We learned that the “NH State House Traveling Band of Nomads” has finally come back to doing business at the State House in Representative’s Hall – and it was wonderful!
What a delight to actually sit in our rightful seats after two years of doing the “People’s Business” in parking lots, ice rinks, sports centers, and expo centers.
We saved so much time using voting stations that actually worked, and being in a legislative workspace conducive to State House decorum, that we actually got done early!
While I commend House leadership for all the work they put into making the past 2 years safe and operational, there is really nothing like being seated in the historic State House Representative’s Hall! Despite a handful of plexiglass barriers that were erected between some Republicans and Democrats, the space seemed right and normal.
Yes, Dorothy, there’s no place like home!
We learned that it was good that Rep. Renny Cushing’s passing could be properly memorialized within House Chambers and that House members took the time to reflect on his legislative contributions. Shortly after, the House also passed a resolution supporting the people of Ukraine who are now in the midst of war and encroachment of their borders by Russia.
We learned that in the plethora of bills on the Consent Calendar, we passed HB1157 which codifies the prevention of NH ballot counting devices being connected to the Internet, and HB1003 which would prevent health care providers from refusing to treat patients based on vaccination status.
We also passed HB1099 which prohibits the Dept. of Health and Human Services from requiring vaccine passports in order to receive services and HB1466 which allows for prescription drugs to be sold for off-label purposes.
We also passed HB1195 which provides that there must be a public comment period at the beginning of every public meeting of a school board.
Additionally, HB1000 prohibiting motorcycle profiling and HB 1474 which makes car inspections once a year and not tied to your birth month, were both passed. There were a lot of good bills passed, and bad bills killed, in our Consent Calendar. One voice vote to bless all of those committee recommendations is the House version of “One and Done.”
We learned that Second Amendment freedoms were protected today in the House as Constitutional Carry was affirmed by killing HB1151 (prohibiting the display of firearms at parades, processions, picket lines, marches, rallies, vigils, and demonstrations) and passing HB1636 (repealing prohibitions of carrying a loaded pistol or revolver on an OHRV or snowmobile).
Carry on!
We learned that Rep. Ralph Boehm (R-Litchfield), who collapsed and hit his head on the concrete floor in our last House session, is doing just fine. He came to the House well and delivered a heartfelt and tear-filled speech of thanks to his colleagues and local EMTs who came to his aid that day and provided him with immediate medical help. He just wanted to know who the culprit was that tore open his shirt and spewed buttons all around. We are so thankful that Rep. Boehm is well and with us to continue serving the people of his district and our state.
We learned that NH will not be seceding from the union anytime soon. CACR 32 was killed after an effort to Table it was defeated (162 yea-170 nay). The unanimous committee recommendation to ITL (Inexpedient To Legislate) this bill was upheld by the House (323-13). The debate comments will be printed in the House Journal and will promise to be some very interesting reading. If you don’t want to wait for the book to come out – you can review the live stream recording on the Gencourt website.
We learned that HB50, the House District redistricting bill, HB55 regarding State Party Committee Delegates, and HB440 prohibiting the suspension of civil liberties during a state of emergency were returned to the House from the Senate with some minor changes. The House chose to concur with those changes and they now move on in the legislative process to go to the Governor’s desk for signature. Next question… will he or won’t he?
We learned that we have 212 bills on next week’s regular calendar and 152 on the consent – so next week will be a 3-day marathon of pressing green and red buttons. Stay tuned to see what we pass and what we reject for our constituents while under the gold dome.
