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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.

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

Hearings

  • 2026-01-2711:30 amHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative ServicesGP 159Public hearing
  • 2026-02-0310:00 amHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative ServicesGP 159Public hearing

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.