We learned that we were able to get through reconsideration of HB154 (reconsideration failed), 44 regular calendar bills and 1 bill pulled off consent, between 9 am and 5:30 pm, with an hour for lunch (thankfully provided by the NH Nurses Association). Everyone was prepared to stay much longer into the evening, but speeches were relatively short, and we had a nice amount of voice votes on bills, too!
Caucus members brought in snacks to share, and the anteroom was filled with all sorts of goodies to enjoy between votes, including snacks provided by the Republican Women of NH. As far as the day went, we had a mixed bag of lots of things, and Republicans managed to stick around until the end. You’ll notice a lot of “Indefinite Postponement”…. that is the ultimate kill motion.
We learned that HB1111 passed with a roll called OTP/A motion of 197-179. This bill provides for a penalty to folks who intentionally file false reports of child abuse and neglect. Some people are just nasty that way and try to make trouble for people by filing such false reports. This bill sends some aggravation back their way!
We also learned that HB1633, yet another cannabis legalization bill, passed 239-141 on a division vote (not roll call). It is now off to Ways and Means. This bill sets up 15 state-regulated retail outlets, prohibits sale to anyone 21 or younger, and ensures the safety and purity of the product. This was a bipartisan bill that was put together trying to incorporate favorable elements of past failed cannabis legalization legislation. It does not allow for home grow. If it does ever pass the House on the next shot, it’ll be interesting to see what the Senate does with, or to, it. Paging Sen. Lang….
We learned that HB1649, which came out of the Commerce Committee, passed on a voice vote. This bill would prohibit the production and sale of any product with intentionally added PFAs (aka poly fluoroalkyl substances – or “forever chemicals”) in an attempt to prevent said products from contaminating our landfills and water supply. Apparently, these products contain PFAs and will be banned from sale in NH after July 1, 2028. We’re talking about things like carpets, cosmetics, textile treatments, feminine hygiene products, food packaging and containers, juvenile products, personal protective equipment, upholstered furniture, and textile furnishings. I am not sure how that is going to work out, but manufacturers are going to have to figure out how to produce these things without toxic chemicals in them. Of course, there will be exemptions, including products made with 85% recycled content, products manufactured before the ban date, and replacement parts for products manufactured before the ban date. Again, we’ll see what the Senate does with this one… they get to pick their poison – so to speak.
Additionally, we learned that HB1050 was ultimately killed via Indefinite Postponement 204-177. This bill would have allowed a person to voluntarily put themselves on a list, waiving their rights to purchase a firearm. It would have authorized the NH Dept. of Safety to establish a voluntary ”do not sell list” ostensibly to allow folks who thought they were a danger to themselves or others, or who hate guns enough not to want to ever own one, to place themselves on said list. It was another dumb idea by Rep. David Meuse (D-Portsmouth) and cosponsoring Democrats to restrict 2nd amendment rights. These people just love lists. Of course there were issues of privacy of these lists and how they may be used or abused. We can just imagine therapists or doctors telling their patients that they would no longer be treated unless they put themselves on a list. There are all sorts of ugly things that can happen when lists are involved. As far as I am concerned, this bill can be put on the list of dumb anti 2nd amendment bills that need to be killed.
Speaking of gun bills, we learned that HB1186 passed OTP/A 203-174. This bill would prohibit a merchant category code from being used in NH that would denote a firearm or accessory was purchased. Citizens have a right to privacy. It’s no one’s business what you buy, especially as it relates to firearms. In 2023, seven states prohibited the use of these codes. Major credit card companies paused their plans to implement the use of these codes because states are making it illegal to do so. I’m glad we are following suit on this. In New Hampshire, we recently enshrined a citizen’s right to privacy in our Constitution… this is an extension of that right. It might be called the NUNYA Act… as in NUNYA business.
We also learned that another good gun bill, HB1339 passed on a voice vote. This bill creates a fair process to get firearms returned to their rightful owners following confiscation by law enforcement or court proceedings. It is a major improvement to the ambiguities and delays in firearms returns in the current law. Seeing as this was the 7th anniversary of the passage of Constitutional Carry in NH, it seems fitting this bill was passed in the House today.
We further learned that HB1128 was killed with Indefinite Postponement 191-187. This bill would have shut down the Education Tax Credit and Education Freedom Accounts by preventing the operations of the administering third party contractor, The Childrens Scholarship Fund, because it is not a NH registered entity. This bill was the brainchild of Rep. David Luneau (D-Hopkinton), who hates Education Freedom Accounts and is trying every angle he can find to kill this wildly successful and effective educational program. The Children Scholarship Fund is a non-profit organization registered in NY that works with 22 partner organizations in 19 other states. It has successfully managed our EFA program and has helped thousands of families and students in our state. This makes Democrats angry… so angry they want to dismantle its operation in NH. Thankfully they got an “F”, as in Fail, on this bill.
We also learned that HB1288 passed 192-185 in a roll call the vote. This bill establishes certain due process rights for students, student organizations and faculty members facing disciplinary actions by state institutions of higher learning. Due process is always a good thing. You can see the 185 who think it is not a good thing.
We learned that a $130 million education spending bill passed 228-150. HB1583 changes the education funding formula and increases per-pupil spending and staff salaries. As if $3.8 billion in education spending in NH is not already enough…. Rep. Mike Belcher (R-Wakefield) gave a great speech about education funding and how much money we are spending yet getting poor results in proficiency tests. His floor speech centered on how these enormous funds are now being spent. He said, “Money is being spent on divisive DEI programming, turning classroom environments in therapy sessions, and incorporating general healthcare services into schools. The path forward to a genuinely adequate education requires reversing course on these trends, cuts to these departments and staff, and returning to academics. The exorbitant funding is the problem and not the solution because schools have demonstrated time and time again that when we fund them in excess of what is necessary to deliver an adequate education, they will use those funds on programs that are objectively harmful to their mission.” He’s not wrong. Additionally, he’s not impressed with what is going on in the courts with regard to determination on education funding… Our job as a legislature is not to kowtow to the courts or the judiciary but to do our job as delegated to us by the NH Constitution. As far as I am concerned, this is not an issue of funding, this is an issue of whether or not we are doing the proper things in our schools to educate our students and producing proficiency in the subjects they are there to learn about. Class dismissed.
We learned that the perennial bill (HB1426) having to do with establishing an “independent” advisory redistricting commission was killed via Indefinite Postponement 192-186. Do people seriously think they can assemble an “independent, unbiased group of people” to decide these things? Pfft… right… and I have a bridge to sell ya too.
We learned that we will allow machines to capture the digital images of voting ballots. New digital ballot tabulating machines will allow voters to do their own audits, and check how their own ballot was tallied, and a whole bunch of other cool stuff. All election data will be under the control and auspices of the Secretary of State. Our vote on this bill, HB1577, passed 193-182, and you can check the accuracy of that Roll Call vote online.
We learned that the NH organic farm certification program will be defunded and will only continue until the end of 2024. Continuation of this program with HB1184 would have cost an additional $220,000 and would always be taxpayer-subsidized. Currently, there are 4000 farms in NH. Only 132 are certified organic, and of those, only 66 are NH certified. So, the current program only serves 66 farms. These farms can be certified by other agencies in VT, ME, and MA. The vote to discontinue the program was through a failed OTP motion of 187 NO to 185 YES then a voice vote in favor of ITL and a reconsideration motion of 193 NO and 182 YES.
We learned that the bill that would ban retail pet stores in NH died with an ITL motion 260 YES -117 NO. This bill would allow the six retail pet stores to stay in business for now but not allow new ones to be established. The reason proponents wanted this bill was to stop retail pet stores from getting their animals from “puppy mills.” Instead of dealing with the sourcing issue, they’d just like to shut down these stores altogether. It is an initiative by the Humane Society, who, of course, do not mind having these stores showcasing their shelter animals…. Nor do they mind getting a monopoly on the pet sales business. We’ve seen this bill in prior years. This anti-business bill barked up the wrong tree and ultimately was euthanized.
We learned that the Licensure and Regulation of Music Therapists bill was back again (HB1394) and passed this time with OTP/A 194-186. It’s the same old tune… license us so we can get insurance companies to pay for our services.
We also learned that the House passed, through a voice vote, a municipal disaster relief bill (HB1466), which will help municipalities get roads passable with quick funding from the state (up to $100,000) after a natural disaster. This now goes to Finance, and we hope there won’t be any roadblocks.
We learned that HB1322, the minimum wage bill, died with indefinite postponement 193-187. That was a good thing. Unfortunately, the Right To Work bill (HB1377) also failed with a roll called indefinite postponement 212-168. Opponents of the Right to Work bill keep claiming that it is a “Union Busting Bill”, but other states that have passed Right To Work have not experienced busted up unions.
Additionally, we learned that HB1709 passed on a voice vote. This bill establishes a commission to study the effects regarding taxing land that is used for carbon credits. The sale of carbon credits in place of harvesting timber is a relatively new concept. The commission will examine how this practice will affect the timber business, municipal timber taxes, and all the services surrounding timber harvesting in NH.
We also learned that HB1472 died on a voice vote to ITL after several other motions were made and voted on. We spent an hour on this bill alone. Rep. Michael Vose (R-Epping) declared this bill a “Reverse Robin Hood scheme.” What this bill would have done is taken money from the Renewable Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI – that ratepayers pay into and get rebates from), and given it to subsidize the purchase of Electric Vehicles for the rich people who are buying them. The whole idea is shocking.
Finally, we learned that in honor of Black History Month, Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D-Peterborough) gave a fabulous speech honoring past and current black members of the New Hampshire House. We are fortunate to have such a proud history and a spirit of diversity as part of our NH House. We thank Rep. Wheeler for reading the names and providing us with a worthwhile history lesson.
There’s more to come when we reconvene on March 7th!
