HB 1072 New Hampshire House · 2026 Regular Session

relative to employer notice of department of labor investigations.

HB 1072 requires New Hampshire's Department of Labor to provide employers with at least 30 days' written notice before conducting inspections or requesting documents/interviews. The notice must specify the inspection's purpose, whether it relates to a complaint, and any alleged labor law violations. Employers would then have 30 days to respond to such requests, regardless of whether a complaint was filed. Exceptions allowing shorter notice require attorney general approval only for recent violations (within 36 months), imminent health/safety risks, or evidence destruction concerns.

Issues: ✗ Labor & Employment

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Vetoed

Aug 2026

Introduced Nov 12, 2025 Vetoed Aug 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by the House → Version adopted by both bodies · 1 edit

MINOR

No substantive policy changes were made between these two versions. The only differences are the header labels changing from 'As Amended by the House' to 'Version Adopted by Both Bodies,' indicating the Senate concurred with the House version without amendment.

TECHNICAL

Header and page labels updated from 'As Amended by the House' to 'Version Adopted by Both Bodies,' reflecting that both chambers agreed on the same text with no further changes.

Introduced → As Amended by the House · 8 edits

MODERATE

The House amendment significantly expanded the circumstances under which the labor commissioner can conduct inspections with less than 30 days' notice, while simultaneously removing the requirement for attorney general approval for expedited inspections. Five new exceptions were added covering boilers, elevators, youth hazardous work, workplace safety, and owner consent to waive the deadline. The evidentiary standard for some exceptions was raised from 'reasonably believe' to 'based on substantial evidence.'

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded substantially: five new categories of enforcement activity now qualify for expedited (less than 30 days) inspections, and the attorney general approval gate was removed, giving the commissioner broader unilateral authority to act quickly.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the requirement that the attorney general must approve expedited inspections (less than 30 days' notice). Previously, the commissioner needed AG approval; now the commissioner can act unilaterally if any listed reason applies.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the evidentiary standard in exceptions (b) and (c) from 'the commissioner and attorney general reasonably believe' to 'the commissioner believes, based on substantial evidence.' This removes the AG's role and raises the threshold for acting on imminent risk or evidence destruction concerns.

Changed the general inspection authority language from 'at such times as he shall deem it necessary, and without notice' to 'at such times as the commissioner shall deem it necessary, pursuant to this section,' removing the blanket 'without notice' authority and tying all inspections to the section's notice requirements.

SCOPE

Added exception (d): expedited inspections allowed when enforcing RSA 157-A (boilers and pressure vessels).

Added exception (e): expedited inspections allowed when enforcing RSA 157-B (elevators and accessibility lifts).

Added exception (f): expedited inspections allowed when enforcing RSA 276-A:4, I (prohibition on youth working in hazardous occupations).

Added exception (g): expedited inspections allowed when enforcing RSA 277 (public workplace safety).

ELIGIBILITY

Added exception (h): expedited inspections allowed when the owner or their representative has reviewed the notice and provided written consent to waive the 30-day deadline.

Floor votes · House Aug 19, 2026

How they voted

88–94

Passed · 32 other

Total votes 214

Aug 19, 2026

D Democratic101

87 Nay 14

86% Nay

I Independent2

1 Yea 1

50% Yea

R Republican111

87 Yea 7 Nay 17

78% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 19, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (88-94-32)

house

Aug 19, 2026

Vetoed

Veto Sustained 08/19/2026: RC 160-159 Lacking Necessary Two-Thirds Vote HJ 16

lower

Jun 22, 2026

Vetoed

Vetoed by Governor Ayotte 06/12/2026

lower

Apr 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Introduced

Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 7

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0534h: MA DV 181-155 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 17

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Amendment # 2026-0534h: AA VV 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 17

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0534h 02/03/2026 (Vote 11-9; RC) HC 10 P. 60

lower

Nov 12, 2025

Introduced

Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services HJ 1 P. 5

lower

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors