HB 221 (2026): enabling electric utilities to own, operate, and offer advanced nuclear resources, and relative to purchased power agreements for electric distribution utilities and limitations on community customer generators.

HB 221 (2026)

enabling electric utilities to own, operate, and offer advanced nuclear resources, and relative to purchased power agreements for electric distribution utilities and limitations on community customer generators.

• Status: Vetoed, override failed
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Science, Technology and Energy
• Senate committee: Energy and Natural Resources
• Subject: Energy and Utilities

The Story

It was introduced on January 8, 2025 and referred to the House Science, Technology and Energy committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 27, 2025, with 109 people signed in online: 1 in support and 108 in opposition. The committee held a work session on March 4, 2025. The committee met in executive session on March 4, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it, and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 9–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On March 20, 2025 the House failed “Lay HB221 on Table” on a roll call 151–193, on a motion by Rep. Nicholas Germana. On March 20, 2025 the House voted to pass it on a roll call 195–151. It crossed to the Senate on March 20, 2025 and was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 1, 2025. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate send it back to committee, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On May 15, 2025 the Senate voted to send it back to committee on a voice vote. The committee voted 4–1 to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2025-3044s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-3044s) was adopted on a voice vote on January 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On January 7, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On April 23, 2026 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-3044s and Requests CofC” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Vose. On April 23, 2026 the Senate adopted “Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Sharon Carson. A committee of conference met on April 30, 2026 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. On May 14, 2026 the Senate adopted the conference report (2026-1774c) on a voice vote. On May 14, 2026 the House adopted the conference report (2026-1774c) on a voice vote. The bill was enrolled on May 14, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor vetoed it on May 22, 2026. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. On August 19, 2026 the House voted 152–167 on overriding the governor's veto on a roll call, and the veto was sustained, failing to meet the two thirds threshold.

Sponsors

• Rep. Michael Harrington (R - Straf 18) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. JD Bernardy (R - Rock 36)
• Rep. Jeanine Notter (R - Hills 12)
• Rep. James Summers (R - Rock 20)
• Rep. Douglas Thomas (R - Rock 16)
• Rep. Michael Vose (R - Rock 5)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 27, 2025, 9:30 AM: public hearing, House Science, Technology and Energy, LOB 302-304
• March 4, 2025, 10:30 AM: full committee work session, House Science, Technology and Energy, LOB 302-304
• March 4, 2025, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Science, Technology and Energy, LOB 302-304
• March 20, 2025: floor debate, House
• April 1, 2025, 9:20 AM: hearing, Senate Energy and Natural Resources, SH 103
• May 15, 2025: consent calendar, Senate
• January 7, 2026: consent calendar, Senate
• April 23, 2026: floor debate, House
• April 30, 2026, 10:00 AM: committee of conference, GP 229
• August 19, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

• March 20, 2025, House: Lay on Table — yeas 151, nays 193, failed
• March 20, 2025, House: Ought to Pass — yeas 195, nays 151, passed
• May 15, 2025, Senate: Rereferred to Committee — voice vote, passed
• January 7, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-3044s — voice vote, passed
• April 23, 2026, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-3044s and Requests CofC — voice vote, passed
• April 23, 2026, Senate: Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
• May 14, 2026, Senate: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed
• May 14, 2026, House: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed
• August 19, 2026, House: Veto Override — yeas 152, nays 167, failed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 162-B:4
• RSA 362-A:9
• RSA 374-F:2
• RSA 374-F:11

Related Bills

• SB 232 (2025): clarifying certain net metering terms and conditions.
• HB 1738-FN (2026): relative to ratepayer benefits from the regional greenhouse gas initiative and relative to energy procurement and nuclear regulatory duties.

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• SC 15
• SC 21A
• SJ 1
• HJ 11, page 82
• SJ 10
• SJ 12
• HJ 13, pages 43 and 147
• SJ 13
• HJ 16, page 8
• This page’s data as JSON