SB 569 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
14May2026... 1869h
2026 SESSION
26-2186
06/05
SENATE BILL 569
AN ACT relative to the qualifications for hearings officers within the department of labor.
SPONSORS: Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires hearing officers at the department of labor to be graduates of an accredited law school and directs the labor commissioner to give a hiring preference to licensed attorneys who have workers' compensation experience or who have administrative adjudication experience.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
14May2026... 1869h 26-2186
06/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the qualifications for hearings officers within the department of labor.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Hearing Officers. Amend RSA 281-A:42-b to read as follows:
281-A:42-b Hearing Officers. The commissioner shall appoint as many individuals as necessary to carry out the department's responsibilities under this chapter. Such individuals [shall have experience in workers' compensation and] shall hear workers' compensation cases before the commissioner. The commissioner shall set forth the job qualification necessary to [insure] ensure that each hearing officer is qualified to hear workers' compensation cases. Individuals employed as hearing officers shall have graduated from an accredited law school. The commissioner shall give a hiring preference to licensed attorneys who have workers' compensation experience or who have administrative adjudication experience. The hearing officer salary shall be commensurate with the responsibilities and experience required. The commissioner shall, by rules adopted under RSA 541-A, strengthen the reporting structure and the role of a hearing officer; develop a code of ethics for hearings and hearing officers; develop and require at least 15 hours of continuing education on an annual basis for hearing officers; and require a minimum of an additional 15 hours of annual training and briefing with the attorney general's staff.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| May 6, 2026 | 2026-1869h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Jan. 21, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Jan. 29, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| March 18, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| April 29, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| May 6, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| May 6, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| May 6, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
May 21, 2026: Sen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
May 14, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1869h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 14, 2026: Amendment # 2026-1869h: AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 7, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1869h 05/06/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 19 P. 13
April 30, 2026: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 05/06/2026 11:00 am GP 231
April 29, 2026: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 05/06/2026 10:00 am GP 231
April 22, 2026: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 04/29/2026 10:00 am GP 231
March 10, 2026: Public Hearing: 03/18/2026 01:15 pm GP 231
Feb. 26, 2026: Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 5 P. 127
Jan. 29, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
Jan. 22, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 01/29/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 3
Jan. 15, 2026: Hearing: 01/21/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:10 am; SC 2
Jan. 13, 2026: Hearing: 01/21/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:10 am; SC 2
Nov. 24, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 1