It is officially time for committees of conference. In other words, for those bills where both bodies liked the idea of the bill but didn’t agree on amendments. Small groups of senators and representatives—referred to as conferees—will meet to discuss each side’s position and try to come to a compromise. If the House and Senate conferees, voting separately, unanimously agree, the committee of conference report is sent to the House and Senate, where each body can agree or disagree in one final vote. No other actions or further floor amendments can be made.   

We are fortunate this year to have fewer committees of conference to focus on than usual. The bills going to committee of conference of municipal interest include:  

• HB 119, relative to homestead food operation licensure and making provisions for the sale of meat from uninspected bison, elk, or red deer.
• HB 211, relative to a report by the department of energy on the effectiveness of the system benefits charge; relative to surface water setbacks for landfills; relative to water quality.
• HB 221, relative to the acquisition of agricultural land development rights; relative to advanced deposit account wagering; relative to the use of game cameras.
• HB 461, establishing a committee to study elimination by political subdivision employers of a retirement system position.
• HB 534, relative to water assistance for natural disasters.
• HB 611, relative to eligibility criteria for the therapeutic cannabis program; establishing a commission to study state-controlled sales of cannabis; relative to the prohibition on the sale of hemp products containing certain levels of THC.
• SB 47, establishing a commission to study barriers to increased density of residential development in New Hampshire.
• SB 70, relative to the establishment of an election information portal and relative to the purchase of election equipment.
• SB 78, relative to subdivision regulations on the completion of improvements.
• SB 88, relative to the annual dues paid by towns and cities to town officers’ associations.
• SB 157, relative to election audits.
• SB 166, relative to electric grid modernization. 

As a reminder, committee of conference season moves quickly. Unlike traditional activity at the state house, the first meeting of a committee of conference need only be posted at the legislature and on its website at least 24 hours in advance. As often happens, a committee of conference will open its first meeting and then recess, reconvening at a later time that is only posted at the State House and on the legislature’s website at least 12 hours before the reconvening. In other words, time is of the essence more than usual.