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HB 1683 · 2026 · House · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Review of administrative rules' authority

AI-generated

relative to the modification of administrative rules by the joint legislative committee on administrative rules.

Requires agencies to identify statutory authority for administrative rules, establishes a biennial compliance review process, and creates a procedure for repealing or amending rules inconsistent with enabling statutes.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires agencies to identify specific statutory authority for each administrative rule they adopt, establishes a biennial review process to audit rules for compliance with their enabling statutes, and creates a procedure for repealing or amending rules found to be inconsistent with statutory authority.

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

“All proposed or existing administrative rules reviewed by the joint legislative committee on administrative rules (JLCAR) shall be based upon and directly supported by current statutory law contained in the Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA).”
RSA 541-A:3-c
“The office of legislative services, under supervision of the joint legislative committee on administrative rules (JLCAR), shall conduct a biannual audit of all administrative rules currently in effect to ensure that:”
RSA 541-A:22-a
“Any rule identified through the audit described in RSA 541-A:22-a, or through any other lawful review, as not based upon a current RSA or found to be unconstitutional shall be flagged for repeal.”
RSA 541-A:22-b
“No rule shall be adopted, readopted, or amended unless the agency can demonstrate in writing the specific statutory section authorizing the rule.”
RSA 541-A:3-c

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kelley PotenzaRPrime
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Nicholas GermanaDDeputy Democratic Floor Leader

Also: Rep. Barbara ComtoisR, Rep. Linda HaskinsD, Rep. Jim KofaltR

Public testimony

3 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

33% support33% oppose33% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Expanding legislative authority to override administrative rules could undermine expertise, transparency, and equity-focused rulemaking.”
— Hannah Meiselman, 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
  • Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study14–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 29, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration3:30:40–3:40:239m 43slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and AdministrationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:51:00–1:53:022m 2slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamRefer for Interim Study — 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 Executive Departments and Administration HJ 1 P. 31
  2. Jan 29, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/29/2026 01:30 pm GP 231
  3. Feb 4, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/04/2026 11:00 am GP 231
  4. Feb 11, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  5. Feb 11, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 02/11/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 7 P. 13
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 19

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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