Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 266 · 2026 · House · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Energy department powers and parental rights changes

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to structural changes to the department of energy and creating a limited exemption from parental consent required for certain recordings under the parental bill of rights and relative to the effect of murder on a decedent's estate.

Grants the department of energy full party status in proceedings before the public utilities commission, requires it to support the public utilities commission, site evaluation committee, and office of the consumer advocate, allows it to demand documents and answers from public utilities, creates an exemption from parental consent for certain assessments and school-sponsored public events, and makes final criminal conviction for murder the threshold for conclusively establishing criminal responsibility affecting a decedent's estate.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill: I. Ensures the department's full party status in proceedings before the public utilities commission. II. Requires the department to support the public utilities commission, site evaluation committee, office of the consumer advocate, and any related entities. III. Allows the department to demand documents and specific answers from public utilities or related entities. IV. Creates a limited exemption from the consent requirement under the parental bill of rights for required assessments and school-sponsored events open to the general public. V. Makes the final criminal conviction for murder, which is defined, the threshold for conclusive establishment of criminal responsibility for the commission of a murder, with respect to the murder's effect on the decedent's estate.

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 department [or the commission] may require any public utility or entity subject to its jurisdiction to provide documents and other materials and to make specific answers to questions upon which the department [or commission] may need information within a time period set by the department. 4:5 New Paragraph;”
RSA 12-P:10
““Open to the general public” means an event that is generally open to parents, guardians, family, and members of the community, including events for which attendance may require registration, ticketing, or invitation for admission due to space, security, or other concerns.”
RSA 12-P:10
““Required assessment” means any standardized assessment that is required by state or federal statute or regulation. 4:6 Parental Rights;”
RSA 12-P:10
““Final criminal conviction” means a judgment of conviction that has become final upon conclusion of direct appellate review by the New Hampshire supreme court or expiration of the time to seek such review. 4:8 Effect of Murder on Intestate Succession, Wills, Joint Assets, Life Insurance, and Beneficiary Designations;”
RSA 12-P:10

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Michael HarringtonRPrime
  • Rep. Jeanine NotterRAssistant Majority Leader

Also: Rep. James SummersR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 9, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamVacated and Referred to Science, Technology and Energy (Rep. C. McGuire) — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy4:02–7:123m 10slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy4:22:22–4:29:347m 12slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Oct 14, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy3:02:42–3:03:1028slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2998h; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2998h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-2998h — adopted, voice vote
  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration3:19–9:105m 51slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floor18:18–24:416m 23slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass with Amendments #2026-0719s and #2026-0720s — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-0719s — adopted, voice vote
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:07:09–4:10:143m 5slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-0719s and 2026-0720s (Rep. Vose) — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 2 P. 13
  2. Jan 9, 2025HouseVacated and Referred to Science, Technology and Energy (Rep. C. McGuire): MA VV (in recess of) 01/09/2025 HJ 3 P. 28
  3. Mar 3, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/03/2025 09:00 am LOB 302-304
  4. Mar 10, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/10/2025 09:00 am LOB 302-304
  5. Mar 10, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/10/2025 01:00 pm LOB 302-304
  6. Mar 11, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  7. Oct 14, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 10/14/2025 10:00 am GP 229
  8. Oct 14, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 10/14/2025 01:00 pm GP 229
  9. Oct 14, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2998h 10/14/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 51 P. 17
  10. Jan 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-2998h: AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 78
  11. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2998h: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 78
  12. Jan 29, 2026SenIntroduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 3
  13. Feb 11, 2026SenHearing: 02/11/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:00 am; SC 5
  14. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026, Vote 3-0; SC 6
  15. Feb 19, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-0719s, AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  16. Feb 19, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-0720s; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  17. Feb 19, 2026SenChair Ruled Sections of Amendment # 2026-0720s Non-Germane, 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  18. Feb 19, 2026SenWithout Objection, Rule 3-17 is Suspended to Allow Non-Germane Amendment # 2026-0720s; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  19. Feb 19, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-0720s, AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  20. Feb 19, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2026-0719s and #2026-0720s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  21. Feb 19, 2026SenWithout Objection, the Clerk is authorized to make technical and administrative corrections which are necessary to reflect the intent of the Senate, MA; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  22. Feb 19, 2026SenRead a Third Time; and Final Passage in the early session; MA; VV, 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  23. Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-0719s and 2026-0720s (Rep. Vose): MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 89
  24. Feb 19, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 124
  25. Feb 19, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 02/19/2026); SJ 5
  26. Mar 3, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 03/03/2026; Chapter 4; eff. I. Sec 5-8 eff 3/3/2026 II. Rem eff 5/2/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

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