Efforts to weaken engineering licensure standards in New Hampshire stalled this winter after lawmakers unanimously recommended that House Bill (H.B.) 1060 be defeated.

The legislation, introduced earlier this year, was framed as a workforce flexibility measure. In practice, the bill would have removed a core safeguard in engineering licensure by eliminating the requirement that an applicant’s engineering experience be obtained under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer. The proposal also removed language allowing the licensing board to determine whether an applicant’s education and experience were satisfactory for professional practice.

Professional engineers and industry organizations quickly raised concerns about the potential impact on public health, safety, and welfare.

The New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE-NH) worked closely with the NSPE and other industry groups in opposing the legislation to provide testimony and educate lawmakers on the importance of existing licensure safeguards. Chuck Gregory, P.E., president of NSPE-NH, testified before the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee, sharing the profession’s perspective on how supervised experience and board oversight function as safeguards in the licensure process.

Written testimony and in-person remarks emphasized that supervised experience is a fundamental component of engineering licensure and a key step in developing the professional judgment and ethical responsibility required to take responsible charge of engineering work.

Meanwhile, supporters of the bill argued that removing the supervision requirement would help address workforce challenges, particularly in rural areas. Professional engineers responding to the proposal noted that the supervision requirement does not require physical proximity and that engineers routinely gain supervised experience remotely or across jurisdictions. They also emphasized that engineering licensure governs who may take responsible charge of engineering work, not who may be employed in engineering roles.

Industry testimony also clarified that examples cited in support of the legislation often referred to licensure by comity, which applies after an engineer has already been licensed in another jurisdiction. Applying that same flexibility to initial licensure would remove an important front-end safeguard in the licensing process.

Following testimony and stakeholder engagement, the New Hampshire House Executive Departments and Administration Committee unanimously recommended that H.B. 1060 be killed and placed the bill on the House Consent Calendar, signaling broad agreement with the recommendation.

The outcome reflects the value of coordinated engagement by professional engineers and allied engineering organizations. When proposals arise that could affect engineering licensure, the perspective of those responsible for protecting public safety carries significant weight with policymakers.

In New Hampshire, NSPE-NH ensured lawmakers heard directly from those working in the profession about how licensure standards function in practice and why those safeguards matter.