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SB 655 · 2026 · Senate · Commerce Committee

Employee leasing and minor league wage rules

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to employee leasing companies, workers' compensation coverage options, and a minimum wage exemption for minor league baseball players.

Allows co-employment parties to elect which entity provides workers' compensation coverage for leased employees, sets related reporting and penalty provisions, and exempts minor league baseball players under collective bargaining agreements from minimum wage requirements.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 22, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Authorizes the parties of a co-employment relationship to elect for either the client company or the employee leasing company to provide workers' compensation coverage for leased employees, establishes reporting and notice requirements when the client company elects coverage, and imposes penalties if the client company fails to secure required coverage. II. Adds a minimum wage exemption for minor league baseball players covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

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

“Nothing in this section shall prohibit any direct contractual liability between the employee leasing company and the client company, nor shall the same limit any liability or responsibility imposed by this chapter. 146:3 New Paragraph;”
RSA 277-B:10
“If a client company has elected to purchase and maintain workers’ compensation coverage for leased employees and fails to comply with the provisions of RSA 281-A:5 by not securing payment of compensation, the client company shall be subject to the penalties contained in RSA 281-A:7. 146:4 Minimum Wage;”
RSA 277-B:10
“RSA 277-B:9, I(e), relative to the responsibility of employee leasing companies to pay for workers' compensation insurance for leased employees, is repealed. 146:6 Effective Date.”
RSA 277-B:10

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Daniel InnisRPrimeChair· Commerce
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Ruth WardRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Rep. Brian LabrieRClerk· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Katy PeternelRVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

7 signed in online

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1160s6–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1160sadopted
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1160sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 21, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass20–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 7, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 21, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingSenate Commerce1:31:52–1:36:244m 32slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 10, 2026Public hearingSenate Commercefrom 34:36located in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1160s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1160s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1160s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services5:43–6:471m 4slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 21, 2026Public hearingHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services5:37:17–5:40:142m 57slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 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 29, 2026SenIntroduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 3
  2. Feb 10, 2026SenHearing: 02/10/2026, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am; SC 5
  3. Mar 10, 2026SenHearing: 03/10/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am, on proposed non-germane amendment # 2026-1065s; SC 9
  4. Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1160s, 03/26/2026; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 11
  5. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1160s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  6. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1160s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  7. Mar 26, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services HJ 9 P. 55
  8. Apr 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/14/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  9. Apr 21, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/21/2026 09:00 am GP 159
  10. Apr 21, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/21/2026 02:30 pm GP 159
  11. Apr 21, 2026House: Ought to Pass 04/21/2026 (Vote 20-0; CC) HC 18 P. 9
  12. May 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 15
  13. May 21, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 34
  14. May 21, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/21/2026); SJ 14
  15. Jun 12, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 06/12/2026; Chapter 146; Effective 08/11/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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