We learned that today we were able to finish up all of the leftover 2023 retained House bills and were successful in passing some really good bills… and killed some bad ones, too. It was a good two days!
We also learned that while yesterday (1-3-24), the majority of Democrats attended the House session wearing face masks, by the end of today (1-4-24), most of them had ditched their masks. It made me think of what is on the plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty in NY harbor, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”
We learned that our first bill of the day was a big one. HB263-FN, which would have made Medicaid expansion permanent, without the 7-year sunset that the Democrats agreed to last spring in HB2 and the governor signed into law in June 2023. We killed this bill and kept the sunset provision with a vote of 191-183 (and it was roll-called). I happen to enjoy sunsets… don’t you?
We learned that our first close vote of the day was HB267-FN, with a vote of 189-188 to kill the bill (the Speaker did not vote). The Finance committee recommended killing this bill because they felt that asking for $250,000 to fund a Department of Environmental Services position to monitor cumulative impacts of polluting emissions when applicants seek permits for waste projects should have been in the initial budget and requested by DES last year. Of course, this position is not a one-time thing and would be a permanent position in DES. Rep. Karen Ebel (D – New London) said that she believed $250,000 was a modest amount of money to request. The folks sitting behind me pointed out that this represented the cost of a used Lamborghini. Everything is relative, and seeing as this is a permanent DES position, there’s a cumulative impact right there.
We learned that the transgender agenda did not fare well in the House today. The House killed HB264-FN (191-185), which would have allowed transgender people to alter historical documents – their birth records. The House also killed HB368-FN (190-185), which would have given certain privacy protections (like protecting medical records from subpoena) for transgender people seeking gender-affirming health care in NH. There were many issues surrounding the legal ramifications and possible lawsuits resulting from this type of legislation, especially if one parent objects to said care and sues the state or medical practitioners over the transgender healthcare received by their child. Finally, HB619-FN passed (199-175), which would prohibit minors, age 18 and younger, from receiving gender transitioning procedures/surgery. This one made national news almost immediately. A very brave and rational Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D-Peterborough) spoke at the well about his support for the transgender community, but at the same time, he could not support life-altering and irreversible sex change operations for kids. After his visit to the well to speak in favor of this bill, he was immediately verbally attacked in the back anteroom by members of his own caucus, prompting the House Clerk, Paul Smith, to intervene. So much for the “Be Kind” and “Diversity and Inclusion” crowd. Kudos to Rep. Erica Layon (R-Derry), who spoke so well in support of NH putting “a pause” on gender transitioning surgeries and treatments in NH (like hormones and other drugs) for minors until we have real data to ensure that no permanent harm is done to these kids. This bill also redefines conversion therapy and removes restrictions on this practice. Almost all votes on these bills were roll called.
We learned that HB396 passed 192-184. This bill allows for the state to recognize biological sex, such that it permits classification based on biological sex in lavatory facilities, locker rooms, sporting competitions, and detention facilities. Rep. Kristine Perez (R-Londonderry) did a great job and put in a lot of work in her amendment (2023-0441h) to this bill to make it clear. The House passed the amendment with 194-182. Someone truly needs to help Rep. Eric Turer (D-Brentwood) and Rep. Marjorie Smith (D-Durham), as well as others in their caucus, who simply cannot seem to understand or define what the term “biological sex” means. Trying to answer their request for clarification of the term “biological sex,” Rep. Bob Lynn (R-Concord) gave a brief biology lesson with regard to XY and XX chromosomes in humans. Hah, and you thought these folks “followed the science”! I mean, isn’t that what they keep telling us?
We learned that HB194-FN passed 194-179. This was the bill that would direct the division of archives and records management to compile and maintain a list of public monuments, update that list every ten years, and make that list available publicly online. It was argued that this was an unnecessary bill because the Director of the Division of Historical Resources says towns already have their own lists, and we don’t really need to spend the money and resources to do this at the state level. Proponents say it will assist those doing historical research and planning trips to visit them. As far as I am concerned, I don’t like such a list… it could easily become a list of targets for those who seem to enjoy defacing and damaging our treasured monuments, as we have seen happen in the past across the country. I hope the Senate kills this one.
We learned that a voice vote killed HB434-FN, which was a bill that would have allowed people to fly drones in state parks for a $25 fee. Aside from the testimony regarding interfering with people enjoying their time in state parks, even the Audubon Society didn’t like this one because they claimed it would disturb the wildlife. In any case, this bill just didn’t fly.
We learned that HB199 died with a whopping 319-53. This would have eliminated useful thermal energy from renewable energy classes. Many people/municipalities statewide rely on Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) that come from biomass (wood or waste to energy) plants. So, the proposal to ditch this classification for RECs went up in smoke.
We learned that the “Defend the Guard” bill, HB229, passed 187-182 after adopting an amendment (2023-0045h) made by Rep. Diane Pauer (R-Concord), Rep. Michael Granger (R-Milton Mills) and Rep. Tom Mannion (R-Pelham). This bill limits the activation of the NH National Guard to active combat areas to only those times when the US Congress has passed an official action pursuant to Article 1, Section 8, of the US Constitution, thereby not allowing our NH National Guard to be placed in harm’s way in foreign countries in undeclared wars. This bill does not in any way prohibit the guard from participating in training exercises outside the US, training with foreign countries, or performing humanitarian or civic assistance, nor will it prohibit the governor from consenting to the deployment of any NH guard member under Title 32 of the US Code. There are more details in the bill, but essentially, it prevents our NH guard from being sent into combat without a declaration of war. An important note is that the Finance Committee waived this bill off coming to them after this vote and requested that it be sent along to the Senate.
We also learned that two bills from the Transportation Committee were Tabled. One would allow nonresident aliens (HB375-FN) to obtain an NH driver’s License, and another one that would give REALID NH driver’s licenses to those people applying for asylum without identity verification or vetting (HB570). Tabling votes were 185-179 and 187-180 respectively. There just seems to be this continued effort to give noncitizens living in NH drivers licenses; which would otherwise be fine if it also didn’t also give them the key credentials to vote in our elections!
We learned that there were two gun bills pulled off the Consent Calendar by Rep. Jason Gerhard (R-Concord). One was HB144, which would have allowed the restoration of firearms ownership to nonviolent felons. This bill was unanimously killed in committee because there already is an annulment procedure for state offenses. There is no annulment procedure for federal offenses, though, and we don’t control that. The House agreed with the original unanimous committee vote, and ITL’d the bill 297-63. The other was HB512, which would have exempted firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition manufactured in NH from interstate commerce and federal regulation. This bill would have put manufacturers in serious conflict with state and federal law, and again, the House agreed with the original unanimous committee vote and ITL’d the bill with a vote of 286-69.
Finally, we learned that we got all our work done and won’t have to come back to session until February when the 2024 early bills start emerging with committee recommendations for the House to vote on. Let the games begin, and may the odds ever be in our favor.
