Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Joshua Schauer 271-3077
HB 1192, exempting certain household pharmaceutical wastes from the definition of hazardous waste.
Hearing Date: April 16, 2026
Time Opened: 2:29 p.m. Time Closed: 2:32 p.m.
Members of the Committee Present: Senators Avard, Pearl, Watters and Rosenwald
Members of the Committee Absent : Senator McConkey
Bill Analysis: This bill exempts certain household pharmaceutical wastes from the definition of hazardous waste.
Sponsors:
Rep. Haskins | Rep. N. Germana |
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Who supports the bill: Wendy Bonner (NHDES), Representative Germana (Ches. 15), Representative Bixby (Straf. 13), Susan Edwards
Who opposes the bill: n/a
Summary of testimony presented in support:
Representative Germana, Cheshire 15
- Representative Germana introduced the bill on behalf of prime sponsor Representative Haskins.
- He explained the bill was introduced at the request of the Department and referred any questions to them.
Wendy Bonner, NH DES
- Ms. Bonner said the department requested the legislation as a housekeeping issue.
- Ms. Bonner said the department requested the legislation as a housekeeping issue. She explained that the term “hazardous waste” is defined in RSA 147-A, 147-B, 147-C, and 147-D, and that prior to 2016, those definitions were identical.
- However, in 2016, HB 1490 changed the definition of hazardous waste in RSA 147-A to add an exemption for household pharmaceutical waste under RSA 318-E during the opioid crisis.
- RSA 318-E allows law enforcement, pharmacies, and long-term care facilities to establish controlled and non-controlled pharmaceutical drug collection programs that are regulated under federal DEA regulations and state rules.
- The intent of the legislation is to make the definition consistent across all four statutes.
JS
Date Hearing Report completed: April 16, 2026