HB 1312 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
11Mar2026... 0390h
2026 SESSION
26-2901
09/06
HOUSE BILL 1312
AN ACT relative to the authority of various boards.
SPONSORS: Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Rep. Grote, Rock. 24; Sen. Reardon, Dist 15
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Authorizes boards under the purview of the office of professional licensure and certification to establish subcommittees, subject to rules established by the office.
II. Removes the authority of the board of registration in optometry to modify the list of approved pharmaceuticals for use by optometrists.
III. Removes the authority of the board of accountancy to establish administrative fines by rule.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 0390h 26-2901
09/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the authority of various boards.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Office of Professional Licensure and Certification; Board Subcommittees. Amend RSA 310:2 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
IV. With the approval of the executive director, any board may establish a subcommittee or subcommittees for the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations on matters which could be handled by the full board. The office shall determine the composition and duration of any subcommittee, the frequency of its meetings, other logistics, and resources used for it based upon rules adopted by the executive director pursuant to RSA 541-a.
2 Optometry; Definitions. Amend RSA 327:1, III(c)-(m) to read as follows:
(c) Miotic agents [approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI].
(d) Antibiotics, sulfonomides, and combinations thereof, which are topically applied or orally administered to treat or alleviate the effects of disease or abnormal conditions of the human eye, adnexa, and eyelids, or structures posterior to the iris[, approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI].
(e) Anti-allergy medications, including but not limited to antihistamines, decongestants, and mast-cell stabilizers which are topically applied.
(f) Anesthetics and dyes which are topically applied.
(g) Ocular lubricants and hypertonic agents which are topically applied.
(h) Orally administered analgesic agents used for the purpose of alleviating pain caused by a disease or abnormal condition of the human eye or eyelid, or structures posterior to the iris. This may include class III and IV controlled substances [approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI and] included in the formulary.
(i) Other pharmaceutical agents, any solely diagnostic agents, and diagnostic agents combined with pharmaceutical agents as defined in this paragraph [and as approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI].
(j) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents [approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI].
(k) Anti-glaucoma agents provided that an optometrist may dispense or prescribe such agents if the optometrist has met the requirements of RSA 327:6-c.
(l) Corticosteroids which are topically applied, as approved by the board.
(m) Antivirals [which are approved pursuant to RSA 327:6-a, VI].
3 Office of Professional Licensure and Certification; Rulemaking Authority. Amend RSA 310:6, II to read as follows:
II. Such organizational and procedural rules necessary to administer the boards in the office, including rules governing the administration of complaints and investigations, hearings, disciplinary and non-disciplinary proceedings, manufactured housing dispute resolution, inspections, payment processing procedures, board subcommittees, and application procedures. For purposes of this paragraph, "manufactured housing dispute resolution" means a program for the timely resolution of disputes between manufacturers, retailers, and installers of manufactured homes, including the issuance of appropriate orders, regarding responsibility for the correction or repair of defects in manufactured homes for defects that are reported during the one-year period beginning on the date of installation.
4 Repeal. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 309-B:4, VI(h), relative to board of accountancy rulemaking on administrative fines.
II. RSA 327:6-a, VI, relative to authority for the board to modify the list of approved pharmaceuticals for use by optometrists.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 4, 2026 | 2026-0390h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 29, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 1, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
March 25, 2026: Hearing: 04/01/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:30 am; SC 12
March 17, 2026: Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 7
March 11, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0390h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 11, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0390h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 4, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0390h 03/03/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 10 P. 19
Feb. 27, 2026: Executive Session: 03/03/2026 01:00 pm GP 159
Feb. 12, 2026: Full Committee Work Session: 02/18/2026 10:00 am GP231
Jan. 22, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/29/2026 10:30 am GP 231
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 1 P. 15