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SB 502 · 2026 · Senate · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Reorganizing business and economic affairs agencies

AI-generated

(New Title) removing references to the department of business and economic affairs and the office of planning and development, and makes various changes to how certain committees and commissions participate or operate.

Removes references to the department of business and economic affairs and the office of planning and development and modifies how certain committees and commissions participate or operate.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 24, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill removes references to the department of business and economic affairs and the office of planning and development, and makes various changes to how certain committees and commissions participate or operate.

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 aforesaid plan shall be made in order to promote the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the region and its inhabitants.”
RSA 36:45
“To promote these purposes the [office of planning and development] division of planning and community development shall delineate planning regions for the state so that each municipality of the state will fall within a delineated region and shall have the opportunity of forming or joining the regional planning commission for that planning region.”
RSA 36:45
“To accommodate changing conditions, the [office] division may adjust the boundaries of the planning regions, after consultation with the respective regional planning commissions. 190:5 Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places;”
RSA 36:45
“If no regional planning commission exists in any specific planning region as delineated by the [office of planning and development] division of planning and community development, then 2 or more municipalities in said planning region and having planning boards may, by ordinance or resolution adopted by the respective legislative bodies of said municipalities, form a regional planning commission.”
RSA 36:45

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Howard PearlRPrimeChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Rep. Michael MoffettRChair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Rep. Clayton WoodR, Rep. Cyril AuresR

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0116s3–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-0116sadopted
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0116sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 8, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass14–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1988eadopted
  • May 21, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1988eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration1:15:12–1:17:101m 58slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Jan 29, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0116s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0116s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-0116s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration33:16–34:591m 43slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1988e — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1988e 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 14, 2026SenHearing: 01/14/2026, Room 103, SH, 10:10 am; SC 1
  3. Jan 29, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0116s, 01/29/2026; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 3
  4. Jan 29, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0116s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  5. Jan 29, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0116s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 5 P. 124
  7. Mar 19, 2026House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 03/19/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  8. Apr 1, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/01/2026 10:30 am GP 231
  9. Apr 1, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/01/2026 10:30 am GP 231
  10. Apr 8, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass 04/08/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC)
  11. Apr 23, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 9
  12. May 14, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1988e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 146
  13. May 21, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1988e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/21/2026); SJ 14
  14. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  15. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  16. Jun 19, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 06/19/2026; Chapter 190; Effective 08/18/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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