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SB 569 · 2026 · Senate · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Qualifications for labor department hearing officers

AI-generated

relative to the qualifications for hearings officers within the department of labor.

Requires hearing officers at the department of labor to be graduates of an accredited law school and directs the labor commissioner to give hiring preference to licensed attorneys with workers' compensation or administrative adjudication experience.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 9, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill requires hearing officers at the department of labor to be graduates of an accredited law school and directs the labor commissioner to give a hiring preference to licensed attorneys who have workers' compensation experience or who have administrative adjudication experience.

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 commissioner shall appoint as many individuals as necessary to carry out the department's responsibilities under this chapter.”
RSA 281-A:42-b
“Such individuals [shall have experience in workers' compensation and] shall hear workers' compensation cases before the commissioner.”
RSA 281-A:42-b
“The commissioner shall set forth the job qualification necessary to [insure] ensure that each hearing officer is qualified to hear workers' compensation cases.”
RSA 281-A:42-b
“Individuals employed as hearing officers shall have graduated from an accredited law school.”
RSA 281-A:42-b

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Regina BirdsellRPrimeMajority Leader

Public testimony

2 signed in online

50% support50% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 6, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1869h16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-1869hadopted
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1869hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 21, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendmentadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2026Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration11:40–19:548m 14slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Jan 29, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 18, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration3:16:40–3:18:151m 35slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 29, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and AdministrationWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • May 6, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration58:46–1:00:061m 20slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1869h; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1869h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1869h — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floor58:34–59:2147slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor 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 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 1
  2. Jan 21, 2026SenHearing: 01/21/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:10 am; SC 2
  3. Jan 29, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 01/29/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 3
  4. Jan 29, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 5 P. 127
  6. Mar 18, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/18/2026 01:15 pm GP 231
  7. Apr 29, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 04/29/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  8. May 6, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 05/06/2026 11:00 am GP 231
  9. May 6, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1869h 05/06/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 19 P. 13
  10. May 14, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1869h: AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 24
  11. May 14, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1869h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 24
  12. May 21, 2026SenSen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
  13. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  14. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  15. Jul 2, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 266; Effective 08/31/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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