Wal-Mart Bill Collapses In New Hampshire House Vote

February 16, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Lawmakers in New Hampshire killed a bill Wednesday that would have required companies with more than 1,500 employees to make no less than 6% contributions to their employees' health care plans.

The House voted 212-128 to defeat a measure that was primarily aimed at Wal-Mart, Inc. which employs 8,772 in the state, but would have also affected several grocery chains, the state’s larger hospitals and major manufacturers, the Associated Press reported.

New Hampshire ‘s version of the bill would have required employers with more than 1,500 workers to spend 8% , if a for-profit entity, or 6% , if a nonprofit, on employee health care (See  HB 1704 ).  If the amount was less,  the business or nonprofit would have been required to contribute the difference into a health care fund to help pay for care for the poor.

The bill was modeled after a law that passed last month in Maryland (See  Veto of ‘Wal-Mart bill’ Overridden In MD Senate ). A similar measure in Kentucky is still being considered by that state’s lawmakers (See  Kentucky Move s Closer To Adopting ‘Wal-Mart Bill’ ).

For more stories like this, sign up for the PLANSPONSOR NEWSDash daily newsletter.

– Adrien Martin

«