with public employers without any intervention.

Allows most public employees to bargain individually with their employers outside of union representation, exempting law enforcement, firefighters, EMS personnel, and corrections officers, and sets penalties for interference.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — indefinitely postponed · March 12, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill provides certain public employees with independent bargaining rights and authorizes said employees to engage in independent bargaining with employers free of any interference. The bill also establishes penalties for any violations of these public employee's independent bargaining rights.

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

“"Independent bargaining" shall mean negotiating with a public employer regarding wages, hours, grievance adjustments, or other employment terms without intervention of an employee organization or exclusive bargaining representative;”
RSA 273-A:11-a
“"Employee organization" shall mean any association, organization, or committee advocating for employees concerning wages, labor disputes, hours, or conditions of work;”
RSA 273-A:11-a
“"Public employee" shall mean any person employed by the state of New Hampshire or a political subdivision, public school, authority, commission, board, or other public service entity;”
RSA 273-A:11-a
“"Public employer" shall mean any state or local government, agency, instrumentality, school board, or other public entity employing one or more persons;”
RSA 273-A:11-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Brian LabrieRPrimeClerk· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Mike DragoRMajority Whip
  • Rep. Jason OsborneRMajority Leader
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Kristin NobleRChair· Education Policy and Administration

Also: Rep. Matt DrewR, Rep. Samuel FarringtonR, Rep. Michael GrangerR, Rep. Jonathan MortonR, Rep. John SchnellerR

Public testimony

828 signed in online · 188 wrote testimony

3% support97% oppose0% neutral

ForIndividual bargaining gives workers more freedom and flexibility

AgainstDismantles collective bargaining and exclusive representation

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“As a retired educator, I believe this bill, if passed, would be beneficial for public employees. From examining the bill, it appears it would help retain employees and even make workplaces better for employers! It's a win-win situation for all concerned.”
— William Thomas, Manchestersupports
“Your committee will hear HB 1704 on Tuesday, a bill that gives public employees the freedom to negotiate directly with their employer.…”
— Beth Scaer, Nashuasupports
“The limitation on public employees to independently contract has caused our schools to lose good teachers that we could have otherwise hired or kept if we were able to independently negotiate with them.…”
— DANIEL BARKER, Hooksettsupports
“Will provide copies of my testimony to the commitee on the hearing day.”
— Alan Raff, Manchester · New Hampshire AFL-CIOopposes
“Last month, I was discussing whether we would seek to file and push a totally unrelated bill. The consensus of the group was the bill was solution looking for a problem. Same here.”
— Mark Hayward, Manchesteropposes
“The fiscal amount of this bill is indeterminate, potentially costing the state and municipalities millions of dollars if every employee individual seeks out an single contract; moreover, impacting my property taxes, which continue to go up every year.…”
— Clifton Mathieu, Canterburyopposes

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 Pass11–9
    Overall
    55% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callSpecial Order next order of business (Rep. B. Sullivan)Adopted167–164How they voted
    Overall
    50% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    11–1636% yea
    Democrats
    156–199% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionLay HB1704 on Table (Rep. Creighton)Failed164–171
    Overall
    49% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callAmendment 2026-0699hFailed165–171How they voted
    Overall
    49% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    165–1492% yea
    Democrats
    0–1570% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. B. Sullivan)Adopted177–159How they voted
    Overall
    53% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    20–15911% yea
    Democrats
    157–0100% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services5:29:42–5:38:098m 27slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services1:12:39–1:13:481m 9slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor11:31:39–11:39:287m 49slocated in the stream transcriptIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. B. Sullivan) — adopted, roll call 177-159; Amendment # 2026-0699h — failed, roll call 165-171; Special Order next order of business (Rep. B. Sullivan) — adopted, roll call 167-164

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. 32
  2. Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 03:15 pm GP 159
  3. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  4. Feb 3, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 02/03/2026 (Vote 11-9; RC) HC 10 P. 61
  5. Feb 9, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseSpecial Order next order of business (Rep. B. Sullivan): MA RC 167-164 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 240
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseLay HB1704 on Table (Rep. Creighton): MF DV 164-171 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 242
  8. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0699h: AF RC 165-171 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 242
  9. Mar 11, 2026HouseIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. B. Sullivan): MA RC 177-159 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 245

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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