HB 1426-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
12Feb2026... 0331h
2026 SESSION
26-2539
08/06
HOUSE BILL 1426-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Kesselring, Hills. 18; Rep. Cole, Hills. 26; Rep. Morse, Merr. 3; Rep. Markell, Rock. 18; Rep. Morton, Hills. 39; Rep. Drew, Hills. 19; Rep. Dupont, Hills. 20
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the department of environmental services to employ certified personnel in each program area.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12Feb2026... 0331h 26-2539
08/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Department of Environmental Services; Establishment; General Functions. Amend RSA 21-O:1 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
III. The department of environmental services shall seek, through recruitment and retention efforts, training, or state contracting to ensure that each of its program areas that have licenses or certifications have at least one certified individual, either as a direct employee or through a contracted arrangement, to address program-related matters and any issues that may arise in the course of its operations. The department may use existing appropriations, federal grants, or program fees for costs associated with training and certification under this section. A certified individual shall be an employee who holds a current, valid certification or license in and from the program area they serve. Certified individuals employed by or contracted with a department of environmental services program area shall not be required to comply with certification maintenance requirements that present a conflict of interest, including but not limited to submitting work product to the department to maintain hours of work experience. Certified individuals employed by the department of environmental services shall not be responsible for paying licensing or certification fees to a department of environmental services program while so employed. No certified individual shall be liable for damages arising from their duties to carry out the statutory duty and regulatory requirements of their respective program at the department of environmental services.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2027.
26-2539
3/2/26
HB 1426-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT # 2026-0331h)
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $0 | Indeterminable Increase $100,000 to $500,000 | Indeterminable Increase $100,000 to $500,000 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund and Multiple Other Agency Funds | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Department of Environmental Services to seek, through recruitment and retention efforts, training, or state contracting, to ensure that each program area that issues licenses or certifications has at least one certified individual available either as a direct employee or through a contracted arrangement. The bill authorizes the Department to use existing appropriations, federal grants, or program fees for costs associated with training and certification.
The Department of Environmental Services states this bill will result in an indeterminable increase in state expenditures, estimated to be between $100,000 to $500,000 per a year starting in FY 2028. The Department indicates it would implement the bill by incorporating licensing or certification requirements into job postings for vacant positions, identifying opportunities to upskill existing staff, and contracting for certified individuals when necessary. Costs will depend on the number of program areas requiring certified personnel, availability of qualified applicants, training expenses, and the extent to which contracting is required. Because the bill directs the Department to “seek… to ensure,” actual expenditures will vary and cannot be precisely determined.
The fiscal impact of this bill is expected to begin in FY 2028. In the absence of an appropriation, the Department may seek funding through the FY 2028 and FY 2029 operating budget process.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Environmental Services
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 3, 2026 | 2026-0331h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 14, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 28, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 28, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 17, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 17, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 8, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
April 1, 2026: Hearing: 04/08/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:40 am; SC 13
March 30, 2026: Introduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 7
March 26, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9
March 18, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/17/2026 (Vote 25-0; CC)
March 13, 2026: Executive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
Feb. 24, 2026: Division I Work Session: 03/09/2026 10:00 am GP 230
Feb. 12, 2026: Referred to Finance 02/12/2026 HJ 4
Feb. 12, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0331h: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4
Feb. 12, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0331h: AA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4
Feb. 3, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0331h 01/28/2026 (Vote 16-0; RC) HC 6 P. 17
Jan. 21, 2026: Executive Session: 01/28/2026 10:00 am GP 228
Jan. 9, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/14/2026 01:00 pm GP 228
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 1 P. 20