This amendment relates to the governor’s power to reduce appropriations.
* One of the guiding principle of our government is stated in Part I, Art. 37, "the legislative, executive, and judicial, ought to be kept as separate from, and independent of, each other"
* If we follow the logic of CACR5, the Governor should be able to use a line item veto on any piece of legislation, and be able to strike sections from any bill. Giving this type of capability to amend bills to a single individual clearly interferes with the legislature's powers and responsibilities.
This bill would eliminate local control of education in an attempt to resolve Claremont funding crisis.
* This amendment would provide the General Court with the authority to set standards for education (curriculum) and standards of accountability (assessments). This would remove local control.
* Uses the term "reasonable," which would invite additional lawsuits.
* Giving the general court an enumerated power of "full discretion to determine the... methods of raising... funding" puts all options on the table.
This bill would allow an appellant to choose superior court over district court.
* Up until 2008 you could file in either court, and this freedom was taken by the Supreme Court in the Garand vs. Town of Exeter decision in 2009.
* The following causes of action: Contract claims, Landlord/Tenant can already be heard in either court.
This bill would allow moderators to be trustees of the trust fund.
* The people, through their votes, have a fundamental right to choose those that represent them.
* Current law prohibits the voters from electing an individual to certain separate offices.
* As a practical matter it may be inappropriate for someone to hold both offices, as a matter of principle that decision should be left to the voters - not to the General Court.
This bill would favor drivers with Purple Heart license plates over others.
* This bill contradicts Part 1 Article 10 of our State Constitution, which states that our government is not "for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men."
* Free tolls for cars bearing honorific Purple Heart license plates is a feel-good gesture which does little for our veterans while unfairly shifting costs to those who don't qualify for the plates.
This bill would create a new bureaucracy to compete in the market of drug disposal.
* Walgreens provides this service for $2.99 via a secure mailing envelope.
* It is unnecessary for the government to compete with the private sector in this arena.
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* Walgreens provides this service for $2.99 via a secure mailing envelope.
* Law enforcement should have no direct role in the description or handling of pharmaceuticals.
* It is unnecessary for the government to compete with the private sector in this arena
This bill would prohibit deletion of the substance of the original warrant article.
* All voters, not just the small percentage in attendance at deliberative session, should be allowed to vote on warrant articles, especially petitioned warrant articles.
* The right to vote on all articles by all registered voters is enhanced and preserved.
This bill would require all motorized vessels to be registered in NH waters.
* This would penalize people who just want to see if the boat leaks.
* A boat tethered to a private dock or mooring shouldn't require registration just because a motor could be affixed to it.
This bill would require all motorized vessels to be registered in NH waters.
* A boat tethered to a private dock or mooring shouldn't require registration.
* Some boats never leave the dock and are used more as luxury condos than watercraft.
This bill would require all motorized vessels to be registered in NH waters.
* This would penalize people who just want to see if the boat leaks.
* A boat tethered to a private dock or mooring shouldn't require registration just because a motor could be affixed to it.
This bill would outline a future hemp crop licensing and testing regime.
* The NHLA supports farmers that wish to grow hemp and this bill is not a means to that end.
* At present, there is no state prohibition on growing hemp.
* Mandating state managed seed procurement and distribution is unnecessary.
* This restricts the liberty of NH farmers, by incorporating burdensome federal mandates.
This bill would outline a future hemp crop licensing and testing regime.
* There is no state prohibition on growing hemp.
* Mandating state managed seed procurement and distribution is unnecessary.
This bill would prohibit planning boards from requiring sprinklers in one and two family residences.
* Prevents mandating onerous and costly installations of a fire suppression systems in homes.
* Allows for other fire safety provisions, such as fire ponds, to be considered by the planning board.
This bill would require college campus security to report certain crimes.
* The bill adds another regulatory burden onto security departments at NH colleges and universities.
* Certain on-campus offenses may be better dealt with through the school's disciplinary actions.
* There is nothing preventing victims from reporting crimes to police - on campus or anywhere else.
This bill would assert NH's right to regulate intra-state commerce without federal government intervention.
* This bill limits the federal misapplication of the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution by asserting our rights under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments of the Bill of Rights.
* Benefits hobbyists who craft their own firearms (permitted under federal law) to sell or give away to other NH residents by removing federal mandates of taxes, forms and firearm inscriptions.
* The NHLA has concerns about the penalties section of the bill, but since this will go to Criminal Justice as a second committee the bill should move forward as a matter of policy.
This bill would repeal a law dictating the terms of private contracts.
* Repeals a regulation that prevents schools and teams from other states from seeking out New Hampshire athletes - and potentially providing them with financial opportunities.
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* Repeals a regulation that prevents schools and teams from other states from seeking out New Hampshire athletes - and potentially providing them with financial opportunities.
This bill would create a wiretapping law exemption for recording law enforcement.
* On the job means on the record: Part I, Art. 8 of the New Hampshire Constitution provides that officers and agents of the government are at all times accountable to the people.
* A member of law enforcement has a right to record you without your consent at a traffic stop, but citizens recording the exact same conversation have been threatened and even charged with a felony.
This bill would require a judge to notify jurors of their rights to judge the application of a law prior to deciding a case.
* Jurors have the right to return a not-guilty verdict if they think applying a law in a particular case is fundamentally unjust.
* Most jurors have never been in a courtroom, and jurors who do not understand their rights cannot exercise them.
* Asking our judges to briefly inform jurors of all their rights is not burdensome, time consuming, or expensive.
This bill would increase the filing threshold from $150,000 to $200,000 on the business enterprise tax.
* Increases the efficiency of the state's tax collections because it costs more money to collect from the filers in this $50,000 window than these filers will owe.
* Saves business owners from wasting time and money dealing with unnecessary paperwork.
This bill would change charitable raffle permits from per event to per year.
* This will ease the paperwork burden on charitable organizations who wish to have multiple raffles in a year.
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* Lower taxes spawn business growth and economic development, leading to more jobs in NH.
This bill would allow a civil cause of action in the misuse of another's social security number.
* Victims of identity theft should be able to punish the perpetrators for this gross invasion of privacy.
This bill would reduce the recent increase in the meals and rooms tax.
* Tax decreases fuel small businesses which are the backbone of the NH economy.
* If this legislation passed prior to the adoption of the budget, it would reduce state spending.
This bill would restrict the recognition of collective bargaining units.
* Public employers, asserting local control, should be free to continue to recognize small bargaining units as they deem appropriate.
This bill would allow businesses to carry forward credits against the business profits tax for an extra year.
* The bill provides that certain tax credits from paying the Business Enterprise Tax will not expire for another year, offsetting losses from the recession.
* The bill makes sure that small and large businesses can continue to do business, invest, and create jobs.
This bill would repeal the ban on carrying a loaded weapon in a vehicle.
* Laws only affect the law-abiding. The current statute will not stop someone intent on mischief.
* Remedies an inconsistency allowing a loaded pistol to be carried in a vehicle, but not a loaded rifle.
* It is currently illegal for someone that lives in an RV to keep a loaded shotgun in their home.
This bill would allow people to defend themselves when attacked.
* [Art.] 2-a. [The Bearing of Arms.] All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.
* People in fear for their lives should not have to retreat but should be able to defend themselves.
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* Lower taxes spawn business growth and economic development, leading to more jobs in NH.
This bill repeals a committee for an uneconomical transportation system.
* In modern times, train service is heavily subsidized by all taxpayers regardless of usage.
* Rail transit makes economic sense only in limited, high-density, high-population areas. It is impractical here; the rural nature of New Hampshire means that most riders will still have to travel by car many mile to board a train.
* Rail transit projects invariably go way over budget and are completed far later than the original deadline. Recent rail boondoggles have proven this.
This bill would repeal a committee for an uneconomical transportation system.
* Rail service is heavily subsidized by all taxpayers - regardless of usage
* Rail transit makes economic sense only in limited, high-density, high-population areas. It is impractical here; the rural nature of New Hampshire means that most riders will still have to travel by car many miles to board a train.
* Rail transit projects invariably go way over budget and are completed far later than the original deadline. Recent rail boondoggles have proved this.
This bill would repeal a committee for an uneconomical transportation system.
* In modern times, train service is heavily subsidized by all taxpayers regardless of usage.
* Rail transit makes economic sense only in limited, high-density, high-population areas. It is impractical here; the rural nature of New Hampshire means that most riders will still have to travel by car many miles to board a train.
* Rail transit projects invariably go way over budget and are completed far later than the original deadline. Recent rail boondoggles have proved this.
* Once a rail system is implemented it will be very hard to get rid of.
This bill would create incentives for police to carefully handle and return property.
* Part 1, Art. 8 NH constitution "Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive."
* Often property is seized involuntarily from innocent people before adjudication; this puts an equal responsibility on law enforcement to return personal property.
This bill would require the prompt return of confiscated property.
* Rights of the people come first, not convenience of the police.
* People should not lose their property because of malicious or erroneous accusations.
* The proposed floor amendment is considered pro-liberty.
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* Lower taxes spawn business growth and economic development, leading to more jobs in NH.
This bill would infringe on the right of people to control their own property.
* This is not a gun bill, this is a property rights bill. The right to be armed derives from the right to defend oneself, which in turn derives from the right to property.
* It is in the rational self-interest of property owners to not hinder what people may carry in their vehicles, but this should not be mandated by law.
* This bill is anti-liberty because it forces property owners to allow firearms without their consent.
This bill would provide that the education tax only be levied on property values over $100,000.
* NH Const., Part II, Art. 5 states that the General Court may impose only proportional and reasonable ... taxes. . . ."
* This bill would tax people disproportionately, and is therefore unconstitutional.
This bill would allow voters to show support for multiple candidates in a given race.
* With this simple ballot change voters will be able to easily express their opinion on every candidate.
* This eliminates the "wasted vote" problem in which voters believe that votes for a less popular candidate will be wasted because the candidate has little chance of winning.
* Bill will require relatively few & inexpensive changes to administrative procedures in exchange for a large increase in voter expression and satisfaction.
This bill would increase the equity of property assessments.
* Part II, Article 6 "[Valuation and Taxation.] The public charges of government, or any part thereof, may be raised by taxation upon polls, estates, and other classes of property, including franchises and property when passing by will or inheritance; and there shall be a valuation of the estates within the state taken anew once in every five years, at least, and as much oftener as the general court shall order."
* All properties should be assessed and compared during the same time period in order to ensure equality amongst assessed values in a municipality.
* Barring the use of statistical updates relieves taxpayers of the burden of their "affected areas or classes of property" (Rev. 601.24) from being revalued when other areas or classes are not subject to such revaluation.
This bill would require the rules of evidence to be observed in family law cases.
* Brings order to family law proceedings that currently do not operate by any evidentiary rules.
* Accordingly, this bill reduces subjectivity of family law judges by making them obey certain common law rules and giving rise to bases for appeal when a judge abuses his or her discretion.
This bill would increase penalties for certain misdemeanors to felonies.
* [Art.] 18 - All penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense.
* Declares securities violations as "public welfare" offenses i.e. crimes that seriously threaten the community's health or safety, thus classifying them in the same category as murder, rape, arson.
* This bill would create an unfriendly business environment in NH; in particular, small businesses without large legal or compliance staffs will bear the brunt of new restrictions.
* Would allow government employees in the securities bureau - at several levels - to override others' decisions, inhibiting timely resolution of claims.
* The bill allows the secretary of state to completely ignore the findings of the presiding officer of a hearing, which has the potential to increase politically motivated investigations and prosecutions. An investigation, even without prosecution, can ruin a business.
This bill would ensure that homeowners retain the right of appeal in tax disputes.
* People should not have to give up their right to privacy in order to appeal an unfair tax assessment.
* Protects the constitutional right to due process in the property assessment process.
This bill would allow people to carry tools of defense without permission or notice.
* This bill complies with Part 1 Art. 2a of the NH Constitution, protecting a person’s right to keep and bear arms, while also recognizing law enforcement’s interest in prohibiting certain persons from carrying.
* Statistically, people who lawfully carry guns have a crime rate that is vanishingly small when compared to the population in general. There is no valid reason to license them in the first place.
* We support amendment 2011-0811h (striking item II (j) from the bill) because including Federal statutes in our laws leaves them open for modification without the consent of the legislature.
This bill would mandate state agencies to track and publish their costs monthly.
* After twelve months, year over year comparisons will be available on an ongoing basis.
* Journalists and watchdog groups will have up to date budget facts rather than extrapolated conjecture. This will lead to a more informed citizenry.
* Inconsistencies may be caught and corrected early, which leads to better governance.
This bill would explicitly allow spending caps to be enacted in charter towns.
* The New Hampshire courts have ruled in some cases that the state must explicitly grant power to enact a spending cap. This cures that problem.
This bill would spend $36 million over the next 4 years to encourage broadband development.
* Will cost $4 million in 2012; $7 million in 2013; $10.5 million in 2014; and $14 million in 2015.
* The commission's budget will also skim off the top of the "communications service tax".
* Locally granted monopolies on communications services hold up broadband development, not a lack of millions of dollars in government spending.
This bill would allow people to carry weapons when investigating trespassers.
* This adds to the affirmative defenses in RSA's 627:3 (competing harms) and 627:4 (self-defense).
* People have a right to take precautionary measures when investigating a trespasser.
* The difference between 'carrying' and 'brandishing' a weapon is highly subjective. A homeowner should not be subject to malicious accusation from someone who initiated contact by trespassing.
This bill exempts the commission on the status of men from repeal on June 30, 2011.
* As stated in the veto, this commission was recommended for repeal, "to help make state government more efficient, reduce cost, and eliminate waste..." The NHLA supports those goals.
* If passed, this law would retroactively take effect June 30th, 2011. Part 1, Article 23 of the NH Constitution prohibits retrospective laws.
This bill would exempt the commission on the status of men from repeal on June 30, 2011.
* As stated in the veto, this commission was recommended for repeal, "to help make state government more efficient, reduce cost, and eliminate waste..." The NHLA supports those goals.
* If passed, this law would retroactively take effect June 30th, 2011. Part 1, Article 23 of the NH Constitution prohibits retrospective laws.
This bill would exempt the commission on the status of men from repeal on June 30, 2011.
* As stated in the veto, this commission was recommended for repeal, "to help make state government more efficient, reduce cost, and eliminate waste..." The NHLA supports those goals.
* If passed, this law would retroactively take effect June 30th, 2011. Part 1, Article 23 of the NH Constitution prohibits retrospective laws.
This bill would require personal information about mobile phone subscribers be given to government agents without a warrant.
* Information for emergency services providers is the location of the phone; which is available to the phone company but has no relation to the given address of the phone purchaser.
* Claims of 'emergency' can be used to justify any action.
This bill would encourage local governments to compete with private industry.
* Current law already permits municipalities to build broadband infrastructure - this bill removes the requirement that they do so in areas not served by an existing broadband carrier or provider. By definition, if the area is already being served, the municipality will be directly competing with the private industry.
This bill would raise car inspections five dollars to fund a police training program.
* Motor vehicle safety inspections have nothing to do with officer training.
* This bill would take more than eight million additional dollars from vehicle owners annually.
This bill would exempt conscientious objectors from compulsory vaccinations.
* This bill will uphold citizen’s rights as protected by Part 1, Art. 4 of the NH Constitution : "Rights of Conscience Unalienable." No vaccine or other medical treatment should be forced on any person.
* The current religious exemption is interpreted by the public and medical community as an "all or nothing" exemption. The state of Texas recently added a conscientious belief exemption and saw their vaccination rates increase because the new exemption allowed individuals to chose vaccines they have skipped because of the 'all or none' nature of the religious exemption.
* It would not repeal RSA 141C:20-d, which requires unvaccinated children to remain home from school in the event of an outbreak.
This bill would spend $2.5 million of state funds to cover a budget gap in a federal price-control program.
* The Milk Producer's Emergency Relief Fund is a government welfare program paid to milk producers if the price of milk falls "too low".
* There's no reason to take $2.5 million from struggling taxpayers then turn around and bail out dairy farmers.
* Last week the NHLA supported legislation declaring firearms produced and distributed in our state exempt from federal regulations. We would support similar legislation repealing or rejecting federal price controls on New Hampshire fresh milk.
This bill would promote parental responsibility in the healthcare of their children.
* This bill prevents the administration of vaccines in public schools except in declared emergencies.
* Permitting vaccination in public schools circumvents the critical dialog between parent and physician
that is necessary for the proper conditions of Informed Consent.
* It is not the role of the public schools to administer non-emergency, non-life threatening medical treatments.
This bill would allow more educational freedom.
* Parents are responsible for their children and should be able to to direct the educational plan of their children without permission of the school system.
* This allows students (with parental permission) to pursue other educational options.
* Some students respond much better to vocational, on-the-job, and "hands-on" learning better than a strict classroom environment.
This bill would eliminate the prohibition on adjustable muffling devices on boats.
* Boaters will now be able to use their own judgment and common sense to reduce the noise of their motors, instead of having the letter of the current law trump the spirit of RSA 270:37.
This bill would legalize marijuana for the purpose of treating medical conditions.
* Doctors and patients, not bureaucrats, should be the ones to make important medical decisions.
* Natural cannabis has demonstrable medical benefits that no other drug (even synthetics) can match.
* Federal involvement in state medical law is not authorized by the U.S. Constitution, and is a violation of state sovereignty, as protected by Part I, Art. 7 of the New Hampshire Constitution.
This bill would exempt employees that opt not to join a union from paying agency fees.
* Forcing an employee who chooses not to associate with a union to pay that union is an act of coercion.
* The NHLA opposes the criminalization penalties and sign postage mandates in this bill.
This bill would exempt employees that opt not to join a union from paying agency fees.
* Forcing an employee who chooses not to associate with a union to pay that union is an act of coercion.
* Employment should be based upon the mutual benefit between employee and employer.
* The NHLA opposes the criminalization penalties and sign postage mandates in this bill.
This bill would exempt employees that opt not to join a union from agency fees.
* Forcing an employee who chooses not to associate with a union to pay that union is an act of coercion.
* Employment should be based upon the mutual benefit between employee and employer.
* The NHLA opposes the criminalization penalties and sign postage mandates in this bill.
This bill would exempt employees that opt not to join a union from agency fees.
* To force someone that chooses not to associate with a union to pay that union is an act of coercion forced upon an unwilling individual.
* Employment should be solely based upon the mutual benefit between employee and business.
* The NHLA opposes the criminalization penalties and sign postage mandates in this bill.
This bill would require all penalties under 358-A to include possible jail time.
* NH Constitution [Art.] 18. [Penalties to be Proportioned to Offenses; True Design of Punishment.] All penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense.
* The "crimes" under 358-A include vague provisions such as "Making false or misleading statements of fact concerning the reasons for... price reductions" (RSA 358-A:2 XI)
* Many other laws directly reference the penalties in RSA 358-A, including prohibitions on offering infant formula for sale at flea markets (RSA 358-Q) or receiving a security deposit that is greater than one month's rent (RSA 540-A:6 I).
* HB475 eliminates the unclassified misdemeanor penalty, therefore requiring that any charge against a natural person include the possibility of jail time - even if there was no actual victim.
* The new felony provisions in this bill apply to offering for sale goods or services over $1000, even if no one buys them, an amount not significant enough to warrant the seriousness of a felony charge.
This bill would allow adults diagnosed with a terminal condition to request medication which would enable then to control the time, place, and manner of their death.
* Adults have a fundamental right to make decisions about their bodies - whether it be smoking, eating trans fats, buckling a seatbelt, or choosing to end their pain and suffering from a terminal condition.
* Adults who currently choose to end their own lives (an act which is perfectly legal) should be able to have their loved ones present at the end without their risking felony charges (RSA 630:4).
This bill would end our participation in RGGI.
* Repeals a program that stealthily taxes all electricity consumers.
* Money raised was originally slated to support energy efficiency programs, but millions of dollars collected from the program were misappropriated into the general fund in 2010, far from the original intent of RGGI.
* Remaining funds from the program will go to existing energy efficiency projects.
This bill would end our participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
* Repeals a program that stealthily taxes all electricity consumers.
* Money raised is supposed to go to energy efficiency programs. But millions of dollars collected from the program were appropriated into the general fund in 2010.
* The program was supposed to help the environment, not create a new slush fund. If ended, the program's leftover funds will go to existing energy efficiency projects.
This bill would get rid of a bureaucratic "safety program".
* The OBD II requirement was originally passed as a "safety program" - but it does not inspect for safety nor are federal EPA emissions standards safety-related.
* The OBD II requirement is really just a tax on every citizen who owns a vehicle.
* The OBD II inspection creates a centralized database in the hands of a private company, which records information about almost every vehicle in the state.
This bill would get rid of a bureaucratic "safety program".
* The OBD II requirement was originally passed as a "safety program" - but it does not inspect for safety nor are federal EPA emissions standards safety-related.
* The OBD II requirement is really just a tax on every citizen who owns a vehicle.
This bill would change the motor vehicle inspection requirement from annual to biennial.
* The state imposes a major unnecessary expense by requiring annual inspections.
* The people of New Hampshire would save millions of dollars and thousands of hours every year.
* Minnesota abolished vehicle inspections some years ago, with no obvious impact on highway safety.
This bill would allow parents to opt-out of school programs they disapprove of.
* This bill as amended upholds Part 1, Art. 4 of the NH Constitution: "Right of Conscience Unalienable" and will level the playing field for ALL parents.
* Provides all parents choosing instruction for their children outside the public school system the same guarantee of protection from state intervention.
* Would put court decisions/rules into statute and preventing the re-arguing of issues that are presently agreed to.
This bill would be an ineffective and unenforceable solution to distracted driving.
* Distracted driving is already prohibited.
* Without government coercion, many people have voluntarily adopted hands-free usage.
* This law is over-reaching - merely holding a phone near one's ear is considered to be a violation.
* Studies also show that cell-phone bans do not actually improve road safety: http://is.gd/dPgIcV
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* Lower taxes spawn business growth and economic development, leading to more jobs in NH.
This bill might make it more expensive to create new jobs.
* Minimum wage laws lower the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation - more jobs means more competition to hire all workers.
This bill would clarify conditions under which official oppression may be charged.
* In keeping with Art. 8, Part 1 of the NH Constitution, this bill increases the accountability of public servants in the exercise of their official duties.
* Since official oppression was created in 1971 we have divided misdemeanors into class A and class B misdemeanors. Actions that benefit someone or harm someone will be classified as class B.
This bill would restructure the retirement system so as to reduce taxpayer costs and better align the state system with private sector benefits.
* Begins to rectify the gross underfunding and unsustainability of this system.
* Increases age and years of service thresholds by 5 years, excludes various non-base pay compensation from formulas.
* Eliminates prolonged double dipping.
This bill would restore protections associated with secret ballot elections for workers.
* This bill would uphold an individual's right to privacy when voting in an election of an exclusive representative of an employee organization.
* Unlike a secret ballot election, where a worker can make a decision without undue intimidation, under card check, there's nothing stopping union bosses from intimidating workers one-on-one - or three-on-one into signing so-called "union authorization cards" that are essentially irrevocable.
This bill,which is mislabeled, would actually allow meritorious preferences.
* Affirmative action is coerced discrimination.
* People should be hired based on what they can do, not on what arbitrary social class or group they are perceived to belong to.
This bill would require the governor to consolidate various service centers.
* Consolidating back-office services improves efficiency, thereby reducing government spending.
This bill would restrict eminent domain by utilities.
* [Art.] 12-a. [Power to Take Property Limited.] No part of a person's property shall be taken by eminent domain and transferred, directly or indirectly, to another person if the taking is for the purpose of private development or other private use of the property.
* The committee amendment improves the bill by broadening it from a prohibition aimed directly at the Northern Pass project to aligning the bill to our current statutes and state constitution.
This bill would attempt to regulate property that harms no one.
* The NHLA opposes the committee amendment and supports the original bill
* Monk parakeets are a non-invasive species and do not pose a threat to crops or native species.
* Monk parakeets would become the only animal species to be banned via NH statue
* YEA on OTP
This bill would repeal the evergreen clause currently forced into union agreements.
* Negotiators have always had the option to include an evergreen clause.
* This bill removes the mandate that one be included, leaving the decision up to the interested parties.
This bill would allow for municipalities to enact spending caps.
* Gives more control to local voters over spending, and thereby helps to rein in future tax increases.
* Allows municipalities to put provisions in their charters requiring supermajority votes before large spending increases can happen.
* Helps address several issues where a previous Supreme Court opinion found certain aspects of the spending caps to be unlawful.
This bill would require that chemicals be added to antifreeze to make it unpalatable.
* This bill is unnecessary because these companies are changing their formulation anyway.
* Enforcement and inspection of a change that is already embraced by industry is unnecessary.
* The free market has clearly demonstrated that consumers will pay extra for products they deem to be safe or eco-friendly, demonstrating that this level of micromanagement is unnecessary.
This bill allows for collateral backed short term loans.
* Title loans give consumers more choice; banks and credit unions don't offer these kinds of short-term loans.
* High interest rates are appropriate on some loans because the terms of these loans are very short.
* The interest does not compound significantly so the actual amount of money transferred to the lender is comparatively small.
* These loans are useful for people who have unexpected short-term expenses and need a loan to cover them until they can adjust their spending habits to generate the needed surplus funds.
This bill would allow for collateral backed short term loans.
* Title loans give consumers more choice; banks and credit unions don't offer these kinds of short-term loans.
* High interest rates are appropriate on some loans because the terms of these loans are very short. The interest does not compound significantly so the actual amount of money transferred to the lender is comparatively small.
* These loans are useful for people who have unexpected short-term expenses and need a loan to cover them until they can adjust their spending habits to generate the needed surplus funds.
This bill would allow for collateral backed short term loans.
* Title loans give consumers more choice; banks and credit unions don't offer these kinds of short-term loans.
* High interest rates are appropriate on some loans because the terms of these loans are very short. The interest does not compound significantly so the actual amount of money transferred to the lender is comparatively small.
* These loans are useful for people who have unexpected short-term expenses and need a loan to cover them until they can adjust their spending habits to generate the needed surplus funds.
This bill would allow for collateral backed short term loans.
* High interest rates are appropriate on some loans because the terms of these loans are very short. The interest does not compound significantly so the actual amount of money transferred to the lender is comparatively small.
* These loans are useful for people who have unexpected short-term expenses and need a loan to cover them until they can adjust their spending habits to generate the needed surplus funds.
* Title loans give consumers more choice; banks and credit unions don’t offer these kinds of short-term loans.
This bill would include a narrow type of organization in a list of organizations exempted from the Business Profits Tax.
* Generally, reducing taxes is good. But not when the bill results in only a very small group of influential property developers and investors being exempted from an already unpopular tax.
* This bill entangles NH in a bureaucratic federal program that gives state tax exemptions from the Business Profits Tax to wealthy government-recognized investors only.
* If the Business Profits Tax reduces investments and destroys jobs then it should be amended or repealed; not abused as a vehicle to pick winners and losers with ad hoc exemptions and indulgences. "Qualified investment companies" should compete on the same playing field as everyone else.
This bill would repeal unnecessary restrictions on rental property owners.
* Improves an owner’s control of his private property and reduces the burdensome regulation and costs of extended storage requirements.
* Rights to contract and property rights should be held sacrosanct by legislatures.
* Repealing last year's new requirement on owners to file an address for process service is a positive step towards reducing government regulation and deferring to personal responsibility.
* Regulations, reporting requirements, and fines all discourage investment in real property.
This bill would recognize self preservation inside and outside the home.
* [Art.] 2-a. [The Bearing of Arms.] All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.
* People in fear for their lives should not have to retreat but should be able to defend themselves.
* The right to bear arms requires that people be able to display the tools of self-defense to warn and discourage would-be attackers.
This bill would allow people to possess tools of defense without permission or notice.
* This bill complies with Part 1 Art. 2a of the NH Constitution, protecting a person's right to keep and bear arms, while also recognizing law enforcement's interest in prohibiting certain persons from carrying.
* Statistically, people who lawfully carry guns have a crime rate that is vanishingly small when compared to the population in general. There is no valid reason to license them in the first place.
* The NHLA supports the language of amendment 2011-2235h over calendar amendment 2011-2156h, but both are pro-liberty additions.
This bill would exempt sprinkler systems in one or two family homes.
* For some of the same reasons the state passed restrictions on the use of eminent domain, the legislature must sometimes place limits on the abuse of property rights by municipalities.
* The plethora of multi-family homes around the state still standing 100 years after construction is testament to the fact that owners and tenants have a vested interest in avoiding fires, and that it is a relatively minor risk.
* Sprinkler mandates are a top down, one size fits all solution to a minor problem. Property owners, builders, consumers, and insurance companies should decide what is best for individual homes.
This bill would exempt sprinkler systems in one or two family homes.
* To save lives, smoke detectors are already mandated. Sprinkler systems exist to protect property, and the degree to do that should be left to the homeowner.
* The additional cost of a sprinkler system is small in and of itself; but it is one of innumerable small ways in which regulation 'nickel and dimes' small costs into large chunks of the cost of a new house.
* Small sprinkler systems require a pressurization system, which must be periodically inspected (thus raising costs even more). Also, the pressurization system is in and of itself a hazard to property. If it goes awry, the water damage can be just as bad as fire damage.
This bill would expand the number of pharmacist-administered vaccines.
* Expands consumer choice in the provision of health care.
* Has potential to decrease medical care costs.
This bill would expand the number of pharmacist-administered vaccines.
* Expands consumer choice in the provision of health care.
* Has potential to decrease medical care costs.
This bill would loosen the speech restrictions on beer advertisements.
* A small step in the right direction, this bill removes some restrictions on advertising.
This bill would require presenting photo identification to vote in person.
* Part first, Article 11, of the NH Constitution states: All elections are to be free, and every inhabitant of the state of 18 years of age and upwards shall have an equal right to vote in any election.
* Fraudulent voting is already a crime. Existing laws should be enforced against anyone who breaks them, rather than creating new regulations that burden everyone.
* The number of people who register to vote at the polls and don't show a photo ID is vanishingly small.
On November 2nd, 2010 only 49 people statewide cast ballots this way - 1/88th of one percent - hardly a problem which justifies burdening the other 99.989% of voters at the polls.
* Implementing this will increase the cost of elections.
* This bill promotes a 'papers, please' agenda, where citizens are forbidden from exercising their constitutional right to vote unless they have a government-issued identification card.
* We recommend a YEA vote on floor amendment 2209h, then NAY on OTP/A motion.
This bill would require photo identification to vote in person.
* Part first, Article 11, of the NH Constitution states: All elections are to be free, and every inhabitant of the state of 18 years of age and upwards shall have an equal right to vote in any election.
* Fraudulent voting is already a crime. Existing laws should be enforced against anyone who breaks them, rather than creating new regulations that burden everyone.
* The number of people who register to vote at the polls and don't show a photo ID is vanishingly small. On November 2nd, 2010 only 49 people statewide cast ballots this way.. 1/88th of one percent - hardly a problem which justifies burdening the other 99.989% of voters at the polls.
* Implementing this will increase the cost of elections. Additional staff will have to be availible to handle the late election returns and meet certain time obligations complicated by the additional window to receive ballots after the election, along with the costs for thousands of provisional ballot envelopes around the state.
* This bill promotes a 'papers, please' agenda, where citizens are forbidden from exercising their Constitutional right to vote unless they have a government-issued identification card.
This bill would require consolidation of service contracts.
* Streamlines operations to save taxpayer dollars.
This bill would reinstate the ability for technicians to certify equipment as honest.
* For 20 years private parties inspected and certified weights and measures. The recent change requiring a government official to do the job makes the process more onerous and therefore more expensive for the business owner.
This bill would create a committee to provide legislative oversight during implementation of new, federal healthcare law.
* Prevents unelected state agents from taking any action regarding federally mandated health insurance, including rulemaking, without first receiving approval from an oversight committee of three representatives and two senators.
* As amended allows the oversight committee to revisit all existing rules regarding federal health care reform and allows the oversight committee to order the commissioner to withdraw them.
* This bill as amended eliminates the state position of health reform coordinator.
This bill would require the state to do research and policy analysis in the event New Hampshire is required to implement Federal Health Care Reform.
* Public Law 111-152 is a federal law, not a state law. New Hampshire cannot be "required" (as the bill states) under any circumstances to implement federal regulations or rules or enact federal law into state law. See: Part first, Article 7 [State Sovereignty]
* Passing this bill after passing SB 148-FN (requiring NH to join the lawsuit against the federal health care act) sends a mixed message about intent to comply with unconstitutional mandates.
This amendment would clarify local control of the curricula, and also provides that the State may supplement the local funding of schools.
* Consistent with Part 1, Article 6 of the NH Constitution, the constitutional guarantee of independence from State interference in our schools, whether public or private.
* Allows the State legislature to supplement the educational provisions made by the towns and cities, resolving the Claremont crisis. This removes the Court from school funding and allows the Legislature to determine the amount of supplementary funding that is needed by individual towns and cities.
This amendment would clarify local control of the curricula, and also provides that the State may supplement the local funding of schools.
* Consistent with Part 1, Article 6 of the NH Constitution, the constitutional guarantee of independence from State interference in our schools, whether public or private.
* Allows the State legislature to supplement the educational provisions made by the towns and cities, resolving the Claremont crisis. This removes the Court from school funding and allows the Legislature to determine the amount of supplementary funding that is needed by individual towns and cities.
This amendment, which clarifies local control of the curricula, and also provides that the State may supplement the local funding of schools.
* Consistent with Part 1, Article 6 of the NH Constitution, the constitutional guarantee of independence from State interference in our schools, whether public or private
* Allows the State legislature to supplement the educational provisions made by the towns and cities, resolving the Claremont crisis. This removes the Court from school funding and allows the Legislature to determine the amount of supplementary funding that is needed by individual towns and cities.
This amendment would add a renewable 7 year term to all future judicial appointments.
* This amendment would give the people of New Hampshire an effective method of judicial oversight.
* Our judges need to have more oversight than what the current peer review system provides.
* As a reappointment requirement, this amendment preserves the firewall between the judiciary and outside influence.
This bill would expand the options for hearings pertaining to pistol or revolver license.
* Prior to 2008, individuals could file in either court. This freedom was taken away by the Supreme Court in the Garand vs. Town of Exeter decision in 2009.
* Contract claims and Landlord/Tenant cases can be heard in either court, so this bill makes the law more consistent
* The State charges more money for hearings held in Superior Courts: District courts are "free"+ a $25 surcharge fee (RSA 490:26-a) , Superior courts cost $205, ($180 filling fee plus $25 surcharge fee).
* Citizens should have a right to choose which court they believe will give them a more fair hearing.
This bill would repeal the sunset provision for a fixed funded agency.
* With federal funds expiring for this program in 2013, the program should likewise expire. Granite State taxpayers are overburdened as it is and should not be forced to pay for a program which is expected to cost over $700,000 per biennium.
* The state already has vast law enforcement and investigative resources; police personnel and equipment can be reassigned if the department determines this work deserves higher priority.
This bill would repeal the sunset provision for a fixed funded agency.
* With federal funds expiring for this program in 2013, the program should likewise expire. Granite State taxpayers are overburdened as it is and should not be forced to pay for a program which is expected to cost over $700,000 per biennium.
* The state already has vast law enforcement and investigative resources; police personnel and equipment can be reassigned if the department determines this work deserves higher priority.
This bill would repeal the sunset provision for a narrowly focused agency.
* With federal funds expiring for this program in 2013, the program should likewise expire. Granite State taxpayers are overburdened and should not be forced to pay for a program which is expected to cost over $700,000 per biennium.
* The state already has vast law enforcement and investigative resources; police personnel and equipment can be reassigned if the department determines this work deserves higher priority.
This bill would repeal the sunset provision for a fixed funded agency.
* With federal funds expiring for this program in 2013, the program should likewise expire. Granite State taxpayers are overburdened as it is and should not be forced to pay for a program which is expected to cost over $700,000 per biennium.
* The state already has vast law enforcement and investigative resources; police personnel and equipment can be reassigned if the department determines this work deserves higher priority.
This bill would clarify the definition of an unloaded long gun.
* The amended bill sets clear guidelines as to what constitutes loaded and unloaded, which will reduce inconsistent enforcement.
* The bill as amended incorporates important clarifications regarding private property.
* While this language doesn't go far enough in codifying one's right to keep and bear arms, it is an improvement over current statute.
This bill clarifies language regarding weapons statutes and rules.
* It clarifies that the General Court specifically, and not the vague term 'the state of New Hampshire' shall have authority to regulate weapons.
* It includes knives in order to make the law more equitable and sensible. (It would not be sensible to regulate knives more strictly than guns, or have them subject to more patchwork restrictions).
* It clarifies the language regarding political subdivisions and their rulemaking authority.
This bill would redefine marriage under the law.
* [Art.] 2. [Natural Rights.] [...] Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by this state on account of race, creed, color, sex or national origin.
* The NH constitution forbids impinging citizens' rights based on sex. It makes no exceptions for pairs of citizens being any different than individuals, and it makes no exceptions for institutions that existed before ratification. The equality of rights is natural and inalienable.
* Government should not be in the business of defining, regulating, admonishing, or licensing how individuals choose to affiliate with others.
This bill, as amended, would prohibit electronic tracking without one's prior consent.
* Free citizens should not be tracked without their consent.
* The NHLA supports floor amendment 2012-0084h.
This bill as amended, would eliminate electronic tracking without one's prior consent.
* Free citizens should not be tracked without their consent.
* The NHLA supports floor amendment 2012-0084h.
This bill as amended, would eliminate electronic tracking without one's prior consent.
* Free citizens should not be tracked without their consent.
* The NHLA supports floor amendment 2012-0084h.
This bill would repeal various occupational licensing boards and authority.
* The consumers of occupationally licensed services derive no determinable benefit for the added cost. For example, when was the last prevented case of fungal infection due to licensing manicurists?
* The only certainty about licensure is that it manufactures political patronage jobs in the regulatory bureaucracy and reduces competition by restricting free entry into an occupation - thereby bestowing unearned profits upon those who are already licensed.
* The amendment makes such licenses voluntary, transforming them to assets that businesses can choose to obtain from the state. This decriminalizes unlicensed services while still making the license available.
This bill would reclassify synthetic cannabinoid agonists or piperazines as schedule I controlled drugs
* In a free society individuals should not be punished for peaceful activities which do not harm others.
* This bill would have multiple costly unintended consequences.
This bill would authorize optional enhanced driver's licenses and identification cards.
* Enhanced driver's licenses contain un-encrypted RFID chips, which are designed to be scanned and read from up to thirty feet away.
* RFID chips can be scanned through things that typically offer us privacy, such as clothes or purses, and their numbers can be read without the bearer's knowledge or consent.
* The House has repeatedly opposed RFID in driver's licenses over the last three bienniums. (HB203, HB686, HB478)
* New Hampshire should not be initiating privacy invading programs simply because of new federal laws like WHTI.
This bill would authorize optional enhanced drivers' licenses and identification cards
* Enhanced driver's licenses contain un-encrypted RFID chips, which are designed to be scanned and read from up to thirty feet away.
* RFID chips can be scanned through things that typically offer us privacy, such as clothes or purses, and their numbers can be read without the bearer's knowledge or consent.
* The House has repeatedly opposed RFID in driver's licenses over the last three bienniums. (HB203, HB686, HB478)
* New Hampshire should not be initiating privacy invading programs simply because of new federal laws like WHTI.
This bill would increase penalties for violations of the consumer protection act by an individual.
This bill, as amended, mandates a fine and treats citizens as pre-criminals.
* The amendment imposes more invasive technology in an ever expanding race against human ingenuity.
This bill would make concealed carry pistol licenses voluntary.
* [Art.] 2-a. [The Bearing of Arms.] All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.
* The NH constitution does not specify that these rights can be granted or withheld by the state.
* Removing the requirement to obtain a concealed carry license, but still providing said license, creates a valuable fee based service that citizens can choose to purchase and use in other states.
This bill would repeal the law enacted post 9/11 that would allow the government to take private property during the state of emergency.
* This bill affirms Article 2 Part 1 of the NH Constitution that guarantees the natural rights of citizens to acquire, possess, and protect property.
This bill would repeal the law enacted post 9/11 that would allow the government to take private property during the state of emergency.
* This bill affirms Article 2 Part 1 of the NH Constitution that guarantees the natural rights of citizens to acquire, possess, and protect, property.
This bill would repeal the law enacted post-9/11 that would allow the government to take private property during a state of emergency.
* This bill affirms Article 2 Part 1 of the NH Constitution that guarantees the natural rights of citizens to acquire, possess, and protect property.
This bill would permit 'no fault' divorce only if the parties do not have minor children.
* Attempts to legislate morality are rarely effective and lead to expanded criminality.
* NHLA supports the right of consenting adults to enter into or leave relationships as they see fit.
This bill lays the groundwork for up to two casinos in NH.
* If the authors really wanted to allow gambling, all they need to do is repeal RSA 647:2.
* The bill is bureaucracy layered upon bureaucracy. Some of the powers given to that bureaucracy are unprecedented - remote data collection and disabling of machines by the Lottery Commission.
* The bill suspends the constitutional requirement to procure a warrant prior to examining a licensee's correspondence, records, books, papers, as the Attorney General "deems advisable".
* The bill suspends the constitutional right to a jury trial for those subject to the Lottery Commission's authority, with no possibility for review or appeal.
* The bill vests an arbitrary authority in the Lottery Commission to punish any person subject to its rules, effectively in any way the Commission sees fit.
* The bill creates a state-enforced monopoly on who can buy or sell "gambling equipment" in this state.
* It will still be a crime for 8 friends to sit around and play a game of poker.
This bill lays the groundwork for up to two casinos in NH.
* Art. 83 Part 2 of the NH Constitution states clearly: "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it."
* The bill is bureaucracy layered upon bureaucracy. Some of the powers given to that bureaucracy are unprecedented, including remote data collection and disabling of machines on private property by the Lottery Commission.
* The bill suspends the constitutional right to a jury trial for those subject to the Lottery Commission's authority, with no possibility for review or appeal.
* The bill creates a state-enforced monopoly on who can buy or sell "gambling equipment" in this state.
* It will still be a crime for 8 friends to sit around and play a game of poker.
This bill would lay the groundwork for up to two casinos in NH.
* If the authors really wanted to allow gambling, all they need to do is repeal RSA 647:2.
* The bill is bureaucracy layered upon bureaucracy. Some of the powers given to that bureaucracy are unprecedented - remote data collection and disabling of machines by the Lottery Commission.
* The bill suspends the constitutional requirement that requires the government to procure a warrant prior to examining a licensee's correspondence, records, books, papers, as the Attorney General "deems advisable".
* The bill suspends the constitutional right to a jury trial for those subject to the Lottery Commission's authority, with no possibility for review or appeal.
* The bill vests an arbitrary authority in the Lottery Commission to punish any person subject to its rules, effectively in any way the Commission sees fit.
* The bill creates a state-enforced monopoly on who can buy or sell "gambling equipment" in this state.
* It will still be a crime for 8 friends to sit around and play a game of poker.
This bill would provide for equitable treatment for home schools.
* This bill recognizes the right of parents to educate their own children.
* It upholds due process and the presumption of innocence by the removal of the annual notification, an effective approval process, and proof of educational progress requirements.
This bill would increase the transparency and accountability at airport security checkpoints.
* Government should not dictate rules that it then exempts itself from. This bill reaffirms individual and states rights at our airports.
* The amendment increases public accountability by mandating that citizens may have their interactions with airport authorities video recorded by themselves or their designates.
This bill would make unlawful the disturbance of some funeral services and not others.
* Part 1, Article 1. [Equality of Men] All men are born equally free and independent; [...]
* The legislature should not grant protection and recourse to one group and not all individuals.
* The US Supreme Court recently held this restriction to be an unconstitutional restraint on free speech.
* The law is unconstitutionally vague.
This bill would require pupils to stand during the pledge of allegiance.
* Violates Part 1, Article 4 of the NH Constitution: Rights of Conscience Unalienable.
* Violates Part 1, Article 5 of the NH Constitution: Religious Freedom Recognized due to the words "under God".
This bill would assert unequal protection under the law.
* Part 1 Article 1. [Equality of Men] All men are born equally free and independent; [...]
* Crimes and civil remedies already exist to protect healthcare workers.
* Are dental hygienists and podiatrists really deserving of more protection than others?
This bill would provide that resisting an unlawful arrest is not itself unlawful.
* The act of resisting arrest should not itself be a crime, unless the arrest is later deemed to be lawful.
* The existing infraction is self referential - resisting an unlawful arrest is itself an arrestable offense.
* Supports Article 10 Part 1 of the NH Constitution: Right of Revolution. The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.
* Upholds Article 19 Part 1 of the NH Constitution: Penalties to be proportional to offenses.
This bill would allow people who are engaged in trapping to carry a larger caliber firearm for personal protection.
* The clear language of this bill will permit defensive weapons to be carried by trappers while checking traps.
This bill would eliminate the dedicated art fund.
* Makes elected representatives accountable for state art expenditures.
* Government should spend money for the benefit of everyone (the general welfare). Art projects only benefit a few people at the expense of everyone.
* It is unconscionable to compel taxpayers to pay for art projects they find objectionable.
This bill as amended, would prohibit the implementation of a state health insurance exchange under Healthcare Reform.
* Healthcare Reform is a federal government takeover of health insurance that forces citizens to buy health insurance and manages health coverage decisions centrally via a federal bureaucracy.
* Imposes new unfunded mandates onto the State of New Hampshire and its citizens.
* If New Hampshire creates a state exchange, the state will have voluntarily accepted the unconstitutional terms of Healthcare Reform.
* By prohibiting the establishment of a state health insurance exchange, New Hampshire is contributing to a national 10th Amendment effort that forces the federal government's hand.
This bill as amended, would prohibit the implementation of a state health insurance exchange under Healthcare Reform.
* Healthcare Reform is a federal government takeover of health insurance that forces citizens to buy health insurance and manages health coverage decisions centrally via a federal bureaucracy.
* Imposes additional costs onto the State of New Hampshire.
* If New Hampshire creates a state exchange, the state will have voluntarily accepted the unconstitutional terms of Healthcare Reform.
* By prohibiting the establishment of a state health insurance exchange, New Hampshire is contributing to a national 10th Amendment effort that forces the federal government's hand.
This bill would repeal the requirement to obtain a federal background check.
* Equal application of the existing law would require girl scouts selling cookies to submit to a criminal records check and fingerprinting.
This bill would require that publicly-funded organizations are subject to the right-to-know law.
* Money taken in taxes still rightfully belongs to the people and they have a right to know where it goes.
* A number of non-profit organizations have been set up by government agencies so that public money can be hidden from public view and spent without oversight.
This bill would allow people to arm themselves for defense without government permission.
* Vermont never licensed the carrying of firearms. Arizona, Alaska, and Wyoming have all removed the requirement.
* Statistically, the sort of people who carry guns have a crime rate that is 1/100th of the population at large.
* Laws only affect the law-abiding and criminals arm themselves without government permission.
This bill would allow people to arm themselves for defense without government permission.
* Vermont never licensed the carrying of firearms. Arizona, Alaska, and Wyoming have all removed the requirement.
* Statistically, the sort of people who carry guns have a crime rate that is 1/100th of the population at large.
* Laws only affect the law-abiding and criminals arm themselves without government permission.
This bill would allow individuals to play mind sports for money.
* Playing games that harm no one should never be a crime, regardless of incentives.
* Defines certain parimutual (collectively pooled winnings) based games that are predominantly skill based to be excluded from RSA 647:2, V [Gambling Offenses].
* Eight friends can finally - legally - sit around a table and just play a game of poker.
This bill would allow individual to play mind sports for money.
* Playing games that harm no one should never be a crime, regardless of incentives.
* Defines certain parimutual (collectively pooled winnings) based games that are predominantly skill based to be excluded from RSA 647:2, V [Gambling Offenses].
* Would effectively make it legal for 8 friends to sit around a table and play poker.
This bill would curb the unrestrained rulemaking authority of the Department of Education.
* This bill upholds Part 1, Art. 12 of the NH Constitution "Nor are the inhabitants of this state controllable by any other laws than those by which they, or their representative body, have given their consent."
* Removes the ability of rules proposed by the board of education to have the force and effect of law without prior approval of the general court.
* Proposed rules would go through the Senate or House Education committees which would ensure that the legislative interpretation and intent of rules is adopted.
This bill would allow non-violent felons access to firearms.
* Upholds Article 2 Part 1 of the NH Constitution "All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty: acquiring , possessing and defending property... ".
* Upholds Article 18 Part 1 of the NH Constitution "All penalties ought to be proportional to the nature of the offense."
* So many things are now technically felonies some have estimated that an average person can commit three felonies a day without even knowing it.
* Prosecution falls disproportionately upon minorities, especially for non-violent consensual acts which have been classified as 'felonies'.
This bill would prohibit federal control of education.
* Upholds the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
* Removes several unfunded /partially funded federal mandates.
This bill would require notice be made of the addition of fluoride to the public water supply.
* People have the right to know what anyone is putting into their drinking water.
This bill would reduce taxes for small NH businesses.
* Decreasing taxes allows private companies more control over how to spend or reinvest their profits.
* It is estimated that every dollar taken in taxation removes 2.5 to 3 dollars from GDP. Lowering taxes is the best economic stimulus.
* Businesses do not in fact pay tax levied on them, they just pass it on to consumers in the form of higher prices, smaller sizes, or lower quality.
This bill would require NH police to disclose exculpatory evidence.
* NH Const., Part I, Article 15. [Right of Accused.] Every subject shall have a right to produce all proofs that may be favorable to himself [...]
* NH Const., Part I, Article 8 [Public’s Right to Know.] [...] To that end, the public’s right of access to governmental proceedings and records shall not be unreasonably restricted.
* This bill adds one sentence to RSA 105:13-b [Confidentiality of Police Personnel Files] "Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a defendant’s right to obtain exculpatory evidence."
* Ensures that innocent NH citizens are not jailed because law enforcement officials choose to hide exculpatory evidence in their personnel records.
This bill as amended with the minority amendment, would allow parent directed driver education.
* Expands driver education options for NH parents.
* Allows students and their parents a choice of affordable driver's ed via online training and parent-provided behind-the-wheel training vs. expensive ($600-$900) traditional driver's ed training.
* Brings competition into the driver education marketplace which will improve the driver education industry in the state.
* Increases the number of teens who are able to enter the job market since low-income teens will be able to afford driver education and will be able to get their license at age 16 instead of being forced to wait until age 18.
* Makes our roads safer by allowing teens to begin driver education as soon as they begin practicing driving with their parents, at age 15-1/2.
* NAY on #2012-0968H
* YEA on #2012-0645H
This bill would require a search warrant for searches of private property.
* NH Const., Part I, Article 19 and U.S. Constitution, Amendment IV require warrants for the search of private property.
* The requirement of a warrant, and the definition of an acceptable warrant, is the balance between the rights of the individual and the interest of the broader public.
This bill would require a search warrant for searches of private property.
* The US 4th Amendment and the NH 19th amendment define warrants and prohibit searches without them.
* The requirement of a warrant, and the definition of an acceptable warrant, is the balance between the rights of the individual and the interest of the broader public.
This bill would eliminate driver sobriety checkpoints.
* NH constitution Article 19, Part I states, "Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches [...]"
* The US constitution's 4th Amendment clearly prohibits blanket checkpoints, which are warrantless searches for unlucky travelers.
* The fact that police at checkpoints randomly demand papers arbitrarily from drivers prima facia shows that the constitutional command is not being followed. The legislature can curb this abuse.
This bill would prohibit the police from seizing personal property without a warrant.
* NH Const., Part I, Article 19 and U.S. Constitution, Amendment IV require warrants for the seizure of private property.
This bill would prohibit the police from seizing personal property without a warrant.
* The US 4th Amendment and the NH 19th amendment define warrants and prohibits searches and seizures without them.
This bill would redefine election law residency through motor vehicle statues.
* Violates Part 1 Article 11 of the NH Constitution - "All elections are to be free, and every inhabitant of the state of 18 years of age and upward..."
* A motor vehicle registration has no bearing on a person's place of residence. To pretend otherwise ignores the constitutional right to vote and would lead to great inconvenient, bureaucracy, and selective enforcement of voting laws.
* Current law defines domicile for the sole purpose of insuring that voting is equally protected for all citizens.
This bill would compel businesses to use the voluntary federal E-Verify system.
* Citizens and legal residents should not be required to obtain a permission slip to work.
* This legislature is responsible for determining labor law in New Hampshire, it should not surrender that responsibility to the federal government.
* E-Verify lacks meaningful due process protections. Workers injured by data errors will need a means of quickly and permanently resolving data errors so they do not become presumptively unemployable.
* The Social Security Administration itself reports that approximately 17.8 million of its files contain incorrect data, 12.7 of which concern U.S. Citizens.
This bill would reduce the list of prohibited weapons a felon may possess.
* According to our Constitution, the purpose of all criminal punishment is to reform a person. But once a person has repaid his debt to society, the law should - for nearly every purpose - consider him citizen in good standing.
* So many acts are now felonies, some scholars estimate the average citizen unknowingly commits three felonies each day. Most of those felonies are not crimes of violence, but crimes against bureaucrat's personal opinion.
* The constitutional right to self-defense (NH Const., Part I, Article 2) is one of the most important acts. Even a reformed felon - who may have been out of prison for decades - should be able to protect himself and his family from criminals when in his own home.
* Prosecution falls disproportionately upon minorities, especially for non-violent consensual acts which have been classified as 'felonies'.
This bill would reduce the list of prohibited weapons a felon may possess.
* Upholds Article 2 Part 1 of the NH Constitution "All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty: acquiring , possessing and defending property... ".
* Upholds Article 18 Part 1 of the NH Constitution "All penalties ought to be proportional to the nature of the offense."
* So many things are now technically felonies some have estimated that an average person can commit three felonies a day without even knowing it.
* Prosecution falls disproportionately upon minorities, especially for non-violent consensual acts which have been classified as 'felonies'.
This bill would reduce federal control of education.
* Upholds the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
* Requires future agreements regarding early through secondary education to be approved by the general court.
This bill would reduce the penalties for possessing less than 1/2 ounce of marijuana.
* Marijuana possession does not offend society as a whole, and should therefore not involve the criminal justice system - and all the serious, unintended consequences for both the accused and the taxpaying public.
* Instead, simple possession should be treated as public health issue (as with alcohol or tobacco). It is more appropriate to discourage simple possession with a citation and a fine rather than with a criminal conviction and prison time.
* Shifting police focus from non-violent activities will afford police opportunities to focus on serious crimes that actually threaten public safety.
This bill would reduce the penalties for possessing less than one half ounce of marijuana.
* In a free society, individuals should not be harshly punished for peaceful activities which do not harm others. Thus, it is more appropriate to punish simple marijuana possession with a citation and a fine than with a criminal conviction and possible incarceration.
* Modeled after laws in other states, this bill would help avoid the unintended consequences associated with marijuana prohibition. By reducing the extent to which an individual's life is disrupted by a minor marijuana arrest, it would reduce the expense of the criminal justice system and allow law enforcement to focus its efforts on serious crimes.
This bill would create an affirmative defense to any felony or misdemeanor victimless crime.
* NH Const. Part 1. Article 3. [Society, its Organization and Purposes.] When men enter into a state of society, they surrender up some of their natural rights to that society, in order to ensure the protection of others; and, without such an equivalent, the surrender is void.
* A crime that does not have a victim does not protect anyone person's rights. A person cannot surrender his right to engage in a victimless activity when the legislature's enactment does not protect him.
* Reducing sundry offenses conserves valuable judicial resources, minimizes waste in the judicial branch budget, and reduces case backlogs in the courts (because criminal cases have calendar priority over nearly all other cases).
This bill would grant officers with "probable cause to suspect" criminal activity unlimited access to private property.
* The US 4th Amendment and the NH 19th amendment define warrants and prohibit searches without them.
* The requirement of a warrant, and the definition of an acceptable warrant, is the balance between the rights of the individual and the interest of the broader public.
This bill would grant officers with "probable cause to suspect" criminal activity unlimited access to private property.
* The US 4th Amendment and the NH 19th amendment define warrants and prohibit searches without them.
* The requirement of a warrant, and the definition of an acceptable warrant, is the balance between the rights of the individual and the interest of the broader public.
This bill would prohibit the requirement for employers to participate in the E-Verify system.
* Forces citizens and legal residents to get a permission slip to work. Expanding E-Verify would require every employer in the United States to verify the eligibility to work of every current and prospective employee using a flawed system that is riddled with errors. This will guarantee that millions of Americans will be barred from working.
* Relies on error-ridden government databases.
* All pending legislative proposals lack sufficient due process provisions to aid workers who are wrongly denied the right to start their next job.
This bill would ban any future requirement that employers vet employees via E-Verify.
* The NH Constitution does not provide requirements or grant authority to regulate the eligibility of residents to work on Federal Laws.
* This was initially proposed as a purely-voluntary system for employers but, because voluntary take-up was insufficient to sustain the Federal budget, the program has been mandated for many classes of employer.
* The passage of this law will not prohibit private employers from voluntarily using the E-Verify system.
* Free people should not need the Federal government's permission to earn a living.
This bill would require additional mandates in NH businesses.
* Government should not put mandates on private businesses. Presently, these businesses provide this information when asked.
* It is unrealistic for anyone to create a written estimate for a patient who has not yet been seen by the provider. In situations other than routine services or tests, a provider would have no way of determining the course of treatment for a patient based on a phone conversation. An auto mechanic will not do this for anything other than routine service for a vehicle without first seeing and assessing the condition of the vehicle.
* If there was a market demand for this, the market would produce it. It follows that when there is a market demand for this in the future, the market will produce it.
This bill would require additional mandates in NH businesses.
* Government should not put mandates on private businesses. Presently, these businesses provide this information when asked.
* It is unrealistic for anyone to create a written estimate for a patient who has not yet been seen by the provider. In situations other than routine services or tests, a provider would have no way of determining the course of treatment for a patient based on a phone conversation. An auto mechanic will not do this for anything other than routine service for a vehicle without first seeing and assessing the condition of the vehicle.
* If there was a market demand for this, the market would produce it.
This bill is relative to checking firearms at courthouse entrances.
* Objects left in cars are prone to being stolen, it would be a better practice to provide secure storage.
* If a place deprives you of your tools of self defense, they ought to take responsibility for storage.
* Is there something wrong with the existing storage lockers provided for Law Enforcement Officers that make them defective for civilian firearms?
This bill would disband the Certificate of Need board.
* Certificates of Need boards were mandated of the states by unelected officials in the Social Security Administration under Section 1122 of the Social Security Act. Titled "LIMITATION ON FEDERAL PARTICIPATION FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES" it threatened to withhold statewide funds for "HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE AGED AND DISABLED" and "GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS" without a CONs planning board, and promised funds to create such a board.
* It is contrary to the entire human experience that an increase in the supply of a good leads to increases in price and demand for that good. Supply and Demand are inversely proportional, and pricing is related to the subject value.
* NAY on 2012-0955H
This bill would protect property rights.
* Upholds the United States Constitution Article I Section 10 "No state shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; ...".
* Upholds Article 2 Part 1 of the NH Constitution "All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty: acquiring , possessing and defending property... ".
This bill would prohibit collective bargaining for state employees.
* The general treasury should be guarded by our representatives, not defended as a prize for certain groups of citizens at the expense of others.
* Tax dollars taken from the many and distributed to the favored few does not create wealth. Such transfers can not be considered as supportive of a middle class.
This bill would require a video recording of S.W.A.T Operations.
* S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons And Tactics) operations are the very edge of the sword of justice. No one can claim that any person could recollect with certainty what occurs during a surprise forced entry, especially if shots are fired.
* Requiring an accurate record where lethal force provides a method to review, refine, and judge such deployment in the future. This increases the safety of both officers and citizens.
* Weapons carried by S.W.A.T. officers are different in design and intent than defensive sidearms. Accommodations for additional equipment can be done in an unobtrusive manner.
* Small, uncomplicated, and relatively inexpensive cameras thus attached would satisfy the requirements of this bill.
This bill would require a video recording of S.W.A.T Operations.
* S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons And Tactics) operations are the very edge of the sword of justice. No one can claim that any person could recollect with certainty what occurs during a surprise forced entry, especially if shots are fired.
* Requiring an accurate record where lethal force provides a method to review, refine, and judge such deployment in the future. This increases the safety of both officers and citizens.
* Weapons carried by S.W.A.T. officers are different in design and intent than defensive sidearms. Accommodations for additional equipment can be done in an unobtrusive manner.
* Small, uncomplicated, and relatively inexpensive cameras thus attached would satisfy the requirements of this bill.
This bill would allow towns to reduce the rate of property tax interest.
* Property owners are compelled to pay property taxes, their delinquency fees need not also be extortive.
* It is hypocritical for someone to be opposed to high rates of interest on short-term loans; yet support usurious interest rates if someone is unable to pay their property tax.
* Private banks are currently charging 10% interest on uncollateralized personal loans with the risk of non-repayment. 18% is outrageously profitable for an organization that can place liens, confiscate real property, and eventually jail the debtor for non-payment.
This bill would set up a "clean election" fund.
* Using tax dollars to fund electioneering, thereby forcing tax payers to financially support candidates they will not vote for, is an improper use of government funds.
* Candidates with ideas that resonate with voters are able to fundraise effectively.
* Setting up a fund that can have a balance of up to $6,000,000 if not necessary or prudent in any economic environment.
This bill would remove state coercion from future collective bargaining agreements.
* Makes explicit that collective bargaining agreements shall be a voluntary contract between all individuals, employees and employers.
* Imposes upon the employer to present notice to employees. This is as unwarranted and intrusive nuisance to businesses.
This bill would give certain political candidates public campaign funds.
* Permits certain political candidates to apply directly to the state treasury to fund political campaigns.
* Unconstitutional under both state and federal constitutions as an infringement on an individual's free speech. A similar law in Vermont was struck down by the US Supreme Court for violating the 1st Amendment.
* Makes the election financing laws even more complex which effectively limits who can run for office, a violation of NH Constitution, Part I, Article 11.
* For enacting this bill, the State will incur up to $8 million in payments to political campaigns each election, plus administrative and legal expenses.
This bill would require winning contracts be posted online.
* Making the winning contract available to future bidding parties should drive costs down.
* The expense to implement this requirement could easily be offset by the gains from competition.
This bill would increase the allowable threshold for victimless speeding.
* Responsible drivers should not have to feel like criminals while commuting to work a little late and a little fast.
* Could put up to $8.9 million back into commuter's pockets.
This bill would limit penalties for victimless speeding.
* Supports Article 18 Part 1 of the NH Constitution: Penalties to be Proportional to the Offense. The punishment for speeding that causes no harm is too steep. Monetary fines and the threat of habitual offender (leading the the loss of driver's license) are too harsh.
* Responsible drivers should not have to feel like criminals while commuting to work a little late and a little fast.
* Would put $8.9 million back into commuter's pockets.
This bill would limit penalties for victimless speeding.
* Supports Article 18 Part 1 of the NH Constitution: Penalties to be Proportional to the Offense. The punishment for speeding that causes no harm is too steep. Monetary fines and the threat of habitual offender (leading the the loss of driver's license) are too harsh.
* Responsible drivers should not have to feel like criminals while commuting to work a little late and a little fast.
* Would put $8.9 million back into commuter's pockets.
This bill would expand prohibitions on drivers to include all chemical substances, whether natural or synthetic.
* This bill will markedly increase state, county, and local expenditures per fiscal note.
* Without definitive tests and scientifically based maximum acceptable levels for the thousands of substances that would fall under the purview of this bill, this bill is virtually unenforceable and subjective.
* For example, an individual taking products that contain an anti-histamine (Benadryl and OTC cold medications) can be considered under the influence as these can impair driving. This would be sufficient grounds for bio-invasive tests of any or all of any combination of the following: blood, urine, or breath. If arrested, this could result in DUI charges.
This bill would expand prohibitions on drivers to include all chemical substances, whether natural or synthetic.
* This bill will markedly increase state, county, and local expenditures per fiscal note.
* Without definitive tests and scientifically based maximum acceptable levels for the thousands of substances that would fall under the purview of this bill, this bill is virtually unenforceable and subjective.
* For example, a individual taking products that contain an anti-histamine (Benadryl and OTC cold medications) can be considered under the influence as these can impair driving. This would be sufficient grounds for bio-invasive tests of any or all of any combination of the following: blood, urine, or breath. If arrested, this could result in DUI charges.
This bill would repeal licensing requirements for money transmitters.
* Licensing of money transmitters in New Hampshire is a redundant burden. No substantive security benefit is enjoyed yet local businesses assume thousands in compliance costs, lawyer's fees, uncertainty, and opportunity costs.
* This bill opens up competition and enables companies working with new payment technologies to locate and thrive in New Hampshire.
This bill would require licensing requirements for money transmitters.
* Licensing of money transmitters in New Hampshire is a redundant burden. No substantive security benefit is enjoyed yet local businesses assume thousands in compliance costs, lawyer's fees, uncertainty, and opportunity costs.
* This bill opens up competition and enables companies working with new payment technologies to locate and thrive in the New Hampshire.
(transcriber note: should this say "repeal" instead of "require" in the summary? It doesn't currently appear to make sense. - mdrew)
This bill would transfer education functions from DOE to State BOE.
* Eliminating the state DOE allows more local control to meet the needs of individual communities and removes mandated uniformity that stifles school competition and solutions that are unique to each SAU.
* The Office of Commissioner stays intact to handle critical functions of the state education system while cutting out many layers of needless bureaucracy.
* The data collection will take place at the local (SAU) level instead of the state level.
* The state DOE encourages wasteful spending through its Bureau of School Approval and Facility Management.
* The Bureau of Credentialing would be removed. Teachers at private schools across the NH (as well as many other states) are not required to have state teaching credentials; they must have mastery of the subjects they teach. Instead, any additional professional credentials might be a competitive advantage for those individuals, but should not be required.
This bill allows for certain installment loans
* Provides services that would otherwise be unavailable to low income earners that have exhausted other means of obtaining credit.
* Short term loans help raise the quality of life for struggling families by relaxing credit constraints.
* Studies show no empirical evidence that they lead to more bankruptcy filings.
* Provides low income wage earners more options when confronted with emergency situations.
This bill would require a 3/5 vote to impose new or increased taxes or fees.
* This would make it more difficult for future legislators to increase taxes and fees, or create new ones.
This bill would allow towns to create contingency funds for unanticipated expenditures.
* This bill would allow town departments to more easily go over budget, knowing that this additional town "slush fund" would cover for their irresponsibility.
* Currently, if a town truly needs additional monies to cover an emergency situation, they can petition the Superior Court to hold a special town meeting, allowing the town’s legislative body—the people—to approve or disapprove of such expenditures. If this bill were to pass, however, it would remove the people from this equation and place the selectmen in that role.
This bill would infringe on the right to bear arms.
* The right to keep and bear arms is an original guarantee in our form of government. Both the U.S. and New Hampshire constitutions hold these rights sacred and not to be infringed.
* There has been no demonstrated or reported problem with public safety since the enactment of the current "stand your ground" law.
* Any short-sighted overreaction to existing statute is emotion-based legislation with no statistical grounding.
This bill would infringe on the right to bear arms.
* The right to keep and bear arms is an original guarantee in our form of government. Both the U.S. and State constitutions hold these rights sacred and not to be infringed.
* There has been no demonstrated or reported problem with public safety since the enactment of the current "stand your ground" law.
* Any short-sighted overreaction to existing statute is emotion-based legislation with no statistical grounding.
This bill would increase the compensation for attending county delegation meetings.
* The stated reason for this 100% increase in the per diem for state representatives attending the county delegation meeting is to increase attendance for county convention work—a responsibility every representative already agreed to when choosing to run for office.
* This legislation takes effect sixty days after passage—this is very much a case of a legislature voting itself a raise.
This bill would protect property rights.
* It upholds the United States Constitution, Article I, Section 10, which states: "No state shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; ...."
* It upholds Part I, Article 2 of the New Hampshire Constitution, which states: "All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty: acquiring, possessing, and defending property...."
This bill would increase the speed limit on a rural portion of I-93.
* It would decrease the number of penalties handed out for the victimless act of speeding.
* This would only increase the speed limit by five miles per hour, which has not been shown to increase accident rates.
The NHLA also supports related bills HB 289-FN (NAY on ITL) and HB 291-FN (NAY on ITL).
This bill would enable the growing of industrial hemp.
* Hemp is a versatile crop. In modern times it has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, construction, body products, health food, and bio-fuel.
* U.S. retail sales are estimated to exceed $350 million annually. The U.S. market for hemp clothing and textiles is approximated at $100 million annually. The estimate of total sales also includes between $60 million and $100 million annually for hemp-based foods, nutritional supplements, and body care products.
* Producers could earn roughly $120 per acre when growing industrial hemp for straw alone or straw and grain, and $340 an acre from growing certified hemp seed.
This bill would increase the tax on beer.
* This bill would give New Hampshire the highest beer tax in New England—almost four times the rate of Massachusetts, which is 11 cents per gallon. Increasing our beer tax would hurt sales in the cities and towns along the Massachusetts border.
This bill would increase the fuel oil discharge cleanup fund.
* This is a 25% increase in a fee for a dedicated fund which already had an excess of funding in the last biennium. This is unnecessary.
This bill would limit the authority of delegates to a constitutional convention.
* This bill enables the people to hold accountable a delegate to a constitutional convention called pursuant to Article V of the Constitution for the United States of America, should that delegate violate their oath of office and consider or support amendments outside of the people’s stated intent.
This bill would increase the compensation for wrongfully convicted individuals.
* Currently, regardless of how long an innocent person may spend in prison, they would only be awarded $20,000 for their wrongful incarceration. This bill would increase it to $20,000 for each year spent in prison.
* New Hampshire currently has the lowest statutory wrongful conviction compensation in the entire nation.This bill would fix that.
This bill would allow for two legislators and one senator to be appointed to the home education advisory council.
* HEAC has six representatives from the home education community, and six from other state-level education agencies, creating a stable and balanced board. Restoring voting rights to the three legislative members gives them a “second bite at the apple” by having another opportunity to impact home education rules and policy. It also makes HEAC vulnerable to political shifts as the legislative HEAC members can sway policy.
* HEAC is part of the executive branch of government. Giving the legislative members of HEAC voting rights muddies the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches.
* The original intent of SB 337 (2008) which added legislators to HEAC was to give the representatives and senator a better understanding of home education issues and law. This is not compromised by not having voting rights. Their voting rights were removed only last year via HB 545 (2012).
* This bill is flip-flop legislation, which is also counter to the role of HEAC, which is to create stability in home education rules and policy.
This bill would lower the criminal penalties for minor assaults with no injury to a violation instead of a (currently) misdemeanor.
* It upholds Part I, Article 18 of the N.H. Constitution, that penalties are to be proportional to offenses.
* It may have the secondary benefit of reducing caseloads in the court system, saving taxpayers money and allowing law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.
This bill would allow municipalities to bond to build open-access broadband infrastructure.
* It opens access to infrastructure while keeping the municipality out of the broadband business where they would be competing with private companies.
* It provides a mechanism for setting use-based access tariffs for cost recovery.
* It is enabling legislation that will result in public–private partnerships.
This bill would attach a Class B felony to persons open carrying in a public building.
* Like HB 135, this bill infringes upon the right to keep and bear arms, which is an original guarantee in our form of government. Both the U.S. and State constitutions hold these rights sacred and not to be infringed.
* There has been no demonstrated or reported problem with public safety caused by people openly carrying firearms on public property.
This bill would require criminal background checks by yet another.
* It makes the State violate individuals’ privacy and meddles in the private affairs of private companies.
* Background checks are already standard procedure for many youth camps, generally required in order to obtain liability insurance. This bill is an attempt to fix a problem that has already been solved by the private sector.
* This sort of mandate will have the unintended consequence of driving away volunteers and employees who simply wish to protect their privacy.
* It feeds into the overblown moral panic over pedophilia that has been gripping our nation since the 1980s.
* It creates a new $25 fee that these people must pay to the State in order to secure a private-sector job.
This bill would require criminal background checks by yet another
* It makes the State violate individuals’ privacy and meddles in the private affairs of private companies. Background checks are already standard procedure for many youth camps, generally required in order to obtain liability insurance. This bill is an attempt to fix a problem that has already been solved by the private sector.
* This sort of mandate will have the unintended consequence of driving away volunteers and employees who simply wish to protect their privacy.
* It feeds into the overblown moral panic over pedophilia that has been gripping our nation since the 1980s.
* It creates a new $25 fee that these people must pay to the State in order to secure a private-sector job.
This bill would allow the Board of Education to end the moratorium on charter schools.
* The legislative intent of the 110% clause (2012) was to provide financial support of New Hampshire’s public charter schools in light of the DOE's under-projection of future N.H. public charter school enrollments. This support represents the Legislature’s intent and obligation to fund the adequacy of N.H.’s public students, whether they flourish in a public district or public charter school (RSA 198:42).
* The State Board of Education’s decision last September to deny any new charter applicants authorization was based on their questioning the Legislature’s intent to fund the adequacy of New Hampshire public charter schools. They questioned their ability to bind the next Legislature; however, every public school student binds the next Legislature for education expenses.
* This correction to the 110% clause has the support of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office and the Board of Education as a fix to the charter school moratorium.
This bill would establish a legally-recognized expectation of privacy.
* This bill establishes an expectation of privacy in certain "personal materials" such as fingerprints, saliva, hair, and household papers, unless a search warrant is supported by probable cause.
* Breaches of this privacy right are punishable as a class B misdemeanor, or as a class B felony for subsequent violations.
This bill would equalize the wholesale discount rate on wine for all retailers.
* This bill would uphold Part 1, Article 10 of the New Hampshire Constitution: "Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family or class of men."
* The State should not interfere with the operation of the free market.
This bill would provide additional choices for the disposal of human remains.
* Currently, performing alkaline hydrolysis in N.H. is a misdemeanor; this bill would decriminalize it.
* This could provide for a less expensive and eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation or burial for the disposal of the remains of a loved ones.
This bill would exempt employees that opt not to join a union from agency fees.
* To force someone that chooses not to associate with a union to pay dues to that union anyway is an act of coercion.
* Employment should be solely based upon the mutual benefit between employee and business.
* The NHLA opposes the criminal penalties and notice posting requirements contained in this bill.
This bill would repeal the scheduled increase of the tobacco tax.
* An increase in the cigarette tax will have a greater impact upon the poor. Cigarette taxes are regressive. Families in the bottom twenty percent of income earners spend four percent of their after-tax income on tobacco, compared to one half of one percent by families in the top twenty percent bracket.
* Cigarette taxes are ineffective at stopping people from smoking. Tax-bearing cigarette smokers typically do not smoke less when rates go up; they and their families consume less of other things.
* Government exists to protect each individual’s life, liberty, and property from attack by other individuals. It does not exist to protect individuals from making poor choices, or to restrict their choices of legal activities.
This bill repeals the prohibition on tinted glass in motor vehicles.
* Drivers from other states may drive on our roads with tinted glass; the currently law only applies to vehicles registered in New Hampshire.
* The current restriction only applies to after-market tinting; factory tinting is not prohibited.
This bill would limit an employers’ hiring practices.
* Government should not be dictating hiring practices for businesses.
* This would increase the risks involved in hiring, making firms more reluctant to bring on new employees.Like many other well-intentioned measures this could result in detrimental effect on the people it seeks to help.
* Credit reports are less subjective criteria for evaluating the potential of new employees. Without the use of a pre-employment credit check, many employers will likely use other more arbitrary means in making a selection.
* Only 13% of employers conduct credit checks on all job candidates, while 47% do for certain jobs. Typically those jobs are for senior personnel in critical positions. This bill is attempting to address a perceived problem, not a real one.
This bill would repeal the education tax credit program in its first year.
* Nearly 450 children have applied for scholarships to date from families with an average family income of only $45,000. More than 50% of these families qualify for free/reduced lunch.
* The program is in its infancy and the first scholarship organization was only approved by the Department of Revenue in January 2013. The scholarship program should be given time. Repealing it now would amount to flip-flop legislation.
* The average scholarship amount of $2,500 would put educational alternatives within reach for low-income families in our communities. While it is true that the élite private schools in our state, such as St. Paul’s and Phillips Exeter, have extremely high tuition, most private and alternative schools cost far, far less—and offer financial assistance to families. The combination of financial aid and the tax credit scholarship would make alternatives feasible for many families.
* The tax credit scholarships are not just for religious schools. These scholarships may be used for independent private schools, public schools outside the family’s district, as well as home education expenses.
* The fiscal note prepared by the Department of Education states that repeal will increase state expenditures by over $550,000 more than it would increase tax revenue. In other words, the scholarship program saves the state money.
* Vouchers and tax credit programs are not equivalent and the difference is not merely an accounting gimmick. Vouchers are distributed from monies received by the government and then distributed. Tax credit programs such as this scholarship program in New Hampshire, uses pre-tax dollars and come from voluntary charitable donations. This is similar to any other voluntary donation to non-profit organizations. Money does not belong to the government before taxes and should be directed as the business owners and individuals choose.
This bill would reduce the fee for out-of-staters to obtain a pistol permit.
* This bill reduces a large fee charged to people who wish to engage in the natural right of self-defense.
* This bill will bring non-resident fees back in line with resident fees, rather than trying to make it into a revenue source, as it was when this fee was increased several years ago.
* The Department of Safety has stated they have actually seen a decrease in revenue since the rate was raised from $20 to $100. Lowering the fee would regain those lost revenues and attract tourists into the state.
This bill would protect guardians ad litem
* It protect guardians ad litem by providing judicial immunity.
* It provides a measure of accountability by removing their judicial immunity in the event of grossly negligent, malicious, or corrupt acts.
This bill would affirm that owners of firearms are not liable for the criminal actions of thieves.
* Their was a recent demonstrated need for this bill, with an attempt to sue a gun owner in Coös County who had been robbed of his property and the criminal used his property in the commission of an additional crime.
* This bill ensures that the responsibility of criminal acts are placed wholly on the criminal—not the victim.
* This bill ensures that law-abiding gun owners are not victimized twice.
This bill would allow citizens to have voice against a government agent.
* The people ought to always have the power to register and have heard a complaint against an agent of the government, especially one whose work can so significantly affect their lives.
This bill would repeal the scheduled 2016 sunset of a fee increased in 2009.
* This is a future tax increase and would be better left to the Legislature that would have greater knowledge as to the need for funding at that time.
This bill would repeal a decrease in vessel registration fees.
* Repealing an already-planned decrease is effectively an increase.
This bill would prohibit amending a petitioned warrant article at a deliberative session in SB 2 towns.
* This bill would make it impossible to correct or clarify petitioned warrant articles if problems are discovered with one (for example, a specific dollar figure must be changed), potentially rendering an article unimplementable even if it were to pass.
* This bill would establish different, stricter rules for SB 2 towns than for traditional town meeting towns, where such amendments would still be able to take place.
This bill would prohibit amending a petitioned warrant article at a deliberative session in SB 2 towns.
* This bill would make it impossible to correct or clarify petitioned warrant articles if problems are discovered with one (for example, a specific dollar figure must be changed), potentially rendering an article unimplementable even if it were to pass.
* This bill would establish different, stricter rules for SB 2 towns than for traditional town meeting towns, where such amendments would still be able to take place.
This bill would prohibit the privatization of prisons.
* An inmate in a privately run prison does not have the same legal protections against abuse that an inmate in a state run prison has.
* It would put someone other than the State in the position of punishing crimes against the State.
* It upholds Part II, Article 88 of the N.H. Constitution: "All indictments, presentments, and informations, shall conclude, "against the peace and dignity of the state." "
This bill would repeal requirements for a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver.
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual’s right to self-defense.
* Citizens can and do carry openly without any effect on public safety.
* There are other penalties for using a firearm in the actual commission of a crime.
This bill would prevent the repeal of New Hampshire’s IAC (“Fusion Center”).
* The IAC cedes state sovereignty to the federal government.
* Fusion Centers in other states, such as Missouri, were shown to have included activists and accountability watchdogs on their “terrorist” watch lists.
* Several state employees are assigned to the IAC. With limited resources in the state budget, these people could be reassigned to more important duties in law enforcement, education, or road construction.
* Placing sandbags during the spring thaw can be handled without a federal bureaucracy overseeing our response to weather conditions.
This bill would protect the privacy of individual rate payers.
* These meters can be an invasion of privacy and a back-door opening to outside control of devices within your house.
* Requiring the owner’s permission protects their privacy while allowing those who want these features to have them.
This bill increases the regulations for landlords.
* This bill increase regulations on rooming house landlords by conferring legal "tenancy" status on occupants residing in the rooming house for ninety days or more.
* An unintended consequence that this bill could create would be a shortage of very low-income housing, which would result in many current occupants ending up in homeless shelters at taxpayer expense.
This bill would restore local control of school districts.
* The district system is: (1) a well-tested, moderate solution providing school choice while keeping taxpayer funds within the public schools, (2) allows communities to opt out of uniform curricula, such as Common Core, and (3) opens the door to innovation and increased parental involvement.
* Waiving state funding in one district leaves a larger pool of available funds for the remaining districts.
* A district cannot be handpicked as enrollment is open to all residents.
* New districts can lease space in existing districts, easing transitions and minimizing budget uncertainty.
This bill would regulate landlords and tenants regarding infestation of bed bugs.
* Much of what this bill mandates should be handled through voluntary contracts mutually agreed to by landlords and tenants, not through legislation.
* The bill establishes potential liability upon tenants for the cost of bed bug mitigation, whether or not they were actually responsible for the infestation.
* It establishes a power of landlords to enter rental properties without the consent of tenants.
This bill would allow the use of therapeutic cannabis.
* Doctors and patients, not bureaucrats, should be the ones to make important medical decisions.
* This bill does not violate federal law. States are not required to enforce federal law, and the U.S. Attorney General has declared that the federal government will not prosecute patients in states with this type of legislation.
* Federal interference in state medical law is a violation of state sovereignty, as protected by Part I, Article 7 of the New Hampshire Constitution.
This bill as amended would expand local control for the hours of sales of on-premises liquor licensees.
* Businesses should have the freedom to set their own hours to satisfy market and consumer demands.
* The New Hampshire Constitution guarantees in Part I, Article 2: "All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights—among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty; ... and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness."
This bill would expand the community rating.
* This bill would expand the community rating ratio for the state and allow for a more competitive health insurance market.
* It would increase the flexibility of our market, making it more attractive to insurance companies, potentially giving New Hampshire citizens better health insurances prices and choices.
This bill would clarify the statutes regulating the jurisdiction of the family courts.
* It would remove the "notwithstanding any other law to the contrary" clause from RSA 490-D:3, thereby allowing other statutes to regulate the family courts in concert with this statute. Currently, the courts have pointed to this clause in order to ignore other statutes attempting to regulate them.
* This bill would allow rules of evidence to be created in the family courts. Currently, there is no absolute standard by which a judge can be required to allow admissible evidence into court.
* This bill is in response to several actual cases that were brought before last session’s Redress Committee.
This bill would return the State to more prudent debt levels by limiting the authorization of new debt.
* It would limit the authorization of new debt to no more than 90% of retired debt.
* It would help to ensure a positive bond rating for New Hampshire.
This bill is a tax increase.
* This bill is an increase in a tax which should be more closely evaluated for compliance with the constitutional restrictions on it (N.H. Const., Part II, Article 6-a), before it is increased.
* This bill reaches well into the purview of future Legislatures, especially for the diesel tax.
This bill would prohibit some images of a person’s residence to be taken from the air.
* The penalties against the government spying on persons are good, but the limitations on valid businesses and private parties using this technology are overly broad and very difficult to enforce.
* Wiretapping and eavesdropping are crimes already, and taking somebody’s image clandestinely can be part of a tort action; therefore, this bill is unnecessary. There is no demonstrable problem that needs to be solved at this time.
* This bill also criminalizes legitimate activities where nothing nefarious is going on.
Our full recommendation: YEA on recommit or ITL, YEA on the floor amendment, and NAY on OTP/A.
This bill would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.
* In a free society, individuals should not be harshly punished for peaceful activities which do not harm others. Thus, it is more appropriate to punish simple marijuana possession with a citation and a fine than with a criminal conviction and possible jail time.
* Modeled after laws in other states, this bill would help avoid the unintended consequences associated with marijuana prohibition. By reducing the extent to which an individual’s life is disrupted by a minor marijuana arrest, it would reduce the expense of the criminal justice system and allow law enforcement to focus its efforts on serious crimes.
* Part I, Article 18 of the N.H. Constitution states, in part: "All penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense. ... Where the same undistinguishing severity is exerted against all offenses, the people are led to forget the real distinction in the crimes themselves, and to commit the most flagrant with as little compunction as they do the lightest offenses."
This bill would grant special privileges to a specific class of citizens.
* It violates Part I, Article 10 of the N.H. Constitution: "Government being instituted for the common benefit ... and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men. ..."
This bill would restore powers to the elected legislature.
* This bill establishes licensure and renewal fees by statute rather than by administrative rule for a number of small boards.
* This bill reduces fees for the cost of the boards which allows more employment opportunities.
This bill would increase the tobacco tax.
* This tax is regressive in nature and will be felt most by the poor and those on fixed incomes.
* New Hampshire already taxes cigarettes more than thirty other states.
* This tax will hurt the New Hampshire economy and reduce its competitive advantage with nearby states.
This bill would severely increase penalties for nonpayment of property taxes.
* This bill would violate Part 1, Article 18 of the New Hampshire Constitution, that all penalties ought to be proportional to the nature of the offense.
This bill
* There are already coöperative water districts in the state; this is redundant legislation.
* The bill has the potential to destroy property rights for property owners who prefer to maintain their own personal wells and septic systems.
* There is no voluntary opt-in provision for private property owners if a new district is formed. Owners could be required to pay even if they do not connect to the system.
* The NHLA supports Floor Amendment 1728h, which removes the bill’s current "government knows best" statement of purpose.
This bill
* There are already cooperative water districts in the state; this is redundant legislation.
* The bill has the potential to destroy property rights for property owners who prefer to maintain their own personal wells and septic systems.
* There is no voluntary opt-in provision for private property owners if a new district is formed. Owners could be required to pay even if they do not connect to the system.
* The NHLA supports Floor Amendment 1728h, which removes the bill’s current "government knows best" statement of purpose.
This bill
* Rather than establishing user fees for water services, this bill allows towns and cities to fund the services via property tax assessments—not only does this allow people who use more water to potentially be billed the same as those who use less, but it also means people who are not even using the service might end up paying for it.
* This bill will promote the further development of centralized water and sewer services, services which often result in localities banning people from installing their own wells or septic tanks, and further increasing people’s dependence on government-provided services.
This bill
* The requirement that a camera be installed along with the interlock device is a severe privacy violation: Passengers as well as drivers can be photographed and tracked without the knowledge of the passengers. Photographs and location data will be stored for three years by the state and the company manufacturing the interlock devices.
* The Department of Safety will essentially be acting as prosecutor and judge in administrative hearings related to interlock devices. The only recourse by aggrieved defendants is an appeal to the N.H. Supreme Court.
This bill
* The requirement that a camera be installed along with the interlock device is a severe privacy violation: Passengers as well as drivers can be photographed and tracked without the knowledge of the passengers. Photographs and location data will be stored for three years by the state and the company manufacturing the interlock devices.
* The Department of Safety will essentially be acting as prosecutor and judge in administrative hearings related to interlock devices. The only recourse by aggrieved defendants is an appeal to the N.H. Supreme Court.
This bill
* This bill updates the N.H. corporations act to follow model corporate legislation as adopted in other states.
* Harmonizing our corporate laws with those common in other states will make New Hampshire a more attractive place for businesses to incorporate.
This bill would enable towns and cities to appraise historic buildings at a percentage of market value, in order to encourage the preservation of the historic buildings.
* This bill will allow towns and cities to grant preferential tax breaks, raising taxes for everyone else.
* A differentiated tax rate is unconstitutional (Part II, Art. 6), as opposed to a tax abatement.
This bill
* It allows patients quicker access to medicine they need: If the approval process by a health benefit plan takes more than 48 hours to complete, access to the drug will automatically be approved.
This bill
* Transfer of plates to a spouse is already permitted for POW and Pearl Harbor survivor plates; this would include Purple Heart plates as well.
* The NHLA strongly supports floor amendment 2013-1993h, which adds the text of HB399 to this bill and would prohibit our state from supporting or implementing the indefinite detention provisions of the NDAA. The original bill had passed unanimously through two House committees and on the floor by a vote of 337–15, before being killed by the Senate. This amendment would help protect the freedoms that our veterans have fought for.
YEA on 2013-1993H
This bill
* This bill would codify into N.H. law Common Core standards, which is central federal planning applied to education.
* This bill lacks a fiscal note and its implementation would increase costs to school districts, violating Part I, Art. 28-a of the N.H. Constitution. The Pioneer Institute has estimated that New Hampshire’s cost for Common Core adoption will be an additional $404 per pupil per year for the first seven years of implementation. This does not include the current costs incurred in our public school system.
* Common Core significantly lowers education expectations and standards—particularly in mathematics and science—when our students need more education, not less.
* New Hampshire already has some of the best education outcomes in the country. The bill will cost us money, when we simply do not need to spend it. Our local school districts need the flexibility to adapt their curricula to local needs, the desires of the local community, and abilities of the students.
This bill
* This bill cobbles together a solution to a problem which would be better addressed at the root cause. If passed, this issue of "assisted living" lacking a proper definition and being handled under the proper statute will still need to be addressed.
* This bill may do as intended but it may also introduce unexpected problems.
This bill would delete the prospective repeal of the controlled drug prescription health and safety program.
This bill
* There has been no documented evidence that lead fishing sinkers have a detrimental impact on local or regional loon populations. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, loon populations are either stable or are actually increasing across the nation.
* The use and sale of lead sinkers and jigs is already illegal. Increasing penalties will have no impact on the use of these devices.
This bill
* By requiring a litigant to have an attorney or post a bond, this bill potentially limits pro se or poor litigants’ access to the courts—violating Part I, Article 14 of the New Hampshire Constitution in the process.
* There is already a penalty for frivolous litigation. See RSA 507:15.
This bill
* By requiring a litigant to have an attorney or post a bond, this bill potentially limits pro se or poor litigants’ access to the courts—violating Part I, Article 14 of the New Hampshire Constitution in the process.
* There is already a penalty for frivolous litigation. See RSA 507:15.
This bill
* This bill would replace the GED exam with one that is aligned with Common Core. Although the Common Core language does not appear anywhere in the bill, it will continue the switch to this new and unproven standard.
* The Board of Education decided to implement the new exam beginning in January 2014, and the Legislature has yet to approve it. This bill is just the “rubber stamp” to legitimize their actions. The Legislature represents the people; the BOE is an unelected board of the Executive Branch, and this is an overreach of their authority.
* The decision to implement more Common Core–aligned testing is also questionable. Like other Common Core–related changes, there are serious fundamental flaws in these untested standards that have not been addressed. These standards are not proven or internationally competitive according to academic experts, so further conversion of our education system to Common Core is irresponsible without further study.
This bill would provide that landowners who allow the use of their land for recreational activity owe no duty of care to individuals engaged in the construction of trails on such land.
This bill
* The shrimp fisheries are already regulated to prevent over-harvest through other means. A commercial license for shrimp was not necessary before and it is not necessary now.
* This new license is simply an attempt to extract more money out of an already small and hard-pressed industry. This bill is an attack on hard-working New Hampshire fishermen.
This bill
* By modifying existing contractual arrangements between manufacturers and dealers, this bill violates both Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution for the united States of America, which prevents states from passing laws "impairing the Obligation of Contracts," and Part I, Article 23 of the New Hampshire Constitution, which prohibits retrospective laws.
* This bill increases state bureaucracy.
* It is a special interest bill: A small handful of corporate dealers are trying to circumvent the bargaining table through legislation, while maintaining the contractually created franchising benefits. They want the benefits of limiting supply to end customers, but none of the downsides of working under exclusive supplier agreements.
This bill
* It establishes a new licensing requirement for this profession.
* There is currently no demonstrated need for the regulation of genetic counseling.
* Most of the patient harm that actually occurs is due to doctors and other medical professionals acting beyond their knowledge—not from supposedly non-qualified people claiming to be genetic counselors. This bill will not fix that problem.
The NHLA is not opposed to liberalizing gambling laws <em>per se</em>. The freedom to gamble is a liberty issue. However, this particular bill is anti-liberty.
* It legislates a monopoly to one private provider, unconstitutional under Part II, Article 83 of the New Hampshire Constitution.
* The state should not be in the business of choosing winners or losers; all businesses should be allowed to compete in a free market. An improvement would be modeling the casino licenses after other business licenses, e.g., liquor licenses, that are available to any qualified applicant.
* The tax rates on gaming revenues in this bill could be considered usurious; they should be no different than other business taxes.
* Much of the debate centered around how much money this would bring to state coffers, so clearly this bill is about expanding government, not increasing people’s freedom.
* The Legislature should be looking at creative ways to reduce the size, scope, and cost of state government, not large new revenue sources.
This bill
* Collective bargaining agreements are potentially very costly to the state in the long run. Meaningful legislative oversight of the creation of such a large block of state spending and future liabilities is essential.
* This bill greatly improves accountability to the voters.
This bill
* Collective bargaining agreements are potentially very costly to the state in the long run. Meaningful legislative oversight of the creation of such a large block of state spending and future liabilities is essential.
* This bill greatly improves accountability to the voters.
This bill would create a fund waiting for a disaster,.
* It gives the Director of Homeland Security the authority to hand out privately-donated funds with no oversight except by a committee he appointed himself.
This bill
* This bill allows New Hampshire towns and cities to add even more regulations to local planning and zoning ordinances, further controlling people’s private property.
* Additionally, the bill is based on a mere theory—sea level rise—as opposed to facts.
This bill
* It reduces the mandatory training hours currently required to be a fuel gas service technician from 5,000 to 2,000, and also allows 750 of the 2,000 hours to be fulfilled while servicing oil-fired appliances.
* The new education requirements are set in statute, rather than rules, ensuring that only the democratically-elected Legislature has the power to amend these requirements rather than unelected bureaucrats.
This bill provides a check on the executive branch.
* This bill allows the Legislature to vet judicial appointments. It is very difficult to remove problematic judges currently; this bill would allow the Legislature to head off this problem by refusing to confirm judges that are already known to be a problem.
This bill would criminalize failure to report witnessed animal cruelty.
* The original intent of this bill was to stop certain animal rights activists from trespassing upon private family farms, or gaining employment there under false pretenses, and then fraudulently reporting animal cruelty to the public. This bill would have required such people to report to the authorities that they are witnessing such, which would have made them criminally liable themselves if they knowingly make false reports.
* The bill was intended to narrowly apply to farm workers and to deal with several genuine crimes—however, the way it was written, it had the unintended consequences described below, and for this reason the NHLA opposes the bill.
* This bill makes each of us an agent of the state with a duty to inform on our neighbor if we see animal cruelty. There is no current prohibition on reporting animal cruelty, and it should remain voluntary, not compulsory.
This bill would criminalize failure to report witnessed animal cruelty.
* This bill makes each of us an agent of the state with a duty to inform on our neighbor if we see animal cruelty.
* There is no current prohibition on reporting animal cruelty, and it should remain voluntary, not compulsory.
This bill would criminalize failure to report witnessed animal cruelty.
* This bill makes each of us an agent of the state with a duty to inform on our neighbor if we see animal cruelty. There is no current prohibition on reporting animal cruelty, and it should remain voluntary, not compulsory.
This bill extends the hours to purchase liquor.
* This bill clearly increases individual choice, and increases the ability of the free market to supply those choices. Would allow the option for people who get off from work after 11:45pm.
* It is an opt-in bill where local cities and townships can decide for themselves if they want to have later hours.
* Sales will now match the hours of the stores in Maine, as well as match the changes to on-premises serving hours for restaurants that were made last year.
This bill extends the hours to purchase liquor.
* This bill clearly increases individual choice, and increases the ability of the free market to supply those choices. Would allow the option for people who get off from work after 11:45pm.
* It is an opt-in bill where local cities and townships can decide for themselves if they want to have later hours.
* Sales will now match the hours of the stores in Maine, as well as match the changes to on-premises serving hours for restaurants that were made last year.
This bill would create a special class of persons.
* Violates Article 10, Part 1 of the NH Constitution - "Government being instituted for the common benefit, ...and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men;...".
This bill would create a special class of persons.
* Violates Article 10, Part 1 of the NH Constitution - "Government being instituted for the common benefit, ...and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men;...".
This bill would give the federal government power to decide who can work.
* Deciding who is allowed to work or not is too much power to entrust to a federal government, which is all too capable of bureaucratic ineptness, and all too willing to hurt its political enemies.
* The E-verify system has mistakenly prevented completely legal citizens from taking a job.
* The system is a threat to privacy and is too much like RealID, which NH has rightly rejected.
* "Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely to give him comfortable subsistence." -- Thomas Jefferson.
This bill would give the federal government power to decide who can work.
* Deciding who is allowed to work or not is too much power to entrust to a federal government, which is all too capable of bureaucratic ineptness, and all too willing to hurt its political enemies.
* The E-verify system has mistakenly prevented completely legal citizens from taking a job.
* The system is a threat to privacy and is too much like RealID, which NH has rightly rejected.
* "Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely to give him comfortable subsistence." -- Thomas Jefferson.
This bill grants legal immunity to medical providers who report patients to the DMV/DOS.
* The bill is written broadly and can be arbitrarily imposed and enforced. For example, there is no time period in which the driver must be deemed unfit to "safely operate a motor vehicle" based on one person's observation. A person with two broken legs is obviously unfit, but once healed should not be restricted under the scarlet letter of the medical reporting.
* This bill enables private medical records to be retained indefinitely by the DMV, possibly violating HIPAA rules and weakening—by practice if not intent—the privacy of personal medical records.
This bill, as amended, would allow anyone to report suspected medically unfit drivers with no responsibility for incorrect reports.
* This bill is a complete violation of RSA 329:26 which ensures us that: "The confidential relations and communications between a physician ... and the patient ... are placed on the same basis as those provided by law between attorney and client, and, except as otherwise provided by law, no such physician ... shall be required to disclose such privileged communications. ..."
* The amendment actually goes much further than medical professionals; it says "Any person including" such people.
* Any bill that grants immunity like this is anti-liberty on "lack of personal responsibility" grounds. There are already enough laws on the books allowing the motor vehicle bureaucrats to arbitrarily take away/suspend someone's drivers license, with no recourse for the person if they're harmed by such (e.g., losing their job because they can't get to work anymore), even if they ultimately get their license back.
This bill attempts to fix a non-existent problem.
* Polysomnographers are already certified by national certification agencies, so mandating an additional layer of state bureaucracy doesn’t improve consumer protection, it merely increases the cost of doing business and providing a service.
* Sleep disorders are serious maladies, and medical care providers and insurers will ensure their employees are trained and certified to improve customer satisfaction and avoid liability.
* NAY on OTP/A
This bill attempts to fix a non-existent problem.
* Polysomnographers are already certified by national certification agencies, so mandating an additional layer of state bureaucracy doesn't improve consumer protection, it merely increases the cost of doing business and providing a service.
* Sleep disorders are serious maladies, and medical care providers and insurers will ensure their employees are trained and certified to improve customer satisfaction and avoid liability.
* NAY on OTP/A
This bill makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate based on unemployment status.
* This Orwellian "thoughtcrime" is virtually unenforceable and sets a bad precedent by criminalizing a non-action and the subjective judgment used in normal business activity.
* A penalty of up to $5,000 per violation is grossly inappropriate and violates Part I Art. 18 of the NH constitution: "All penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense."
This bill makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate based on unemployment status.
* This Orwellian "thoughtcrime" is virtually unenforceable and sets a bad precedent by criminalizing a non-action and the subjective judgment used in normal business activity.
* A penalty of up to $5,000 per violation is grossly inappropriate and violates Part I Art. 18 of the NH constitution: "All penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense."
This bill makes it a misdemeanor to photograph and share your ballot.
* This is a solution in search of a problem. There is no evidence that citizens are being coerced into recording their ballots.
* Most citizens are proud of their right to vote, and some wish to share it with friends. It is their choice and their constitutional right to free speech – US Constitution - First Amendment and NH Constitution Part I, Art. 22.
* After-the-fact photos are not currently illegal according to RSA 659:35.
This bill, as amended, makes it a misdemeanor to photograph and share your ballot.
* This is a solution in search of a problem. There is no evidence that citizens are being coerced into recording their ballots.
* Most citizens are proud of their right to vote, and some wish to share it with friends. It is their choice and their constitutional right to free speech – US Constitution - First Amendment and NH Constitution Part I, Art. 22.
* After-the-fact photos are not currently illegal according to RSA 659:35.
This bill, as amended, makes it a misdemeanor to photograph and share your ballot.
* This is a solution in search of a problem. There is no evidence that citizens are being coerced into recording their ballots.
* Most citizens are proud of their right to vote, and some wish to share it with friends. It is their choice and their constitutional right to free speech.
* After-the-fact photos are not currently illegal according to RSA 659:35. If someone was charged for posting a photo of their ballot, they could argue that they're not showing someone how they are "about to vote" but how they voted (past tense).
This report increases requirements and penalties on real estate licensees.
* A minimum fine of $10,000 for holding oneself out as a real estate salesperson after having his/her license suspended is an inappropriately harsh penalty.
* There is no proof that attending more required classes leads to better understanding or professionalism. Experience, broker supervision, membership organization rules, and personal ethics are more important than continuing education classes.
* Mandating an increase from 12 to 15 hours of CEU courses for all licensees, regardless of their career experience, is a blanket approach with no proven effect other than raising the cost of doing business and enriching a very small number of instructors.
This bill increases requirements and penalties on real estate licensees.
* The imposition of a fine of minimum $10,000 for holding oneself out as a real estate salesperson after having his/her license suspended is an inappropriately harsh penalty.
* There is no proof that attending more required classes leads to better understanding or professionalism. Experience, broker supervision, and personal ethics are more important that continuing education classes.
* Mandating the same increase from 12 to 15 hours of CEU courses for all licensees, regardless of their experience or area of specialization, is a misdirected approach to improving levels of professionalism or customer service.
This bill increases requirements and penalties on real estate licensees.
* The imposition of a fine of minimum $10,000 for holding oneself out as a real estate salesperson after having his/her license suspended is an inappropriately harsh penalty.
* There is no proof that attending more required classes leads to better understanding or professionalism. Experience, broker supervision, and personal ethics are more important that continuing education classes.
* Mandating the same increase from 12 to 15 hours of CEU courses for all licensees, regardless of their experience or area of specialization, is a misdirected approach to improving levels of professionalism or customer service.
This bill would clarify the charter school approval process.
* This bill is intended to directly address the concerns from the charter school moratorium of 2012 and 2013. This bill would require the NH BOE to approve charter schools if they meet all the requirements defined by RSA 194-B:3 and not delay or deny approval based on the status of state funding availability.
* HB 424 requires a state agency to fulfill its obligations to proposed charter schools that they are receiving money to provide.
This bill is an unfunded mandate on the insurance companies.
* Increases regulation as well as it increases the size of government by requiring more extensive involvement from both the Insurance Commission and the Attorney General's office.
* Representatives from the insurance industry said that it would increase marketing costs in this state just because separate materials would have to be prepared, and because of that, mailing costs would also increase.
This bill is an unfunded mandate on the insurance companies.
* Increases regulation as well as it increases the size of government by requiring more extensive involvement from both the Insurance Commission and the Attorney General's office.
* Representatives from the insurance industry said that it would increase marketing costs in this state just because separate materials would have to be prepared, and because of that, mailing costs would also increase.
Relative to funding for chartered public school pupils.
* NH charter schools are part of the public school system.
* For many low- and middle-income families, charter schools provide their only access to schools of their choice.
* No new money is needed because the state budget's line item for charter schools has a surplus. State adequacy will not increase from existing levels per the LBO. Adequacy costs will decrease, with surpluses projected at $6M and $11.8M in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
* If HB 435 passed, charter schools would receive only 2% of the state adequacy aid with the 98% going to traditional public schools.
This bill would increase funding for charter schools.
* NH charter schools are part of the public school system.
* For many low- and middle-income families, charter schools provide their only access to schools of their choice.
* Charters play a critical role in the free-market of education.
* Insufficient funding presents a significant risk for charter schools particularly in the early years of operation. Low funding levels can effectively close educational options to the most needy in our communities.
This bill allows small businesses to provide a gaming service to customers.
* Avoids the pitfall of granting a monopoly (or duopoly) by allowing small businesses to host Keno, as well as honoring the NH Constitution: "free and fair competition is an inherent right of the people".
* Estimated to raise at least $9 million per year for the Education Fund in true NH-fashion: through voluntary means, consistent with other lottery games.
* NH Lottery estimates that Granite State citizens spend $24 million annually at MA Keno outlets. This bill allows our citizens to spend that money locally. Five of the top ten MA Keno outlets are within ten minutes of the NH border. HB 485 increases consumer choice and freedom.
This bill allows small businesses to provide a gaming service to customers.
* Avoids the pitfall of granting a monopoly (or duopoly) by allowing small businesses to host Keno, as well as honoring the NH Constitution: "free and fair competition is an inherent right of the people".
* Raises at least $9 million per year for the Education Fund in true NH-fashion: through voluntary means, consistent with other lottery games.
* NH Lottery estimates that Granite State citizens spend $24 million annually at MA Keno outlets. This bill allows our citizens to spend that money locally. Five of the top ten MA Keno outlets are within ten minutes of the NH border. HB 485 increases consumer choice and freedom.
This bill allows a form of lottery- run legalizing gaming in NH- based small businesses.
* By allowing multiple applicants to host Keno, avoids the pitfalls of granting a monopoly or duopoly and not running afoul of the NH Constitution's admonition that "free and fair competition is an inherent right of the people." Consenting adults have a right to engage in this activity.
* Raises at least $9 million per year for the Education Fund in true NH-fashion: through voluntary means, consistent with other lottery games.
* NH Lottery estimates that Granite State citizens spend $24 million annually at MA Keno outlets. This bill allows our citizens to spend that money locally. Five of the top ten MA Keno outlets are within ten minutes of the NH border. HB 485 increases consumer choice and freedom.
This bill would tax and regulate marijuana.
* Adults have a fundamental right to make choices about how they treat their bodies, including what substances they ingest. 65% of New Hampshire voters support taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol.
* According to the NHCLU, New Hampshire spent $6,526,364 on enforcing marijuana possession laws in 2010 alone. If HB492 were to become law, we would be receiving tens of millions in taxes instead.
* Although the NHLA generally opposes new or increased taxes such as the ones included in HB492, they may be appropriate in this instance because:
* "Sin taxes" may be considered a user fee when used to address potential costs to society from the taxed activity.
* Keeping the price of marijuana artificially high through taxes would more closely mirror the current street price, and bring much-needed revenue to the general fund instead of letting the profit go to street gangs and drug cartels.
* Taxing and regulating marijuana would improve the status quo so significantly that these taxes are an acceptable compromise in exchange for this expansion of personal liberty
This bill would tax and regulate marijuana.
* Adults have a fundamental right to make choices about how they treat their bodies, including what substances they ingest.
* 60% of New Hampshire voters support taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol.
* According to the ACLU, New Hampshire spent $6,526,364 on enforcing marijuana possession laws in 2010 alone. If HB492 were to become law, we would be receiving millions in taxes instead.
* Although the NHLA generally opposes new or increased taxes such as the ones included in HB492, they may be appropriate in this instance because:
* "Sin taxes" may be considered a user fee when used to address potential costs to society from the taxed activity.
* Keeping the price of marijuana artificially high through taxes would more closely mirror the current street price, and bring much-needed revenue to the general fund—instead of letting the profit go to street gangs and drug cartels.
* Taxing and regulating marijuana would improve the status quo so significantly that these taxes are an acceptable compromise in exchange for this expansion of personal liberty.
This bill would tax and regulate marijuana.
* Adults have a fundamental right to make choices about how they treat their bodies, including what substances they ingest.
* 60% of New Hampshire voters support taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol.
* According to the ACLU, New Hampshire spent $6,526,364 on enforcing marijuana possession laws in 2010 alone. If HB492 were to become law, we would be receiving millions in taxes instead.
* Although the NHLA generally opposes new or increased taxes such as the ones included in HB492, they may be appropriate in this instance because:
* "Sin taxes" may be considered a user fee when used to address potential costs to society from the taxed activity.
* Keeping the price of marijuana artificially high through taxes would more closely mirror the current street price, and bring much-needed revenue to the general fund—instead of letting the profit go to street gangs and drug cartels.
* Taxing and regulating marijuana would improve the status quo so significantly that these taxes are an acceptable compromise in exchange for this expansion of personal liberty.
This bill would repeal parts of NH statutes Chapter 108.
* Currently, Chapter 108 has the potential of violating five articles of the NH Constitution, and Art. I, Section 10, Clause 1 of the U. S. Constitution.
* This compact requires New Hampshire to provide a variety of supplies and equipment to Canada in case it declares an emergency. Since many of the items are nonexistent at the state level, they could be taken from businesses and private institutions as authorized under RSA 4:46, which violates Part I, Article 19 of the NH Constitution.
* Under Chapter 108, the Director of Emergency Management may arrange for cross-border policing which would allow Canadian police, unfamiliar with our laws, to operate in New Hampshire. It also allows for the federal government to use Canadian military in New Hampshire during an emergency. They would remain under the command of their regular leaders in violation of Part I, Article 26 of the NH Constitution.
* Under the current Chapter 108, New Hampshire participates with five Canadian provinces and the New England states in the International Emergency Management Group which makes emergency management plans without our legislative oversight. Each state and province has equal voting rights which would place New Hampshire under the control of an international body, violating Part I, Article 7 of the State Constitution.
* New Hampshire may be asked to suspend state statutes in an emergency, something that can only be done by the legislature according to Part I, Article 29. According to Part II, Article 5-a, such suspension can only be done in case of an enemy attack and not under any other form of emergency.
This bill requires car titles where now none are required.
* This bill will hinder private car sales, rendering many older cars illegal to sell.
* This will eliminate a NH advantage over neighboring states - for both buyers and sellers.
* Supply and demand apply here: used car prices will rise as legal inventory falls.
* The cottage industries who repair cars for resale will suffer from this regulation.
* The elder widow next door will not be able to legally sell the car her deceased husband kept in pristine condition for all of those years.
This bill would allow first-time DWI offenders to drive to work, school or medical treatment.
* Freedom to travel is a sacred right in a free society.
* Punishing an offender by stripping him/her of the license to drive for 6 months or more can lead to even more problems, such as them losing his/her job or not being able to finish school. The economic costs can be catastrophic for some families.
* This is a humane approach to what some consider to be a mental health-related issue more than a criminal matter.
* We are concerned about privacy issues and data collection by firms outside New Hampshire through use of enhanced technology interlock devices, and thus strongly support Floor Amendment 2014-0012h (Rep. Warden). YEA on Floor Amendment 2014-0012h.
This bill would allow first-time DWI offenders to drive to work, school or medical treatment.
* Freedom to travel is a sacred right in a free society.
* Punishing an offender by stripping him/her of the license to drive for 6 months or more can lead to even more problems, such as them losing his/her job or not being able to finish school. The economic costs can be catastrophic for some families.
* This is a humane approach to what some consider to be a mental health-related issue more than a criminal matter.
* We are concerned about privacy issues and data collection by firms outside New Hampshire through use of enhanced technology interlock devices, and thus strongly support Floor Amendment 2014-0012h (Rep. Warden). YEA on Floor Amendment 2014-0012h.
This report grants special privileges for various classes of men.
* This bill seeks to exempt public safety workers, military veterans and historical re-enactors from the existing requirement that is applied to all other residents.
* The US and NH constitutions, along with sound public policy, demand equal treatment under the law and not discriminating against (or for) various classes of men.
This bill grants special privileges for various classes of men.
* This bill seeks to exempt public safety workers, military veterans and historical re-enactors from the existing requirement that is applied to all other residents.
* The US and NH constitutions, along with sound public policy, demand equal treatment under the law and not discriminating against (or for) various classes of men.
This report would allow towns or village districts to create special districts and borrow money to fund energy efficiency improvements in private property.
* Violates the New Hampshire Constitution, Part 2, Article 5, states "the general court shall not authorize any town to loan or give its money or credit directly or indirectly for the benefit of any corporation."
This bill would use taxpayer dollars to fund improvements to commercial property.
* This bill, as amended, would allow towns or village districts to create special districts and borrow money to fund energy efficiency improvements in private property – primarily commercial property - in these areas.
* Violates the NH Constitution, Part 2, Article 5, states "the general court shall not authorize any town to loan or give its money or credit directly or indirectly for the benefit of any corporation."
This bill downshifts cost to school districts.
* HB 533 downshifts costs to districts, violating Part I Article 28-A of the NH Constitution. This bill requires districts to pay for advanced math courses for students who complete existing courses available in the district.
* The state Board of Education sets minimum requirements under Ed 306, while school boards customize those requirements to meet local goals. School boards, not the legislature, currently determine graduation requirements.
This bill downshifts cost to school districts.
* HB 533 downshifts costs to districts, violating Part I Article 28-A of the NH Constitution. This bill requires districts to pay for advanced math courses for students who complete existing courses available in the district.
* The state Board of Education sets minimum requirements under Ed 306, while school boards customize those requirements to meet local goals. School boards, not the legislature, currently determine graduation requirements.
* Nay on floor amendment 2014-0025h - Rosenwald and Sherman
* The amendment to HB 544 seeks to expand Medicaid.
* A major study demonstrated that expanded Medicaid does not improve health outcomes.
* A related study found that Medicaid patients were 40% more likely to use emergency rooms than uninsured patients resulting in increased costs to the tax payers.
* The original bill, which would have limited interest rates, is very anti-liberty. The committee amendment waters it down to only a reporting requirement, hence the recommendation to support the committee amendment (2013- 2311h).
* The liberty position is to leave it up to the free market, to oppose any reporting requirement, hence a secondary recommendation to oppose OTP/A.
* NAY on Floor Amendment – 2014 – 0026h (Williams).
* The profit margin for lenders of short term loans tend to be low. A rate cap of 36% will reduce the availability of short term loan providers.
* Evidence suggests consumers will switch to pawnbrokers, checking account overdraft, or late bill payment to meet their short term credit needs.
* Because low income households tend to experience more financial insecurity, short term credit likely softens financial shocks- without this credit, households may face more financial insecurity.
* For low value loans, a $20 fee for a one or two month loan becomes a very high annual interest rate.
* The original bill, which would have limited interest rates, is very anti-liberty. The committee amendment waters it down to only a reporting requirement, hence the recommendation to support the committee amendment.
* The liberty position is to leave it up to the free market, to oppose any reporting requirement, hence a secondary recommendation to oppose OTP/A.
This bill, as amended, would modify a voluntary option for settling medical injury claims.
* The original bill would have repealed early offers, which are a voluntary alternative to lengthy, expensive court proceedings for medical malpractice.
* The committee amendment adds a very subjective element, i.e. lost earnings, to what was a simple, objective process; removes a penalty for wasting everyone's time if a court proceeding results in a smaller payout than the early offer; and disallows speedy settlement even when both sides agree.
* The early offer process is still too new to be tinkering with it.
This bill, as amended, would modify a voluntary option for settling medical injury claims.
* The original bill would have repealed early offers, which are a voluntary alternative to lengthy, expensive court proceedings for medical malpractice.
* The committee amendment adds a very subjective element, i.e. lost earnings, to what was a simple, objective process; removes a penalty for wasting everyone's time if a court proceeding results in a smaller payout than the early offer; and disallows speedy settlement even when both sides agree.
* The early offer process is still too new to be tinkering with it.
This bill would set equal pay rates for ophthalmologists or optometrists.
* HB 585 would open a can of worms with countless other professions demanding that government set equal pay rates inside their industries. For example, an MD, PA, RN, or LPN might demand to be paid the same as the others for certain services performed by all.
* Rates should be set by voluntary negotiations between payer and payee, and not interfered with by the state. When an insurance company intermediary is involved, reimbursement should be a contractual agreement between the insurer and its customers and its medical contractors/providers. More government regulation further distorts the market.
* Pay is just one component of employee compensation. Additionally, other non-compensated employment benefits include location, hours, support staff, modern equipment, etc. Pay flexibility is essential in obtaining a balance between all forms of compensation.
This bill would set equal pay rates for ophthalmologists or optometrists.
* HB 585 would open a can of worms with countless other professions demanding that government set equal pay rates inside their industries. For example, an MD, PA, RN, or LPN might demand to be paid the same as the others for certain services performed by all.
* Rates should be set by voluntary negotiations between payer and payee, and not interfered with by the state. When an insurance company intermediary is involved, reimbursement should be a contractual agreement between the insurer and its customers and its medical contractors/providers. More government regulation further distorts the market.
* Pay is just one component of employee compensation. Additionally, other non-compensated employment benefits include location, hours, support staff, modern equipment, etc. Pay flexibility is essential in obtaining a balance between all forms of compensation.
This report would allow landlords to represent themselves in circuit court.
* Some judges have interpreted the current law as prohibiting a landlord from representing themselves in multiple eviction cases.
This bill, as amended, would require a drug-free workplace policy.
* This is feel-good legislation in response to one incident, what we call "legislation by anecdote."
* This is a new, expensive regulation on health care providers.
* Providers may already have their own procedures and policies which are superior to these new ones, but may not be compliant. Better to let the institutions' insurance companies and management determine appropriate policies instead of one-size-fits-all regulations from 17 non-medical legislators on the committee.
This bill, as amended, would require a drug-free workplace policy.
* This is feel-good legislation in response to one incident, what we call "legislation by anecdote."
* This is a new, expensive regulation on health care providers.
* Providers may already have their own procedures and policies which are superior to these new ones, but may not be compliant. Better to let the institutions' insurance companies and management determine appropriate policies instead of one-size-fits-all regulations from 17 non-medical legislators on the committee.
This bill would waste taxpayer money.
* Free market solutions are more efficient and cost less.
* The state should be reducing regulations and barriers to entry so more competitors could enter the marketplace for bus shuttle services.
* This bill would provide taxpayer money for a service that has a track record of failure -- ridership usually falls below projections and fares never cover the cost of operations.
This bill, as amended, spends up to $250,000 on bus service.
* If there was enough demand for this service private enterprise would have fulfilled it already.
* The proper role of government does not include subsidizing transportation for a minority of residents.
This bill establishes a permanent board with the ability to set its own fees on medical workers.
* This bill effectively moves the taxing authority of the legislature out of their hands and places it in the hands of the executive branch. This is very bad policy and a violation of core constitutional principles.
* Maintains a database for 15 years that is published on a public internet site. Database maintains designation of active, inactive, suspended, revoked, or retired. The board is authorized to "Share information with appropriate in-state and out-of-state boards."
* The board can levy fines against employers that have technicians that aren't registered or haven't renewed and threatens to withhold Federal Medicaid money for non-compliant employers.
This bill establishes a permanent board with the ability to set its own fees on medical workers.
* This bill effectively moves the taxing authority of the legislature out of their hands and places it in the hands of the executive branch. This is very bad policy and a violation of core constitutional principles.
* Maintains a database for 15 years that is published on a public internet site. Database maintains designation of active, inactive, suspended, revoked, or retired. The board is authorized to "Share information with appropriate in-state and out-of-state boards."
* The board can levy fines against employers that have technicians that aren't registered or haven't renewed and threatens to withhold Federal Medicaid money for non-compliant employers.
This bill would increase regulations on business.
* If there is a widespread public outcry for such labeling, companies (both producers and retailers) will ultimately lead the change to satisfy customer demand.
* Consumers already have the ability to avoid foods with GM ingredients by purchasing products labeled as "100 percent organic".
* New labeling requirements would place an undue burden on retailers, wholesalers, and producers throughout the state and region.
* Suppliers could work around the mandate by labeling EVERYTHING as "May contain genetically engineered components." Such labels would satisfy the legal requirement but would be absolutely useless.
* The proper solution to this situation would be an independent third-party certification agency, which could freely state whether or not food does or does not contain GMO. As long as they are not-for-profit and not engaged in actual commerce, the FDA/USDA couldn't regulate their reports as it's free speech.
This bill would increase regulations on business.
* If there is a widespread public outcry for such labeling, companies (both producers and retailers) will ultimately lead the change to satisfy customer demand.
* Consumers already have the ability to avoid foods with GM ingredients by purchasing products labeled as "100 percent organic".
* New labeling requirements would place an undue burden on retailers, wholesalers, and producers throughout the state and region.
* Suppliers can work around mandate by labeling EVERYTHING as "May contain genetically engineered components." Such labels would satisfy the legal requirement but would be absolutely useless.
* The proper solution to this situation would be an independent third-party certification agency, which could freely state whether or not food does or does not contain GMO. As long as they are not-for-profit and not engaged in actual commerce, the FDA/USDA couldn't regulate their reports as it's free speech.
This bill would increase regulations on business.
* If there is a widespread public outcry for such labeling, companies (both producers and retailers) will ultimately lead the change to satisfy customer demand.
* Consumers already have the ability to avoid foods with GM ingredients by purchasing products labeled as "100 percent organic".
* New labeling requirements would place an undue burden on retailers, wholesalers, and producers throughout the state and region.
* Suppliers can work around mandate by labeling EVERYTHING as "May contain genetically engineered components." Such labels would satisfy the legal requirement but would be absolutely useless.
* The proper solution to this situation would be an independent third-party certification agency, which could freely state whether or not food does or does not contain GMO. As long as they are not-for-profit and not engaged in actual commerce, the FDA/USDA couldn't regulate their reports as it's free speech.
This bill violates personal privacy and civil liberties to travel freely.
* The Boston police recently stopped using automated license plate readers. They found them ineffective, full of errors, open to hacking, and wasted thousands in tax payer dollars. Boston Police have NO PLANS to resume using license plate scanners, as noted in the explosive media coverage of this failed program.
* Blanket surveillance of vehicles traveling freely is an invasion of privacy on a grand scale. Without accountability or oversight in regards to the data captured and stored by these devices, there is serious potential for misuse and abuse of the records. The records could be stored permanently, allowing the state to keep record of people's movements for years or even decades.
* In states that have used automated license plate scanners, it quickly becomes about revenue rather than public safety. The highest use of officers' time should be public safety, not collecting fines.
* The NH constitution clearly prohibits warrantless searches in Part I, Art. 19: "Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions...." The 4th Amendment to the US constitution gives the same restriction on the federal government.
This bill violates personal privacy and civil liberties to travel freely.
* Blanket surveillance of vehicles traveling freely is an invasion of privacy on a grand scale.
* Massive spying on the whereabouts of New Hampshire residents and visitors is a gross violation of civil liberties and can be used to target specific groups or individuals who may be in disfavor politically.
* In states that have used automated license plate scanners, it quickly becomes about revenue rather than public safety. For example, red light cameras in many states have actually shown to decrease public safety, as people panic and stop short on a yellow light so as to not get caught passing through the red light by a nose, thusincreasing rear-end collisions at intersections. Several states are now removing their red light cameras as a result of this.
* The NH constitution clearly prohibits warrantless searches in Part I, Art. 19: "Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions. ...". The 4th Amendment to the US constitution gives the same exhortation.
* Without accountability or oversight in regards to the data captured and stored by these devices, there is serious potential for misuse and abuse of the records. "Computers never forget." The records could be stored permanently, allowing the state to keep record of people's movements for years or even decades.
* The Boston police recently stopped using automated license plate readers, with no plans to resume doing so, as a result of news coverage revealing privacy violations.
This bill places a barrier to open government.
* The bill sets up a commission stacked with members who would benefit by adding fees to 91-A requests. This places a barrier to open government.
* The bill was late to committee in the first part of the session and retained for work after the summer break, at the later part of session the AG's office floated this amended version which received little public hearing.
* The process getting to this amendment lacks transparency, which is counter to the goal of Right-to-Know.
* Expect a motion to divide the question and vote ITL on the 2nd section
This bill places a barrier to open government.
* The bill sets up a commission stacked with members who would benefit by adding fees to 91-A requests. This places a barrier to open government.
* The bill was late to committee in the first part of the session and retained for work after the summer break, at the later part of session the AG's office floated this amended version which received little public hearing.
* The process getting to this amendment lacks transparency, which is counter to the goal of Right-to-Know.
* Expect a motion to divide the question and vote ITL on the 2nd section
This bill would fine citizens for cell phone use in vehicles.
* Driving fatalities have been on a downward trend despite massive cell phone adoption over the last ten years. In states where cell phone restrictions have been instituted there has not been a significant change in fatal accidents.
* This law is redundant, outlawing something that is already covered by existing law. RSA 265:79-b, the offense of negligent driving, already exists and is quite sufficient.
This bill would fine citizens for cell phone use in vehicles.
* Driving fatalities have been on a downward trend despite massive cell phone adoption over the last ten years. In states where cell phone restrictions have been instituted there has not been a significant change in fatal accidents.
* This law is redundant, outlawing something that is already covered by existing law. RSA 265:79-b, the offense of negligent driving, already exists and is quite sufficient.
This bill makes adultery a civil matter.
* Adultery is a violation of a marriage contract—a private contract between two parties—and should not be punished criminally.
* This law has gone unenforced for decades. Leaving such laws on our books creates confusion and disrespect for the law.
* "These laws harken back to an earlier period, where a majority of citizens claimed the right to impose their values and morals on their neighbors. The notion of a government policing immorality runs against the grain of our constitutional system. That is more often associated with countries like Iran, where morality police roam the streets." --Jonathan Turley, legal scholar, 2011
This bill requires school districts to complete a school building inventory report.
* This bill creates more bureaucratic layers to chase non-existent funding.
* Increases central planning and mandating time, money, and efforts at the local level.
This report increases unlicensed driving from a violation to a class B misdemeanor.
* This report, as amended, would only increase the penalty for driving while NEVER having had a license. Driving with a license that is between 1 day and 1 year expired stays a violation for a first offense, but a class B misdemeanor for a second offense in that 12 month window. It eliminates the penalty for driving with a license that is more than 12 months expired.
* This crime has no victim and therefore the penalty is in violation of the Constitution, Part 1, Article 18 : "All penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense".
* To pass this bill would require another bill next year to repair the flaws.
This bill increases criminal penalties for driving with an expired license.
* The constitution exhorts legislators to keep penalties proportionate to the actual crimes (Art. 18, Part I). Increases the penalty on 1st time offenders from a violation to a misdemeanor for a victimless crime. A penalty of up to a year in jail for driving with an expired license is not justice.
* A driver with 30 years experience is likely going to be a much better driver than a 17 year old, regardless of whether her license is updated. Public policy should allow for discretion based on other factors besides paying your DMV fee.
This bill redefines and reclassifies felony escape.
* Reducing penalties for lesser crimes, and in the case of the new misdemeanor escape, relatively victimless crimes, will simplify the process of a person getting on with their lives. A felony on one's record makes one difficult to hire, in fact there are many jobs that strictly prohibit hiring felons. Simple escape, when there is no malice, forethought, or harm should not be classified as a felony.
* Would classify non-violent escape as a Class A misdemeanor while providing a clearer definition of felony escape. Those convicted of the more serious crime would still be barred from appealing for annulment under section 651:5 V.
* Keeping people out of prison for lesser crimes will save the taxpayer money.
Relative to the requirements for filing a charter school application.
* This bill would require proposed charters to have 50% of their application based on the educational mission statement. This would devalue the remaining evaluation criteria, such as the budget and financial management, curriculum, and academic goals.
* This proposed change is dramatic and will complicate the approval process and make it more subjective.
Relative to immunity when seeking medical assistance for overdoses.
* This bill would save lives by encouraging people to call 911 or otherwise seek medical attention when someone is having a drug or alcohol overdose.
* This bill would not provide immunity for drug dealing or other serious charges, the bill (as amended) spells out immunity for a few things like possession.
* This is a small-government solution to the problem of drug overdose deaths—unlike the big government prescription drug database passed last term, it focuses on getting help and saving lives at the moment of crisis.
This bill creates a special fund for a constitutional right.
* Redress of grievances before the Legislature is a constitutional right.
* Due process in any governmental proceeding protects all parties and should be restored to our laws for redress of grievances.
* Redress can include restitution and should be provided for in the budgetary process.
This bill would increase the speed limit on a portion of the highway.
* It would decrease the number of penalties handed out for the victimless act of speeding.
* This would only increase the speed limit by five miles per hour, which has not been shown to increase accident rates.
This bill would increase the speed limit on a portion of the highway.
* It would decrease the number of penalties handed out for the victimless act of speeding.
* This would only increase the speed limit by five miles per hour, which has not been shown to increase accident rates.
This bill makes clear that a badge does not excuse perjury.
* Perjury is a felony, compared to other forms of official falsification which are misdemeanors. Would it be in the best interest to the citizens of New Hampshire to have police officers continue in their position as convicted felons?
* Police officer testimony is virtually always given more weight than the testimony of private citizens. That some cops take advantage of this and openly lie on the stand is so well known among criminal defense attorneys that they even have a term for this: "Testilying."
* "For anyone who has practiced criminal law in the state or Federal courts, the disclosures about rampant police perjury cannot possibly come as a surprise. "Testilying" -- as the police call it -- has long been an open secret among prosecutors, defense lawyers and judges." -- Alan Dershowitz, New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/02/opinion/controlling-the-cops-accomplices-to-perjury.html
* The existence of the threat of "testilying" is a massive injustice. This threat is such a real possibility that innocent citizens are counseled into "taking the plea deal" rather than taking a chance on the officer's honesty.
* This bill would restore the people's trust in their judicial system. It would alleviate the threat of "testilying" during pre-trial negotiations, and it will encourage the innocent to prove their innocence in court.
* NHLA supports YEA on OTP
This bill would delete language relating to soliciting another to commit suicide.
* This bill retains the language that purposely aiding another to commit suicide is a crime. Removing the the phrase "or solicits" serves to protect family and friends as they discuss with loved ones the choices that may be made in terminally ill situations.
* The state should not be interfering in or judging the solemn conversations that may occur between parties who are emotionally close to one another.
This bill allows distributors from New Hampshire to buy from nano breweries.
* Allows distributors from New Hampshire to do what distributors from other states can already do - directly support NH nano breweries.
This bill creates provisions for the calculation of concurrent and consecutive sentences.
* This bill would require that judges state in writing the reasons for imposing consecutive sentences.
* This bill could lead to reduced sentences, which would save NH taxpayers.
This bill would repeal residency restrictions.
* Courts in New Hampshire have already repealed sex offender residency restrictions in Franklin and Dover; this will codify court decisions consistently throughout the state.
* Residency restrictions can backfire by driving people on the registry underground, where they are harder to track and monitor.
* Limitations on residency can force people on the registry further from the support networks they need the most: jobs, therapy, and public transportation, making it more difficult to re-assimilate into society.
This bill would repeal residency restrictions.
* Courts in New Hampshire have already repealed sex offender residency restrictions in Franklin and Dover; this will codify court decisions consistently throughout the state.
* Residency restrictions can backfire by driving people on the registry underground, where they are harder to track and monitor.
* Limitations on residency can force people on the registry further from the support networks they need the most: jobs, therapy, and public transportation, making it more difficult to re-assimilate into society.
This bill would repeal residency restrictions.
* Courts in New Hampshire have already repealed sex offender residency restrictions in Franklin and Dover; this will codify court decisions consistently throughout the state.
* Residency restrictions can backfire by driving people on the registry underground, where they are harder to track and monitor.
* Limitations on residency can force people on the registry further from the support networks they need the most: jobs, therapy, and public transportation, making it more difficult to re-assimilate into society.
This bill would require fiscal analysis and transparency.
* The adoption of Common Core by the NH Board of Education is an unfunded mandate in violation of Part I Article 28-A of the New Hampshire Constitution.
* This bill promotes fiscal transparency of government at all levels.
* Many districts have communicated that they have costs that are specifically for the implementation of Common Core that they would not have otherwise, or these costs are accelerated in order to meet the mandated spring 2015 assessment implementation deadline. This has presented a significant burden for smaller and more rural districts.
* The costs of implementing these new standards have never been fully identified or communicated at the state or local level. Before Common Core is fully implemented across the state, the citizens of NH should know what it will cost.
This bill requires the department of education to reimburse school districts for technology costs.
* The new required statewide assessment is an unfunded mandate and violates the New Hampshire Constitution Part I Article 28-A. Although all school districts plan for some technology upgrades and improvements, the conversion to the online adaptive Smarter Balanced Assessment is a hardship to smaller districts which have significant and costly upgrades to implement.
This bill would safeguard student data.
* Currently schools collect a massive amount of data on students that are not only academic related.
* Federal FERPA protections were severely eroded in 2008 and 2011 and now permit student information to be shared with third-party organizations and private corporations without parental consent.
* The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium agreement with the NH DOE allows the sharing of "student-level data" without guarantee the data is aggregated.
* HB 1262 is the only bill before the legislature that addresses the unique problems presented with the new Smarter Balanced Assessments that are being piloted in NH schools now and will become mandatory in spring 2015. Until such protections are in place, districts will be liable for any breach of student privacy.
This bill, as amended, creates a study committee.
* Nay on OTP as amended. The committee amendment did not have a public hearing, is substantively different from the original bill, and is non-germane to the original bill.
* Yea on OTP for the original bill. NH Part 1 Article 2-a. [The Bearing of Arms.] is for all persons, even those from Vermont.
* The NHLA opposes the committee amendment -- NAY on OTP/A. NHLA supports the original intent and language of the bill before the committee amendment. - YEA on OTP.
This bill would permit a town to authorize the board of selectmen or the town manager to appoint the town clerk.
* This bill would reduce local control of the voters in the election of town clerks; which has been the tradition for more than 300 years.
* This is a "solution" looking for a problem.
This bill would permit a town to authorize the board of selectmen or the town manager to appoint the town clerk.
* This bill would reduce local control of the voters in the election of town clerks; which has been the tradition for more than 300 years.
* This is a "solution" looking for a problem.
This bill provides additional options for property owners and renters.
* Current law, meant to protect tenants from being charged exorbitant up-front rental costs such as a huge security deposit, has the unintended effect of preventing people from paying their rent in installments larger than one month. This bill would fix this.
This bill would remove a $3000 grocery inventory requirement from beer & wine stores.
* This bill removes the requirement that any establishment selling beer and wine maintain a $3000 wholesale inventory value of grocery items.
* The state liquor commission admits that many stores meet this requirement by keeping Spam, Vienna sausages, and other canned items that don't spoil quickly, which are never sold.
* For a beer & wine store, this requirement is a wasteful and protectionist, and serves as a barrier to entry to small stores that only stock $15,000 in alcohol inventory.
This bill would create a mandate on beverage manufacturers.
* This bill would mandate that every beverage container sold or offered for sale to a consumer in this state shall have a deposit and refund value. This would be especially burdensome on small-scale beverage manufacturers in the state.
* The Department of Environmental Services states that municipalities participating in recycling programs will experience a loss of revenue due to the reduction in recyclables sent to the municipal recycling centers.
This bill would create a mandate on beverage manufacturers.
* This bill would mandate that every container of bottled water sold or offered for sale to a consumer in this state shall have a source of water indicated on the label. This would be especially burdensome on manufacturers.
This bill would create an affirmative defense for a person who causes or aids another who is terminally ill in committing suicide.
* This bill would allow an affirmative defense only against the charge of 'causing or aiding suicide,' which is when someone takes their own life. It does not create a defense against a charge of murder; the taking of someone else's life.
* The current law cruelly prevents friends and family from being with their loved one at the end because of the threat of a Class B Felony.
This bill allows a minor to transport an adult and liquor at the same time.
* The state should not be criminalizing the harmless behavior of minors transporting unopened alcohol.
* Current liquor laws provide penalties for underage consumption or providing alcohol to minors.
This bill upholds a community-like atmosphere to towns and municipalities.
* Restricts towns and municipalities from purchasing or receiving military equipment, saving those tax dollars for more important needs
* Prohibits the continual increase in armament of the local police force ensuring they are focused on building better community relations vs. escalating confrontations to the point where citizens are killed.
* Prevents the purchase of equipment that was designed for the battle field, not for community policing.
This bill upholds a community-like atmosphere to towns and municipalities.
* Restricts towns and municipalities from purchasing or receiving military equipment saving those tax dollars for more important needs
* Prohibits the continual increase in armament of the local police force ensuring they are focused on building better community relations vs. escalating confrontations to the point where citizens are killed.
* Prevents the purchase of equipment that was designed for the battle field, not for community policing.
This bill allows constitutionally eligible 17 year olds to file for State Rep.
* Article 11, Part First requires that "every inhabitant of the state, having the proper qualification, has equal right to be elected into office." Any inhabitant who is 18 on or before election day meets the age qualification and has an equal right to be elected.
* The Supreme Court has struck down laws like alphabetical listing of candidates as a violation of the equal right to be elected; requiring some 18-year olds—but not others--to use write-in campaigns to qualify for the ballot is not equal!
This bill would let adults make decisions about their own body.
* Adults have a fundamental right to make decisions about their bodies—whether it be smoking, eating trans fats, buckling a seatbelt, or choosing to end their pain and suffering from a terminal condition.
* Adults who currently choose to end their own lives should be able to have their loved ones present at the end without their risking felony charges (RSA 630:4).
* The easiest way to address "death with dignity" would be to simply repeal laws prohibiting the aiding of suicide, instead of creating additional bureaucracy.
This bill would allow individuals to play table stakes games.
* Playing games that harm no one should never be a crime, regardless of incentives.
* Would effectively make it legal for 8 friends to sit around a table and play poker with monetary stakes.
This bill would harm parent-child relationships.
* This bill has many unintended consequences:
* One of the parents would be identified as the cause of the divorce potentially eliminating any ability for the parties to co-parent agreeably and negatively impact parent-child relationships.
* It would require longer and more costly court hearings.
* Moreover, intolerable marriages may be forced to stay intact and could also encourage perjury to dissolve an intolerable marriage, e.g. one inflicted with drug abuse or financial recklessness.
This bill would reduce the theft of personal property by the police.
* This bill ensures that the state can only attempt to forfeit property after a person has been convicted of the crime of which they are accused. Current law is open to abuse where the state could take someone's property for a "crime" for which they have not even been convicted!
This bill prohibits tanning facilities from tanning persons under 18 years of age.
* The trend towards infantilization of the youth of the state, particularly over something as trivial as choosing to take a tan, at the same time shows a disrespect for their judgment and does nothing to help a young adult learn to make decisions for themselves.
* This bill has a disproportionate impact on young women.
* Young women are already allowed to make enormously more significant health choices wholly independent of their parents.
This bill would fine citizens for cell phone use in vehicles.
* Driving fatalities have been on a downward trend despite massive cell phone adoption over the last ten years. In states where cell phone restrictions have been instituted there has not been a significant change in fatal accidents.
* This law is redundant, outlawing something that is already covered by existing law. RSA 265:79-b, the offense of negligent driving, already exists and is quite sufficient.
This bill fines citizens for cell phone use in vehicles.
* Driving fatalities have been on a downward trend despite massive cell phone adoption over the last ten years. In states where cell phone restrictions have been instituted there has not been a significant change in fatal accidents.
* This law is redundant, outlawing something that is already covered by existing law. RSA 265:79-b, the offense of negligent driving, already exists and is quite sufficient.
This bill protects state jurisdiction from the over-reach of federal law.
* The bill seeks to correct the continued abuse of power by the Federal government in areas not delegated to Congress: The New Hampshire Constitution clearly states: "[Art.] 7. [State Sovereignty.] The people of this state have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign, and independent state; and do, and forever hereafter shall, exercise and enjoy every power, jurisdiction, and right, pertaining thereto, which is not, or may not hereafter be, by them expressly delegated to the United States of America in congress assembled."
* The bill corrects the current restrictions in place from the Federal Government that are not supported by the tenth amendment in the Bill of Rights: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
* The bill is pro-business as there are a significant number of manufacturers and customers in the state that would benefit from reduced regulation.
This bill protects property rights.
* Strengthens your right to contract with your property, not have it divided at a judge's whim.
* Limits federal tax payments.
This bill excludes firearms records from public records subject to disclosure under the Right-to-know law.
* The current law (RSA 159:6-a) only limits inspection of those applications and records – this bill goes further in protecting privacy to prevent disclosure of this personal information.
This bill removes the restriction on the number of pupils eligible to transfer to a chartered public school.
* HB 1392 removes the current 10% limit per grade currently in law, which discourages charter school opportunities in the North Country.
* This bill will encourage more charters to open and allow greater school choice in areas with smaller populations.
Relative to tuition payments for students attending a chartered public school in the student's district of residence.
* Some local school districts which do not operate their own full-time elementary or secondary school provide tuition to students so that they can attend nearby public school districts. This bill would allow parents to select a charter school operating within their district as an alternative.
* The resident district would pay the charter school the tuition minus the amount the charter receives from the state (currently $5498).
* The costs to the resident district would be less and families would have more educational options.
This bill establishes a state minimum wage and increases it with inflation.
* A state set minimum wage prevents individuals from freely agreeing to a lower rate, while they prove their productivity or learn on the job. People who are willing to work for less cash but higher benefits should be able to express this preference in the marketplace.
* Internships and apprenticeships are recognized as the best way to learn a complex profession, but few employers will risk paying a beginner very much.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning, as it implies that citizens don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill would limit an employers' hiring practices.
* Government should not be dictating hiring practices for businesses.
* This would increase the risks involved in hiring, making firms more reluctant to bring on new employees.
* Like many other well-intentioned measures this could result in detrimental effect on the people it seeks to help.
* Credit reports are a less subjective criteria for evaluating the potential of new employees. Without the use of a pre-employment credit check, many employers will likely use other more arbitrary means in making a selection.
* Only 13% of employers conduct credit checks on all job candidates, while 47% do for certain jobs. Typically those jobs are for senior personnel in critical positions. This bill is attempting to address a perceived problem, not a real one.
This bill expands the law against discrimination to prohibit housing discrimination to various new categories of individuals.
* This bill reduces property rights and is contrary to the freedom of association rights of the First Amendment.
This bill would require judicial oversight and public notice of police checkpoints.
* NH constitution Article 19, Part I states, "Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches [...]"
* The US constitution's 4th Amendment clearly prohibits blanket checkpoints, which are warrantless searches for unlucky travelers.
* Searches of citizen's effects are supposed to require judicial review and deliberation.
* Citizen's shouldn't feel ambushed by checkpoints while using the roads they pay for, nor should they feel compelled to answer questions about their business without cause.
This bill allows minors to possess alcohol for limited reasons.
* This bill restores parental responsibility and family choice in allowing a minor to possess alcohol for religious, medical or other reasons. This is more properly a role of parents, not law enforcement.
* A teenager sipping wine under parental supervision during a religious ceremony should not be deemed a criminal by the state.
This bill would limit license suspensions for under age drink to offenses where driving was actually involved.
* Would uphold the New Hampshire Constitution Article 18, Part 1 - "All penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense."
* Two teenagers are drinking at a party. One walks home to avoid drinking and driving. The other recklessly gets behind the wheel. If they both are caught, the New Hampshire Constitution dictate that they get different penalties, since one teen put others at risk. Instead, current law treats them both the same. HB1437 would fix that.
This bill requires a judge to notify jurors of their rights to judge the application of a law prior to deciding a case.
* Jurors have the right to return a not-guilty verdict if they think applying a law in a particular case is fundamentally unjust.
* Most jurors have never been in a courtroom, and jurors who do not understand their rights cannot exercise them.
* Asking our judges to briefly inform jurors of all their rights is not burdensome, time consuming, or expensive.
This bill requires a finding that the person has the liquid assets to pay the contempt penalty.
* Incarceration civil contempt presumes that the debtor has the ability pay the debt. Imprisoning an individual for a debt which they do not have the ability to pay is debtors prison; an archaic and counter productive practice.
* Failure to ensure that the person being imprisoned for civil contempt has the ability to pay amounts to a failure of due process and maladministration of justice.
* Using imprisonment to cause family members not responsible for the debt to assume the debt is unprincipled and an abuse of power.
This bill would exempt non-franchised enterprises (proprietorships) from BET.
* Incorporated enterprises (Inc., LLC, PLC, PCC, type-S) are technically franchises of the State. A franchise is defined as the power granted by the State to do business in a manner not available to the general public (without liability). In 1903, the people of the State authorized the expansion of taxation to include additional forms of property such as franchises. If the business enterprise tax is lawful, it is because it is a franchise tax.
* The business enterprise tax is a franchise tax, it cannot be levied on non-franchises. Proprietorships are not franchises. A proprietorship is legally identical to its owner(s), owners are fully liable for the actions of the proprietorship.
* The business enterprise tax cannot be levied on individuals, therefore, it cannot be levied on the proprietorships with whom they are identical. This is entirely consistent with supreme court decisions as the distinction is solely in the class of property, franchise or proprietorship, and not upon the any distinction in the owners.
* This is a distinction in classes of property (franchise or proprietorship), not a distinction between the taxpayers who own the property.
This bill would exempt non-franchised enterprises (proprietorships) from BET.
* Incorporated enterprises (Inc., LLC, PLC, PCC, type-S) are technically franchises of the State. A franchise is defined as the power granted by the State to do business in a manner not available to the general public (without liability). In 1903, the people of the State authorized the expansion of taxation to include additional forms of property such as franchises. If the business enterprise tax is lawful, it is because it is a franchise tax.
* The business enterprise tax is a franchise tax, it cannot be levied on non-franchises. Proprietorships are not franchises. A proprietorship is legally identical to its owner(s), owners are fully liable for the actions of the proprietorship.
* The business enterprise tax cannot be levied on individuals, therefore, it cannot be levied on the proprietorships with whom they are identical. This is entirely consistent with supreme court decisions as the distinction is solely in the class of property, franchise or proprietorship, and not upon the any distinction in the owners.
* This is a distinction in classes of property (franchise or proprietorship), not a distinction between the taxpayers who own the property.
This bill would exempt non-franchised enterprises (proprietorships) from BET.
* Incorporated enterprises (Inc., LLC, PLC, PCC, type-S) are technically franchises of the State. A franchise is defined as the power granted by the State to do business in a manner not available to the general public (without liability). In 1903, the people of the State authorized the expansion of taxation to include additional forms of property such as franchises. If the business enterprise tax is lawful, it is because it is a franchise tax.
* The business enterprise tax is a franchise tax, it cannot be levied on non-franchises. Proprietorships are not franchises. A proprietorship is legally identical to its owner(s), owners are fully liable for the actions of the proprietorship.
* The business enterprise tax cannot be levied on individuals, therefore, it cannot be levied on the proprietorships with whom they are identical. This is entirely consistent with supreme court decisions as the distinction is solely in the class of property, franchise or proprietorship, and not upon the any distinction in the owners.
This bill would exempt non-franchised enterprises (proprietorships) from BPT.
* The BPT is only constitutional if it is a franchise tax (a tax on an incorporated enterprise).
* Franchise taxes cannot be levied on non-franchised enterprises (proprietorships)
* This is a distinction in classes of property (franchise or proprietorship), not a distinction between the taxpayers who own the property.
This bill would exempt non-franchised enterprises (proprietorships) from BPT.
* The BPT is only constitutional if it is a franchise tax (a tax on an incorporated enterprise).
* Franchise taxes cannot be levied on non-franchised enterprises (proprietorships)
* This is a distinction in classes of property (franchise or proprietorship), not a distinction between the taxpayers who own the property.
This bill would exempt non-franchised enterprises (proprietorships) from BPT.
* The BPT is only constitutional if it is a franchise tax (a tax on an incorporated enterprise).
* Franchise taxes cannot be levied on non-franchised enterprises (proprietorships)
* This is a distinction in classes of property (franchise or proprietorship), not a distinction between the taxpayers who own the property.
This bill would expand occupational licensing.
* An "occupational license" is just that—government permission to work in a particular field. Gainful employment requires convincing a prospective employer or potential customer of their value. This bill requires convincing the government.
* The consumers of occupationally licensed services derive no determinable benefit for the added cost. For example, when was the last prevented case of fungal infection due to licensing manicurists?
* Barriers like these make it harder for people to find jobs and build new businesses that create jobs, particularly minorities, those of lesser means and those with less education.
This bill would require consistency with current law and protections of student privacy.
* State law requires that all statewide assessments are valid, appropriate, and objectively scored per RSA 193-C.
* Smarter Balanced Assessments are mandatory by spring 2015, yet will not be validated by this deadline; they are not appropriate for students according to several NH districts; and they are subjectively scored as they measure student values, attitudes and dispositions in direct violation of SB 48 (2013).
* Districts are not obtaining written informed consent from parents when minor children are being asked to be unpaid participants in research of the Smarter Balanced Assessments.
This bill would create a new business license.
* Government interference in the market through business licensing discourages competition, and creates unnecessary compliance costs that will ultimately be passed on to the consumer.
* This bill delegates most details to the Department of Health and Human Services, directing them in 10 different parts of HB1501 to develop rules that would carry the force of law.
This bill would make it harder for eligible voters to cast a ballot.
* Violates Article 11 Part 1 of the NH constitution "All elections are to be free to all inhabitants of the state...".
* There is no credible evidence that impersonation fraud is a problem in New Hampshire.
This bill would restore local control of public education.
* Common Core State Standards were rushed to adoption by the NH BOE in summer 2010 in order to expedite the Race to the Top grant application without adequate public notification or input.
* Public records of the NH BOE meetings indicate that other proven successful state standards were never considered as part of the process of improving NH's state standards.
* As part of the grant application and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium agreement, the NH DOE promised to pilot and field test the experimental assessment.
* The Smarter Balanced Assessment which is being field tested in schools across the state, often without prior parental consent, is in violation of RSA 193-C.
* The SBA will be mandatory by spring 2015, but will not be validated by that date and includes dispositional questions in violation of SB 48 (2013) and RSA 193-C.
Relative to notification of radon and arsenic levels.
* While encouraging informed buyers is a good thing, dictating the language of private contracts is a bad thing.
* It is the buyer's responsibility to hire a home inspection professional, and have any desired tests made. This is not a cost that should be placed upon the seller.
This bill would require a warrant to search information in a portable electronic device.
* NH constitution Article 19, Part I states, "Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches [...]"
* The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled in State v. Granville on February 26, 2014: [W]e conclude, as did the court of appeals, that ... Given modern technology and the incredible amount of personal information stored and accessible on a cell phone, we hold that a citizen does not lose his reasonable expectation of privacy in the contents of his cell phone merely because that cell phone is being stored in a jail property room.
* Last week, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that police needed a search warrant to obtain historical cell site records from a cell phone provider. New Jersey's Supreme Court reached the same result last year.
This bill would disband the Certificate of Need board.
* Certificates of Need boards were mandated of the states by unelected officials in the Social Security Administration under Section 1122 of the Social Security Act. Titled "LIMITATION ON FEDERAL PARTICIPATION FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES" it threatened to withhold statewide funds for "HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE AGED AND DISABLED" and "GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS" without a CONs planning board. It promised funds to create such a board.
This bill would allow the sale of health insurance without mandates.
* Insurance mandates add to the cost of policies by requiring purchasing "insurance" for something that the consumer may or may not want. For example, women are required to buy policies that include coverage for midwife services, even if they don't plan on having a child or giving birth outside a hospital. (RSA 420-B:8-p)
* While allowing people to opt out of buying policies with insurance mandates will increase premiums for those who don't, it's only because the higher price more accurately reflects the risk that they are buying insurance for.
This bill would eliminate the cocaine/crack cocaine disparity.
* Under current law, possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine is treated more harshly than possession of 140 grams of powdered cocaine. (RSA 318-B:26).
* According to the NHCLU, this 28:1 disparity is the largest in the country.
This bill would permit the audio and video recording of a public official while in the course of his or her official duties.
* On the job means on the record: Part I, Art.8 of the New Hampshire Constitution provides that officers and agents of the government are at all times accountable to the people.
* A member of law enforcement has a right to record you without your consent at a traffic stop, but citizens recording the exact same conversation have been threatened and even charged with a felony.
This bill would allow more local control of municipal planning board membership.
* By requiring planning boards to be elected by the people, this bill will prevent town governments (e.g., the selectmen or city councils) from stacking the planning board with people who will do as they demand.
* Regional planning commissions promote top-down, centralized planning, in direct conflict with New Hampshire's tradition of decentralized, local control. In particular, regional planning commissions are one of the primary ways that the federal government and supranational bodies like the U.N. bypass elected town government in order to implement central planning.
This bill would allow more local control of municipal planning board membership.
* By requiring planning boards to be elected by the people, this bill will prevent town governments (e.g., the selectmen or city councils) from stacking the planning board with people who will do as they demand.
* Regional planning commissions promote top-down, centralized planning, in direct conflict with New Hampshire's tradition of decentralized, local control. In particular, regional planning commissions are one of the primary ways that the federal government and supranational bodies like the U.N. bypass elected town government in order to implement central planning such as Agenda 21.
This bill would allow more local control of municipal planning board membership.
* By requiring planning boards to be elected by the people, this bill will prevent town governments (e.g., the selectmen or city councils) from stacking the planning board with people who will do as they demand.
* Regional planning commissions promote top-down, centralized planning, in direct conflict with New Hampshire's tradition of decentralized, local control. In particular, regional planning commissions are one of the primary ways that the federal government and supranational bodies like the U.N. bypass elected town government in order to implement central planning such as Agenda 21.
Relative to student and teacher information protection and privacy.
* HB 1586 protects the privacy rights of students and teachers while addressing other data and privacy issues that other legislation does not include.
* During public hearing, the HEC spoke very highly of the thorough research and documentation supplied by the prime sponsor. No additional study is needed or appropriate.
This bill would create a mandate.
* This bill requires school districts and chartered public schools to provide suicide prevention education and training to students, parents, faculty, staff, and school volunteers.
* This bill provides neither an appropriation nor authorization for new positions and will increase state general fund expenditures by $455,180 in FY 2015, $197,856 in FY 2016, $204,426 in FY 2017, $425,905 in FY 2018, and $224,390 in FY 2019.
This bill would turn law abiding citizens into criminals.
* This law would be unenforceable without enormous cost.
* This bill fails to meet the low, low bar of a solution in search of a problem. It is a problem in search of a problem.
* The language shifts the burden of proof to the individual as opposed to the state---a radical shift in our standards of jurisprudence.
* The penalty portion of the bill takes activities which are currently legal (disposing of one's private property) and assigns serious penalties to those activities. These are penalties that could affect a person's ability to get a job (misdemeanor B), and that could put a person in jail if there is a second offense (misdemeanor A).It creates a crime where there has been no crime in 392 years.
This bill requires 72 notice before holding a public meeting.
* Part first, Article 8 of the NH Constitution, reads "Government, therefore, should be accessible, accountable, and responsive."
* The current law only requires 24 notice of a meeting - which may not be enough time for newspapers to print the story. By requiring an agenda be posted as well, the public will know what items will be discussed so they can prepare for them.
This bill would require occupational licensing.
* An "occupational license" is just that—government permission to work in a particular field. Gainful employment requires convincing a prospective employer or potential customer of their value. This bill requires convincing the government.
* The consumers of occupationally licensed services derive no determinable benefit for the added cost. For example, when was the last prevented case of fungal infection due to licensing manicurists?
* Barriers like these make it harder for people to find jobs and build new businesses that create jobs, particularly minorities, those of lesser means and those with less education.
This bill removes rightful authority from the judicial and legislative branch.
* As stated, this bill would make matters of condominium assoc. bylaw infractions or other actions not in compliance with condo instruments, or state law come under the jurisdiction of a condominium dispute resolution board. This should come under the jurisdiction of the judicial branch or the legislative branch, if new laws are required, not a resolution board.
* The board will consist of 9 members only two of which will be elected representatives.
This bill reduces the meals tax by about 1%.
* People should not be forced to pay more for the necessity of eating meals.
* Reduction in tax rates can lead to increased consumer spending which would help NH businesses
This bill reduces the meals tax by about 1%.
* People should not be forced to pay more for the necessity of eating meals.
* Reduction in tax rates can lead to increased consumer spending which would help NH businesses
This bill reduces the meals tax by about 1%.
* People should not be forced to pay more for the necessity of eating meals.
* Reduction in tax rates can lead to increased consumer spending which would help NH businesses
This bill reduces the meals tax by about 1%.
* People should not be forced to pay more for the necessity of eating meals.
* Reduction in tax rates can lead to increased consumer spending which would help NH businesses.
This bill adds an unnecessary mandate.
* Current law requiring headlamps only 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise is because that is (approximately) when it actually becomes dark enough to need them. It is not dark at sunset or sunrise.
* This law removes common-sense discretion from motorists as to when rain, snow, or fog is thick enough to require headlamp use.
* This law will only lead to people being ticketed for committing technical violations of the law when no actual harm could have been possible. Headlamps are not needed at sunset or sunrise but now not using them will be a violation. A single patch of fog or a barely noticeable drizzle or snow flurries will be able to be used by police to ticket people needlessly.
This bill adds an unnecessary mandate.
* Current law requiring headlamps only 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise is because that is (approximately) when it actually becomes dark enough to need them. It is not dark at sunset or sunrise.
* This law removes common-sense discretion from motorists as to when rain, snow, or fog is thick enough to require headlamp use.
* This law will only lead to people being ticketed for committing technical violations of the law when no actual harm could have been possible. Headlamps are not needed at sunset or sunrise but now not using them will be a violation. A single patch of fog or a barely noticeable drizzle or snow flurries will be able to be used by police to ticket people needlessly.
Relative to forfeiture of personal property.
* This bill bans civil forfeiture in the state of New Hampshire.
* Civil forfeiture, unlike criminal forfeiture, occurs without charges, and without a conviction.
* Money seized is often routed through a federal agency, which gives the money back to the police who seize it, bypassing the state entirely, thus creating perverse incentives to seize property.
This bill adds certain products to the controlled drug act.
* Most of the related chemical compounds, sometimes known as bath salts, K-2, and Spice, are already banned under the federal controlled drug act. Adding them to NH law is redundant.
* While currently legal, making these specific substances illegal will lead to manufacturers creating potentially more-harmful substances to skirt the prohibition. The complex compounds can be modified by changing one chemical element, thus making it legal but less proven.
* The growth in sales of these substances stems from the prohibition on marijuana, which is similar in effect but is shown to be much less dangerous to a user's health than these chemicals.
This bill would restrict doctor/patient medical decisions and potentially criminalize individuals who lawfully obtain medicinal cannabis.
* This bill would make it a crime for patients to possess cannabis in a motor vehicle "except if the cannabis is secured in a locked container." Punishment, up to and including incarceration, of individuals who have legally obtained medicinal cannabis violates Article 18 of the New Hampshire Constitution, which provides that "all penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense."
* New Hampshire's law currently allows qualifying patients to purchase up to two ounces of cannabis every 10 days. HB 1616 would cut this to two ounces every 30 days, reducing the amount of cannabis patients could purchase to one-third the amount authorized under New Hampshire law and markedly less than the usage levels seen on the federal Compassionate Investigative New Drug (IND) Program.
* Does not allow a provider to override this two ounce cap for patients with special needs, so this bill would restrict the possible dosage for every qualifying patient in the state with no exceptions.
* NHLA is in support of expanding the qualifying medical conditions, but cannot support HB1616.
This bill would redefine simple assault.
* Under current law, there have been absurdities with people charged for assault simply because they laid their hand on someone's shoulder or brushed up against someone who didn't like it. This bill would require that such physical contact actually be offensive, threatening, or harmful, before an actual crime could be charged.
This bill would allow for a grow your own provision to therapeutic cannabis.
* Although NH passed a medical marijuana law in 2013, no patient has received any benefit from the law. Patients still have no legal protection and no legal access to marijuana.
* If HB 1622 passes, patients can finally be issued ID cards this summer and they can finally begin growing a couple of plants.
* If HB 1622 doesn't pass, patients will have no legal way to obtain medical marijuana until dispensaries open, which will be summer 2015 at the earliest (and could be longer).
This bill would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.
* In a free society, individuals should not be harshly punished for peaceful activities which do not harm others. Thus, it is more appropriate to punish simple marijuana possession with a citation and a fine than with a criminal conviction and possible jail time.
* This bill would help avoid the unintended consequences associated with marijuana prohibition. By reducing the extent to which an individual's life is disrupted by a minor marijuana arrest, it would reduce the expense of the criminal justice system and allow law enforcement to focus its efforts on serious crimes.
* Part I, Article 18 of the N.H. Constitution states, in part: "All penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense. ... Where the same undistinguishing severity is exerted against all offenses, the people are led to forget the real distinction in the crimes themselves, and to commit the most flagrant with as little compunction as they do the lightest offenses."
This bill promotes some form of a government sponsored monopoly on gambling.
* If one wants to allow of gambling in New Hampshire, simply repeal RSA 338:1-4 related to various prohibitions on gambling contracts and transfers of property due to gambling and RSA 647:2 which criminalizes gambling.
This bill promotes some form of a government sponsored monopoly on gambling.
* If one wants to allow of gambling in New Hampshire, simply repeal RSA 338:1-4 related to various prohibitions on gambling contracts and transfers of property due to gambling and RSA 647:2 which criminalizes gambling.
This bill promotes some form of a government sponsored monopoly on gambling.
* If one wants to allow of gambling in New Hampshire, simply repeal RSA 338:1-4 related to various prohibitions on gambling contracts and transfers of property due to gambling and RSA 647:2 which criminalizes gambling.
This bill increases regulations on political speech.
* The bill places an onerous and crippling paperwork burden on two or more people who wish to communicate their views to the public. It has a disparate impact on small political groups that would not be required to file under Federal election law.
* This bill is a deliberate attempt to circumvent the Citizen's United decision, and is aimed at small groups.
* New Hampshire has a long history of anonymous speech dating back to before the Revolutionary War.
* This bill moves up the registration requirement of 'political committees' from 14 days to 48 hours. Political committees are defined as ' Any organization of 2 or more persons that promotes the success or defeat of... candidates or... measures.'
* Failure to register is already a criminal offense (RSA 664:21 V), but SB120 adds a new fine on unregistered political committees of up to 25% of any expenditures, even if they aren't required to be reported.
This bill would require the tax payers of the State of New Hampshire to take some of the responsibility for the losses of investors in the Financial Resources Mortgage debacle.
* SB 180 would open Pandora's box of investors looking to have taxpayers bail them out of bad investments. The lesson: If an investment doesn't work then just find a friendly legislator to pass a law giving restitution.
* In a free market, investors evaluate offers, take risks, win some, and lose some. This legislation would have the unintended consequence of future investors using less due diligence to evaluate offers before investing.
* This situation is a reminder that despite all the laws and criminal penalties and licensing and government agency oversight, malefactors will still behave badly and deceive people; government cannot protect everyone from bad things happening.
This bill would require the tax payers of the State of New Hampshire to take some of the responsibility for the losses of investors in the Financial Resources Mortgage debacle.
* SB 180 would open Pandora's box of investors looking to have taxpayers bail them out of bad investments. The lesson: If an investment doesn't work then just find a friendly legislator to pass a law giving restitution.
* In a free market, investors evaluate offers, take risks, win some, and lose some. This legislation would have the unintended consequence of future investors using less due diligence to evaluate offers before investing.
* This situation is a reminder that despite all the laws and criminal penalties and licensing and government agency oversight, malefactors will still behave badly and deceive people; government cannot protect everyone from bad things happening.
This bill adds new mandates on employers and the department of labor.
* This bill is redundant as pay equity is already in statute (RSA 275:37 Equal Pay); feel-good legislation like this demeans more pressing issues.
* New mandates on employers and on the commissioner add costs and reduce productivity.
This bill expands regulations on employers and the department.
* This bill adds new regulations onto businesses, making them less competitive with those in other states and burdening them with additional compliance requirements. Further, "Equal Pay" legislation is already in statute, so this is unneeded.
* New requirements will add more duties to the labor department, setting the stage for future growth.
* So-called discrimination laws are very difficult to enforce and lead to an increasingly litigious environment.
* By allowing the commissioner to enforce the laws merely "in response to complaints," it opens a Pandora's Box of potential politically motivated retributions in cases where no violation has been proven.
This bill establishes a new business entity without well defined parameters.
* General public benefit' means a material positive effect on society and the environment..." is vague and leaves too much discretion to the secretary of state to enforce. This could lead to selective, politically-motivated enforcement actions.
This bill establishes a procedure for the annulment of a mental health record and establishes a commission to study mental health and firearms.
* The amendment as passed by the Senate would conflate the issues of mental illness and firearm ownership.
* Mental illness is a disease, not a crime, and those who would stigmatize the mentally ill in pursuit of a political agenda create a slippery slope from which few would remain unharmed or unsullied.
* If the bill truly wished to restore 2A rights, then they should be written in RSA 135:C as part of the mental health statutes. To include it in pistol and revolver statutes forever links mental health with firearms.
This bill establishes a palliative care center for health care consumers and providers and continually appropriates a special fund.
* Something so personal and sacrosanct as end-of-life palliative care should not be the domain of bureaucrats.
* With the billions of dollars invested in medical care facilities and personnel in this state, existing providers can provide for this niche market easily and swiftly, without government intervention.
* Any state-run entity will be a subsidized service competing with the free market, removing incentives for new entrants in the marketplace and limiting options for consumers.
This bill creates preferences for veterans in public employment.
* Violates Article 10, Part 1 of the NH Constitution - "Government being instituted for the common benefit, ...and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men;...".
* Jobs should be given solely on the basis of merit and experience with no extra weighting given to anyone's special characteristics or status.
This bill violates the 1st Amendment.
* Whereas the NHLA has a policy of not taking positions on the issue of abortion in general, this bill's assault on freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment merits our taking a position in opposition to this bill.
* The bill targets the right of people to peacefully assemble, violating the 1st Amendment.
* The city of Manchester has an ordinance requiring foot traffic to keep moving as to not block sidewalks.
* This bill pushes protesters away from the source and into neighboring properties.
* This bill will force/allow a private business to place signage on public sidewalks/roads and possibly in front of neighboring properties.
* Many of the complaints this bill looks to resolve are already covered by existing statutes.
This bill removes the prohibition on advertising alcohol on billboards.
* Upholds the NH Constitution Part 1 Article 22 - "Free speech and liberty of the press are essential to the security of freedom in a state: They ought therefore to be inviolably preserved."
* Advertising is a form of speech and should not be restricted by government.
This bill seeks to protect all students' social media privacy.
* A school, private or not, by forcing a student to share their credentials, is both forcing someone to violate a contract and then, by using those credentials, violating a contract themselves.
* Rarely does the NHLA support new criminal laws, but we support a law forcing people to not violate contracts.
This bill creates a state sanctioned "limited monopoly".
* Violates the New Hampshire Constitution Article 83 Part 1 - "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it."
* Works against the small businesses that cannot compete with 2 large casinos.
* Creates regulation system where one person is judge, jury and jailer.
* NHLA takes no position on the gambling industry per se. We object to the way it is being unduly limited, controlled, regulated and taxed in this legislation.
* NHLA supports the right of adults to gamble if they wish to do so without the fear of criminal penalties.
This bill raises the gas tax and tyies it to the CPI.
* This ensures that the gas tax is increased every 4 years in perpetuity.
* Inflation is already a hidden tax on every citizen. Tying a fuel tax to inflation "adds insult to injury."
* This will hurt sales of fuel for NH border town retailers and will encourage out of state sales of gasoline.
* As is the case with most taxes, this gas tax will fall most heavily upon those who can least afford it.
* This bill also increases the diesel tax. The cost to move goods (food, equipment, cars, wood, oil...) into or around New Hampshire will increase as a result.
This bill expands a sales tax on essential medical services.
* This tax is of questionable constitutional validity, which is admitted in the Majority report.
This bill is an unfunded mandate on county nursing homes.
* This bill is patronizing to our older citizens
* Creates excessive business regulations on private communities.
This bill grants conservation officers special powers.
* Conservation officers are given leeway in the field to search personal effects and vehicles under the lesser restriction of "reasonable suspicion." All other officers must find "probable cause" before searching property without a warrant.
* If this passes other divisions of law enforcement would be able to call conservation officers to traffic stops and thus circumvent their own "probable cause" restrictions.
* The NHLA supports amendment 1813h, which raises the burden for a warrantless search at a traffic stop from 'reasonable suspicion' to 'probable cause.' This brings conservation officers in line with other law enforcement.
This bill would add another layer of prohibited practices on employers.
* So-called discrimination bills are very difficult to enforce. They lead to increased litigation, and exacerbate cynicism among employers and the public.
* Unless there is a proven, demonstrable problem in this area, added regulations simply make New Hampshire less attractive to businesses. That leads to a weaker economic base, which negatively affects all employees.
This report requires certification for airborne radon installers.
* New Hampshire leads the nation in placing onerous licensing and certification requirements on businesses, which only serves to discourage and drive away small businesses. This bill creates yet another unneeded certification mandate.
* This new requirement would add compliance regulations on contractors and the board, raising the cost of doing business and raising prices to consumers.
* Such certification schemes grant unearned benefits to named, private certifiers and erect barriers to entry to new providers, depressing free-market forces.
This bill is fiscally irresponsible in the long term.
* There are no reasonable financial safeguards if this bill should be adopted.
* This bill would likely lead to a state income or broad-based sales tax.
* This bill has been rushed through without adequate public input and examination.
* By 2022, this program would cost NH between $40 to $45 million which is more than our current revenue structure can support.
* Other states have implemented a program similar to the one proposed in this bill and it has been a financial and medical disaster.
This bill prohibits allocation of highway funds to the judicial branch.
* This will keep more of the highway fund money available for roads and bridges.
This bill protects taxpayers by requiring a 3/5 vote to impose new or increased taxes.
* This amendment reduces the risk that taxes will be raised for frivolous, transitory reasons, and helps ensure bipartisan support for any tax increase.
* 16 states already require a supermajority to raise taxes
* This amendment codifies New Hampshire's long tradition of being fiscally responsible.
This amendment eliminates local control of education to resolve Claremont decision(s).
* This bill would enshrine in the NH Constitution the concept that the state is responsible for all aspects of education, eliminating local control and innovation.
* Centralizing decision-making in Concord makes it more difficult for parents to exercise their right to direct the education of their children.
* Parents can't afford to spend years changing state law when they experience a significant problem with their local school. They need immediate local decision making through their locally elected representatives.
* Use of the term "reasonable" in the amendment invites additional lawsuits.
* Giving the general court an enumerated power of "full... authority to determine the... methods of raising... funding" puts all options on the table.
This bill restores the right of taxpayers to petition the courts for redress.
* Taxpayers have an inherent interest in seeing the most effective use of their money which funds state government. Therefore, they ought to have legal standing in any suit against the government which concerns disbursements from the treasury.
* In many cases unlawful actions by government officials have gone unchallenged for too long because of difficulty finding a plaintiff with standing. This bill better holds government accountable to the constitution and to the law.
This bill defends open access to government in small towns. The non-germane amendment protects the right of property owners to build accessory dwelling units.
* If residents of a town make the effort to put an article on the warrant, they should have confidence that it will be acted on in the town meeting, and not ignored.
* Many NH residents are currently prevented by arduous zoning laws from building accessory dwelling units.
* The needs and demographics of NH residents are shifting. Accessory dwelling units make it possible for aging parents to live with adult children, elderly residents to retain their independence by obtaining live-in aid, and young adult children to share housing costs with parents.
* The right of property owners to make their own choices about their property should be respected. Increasing housing flexibility benefits everyone.
This bill repeals the prohibition on alcohol container labels referencing minors.
* HB 122 as amended repeals RSA 179:31, VII(a) which violates freedom of speech.
* This bill improves the current law on beer labels, which forbids any depiction of a minor no matter how innocent. The liquor commission would still be able to ban subject matter or illustrations that they determine is reasonably likely to induce minors to drink.
* The NHLA supports this bill, but is cautious about giving more discretion to regulators. Giving the commission the discretion to allow some artwork on labels also allows them to ban other artwork. How we exercise of our First Amendment rights shouldn't be decided by the liquor commission.
This bill increases government transparency.
* This bill creates a more open, communicative adoption process for college readiness standards.
* Parents should have the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the adoption of policies that affect the education of their children.
This bill infringes on parental rights.
* It is not possible or appropriate for the state to mandate every aspect of responsible parenting.
* If this bill becomes law, a teen who needs photo-light therapy would have to use a dermatologist's office to treat seasonal affective disorder or other medical conditions - which would be much more expensive than the tanning salon.
* If this bill becomes law, a teenager who is seventeen could join the military (with parental consent) but would be banned from getting a tan.
* If this bill becomes law, a teenage woman could get an abortion without parental consent but would be banned from tanning.
This bill infringes on the rights and responsibilities of parents to make decisions about the well being of their children.
* Some teens need photo-light therapy, which they can currently get at a tanning salon. If this is banned, they would have to use a dermatologist's office, who would charge much more than the neighborhood tanning salon.
* It's not possible or appropriate for the government to mandate every aspect of responsible parenting.
* If this bill passes:
* A teenager who is seventeen could join the military (with parental consent) but would be banned from getting a tan. It would be possible to get a tan while deployed in Iraq but not at the tanning salon.
* A teenaged woman could get an abortion without parental consent but would be banned from tanning.
* A parent would be deprived of the opportunity to use good judgement & prohibit a child from tanning.
This bill would allow charitable casinos to offer a greater variety of games.
* The primary effect of this bill would be to allow charitable casinos to offer no-limit and pot-limit style poker games. These types of games are far more popular than alternatives. Without access to these games, many poker players must currently travel out of state to play the games they most enjoy.
* Currently, poker players can play no-limit and pot-limit, but only as part of a tournament. This bill would allow these types of games in a "cash" format, which allows players to leave at any time.
* People have a right to make their own choices with their own money. The fact that some problem gamblers exist does not justify limiting the freedom of all gamblers.
This bill will allow insurance companies to hold contests with payouts greater than $1000.
* Insurance producers should be able to market their services through contests, sweepstakes, raffles, or drawings and not be limited to an arbitrary amount.
* This bill will put insurance companies on equal footing with other companies already allowed to hold contests, sweepstakes, raffles, or drawings.
This bill allows properly labeled food from local homestead farms to be sold at retail outlets.
* Easing restrictions on sale of farm goods at retail outlets makes it more possible for NH residents to partially support themselves sustainably through small-scale farming.
* This bill will allow NH consumers access to healthier and more unique options, and will result in higher availability of affordable, locally sourced food.
This bill allows trusts and property owners greater control in choosing their representation in a court of law.
* If they so choose, trusts and owners have a right to be represented by an unlicensed individual, who may have intimate knowledge about the issues at hand.
* This law merely makes existing statute more consistent, by extending to trusts and property owners the same rights that are already granted to businesses.
This bill allows trusts and property owners greater control in choosing their representation in a court of law.
* If they so choose, trusts and owners have a right to be represented by an unlicensed individual, who may have intimate knowledge about the issues at hand.
* This law merely makes existing statute more consistent, by extending to trusts and property owners the same rights that are already granted to businesses.
This bill requires notification of a parent and respects their right to opt out.
* NAY on committee and floor amendments. Support the bill as passed by the House.
* Children should not be subjected to surveys and questionnaires that pry into non-academic, non-school related matter for the purpose of data gathering without parental notification.
* Requiring districts have an opt out policy is respectful of parental rights.
* Requiring districts to make surveys and questionnaires available to parents prior to distribution to students is good policy and consistent with federal law.
This bill, as passed by the House, protects a parent's right to opt-out of their children's participation in non-academic surveys.
* NAY on Senate amendment #2015-1180s, which would turn this bill into a study committee.
* Children should not be subjected to surveys that pry into non-academic, non-school related matters for the purpose of data collection without parental notification.
* Parents have a right to be informed about surveys given to their children, and a right to opt out of surveys that they consider to be inappropriate.
* Requiring districts to make surveys and questionnaires available to parents prior to distribution to students is good policy and consistent with federal law.
This bill requires notification of a parent and respects their right to opt out.
* Requiring districts have an opt out policy is respectful of parental rights.
* Children should not be subjected to surveys that pry into non-academic, non-school related matter for the purpose of data gathering without parental notification.
* Too many non-academic surveys and questionnaires are being given to students without parental notification.
* Requiring districts to make surveys and questionnaires available to parents prior to distribution to students is consistent with federal law.
By eliminating the existing rebate to residential ratepayers, the senate amendment increases a stealthy tax on NH electricity consumers.
* The NHLA supports HB208 as passed by the House, without Senate amendment #2015-1970s.
* Electric rates are already high in NH. Efficiency projects that are truly fiscally responsible can and will be funded by electricity consumers themselves. It is unfair to force all ratepayers to fund projects for specific consumers, whether private or governmental.
* Money raised through RGGI originally slated to support energy efficiency programs, instead was misappropriated into the general fund in 2010. Passage of the House version of this bill would prevent this from happening again.
This bill as amended no longer repeals RGGI, instead it returns proceeds to ratepayers.
* By rebating all net proceeds to ratepayers, this bill eliminates a program that stealthily taxes all electricity consumers.
* Money raised through RGGI was originally slated to support energy efficiency programs. Millions of dollars collected from the program were instead misappropriated into the general fund in 2010.
* If funding is needed to supplement core energy reduction programs, Public Utilities Commission can authorize regulated electric utilities to increase System Benefit Charge (paid by rate payers), without State government being the middleman.
This bill doubles the insurance requirement for some motorists.
* Requiring someone to purchase insurance for a couple of speeding tickets is excessive at $25,000 of liability coverage. This bill would increase that to as much as $100,000.
* This bill is unneeded. Uninsured motorist claims have been falling and NH already has below average percentages of uninsured motorists.
This bill promotes police accountability.
* A police officer who, in the course of his or her official duties, is proven to have committed perjury, given a false statement, or tampered with or fabricated physical evidence is unfit for the job, & should be fired.
* Respect for police is undermined when corruption is tolerated, or defended.
* Allowing a corrupt and dishonest police officer to remain on the job threatens the safety and liberty of innocent people.
This bill would mandate 50 million dollars per year in state spending on school buildings.
* RSA 198:15-a, IV allows for up to 50 million dollars of school building aid grants. By changing that to require that at least 50 million be granted every year, excess spending & higher taxes would result.
* School enrollments have been falling year after year, and yet school budgets continue to increase. This unchecked spending increases already high property taxes, and further burdens the NH economy. Schools should be more, not less accountable, to reign in spending.
* With state building aid, local districts will fund more extravagant schools than they would if they had to pay the full cost themselves.
This bill would mandate 50 million dollars per year in state spending on school buildings.
* RSA 198:15-a, IV allows for up to 50 million dollars of school building aid grants. By changing that to require that at least 50 million be granted every year, excess spending & higher taxes would result.
* School enrollments have been falling year after year, and yet school budgets continue to increase. This unchecked spending increases already high property taxes, and further burdens the NH economy. Schools should be more, not less accountable, to reign in spending.
* With state building aid, local districts will fund more extravagant schools than they would if they had to pay the full cost themselves.
This bill incentivizes more numerous and expensive investigations by licensing and regulatory boards.
* Charging targets of investigations for the costs of the investigation could encourage numerous and expensive investigations of minor infractions.
* Passage of this provision would increase the likelihood of a board or commission to continue an investigation until they found some act of misconduct so that the licensee would have to pay the costs of the investigation.
* Charges for expensive investigations may be vastly exceed what is reasonable for the severity of the misconduct, in violation of part one article 18 of the NH constitution.
* NH licensing and regulatory requirements are already far too arduous. In order to improve the NH economy, and encourage innovation of entrepreneurship, legislators should be working to lessen licensing requirements and regulatory burdens.
This bill incentivizes more numerous and expensive investigations by licensing and regulatory boards.
* Charging targets of investigations for the costs of the investigation could encourage numerous and expensive investigations of minor infractions.
* Passage of this provision would increase the likelihood of a board or commission to continue an investigation until they found some act of misconduct so that the licensee would have to pay the costs of the investigation.
* Charges for expensive investigations may be vastly exceed what is reasonable for the severity of the misconduct, in violation of part one article 18 of the NH constitution.
* NH licensing and regulatory requirements are already far too arduous. In order to improve the NH economy, and encourage innovation of entrepreneurship, legislators should be working to lessen licensing requirements and regulatory burdens.
This bill prohibits gross misuse of taxpayer funds.
* It is wrong to force taxpayers to fund purchases of non-essential goods like tobacco, tattoos, or piercings.
* These bills are common sense. The recipients of taxpayer money, which is intended to help purchase basic necessities, should be prohibited from spending that money on non-essential goods and services.
* While it is not currently, nor will it ever be possible to detect all types of fraud, it is still important for the legislature to clarify that these clear abuses of taxpayer money are unlawful.
This bill prohibits gross misuse of taxpayer funds.
* It is wrong to force taxpayers to fund gambling, or purchases of non-essential goods like tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets, or adult entertainment.
* HB 216 is common sense. The recipients of taxpayer money, which is intended to help purchase basic necessities, should be prohibited from buying guns, porn, and tattoos with that money.
* While it is not currently, nor will it ever be possible to detect all instances of fraud, it is still important for the legislature to clarify that these clear abuses of taxpayer money are unlawful.
This bill infringes on the rights of condominium owners and workers.
* One size fits all legislation is bad public policy. Some associations are dozens of units; others may be 2 or 3 owners. Requiring expensive and time-consuming licenses and continuing-ed courses for tiny duplexes in remote, financially distressed locations is inappropriate.
* Condo owners have a right to make their own choices about who will manage their property.
* This bill is unneeded. Managers with a poor reputation or who cannot provide references won't be hired.
This bill recognizes the right of local residents to have a voice regarding eminent domain seizures of public land.
* Eminent domain seizures can affect the health and well being of the neighbors of the seized property. Neighboring residents should have a voice in the process.
* Public land belongs to the people of the municipality. Decisions regarding the use of public land should be made by the citizens in those municipalities.
* Lowering energy costs does not justify destroying the local environment, or taking public land without the consent of the people.
This bill removes an unconstitutional statute that violates the first amendment.
* This bill repeals the entire section pertaining to showing a ballot (RSA 659:35) and references to other statutes regarding signage at the polling place, and is therefore more comprehensive than HB 404.
* The legislature doesn't need to wait for judicial action before rectifying an unconstitutional statute.
* There is no evidence to show that a problem exists in New Hampshire with citizens being coerced into showing their ballot. If someone attempts such a crime other statutes would be sufficient to prosecute.
This bill would further erode personal responsibility trying to micromanage bad behavior.
* This bill is unnecessary, there are already laws on the books that address reckless driving (RSA 265:79), and negligent driving (265:79-b).
* It is not possible nor appropriate to legislate common sense, by specifically prohibiting every possible cause of distraction. Should we next ban eating, talking, or applying makeup while driving?
* Bad drivers should be prosecuted for their demonstrated reckless or negligent behavior, not for something that has the mere potential to cause harmful behavior.
* This bill is also flawed in that it would be unenforceable (would police be able to see if you have a cat or small dog on your lap in the car?), and also because it does not address the perceived problem (It does not prohibit you from driving with a cat on your head, for example, only on your lap).
This bill makes it an act of maladministration for a judge to deny or limit the right of the defense in criminal cases to fully inform the jury.
* The US Supreme Court ruled in 1895 that jurors "have the right to decide...all questions, whether of law or of fact", and RSA 519:23-a, states the court shall permit the defense to inform the jury of its right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.
* This bill will hold judges accountable for denying jurors information necessary to carrying out their duties, which are an essential element of 'due process'. The Wentworth instruction alone (which suggests to jurors they have an option to acquit) is insufficient to inform jurors of their rights.
This bill doubles the clerical fee for registering a vehicle.
* Instead increasing fees, which are already high, towns should look to better allocate existing funds.
* This is a double tax on citizens. Town clerks are already paid for their time through other taxes.
* Towns could reduce some of the expense of having clerks file registration documents if they offered residents the option to register online.
This bill doubles the clerical fee for registering a vehicle.
* Instead increasing fees, which are already high, towns should look to better allocate existing funds.
* This is a double tax on citizens. Town clerks are already paid for their time through other taxes.
* Towns could reduce the expense of having clerks file registration documents if the registration process was online.
This bill would ban local ordinances that unfairly punish sex offenders.
* New Hampshire courts have ruled that municipalities may not exile citizens, no matter how undesirable they may be.
* Allowing ex-offenders no convenient place to live makes it much more difficult for police and parole officers to track their whereabouts and keep the public safe against a possible re-offense.
* Released sex offenders have served their time and should not be punished twice for their crime.
This bill would compel the use of an E-verify type of federal database.
* Citizens and legal residents should not be required to obtain a permission slip to work.
* The NH legislature is responsible for determining labor law in New Hampshire; it should not surrender that responsibility to the federal government.
* The E-verify system has mistakenly prevented completely legal citizens from taking a job; the Social Security Administration itself reports that approximately 17.8 million of its files contain incorrect data, 12.7 million of which concern U.S. Citizens.
This bill allows landlords to propose rental terms appropriate for their property.
* The bill makes the collection of first, last, and security permissive, NOT required, supporting the right to set mutually agreed upon terms in a private contract.
* This bill will help renters with bad credit and perhaps questionable references. A landlord might only allow such a potential tenant to rent with the additional months rent but reject him/her without it.
* Landlords would be able to keep rents lower if they can contain the losses from delinquent tenants.
* 41 out of 50 states allow security deposits of at least 2 months rent.
This bill protects Good Samaritans from being charged with possession as a result of requesting medical help for a drug overdose.
* Fear of prosecution for drug possession discovered as a result of emergency personnel responding to overdose reports discourages people from calling for emergency medical help.
* Immunity from prosecution creates an incentive for bystanders to take responsible action that will help save lives. A person calling for medical help should not fear prosecution.
* Results from more than 30 other states with this law show that overdose deaths will be decreased without interfering with police work.
* Police in Massachusetts are championing the effects of their 911 immunity law where overdose deaths in were almost half as frequent, per capita, as in New Hampshire last year.
* Overdose deaths in NH have more than quadrupled since Good Samaritan legislation failed to pass the Senate in 2014. Many of those lives could have been saved had that bill passed. More will die without passage of this bill.
This bill allows patients and family members access to life saving anti-overdose medication.
* The failed 'War on Drugs' has created a situation where last year alone, 100 people died due to heroin overdoses in NH. Many, perhaps most of these lives could have been saved if Naloxone or Narcan had been readily available and administered promptly.
* Those closest to a heroin user should be able to obtain this miracle medicine for use in case of overdose. Imagine a mother that is powerless to help her overdosing child as she waits for EMS when an immediate cure would have been available if only the state allowed her to have it.
* 27 States including Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut already have laws allowing access to Narcan for friends and family of those at risk.
* Restricting access to Narcan creates great harm and has no benefit, there is no danger of abuse or maladministration.
* This bill has zero cost to taxpayers.
This bill protects land owners from liability when others use the land for recreation.
* Land owners who allow their property to be used for recreation should not fear lawsuits from people who voluntarily engage in risky outdoor activities.
* This bill could encourage more landowners to allow their land to be used for outdoor recreational activities, and expand NH's trail systems.
* This bill will help reduce frivolous lawsuits.
This bill allows engineers and architects to take control of other people's private properties without the commensurate accountability.
* HB 292 specifically concerns judgements about the safety and structural integrity of buildings, both public and private.
* Legal recourse for private property owners must be protected. Under this bill, government officials can be shielded from liability by using 'volunteers' to take and control other people's property unfairly.
* Plumbers, electricians, and foresters that volunteer in an emergency are not exempted from liability. Exempting one specific class of individual, for one specific purpose, constitutes unequal protection.
* There is no need for this bill. Emergencies have been effectively handled for for hundreds of years in NH, without this law.
This bill allows use of bait to take game animals during the existing open season.
* Helps hunters better control the conditions under which game is taken increasing safety for humans and reducing risk of suffering for the game animals.
* Clarifies existing legislative intent on the use of bait for taking game reducing the risk of loss of rights via executive action.
This bill provides needed transparency and public feedback.
* There are no checks and balances prior to the submission of a federal grant application, only afterwards in terms of fiscal accountability. Open government requires transparency.
* These grant applications make multiple year commitments with the federal government, potentially restricting local control of school districts.
* There is no time to delay on this bill: the upcoming No Child Left Behind Waiver is a four year commitment starting in June 2015, not a two year commitment like the last NCLB Wavier, which introduced many controversial reforms without any transparency.
This bill protects the integrity of statewide assessments and requires written parental consent before any treatment by a school psychologist.
* Amendment simplifies bill to prohibit statewide assessments from asking dispositional questions, measuring student values, attitudes or beliefs, which is consistent with federal law.
* This bill helps restore trust and cooperation between parents and schools by providing basic assurances for the statewide assessments and school psychologists in an open and transparent manner.
This bill protects a landlord's property rights.
* Under current law, a landlord cannot seek eviction even if a tenant has pets or additional persons on the property, in direct violation of the lease or rental agreement. This is a clear violation of the landlord's property rights.
* Good renters and tenants end up paying more to cover the costs incurred by bad renters and tenants. Better recognizing the rights of landlords to manage their own property leads to lower rental costs and overall cost of living.
This bill protects a landlord's property rights.
* Under current law, a landlord cannot seek eviction even if a tenant has pets or additional persons on the property, in direct violation of the lease or rental agreement. This is a clear violation of the landlord's property rights.
* Good renters and tenants end up paying more to cover the costs incurred by bad renters and tenants. Better recognizing the rights of landlords to manage their own property leads to lower rental costs and overall cost of living.
This bill grants legislative authority to the Department of Education commissioner to redesign the statewide assessment program.
* Legislation is not needed to designate the SATs for grade 11 as the statewide assessment. For over a decade no legislation was needed to designate the NECAPs or Smarter Balanced as statewide assessments.
* HB 323 was written to support the DOE commissioner's intention to transform the current statewide assessment program into a regional system of weekly K-12 PACE (Performance Assessment Competency Education) assessments administered by the Department of Education.
* The PACE pilot program has not demonstrated any evidence of success and has not been fully vetted by parents and teachers, including charter school parents and teachers.
* Support amendment 1752s. It is very narrowly written, specifying only the SATs as the high school assessment without any additional, unintended consequences. Amendment 1752s supports parent's rights and eliminates concerns that the commissioner will transform the statewide assessment program.
This bill grants legislative authority to the Department of Education commissioner to redesign & regionalize the statewide assessment program.
* No legislation is needed to establish the SATs as the designated statewide assessment for grade 11. No legislation was ever needed to establish the NECAPs or Smarter Balanced as designated statewide assessments for over a decade. Legislation is only needed to transform the current statewide assessment program into a Regional system of weekly K-12 PACE (Performance Assessment Competency Education) assessments.
* The US ED approved two-year waiver on March 5, 2015 based upon commissioner's "intent" to transition all districts to a "single statewide system" using the PACE program anchored to Smarter Balanced Achievement Level Descriptors, which are aligned to Common Core.
* PACE does not reduce testing; it significantly increases testing and re-testing under its Department-approved "State Graduation Competency" K-12 pilot program from 7 end-of-year assessments to over 400 weekly mini-assessments.
* PACE is a Regionally-implemented and Regionally-scored assessment program under the direct control of the Department of Education.
* If the transition to PACE is unsuccessful, no federal funding will be lost; all districts simply revert back to the existing statewide system with Smarter Balanced assessments, where informed parents can refuse the tests.
* PACE integrates its assessments into the student's day-to-day work in opposition to state law, RSA 193-C:1 VI. This integration makes it impossible for parents to effectively refuse the Smarter Balanced mini-assessments. This integration undermines the mission, independence, and integrity of Charter School curricula and day-to-day operations.
* Requiring Departmental approval for weekly PACE assessment program violates RSA 193-H:5 "Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit either the department of education or the state board of education to take control of the daily operations of any local public school."
This bill grants legislative authority to the department to re-design and regionalize the statewide assessment program under the commissioner's control.
* The US Education Department approved a two year NCLB waiver on March 5, 2015 based upon the Commissioner's "intent" to transition all districts to Performance Assessment Competency Education (PACE), a single statewide system anchored to Smarter Balanced Achievement Level Descriptors, based on Common Core.
* PACE does not reduce testing; it significantly increases testing and re-testing under its Department- approved "State Graduation Competency" pilot program.
* PACE is a regionally-implemented and regionally-scored, yet supposedly "local" assessment system under the control of the Department, undermining districts.
* If the transition to PACE is unsuccessful, no federal funding will be lost; all districts simply revert back to the existing Statewide system with Smarter Balanced testing, where informed parents can refuse the tests.
* PACE integrates its assessments into the weekly curriculum in opposition to RSA 193-C:1 VI, making it impossible for parents to refuse these Smarter Balanced mini-assessments.
* Requiring Departmental approval for weekly PACE assessments violates RSA 193-H:5 "Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit either the department of education or the state board of education to take control of the daily operations of any local public school."
This bill ensures transparency when controversial materials are used in school.
* Nay on committee amendment 1261s. YEA on floor amendment 1559s which requires a policy with a clear method of notification to parents.
* Ensures that parents can review controversial materials on the school website two weeks prior to their use in the classroom.
* Encouraging open communication between schools and parents builds trust and cooperation.
* This bill allows parents an opportunity to engage their children in conversations on sensitive issues before it's discussed in class.
The unamended bill ensures transparency when controversial materials are used.
* NAY on Senate amendment #2015-1261s. This amendment narrowly focuses blame on teachers when the principal or superintendent could be at fault. Violation of any school policy should automatically result in a reprimand. There is no need to micro-manage districts.
* This bill ensures that parents can review controversial materials on the school website two weeks prior to their use in the classroom, allowing parents an opportunity to engage their children in conversations on sensitive issues.
* Encouraging open communication between schools and parents builds trust and cooperation.
This bill insures transparency when controversial materials are used in school.
* Insures that parents can review controversial materials on the school website two weeks prior to their use in the classroom.
* Encouraging open communication between schools and parents builds trust and cooperation.
* This bill also allows parents an opportunity to engage their children in conversations on sensitive issues.
This bill allows for crossbow seasons for various game animals and birds.
* Sportsmen should have the freedom to use the hunting weapons of their preference.
* Crossbow hunting is no less safe or effective than other forms of hunting.
* This bill makes current hunting law more consistent, by eliminating an arbitrary restriction on the use of crossbows for large game other than deer.
This bill allows for crossbow seasons for various game animals and birds.
* Crossbow hunting is no less safe or effective than other forms of hunting.
* This bill makes current hunting law more consistent, by eliminating an arbitrary restriction on the use of crossbows for large game other than deer
The state should not mandate content on websites of private organizations.
* Forcing organizations to publish personal information of board members online raises real privacy and safety concerns.
* The information this bill seeks to publish is already available through the Secretary of State.
This bill goes too far in expanding background checks on school employees & volunteers.
* Expanding background checks from criminal offenses to any offense is recklessly broad. A person convicted of giving a haircut without a license will no longer be eligible to work in a school cafeteria or on a school bus.
This bill would further impose restrictions on other people's property.
* This bill creates buffer zones around every wetland in the state, taking private property with no compensation.
* The method of determining buffer size looks scientific, but it is actually subjective and open to interpretation.
* This process would create a larger, more complex bureaucracy within Department of Environmental Services, funded by fees on development.
This bill would limit employers' hiring practices.
* Government should not be interfering in or dictating businesses' hiring practices.
* This would increase the risks involved in hiring, making firms more reluctant to expand or create new jobs. Like many other well-intentioned measures this could result in detrimental effects on the people it seeks to help.
* This bill is attempting to address a perceived problem, not a real one. Only 13% of employers conduct credit checks on all applicants, while 47% do for certain jobs - typically for senior personnel in critical positions.
This bill makes allows liquor manufacturers to receive on-premises licenses.
* This bill makes the law more consistent between breweries, wineries, and liquor manufacturers.
* Local artisan distilleries are a growth industry for NH, creating jobs, increasing tourism, and enhancing overall quality of life for NH residents. This bill helps New Hampshire businesses.
* The property rights of liquor manufacturers to choose to open a restaurant or bar should be protected.
This bill would be used to expand a state administered vaccine registry.
* This bill changes the registry from opt-in to opt-out, burdening patients to take action to protect their vaccination records from being collected by the government.
* The burden MUST be on the state to obtain permission to collect vaccination data, not on individuals to fight to maintain their privacy.
* This bill fails to create policies to fully inform citizens on how or when all of their immunizations may be subsequently tracked without their knowledge or consent, if they do not choose to opt-out of the registry.
* Despite legislative efforts to the contrary, a registry would allow the state to place those who refuse vaccines on a list which could subsequently be used for discriminatory purposes. For example, in many states with vaccine registries, health care providers have used the registry to refuse care for children based on the fact that they are not immunized.
* Any time private information is collected and shared, there is inherent risk of a security breach.
* This is a matter for private health care providers. There is no need for the state to track private medical records.
* There is no need for this bill, or for a government registry. 97% of school children already receive vaccines, the remaining 3% have medical or religious exemptions.
This bill would unburden NH citizens of unnecessary annual automobile expenses.
* 33 states, including states with much harsher winters than NH (e.g Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota), do not require any periodic safety inspections. Another six states require only biennial inspections.
* According to the Department of Transportation, only 1.2% of accidents are caused by a problem with the vehicle itself, leading to loss of control. The same study found that in only 6.8% of accidents was vehicle condition a factor at all, of which almost all were cases of tire/wheel damage (e.g. vehicle runs over a nail). Most accidents are caused by driver error or negligence.
* Yearly inspections are a special hardship on those with older vehicles and lower incomes, who often need the vehicle in order to get to work. Vehicles often fail for causes that have no material impact on safety. Biennial inspections will save these vehicle owners money they desperately need, and cost the state nothing.
This bill would increase taxes.
* The collection method in this bill is complex, inaccurate and imposes costs on businesses.
* Lower income residents disproportionately use prepaid cell phones (e.g. a poll by Opinion Research Corporation showed 65 percent of those who relied on just a prepaid cell phone had household incomes less than $35,000). This tax would be regressive, raising the costs of prepaid cell cards for the most financially vulnerable.
* Many prepaid cell customers who are NH residents do not have a NH area code, and many who reside outside the state do have a NH area code cell number.
This bill would increase taxes.
* The collection method in this bill is complex, inaccurate, and imposes costs on businesses.
* Lower income residents disproportionately use prepaid cell phones (e.g. a poll by Opinion Research Corporation showed 65 percent of those who relied on just a prepaid cell phone had household incomes less than $35,000). This tax would be regressive, raising the costs of prepaid cell cards for the most financially vulnerable.
* This tax is difficult to enforce. Many NH residents do not have a NH cell number. Prepaid cards can be purchased out of state or online to avoid this new tax and would hurt local NH retailers.
This bill would increase taxes.
* The collection method in this bill is complex, inaccurate and imposes costs on businesses.
* Lower income residents disproportionately use prepaid cell phones (e.g. a poll by Opinion Research
* Corporation showed 65 percent of those who relied on just a prepaid cell phone had household incomes less than $35,000). This tax would be regressive, raising the costs of prepaid cell cards for the most financially vulnerable
* This tax is difficult to enforce. Many NH residents do not have a NH cell number.
This bill establishes a state minimum wage with automatic increases for inflation.
* This bill would increase wages automatically with inflation but it does not allow for reduction of wages due to deflation.
* This bill is similar to HB 684. Please see bullet points below.
This bill restores freedom of speech on public ways or sidewalks.
* Freedom of speech should not be restricted on public land paid for by taxpayers.
* The current law is unconstitutional and will cost the state too much to enforce.
* An almost identical Massachusetts law was struck down as unconstitutional by all 9 Supreme Court justices last summer. The plaintiffs in that case were awarded $1.24 million in legal fees.
* A vote against repeal is a vote to charge taxpayers for an expensive lawsuit the state is expected to lose.
This bill restores freedom of speech on public ways or sidewalks.
* Freedom of speech should not be restricted on public land paid for by taxpayers.
* The current law is unconstitutional and will cost the state too much to enforce.
* An almost identical Massachusetts law was struck down as unconstitutional by all 9 Supreme Court justices last summer. The plaintiffs in that case were awarded $1.24 million in legal fees.
* A vote against repeal is a vote to charge taxpayers for an expensive lawsuit the state is expected to lose.
This bill restores freedom of speech on public ways or sidewalks.
* Freedom of speech should not be restricted on public land paid for by taxpayers.
* The current law is unconstitutional and will cost the state too much money in enforcement.
This bill removes an unconstitutional statute that violates the first amendment.
* The legislature doesn't need to wait for judicial action before rectifying an unconstitutional statute.
* There is no evidence to show that a problem exists in New Hampshire with citizens being coerced into showing their ballot. If someone attempts such a crime other statutes would be sufficient to prosecute.
* This bill creates a maximum penalty for unlawfully showing a ballot to be no more than ten dollars.
This bill is an important first step towards halting the militarization of police forces in New Hampshire.
* Under the USDLA 1033 program, NH counties, cities, and towns have received over six million dollars worth of military grade rifles, armored trucks and personnel carriers, a grenade launcher, and more. In many cases, these acquisitions have been made over the objections of local voters.
* The use of military forces domestically is prohibited, however, since 2001 the line separating the military from the police has become increasingly blurred. The spirit of Posse Comitatus is undermined when police (many of whom are veterans with recent combat experience overseas) are provided with many of the same types of weapons and vehicles at home that were used in the invasion and occupation of Iraq or Afghanistan.
* Police should be peace officers, primarily tasked with de-escalating situations, and protecting life. Militarization can create a dangerous change in police mentality, which can come to view citizens as enemies to confront with overwhelming force.
This bill would stop the militarization of our police forces in New Hampshire.
* Under the USDLA 1033 program, NH counties, cities, and towns have received over six million dollars worth of military grade rifles, armored trucks and personnel carriers, a grenade launcher, and more. In many cases, these acquisitions have been made over the objections of local voters.
* The use of military forces domestically is prohibited, however, since 2001 the line separating the military from the police has become increasingly blurred. The spirit of Posse Comitatus is undermined when police (many of whom are veterans with recent combat experience overseas) are provided with many of the same types of weapons and vehicles at home that were used in the invasion and occupation of Iraq or Afghanistan.
* Police should be peace officers, primarily tasked with de-escalating situations, and protecting life. Militarization can create a dangerous change in police mentality, which can come to view citizens as enemies to confront with overwhelming force.
* Tools shape our thinking. When military hardware is readily available a tendency exists to think of ways to use it. For someone with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
This bill infringes on fuel producers and consumers' right to choose use ethanol.
* This bill creates a new prohibition on an entirely legal and ethical product.
* This bill will harm the related businesses which manufacture and sell ethanol blended gasoline including many small and family-owned gas stations.
* The bill discriminatorily only bans corn-based products, not all ethanol additives. Banning manufacture & sale of only corn-based ethanol creates an artificial preference for ethanol produced from other sources.
* 0% corn ethanol gasoline is not widely consumed in New England. Passage of HB409 would cause a significant increase in fuel costs for NH consumers.
This bill repeals the prohibition on the sale of organs for transplant.
* An average of 18 people die each day waiting for transplants that can't take place because of the shortage of donated organs (organdonor.gov)
* Humans own their bodies and should be allowed to make reasonable choices about what happens to them after they die.
* Allowing for the possibility of a financial incentive for donations that will occur after death will save lives.
This bill would expand occupational licensing.
* An "occupational license" is just that—government permission to work in a particular field. Gainful employment requires a worker to convince a prospective employer or potential customer of their value. This bill requires convincing the government.
* The consumers of occupationally licensed services derive no determinable benefit for the added cost.
* Barriers like these make it harder for people to find jobs and build new businesses that create jobs.
This bill allows adults the freedom to choose responsible cell phone use while driving.
* Studies show that bans on use of handheld devices while driving have no effect on accident rates.
* Handheld phone bans will cause some drivers to hide their phone use, by placing the phone in their lap and taking their eyes off the road longer, which is far more dangerous.
* The current ban overreaches. It doesn't allow for using a phone while stopped in traffic or at a red light.
This bill implements an extensive list of burdensome new regulations.
* Such a long list of changes should be more thoroughly vetted to look for unintended consequences.
* This legislation is likely to cost taxpayers large sums of money in the near term and indefinitely into the future, both through added costs related to public infrastructure and in construction of private buildings.
This bill removes statutes that discriminate between religious denominations and allows increased charitable donations.
* Removes the antiquated power of incorporated churches to levy property taxes.
* Removes inequities between certain denominations and unincorporated churches in regard to donation limits, property ownership, and business practices.
A game of skill should not be falsely defined as gambling simply to maintain a source of revenue for the state.
* Poker is demonstrably a game of skill, mathematical studies over millions of hands played online have established this beyond a reasonable doubt.
* It is currently a felony to organize a poker game & a misdemeanor to play poker in your own home.
* Poker is not a crime and should be treated just like other games of skill, just like bridge, euchre, etc.
This bill allows terminally ill people to have more options in their treatment.
* The FDA drug approval process often takes many years. This is time that terminal patients do not have.
* HB 446 is very limited in its scope. In order to be eligible, a patient must have a condition for which no FDA approved treatment is available, & the risk associated with the treatment must be less than the underlying condition.
* It is immoral and unjust for the state to stand between a terminal patient and a life saving treatment.
This bill improves oversight of state administrative agencies.
* The legislative budget assistant needs certain information in order to conduct effective performance and fiscal audits.
* Administrative agencies' refusal to provide the legislative budget assistant with needed documents makes effective oversight difficult or impossible. HB 463 helps correct this problem.
* HB463/A does not require disclosure of HIPAA protected information, or other individually identifiable medical information.
This bill improves oversight of state administrative agencies.
* The legislative budge assistant needs the necessary information to conduct performance and fiscal audits.
* Administrative agencies' refusal to provide the legislative budget assistant with needed documents makes effective oversight difficult or impossible. HB 463 helps correct this problem.
* HB463/A does not require disclosure of HIPAA protected information, or other individually identifiable medical information.
This bill will prohibit government agencies from tracking the location of citizens without a warrant.
* HB468 comports with part one article 19 of the NH Constitution and the fourth amendment to the US Constitution.
* HB468 defends the privacy rights of NH residents, and clarifies that government agencies shall not track their movements without a warrant from a judge based on probable cause.
* Technology has enabled some agencies in the U.S. to intercept cell phone signals and track citizens secretly, without oversight. This bill would prevent that from happening in NH.
This bill will prohibit government agencies from tracking the location of citizens without a warrant.
* HB468 comports with part one article 19 of the NH Constitution and the fourth amendment to the US Constitution.
* HB468 defends the privacy rights of NH citizens, and clarifies that government agencies shall not track their movements without a warrant from a judge based on probable cause.
* Technology has enabled some agencies in the U.S. to intercept cell phone signals and track citizens secretly, without oversight. This bill would prevent that from happening in NH.
This bill will prohibit government agencies from tracking the location of citizens without a warrant.
* HB468 comports with part one article 19 of the NH Constitution and the fourth amendment to the US Constitution.
* HB468 defends the privacy rights of NH citizens, and clarifies that government agencies shall not track their movements without a warrant from a judge based on probable cause.
* Technology has enabled some agencies in the U.S. to intercept cell phone signals and track citizens secretly, without oversight. This bill would prevent that from happening in NH.
This bill will prohibit government agencies from tracking the location of citizens without a warrant.
* HB468 comports with part one article 19 of the NH Constitution and the fourth amendment to the US Constitution.
* HB468 defends the privacy rights of NH residents, and clarifies that government agencies shall not track their movements without a warrant from a judge based on probable cause.
* Technology has enabled some agencies in the U.S. to intercept cell phone signals and track citizens secretly, without oversight. This bill would prevent that from happening in NH.
This bill will prohibit government agencies from tracking the location of citizens without a warrant.
* HB468 comports with part one article 19 of the NH constitution and the fourth amendment to the US constitution.
* HB468 defends the privacy rights of NH residents, and clarifies that government agencies shall not track their movements without a warrant from a judge based on probable cause
* Technology has enabled some police departments in the U.S. to intercept cell phone signals and track citizens secretly, without any oversight. This bill would prevent that from happening in NH.
This bill goes too far by restricting the rights of private persons to photograph.
* This bill makes photography (and videography) a crime in certain common scenarios.
* This bill would make it a crime to use common geo-location features found on smart phones.
* The NHLA would support an amendment that would apply this bill to state agencies only, removing the reference to "nor any person".
This bill directs courts to instruct juries on their right to nullification, and allows defendants to explain this right to the jury.
* This bill does not create any new power for juries, it simply provides mechanisms for them to be informed and educated on their longstanding rights to judge both fact and law in cases before them.
* Opposition to this bill stems from a misunderstanding of what jury nullification is.
* To nullify is to make legally null and void, it is a negative, a veto on an action taken by the government. There is no way that a jury exercising their right to nullify could result in a guilty verdict.
* Governments are not perfect, jury nullification is a well established check and balance on overzealous, corrupt, or imprudent legislatures, law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts.
This bill recognizes the right of patients with certain serious illnesses to obtain the medicine they need.
* This bill will help patients who are suffering get treatment and relief.
* Bureaucrats and politicians should not stand between patients and doctors in determining courses of treatment.
* Natural cannabis has demonstrable medical benefits as a treatment to certain symptoms and diseases, that no other drug (including synthetic alternatives) can match.
This bill recognizes the right of patients with certain serious illnesses to obtain the medicine they need.
* This bill will help patients who are suffering get treatment and relief.
* Bureaucrats and politicians should not get between patients and doctors in determining courses of treatment.
* Natural cannabis has demonstrable medical benefits as a treatment to certain symptoms and diseases, that no other drug (including synthetic alternatives) can match.
This bill recognizes the right of patients with certain serious illnesses to obtain the medicine they need.
* This bill will help patients who are suffering get treatment and relief.
* Bureaucrats and politicians should not get between patients and doctors in determining courses of treatment.
* Natural cannabis has demonstrable medical benefits as a treatment to certain symptoms and diseases, that no other drug (including synthetics) can match.
This bill would allow for additional taxes.
* This bill would be used to further raise taxes on people who are already struggling to pay property taxes, by allowing the majority of their neighbors to create special taxing districts for improvements.
* Could create a double tax for municipal services that are already being paid for, but not received.
* There is no requirement that all residents receive notice of a proposed district during the collection of signatures or the submission of an "improvement plan". The first residents and owners may hear of a proposed plan is when receiving notice of the hearing, putting those who might propose an alternative at a significant disadvantage.
This bill would allow for additional taxes.
* This bill would be used to further raise taxes on people who are already struggling to pay property taxes, by allowing the majority of their neighbors to create special taxing districts for improvements.
* Could create a double tax for municipal services that are already being paid for, but not received.
* There is no requirement that all residents receive notice of a proposed district during the collection of signatures or the submission of an "improvement plan". The first residents and owners may hear of a proposed plan is when receiving notice of the hearing, putting those who might propose an alternative at a significant disadvantage.
This bill would allow for additional taxes.
* This bill would be used to further raise taxes on people who are already struggling to pay property taxes, by allowing the majority of their neighbors to create special taxing districts for improvements.
* Could create a double tax for municipal services that are already being paid for, but not received.
* There is no requirement that all residents receive notice of a proposed district during the collection of signatures or the submission of an "improvement plan". The first residents and owners may hear of a proposed plan is when receiving notice of the hearing, putting those who would seek to oppose a plan at a significant disadvantage.
This bill would allow for additional taxes.
* This bill would be used to further raise taxes on people who are already struggling to pay property taxes, by allowing the majority of their neighbors to create special taxing districts for improvements.
* Could create a double tax for municipal services that are already being paid for, but not received.
* There is no requirement that all residents receive notice of a proposed district during the collection of signatures or the submission of an "improvement plan". The first residents and owners may hear of a proposed plan is when receiving notice of the hearing, putting those who would seek to oppose a plan at a significant disadvantage.
This bill restricts our freedom to enjoy firework displays featuring aerial shells.
* Irresponsible behavior of a few people does not justify depriving everyone of their liberty to use and enjoy all manner of fireworks.
* These items are available in Maine, which is where New Hampshire residents will have to go to get them.
This bill expands special privileges granted to government employees to veterans.
* YEA on floor amendment to HB492, repealing RSA 644:13
* Veterans and military re-enactors should be allowed to discharge firearms for commemorative events and celebrations, however they should not be given special exemptions from the law to do so.
* Floor amendment to repeal RSA 644:13 would allow all citizens to commemorate and celebrate holidays, funerals, etc. with the discharge of firearms without special permission from the police.
This bill eliminates an unnecessary and harmful prohibition on industrial hemp.
* Industrial hemp is completely non-psychoactive and not useful as a recreational drug. There is zero risk of abuse.
* Hemp is easy to distinguish from its cousin visually by the layperson. Law enforcement would have no trouble enforcing the prohibition on marijuana if hemp were brought back into production in NH.
* Hemp is a versatile crop, with a long and proud history of cultivation in NH, from early colonial times, through the early 20th century. In modern times it has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, construction, body products, health food, and bio-fuel.
* U.S. retail sales are estimated to exceed $350 million annually. The U.S. market for hemp clothing and textiles is approximated at $100 million annually. Currently, hemp products are imported from Canadian farmers, where it is a major crop (over 66,000 acres in 2013).
* Allowing industrial hemp production in NH would spur agriculture here, rather than continuing to ship jobs to Canada.
* 13 states already have passed bills allowing hemp as a commercial crop, including Vermont and Maine. 7 others allow it to be grown for academic or research purposes.
This bill increases government transparency.
* Fiscal responsibility requires representatives to have accurate and timely knowledge about spending by government entities, including the Housing Finance Authority.
* Requiring the disclosure of terms and conditions of loans or grants to municipalities helps prevent misunderstanding, and helps ensure local authorities are fully informed.
This bill removes unfair mandates on how electricity must be produced.
* Electricity costs are already very high in NH. Current law exacerbates this problem by mandating that electricity be produced using expensive energy sources.
* HB 543 recognizes the property rights of energy producers and consumers.
This bill expands federal government interference in what should be a private health care market serving the citizens of New Hampshire.
* Health care reform is a federal government takeover of health insurance that forces citizens to buy health insurance and manages health coverage decisions centrally via a federal bureaucracy.
* If New Hampshire adopts the federal exchange as a state exchange, the state will have accepted the unconstitutional terms of healthcare reform.
This bill attempts to expand the reach of the business profits tax.
* This bill greatly complicates the tax code, increasing both governmental bureaucratic overhead, and business regulatory compliance cost.
* We should be working to make NH more business friendly, not less so.
This bill offers more choices to NH consumers, and helps NH retailers compete.
* This bill would allow the sale of growlers in restaurants, beer stores, and supermarkets. Sales of growlers are currently only allowed by nano-breweries, brewpubs, and beverage manufacturers.
* Some beers are only available through keg purchases. This bill will allow NH residents access to craft beers that are not readily available.
* 35 states, including Massachusetts and Vermont, already allow growler sales under a retail license.
* This bill will allow New Hampshire businesses to offer products that their customers want.
This bill would penalize out-of-state companies with fleets of vehicles for doing business in New Hampshire.
* This will increase the cost to do business in NH and may force car and truck rental companies out of NH. Businesses routinely register their entire fleet in one state for easier accounting and to save money. Under this bill companies would be required to register their vehicles in NH instead of where it is most advantageous and economical for them to do so.
* This bill is largely unenforceable and the cost to attempt enforcement would outweigh the increase in revenue from registrations. We shouldn't have unenforceable laws on the books.
* This bill was requested by the Department of Safety to target ambulance companies. Enforcement of existing laws requiring a license to operate an ambulance would make this bill unnecessary.
This bill protects the rights of property owners whose land is being taken by eminent domain.
* Under current law, companies taking private land for the development of a high pressure pipeline may only take land to be used for the pipeline, without compensating owners for damage to the value and usability of property immediately adjacent to the pipeline. This bill would provide at least some protection to homeowners against this unfair practice.
* If companies wish to acquire land for the construction of a high pressure gas pipeline, they should acquire it from property owners on a consensual basis, not using force via eminent domain.
This bill would lead to massive new spending and involve government in the private finances of thousands of families.
* This type of program can and should be accomplished by private charities, either in coordination with each other or individually. It is inappropriate to use taxation and the state bureaucracy to fund or establish such a program.
* No restrictions are specified by the bill on the use of these funds. Will funds be available only for tuition? For any purpose at all? Can funds be withdrawn and spent by parents?
* This bill which would require spending $30,000 to hire someone to disperse $65,000 to students in its first year is a ridiculously inefficient use of taxpayer funds.
* The NHLA is not taking a position on the non-germane amendment relative to the bonding authority of the city of Dover.
This bill would lead to massive new spending and involve government in the private finances of thousands of families.
* This type of program can and should be accomplished by private charities, either in coordination with each other or individually. It is inappropriate to use taxation and the state bureaucracy to fund or establish such a program.
* No restrictions are specified by the bill on the use of these funds. Will funds be available only for tuition? For any purpose at all? Can funds be withdrawn and spent by parents?
* This bill which would require spending $30,000 to hire someone to disperse $65,000 to students in its first year is a ridiculously inefficient use of taxpayer funds.
* The NHLA is not taking a position on the non-germane amendment relative to the bonding authority of the city of Dover.
This bill addresses unconstitutional state downshifting of costs to local districts.
* This bill affirms P1, Art. 28-a of the NH Constitution, which prohibits the state from downshifting costs onto school districts. This constitutional provision has been ignored for the most part by the state.
* This bill is a reminder to the legislature that it must either find funds to cover all the current federal and state mandates, or eliminate these mandates.
This bill allows for the ill to receive the medicine they need sooner.
* Despite passage of a medical marijuana law in 2013, patients suffering from debilitating illnesses are still committing a crime if they possess cannabis in N.H. Although it is hoped that a dispensary will open later this year, there is no guarantee that will happen, and in other states the process has been beset by delays. So far, states with "dispensary-only" laws have not been able to meet the needs of patients.
* This bill would allow patients to grow up to two mature plants until a dispensary opens near their residence. This would be a far more restrictive policy than the home cultivation provisions in Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts, and it is the least New Hampshire can do for patients who can't afford to wait for dispensaries — or who will not be able to access them conveniently once they are open.
This bill would criminalize behavior in normal everyday social situations.
* Infants are not excluded in this bill which defines a victim only as a "child who is less than the age of 16." A parent bathing with their infant or changing clothes in the infant’s presence could become perpetrators of a class B felony.
* This bill defines the potential perpetrator simply as "person" without regard to age. This means other children could become perpetrators in some situations such as the high school shower or other public locker room, and young siblings bathing together would be both perpetrators and victims.
* Current statute qualifies the violation of “exposure of his or her genitals” by requiring "circumstances which he or she should know will likely cause affront or alarm." This new felony has no such qualification and could lead to unreasonable prosecutions.
* RSA 645:1-II(b) Makes it a felony to send lewd images to a child under sixteen. This statute targets specific behavior that is almost always sexual or even predatory. The committee hopes this bill will create consistency with this statute but does not anticipate the innocent behavior that could become felonious if this bill were to pass.
This bill forces businesses to pay sick leave compensation.
* The fiscal note exemplifies the huge financial impact this law would have on ALL businesses.
* When deciding which states to expand in or to, this legislation would count as a mark against NH.
* There are no federal legal requirements for paid sick leave. Connecticut is the only state to force employers to provide mandatory paid sick leave.
This bill respects parents' right to refuse state assessments for their child.
* This is a bipartisan issue with significant impact on all NH families. Both Nashua and Manchester high schools experienced a refusal rate of over 50%.
* Parents' rights should not be compromised over deliberate misunderstandings of NCLB, and scare tactics that threaten a loss of federal funding. Seven states (Utah, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and California) already have opt-out provisions. No state or school district has lost federal funding due to lower participation rates, nor over opt out provisions.
* This bill is necessary to refute the Commissioner's Technical Advisories which school districts are inappropriately using to trample parents' rights.
* This bill makes it clear that there is no penalty for students exempted by parents from statewide assessments.
This bill respects a parent's right to refuse state assessments for their child.
* This is a bipartisan issue with significant impact on all NH families. Both Nashua and Manchester high schools experienced a refusal rate of over 50%.
* Parent's rights should not be compromised in order to obtain federal funds.
* No state or school district has lost federal funding due to lower participation rates.
* This bill is necessary to refute the Commissioner's Technical Advisories which school districts are inappropriately using to trample parents' rights.
* This bill makes it clear that there is no penalty for students exempted by parents from statewide assessments.
This bill respects a parent's right to refuse state assessments for their child.
* This bill makes it clear that there is no penalty for students exempted by parents from statewide assessments.
* This bill is necessary to refute the Commissioner's Technical Advisories which school districts are inappropriately using to bully and intimidate parents.
* No state or school district has lost federal funding due to lower participation rates.
* Parents' rights should not be compromised in order to chase federal dollars.
This bill respects a parent's right to refuse state assessments for their child.
* This bill makes it clear that there is no penalty for students exempted by parents from statewide assessments.
* The bill as amended by the House fails to address student privacy. Only the original bill prevents the public from obtaining parent refusal information under the Right to Know law.
* This bill is necessary to refute the Commissioner's Technical Advisories which school districts are inappropriately using to trample parents' rights.
* No state or school district has lost federal funding due to lower participation rates.
* Parents' rights should not be compromised in order to obtain federal dollars.
This bill respects a parent's right to refuse state assessments for their child.
* This bill makes it clear that there is no penalty for students exempted by parents from statewide assessments. Neither the department of education nor the state board of education may impose any penalty upon districts with corresponding lower participation rates.
* Both amendments listed in the House calendar fail to address student privacy. Only the original bill prevents the public from obtaining student refusal forms under the Right to Know law.
* This bill is necessary to refute the Commissioner of Education's Technical Advisories which school districts are mistakenly using to trample parents' rights.
This bill reduces fees for citizens and makes government more accessible.
* This will encourage people to ask for electronic copies of documents which will reduce government costs and lower fees to citizens.
* Government should be accessible to everyone, not just those who can pay the fees.
This bill brings New Hampshire slightly closer to a responsible drug policy.
* The N.H. Constitution provides that "all penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense," but our state's penalties for marijuana possession are no longer supported by public opinion and they are far more severe than those found in other New England states.
* Currently, N.H. treats all marijuana possession as a crime punishable by up to a year in jail. This bill would reduce the penalty for possessing up to one-half ounce of marijuana to a violation bringing it more closely into line with the more sensible policies of our neighboring states.
* Vermont passed a similar law in 2013; it led to an 80% reduction in criminal marijuana cases the following year. With fewer possession cases, police and prosecutors are free to spend their time solving crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
* There is no evidence that reducing marijuana penalties has led to negative outcomes in the 19 states where it has been tried. This reform is long overdue in New Hampshire.
This bill brings New Hampshire slightly closer to a responsible drug policy.
* The N.H. Constitution provides that "all penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense," but our state's penalties for marijuana possession are no longer supported by public opinion and they are far more severe than those found in other New England states.
* Currently, N.H. treats all marijuana possession as a crime punishable by up to a year in jail. This bill would reduce the penalty for possessing up to one-half ounce of marijuana to a violation bringing it more closely into line with the more sensible policies of our neighboring states.
* Vermont passed a similar law in 2013; it led to an 80% reduction in criminal marijuana cases the following year. With fewer possession cases, police and prosecutors are free to spend their time solving crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
* There is no evidence that reducing marijuana penalties has led to negative outcomes in the 19 states where it has been tried. This reform is long overdue in New Hampshire.
This bill resurrects an inefficient redistributive program.
* The department of HHS asserts that the reinstitution of this program would imply hiring an additional administrator at a cost of $75,000 per year.
* The last two years the catastrophic illness program operated, it expended only $107-122K per year, implying a very wasteful ratio of disbursements to overhead.
This bill discourages transparency by allowing higher fees for 91-A requests.
* This puts an unnecessary barrier between citizens and their government. Government should be open and accessible per Part 1 Article 8 of the NH Constitution. Public records belong to the people, and their access should not be restricted.
* Municipalities worried about the high cost of 91-A requests should innovate and make all public information available online without waiting for a request.
* This is a double tax on taxpayers. The officials are already compensated for their time, this bill would allow municipalities to profit from requests for information that should be free for everyone.
* There is no provisions in this bill for refunds if the records search happens to be quicker than anticipated.
This bill makes all firearms transactions subject to criminal background checks via the national Instance Criminal Background Check System.
* Definition of "commercial sales" unclear in this bill. Federal firearms law already defines who may legally purchase, own and sell firearms.
* Removal of term "federally" from "federally-licensed firearm dealer" opens the door for future restrictions on licensing at local levels.
* This bill perpetuates the "gun show loophole" myth.
This bill lessens the regulatory burden on small farmstands.
* Lowering barriers to entry would mean more people could afford to support themselves sustainably through small-scale farming and would result in higher availability of affordable, locally sourced food.
* This would allow citizens with a passion for local food production to venture into a business that would provide their communities with healthier and more unique options while requiring a much smaller initial capital investment.
* Increases local employment opportunities by not only lowering the cost of starting a small business but also lowering the cost of hiring employees
This bill reduces the nomination requirement to 1/10th of 1% or about 600 signatures.
* Protects the rights of minor party and independent candidates by allowing them an easier path to the ballot.
* Potentially gives voters more choice on election day
* Protects freedom of association by allowing candidates to run under the label they choose, instead of feeling forced to run as a candidate of a major party
This bill will improve transparency about the militarization of police in NH.
* The public's right to transparency is recognized by Part 1 Article 8 of the NH constitution.
* Much of the data required by this bill is already readily available to law enforcement agencies. Reporting requirements are not arduous.
* The public has a right to know about the presence and use of military equipment in our cities.
This bill would have the state take private property during every sales transaction.
* New Hampshire should be seeking to spur job growth by reducing the tax and regulatory burden on NH residents. This bill does the opposite.
* The "New Hampshire Advantage" exists because of our long tradition of fiscal restraint and low taxes. This bill is contrary to that tradition and would stifle our economy.
This bill would make getting permission to be married more expensive.
* Section 2 unfairly penalizes peaceful people, who choose to marry, for the violent actions of others.
* Taking money from domestic violence abusers is one thing, but this bill also takes money from completely innocent couples.
* This is not a user-fee. Should car registration fees pay for road-rage therapy or a beer tax pay for Alcoholics Anonymous?
This bill would make getting permission to be married more expensive.
* Unfairly penalizes peaceful people, who choose to marry, for the violent actions of others.
* It would be more appropriate for domestic violence perpetrators to fund prevention programs, not innocent couples.
* This is not a user-fee. Should car registration fees pay for road-rage therapy or dog license fees pay for the K-9 Unit?
This bill would make getting permission to be married more expensive.
* Unfairly penalizes peaceful people who choose to marry because the violent actions of others.
* It would be more appropriate for domestic violence perpetrators to fund prevention programs, not innocent couples.
* This is not a user-fee. Should car registration fees pay for road-rage therapy or a boat license pay for flood control?
This bill imposes unneeded licensing requirements on buyers of precious metals.
* This is not just an imposition on cash for gold businesses. Many other small businesses such as consignment and coin shops trade in gold or silver as well.
* Cities and towns already have the ability to regulate businesses buying precious metals, if they so choose.
This bill establishes a state minimum wage.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Minimum wage laws lower the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation - more jobs means more competition to hire all workers.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that citizens don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill prohibits the use of state and local resources to enforce future federal firearms legislation.
* This bill comports with article 7 of the NH constitution, the 10th amendment to the federal constitution, and the recent supreme court case Printz v. US, when it ruled: "the federal government may neither issue directives requiring the States to address particular problems, nor command the states' officers, or those of their political subdivisions, to administer or enforce a federal regulatory program".
* It is not appropriate to use NH law enforcement and NH taxpayer dollars to enforce federal gun laws. NH law enforcement resources should focus on NH state law.
* The state of NH should not participate in any future federal abridgments of NH residents' inherent right to self defense.
This bill would enforce a government-run monopoly on healthcare.
* Vermont recently abandoned a similar big government program, with its principal proponent, Governor Shumlin, admitting that the required tax hike would be "in a word, enormous" and that "the risk of economic shock is too high at this time to offer a plan I can responsibly support". This bill includes no mechanism to pay for the enormous cost of government-run healthcare.
* Central planning of healthcare does not work, any more than central planning of consumer goods, housing, or labor. Command economies lead, predictably, to waste, abuse, and stagnation.
* People's right to make their own choices about their healthcare, and finances, should be respected. This bill not only compels funding, but prohibits healthcare alternatives (404-J:8).
This bill allows local voters greater control over town and school budgets.
* Current law allows voters in SB2 jurisdictions to vote only on the proposed budget. If the proposed budget is voted down, the default budget takes effect. Problematically, however, the default budget is often very similar to the proposed budget, effectively taking the decision making power out of the hands of the voters.
* HB689 addresses this problem by allowing a 3/5 majority of voters in SB2 jurisdictions to choose to allow votes on the default budget as well as the proposed budget. If both fail, a town meeting would be held to choose the budget.
* Voters should have the power to choose the budget -- budgets should not be pre-determined by administrators or committee members.
These bills protect the property rights of business owners by reducing taxes.
* NH's ability to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses is vital to the health of our economy. Low unemployment benefits everyone.
* High business tax rates impede NH's ability to attract and retain businesses.
* When profits are not heavily taxed they can be re-invested to hire more staff, create more robust R&D, or invested in capital equipment.
* Enterprise taxes are a tax on compensation. Lowering these taxes directly enables businesses to increase compensation to employees.
These bills protect the property rights of business owners by reducing taxes.
* NH's ability to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses is vital to the health of our economy. Low unemployment benefits everyone.
* High business tax rates impede NH's ability to attract and retain businesses.
* When profits are not heavily taxed they can be re-invested to hire more staff, create more robust R&D, or invested in capital equipment.
* Enterprise taxes are a tax on compensation. Lowering these taxes directly enables businesses to increase compensation to employees.
These bills protect the property rights of business owners by reducing taxes.
* NH's ability to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses is vital to the health of our economy. Low unemployment benefits everyone.
* High business tax rates impede NH's ability to attract and retain businesses.
* When profits are not heavily taxed they can be re-invested to hire more staff, create more robust R&D, or invested in capital equipment.
* Enterprise taxes are a tax on compensation. Lowering these taxes directly enables businesses to increase compensation to employees.
These bills protect the property rights of business owners by reducing taxes.
* NH's ability to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses is vital to the health of our economy. Low unemployment benefits everyone.
* High business tax rates impede NH's ability to attract and retain businesses.
* When profits are not heavily taxed they can be re-invested to hire more staff, create more robust R&D, or invested in capital equipment.
* Enterprise taxes are a tax on compensation. Lowering these taxes directly enables businesses to increase compensation to employees.
This bill improves legislative oversight of regulatory policy.
* It is important that the legislature provide robust oversight of executive department policies to ensure they do not create more arduous regulations than are specified by NH law, and to ensure that the rights and the freedoms of NH residents are respected.
* The amendment clarifies that the committee will take responsibility to approve regulatory policies, and not merely review them.
This bill micromanages pet owners with unneeded regulation.
* Some dogs are well trained or small enough to hold and don't need to be on a leash Specifying that they must be leashed in the presence of a service animal is unnecessary.
* In environments where companion animals may be unleashed, such as on hiking trails, it may not be practical for an owner to immediately recall and leash his/her animal the moment a service animal comes into view. "Failure" to immediately recall and leash an animal should not be grounds for criminal prosecution.
This bill reduces regulations on competitive water skiing in certain circumstances.
* This bill is very limited, applying only to skiers on an officially permitted slalom course, using approved equipment.
* 13 other states already allow a mirror of appropriate size to be used in lieu of an observer, for both competitive and recreational skiing.
* NHLA would support an amendment to extend SB16 to also apply to recreational water skiing.
This bill allows guarantees of a bond issue of up to $30 million for a well capitalized investor to develop the Balsams Resort.
* This bill expands the use of the Business Finance Authority, which allows government to arbitrarily subsidize some private projects over others. This is not good governance and violates Article 10 of the NH Constitution which states "Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men".
* This bill gives New Hampshire counties unprecedented taxing powers over unincorporated areas and expands the practice of using New Hampshire taxpayers as the guarantors of loans for the benefit of private interests.
* Capital for private ventures should come from voluntary investors, lenders, and donors, not from taxpayers who are forced to participate in financing private projects they may not support.
This bill increases government transparency.
* Fiscal responsibility requires representatives to have accurate knowledge about spending by government entities.
* Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent.
* Reporting requirements are reasonable, and not arduous.
This bill increases government transparency.
* Fiscal responsibility requires representatives to have accurate knowledge about spending by government entities.
* Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent.
* Reporting requirements are reasonable, and not arduous.
This bill removes the direct authority of the state board of education over public schools.
* Schools are best governed by the communities they serve. This change empowers local governance of public schools.
* This bill addresses clear instances when the state BOE overstepped its statutory authority.
* This bill limits the state board of education rule-making to those "necessary for the proper interpretation of laws enacted by the General Court."
* Restores the balance between state Board of Education and local districts with duly elected representatives closest to citizens.
This bill removes the direct authority of the state commissioner of education over public schools.
* This bill prohibits the commissioner from assuming any "managerial or supervisory" role with district administrators (superintendents, principals & curriculum specialists).
* Instead the commissioner will have to persuade parents and elected school boards to choose to adopt policies, rather than dictating them.
* Non transparent, closed door meetings of the state commissioner (or her agents) with district administrators undermines the people's right to control of their local schools as guaranteed under Article 6, Part 1 of the NH Constitution.
This bill compels fuel providers to deliver when payment is guaranteed by municipal welfare officials.
* The state should not interfere in the right of NH business owners and residents to freely contract, or choose not to contract, for goods or services. To forcefully compel a service provider to do business with another private party is unjust.
* The bill as amended is poorly written, and unclear. The text of the amendment only references "current delivery", with no specification of the good or service to be delivered. RSA 358-A:2, into which SB100/A would add a new paragraph, covers many different types of commerce, not just heating fuel. It is also not clear if the mandate to provide service is contingent on the repayment plan, nor who determines whether a payment plan is "reasonable".
* This bill as amended provides no protection to fuel providers nor accountability to municipal welfare officials who provide the guarantee. The amended bill does not specify that a fuel provider has a legal claim to collect money from the municipality should the customer default.
This bill protects local control over educational standards.
* SB 101 prohibits the state from mandating Common Core standards thereby protecting local control.
* Federally funded "regional liaisons" recruited by the NH DoE have worked to implement Common Core in school districts without approval of parents or school boards.
* This bill protects local control in the face of on-going efforts to eliminate local decision making authority, including a No Child Left Behind waiver renewal that would require Common Core to be implemented in every school district.
This bill clarifies that districts are not required to adopt Common Core standards.
* This bill protects local control of education by clarifying that adoption of common core standards are at the discretion of local districts, and not mandated by the state.
* Common Core standards employ controversial metrics for measuring educational "competencies".
* The sponsor's amendment is consistent with legislative intent of previous education bills to keep "competency-based education" from "state approval standards" (SB 192 in 2011 and SB 82 in 2013).
* Amendment restores academics as focus of public education, not student "dispositions," by defining "competencies" in terms of academic mastery, not values, attitudes and beliefs under Common Core aligned "competency-based education".
This bill creates unneeded regulations for bottling of electronic cigarette liquid.
* Fluid for E-cigarettes is intended to be consumed by adults, and is not widely sold in childproof containers. This requirement would make refills for this tobacco replacement product far more difficult for NH residents to obtain, and make it more difficult for those of limited means to shift to what is a far healthier alternative to smoking tobacco.
* No childproof cap will be a replacement for responsible parenting. Parental negligence causes poisoning, not the product. The tragic situation in which one child in New York died after drinking liquid nicotine would not have been prevented by this bill. The child, who is the only confirmed infant death from exposure to liquid nicotine, was exposed to the product only after his parents left it uncapped and within his easy reach.
* One cigarette can kill a child if ingested and yet cigarettes are not sold in childproof packages. Many other products, which can be harmful if ingested by children, often lack child resistant packaging, including alcohol (isopropyl and ethanol), many household chemicals and cleaners, cosmetics, etc.
This bill prohibits private property owners from allowing use of e-cigarettes, even in designated smoking areas.
* Business owners have a right to set rules for their own property. The appropriate recourse for a customer or worker who objects to the use of e-cigarettes is to refrain from doing business in locations where it is permitted.
* E-cigarettes emit water vapor, not smoke, which studies show to be vastly safer than traditional smoking. (e.g. Roswell Park Cancer Institute found e-cigarette toxicant levels to be 9 to 450 times lower than those in cigarette smoke). There is no credible evidence that there is danger from secondhand e-cig water vapor.
* This bill is fundamentally intolerant, even eliminating reasonable exceptions to current law, for designated smoking rooms in hotels, private social clubs, and more.
This bill is a further continuation of failing prohibitionist drug policies.
* The legislature could more effectively address the failure the 'war on drugs' by decriminalizing marijuana, instead of adding new prohibitions to ban alternatives.
* In many cases, unregulated alternatives developed to replace illegal drugs are far more dangerous than the original drug. For example, "Spice" was invented to circumvent prohibitionist policies on marijuana. Lengthening the list of prohibited substances only encourages users to try even more dangerous alternatives.
* All manner of potentially dangerous and even lethal products are legal to sell and possess in New Hampshire. It is not practical to ban all substances which can be misused (including glues, many solvents, and aerosols, etc.).
* In a free society, individuals should not be punished for peaceful activities which harm only themselves. Individuals should take responsibility for their own choices.
This bill is an attempt to remedy a problem created by drug prohibition
* The legislature should address the failure the 'war on drugs' by decriminalizing marijuana before it adds new prohibitions to ban dangerous alternatives.
* In many cases, legal replacements to illegal drugs are far more dangerous than the original substances, like "Spice" invented to circumvent prohibitionist policies on marijuana.
* All manner of potentially dangerous and even lethal products are legal to sell and possess in New Hampshire. It is not possible to prohibit all substances which can be misused (including glues, many solvents, and aerosols).
* In a free society, individuals should not be punished for peaceful activities which harm only themselves. Individuals should take responsibility for their own choices, good or bad.
This bill creates government granted monopoly privileges.
* Allowing one or two special interests to conduct gambling operations, while prohibiting all others from competing, is a clear example of regulatory capture and an unjust use of government power.
* This bill would violate article 83 of the NH Constitution, which states "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it."
* This bill dramatically increases the size and scope of government. Once large bureaucracies and moneyed interests are created, they are very difficult to roll back.
* The NHLA would support a bill to more broadly legalize gambling, or allow for the creation of many independent casinos.
This bill eliminates an arbitrary legal distinction between concealed & open carry.
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the state Constitution: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill restores the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly.
* Our neighbors Vermont and Maine, two states that allow concealed carry without a permit, do not "have far stricter regulations at the point of original purchase than New Hampshire does" as the Governor suggests in her veto message.
* The language of current statute can be selectively interpreted and enforced.
* This bill eliminates unnecessary and obscure definitions of "open" versus "concealed" carry, which are difficult to interpret, have led to several lawsuits, and unfairly criminalize law-abiding citizens.
* This bill replaces the subjectivity of the phrase "suitable person," which has in the past been used by biased officials for ethnic, racial, and gender discrimination, with the objective and easily understood phrase of "not prohibited by state or federal law."
* By making the license optional, this bill eliminates a waiting period that has prevented persons who may feel threatened (e.g. a woman suffering from a stalker) from carrying discreet protection when needed. It also facilitates license reciprocity requirements between NH and other states.
* Other states that have enacted constitutional carry have seen either no statistically significant change in violent crime, or a slight downward trend.
This bill eliminates an arbitrary legal distinction between concealed & open carry.
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill allows law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly.
* This bill eliminates unnecessary and abstruse definitions of "open" versus "concealed" carry, which are difficult to interpret, have led to several lawsuits, and unfairly criminalize law abiding citizens.
* This bill removes the ambiguity of a "suitable person", which encourages profiling, and has in the past been used for ethnic, racial, and gender discrimination.
* For many people, due to work or life circumstances, it is not practical to open carry. In these cases, current law effectively constitutes a waiting period, prohibiting a person who may be feel threatened (e.g. a woman suffering from a stalker) from carrying protection when they need it.
* Other states that have enacted constitutional carry have seen either no statistically significant change in violent crime, or a slight downward trend.
This bill allows people to possess tools of defense without permission or notice.
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill allows law-abiding citizens to carry protection wherever they go.
* Other states that have enacted constitutional carry have seen either no statistically significant change in violent crime, or a slight downward trend.
* This bill eliminates unnecessary and abstruse definitions of "open" versus "concealed" carry, which are difficult to interpret, have led to several lawsuits, and unfairly criminalize law abiding citizens.
* This bill removes the ambiguity of a "suitable person" to make it consistent with federal law.
This bill compels young men to register for federal selective service in order to obtain a driver's license.
* Young men are already given the opportunity to register with the selective service when they apply for a driver's license, if they choose.
* Young men may, for reasons of conscience, decline to sign up for Selective Service. To prohibit these individuals from driving, merely because they have followed their conscience and exercised their right to dissent, is both tyrannical and immoral.
* Selective service imposes a specific requirement upon men based solely on their sex, which is a violation of part one article two of the New Hampshire constitution. While the base problem is one of federal law, this bill would violate the NH constitution by inappropriately making NH departments enforcers of this unequal federal imposition.
This bill would eliminate a citizen's right to a probable cause hearing.
* Probable cause hearings protect our rights by requiring the state to provide some proof a crime has been committed by the accused before subjecting that person to the risk and expense of mounting a defense in a trial.
* This bill will allow a judge to decide if a hearing is "necessary to assist the court", revoking the protection the right to a probable cause hearing could offer the accused.
* We should never jeopardize our rights to due process merely to save money or for the courts to more efficiency convict the accused.
* The improvements to SB 124 in the committee amendment are supported by the NHLA but they don't do enough to redeem the bill.
This bill infringes on the rights of homeowners and service providers.
* Licensing often creates unintended consequences, increasing the behavior it ostensibly intends to limit -- in this case amateur work. As hiring a certified and licensed professional becomes more expensive, more homeowners might attempt to do the work themselves or neglect the problem to save money.
* A test or licensing fee is no replacement for references and reputation. Some licensed service providers are incompetent & many unlicensed service providers are highly competent. Licensing creates a false sense of security for consumers, and reduces the overall quality of work provided, by raising barriers to entry, and reducing competition.
* Licensing makes it more difficult even for experienced, competent workers to start small businesses. We should be reducing the already significant regulatory load on small businesses, not increasing it.
* The government should not be imposing restrictions on homeowners regarding who they may hire to provide services for their own property.
This bill infringes on the rights of homeowners and service providers.
* Licensing often exacerbates problems it ostensibly intends to remedy - in this case, use of amateur work. As hiring a certified and licensed professional becomes more expensive, more homeowners might attempt to do the work themselves to save money.
* Requiring a license to remove mold doesn't mean the licensee will do a good job; there are both licensed service providers who do poor work, and unlicensed service providers who do good work.
* Licensing reduces competition and raises costs, limiting the ability of homeowners to choose a better alternative based on more relevant qualifications, like reputation and experience.
* The government should not be imposing restrictions on homeowners regarding who they may hire to provide services for their own property.
This bill creates yet another hurdle for business owners.
* Licensing often creates untended consequences, increasing the behavior it ostensibly intends to limit -- in this case amateur work. As hiring a certified and licensed professional becomes more expensive, more homeowners will attempt to do the work themselves or neglect the problem to save money.
* A test or licensing fee is no replacement for references and reputation. Some licensed service providers are incompetent & many unlicensed service providers are highly competent. Licensing creates a false sense of security for consumers, and reduces the overall quality of work provided, by raising barriers to entry, and reducing competition.
* Licensing makes it more difficult even for experienced, competent workers to start small businesses. We should be reducing the already significant regulatory load on small businesses, not increasing it.
This bill creates yet another hurdle for business owners.
* Requiring a license to remove mold doesn't guarantee the licensee will do a good job.
* Licensing often creates the untended consequence of creating more of the behavior it ostensibly intends to remedy, in this case amateur work. Hiring a certified and licensed professional becomes more expensive and more homeowners will attempt to do the work themselves to save money.
* Licensing would reduce a homeowners options for mold removal services while increasing expense.
This bill restricts speech on public rights of way.
* Public political speech should be protected, even when inconvenient.
* This bill is unenforceable. There is no feasible way for a government worker or member of the public to know whether or not signs along rights of way have been approved by an abutting property owner.
* NH DOT already as discretion to remove political signage along major highways and rights of way as necessary.
This bill adds new regulations on property owners & state agencies that are redundant with existing state and federal laws.
* This bill lowers the threshold for notification of blood lead levels without scientific certainty as to what levels are actually dangerous, creating many new requirements for health providers and agencies.
* It is bad public policy to link NH statute to a specific federal program (in this case the Renovation, Repair and Painting Program). The details of the federal program can be modified at the whim of Congress and regulators, regardless of applicability to New Hampshire. The federal program could even be eliminated altogether, and still NH statute would remain linked to it.
* Section 3 of the bill is particularly troubling: it sets an arbitrary goal of 85% of children ages 1 and 2 to receive blood lead level tests. Further, it targets only poor children who are receiving Medicaid or WIC benefits, while ignoring wealthier classes of people.
* There are already numerous lead paint programs and regulations in place. These new requirements are redundant with existing state and federal laws.
* This bill places new reporting requirements & regulatory burdens on agencies & property owners, reducing private property rights.
This bill protects the right of property owners to build accessory dwelling units.
* Many NH residents are currently prevented by arduous zoning laws from building accessory dwelling units.
* The needs and demographics of NH residents are shifting. Accessory dwelling units make it possible for aging parents to live with adult children, elderly residents to retain their independence by obtaining live-in aid, and young adult children to share housing costs with parents.
* The right of property owners to make their own choices about their property should be respected. Increasing housing flexibility benefits everyone.
This bill creates an unnecessary exemption to the right-to-know law.
* Contract negotiations are already covered under RSA 91-A. Adding legislation for every possible contract situation is unnecessary.
* This bill is attempting to solve a problem that doesn't currently exist. School districts have gone into non-public session for student or pupil tuition contracts in the past without it being an issue.
This bill would require taxpayers of the State of New Hampshire to take partial responsibility for the losses of investors in the FRM debacle.
* Perpetrators should be funding compensation to victims of fraud. It is inappropriate and unjust to force uninvolved taxpayers to do so.
* SB 155 sets a bad precedent for investors looking to have taxpayers bail them out of bad investments. The lesson: If an investment doesn't work, find a friendly legislator to pass a bill granting a bail-out.
* The State only has liability for actions carried out in its name. Therefore, unless an officer of the State has been found guilty of malfeasance or maladministration in office for failing to intercede in such a case of fraud can the State, and the taxpayers be found to bear financial responsibility.
This bill increases the notice requirement for out of state mortgagees foreclosing on certain owner occupied dwellings from 25 to 60 days.
* The law as amended by SB158 would treat NH based mortgagees unequally, by allowing them to foreclose far more quickly. It would also treat both owners of more than 5 units, and owners who live offsite unequally, by allowing them to be subject to foreclosure on shorter notice. In both cases, legitimate mortgagees and mortgagers would be put at an unfair competitive disadvantage.
* SB158 makes current law both more complicated and less consistent.
* NH Law should not interfere in private contracts by creating complicated mandates for foreclosure notice. Instead, notice requirements should be determined by the terms of the mortgage contract itself.
This bill tries to legislate good parenting.
* The state should not attempt to micromanage good parenting and common sense with legislation.
* This is a slippery slope toward controlling what one does in his or her own home. If a parent is banned from smoking in a car with his child, next he'll be banned from smoking in his own home.
* The dangers second hand smoke in a car are exaggerated. Simply smoking in a car does not necessarily create an overly toxic environment. Appropriate ventilation would limit second-hand smoke for passengers to levels similar to that found in a smoking household.
This bill prohibits gross misuse of taxpayer funds.
* It is wrong to force taxpayers to fund purchases of non-essential goods like tobacco, tattoos, or piercings.
* These bills are common sense. The recipients of taxpayer money, which is intended to help purchase basic necessities, should be prohibited from spending that money on non-essential goods and services.
* While it is not currently, nor will it ever be possible to detect all types of fraud, it is still important for the legislature to clarify that these clear abuses of taxpayer money are unlawful.
This bill prohibits gross misuse of taxpayer funds.
* It is wrong to force taxpayers to fund gambling, or purchases of non-essential goods like tobacco, alcohol, lottery tickets, or adult entertainment.
* SB169 is common sense. The recipients of taxpayer money, which is intended to help purchase basic necessities, should be prohibited from buying guns, porn, and tattoos with that money.
* While it is not currently, nor will it ever be possible to detect all types of fraud, it is still important for the legislature to clarify that these clear abuses of taxpayer money are unlawful.
Expands regional educational programs directly under the control of the DOE, circumventing elected school boards and district supervision.
* SB 190 undermines the well established NH principle that education is better controlled locally by parents and taxpayers.
* SB 190 augments the authority of the state Department of Education to include the determination of tuition and transportation costs and the distribution of funds.
* The NHLA does not support amendment #1945h, which adds the language of HB 276 (not SB101) to SB 190. HB 276 prohibits the state from requiring that school districts adopt Common Core standards. However, it goes too far by granting power to the state Board of Education to adopt standards. Currently only the state legislature may adopt standards for an adequate education.
This bill expands the size and scope of career and technical education programs administered by the Department of Education.
* Regional education programs operating directly under the Department of Education undermine the well established NH principle that education is better controlled locally by parents and taxpayers.
* Instead of creating or expanding state level programs, the state should allow local districts to more freely work with each other, with private businesses and organizations, and with a range of education providers, to make the choices that best fit the needs of local students and taxpayers.
This bill appropriates funds to the DOE and is unnecessary, wasteful, and unfair.
* SB196 unfairly redistributes money from rural communities to those with extensive public water systems.
* This bill significantly increases state spending at a time when the state should be reducing expenditures and tax burdens on citizens and businesses
This bill creates a new regressive tax for prepaid cell phone users.
* NH should be seeking to reduce the tax burden on NH residents, not increase it.
* Lower income residents disproportionately use prepaid cell phones (e.g. a poll by Opinion Research Corporation showed 65 percent of those who relied on just a prepaid cell phone had household incomes less than $35,000). This tax would be regressive, raising the costs of prepaid cell cards for the most financially vulnerable.
This bill would repeal the successful K-12 scholarship program.
* The NH Supreme Court ruled in Aug 2014 that the plaintiffs had no standing, thereby allowing the program to continue.
* Voluntary private donations to 501c3 organizations are not state monies and not a form of government spending, therefore the program is not in conflict with the Blaine Amendment.
* Similar tax-credit scholarship programs have been deemed Constitutional by their home states and by the US Supreme Court.
This bill increases government transparency and accountability.
* Protects the public's right to transparency as recognized in Art. 8 of the NH constitution, by applying right to know statues to the office of the governor.
* Appropriately holds government officials accountable for misuse of taxpayer resources, by extending electioneering laws to employees of the office of the governor, and of the general court.
This bill allows sales of samples onsite at distilleries, wineries & beverage manufacturers.
* Local artisan breweries, wineries, and distilleries have become an important growth industry for NH, creating jobs, increasing tourism, and enhancing overall quality of life for NH residents. This bill helps New Hampshire businesses.
* The provision of onsite samples is standard in these industries, and expected by customers. These businesses should not be expected to provide those samples for free, and the right of business owners to charge for a legitimate product should be respected.
* HB216 makes the law more consistent between breweries and other beverage manufacturers.
This bill would require the state to fund non-compulsory attendance.
* Although it is reasonable and appropriate to reduce the stabilization funding given to districts with fewer students in the Free & Reduced Lunch program, the other part of the bill would fund full-day kindergarten.
* Compulsory attendance begins at age 6 by Sept. 30th of that school year, so the state should not pay for full-time school for a year that is optional.
* This bill would increase state education expenses by $2M in 2016 and by $25M in 2017, plus an indeterminate amount for public charter schools offering full-day kindergarten.
This bill infringes on the freedom of workers and employers.
* Minimum wage laws lower the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to gain critical experience.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation - more jobs means more competition to hire all workers.
* Workers and employers have a right to contract for whatever wage they wish. It is wrong for government to legally prohibit voluntary employment agreements.
This bill imposes an invasive federal program on NH residents.
* This bill would violate NH citizens' privacy by requiring that drivers' licenses and non-driver IDs provide personal data in a machine readable format.
* The REAL ID Act was an ill-considered legislative boondoggle and unfunded mandate. States around the country, including New Hampshire, were right to refuse the national ID project when DHS first attempted to implement it, and are right to continue to do so.
* There is no pressing harm that this legislation addresses. A national ID is anti-liberty and unnecessary.
This bill recognizes the right of parents to make decisions about the health, education, and welfare of their children.
* Decisions about child-rearing are the responsibility of parents, not the state.
* This constitutional amendment makes parental rights, which our state supreme court has recognized as implicit in Part I, Article 2, explicit in a separate Part I, Article 2-b.
This resolution formalizes the right to privacy in the NH constitution.
* While courts have held in the past that privacy is a fundamental right, the lack of explicit protection within the constitution increases the risk that future decisions could deviate from this finding.
* The amendment is an improvement to the original language.
Relating to the operating budget. Providing that the state shall not spend more in any year than it receives in revenue
• This constitutional amendment would require a balanced budget unless two-thirds of each house chooses to set aside the requirement.
• This measure will limit government spending, reduce budget deficits, enhance fiscal accountability, and strengthen the state's credit rating. It is an important, positive move.
• At a time when many other states and the federal government are facing fiscal crises due to reckless spending and debt, this is an opportunity for New Hampshire to lead as an example of fiscal responsibility.
Balanced budget amendment. Prevents the state from spending more than it takes in and prohibits the use of debt to fund the operating budget.
* This constitutional amendment would require a balanced budget unless two-thirds of each house chooses to set aside the requirement.
* This measure will reduce government spending, reduce budget deficits, enhance fiscal accountability, and strengthen the state's credit rating. It is an important, positive move.
* At a time when many other states and the federal government are facing fiscal crises due to reckless spending and debt, this is a way for New Hampshire to lead and be an example of how a responsible government works.
* New Hampshire has a long history of fiscal responsibility, this amendment is a logical step to ensure that tradition continues.
• This bill allows specialty beer retail establishments to obtain a new license that doesnt require a $3000 inventory value of grocery items.
• Many stores meet the current grocery requirement by keeping Spam, Vienna sausages, and other canned items that don't spoil quickly, which are never sold. For a beer & wine store, this requirement is wasteful, protectionist, and serves as a barrier to entry to small stores.
• This will help to increase beer tourism which is a hot market in New England. New Hampshire is lagging behind neighboring states in this growing market.
This bill establishes a specialty beer license to allow retailers to sell specialty beers without also requiring them to sell food.
• This bill allows specialty beer retail establishments to obtain a new license that doesn’t require a $3000 inventory value of grocery items.
• Many stores meet the current grocery requirement by keeping Spam, Vienna sausages, and other canned items that don't spoil quickly, which are never sold. For a beer & wine store, this requirement is wasteful, protectionist, and serves as a barrier to entry to small stores.
• This will help to increase beer tourism which is a hot market in New England. New Hampshire is lagging behind neighboring states in this growing market.
This bill opens the door to more competition and more choice in heath care.
* While there may be no companies currently interested in this model, we shouldn't ignore the possibility of a health care startup revolutionizing the industry and looking to do business in NH.
* Technology has transformed many industries both local and global. This has allowed for more job opportunities, better customer service, and lower prices. The health care industry will follow this path and NH customers should be allowed the opportunity to buy healthcare from any insurer willing to sell to them.
This bill contains language already ruled unconstitutional.
* VOTE YEA ON FLOOR AMENDMENT 3030-H AND OTP/A.
* Representative Hoelzel's floor amendment removes the confusing language that the Supreme Court found unconstitutional.
* The voter registration form should not be used as a platform to inform voters about laws unrelated to voting.
This bill allows wine manufacturers to establish up to 2 'off site' locations for sampling and purchase of their wines.
• Wine manufacturers should be permitted to sell their product where their potential customers are, not restricted to selling where grapes grow best.
• Allowing local businesses to showcase local products benefits NH residents and helps the NH economy.
• Additional jobs will be created to run off-site tasting rooms.
This bill allows wine manufacturers to establish up to 2 'off site' locations for sampling and purchase of their wines.
• Wine manufacturers should be permitted to sell their product where their potential customers are, not restricted to selling where grapes grow best.
• Allowing local businesses to showcase local products benefits NH residents and helps the NH economy.
• Additional jobs will be created to run off-site tasting rooms.
This bill allows wine manufacturers to establish up to 2 'off site' locations for sampling and purchase of its wines.
* Wine manufacturers should be permitted to sell their product where their potential customers are, not restricted to selling where grapes grow best.
* Allowing local businesses to showcase local products benefits NH residents and helps the NH economy.
This bill incentivizes excessive enforcement of minor licensing infractions
* Charging targets of investigations for the costs of the investigation could encourage numerous and expensive investigations.
* Passage of this provision would increase the likelihood of a board or commission to continue an investigation until they found some act of misconduct so that the licensee would have to pay the costs of the investigation.
* Charges for expensive investigations may vastly exceed what is reasonable for the severity of the misconduct, in violation of part one article 18 of the NH constitution.
* NH licensing and regulatory requirements are already far too arduous and complex. In order to improve the NH economy, and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, legislators should be working to lessen licensing requirements and regulatory burdens.
This bill provides fiscal incentives for failure to reach math proficiency standards.
* The state should not be rewarding failure to meet proficiency standards, in any subject, with taxpayer money. Instead, it should be allowing students, parents, and communities greater educational choice.
* There is little evidence to suggest that the original legislative effort was successful in increasing overall reading achievement.
* The new state assessment for math is only 1 year old, which provides insufficient data to derive a fiscal impact.
* Parents and voters of local school districts are best positioned to determine the strengths and weaknesses of their students and schools.
This bill could incentivize towns to borrow irresponsibly to pay their bills.
* This bill promotes fiscal irresponsibility. Competent budgeting and planning should prevent the need to borrow from existing funds, dedicated to other purposes.
* This bill could produce large property tax spikes as the town's try to re-fund their accounts. Large unexpected spikes in taxes most hurt those on fixed incomes who can't afford to pay.
This bill goes too far in expanding criteria for state building aid.
* School building projects are better handled locally.
* The criteria for state subsidy for building projects are far too broad, both under this bill, and in current law, including any project that contributes to "operational cost efficiencies" or "educational services", or even meets "any criteria the state board of education may determine are necessary"
* Rather than subsidizing building projects across the state, state government should focus on allowing greater freedom of choice and competition in education.
This bill will limit law enforcement use of surveillance drones to emergencies.
* This bill removes some ambiguity from the use of drones by law enforcement, and attempts to explicitly protect a citizens right to be secure from unreasonable searches under Part First Article 19 of the NH Constitution.
* Law enforcement searches of a person's property by drone should be constrained by 4th Amendment protections of the US Constitution.
* The people of New Hampshire have a right to go about their daily lives without concern that they are being broadly or arbitrarily surveilled by a government drone.
This bill creates arbitrary requirements for a charter school application.
* Basing 25% of the charter's approval on its mission is arbitrary and subjective and could only serve to give more latitude in eliminating public school competition.
* This bill requires evidence that certain types of programs in charter schools will not duplicate those in public schools. This essentially prohibits the charter school from attempting to do better than public schools at the same thing, thus eliminating the chance for competition.
* Often basics (especially in STEM) are required before advanced topics can be understood. Charter schools could have an innovative way to teaching students these advanced topics at a younger age but would not be allowed to offer them the foundation required because such material is already covered by traditional and/or charter schools.
* This bill requires evidence of success before sanctioning an alternate approach. We cannot expect to make progress in childhood education if we refuse to allow innovators to explore new approaches.
This bill micromanages Home Owner Associations.
* Government should not mandate details as to how condo owners run their HOA. These policies may work for some HOAs, but not all.
This bill allows municipalities to play favorites, forcing some property owners to subsidize others.
* This bill encourages cronyism. All companies in all industries should have lower tax rates to encourage growth and long lasting job creation in NH.
* Favoring certain industries or businesses with lower tax rates discourages businesses of other industries from coming to NH.
* The legislature, to encourage economic growth, should focus on reducing the arduous regulatory and tax burden on NH businesses.
* The ability to hear game is an important component to the sport of hunting, so many hunters choose to not wear ear protection. Suppressors protect the shooter from hearing loss because the reduction of noise is enough to no longer cause damage.
* Current law unfarily discriminates against people that choose the sport of hunting over the sport of target shooting. The use of suppressors is already legal for target shooters persuing their sport on the same exact tracts of land that hunters use.
* Citizens that live in the vicinity of hunting grounds often complain about sound of gun fire in the early morning hours when hunting is popular. The use of a suppressor is a compromise that addresses that concern.
* A suppressor does not make the discharge of a firearm silent (dispite it's alternate name "silencer"). The sound can still be heard from a significant distance, so the use of suppressors does not compromise safety, or put the game at a disadvantage.
This bill allows use of suppressors for noise reduction while hunting.
* 35 states already allow use of suppressors for hunting
* Use of suppressors is already legal in NH for other activities including target shooting. This bill removes an arbitrary discrimination against people that prefer the sport of hunting.
* Firearm suppressors reduce but do not eliminate the noise from discharging a firearm, protecting the hearing of the shooter and anyone else in the area.
* A common complaint among property owners living near hunting grounds is the noise of the firearms used. This annoyance leads to conflict, and motivation to restrict hunting lands. This bill provides a compromise. While a suppressed firearm can still be heard from a distance, it is quiet enough to not wake people living near hunting grounds in the early morning hours when hunting is most common.
This bill allows students the freedom to learn in a more efficient setting.
• Many studies have shown online learning to be as effective as in-person classes. (e.g. Russell, T. L. The No Significant Difference Phenomenon. Montgomery, AL:IDEC,1999,17 Barry, M.& Runyan, G).
• Remote learning provides much needed flexibility to students with limited transportation options, or limited means
• Remote learning helps reduce the cost of driver education
This bill allows students the freedom to learn in a more efficient setting.
* Many studies have shown online learning to be as effective as in-person classes. (e.g. Russell, T. L. The No Significant Difference Phenomenon. Montgomery, AL:IDEC,1999,17 Barry, M.& Runyan, G).
* Remote learning provides much needed flexibility to students with limited transportation options, or limited means
* Remote learning helps reduce the cost of driver education
This bill extends protection of the right to property ownership.
• This bill reinforces an existing ban on confiscation of firearms, adding teeth to penalize those who violate the rights of NH citizens.
• This bill holds individuals that infringe the rights of the people of New Hampshire personally accountable, while protecting officers who defend the rights of the people from disciplinary action.
This bill extends protection of the right to property ownership.
• This bill reinforces an existing ban on confiscation of firearms, adding teeth to penalize those who violate the rights of NH citizens.
• This bill holds individuals that infringe the rights of the people of New Hampshire personally accountable, while protecting officers who defend the rights of the people from disciplinary action.
This bill extends protections of the right to gun ownership.
* This bill reinforces an existing ban on confiscation of firearms, adding teeth to penalize those who violate the rights of NH citizens.
* This bill holds officers that infringe the rights of the people of New Hampshire personally accountable, while protecting officers who defend the rights of the people, from disciplinary action.
This bill dramatically increases state government spending, requiring that the state spend at least $50 million per year on school building aid.
* Local school districts receive the benefit of building projects and should pay the full cost locally rather than taxing the rest of the state.
* Local districts have less of an incentive to make wise cost trades when planning construction or renovation projects when additional funding is seen as 'free money from the state'.
This bill allows greater flexibility for taxpayers.
* There is very little possible downside to this proposal. There is no financial risk to the state; the state will only hold and deal in US dollars. All bitcoin transactions are handled by a third party payment processor, at no cost.
* This legislation may help attract young entrepreneurs to NH, by sending a clear message that NH is technologically progressive, modern, and forward thinking. A willingness to embrace new technologies reflects well on the state.
This bill allows greater flexibility for taxpayers
* There is very little possible downside to this proposal. There is no financial risk to the state; the state will only hold and deal in US dollars. All bitcoin transactions are handled by a third party payment processor, at no cost.
* This legislation may help attract young entrepreneurs to NH, by sending a clear message that NH is technologically progressive, modern, and forward thinking.
House version of SB 116. Makes possession of a NH pistol/revolver license optional; replaces vague term of "suitable" with "not prohibited by state or federal law"; extends license minimum period from 4 to 5 years.
• New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the state Constitution: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
• A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill restores the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly.
• Our neighbors Vermont and Maine, two states that allow concealed carry without a license, rank among the safest places in the country.
• The language of current statute can be and has been selectively interpreted and enforced.
• This bill eliminates unnecessary and obscure definitions of "open" versus "concealed" carry, which are difficult to interpret, have led to several lawsuits, and unfairly criminalizes law-abiding citizens.
• This bill replaces the subjectivity of the phrase "suitable person", which has in the past been used by biased officials for ethnic, racial, and gender discrimination, with the objective and easily understood phrase of not prohibited by state or federal law.
• By making the license optional, this bill eliminates a waiting period that has prevented persons who may feel threatened (e.g. a woman with a stalker) from carrying discreet protection when needed. It also facilitates license reciprocity requirements between NH and other states.
• Other states that have enacted constitutional carry have seen either no statistically significant change in violent crime, or a slight downward trend.
• There is no evidence that the current NH pistol license provides a necessary benefit to public safety.
House version of SB 116. Makes possession of a NH pistol/revolver license optional; replaces vague term of "suitable" with "not prohibited by state or federal law"; extends license minimum period from 4 to 5 years.
• New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the state Constitution: “All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.”
• A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual’s right to self-defense. This bill restores the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly.
• Our neighbors Vermont and Maine, two states that allow concealed carry without a license, rank among the safest places in the country.
• The language of current statute can be and has been selectively interpreted and enforced.
• This bill eliminates unnecessary and obscure definitions of "open" versus "concealed" carry, which are difficult to interpret, have led to several lawsuits, and unfairly criminalize law-abiding citizens.
• This bill replaces the subjectivity of the phrase "suitable person,” which has in the past been used by biased officials for ethnic, racial, and gender discrimination, with the objective and easily understood phrase of “not prohibited by state or federal law.”
• By making the license optional, this bill eliminates a waiting period that has prevented persons who may feel threatened (e.g. a woman with a stalker) from carrying discreet protection when needed. It also facilitates license reciprocity requirements between NH and other states.
• Other states that have enacted constitutional carry have seen either no statistically significant change in violent crime, or a slight downward trend.
• There is no evidence that the current NH pistol license provides a necessary benefit to public safety.
This bill eliminates an arbitrary legal distinction between concealed & open carry.
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the state Constitution: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual’s right to self-defense. This bill restores the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly.
* Our neighbors Vermont and Maine, two states that allow concealed carry without a permit, rank among the safest places in the country.
* The language of current statute can be selectively interpreted and enforced.
* This bill eliminates unnecessary and obscure definitions of "open" versus "concealed" carry, which are difficult to interpret, have led to several lawsuits, and unfairly criminalize law-abiding citizens.
* This bill replaces the subjectivity of the phrase "suitable person," which has in the past been used by biased officials for ethnic, racial, and gender discrimination, with the objective and easily understood phrase of "not prohibited by state or federal law."
* By making the license optional, this bill eliminates a waiting period that has prevented persons who may feel threatened (e.g. a woman suffering from a stalker) from carrying discreet protection when needed. It also facilitates license reciprocity requirements between NH and other states.
* Other states that have enacted constitutional carry have seen either no statistically significant change in violent crime, or a slight downward trend.
* There is no evidence that the current NH pistol license provides a necessary benefit to public safety.
This bill would increase penalties for crimes which should not exist in law.
* Title XIII includes many victimless crimes, including prohibitions on sale of food in cigar bars (178:20-a), friends trading or gifting home-brewed beers (RSA 179:1, 175:5-b-III), and more. It also contains many very detailed licensing mandates and fees to be paid to the commission.
* Section 5 of this bill, as amended, increases and extends the existing penalty assessment of 24% authorized in RSA 188-F:31, to violations in general, not just criminal offenses, and not just those related to alcohol. This includes violations such as picking up seaweed at night (RSA 207:48), and conducting business on a Sunday (RSA 332D).
* Instead of further increasing penalties for all violations, legislators should be working to remove unnecessary laws from the books.
This bill reduces the annual cash machine notification renewal fee by $45.
• The current fee is excessively high, going beyond covering the administrative costs of regulation.
• The NHLA would more strongly support the bill as originally introduced; eliminating annual notification requirements for cash dispensing machine operators entirely.
This bill reduces the annual cash machine notification renewal fee by $45.
* The current fee is excessively high, going beyond covering the administrative costs of regulation.
* The NHLA would more strongly support the bill as originally introduced; eliminating annual notification requirements for cash dispensing machine operators entirely.
This bill creates arbitrary restrictions on the private use of drones while allowing government and business wide latitude. In addition, as amended it establishes a state grant program for a substance abuse enforcement program.
• Creating wide ranging restrictions on a new technology risks stifling innovation. New Hampshire residents would be better served by a legislature that narrowly addresses specific problems.
• This bill's definition of drone is too vague. Drones are available in many sizes; it is impractical for an owner to inscribe name, address, and phone number on even a small indoor toy drone or helicopter. The FAA has enacted rules regarding drones and has exempted small lightweight drones that cause no harm.
• The bill (422-D:3, IX) grants nearly full exemption from the provisions of this bill for businesses. This goes beyond mere 'corporate personhood' by exempting businesses from all aspects of the law while still applying the law to all private citizens.
* The committee amendment adds another $1.5 million in state spending on drug enforcement activities and propaganda designed to "gain respect and approval of the public for the work of the police." (21-P:66 II(c))
This bill creates arbitrary restrictions on the private use of drones while allowing government and business wide latitude.
• Creating wide ranging restrictions on a new technology risks stifling innovation. New Hampshire residents would be better served by a legislature that narrowly addresses specific problems.
• This bill's definition of drone is too vague. Drones are available in many sizes; it is impractical for an owner to inscribe name, address, and phone number on even a small indoor toy drone or helicopter. The FAA has enacted rules regarding drones and has exempted small lightweight drones that cause no harm.
• The bill (422-D:3, IX) grants nearly full exception from the provisions of this bill for businesses. This goes beyond mere 'corprorate personhood' by excempting businesses from all aspects of the law while still applying the law to all private citizens.
This bill creates arbitrary restrictions on the private use of drones while allowing government wide latitude.
• Creating wide ranging restrictions on a new technology risks stifling innovation. New Hampshire
residents would be better served by a legislature that narrowly addresses specific problems.
• This bill's definition of drone is too vague. Drones are available in many sizes; it is impractical for an owner to inscribe name, address, and phone number on even a small indoor toy drone or helicopter. The FAA has enacted rules regarding drones and has exempted small lightweight drones that cause no harm.
• 644-A:7 as inserted by this bill creates a federal premption, and allows federal agencies to violate the rights of NH residents.
• This bill allows for the weaponizing of drones by NH police departments for the purposes of crowd control, and allows several broad loopholes under which police need not obtain a warrant for drone surveillance.
This bill creates arbitrary restrictions on the private use of drones while allowing government wide latitude.
* Creating wide ranging restrictions on a new technology risks stifling innovation. New Hampshire residents would be better served by a legislature that narrowly addresses specific problems.
* This bill would end commercial delivery drones before they have a chance to prove themselves viable. Requiring the approval of each property a drone flies over is impractical.
* Drones are available in many sizes and it would be impractical to write one's name, address, and phone number on a small indoor drone. The FAA has enacted rules regarding drones and has exempted small lightweight drones that cause no harm. This bill's definition of drone is too vague.
* This bill allows for the weaponizing of drones by NH police departments, further promoting police militarization, and allows several broad loopholes under which police need not obtain a warrant for drone surveillance. HB240 far better protects the rights of NH residents from warrantless searches.
This bill repeals mandatory minimum sentencing for specific crimes.
• Mandatory minimums remove discretion from the courts, often forcing judges to impose sentences far longer than are appropriate for the situation and the crime. Restoring discretion enables the Judiciary to perform its constitutional role.
• Reducing use of excessively long minimum sentences will help slow the growth of prison populations.
This bill repeals mandatory minimum sentencing for specific crimes.
• Mandatory minimums remove discretion from the courts, often forcing judges to impose sentences far longer than are appropriate for the situation and the crime. Restoring discretion enables the Judiciary to perform its constitutional role.
• Reducing use of excessively long minimum sentences will help slow the growth of prison populations.
This bill repeals mandatory minimum sentencing for specific crimes.
• Mandatory minimums remove discretion from the courts, often forcing judges to impose sentences far longer than are appropriate for the situation and the crime. Restoring discretion enables the Judiciary to perform its constitutional role.
• Reducing use of excessively long minimum sentences will help slow the growth of prison populations.
This bill repeals mandatory minimum sentencing for specific crimes.
* Mandatory minimums remove discretion from the courts, often forcing judges to impose sentences far longer than are appropriate for the situation and the crime. Restoring discretion enables the Judiciary to perform its constitutional role.
* Reducing use of excessively long minimum sentences will help slow the growth of prison populations.
This bill reduces fees for NH residents and makes government more accessible.
• This bill will encourage people to ask for electronic delivery of documents, reducing the costs of handling paperwork.
• Government should be accessible to everyone, not just those who can pay the fees.
This bill reduces fees for NH residents and makes government more accessible.
* This bill will encourage people to ask for electronic copies of documents, reducing the costs of handling paperwork.
* Government should be accessible to everyone, not just those who can pay the fees.
This bill prevents the state board and DOE from forming binding agreements with the federal government and other third parties without a public hearing and approval from the legislature.
* Agreements by the state board and DOE have imposed burdensome and expensive obligations on the state of New Hampshire and local districts.
* The people of New Hampshire have a right to voice their acceptance or rejection of these agreements through their elected representatives.
This bill establishes guidance for the use of Body-Worn Cameras by police.
• The use of BWCs as outlined in this bill will be a benefit to public safety, foster better interactions between police and members of the public, protect members of law enforcement, promote accountability and assist in investigations.
• BWCs protect both police and the citizens they interact with by providing objective evidence of encounters.
• Mandatory disclosure requirements protect civil rights and likely contribute to better behavior by all parties reducing the utilization of force.
• A 12 month study on the use of BWCs in Rialto, CA found use-of-force by officers wearing cameras fell by 59 percent and complaints against officers dropped by 87 percent compared to the previous year’s totals.
This bill establishes guidance for the use of Body-Worn Cameras by police.
* The use of BWCs as outlined in this bill will be a benefit to public safety, foster better interactions between police and members of the public, protect members of law enforcement, promote accountability and assist in investigations.
* BWCs protect both police and the citizens they interact with by providing objective evidence of encounters.
* Mandatory disclosure requirements protect civil rights and likely contribute to better behavior by all parties reducing the utilization of force.
* A 12 month study on the use of BWCs in Rialto, CA found use-of-force by officers wearing cameras fell by 59 percent and complaints against officers dropped by 87 percent compared to the previous year’s totals.
This bill reduces property taxes while allowing NH residents access to expanded gaming without creating monopolistic casinos.
* The state's proceeds, estimated to be $217 million a year, would reduce the statewide property tax; more than cutting it in half. This would be about a 5% overall cut for taxpayers.
* Past bills created monopolistic privileges for only one or at most a handful of businesses to operate casinos. Existing New Hampshire businesses would have been put at a disadvantage because they would not have been allowed to compete. HB 630, on the other hand, creates a level playing field, open to businesses of any size.
This bill expands taxation.
* Taxing capital gains disproportionately harms the elderly, who often rely on investments to cover living expenses in retirement. NH already heavily taxes the elderly through high property taxes; this bill would make the situation even worse.
* This bill is another attempt to undermine the NH advantage. We should be seeking to reduce taxes for everyone, to encourage growth and prosperity.
This important bill protects the rights of NH residents to due process
• Civil asset forfeiture involves the taking of property from a person who has not been convicted, or often even charged, with a crime. This bill corrects several of the injustices in current law, and protects due process, by requiring a criminal conviction prior to forfeiture of assets, and clear and convincing evidence of wrong-doing.
• This bill ensures that property is returned to innocent property owners in a timely manner, and that they have recourse when it is not.
• This bill greatly reduces perverse incentives and appearances of impropriety by providing that proceeds from asset forfeiture no longer flow directly to the government agencies pursuing the forfeiture.
This important bill protects the rights of NH residents to due process.
• Civil asset forfeiture involves the taking of property from a person who has not been convicted, or often even charged, with a crime. This bill corrects several of the injustices in current law, and protects due process, by requiring a criminal conviction prior to forfeiture of assets, and “clear and convincing evidence” of wrong-doing.
• This bill ensures that property is returned to innocent property owners in a timely manner, and that they have recourse when it is not.
• This bill greatly reduces perverse incentives and appearances of impropriety by providing that proceeds from asset forfeiture no longer flow directly to the government agencies pursuing the forfeiture.
This important bill protects the rights of NH residents to due process.
• Oppose committee amendment 2016-0885h. If amendment passes, support OTP/A.
*Civil asset forfeiture involves the taking of property from a person who has not been convicted, or
often even charged, with a crime. This bill corrects the injustices in current law, and protects due
process, by requiring a criminal conviction prior to forfeiture of assets, and “clear and convincing
evidence” on the part of the state.
* This bill ensures that property is returned to innocent property owners in a timely manner, and that
they have recourse when it is not.
* This bill greatly reduces perverse incentives and appearances of impropriety by providing that
proceeds from asset forfeiture no longer flow directly to the government agencies pursuing the
forfeiture.
This important bill protects the rights of NH residents to due process.
* Civil asset forfeiture involves the taking of property from a person who has not been convicted, or often even charged, with a crime. This bill corrects the injustices in current law, and protects due process, by requiring a criminal conviction prior to forfeiture of assets, and "clear and convincing evidence" on the part of the state.
* This bill ensures that property is returned to innocent property owners in a timely manner, and that they have recourse when it is not.
* This bill greatly reduces perverse incentives and appearances of impropriety by providing that proceeds from asset forfeiture no longer flow directly to the government agencies pursuing the forfeiture.
This bill burdens animal shelters with extensive new reporting requirements.
• This bill will increase the costs of shelters and other animal care facilities. The state should be
seeking to reduce red tape for these organizations, not increasing it.
• This bill expands the overly broad licensing requirements in RSA 437, which can be interpreted
to affect non-professionals.
This bill burdens animal shelters with extensive new reporting requirements.
* This bill will increase the costs of shelters and other animal care facilities. The state should be seeking to reduce red tape for these organizations, not increasing it.
* This bill perpetuates the overly broad licensing requirements in RSA 437, which can be interpreted to affect non-professionals.
This bill better aligns NH capital expense deductions with federal provisions.
• NH currently allows only up to $25K in deductions for capital expenses in the first year. This bill removes the state limit and aligns the calculation with IRS rules simplifying compliance costs.
• At least 37 other states already allow deductions over $100K, and 33 allow deductions up to $500K (http://taxfoundation.org/).
• While the long term impact of this bill is largely revenue neutral, allowing business to more fully deduct capital expenses in the year they are made increases the probability of capital investment and growth in NH.
• NH legislators should work to make NH business friendly, rather than driving them away with excessive taxes.
This bill better aligns NH capital expense deductions with federal provisions.
• NH currently allows only up to $25K in deductions for capital expenses in the first year. This bill removes the state limit and aligns the calculation with IRS rules simplifying compliance costs.
• At least 37 other states already allow deductions over $100K, and 33 allow deductions up to
$500K (http://taxfoundation.org/).
• This bill encourages businesses to move to NH, and incentivizes existing NH companies to make
significant investments for future growth, which benefits all NH residents.
• In the long term the impact is largely revenue neutral as any portion of the taxpayer's federal IRC section 179 deduction that is disallowed on the New Hampshire return may be deducted as regular depreciation over several years under the relevant IRC depreciation provision however allowing business to more fully deduct capital expenses in the year they are made increases the probability of capital investment and growth in NH.
• NH legislators should work to make NH business friendly, rather than driving them away with
excessive taxes.
This bill allows larger deductions for New Hampshire companies, especially for investments in capital equipment.
* NH currently allows only up to $25K in deductions; this bill would raise the limit to $100K. The federal government has raised the limit for deductions to $500K.
* At least 37 other states already allow deductions over $100K, and 33 allow deductions up to $500K (http://taxfoundation.org/).
* This bill encourages businesses to move to NH, and incentivizes existing NH companies to make significant investments for future growth, which benefits all NH residents.
* NH legislators should work to make NH business friendly, rather than driving them away with excessive taxes.
This bill allows larger deductions for New Hampshire companies, especially for investments in capital equipment.
* NH currently allows only up to $25K in deductions; this bill would raise the limit to $100K. The federal government has raised the limit for deductions to $500K.
* At least 37 other states already allow deductions over $100K, and 33 allow deductions up to $500K. (http://taxfoundation.org/).
* This bill encourages businesses to move to NH, and incentivizes existing NH companies to make significant investments for future growth, which benefits all NH residents.
* NH legislators should work to make NH business friendly, rather than driving them away with excessive taxes.
This bill makes modest changes to renewable energy portfolio standards to allow hydropower to make up a larger share of the renewable energy portfolio.
* Renewable energy portfolio standards raise New Hampshire's already-high electric costs by requiring retailers to use more expensive sources of electricity. Since RGGI already encourages utilities to reduce carbon emissions, these standards are at best redundant and, more likely, inefficient command-and-control.
* This bill slightly relaxes these regulations by admitting more hydroelectric power as a source meeting the goal. It should reduce electric costs and improve New Hampshire's competitiveness.
* The Committee majority opinion is that his may hurt NH based biomass companies that have been profitable when shielded from competition by existing law. While a thriving business entity is admirable, a company that thrives only when shielded from fair and responsible competition is not sustainable.
This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that shared parenting and shared residential rights and responsibilities are in the best interest of the child or children.
* Barring extenuating circumstances such as abuse or neglect, it is in the best interest of the child that both parents have continuing involvement in the child's life.
* Multiple studies indicate that share parenting arrangements result in lower risks of fear, aggression or depression. See http://www.divorceny.com/custody/swedish-survey/ and http://national.deseretnews.com/article/17236/what-shared-parenting-is-and-how-it-can-affect-kids-after-divorce.html
* The bill contains protection to help ensure that a history of abuse or neglect is considered in determining what is in the best interest of the child.
This bill doubles the current $5 fee to $10.
* Vehicle registration costs are already too high in NH. This is yet another tax increase that is going to hurt lower income families.
* While it's nice that the fee must go to transportation improvements, if the gas tax were used exclusively for transportation, we wouldn't need to come up with additional taxes on NH drivers.
This bill mandates that all teachers at NH charter schools must be credentialed by the state.
• Currently, charter schools are permitted to consider qualified non-traditional candidates who may
bring a valuable and diverse perspective to the teaching profession. This is exactly the kind of
flexibility that has made charter schools more successful than school districts.
• By increasing protectionism and artificial barriers to entry, this bill would raise education costs.
• It is often difficult to find certified STEM field teachers while a large pool of industry STEM experts
without certification are available who could potentially do a better job than available candidates
with an arbitrary certificate.
This bill mandates that all teachers at NH charter schools must be credentialed by the state.
* Currently, charter schools are permitted to consider non-traditional candidates for teaching positions. This allows school administrators to consider qualified non-traditional candidates who may bring a valuable and diverse perspective to the teaching profession, and is exactly the kind of flexibility that has made charter schools more successful than school districts.
* By increasing protectionism and artificial barriers to entry, this bill would raise education costs.
* It is often difficult to find certified STEM field teachers while a large pool of industry STEM experts without certification are available who could potentially do a better job than available candidates with an arbitrary certificate.
This bill ensures crime victims may have certain property returned to them within 48 hours of its recovery by police.
* Victims of theft rightfully own their property, and should be given the opportunity to recover it at the earliest moment possible.
* The bill provides that photographs of the stolen property shall be admissible as secondary evidence at trial.
* A stolen phone may have critical information to the victim, received both before and after the item was stolen.
* While the committee’s majority expressed concern over the ability of the police to fully document the evidence within 48 hours, this concern is outweighed by the need to prevent further damage to the victim of the crime. The law contains the option for the police to request an extension from the victim. The state should not further victimize a citizen who has already been negatively impacted by theft.
This bill is pro-liberty and brings a level of accountability to marital referees and marital masters.
* This bill requires that court referees who are not former judges become justices of the peace.
* Currently, referees, as state employees, cannot be impeached if they decide beyond their proper authority, by contrast, justices of the peace can be impeached if necessary.
* The requirement is not arduous. JP is easy to obtain, and allows a five year term before requiring re-approval by the governor and council.
This bill overrides local control for no good reason.
* Decisions about education and educational facilities are best made by parents, or local communities, not by the state.
* Communities which do not wish to place military memorials on school grounds should not be forced to do so by state legislators.
This bill allows hunters and sportsmen to have ammunition in their guns in their vehicles, so long as the safety is on, and the chamber empty
• This common sense gun law reduces this risk of a citizen being charged with a crime when transporting a weapon in a safe and secure manner.
• This bill enhances safety by reducing the number of times the weapon is unloaded and reloaded.
• This bill retains the existing restriction on hunting from a motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, boat, or aircraft.
* This bill allows RV owners to have a shotgun in their mobile home when camping for self protection from wild animal or perpetrator.
• This bill allows a hunter to place his loaded rifle on his car when speaking to a fish and game officer without fear of being charged with a violation.
This bill allows hunters and sportsmen to have ammunition in their guns in their vehicles, so long as the safety is on, and the chamber empty
* This common sense gun law reduces this risk of a citizen being charged with a crime when transporting a weapon in a safe and secure manner.
* This bill enhances safety by reducing the number of times the weapon is unloaded and reloaded.
* This bill retains the existing restriction on hunting from a motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, boat, or aircraft.
This bill gives terminally ill patients more options for treatment while protecting all involved.
• The individual should be able to make fully informed healthcare decisions about their treatment, and not have to wait for the FDA to approve such treatments.
• Allowing terminally ill patients to try other treatments could save their lives while advancing modern medicine at the same time.
• Some terminally ill patients travel to foreign countries to try these treatments. This bill will allow the patient to remain close to friends and families in their time of need.
• 27 states have passed similar laws.
This bill repeals the current prohibition on sharing photos of a ballot.
• RSA 659:35 infringes on freedom of speech, and violates both section 1 article 22 of the NH
constitution and the first amendment to the US constitution.
• Current law has already been ruled unconstitutional by a federal court.
• There is no evidence to show that a problem exists in New Hampshire with citizens being coerced
into showing their ballot. If someone attempts such a crime other statutes would be sufficient to
prosecute.
• The legislature doesn’t need to wait for judicial action before rectifying an unconstitutional statute.
This bill improves government transparency.
• There are already many restrictions on where a registered offender can live. These types of restrictions can force people out of affordable housing and sometimes result in homelessness.
• Residency restrictions are an infringement upon fundamental private property rights and do nothing to actually protect victims.
• Limitations on residency can force people on the registry further from the support networks they need the most: jobs, therapy, and public transportation, making it more difficult to re-assimilate into society
This bill improves government transparency.
•There are alreay many restrictions on where a registered offender can live. These types of restrictions can force people out of affordable housing and sometimes result in homelessness.
•Such restrictions are an infringement upon fundamental private property rights and do nothing to actually protect victims.
•Limitations on residency can force people on the registry further from the support networks they need
the most: jobs, therapy, and public transportation, making it more difficult to re-assimilate into society.
This bill violates personal privacy and civil liberties to travel freely
• Blanket surveillance by the state government is rife with potential misuse and abuse. There is no way to ensure that the data won't be improperly shared.
• It has been shown in other states that there are many false positives on license readers, leading to infringements on driver freedom and personal liberty.
• In December 2013, the Boston police stopped using automated license plate readers. They found them ineffective, prone to error, open to hacking, and a waste of taxpayer dollars. Boston Police have no plans to resume using license plate scanners, as noted in the explosive media coverage of this failed program.
• The NH constitution clearly prohibits warrantless searches in Part I, Art. 19: "Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions...." The 4th Amendment to the US constitution gives the same restriction on the federal government.
• While the bill would impose a mandate that non-targeted plate data would be destroyed within 3 minutes, the need to have these devices networked to receive 'alarms' authorizing collections mean that the data will almost certainly be compromised. Large federal agencies including those charged with the responsibility of retaining detailed personal background data have shown that they are unable to prevent long-standing hacks and backdoors.
This bill violates personal privacy and civil liberties to travel freely
* Blanket surveillance by the state government is rife with potential misuse and abuse. There is no way to ensure that the data won't be improperly shared.
* It has been shown in other states that there are many false positives on license readers, leading to infringements on driver freedom and personal liberty.
* In December 2013, the Boston police stopped using automated license plate readers. They found them ineffective, prone to error, open to hacking, and a waste of taxpayer dollars. Boston Police have no plans to resume using license plate scanners, as noted in the explosive media coverage of this failed program.
* The NH constitution clearly prohibits warrantless searches in Part I, Art. 19: "Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions...." The 4th Amendment to the US constitution gives the same restriction on the federal government.
* While the bill would impose a mandate that non-targeted plate data would be destroyed within 3 minutes, the need to have these devices networked to receive 'alarms' authorizing collections mean that the data will almost certainly be compromised. Large federal agencies including those charged with the responsibility of retaining detailed personal background data have shown that they are unable to prevent long-standing hacks and backdoors.
This bill would reduce the licensing burden on NH wine manufacturers.
* State government should be encouraging NH small businesses to expand, not penalizing success.
* The NHLA supports the reduction and elimination of licensing fees in general, on all kinds of businesses.
This bill repeals the existing unenforceable prohibition on coasting vehicles.
•Existing law is not enforceable as there is no external indication that a vehicle is in neutral.
•Coasting can reduce wear on vehicles and save fuel. As long as the rules of the road are followed, there is no danger to others from a coasting vehicle.
This bill repeals licensing requirements for showmen.
* The current law is dated, unnecessary and overly broad, going so far as to make it illegal for a clown or a magician to perform even at a private event, including a child’s birthday party, without permission from the selectmen.
* Ventriloquists, puppeteers, sleight of hand magicians, and other showmen should not be required to get a permission slip in order to transact in voluntary commerce. Existing fire codes and certificates of occupancy are more than adequate to ensure the safety of the public.
* While local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates, the higher principle is that of individual liberty. Indeed, the most "local" governance of all is the governance of an individual over his or her own life and property.
This bill adds cider to the list of alcoholic beverages that can be served by the holder of a brewpub license.
* Ciders and beer are similar both in terms of the process to create them as well as the risks inherent in their use. There is no compelling argument to have a unique licensing regime for ciders.
* Local brewpubs have been one of the great successes in NH business, since the previous restrictive laws were updated for the 21st century. This modest improvement in the law will help support a locally grown 'farm to glass' business model that allows NH to highlight products created from locally grown fruits.
This bill would repeal the successful K-12 scholarship program.
* This bill represents a third attempt at repeal since the Education Tax Credit Scholarship program went into effect.
* The Education Tax Credit Scholarship program has helped many families have access to better educational opportunities.
* Similar tax-credit scholarship programs have been deemed Constitutional by their home states and by the US Supreme Court.
* Free choice by families and students is the very best form of accountability, and leads to the best outcomes. By contrast, one size fits all centralized government control of education has led to spiraling administrative costs and worsening outcomes.
* Education should serve the interests of students, not government unions.
This bill adds new certification requirements for school nurses.
* Current law already requires that a school nurse be a registered professional nurse currently licensed in New Hampshire. As amended by the committee, this bill dramatically expands the certification requirements for school nurses which will increase cost and deny employment to qualified nurses.
* The broad expansion in certification requirements are not appropriate for Committee of Conference changes as insufficient review has been provided to ensure that the changes are responsible. These change will drive a shortage in school nurses by creating artificial barriers to entry for qualified medical professionals putting our children at risk while simultaneously driving up costs.
This bill slightly liberalizes telemedicine by increasing the conditions under which a physician may prescribe controlled substances as part of an ongoing patient relationship.
* Liberalizing telemedicine can reduce health care costs and expand patient choice.
* The bill requires that the prescriber has a prior in-person practitioner-patient relationship.
This bill removes an unnecessary prohibition on Sunday business activities
• This bill repeals outdated laws prohibiting or regulating Sunday business activities and removes differing Sunday hours for bingo and games of chance.
• Existing laws banning business activities on Sundays are regularly and widely ignored, and do not align with common practices in the state.
This bill removes an unnecessary prohibition on Sunday business activities
* This bill repeals outdated laws prohibiting or regulating Sunday business activities and removes differing Sunday hours for bingo and games of chance.
* Existing laws banning business activities on Sundays are regularly and widely ignored, and do not align with common practices in the state.
This bill gives control over assessment results to students and parents.
• Statewide assessments were designed to measure overall school performance, and are not designed as a measurement of individual student performance.
• Students should not be held accountable to an assessment that changes from year to year and may be based on standards that are not fully implemented.
This bill gives control over assessment results to students and parents.
• Statewide assessments were designed to measure overall school performance, and are not
designed as a measurement of individual student performance.
• Students should not be held accountable to an assessment that changes from year to year and
may be based on standards that are not fully implemented.
This bill gives control over assessment results to students and parents
* Statewide assessments were designed to measure overall school performance, not students.
* Students should not be held accountable to an assessment that changes from year to year and may be based on standards that are not fully implemented.
This bill requires districts to notify parents before covering certain controversial or sensitive topics.
• The bill provides an opt-out for parents who do not wish their children to participate.
• This bill respects the right of parents to direct the education of their children.
This bill requires districts to notify parents before covering certain controversial or sensitive topics.
• The bill provides an opt-out for parents who do not wish their children to participate.
• This bill respects the right of parents to direct the education of their children.
This bill requires districts to notify parents before covering certain controversial or sensitive topics.
* This bill also provides an opt-out for parents who do not wish their children to participate.
* This bill respects the right of parents to direct the education of their children.
This bill requires districts to notify parents before outside, non-educational state agencies or private companies visit schools and classrooms.
• This bill provides an opt-out for parents who do not wish their children to be part of the visit.
• This bill supports parental rights and improves privacy protections.
This bill requires districts to notify parents before outside, non-educational state agencies or private companies visit schools and classrooms.
* This bill provides an opt-out for parents who don’t wish their children to be part of the visit.
* This bill supports parental rights and improves privacy protections.
This bill respects mutually agreeable compromises reached out of court
• This bill as amended provides that when the parties agree to a modification of parental rights and responsibilities, the court shall not hold a hearing on the modification unless requested by both parties.
• Mutually agreed-upon parenting plans are a win/win agreements that reduce stress for all involved including the children.
• This bill keeps un-coerced parenting agreements in the control of cooperating parents, avoiding unnecessary litigation and concomitant suffering.
This bill respects mutually agreeable compromises reached out of court
* This bill as amended provides that when the parties agree to a modification of parental rights and responsibilities, the court shall not hold a hearing on the modification unless requested by both parties.
* Mutually agreed-upon parenting plans are a win/win agreements that reduce stress for all involved including the children.
* This bill keeps un-coerced parenting agreements in the control of cooperating parents, avoiding unnecessary litigation and concomitant suffering.
This bill attempts to standardize terminology in the education statutes.
* The bill's sponsor testified during the committee hearing that this bill is intended to be a 'housekeeping' bill to address consistency in terminology but as currently submitted, the bill inadvertently results in material changes in the relationship between the state board of education and local school boards. While we support the intent of clear and consistent language in the statutes, in its current form, the risks far outweigh any potential benefit that could be realized from 'housekeeping' consistency updates. The following issues would need to be addressed for the bill to limit its scope to housekeeping and clarity :
* In most of the bill, existing statutes that utilize terminology of 'educational' or 'curriculum' standards have been replaced with the consistent and defined language of 'academic standards'. However, in part II, the bill simply deleted 'curriculum and educational' standards instead of replacing it with the words 'academic' standards. The resulting language greatly expands the scope of potential rule making power that RSA 186:8 grants the state board. The deletion would now allow the state board of education to define standards outside of the context of academic standards.
* The proposed change to RSA 193-C:1, II-III goes beyond mere clarification of terms. Previously this RSA indicated that statewide assessments were an effective measure of accountability for our schools. The changes in the bill go beyond ensuring accountability of the school by adding that the statewide assessments are intended to measure "student performance". One potential interpretation of this addition is that the statewide assessments and academic standards could be used in student grading or promotion in lieu of locally developed proficiency standards. Since this is not the intent of the existing statute, this can easily be interpreted as a material change to the intent of the law.
* Finally, the key to this bill being simply a housekeeping bill is the extent to which 'academic standards' are aligned with the intent of current law. This bill broadly defines 'academic standard' as "what a student should know and be able to do at each grade level" but provides no constraints that align the standards with the existing definition of academic topics included in an adequate education per RSA 193-E:2-a. The definition should be clarified to "what a student should know and be able to do at each grade level for each of the topics enumerated in RSA 193-E:2-a, I."
This bill infringes on due process and unfairly shifts the balance of power in favor of municipalities, over property owners.
* By including language; 'Each day a violation continues shall be a separate offense', a municipality
can set a fine at $1500 for multiple days and thereby avoid a jury trial for fines over $1500 as
required by constitution. So, a violation ongoing for 20 days would subject the violator to a $30,000
fine and no possibility of a jury trial.
* Contrary to the normal 'may' award, this bill states the court 'shall' award to the municipality if they
prevail.
* As the minority report notes, this bill awards attorney fees only to the municipality if it prevails in
the litigation and not to the homeowner if he or she prevails, and provides that a municipality can
request the homeowner/defendant post a “bond,” for projected expenses, which is normally posted
by the plaintiff, not the defendant.
This bill allows the playing of poker games in a private residence.
• Currently NH law creates criminals of homeowners and their guests who happen to gather for an evening of recreational poker.
• This bill takes the reasonable step of legalizing poker in private residences, so long as there is no “house”, “rake”, or similar.
• Private, voluntary transactions between adults taking place on private property should not be prohibited by the state.
• There is no revenue impact to the state
This bill allows the playing of poker games in a private residence.
* Currently NH law creates criminals of homeowners and their guests who happen to gather for an evening of recreational poker.
* This bill takes the reasonable step of legalizing poker in private residences, so long as there is no "house", "rake", or similar.
* Private, voluntary transactions between adults taking place on private property should not be prohibited by the state.
This bill helps prevent families from being harmed by false accusations.
* As amended, this bill provides that a person who knowingly submits false or misleading information in abuse or neglect proceedings shall be guilty of the crime of false swearing.
* Allowing immunity for possibly false testimony is absurd and unjust.
* Children are being seriously harmed by false accusations in family law cases. This bill will place a barrier to false testimony and hidden evidence.
* This bill as amended does not create new penalties for providing false information, but it does explicitly link RSA 169 to RSA 641, and it clarifies which sections of the statute apply. It also provides a penalty for professionals involved in a case who hide exculpatory evidence.
This bill defends parental rights
* This bill provides that a parent or legal guardian shall not be charged with abuse or neglect of a child’s need for medical care if they follow a recommended course of treatment from a licensed health care professional.
* This bill ensures that parents who have taken their child to the doctor and are following a prescribed treatment are not accused of medical neglect, even if the state identifies and orders an alternative treatment.
* When qualified experts disagree on the best course of treatment, a parent or guardian's ultimate decision should not be seconded guessed by the state.
This bill legalizes additional categories of fireworks.
* The choice of whether to purchase, possess, and use fireworks should be a personal one. Fireworks bans are paternalistic.
* Removing the ban on firecrackers and smoke bombs will increase economic activity in New Hampshire.
This bill clarifies the Wentworth instruction given to jurors.
* Jurors find the Wentworth instruction to be less than clear.
* This instruction to the jury makes clear their right to ignore the law if the result would be unjust.
* Jurors generally do not understand the significant distinction between the terms 'must' and 'should' as used in the Wentworth instruction.
This bill ensures jurors are clearly informed about their responsibilities.
* The power of prosecutors choose to not bring forward charges is called "prosecutorial discretion"; juries should understand that they have the same discretion.
* The language of the instruction merely reinforces law as we have always known it in New Hampshire; it clarifies the confusing language in the 'Wentworth' instruction in a way that is understandable to jurors.
This bill imposes new regulations on builders and homeowners.
* This bill proposes to adopt the 2015 International Building Code, 2015 International Plumbing Code, the 2015 International Mechanical Code, the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code, and the 2015 International Residential Code as the minimum standard for all new building construction as well as any commercial or residential renovations.
* Adopting these standards would implement an extensive list of burdensome new regulations, predominantly related to energy efficiency.
* Only 6 states have adopted this 2015 standard either at a state or local level.
* This legislation would add significant cost to taxpayers related to public infrastructure and in construction of private buildings.
This bill requires any force protection policy adopted by the New Hampshire national guard to permit guard members to carry concealed.
* Gun free zones have been targets of mass shootings. We shouldn't put National Guard members at risk by disarming them. These men and women have firearms training and should be allowed to exercise their right to bear arms if they choose.
• Property owners should not be liable for damage caused by others on their land. This bill ensures they have clear protection against such damage, and a means to obtain fair restitution.
• OHRV owners should be responsible for their actions, and respect the property they are allowed to use.
This bill protects property rights.
* Property owners should not be liable for damage caused by others on their land. This bill ensures they have clear protection against such damage, and a means to obtain fair restitution.
* OHRV owners should be responsible for their actions, and respect the property they are allowed to use.
This bill requires public schools to dedicate up to two days each year to discuss the words, meaning and history of the Pledge of Allegiance and Star Spangled Banner.
• The legislature shouldn't be dictating curriculum from Concord. Local school districts are in a better position to understand the educational needs of their students.
• Requiring the same discussion twice each year throughout a public school career crowds out other significant and relevant topics including the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution.
may be based on standards that are not fully implemented.
This bill requires public schools to dedicate up to two days each year to discuss the words, meaning and history of the Pledge of Allegiance and star Spangled Banner.
* The legislature shouldn't be dictating curriculum from Concord. Local school districts are in a better position to understand the educational needs of their students.
* While the suggested topics are culturally significant, requiring the same discussion twice each year throughout a public school career crowds out other significant and relevant topics such as the declaration of independence, the constitution, or other relevant topics.
This bill respects a parent's right to determine the satisfactory level of academic performance required for a youth certificate of employment.
* Current NH law puts an unfair hurdle in place for all non-public school students seeking employment by forcing public school superintendents and principals into a role of responsibility for students they do not know.
• According to a Harvard Graduate School of education report (http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:4740480), teens who have good high school work experiences are more likely to be inspired to stay in school, graduate, and adopt ambitious goals.
• Existing law grants public school principals or superintendents the exclusive right to approve work certificates. Parents, however, better understand the full set of challenges that the student faces outside of the school.
• Current law effectively requires homeschoolers, charter school students or students attending private schools to seek permission from the local public school's principal/superintendent who has no connection to the student's school work and performance.
This bill respects a parent's right to determine the satisfactory level of academic performance required for a youth certificate of employment.
• According to a Harvard Graduate School of education report (http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:4740480), teens who have good high school work experiences are more likely to be inspired to stay in school, graduate, and adopt ambitious goals.
• Existing law grants public school principals or superintendents the exclusive right to approve work certificates. Parents, however, better understand the full set of challenges that the student faces outside of the school.
• Current law effectively requires homeschoolers, charter school students or students attending private schools to seek permission from the local public school's principal/superintendent who has no connection to the student's school work and performance.
This bill respects a parent's right to determine the satisfactory level of academic performance required for a youth certificate of employment.
* According to a Harvard Graduate School of education report (http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:4740480), teens who have good high school work experiences are more likely to be inspired to stay in school, graduate, and adopt ambitious goals.
* Existing law grants principals the exclusive right to approve work certificates. Parents, however, better understand the full set of challenges that the student faces outside of the school.
* Current law effectively requires homeschoolers to seek permission from the local school's principal who has no connection to the student's school work and performance.
Unless specifically referenced statute, the bill would allow firearms to be carried on the premises of any entity funded in whole or in part by the State of New Hampshire.
* The bill would allow on-carry open carry or concealed by license.
* The current law is ambiguous and some argue this is already legal. This bill would end any questions to the legality of legally possessing a firearm while on public property.
* If towns aren't allowed to prohibit guns in their offices, either by the public or town employees, state universities shouldn't be allowed to do the same.
* By disarming responsible gun owners, current policy puts students at risk when attending publicly funded colleges and universities.
This bill allows parents to opt their children out of the statewide assessment.
• Parents have a right to direct the education of their children.
• Seven states (Utah, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and California) already have opt-out provisions. No state or school district has lost federal funding due to lower participation rates, nor over opt out provisions.
• The new federal law, ESSA, recognizes parents’ right to opt out.
This bill allows parents to opt their children out of the statewide assessment.
• Parents have a right to direct the education of their children.
• Seven states (Utah, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and California)
already have opt-out provisions. No state or school district has lost federal funding due to lower
participation rates, nor over opt out provisions.
• The new federal law, ESSA, recognizes parents’ right to opt out.
This bill allows parents to opt their children out of the statewide assessment.
* Parents have a right to direct the education of their children.
* Seven states (Utah, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and California) already have opt-out provisions. No state or school district has lost federal funding due to lower participation rates, nor over opt out provisions. The new federal law, ESSA, recognizes parents' right to opt out.
This bill increases the regulatory burden on business and carves out an exclusion to pay practice laws for a single industry segment.
* This bill requires annual reporting of an insurer or insurance groups corporate governance structure, policies and practices to permit the commissioner to gain and maintain an understanding of the insurers corporate governance framework.
• This bill increases overhead and burden on insurance companies which will invariably be passed on to consumers through higher insurance rates.
• This bill also carves out a special exception to existing law requiring that employees be paid for at least 2 hours of work for ski and snowboard instructional. Special case exclusions in the law are an indication that the law itself is flawed as it is unlikely that the legislature can be aware of all of the special conditions facing each employer. Piecewise exclusions only serve to reduce the size of the constituency fighting the improper law without addressing the problems inherent in the law itself.
This bill increases the regulatory burden on business and carves out an exclusion to pay practice laws for a single industry segment.
• This bill requires annual reporting of an insurer or insurance group’s corporate governance structure, policies and practices to permit the commissioner to gain and maintain an understanding of the insurer’s corporate governance framework..
• This bill increases overhead and burden on insurance companies which will invariably be passed on to consumers through higher insurance rates.
• This bill contains non-germane amendment that carves out a special exception to existing law requiring that employees be paid for at least 2 hours of work for ski and snowboard instructional. Special case exclusions in the law are an indication that the law itself is flawed as it is unlikely that the legislature can be aware of all of the special conditions facing each employer. Piecewise exclusions only serve to reduce the size of the constituency fighting the improper law without addressing the problems inherent in the law itself.
This bill increases the regulatory burden on business
* This bill requires annual reporting of an insurer or insurance group’s corporate governance structure, policies and practices to permit the commissioner to gain and maintain an understanding of the insurer’s corporate governance framework.
* This bill increases overhead and burden on insurance companies which will invariably be passed on to consumers through higher insurance rates.
This bill requires that insurance producers complete certain education requirements every 2 years.
• This bill raises regulatory burdens on insurance producers by requiring biennial continuing education. This bill is a giveaway to schools providing the mandated education. There is no guarantee that the mandates will increase the productivity or ethics of insurance producers.
• If insurance producers want to increase their productivity, they can already seek out additional training. Additional regulatory burdens on licensed professions reduce the supply of providers, raising costs and limiting choice for consumers.
This bill requires that insurance producers complete certain education requirements every 2 years.
* This bill raises regulatory burdens on insurance producers by requiring biennial continuing education. This bill is a giveaway to schools providing the mandated education. There is no guarantee that the mandates will increase the productivity or ethics of insurance producers.
* If insurance producers want to increase their productivity, they can already seek out additional training. Additional regulatory burdens on licensed professions reduce the supply of providers, raising costs and limiting choice for consumers.
This bill increases the regulatory burden on business.
* This bill would prevent insurance companies from utilizing data that may accurately represent claims risk when setting premiums.
* This bill significantly increases price controls in personal auto insurance. Auto insurers should be free to underwrite insurance policies according to the estimated risk posed by the insured. Politically manipulating insurance companies' prices will likely result in more people having to go to the residual market and/or higher premiums for everyone.
* This bill prohibits the usage of education level and occupation information when determining rates for casualty insurance. This will cause broad based increases in insurance costs.
This bill establishes and raises a minimum wage for tipped employees.
* Minimum wage laws lower the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to gain critical experience (https://www.cbo.gov/publication/44995)
* Workers and employers have a right to contract for whatever wage they wish. It is wrong for government to legally prohibit voluntary employment agreements.
* A better way to help tipped employees is to increase the productivity of hospitality workers by making the state more attractive to tourists and visitors.
This bill increases the regulatory burden on business.
* This bill removes the exemption from the consumer protection act for trade or commerce under the jurisdiction of financial institutions, insurance regulators of other state and federal banking or securities regulators.
* This is a bill to enrich trial lawyers by expanding the scope of consumer protection act to cover companies that are already federally regulated. The consumer protection act does not really protect consumers but makes products more expensive by making it easy to sue businesses for unintended harms.
* The AG already has the ability to enforce federal consumer protection regulations and need only notify the Consumer Final Protection Bureau of its intent to do so.
This bill mandates maximum idle times for vehicles in various circumstances
* Both hybrids and many non-hybrid vehicles are now available with automated systems to manage idling, taking into account engine temperature, battery charge levels and other factors. Attempting to mange idle times through legislation is both archaic and ineffective.
* There are no exclusions in this bill for non-commercial vehicles running heat or air conditioning for passenger comfort, diesel commercial vehicles which have special requirements at low temperatures, or even disabled motorists facing dangerous temperature extremes.
* The legislature should not be micromanaging drivers.
This bill proposes mandatory liability insurance for firearm ownership.
* The requirement to obtain liability insurance creates a substantial burden on the fundamental right to to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by article 2-a of the NH constitution.
* This bill would have a disproportionate discriminatory effect on people of modest incomes.
* The ill defined insurance requirement grants private companies the ability to deny people a constitutionally guaranteed right. This will result in citizens who are qualified to own a firearm under state and federal law being denied that right by an unaccountable private entity backed by the force of the state.
This bill rebates money paid into the renewable energy fund back to ratepayers.
* This bill rebates the proceeds of the renewable energy fund to ratepayers, thus reducing the effective cost of electricity in New Hampshire.
* The bill reduces the opaque cronyism to which the current system is susceptible, which allows subsidies to particular firms and technologies. Direct subsidies to businesses are not 'pro-business' - they are instead pro-government interference in the market place, leading to a distortion of investment priorities with winners and losers picked not on the basis of how customers are served, but rather on the basis of how well a company can work the apparatus of the state.
This bill would mandate that employers offer permanent positions to temporary workers who have been working for the employer for six months.
* This bill would discourage employers from hiring temporary employees to begin with, or force them to fire successful temporary workers after five months on the job, if they are not in a position to hire a permanent employee.
* Workers and employers have a right to negotiate working arrangements. It is wrong for government to legally prohibit voluntary employment agreements.
* No other states have this must-hire mandate. Legislators should be seeking to reduce the already burdensome regulatory environment in NH, not make it even more arduous and complex.
This bill repeals the ban on smoke bombs.
* Removing the ban on smoke bombs will increase economic activity in New Hampshire.
* Even states with substantially more restrictive fireworks laws allow smokebombs (e.g. this is a class of device that is legal in New York state)
• The change will allow ballot access based on a meaningful percentage of voters who choose to actively participate in the electoral process rather than a percentage of citizens who are simply registered to vote.
• As the state works to simplify the voter registration process, the existing law could make the ballot process impractical as there is a risk that potential increases in voter registration may not translate into similar increases in engaged voters. This bill ensures that the ballot procedure is 'self-tuning' to the the number of citizens who actively participate in politics.
This bill changes the required number of signatures to place a question on the ballot from 10% of registered voters to 20% of the voters voting in the last municipal election.
* The change will allow ballot access based on a meaningful percentage of voters who choose to actively participate in the electoral process rather than a percentage of citizens who are simply registered to vote.
* As the state works to simplify the voter registration process, the existing law could make the ballot process impractical as there is a risk that potential increases in voter registration may not translate into similar increases in engaged voters. This bill ensures that the ballot procedure is 'self-tuning' to the the number of citizens who actively participate in politics.
This bill allows a person who has purchased a muzzleloader license to hunt deer with a crossbow.
* The state has no compelling interest in limiting the means of effectively and safely taking deer.
* Some NH families rely on deer season to provide high quality locally sourced protein. This bill would allow families to utilize alternate safe means for taking deer potentially saving them money.
This bill improves government transparency.
• The Department received over $8 million dollars to organize student level data into a state database, including statewide assessment scores for students.
• The legislature must review statewide assessment results for students receiving differential adequacy funding to ensure that scarce education funds are being used effectively.
This bill improves government transparency.
* The Department received over $8 million dollars to organize student level data into a state database, including statewide assessment scores for students.
* The legislature must review statewide assessment results for students receiving additional adequacy funding to ensure that scarce education funds are being used effectively.
This bill ensures that any citizen who is legally allowed to own a firearm may be issued a concealed weapons license.
* This bill removes the ambiguity of a "suitable person", which encourages profiling, and has in the past been used for ethnic, racial, and gender discrimination.
* The language replacing "suitable" is identical to that contained in SB 116 which passed both Houses in 2015, and to HB 582 which passed the House earlier this session.
* There is a demonstrated need for this legislation. Citizens have been arbitrarily denied their right to obtain or renew their license and then forced to seek legal counsel to exercise a basic right. As recently as 2015 a NH woman was denied the right to defend herself for 112 days after an arbitrary decision by a local police chief. While the chief's decision was overturned almost immediately upon he case being heard, the prolonged and expensive legal battle is an unfortunately common outcome of the current law.
This bill mandates a statewide inventory of approximately 400 school buildings.
* The incremental work increases from individual mandates such as this contribute to an overworked staff and loss of focus on the primary mission of the schools to educate our children.
* There is a cost to gather this data even when using existing staff. Assertions to the contrary imply that the staff at our schools are spending a portion of their day sitting idle.
This bill mandates a statewide inventory of approximately 400 school buildings.
* Although the majority believes there are no costs to gather this data due to the use of existing staff, the implication is that the staff at our schools are spending a portion of their day sitting idle. The incremental work increases from individual mandates such as this contribute to an overworked staff and loss of focus on the primary mission of the schools to educate our children.
* This bill was never reviewed by Finance Committee to evaluate the burden being imposed upon districts.
This bill establishes a tax on the exercise of a constitutionally protected right.
* Article 2a of the NH constitution recognizes the inherent right to keep and bear arms. In Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, 383 U.S. 663 the U.S. Supreme Court found that Virginia's poll tax was unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. The Court noted that “a state violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution whenever it makes the affluence of the voter or payment of any fee an electoral standard. Voter qualifications have no relation to wealth." Similarly, affluence has no bearing on a citizen’s constitutional right defend him or herself.
* The federal government runs the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)which is currently used in NH for long gun sales. The existing NH state level point of contact for handguns is simply a pass through position to the NICS system and adds a needless level of bureaucracy with no additional assurance of safety or quality. We should be working toward elimination of the state point of contact for firearms background checks, rather than seeking to expand our existing state level system.
This bill promotes government transparency.
* Under current law, public bodies may convene in "non-meetings", under certain circumstances, which are not only closed, but secret as well.
* The bill as amended would require that records be kept of "non-meetings" which would include: the specific exemption which is relied upon as the foundation for the "non-meeting," names of members, meeting places, and beginning and ending time.
* Providing the information outlined will calm fears of secret meetings and reduce further 91-A requests.
* This bill comports with Part I, Article 8 of the NH constitution.
This bill clarifies the required content for non-public meeting minutes.
* The NH Constitution, Part 1 Article 8: ... Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive. To that end, the public’s right of access to governmental proceedings and records shall not be unreasonably restricted. This bill helps to achieve this requirement.
* Provides that minutes kept in nonpublic sessions are consistent with minutes kept in public sessions while maintaining the existing protections outlined in RSA 91-A:3 (e.g. preventing the release of information that would adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of the public body itself.)
This bill requires minutes of nonpublic sessions under the right-to-know law to include the vote of each member in all actions taken.
* The NH Constitution, Part 1 Article 8: ... Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive. To that end, the public’s right of access to governmental proceedings and records shall not be unreasonably restricted. This bill helps to achieve this requirement.
* Retains ability for public bodies to conduct nonpublic sessions while ensuring the public has a right to know the voting record of their representatives.
This bill would allow law enforcement to access patients' private health care information without a warrant from a court.
* This bill infringes on fundamental privacy rights, and violates part 1 article 19 of the NH constitution and the fourth amendment to the federal constitution.
* Medical information is extremely private, personal information. It is inappropriate for law enforcement to be given access to such data without a warrant from a judge.
* The majority blurb claims that "access may be denied", but no mechanism for denial of access is given, for a wide range of enforcement activities.
* "Quicker access" is a weak excuse for circumventing due process and violating fundamental liberties.
This bill subjects utility tractors to vehicle registration requirements
• Compact utility tractors are rarely used on NH's roads and should not be subject to registration fees.
• This bill would create an unnecessary burden on small agricultural businesses.
This bill as amended reinforces the requirement that the judges must provide a written finding to keep a child in out-of-home placement after the preliminary hearing of an abuse and neglect proceeding.
* Unwarranted interference in the parent child relationship is a harm to children, parents, and society as a whole. This bill helps ensure that removal is limited only to cases where a hearing has found that there are documentable instances of abuse or neglect.
* Clear documentation of findings supports rebuttal of unsubstantiated claims and in cases when the abuse is substantiated, it helps provide documentation that may be useful to all parties to determine the most appropriate path forward in future hearings.
* Documented findings are consistent with the NH Constitution Part 1 Article 15 which states "No subject shall be held to answer for any crime, or offense, until the same is fully and plainly, substantially and formally, described to him..."
This bill makes driving with a cell phone a secondary offense.
* Police shouldn't stop people who are not a danger and driving perfectly. This bill would help focus the police's attention on providing actual public safety.
* The current ban overreaches, by prohibiting speaking on a cell phone even while stopped in traffic or at a red light
* Studies show that bans on use of handheld devices while driving have had no effect on accident rates. (e.g. NE Burger, DT Kaffine, B Yu Transportation research part A: policy and practice 66, 162-172, and IIHS Status Report, Vol. 45, No. 2)
* Handheld phone bans cause some drivers to hide their phone use, by placing the phone in their lap and taking their eyes off the road, which is far more dangerous.
•This bill improves equality and consistency of law by allowing trailers to be registered as antique regardless of the number of axles.
• Antique trailers are not used as frequently as newer trailers, so it’s right that registering an antique trailer should be less costly.
This bill allows 2-axle antique trailers to be registered as such.
* This bill improves equality and consistency of law by allowing trailers to be registered as antique regardless of the number of axles.
* Antique trailers are not used as frequently as newer trailers, so it’s right that registering an antique trailer should be less costly.
This bill exempts volunteer and part-time solid waste operators from the certification requirement as long as they are under the direct supervision of certified personnel.
* This bill reduces the burden of regulation on small businesses, volunteer organizations, and local governments, in managing solid waste.
* As the minority committee opinion points out, current staff re-training requirements for solid waste operators are excessive when compared other occupations. While this bill does not broadly address over-certification issues it does provide a small improvement.
This bill would allow the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR) to object to rules if they are deemed to have a negative impact on businesses.
* This bill provides an additional tool for the legislature to exercise a check on the administrative branch, as is its responsibility, and to protect the NH economy.
* The clause in RSA 541-A "determined not to be in the public interest," is insufficient to stop some over-reaching rules that impact small businesses in an unfavorable way.
This bill would shift the burden of proof related to reasonable compensation for Limited Liability Companies from the state back to the taxpayer.
* Innocent until proven guilty is a long standing tradition of US law as well as Common Law that predates the founding of the republic.
* The state should always have the burden to prove wrongdoing, as only the state has the monoply of power to initiate force.
This bill would increase taxes on insurance premiums by up to 60%.
* The NH government should be working to reduce already high taxes and fees on NH businesses, instead of increasing them.
* The costs of direct taxes on premiums are inevitably passed on to consumers.
* Higher taxes reduce the competitiveness of NH based insurance providers, and discourage new providers from relocating to NH.
This bill would repeal an existing prohibition on tinted side windows
• 46 other states already allow tinted side windows, with no widespread problems reported.
• NH law enforcement already encounters tinted windows on the thousands of tourist vehicles that visit NH each year. No widespread problems have been reported with these vehicles, either.
• While we do not support the $5 annual fee, this bill still represents a clear improvement over current law.
This bill would repeal an existing prohibition on tinted side windows
* 46 other states already allow tinted side windows, with no widespread problems reported.
* NH law enforcement already encounters tinted windows on the thousands of tourist vehicles that visit NH each year. No widespread problems have been reported with these vehicles, either.
* While we do not support the $5 annual fee, this bill still represents a clear improvement over current law.
* (transcriber note: this is listed as anti-Liberty, but seems to be pro-Liberty? - mdrew)
This bill reduces the injustice done to innocent, convicted persons.
• This bill as amended allows a person who was convicted of a criminal offense whose conviction was subsequently vacated by a court to petition for an annulment of the arrest record or court record or both.
• Having the option to petition for annulment allows a wrongly convicted individual to at least partially restore their official reputation.
This bill reduces the injustice done to innocent, convicted persons.
* This bill as amended allows a person who was convicted of a criminal offense whose conviction was subsequently vacated by a court to petition for an annulment of the arrest record or court record or both.
* Having the option to petition for annulment allows a wrongly convicted individual to at least partially restore their official reputation.
his bill allows patients suffering from ulcerative colitis access to medical cannabis, if recommended by their doctor.
* Ulcerative Colitis is a serious, incurable disease. Symptoms include loss of appetite, malnutrition, chronic pain, oral ulcers, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and insomnia. Despite treatment, symptoms can reoccur at any time.
* Symptoms of ulcerative colitis are similar to those of Crohn’s disease, which is already included in the the list of qualifying medical conditions. Indeed, Crohn's patients are often misdiagnosed as Colitis patients, and vice-versa. It would be unfair to afford relief to one group of patients and not to the other.
* Asking patients in chronic and severe pain to wait months or longer for centers to open, before waiting again for a new legislative session and a new bill, effectively puts the convenience of the Legislature above the immediate and serious needs of the constituents.
This bill recognizes the right of parents to make decisions about the health, education, and welfare of their children
• Decisions about child-rearing are the responsibility of parents, not the state.
• This bill does not change existing regulations, but is a valuable statement of principle.
This bill recognizes the right of parents to make decisions about the health, education, and welfare of their children
* Decisions about child-rearing are the responsibility of parents, not the state.
* This bill does not change existing regulations, but is a valuable statement of principle.
This bill mandates taxpayer spending on an additional life insurance benefit exclusively for school employees.
* If additional compensation in the form of life insurance is required to properly compensate teachers, then those benefits should be negotiated as part of normal teacher contract negotiations.
* While any untimely death is a tragedy, it is unclear why we would uniquely single out teachers for this special benefit. For example, sanitation work is far more dangerous than teaching. Are the lives of government employees who are not teachers somehow less important?
* There is already a death benefit for any school employee covered by the New Hampshire Retirement System.
This bill infringes on the freedom of workers and employers.
* Minimum wage laws lower the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to gain critical experience.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation - more jobs means more competition to hire all workers
* Workers and employers have a right to contract for whatever wage they wish. It is wrong for government to legally prohibit voluntary employment agreements.
This bill recognizes the right of libraries in New Hampshire to run software used to protect privacy on the Internet.
* Libraries have historically been a place to freely seek information. This bill clarifies that libraries that can continue that mission in the modern age without fear of retribution by the state.
* This bill does not require libraries to run privacy software; libraries are free to make the choice for themselves.
This bill establishes a criminal penalty for prosecutorial misconduct.
* While we would like to believe that all of our public servants are always acting in the best interest of justice, it is foolish to believe that everyone entrusted with state power will always act in a moral manner. This bill provides for a penalty as an additional deterrent to potential misconduct to help ensure that the outcome in the criminal justice system is in fact just.
* The committee's concern over the difficulty in determining whether or not someone knew something with certainty is not an argument against the bill, but rather helps ensure that only the most egregious cases of misconduct will be prosecuted. Furthermore, NH law is already replete with examples of laws that require proof of a guilty intent so this law is hardly unique in that regard (e.g. RSA 626:2 "only if he acts purposely, knowingly", RSA 641:4 "Knowingly gives or causes to be given false information ..."
This bill dramatically expands the list of offenses for which the death penalty may be sought.
* This bill dramatically expands the list of offenses for which the death penalty may be sought.
* The language in this bill is excessively broad and would result in an unprecedented expansion on the power of the state to take a life as a punishment for crime.
* The definition of 'weapon of mass destruction' in this bill is so broad that even a child's model rocket would fall under this classification. Common C11 engines contain more than 0.3 ounces of propellant, and this bill classifies "incendiary charge of more than 1/4 ounce" as a weapon of mass destruction.
Allows property owner to reject an offer in eminent domain takings.
* Government should uphold property rights, not abrogate them.
* The homeowner should have every opportunity to get fair value for their land.
* Private developments of all kinds, on large contiguous plots of land, are very common; developers manage to assemble these properties without using confiscation. If private developers can achieve such outcomes, there's no reason government officials can't do so.
* Many ingenious alternatives exist to eminent domain, in order to practically accomplish large capitol projects, and avoid the "hold out problem".
This bill expands state spending to fund full day kindergarten
* Full day programs are not appropriate for many 5 year olds, who are often better off spending more time with their family. This bill would discourage the continuation of successful half day programs.
* Communities which choose to offer half day kindergarten should not be forced to subsidize those that choose to offer full day kindergarten. Both the decision, and the funding, should be local.
* Instead of further expanding state spending on schools, and taxes, to the tune of over three million dollars a year, legislators should seek to return decision making power to families.
This bill creates an unaccountable, tax funded redistricting commission.
* While the stated goals of this bill are laudable, the approach for creating this 'independent' commission are unlikely to result in significant independence. Appointees would be selected from politically connected citizens that the majority and minority parties would count on to counterbalance potential unfair plans from the opposing party.
* The seemingly independent commission would allow the legislature to claim plausible deniability in cases where clearly gerrymandered districts resulted from this process. While this abdication of responsibility may result in improved redistricting in some years or some regions of the state, the reduction of accountability prevents voters from being able to properly influence the process.
* This bill increases state spending by establishing a new state funded election integrity attorney.
* The bill seeks to fund additional spending with a new tax; should the new tax be insufficient to cover the unbounded costs, the commission would be funded from the general fund.
This bill restores freedom of speech on public ways or sidewalks.
• Freedom of speech should not be restricted on public land paid for by taxpayers.
• The current law is unconstitutional and will cost the state too much to enforce.
• An almost identical Massachusetts law was struck down as unconstitutional by all 9 Supreme Court justices last summer. The plaintiffs in that case were awarded $1.24 million in legal fees.
• A vote against repeal is a vote to charge taxpayers for an expensive lawsuit that the state will most certainly lose.
This bill restores freedom of speech on public ways or sidewalks.
* Freedom of speech should not be restricted on public land paid for by taxpayers.
* The current law is unconstitutional and will cost the state too much to enforce.
* An almost identical Massachusetts law was struck down as unconstitutional by all 9 Supreme Court justices last summer. The plaintiffs in that case were awarded $1.24 million in legal fees.
* A vote against repeal is a vote to charge taxpayers for an expensive lawsuit that the state will most certainly lose.
This bill regulates the usage of Body-Worn Cameras by law enforcement.
• The use of BWCs as outlined in this bill will be a benefit to public safety, foster better interactions between police and members of the public, protect members of law enforcement, promote accountability and assist in investigations.
• BWCs protect both police and the citizens they interact with by providing objective evidence of encounters.
• Mandatory disclosure requirements protect civil rights and likely contribute to better behavior by all parties reducing the utilization of force.
• A 12 month study on the use of BWCs in Rialto, CA found use-of-force by officers wearing cameras fell by 59 percent and complaints against officers dropped by 87 percent compared to the previous year's totals.
This bill as amended regulates a law enforcement agency's use of body-worn cameras. As amended the new title would be "relative to body-worn cameras for law enforcement officers".
• The use of BWCs as outlined in this bill will be a benefit to public safety, foster better interactions between police and members of the public, protect members of law enforcement, promote accountability and assist in investigations.
• BWCs protect both police and the citizens they interact with by providing objective evidence of encounters.
• Mandatory disclosure requirements protect civil rights and likely contribute to better behavior by all parties reducing the utilization of force.
• A 12 month study on the use of BWCs in Rialto, CA found use-of-force by officers wearing cameras fell by 59 percent and complaints against officers dropped by 87 percent compared to the previous years totals.
This bill expands state taxes and regulations.
• There is no minimum income threshold in this bill. This bill would require a homeowner who lets out a room for even a night or two to register as a "hotel operator", and display a "rooms and meals" tax ID.
• The emerging sharing economy has been a benefit to NH residents, and should be encouraged, not crushed by the state.
• If homeowners are required to register with the government in order to simply let a room for a day or two, many will give up on the idea entirely. This is often the effect of government mandates on informal trade, and on nascent businesses.
This bill expands state taxes and regulations.
There is no minimum income threshold in this bill. This bill would require a homeowner who lets out a room for even a night or two to register as a "hotel operator", and display a "rooms and meals" tax ID.
• The emerging sharing economy has been a benefit to NH residents, and should be encouraged, not crushed by the state.
• If homeowners are required to register with the government in order to simply let a room for a day or two, many will give up on the idea entirely. This is often the effect of government mandates on informal trade, and on nascent businesses.
• There is no minimum income threshold in this bill. This bill would require a homeowner who lets out a room for even a night or two to register as a "hotel operator", and display a "rooms and meals" tax ID.
• The emerging sharing economy has been a benefit to NH residents, and should be encouraged, not crushed by the state.
• If homeowners are required to register with the government in order to simply let a room for a day or two, many will give up on the idea entirely. This is often the effect of government mandates on informal trade, and on nascent businesses.
• There is no minimum income threshold in this bill. This bill would require a homeowner who lets out a room for even a night or two to register as a "hotel operator", and display a "rooms and meals" tax ID.
• The emerging sharing economy has been a benefit to NH residents, and should be encouraged, not crushed by the state.
• If homeowners are required to register with the government in order to simply let a room for a day or two, many will give up on the idea entirely. This is often the effect of government mandates on informal trade, and on nascent businesses.
This bill expands state taxes and regulations.
* There is no minimum income threshold in this bill. This bill would require a homeowner who lets out a room for even a night or two to register as a "hotel operator", and display a "rooms and meals" tax ID.
* The emerging sharing economy has been a benefit to NH residents, and should be encouraged, not crushed by the state.
* If homeowners are required to register with the government in order to simply let a room for a day or two, many will give up on the idea entirely. This is often the effect of government mandates on informal trade, and on nascent businesses.
This bill overrides local control of education
* Mandating "instructional methods" at the state level violates, RSA 193-E:2-a,V, which clearly states that the "methods of instruction" are "the responsibility of local teachers, administrators, and school boards."
* Decisions about instruction, as well as "competency" based criteria for advancement, are better made by local school boards, not by state legislators.
* This bill was completely rewritten in exec session and bears no resemblance to the original bill.
This bill creates an unnecessary law.
* Since demand has increased, alternatives in the marketplace are available, such as Nitrile and Vinyl. Vinyl gloves are less expensive and most widely used in the food industry.
* It is in a restaurant's best interest to keep their customers safe. This issue is already being solved in the marketplace without the need for new laws.
This bill respects self-ownership, and reduces the harm of the drug war.
• The NH Constitution provides that “all penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the
offense,” but our state penalties for marijuana possession are no longer supported by public
opinion and are far more severe than those of most nearby states.
• 60% of NH citizens support the legalization of recreational marijuana, and 72% support
decriminalization (WMUR Poll 7/15).
• Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted
by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system,
allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been
victimized.
• There is no evidence that reducing or eliminating marijuana penalties has led to negative
outcomes in the states where it has been tried. In fact, harm reduction will be achieved by allowing
adults to grow and share a much less harmful alternative to opioids and alcohol. When allowed as
a substitute 68% of prescribed medicine users chose the less harmful option; cannabis.
• Contrary to often told story, cannabis is an 'exit' drug not a 'gateway'. It is a fact that opioid users,
isolated due to the criminality of the drug, can and have used cannabis to break their addiction.
• This bill would take millions of dollars, not to mention many customers, out of the hands of illicit
street dealers.
• This bill does not violate Federal law, it is in fact the law that has been in place in our nation's
capital for the past year.
This bill respects self-ownership, and reduces the harm of the drug war.
* The NH Constitution provides that "all penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense," but our state penalties for marijuana possession are no longer supported by public opinion and are far more severe than those of most nearby states.
* 60% of NH citizens support the legalization of recreational marijuana, and 72% support decriminalization (WMUR Poll 7/15).
* Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
* There is no evidence that reducing or eliminating marijuana penalties has led to negative outcomes in the states where it has been tried. In fact, harm reduction will be achieved by allowing adults to grow and share a much less harmful alternative to opioids and alcohol. When allowed as a substitute 68% of prescribed medicine users chose the less harmful option; cannabis.
* Contrary to often told story, cannabis is an 'exit' drug not a 'gateway'. It is a fact that opioid users, isolated due to the criminality of the drug, can and have used cannabis to break their addiction.
* This bill would take millions of dollars, not to mention many customers, out of the hands of illicit street dealers.
* This bill does not violate Federal law, it is in fact the law that has been in place in our nation's capital for the past year.
* The majority blurb is misleading and speaks mainly to a different bill.
This bill establishes that sex between consenting adults should not be illegal.
* This bill legalizes consensual sex between consenting adults, while keeping solicitation of sexual contact with a person under 18 years of age or through the use of force or intimidation a felony.
* As is generally the case, prohibition drives these activities underground where dangers are higher for participants. Sex workers who report crimes to law enforcement face arrest, violence, and assault.
* While the majority expresses concerns over theoretical unintended consequences of this bill, we already know the realized unintended consequences of the current law - namely that people who would like to extract themselves from this way of life are victimized by the very law that was supposed to protect them. Threats of violence and actual violence go unreported due to fear of prosecution.
* Many recent studies have concluded that legalization is necessary to reduce the harms associated with sex work. Many major organizations including the world health organization, Lancet medical journal, and Amnesty International now support legalization. (http://goo.gl/7yPoH0, http://goo.gl/InLmHk, http://goo.gl/EJbgBy)
This bill assists the federal government in violating the privacy of NH residents.
• The federal REAL ID act establishes a national identification card, and requires holders of REALID-compliant identification to allow their photos and social security numbers to be held in government databases. These requirements open New Hampshire citizens up to identity theft and privacy violations.
• Currently, 28 states do not comply with REAL ID. For almost a decade, the Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly postponed enforcement of REAL ID. They will continue to do so, so long as states fulfill their obligation to defend the rights of their residents from this unconstitutional mandate.
• Contrary to the house majority blurb, this bill provides no substantial protections against the entry of NH residents' data into federal databases. In fact, it explicitly enables it (section 15).
• The state of NH as an organization has no obligation to provide real ID compliant cards, or DHS accessible databases. The state does have an obligation to do everything in its power to protect its residents from federal privacy intrusions.
• Providing REAL ID-compliant cards at the same price as non-compliant cards, and stamping the latter as non-compliant, will make it practically feasible for DHS to move forward on their enforcement objectives, mandating that everyone get the national ID card.
• This bill is not "opt in". The bill authorizes sharing of data for both REAL ID-compliant and non-compliant cards with federal databases, gutting privacy protection for all NH residents, including those choosing non-compliant IDs.
• Since 2010, a bipartisan majority in New Hampshire has firmly rejected compliance with the REAL ID Act.
This bill assists the federal government in violating the privacy of NH residents.
* The federal REAL ID act establishes a national identification card, and requires holders of REAL ID-compliant identification to allow their photos and social security numbers to be held in government databases. These requirements open New Hampshire citizens up to identity theft and privacy violations.
* Currently, 28 states do not comply with REAL ID. For almost a decade, the Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly postponed enforcement of REAL ID. They will continue to do so, so long as states fulfill their obligation to defend the rights of their residents from this unconstitutional mandate.
* Contrary to the majority blurb, this bill provides no substantial protections against the entry of NH residents' data into federal databases. In fact, it effectively enables it (section 15).
* The state of NH as an organization has no obligation to provide real ID compliant cards, or DHS accessible databases. The state does have an obligation to do everything in its power to protect its residents from federal privacy intrusions.
* Providing REAL ID-compliant cards at the same price as non-compliant cards, and stamping the latter as non-compliant, will make it practically feasible for DHS to move forward on their enforcement objectives, mandating that everyone get the national ID card.
* Since 2010, a bipartisan majority in New Hampshire has firmly rejected compliance with the REAL ID Act.
This bill prohibits all persons from engaging in electioneering that utilizes government equipment.
* This bill attempts to clarify existing law that prohibits the use of public property for electioneering by public employees. The bill amends the current law to replace 'property' with 'equipment' which is an appropriate change to prevent the restriction from applying to real property such as public sidewalks. In modifying the existing statute, the language was changed so that restriction on use of government equipment now applies to *all people* - not just government employees. As a result, a private citizen using government equipment such as a computer in a library or an open wifi access point in a government building would violate the law as amended by this bill.
* The applicability to 'all persons' will create inadvertent violators of the law and would potentially penalize those who have no special access to government property.
* Although use of government equipment for electioneering by any party forces the public to financially support electioneering activities that they potentially find offensive, the risk of misdemeanor prosecution for inadvertent violation is an unacceptable potential outcome of this bill.
* The bill would allow off-duty public employees to utilize public property (such as office space to which they have unique access) for electioneering while citizens are denied this right.
This bill would create a costly, impractical new program.
* The fiscal note estimates that the required administrative changes would cost $432,557 in the first year alone.
* It is reasonable to assume that if someone is denied benefits under the provisions of this bill that they will appeal and or sue the state resulting in additional costs.
* Provides a financial incentive for citizens to 'turn in' their neighbors, which creates claims which are difficult to verify. The federal government's record on similar lists is poor with several publicized failures, including former Senator Ted Kennedy appearance on a no-fly list, for 6
This bill respects self-ownership, and reduces the harm of the drug war.
• The NH Constitution provides that “all penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense,” but our state penalties for marijuana possession are no longer supported by public opinion and are far more severe than those of most nearby states.
• 60% of NH citizens support the legalization of recreational marijuana, and 72% support decriminalization (WMUR Poll 7/15)
• Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
This bill respects self-ownership, and reduces the harm of the drug war.
* The NH Constitution provides that "all penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense," but our state penalties for marijuana possession are no longer supported by public opinion and are far more severe than those of most nearby states.
* 60% of NH citizens support the legalization of recreational marijuana, and 72% support decriminalization (WMUR Poll 7/15)
* Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
This bill creates a new, unnecessary law.
* This bill attempts to create a prohibition that already exists. Pursuant to RSA 159:7: "No person shall sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer a pistol, revolver or any other firearm, to a person who has been convicted, in any jurisdiction, of a felony. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class B felony."
* Current law is more than adequate.
This bill allows students to be assigned to a public or private school if there is no public school for the child's grade in the child's resident district.
• Allows access to private schools for children in towns with no school building.
• Moves the education system in the direction of the free market by allowing both public and private schools to compete for the students.
* This bill would help 15 small districts across the state, not just Croydon. There are many more that would benefit from these options given declining student enrollment.
* The amendment is consistent with several NH Supreme Court opinions as well as existing state statute and the NH Constitution.
This bill as amended and passed by floor amendment 2016-1736s mandates that private schools meet government school standards under certain conditions.
* The bill as passed mandates that private schools meet Common Core standards, implement Competency based instruction and administer online Smarter Balanced assessments if they choose to accept students from towns with no public schools.
* The bill is a significant overreach into private school systems that will force private schools to choose between denying access to students from towns with no public schools or accepting burdensome intrusion into their school system.
* Private schools must attract students and parents on a voluntary basis. This is a far more effective form of accountability, and far better guarantee of quality, than bureaucratic government mandates.
This bill allows students to be assigned to a public or private school if there is no public school for the child's grade in the child's resident district
• Allows access to private schools for children in towns with no school building.
• Moves the education system in the direction of the free market by allowing both public and private schools to compete for the students.
• Creates a system to address declining school enrollment by allowing other education options.
* Support Avard/Hill amendment 2016-1343s which retains the benefits of the bill as passed by the house and addresses certain technical issues with the house wording.
This bill allows students to be assigned to a public or private school if there is no public school for the child's grade in the child's resident district.
• Allows access to private schools for children in towns with no school building
• Moves the education system in the direction of the free market by allowing both public and private schools to compete for the students
• Creates a system to address declining school enrollment by allowing other education options
• Support TABLING motion to allow sponsor to be present for the vote.
This bill mandates federally determined prevailing minimum wages on state-funded public works projects.
* The bill would result in an estimated 2.6 million dollars annually in direct reoccurring state spending.
* This bill would impose significant additional record keeping and weekly reporting requirements for contractors supporting state projects. These increased overhead costs, which are not directly represented by the fiscal note, would ultimately be borne as additional costs to the taxpayer.
* The bill mirrors similar federal legislation (Davis Bacon Act) which was passed with the deliberate intent to prevent non-unionized, less established, minority laborers from competing with established, unionized, white workers during the depression. While times have changed and the intent of this bill may be somewhat different, the effect will still be to dramatically increase the risk and/or cost of employing workers with potential for growth but with lower demonstrated skill level.
* Small firms may not have the personnel to absorb compliance overhead costs. This bill would have the effect of biasing state contracts towards larger/established firms.
This bill further increases state level spending on education.
• This bill creates an entirely new level of specialist within the DOE at more expense to the state.
• Programs already exist to identify students who need additional services; this bill is duplicative of services already in place.
• Nongermane committee amendment leaves objectionable portions of bill intact but is otherwise acceptable.
This bill further increases state level spending on education.
• This bill creates an entirely new level of specialist within the DOE at more expense to the state.
• Programs already exist to identify students who need additional services; this bill is duplicative of services already in place.
This bill further increases state level spending on education.
* This bill creates an entirely new level of specialist within the DOE at more expense to the state.
* Programs already exist to identify students who need additional services; this bill is duplicative of services already in place.
This bill, with amendment 2016-0617h, allows carry of firearms in vehicles.
* Many other open carry states allow carry in a car without additional licensing requirements.
* Loading and unloading firearms to get in and out of a car encourages swatting and potentially accidental discharges.
* A person has a right to carry a firearm in their vehicle, for personal protection, just as they may carry one in their home.
* This bill would not allow hunting from vehicles, which remains prohibited under RSA 207:7
This bill eliminates an unnecessary licensing requirement.
* Current law is confusing, containing a variety of obscure exceptions, and is largely unenforceable.
* This bill retains authority for municipal governments to license and regulate hawkers, peddlers, or itinerant vendors, if they so choose.
* These laws are outdated in today's world of online shopping, and reputation rankings and reviews. The consumer has more tools to vet a vendor or product than ever before. Licensing mainly serves to reduce consumer choice.
This bill establishes exceptions from the real estate transfer tax for certain transfers of title related to changes in form of organization or made between the owners and the entity for no consideration.
• Eliminates a double tax on property owners transferring their property to themselves.
• Taxation of 'paper' real-estate transfers for which no true transfer is taking place improperly penalizes property owners who have non-material changes in organizational structure. This bill would prevent application of the real-estate transfer tax in cases where no true transfer is performed.
This bill establishes exceptions from the real estate transfer tax for certain transfers of title related to changes in form of organization or made between the owners and the entity for no consideration.
• Eliminates a double tax on property owners transferring their property to themselves.
• Taxation of 'paper' real-estate transfers for which no true transfer is taking place improperly penalizes property owners who have non-material changes in organizational structure. This bill would prevent application of the real-estate transfer tax in cases where no true transfer is performed.
This bill establishes exceptions from the real estate transfer tax for certain transfers of title related to changes in form of organization or made between the owners and the entity for no consideration.
* Taxation of 'paper' real-estate transfers for which no true transfer is taking place improperly penalizes prorperty owners who have non-material changes in organizational structure. This bill would prevent application of the real-estate transfer tax in cases where no true transfer is performed.
The bill would have effectively banned the sale and or carry of firearms in nearly every public place in NH
* Gun free zones do nothing to deter criminals with violent intent.
* The bill clearly infringes upon NH constitution Article 2-a, which recognizes the right of NH residents to keep and bear arms in defense of ourselves, our families, our property and the state.
This bill helps protect property rights from eminent domain abuse.
• Owners of residential properties being taken may require the taking of the entire property if so they will not be forced to live with the project being developed.
• This bill equalizes eminent domain with regard to gas pipelines as it relates to other utilities.
• It allows the owner of the property to select their own appraiser and have the costs of the appraisal paid for by the pipeline company.
This bill helps protect property rights from eminent domain abuse.
• Owners of properties being taken may require the taking of the entire property so they will not be forced to live with the project being developed.
• This bill equalizes eminent domain with regard to gas pipelines as it relates to other utilities.
• It allows the owner of the property to select their own appraiser and have the costs of the appraisal paid for by the pipeline company.
This bill helps protect property rights from eminent domain abuse.
* Owners of properties being taken may require the taking of the entire property so they will not be forced to live with the project being developed.
* This bill equalizes eminent domain with regard to gas pipelines as it relates to other utilities.
* This bill requires the consent of a municipality for the taking of property already in public use.
This bill increases regulations on food producers and suppliers.
* New labeling requirements would place an undue burden on retailers, wholesalers, and producers throughout the state and region.
* The proper solution would be an independent third-party certification agency, which could freely state whether or not food does or does not contain GMO. Such third party agencies now exist (e.g.nongmoproject.org) and offer certification seals.
* The USDA has developed a "Non-GMO Label" program that allows producers to pay to participate in the Process Verified Program. This voluntary approach allows consumers who choose to avoid GMO foods to support brands that participate in the program.
* The bill notably excludes alcoholic beverages, demonstrating a conflict of interest as the state derives significant income from acting as an alcohol retailer.
This bill, as passed by the house, reduces the harm of the war on drugs, by allowing for safe disposal of hypodermic needles.
• Oppose committee amendment 2016-1487s. Changing this bill to a study committee defers a proven positive step in harm reduction
• People are more likely to safely dispose of needles if they aren’t in danger of arrest.
• Allowing easier access to clean needles will help prevent the spread of dangerous and costly diseases, including hepatitis and HIV.
• Penalizing addicts for possession of a used syringe is a failed approach, which does not help them and endangers the community.
• This bill allows charities to create needle-exchange programs, which have a proven track record of reducing the harm of drug addiction (Steffanie A. Strathdee1 and David Vlahov, AIDScience Vol. 1, No. 16, December 2001, also: https://goo.gl/Q1wQYp, more: http://goo.gl/hWuJoa)
• People are more likely to safely dispose of needles if they aren’t in danger of arrest.
• Allowing easier access to clean needles will help prevent the spread of dangerous and costly
diseases, including hepatitis and HIV.
• Penalizing addicts for possession of a used syringe is a failed approach, which does not help them
and endangers the community.
• This bill allows charities to create needle-exchange programs, which have a proven track record of
reducing the harm of drug addiction (Steffanie A. Strathdee1 and David Vlahov, AIDScience Vol. 1,
No. 16, December 2001, also: https://goo.gl/Q1wQYp, more: http://goo.gl/hWuJoa)
This bill reduces the harm of the war on drugs, by allowing for safe disposal of hypodermic needles.
• People are more likely to safely dispose of needles if they aren’t in danger of arrest.
• Allowing easier access to clean needles will help prevent the spread of dangerous and costly
diseases, including hepatitis and HIV.
• Penalizing addicts for possession of a used syringe is a failed approach, which does not help them
and endangers the community.
• This bill allows charities to create needle-exchange programs, which have a proven track record of
reducing the harm of drug addiction (Steffanie A. Strathdee1 and David Vlahov, AIDScience Vol. 1,
No. 16, December 2001, also: https://goo.gl/Q1wQYp, more: http://goo.gl/hWuJoa)
his bill repeals a program using mandatory fees to fund property acquisition.
* Under the Land and Community Heritage and Investment Program (LCHIP), private property owners are forced to pay higher fees for deeds, mortgages, and plans, with the money going to fund property acquisition primarily by municipal governments.
* The continuous incremental accumulation of private property by municipalities drives up real-estate costs, and reduces the tax base, resulting in increased property taxes. LCHIP has resulted in a net reduction in private property by over 238,000 acres in the last 15 years.
* Property acquisition for purposes of conservation should be handled through voluntary donations to nonprofit organizations, not forced contributions to government programs.
This bill extends and expands a massive new entitlement program.
* This bill eliminates the existing sunset provision for Medicaid Expansion.
* Medicaid Expansion is a welfare program for able-bodied adults in their working years. The medical insurance provided has features such as no premiums, no co-pays, no deductibles and includes non-emergency transportation that are simply not available to workers with full-time jobs.These benefits create a strong disincentive to full-time employment and career advancement.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached, and it is not free. The national debt is approaching $20 trillion.
* The Federal government will not keep its promises. As federal money dries up, costs will fall squarely on the State’s General Fund, which will only be able to support it through a new broad based tax, such as a sales or income tax, thereby destroying what remains of the New Hampshire Advantage.
* A free market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters
This bill respects self-ownership, and reduces the harm of the drug war.
* The NH Constitution provides that "all penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense," but our state penalties for marijuana possession are no longer supported by public opinion and are far more severe than those of most nearby states.
* 60% of NH citizens support the legalization of recreational marijuana, and 72% support decriminalization (WMUR Poll 7/15).
* Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
* There is no evidence that reducing or eliminating marijuana penalties has led to negative outcomes in the states where it has been tried.
* In most recent reputable studies on the topic, gateway drug assertions have been shown to be unwarranted.
* This bill would take millions of dollars, not to mention many customers, out of the hands of illicit street dealers.
This bill extends and expands a massive new entitlement program.
• This bill preserves Medicaid Expansion which is currently set to sunset at the end of 2016 due to reduction in federal funding. Medicaid Expansion provides able-bodied, childless adults in NH, above the poverty line, with free health care.
• Though no general funds are used in this iteration, the bill puts in place a financial transfer mechanism via higher insurance premiums and healthcare costs charged to existing paying customers.
• The "severability clause" in the bill allows CMS to pick and choose which portions of the law will be enforced, such as the work requirement. The NH legislature, in effect, will abrogate its responsibility to this federal agency.
• Federal money always comes with strings attached, and it is not free. The national debt, which is approaching $20 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
• The Federal government will not keep its promises. Federal money will dry up and the financial transfer mechanism will break because hospitals and insurance companies will be unable to transfer the entire cost onto paying customers. This will place the costs squarely on the State's General Fund, which will only be able to support it through a new broad based tax, such as a sales or income tax, thereby destroying what remains of the New Hampshire Advantage.
• A free market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill extends and expands a massive new entitlement program.
* This bill preserves Medicaid Expansion which is currently set to sunset at the end of 2016, due to reductions in federal funding.
* Medicaid Expansion is a welfare program for able-bodied adults in their working years. The medical insurance provided has features such as no premiums, no deductibles, and included non-emergency transportation that are simply not available to workers with full-time jobs. These benefits create a strong disincentive to full-time employment and career advancement.
* Though no general funds are used in this iteration, the bill puts in place a financial transfer mechanism via higher insurance premiums and healthcare costs charged to existing paying customers.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached, and it is not free. The national debt is approaching $20 trillion.
* The Federal government will not keep its promises. Federal money will dry up and the financial transfer mechanism will break because hospitals and insurance companies will be unable or unwilling to transfer the entire cost onto paying customers. This will place the costs squarely on the State’s General Fund, which will only be able to support it through a new broad based tax, such as a sales or income tax, thereby destroying what remains of the New Hampshire Advantage.
* A free market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill extends and expands a massive new entitlement program.
* This bill preserves Medicaid Expansion which is currently set to sunset at the end of 2016 due to reduction in federal funding. Medicaid Expansion provides able-bodied, childless adults in NH, above the poverty line, with free health care.
* Though no general funds are used in this iteration, the bill puts in place a finanicial transfer mechanism via higher insurance premiums and healthcare costs charged to existing paying customers.
* The "severability clause" in the bill allows CMS to pick and choose which portions of the law will be enforced, such as the work requirement. The NH legislature, in effect, will abrogate its responsibility to this federal agency.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached, and it is not free. The national debt, which is approaching $20 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
* The Federal government will not keep its promises. Federal money will dry up and the financial transfer mechanism will break because hospitals and insurance companies will be unable to transfer the entire cost onto paying customers. This will place the costs squarely on the State’s General Fund, which will only be able to support it through a new broad based tax, such as a sales or income tax, thereby destroying what remains of the New Hampshire Advantage.
* A free market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill taxes everyone for the benefit of select landholders.
* It is wrong to force all taxpayers to subsidize certain farmers and landholders
* This bill spends $3M taxes per year largely on paying farmers to keep farming
* Conservation efforts are better done on the local level, closest to the people having their property and income directly affected.
This bill protects companies practicing "bad business" while keeping their customers in the dark.
* Customers of insurance companies should know if their insurer is insolvent. This intervention in the marketplace is not the job of the state. The risk of losing customers should be enough of a motivator for insurers to follow good business practices.
* Not only does this protect the insurance companies from going out of business, it gives immunity to the government employees who fail to provide proper oversight. This bill only hurts innocent insurance customers.
This bill opens the door to more competition and more choice in heath care.
* NH customers should be allowed the opportunity to buy healthcare from any insurer willing to sell to them.
* While there may be no companies currently interested in this model, we shouldn't ignore the possibility of a health care startup revolutionizing the industry and looking to do business in NH.
* This bill allows for improved health insurance flexibility for companies looking to relocate to NH, and their employees living near other states.
This bill opens the door to more competition and more choice in heath care.
* NH customers should be allowed the opportunity to buy healthcare from any insurer willing to sell to them.
* While there may be no companies currently interested in this model, we shouldn't ignore the possibility of a health care startup revolutionizing the industry and looking to do business in NH.
* This bill allows for improved health insurance flexibility for companies looking to relocate to NH, and their employees living near other states.
This bill protects the right of property owners to build accessory dwelling units.
* Many NH residents are currently prevented by arduous zoning laws from building accessory dwelling units.
* The needs and demographics of NH residents are shifting. Accessory dwelling units make it possible for aging parents to live with adult children, elderly residents to retain their independence by obtaining live-in aid, and young adult children to share housing costs with parents.
* The right of property owners to make their own choices about their property should be respected. Increasing housing flexibility benefits everyone.
This bill erodes local control of school curricula and assessments.
* The assessment is not optional for schools. The bill as amended states that schools shall administer a competency assessment. Schools are likely to choose the US citizenship and immigration test.
* In general it is inexpedient for state legislators to compel schools to adopt particular curricula or assessments. These decisions are far better made locally, by parents and teachers.
This bill would prohibit insurers from requiring an optometrist to participate in a separate vision plan.
* The state legislature should not interfere in private contracts. Optometrists enter these contracts with full knowledge of the obligations of the contract.
* The insurer has the right to limit any conflict of interest to protect their customers and themselves.
This bill creates yet another hurdle for businesses and property owners.
• Certification programs for septic evaluators are already available in NH. It is the right of home buyers and sellers to decide whether or not to hire a certified septic evaluator, and not the business of government.
• Requiring a license to evaluate septic systems does not guarantee the licensee will do a good job. There are plenty of examples of incompetent licensed tradesmen.
• Licensing often creates more of the behavior it ostensibly intends to remedy. Making it more expensive to hire qualified professionals incentivizes buyers to forgo evaluations, hire amateurs or attempt to perform work themselves.
• Licensing reduces options for septic evaluation while increasing expense.
This bill creates yet another hurdle for businesses and property owners.
• Certification programs for septic evaluators are already available in NH. It is the right of home buyers and sellers to decide whether or not to hire a certified septic evaluator, and not the business of government.
• Requiring a license to evaluate septic systems does not guarantee the licensee will do a good job. There are plenty of examples of incompetent licensed tradesmen.
• Licensing often creates more of the behavior it ostensibly intends to remedy. Making it more expensive to hire qualified professionals incentivizes buyers to forgo evaluations, hire amateurs or attempt to perform work themselves.
• Licensing reduces options for septic evaluation while increasing expense.
This bill creates yet another hurdle for businesses and property owners.
* Certification programs for septic evaluators are already available in NH. It is the right of home buyers and sellers to decide whether or not to hire a certified septic evaluator, and not the business of government.
* Requiring a license to evaluate septic systems doesn’t guarantee the licensee will do a good job. There are plenty of examples of incompetent licensed tradesmen.
* Licensing often creates more of the behavior it ostensibly intends to remedy. Making it more expensive to hire certified and licensed professionals incentivizes buyers to forgo evaluations, or hire amateurs.
* Licensing reduces options for septic evaluation while increasing expense.
This bill better aligns NH capital expense deductions with federal provisions.
• NH currently allows only up to $25K in deductions for capital expenses in the first year. This bill increases the state limit to more closely align with IRS rules simplifying compliance costs.
• At least 37 other states already allow deductions over $100K, and 33 allow deductions up to $500K (http://taxfoundation.org/).
• While the long term impact of this bill is largely revenue neutral, allowing business to more fully deduct capital expenses in the year they are made increases the probability of capital investment and growth in NH.
• NH legislators should work to make NH business friendly, rather than driving them away with excessive taxes.
Protects privacy and private property
* This bill prohibits the placement of a tracking device on a vehicle, without a warrant or the consent of the owner.
* Free citizens should not be tracked without their consent.
* Comports with part one article 19 of the NH constitution and the fourth amendment to the US constitution.
* Defends the privacy rights of NH residents, and clarifies that government agencies shall not track their movements without a warrant from a judge.
This bill adds new and unnecessary regulations on fuels.
* Fuel choices are best handled individually, and pollution controls are better handled locally.
* For many NH residents in rural areas, air quality is not a pressing concern, but heating costs are. If these residents want to continue to use standard fuel they should have the option to do so, if it is available in the marketplace.
* The transition to low sulfur oil can be accomplished without additional regulations. Awareness of the benefits, including greater efficiency, less cleaning, and cleaner air will lead most customers to purchase low sulfur fuels, if the cost is comparable.
This bill protects the privacy of students and families.
• This compromise legislation requires parental consent for all non-academic surveys, except the youth risk behavior survey developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• The fact that some students may benefit from social programs does not justify ignoring privacy concerns and parents' right to direct their under-age children's education.
• There is a demonstrated need for this bill. Evidence was provided at the public hearing, showing that some existing surveys are neither anonymous nor optional.
This bill protects the privacy of students and families.
• This compromise legislation requires parental consent for all non-academic surveys, except the youth risk behavior survey developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• The fact that some students may benefit from social programs does not justify ignoring privacy concerns and parents' right to direct their under-age children's education.
• There is a demonstrated need for this bill. Evidence was provided at the public hearing, showing that some existing surveys are neither anonymous nor optional.
This bill protects the privacy of students and families.
* This compromise legislation requires parental consent for all non-academic surveys, except the youth risk behavior survey developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
* The fact that some students may benefit from social programs does not justify ignoring privacy concerns and parents' right to direct their under-age children's education.
* There is a demonstrated need for this bill. Evidence was provided at the public hearing, showing that some existing surveys are neither anonymous nor optional.
This bill updates a neglected state law, RSA 121 which provides oversight and regulation of certain federal land acquisitions.
• RSA 121 has been neglected for decades, ignoring the will of the General Court.
• This bill replaces obsolete language, assigning authority to the appropriate modern agency.
• The original law, and this update, place reasonable limits on certain federal land acquisitions. This is wise policy, as evidenced by the many problems now facing many western states.
• Although limits are set, under this bill, if the voters of a municipality wish to cede more of their landmass to the federal government, they can vote to do so.
This bill updates a neglected state law, RSA 121 which provides oversight and regulation of certain federal land acquisitions.
• RSA 121 has been neglected for decades, ignoring the will of the General Court.
• This bill replaces obsolete language, assigning authority to the appropriate modern agency.
• The original law, and this update, place reasonable limits on certain federal land acquisitions. This is wise policy, as evidenced by the many problems now facing many western states.
• Although limits are set, under this bill, if the voters of a municipality wish to cede more of their landmass to the federal government, they can vote to do so.
This bill updates a neglected state law, RSA 121 which provides oversight and regulation of certain federal land acquisitions.
* RSA 121 has been neglected for decades, ignoring the will of the General Court.
* This bill replaces obsolete language, assigning authority to the appropriate modern agency. It could almost be called a "Housekeeping Bill" if the subject matter were not so important.
* The original law, and this update, place reasonable limits on certain federal land aquisitions. This is wise policy, as evidenced by the many problems now facing many western states.
* Even though limits are set, there is an exception that allows local control. If the voters of a municipality decide to cede more of their landmass to the federal government, they can vote to do so.
This bill as amended adds MMR vaccine to the list of vaccines approved for administration to adults by pharmacists.
• Reduces cost and increases convenience for adults who choose to receive the MMR vaccine.
• Adults should not be required wait for a more expensive doctors visit in order to receive common vaccines.
This bill as amended adds MMR vaccine to the list of vaccines approved for administration to adults by pharmacists.
* Reduces cost and increases convenience for adults who choose to receive MMR vaccine.
* Adults should not be required wait for a more expensive doctors visit in order to receive common vaccines.
This bill expands state government and creates a new permanent licensing board.
* This bill expands the role of the state in healthcare, increasing costs and limiting patient access to services.
* The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists already provides credentialing services to ensure high quality patient care in medical imaging and radiation therapy. Establishing a new state mandated board duplicates the education, ethics and examination services provided by this internationally recognized organization.
* The addition of a parallel and duplicative licensing scheme will increase overhead costs which will inevitably be passed on to consumers.
This bill ensures that any citizen who is legally allowed to own a firearm may be issued a concealed weapons license.
• This bill as amended removes the ambiguous requirement that an applicant be a "suitable person", which encourages profiling, and has in the past been used for ethnic, racial, and gender discrimination. This “suitability” clause is replaced by the objective requirement that the applicant not be prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal statute.
• This language replacing “suitable” is identical to that contained in SB 116 which passed both Houses in 2015, and to HB 582 which passed the House earlier this session.
• There is a demonstrated need for this legislation. Citizens have been arbitrarily denied their right to obtain or renew their license and then forced to seek legal counsel to exercise a basic right. As recently as 2015 a NH woman was denied the right to defend herself for 112 days after an arbitrary decision by a local police chief. While the chief's decision was overturned almost immediately upon the case being heard, the prolonged and expensive legal battle is an unfortunately common outcome of the current law.
This bill ensures that any citizen who is legally allowed to own a firearm may be issued a concealed weapons license.
• This bill as amended removes the ambiguity of a "suitable person", which encourages profiling, and has in the past been used for ethnic, racial, and gender discrimination and replaces it with a prohibition based on whether applicant is allowed to possess a firearm under state or federal statute.
• The language replacing “suitable” is identical to that contained in SB 116 which passed both
Houses in 2015, and to HB 582 which passed the House earlier this session.
• There is a demonstrated need for this legislation. Citizens have been arbitrarily denied their right to
obtain or renew their license and then forced to seek legal counsel to exercise a basic right. As
recently as 2015 a NH woman was denied the right to defend herself for 112 days after an arbitrary
decision by a local police chief. While the chief's decision was overturned almost immediately upon
the case being heard, the prolonged and expensive legal battle is an unfortunately common
outcome of the current law.
• Under RSA 135-C, people with mental illnesses are involuntarily committed to the state hospital, and under RSA 622:45 some of those acute patients, those whose illness pose a threat to
themselves or others, are transferred to and civilly committed to the Department of Corrections Secure Psychiatric Unit. This bill would require these citizens to have DNA samples taken even if no crime has been committed. Mental illness is a medical condition, not a crime.
• The legislature should not require those who have never committed a crime to submit to have a DNA sample taken.
This bill adds a new requirement to collect a DNA sample from citizens who may not even have been accused of a crime.
* Under RSA 135-C, people with mental illnesses are involuntarily committed to the state hospital, and under RSA 622:45 some of those acute patients, those whose illness pose a threat to themselves or others, are transferred to and civilly committed to the Department of Corrections Secure Psychiatric Unit. This bill would require these citizens to have DNA samples taken even if no crime has been committed. Mental illness is a medical condition, not a crime.
* The legislature should not require those who have never committed a crime to submit to have a DNA sample taken.
This bill changes NH law to prevent taxing business on phantom gains caused by exchange of assets that are not owned by the business.
• Current NH law can be interpreted as imposing a business profits tax on LLCs or partnerships that have received no gain when one of the partners leaves and transfers ownership to another entity. We are the only state that does this.
• This means that current law unfairly discriminates between LLCs and corporations, and discourages small NH start-ups.
This bill changes NH law to prevent taxing business on phantom gains caused by exchange of assets that are not owned by the business.
* Current NH law can be interpreted as imposing a business profits tax on LLCs or partnerships that have received no gain when one of the partners leaves and transfers ownership to another entity. We are the only state that does this.
* This unfairly discriminiates between LLCs and corporations discouraging innovation for small start-ups in the state.
This bill modestly protects the rights of some property owners by adding agritoruism to the list of land use activities partially protected under existing law.
* Existing law states that local zoning regulations on agricultural lands shall not be unreasonably limited by use of municipal planning and zoning powers or by the unreasonable interpretation of such powers. This bill clarifies that agritorism is a usage of land that ought not be unreasonably limited.
* All reasonable usege of property by its owners should be protected however this is a very small step in the right direction.
This bill allows municipalities to regulate attire.
• Municipalities should not be in the business of regulating attire.
• Allow municipalities to further regulate attire is anti-first ammendment and could open them up to a lawsuit in the future.
This bill directs DRED to study repeated and ongoing violations of existing state law RSA 121. It also halts all real estate transactions to which this law applies.
*Existing state law, RSA 121 is being ignored and has been for decades. A study is needed to find out how it has been violated. This is the first small step in correcting the matter.
* This bill doesn't propose any new law, it should not be controversial to research if the state is breaking its own laws.
* Interim Study is not the proper procedure, we don't need a study to study the proposed study.
* If any state law is to be taken seriously, effort should be made to ensure they are all being taken seriously. Citizens are expected to follow laws enacted by the legislature, the state loses credibility when it fails to follow the same set of laws.
This bill allows commercial fishing operators to register certain vehicles using current agricultural plates.
• This bill puts fisheries on common ground with other agricultural businesses.
• Reducing fees for businesses will attract businesses to NH
This bill recognizes the right of drivers to use navigation systems.
• This is a good common sense first step in fixing the hands free law.
• There are many distractions while driving and we can't legislate all of them. Using a mounted or built in GPS is no more dangerous than changing radio stations.
• The hands free law went too far in restricting what drivers can do in their own vehicles. This bill helps give drivers the freedom to use their property as it was intended without the fear of being pulled over and ticketed.
This bill recognizes the right of drivers to use navigation systems.
* This is a good common sense first step in fixing the hands free law.
* There are many distractions while driving and we can't legislate all of them. Using a mounted or built in gps is no more dangerous than changing radio stations.
* The hands free law went too far in restricting what drivers can do in their own vehicles. This bill helps give drivers the freedom to use their property as it was intended without the fear of being pulled over and ticketed.
• There is no evidence that police officers do a better job than non-police flaggers.
• Allowing non-police flaggers will reduce the cost of maintenance and the savings will be passed to NH utility customers
• This bill does not reduce the safety of workers or the public. It's a common sense approach to allow options in areas that don't require the extra level of attention.
• Companies shouldn't be held hostage to pay three times the amount for police flaggers in rural areas with little traffic.
This bill imposes unnecessary, unfunded mandates on local school districts
* This bill is unnecessary. RSA 189:10 already requires drug and alcohol education. Furthermore, state regulations, ED 306, updated in July 2015, explicitly require K-12 health and wellness education programs that includes instruction on "substance use and abuse including tobacco,alcohol, and drugs".
* No members of the public were afforded an opportunity to speak at the joint public hearing, despite the fact that several had signed up to do so. It is wrong to undermine public access to the NH legislative process, particularly for the purposes of rushing through unnecessary, redundant legislation.
* In general, state legislators should not compel schools to adopt particular curricula. It should be up to local parents and teachers to determine the appropriate age to introduce these subjects. Kindergarten students do not need to be taught about alcohol.
This bill mandates that feed vendors add additional labeling to their packaging.
* Requiring feed vendors to add what is effectively a public service announcement to their packaging infringes on free speech.
* Some vendors already have similar labeling but would have to change their packaging just for NH customers. This will add unnecessary costs to the price of animal feed.
* The second part of this bill, prohibiting placing of food for the consumption of deer, in certain
This bill reduces the waiting period for annulment of the record of arrest/ conviction for simple marijuana possession from 3 years to 2 years.
• This reduces the harm of our existing law by allowing a citizen who has harmed no-one to more quickly turn their life around and return to meaningful employment.
• The change retains the requirement of a decision by a judge allowing the facts of the case to be considered before an annulment is granted.
This bill reduces the waiting period for petition for the annulment of a misdemeanor
This bill would ban sales of devices that are not compatible with either the National Electric Code or New Hampshire building code.
• This bill would make it a crime for NH retailers to sell equipment that is not compatible with NH code, but is compatible with electrical codes in other countries, forcing NH residents to purchase equipment for use on travel from online retailers or out of state.
• Many NH businesses sell commercial or industrial equipment intended for use in other jurisdictions, with different electrical specifications.
• Private safety certification agencies like Underwriters Laboratories are a great alternative to state mandates
• RSA 358:A:2 is explicitly for the purpose of banning “any unfair method of competition or any unfair or deceptive act or practice in the conduct of any trade or commerce". Selling devices that do not meet NH code is neither unfair nor deceptive, unless the goods are sold with a label indicating compatibility with certain standards, while not actually being compatible. Misrepresentation of certification is already covered by 358:a:2 II and IV.
This bill would ban sales of devices that are not compatible with either the National Electric Code or New Hampshire building code.
* This bill would make it a crime for NH retailers to sell equipment that is not compatible with NH code, but is compatible with electrical codes in other countries, forcing NH residents to purchase equipment for use on travel from online retailers or out of state.
* Many NH businesses sell commercial or industrial equipment intended for use in other jurisdictions, with different electrical specifications.
* Private safety certification agencies like Underwriters Laboratories are a great alternative to state mandates
* RSA 358:A:2 is explicitly for the purpose of banning "any unfair method of competition or any unfair or deceptive act or practice in the conduct of any trade or commerce". Selling devices that do not meet NH code is neither unfair nor deceptive, unless the goods are sold with a label indicating compatibility with certain standards, while not actually being compatible. Misrepresentation of certification is already covered by 358:a:2 II and IV.
This bill mandates the manner in which an insurance company must allow for one early refill of prescription eye-drops.
* This bill expands state law in order to micormanage trivial details of early refills of prescription eye-drops.
* Attempting to legislate that which should be determined by the market is wasteful and unlikely to even achieve the desired outcome. For example the bill goes into painful detail about the manner and timeframe for early renewal of 30 and 90 day prescriptions but if a product were dispensed with a 45 day prescription, it would not be covered by the law.
* The bill could result in a coverage gap if a consumer uses all refills prior to obtaining another prescription.
This bill provides funding to fund savings accounts for all children born in Manchester or Coos county.
• This type of program can be accomplished accomplished by private charities, either in coordination
with each other or individually. It is inappropriate to use taxation and the state bureaucracy to fund or establish such a program.
This bill allows cities and towns to ban the use of plastic bags.
* Consumers and retailers have a right to choose whether or not to use plastic bags.
* A large number of consumers who use plastic bags reuse them for a variety of purposes including waste removal, or recycle them.
* Many of the supposed harms of plastic bags are myths. In many ways, plastic bags are less harmful to the environment than alternatives, including paper bags.
This bill infringes on the freedom of workers and employers.
* Minimum wage laws lower the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to gain critical experience.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation - more jobs means more competition to hire all workers.
* Workers and employers have a right to contract for whatever wage they wish. It is wrong for government to legally prohibit voluntary employment agreements.
This bill creates new mandates on businesses
• Employees and employers should be free to negotiate working relationships and terminate them at will. The state should not micromanage employer/employee relationships.
• This bill is unnecessary, as the market provides protection for both employers and employees. If employers terminate employees capriciously they will not be able to retain or attract talent. If employees terminate their employment frequently they will have difficulty convincing employers to hire them.
* Employers and employees should be free to agree upon and terminate employment for any reason.
* This bill is unnecessary, as the market provides protection for both employers and employees. If employers terminate employees capricously they will not be able to retain or attract talent. If employees terminate their employment frequently they will have difficulty convincing employers of hiring them.
This bill would prohibit nursing homes from making agreement to arbitration a condition of admission.
* Arbitration is generally less expensive, faster, and a private alternative to litigating in the courts.
* This is just one way businesses reduce operating costs. Requiring that all matters be litigated would increase the cost of doing business for nursing homes which would increase the cost to the customer.
* Businesses should be free to refuse service if customers are not willing to agree to their terms, just as customers are free to choose alternative service providers for any reason.
This bill protects private property by clarifying that the state building code review board may only require data that is reasonably required for the building inspector to act on an application under the International Residential Code in the application process.
* The bill makes no changes to existing code or inspection requirements under the International Residential code but it is a small step to ensure that property rights are not frivolously infringed.
This bill imposes additional, arduous reporting requirements on local PACs.
* Many small, local PACs are run by volunteers. Expecting a complete itemized report within 48 hours of each $1000 donation increment is unrealistic, and an undue burden on free speech.
* Participation in the new on-line filing tool is better left optional.
This bill suspends the imposition of the death penalty until such time that methods exist to ensure that the death penalty cannot be imposed on an innocent person.
* NH should not risk allowing the state to kill an innocent person.
* As recently as 2014, a death row inmate in TX (Henry Lee McCollum) was conclusively cleared by DNA evidence after having spent nearly 30 years on death row. He is far from the only example of an innocent person being placed on death row; several other examples were heard in testimony. Neither prosecutors nor courts are infallible.
* If a person is convicted and incarcerated, but is later found innocent of wrongdoing, the sentence isat least partially reversible. The death penalty is irreversible.
* There are two primary reasons to apprehend those who commit crimes against persons or property. The first reason is to obtain restitution for the victim of the crime, to whatever extent possible. The second reason is to prevent those who present a continuing threat to others from committing further crimes. Given the availability of secure prison facilities, the death penalty as it exists in New Hampshire is necessary for neither of these purposes.
* As shown in the fiscal note, long term incarceration also costs NH taxpayers less than the death penalty.
This bill further increases government spending on education.
* The DoE reports that average per-student spending in NH government schools last year reached almost $17,000.
* Ever-increasing spending on government education, much of which goes to administrative overhead, has not led to improved outcomes. Private and charter schools regularly achieve superior results at significantly lower cost.
* Instead of continuing to further increase spending on government schools, state legislators should be seeking to empower parents and students to make their own choices among various educational options, and to create an environment of competition for educational dollars.
* If the cap must be removed for legal reasons, adjustments to the formula for education grant payments could be made so as to render the change spending neutral.
This bill places a mandate on local law enforcement agencies to file crime reports with the department of safety.
* Violates [Art.] 28-a. [Mandated Programs.] The state shall not mandate or assign any new, expanded or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in such a way as to necessitate additional local expenditures by the political subdivision unless such programs or responsibilities are fully funded by the state or unless such programs or responsibilities are approved for funding by a vote of the local legislative body of the political subdivision.
* Most localities are already voluntarily providing the data.
This bill raises new barriers to entry for healthcare service providers.
* This bill contains provisions designed to create or protect health care service monopolies in the state limiting competition and preventing competitive price pressures. It delegates the power to the state commissioner of health and human services to make a determination of the need for new facilities enshrining crony capitalism into state law.
* The bill effectively requires all new medical facilities to provide 24/7 emergency services. This further increases the barrier to entry for new service providers who look to fill medical needs to being served by our existing hospitals.
This bill raises new barriers to entry for healthcare service providers.
* This bill contains provisions designed to create or protect health care service monopolies in the state limiting competition and preventing competitive price pressures. It delegates the power to the state commissioner of health and human services to make a determination of the need for new facilities enshrining crony capitalism into state law.
* The bill effectively requires all new medical facilities to provide 24/7 emergency services while exempting existing medical facilities from providing this capability. This further increases the barrier to entry for new service providers by increasing their costs while shielding existing providers from the new costs.
This bill contains provisions designed to create or protect health care service monopolies in the state, by limiting competition and preventing competitive price pressures.
• Granting power to the state commissioner of health and human services to make a determination
of the need for new facilities effectively enshrines crony capitalism into state law.
• This bill requires all new medical facilities to provide 24/7 emergency services, but exempts
existing medical facilities from this requirement, thereby further raising the barrier to entry for new
service providers, while shielding existing providers from fair competition.
This bill raises new barriers to entry for healthcare service providers.
* This bill contains provisions designed to create or protect health care service monopolies in the state, by limiting competition and preventing competitive price pressures.
* Granting power to the state commissioner of health and human services to make a determination of the need for new facilities effectively enshrines crony capitalism into state law.
* This bill requires all new medical facilities to provide 24/7 emergency services, but exempts existing medical facilities from this requirement, thereby further raising the barrier to entry for new service providers, while shielding existing providers from fair competition.
This bill grows government by adding another permanent state level position.
* The bill creates a new position of "chartered public school program officer" which incrementally grows state government. Once such positions are established they are exceedingly difficult to eliminate.
* Creation of this position further centralizes state control over charter schools and ensures more involvement of the state board of education in operations of charter schools.
* The state should be seeking to decentralize the existing charter school system providing for local control instead of furthering a model of state run government schools.
This bill continues the failed approach to the war on drugs by expanding spending on police enforcement.
* This bill creates a new substance abuse law enforcement program and funds it with $1.5 million in FY 2017.
* A law enforcement centric approach will mean more costs for courts, prosecutors, defense and corrections.
This bill creates new mandates on businesses
• Many businesses do not have and cannot afford to create “private, non bathroom spaces” for
employees, or afford many of the other costly mandates contained in this bill.
• Use of vague exceptions that place the burden of proof on the business is a recipe for lawsuits.
• Job benefits should be negotiated between an employee and an employer, not mandated by
legislators. If a business does not offer attractive benefits, employees may seek work elsewhere.
• The costly mandates contained in this bill will deter businesses from hiring young women of child
bearing age, particularly for entry level or early career work.
• NH licensing and regulatory requirements are already far too arduous. In order to improve the NH
economy, and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, legislators should be working to lessen
regulatory burdens, not expand them.
This bill creates new mandates on businesses
• Many businesses do not have and cannot afford to create “private, non bathroom spaces” for
employees, or afford many of the other costly mandates contained in this bill.
• Use of vague exceptions that place the burden of proof on the business is a recipe for lawsuits.
• Job benefits should be negotiated between an employee and an employer, not mandated by
legislators. If a business does not offer attractive benefits, employees may seek work elsewhere.
• The costly mandates contained in this bill will further deter businesses from hiring young women of
child bearing age, particularly for entry level or early career work.
• NH licensing and regulatory requirements are already far too arduous. In order to improve the NH
economy, and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, legislators should be working to lessen
regulatory burdens, not worsen them.
This bill creates new mandates on businesses
* Many businesses do not have and cannot afford to create "private, non bathroom spaces" for employees, or afford many of the other costly mandates contained in this bill.
* Use of vague exceptions that place the burden of proof on the business is a recipe for lawsuits.
* Job benefits should be negotiated between an employee and an employer, not mandated by legislators. If a business does not offer attractive benefits, employees may seek work elsewhere.
* The costly mandates contained in this bill will further deter businesses from hiring young women ofchild bearing age, particularly for entry level or early career work.
* NH licensing and regulatory requirements are already far too arduous. In order to improve the NH economy, and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, legislators should be working to lessen regulatory burdens, not worsen them.
This bill repeals provisions of the law that forces NH taxpayers to subsidize federal government, non-military travel on NH roads.
• The federal government should help pay for the upkeep of the roads they are using
• A government vehicle wears on the roads just as much, and in some cases more, than a private
vehicle.
• This bill is a step in the right direction, and will increase revenue for NH roads without further
taxing NH drivers.
NH drivers should not be forced to subsidize federal government travel.
* The federal government should help pay for the upkeep of the roads they are using
* A government vehicle wears on the roads just as much, and in some cases more, than a private vehicle.
* This bill is a step in the right direction, and will increase revenue for NH roads without further taxing NH drivers.
This bill increases health care costs for PCA services in NH.
• This bill requires personal care attendants provide “access to the community” and “non-medical
transportation” — services for which they may not be equipped.
• "Access to the community” is vague and could open personal care attendants up to frivolous
lawsuits.
This bill increases health care costs for PCA services in NH.
* This bill requires personal care attendants provide "access to the community" and "non-medical transportation" - services for which they may not be equipped.
* "Access to the community" is vague and could open personal care attendants up to frivolous lawsuits.
This bill as amended would reduce possession of a small amount of marijuana to an unspecified misdemeanor subject to a fine of $350.
• This is a very small step in the right direction of recognizing that NH's current laws are not inline with the vast majority of NH residents who favor decriminalization of marijuana. A UNH/ WMUR poll released in July 2015 indicated that 72% of Granite Staters support decriminalizing marijuana. This bill as takes an incremental step toward reducing collateral damage done to people who use or experiment with marijuana by making first time possession charge a violation.
• While the bill is a small improvement over current law and thus should be supported the legislature should do far more to reform or eliminate laws governing the private acts of citizens.
This bill as amended would make first-time possession of a small amount of marijuana, up to one quarter ounce, a violation, subject to a fine of $300, instead of a misdemeanor crime subject to arrest, jail time, and a criminal record.
• This is a very small step in the right direction of recognizing that NH's current laws are not inline with the vast majority of NH residents who favor decriminalization of marijuana. A UNH/ WMUR poll released in July 2015 indicated that 72% of Granite Staters support decriminalizing marijuana. This bill as takes an incremental step toward reducing collateral damage done to people who use or experiment with marijuana by making first time possession charge a violation.
* While the bill is a modest improvement over current law and thus should be supported the legislature should do far more to reform or eliminate laws governing the private acts of citizens.
This bill increases fines on drug offenses and retains misdemeanor charge for simple marijuana possession.
• Increases minimum fine on ALL drug offenses to $500 from $350.
• The bill in its current form is a poor substitute for HB1631 which passed the house by nearly a two to one margin on March 10, 2016 and has yet to be decided upon by the senate..
• Support recommit to allow for an opportunity to amend the bill to remove increased fines and remove option for misdemeanor prosecution for marijuana possession
This bill mandates new procedures for educational entities that operate self-funded student health insurance plans.
• This bill is attempting to address a problem that does not exist. There are sufficient consumer protections already in place for students covered under these plans.
• The state should not insert itself where it is not needed. A free market in health insurance better serves customers than ever-expanding state mandates and regulations.
• College costs and health care costs continue to rise faster than inflation year over year. Overregulation, which this bill exemplifies, is a big part of the problem.
• The scope of this bill is larger than what is implied by the Majority report. It applies to all not-for-profit private and public institutions of higher education which provide 4 year bachelor’s degree programs and graduate or professional degree programs.
This bill mandates new procedures for educational entities that operate self-funded student health insurance plans.
* This bill is attempting to address a problem that does not exist. There are sufficient consumer protections already in place for students covered under these plans.
* The state should not insert itself where it is not needed. A free market in health insurance better serves customers than ever-expanding state mandates and regulations.
* College costs and health care costs continue to rise faster than inflation year over year. Overregulation, which this bill exemplifies, is a big part of the problem.
This bill compels taxpayers to fund yet another optional, experimental program.
*The bill's original fiscal note is for $10M to support a grade level outside compulsory attendance.
* The first program of this type, a NYC program to help teenage inmates was an official failure. Currently Utah has a "pay for success" early education program in place, but their boasts were determined to be inflated due to poorly defined goals. These "pay for success" experiments are still unproven to justify a launch in New Hampshire.
* Let the private sector establish pre-school programs, not the state through public/private partnerships, using taxpayer money.
* Not a single social impact bond project has demonstrated success so far.
This is similar to SB 69 (2015), but takes it a major step further. Instead of a study committee like last year, the current bill would create a commission to implement a public preschool program funded through “pay for success” or social impact bonds (SIBs). This new kind of funding for social policy change has not demonstrated success. The first program of this type, a NYC program to help teenage inmates was an official failure. Currently Utah has a “pay for success” early education program in place, but their boasts were determined to be inflated due to poorly defined goals. These “pay for success” experiments are still unproven to justify a launch in New Hampshire. The bill's fiscal note is for $10M to support a grade level outside compulsory attendance. NH has many other important commitments to our public education system than to support an optional and experimental program. To complicate the proposal even more, the federal Health and Human Services (HHS) admits in a 2012 report that the longest running federal preschool program, Head Start, is a dismal failure. These early childhood programs do not produce long-term gains for our youngest learners. The preschool programs that showed success were exorbitantly expensive and in small studies that do not scale to a statewide program.
This bill compels taxpayers to fund yet another optional, experimental program.
* The bill's fiscal note is for $10M to support a grade level outside compulsory attendance.
* Let the private sector establish pre-school programs, not the state through public private partnerships.
* Not a single Social Impact Bond project has demonstrated success so far.
This bill revises existing restrictions on who may adopt.
* This bill expands the definition of who may adopt a child recognizing that not all familial bonds need to be formally recognized by the state in order to be valid.
* It it recognizes the same sex marriages the legislature created in 2008 by allowing all married couples to pursue adoption.
This bill makes evidence of opioid dependence in single parent households a rebuttable presumption of child neglect.
• This bill contains language that states that "Evidence of a custodial parent's opioid drug abuse or opioid drug dependence" is a "rebuttable presumption" of child neglect. Although this is an improvement over text as originally introduced, it still places families in positions have having to prove innocence as opposed to the state having to prove guilt.
• RSA 169-C:29 already requires doctors, nurses, social workers and others to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Under existing law these professionals have some minor freedom to consider the totality of circumstances for reporting potential neglect. With this bill, even as improved by proposed amendments, these professionals would no longer have discretion. This would likely result in doctors failing to ask medically relevant questions and patients failing to provide medically relevant answers for fear of involving the state in an already complex situation. If based on the specific circumstances of the patient and their drug use (regardless of type of drug) a professional has reason to believe the child is being abused or neglected, they already have the duty to report. This bill therefore carries unacceptable risk of harm while providing little in the way of potential benefits to children
This bill makes evidence of opioid dependence in single parent households a rebuttable presumption of child neglect.
* This bill as amended still contains language that states that "Evidence of a custodial parent’s opioid drug abuse or opioid drug dependence" is a "rebuttable presumption" of child neglect. Although this is an improvement over the original text of the bill, it still places families in positions have having to prove innocence as opposed to the state having to prove guilt.
* RSA 169-C:29 already requires doctors, nurses, social workers and others to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Under existing law these professionals have some minor freedom to consider the totality of circumstances for reporting potential neglect. With this bill, even as improved by proposed amendments, these professionals would no longer have discretion. This would likely result in doctors failing to ask medically relevant questions and patients failing to provide medically relevant answers for fear of involving the state in an already complex situation. If based on the specific circumstances of the patient and their drug use (regardless of type of drug) a professional has reason to believe the child is being abused or neglected, they already have the duty to report. This bill therefore carries unacceptable risk of harm while providing little in the way of potential benefits to children.
This bill allows the unchallenged assertions of a single medical professional to shift the burden of proof for child neglect from the state to the mother.
* While the instinct to look out for vulnerable children in society is noble, this bill goes too far by presuming a mothers neglect based only on a medical diagnosis that has not been subject to cross examination or judicial review.
* The bill places no limits on who may make the diagnosis meaning that a first year nurse practitioner error could result in undo harm and stress on a mother and her newborn baby.
This bill reduces access to affordable healthcare by placing duplicative mandates on health care facilities.
* Requiring facilities to spend even more money on regulatory compliance diverts resources from real solutions. This state imposed approach to violence prevention would stifle innovation that is already underway across the state. For example, in the absence of this regulatory overhead, New Hampshire Hospital has already begun work on "Project Pause" which uses smartphone technology and data analysis to help predict patients who may become violent.
* Provisions mandating violence record-keeping place further new burdens on facilities. Many hospitals already choose to keep records (in addition to the records already maintained by local authorities). A state imposed mandate will increase the overhead costs of such records keeping.
* Several other states (e.g. NY, CA) have passed similar legislation with no measurable reduction in violence.
* Published studies by medical worker advocates point out that even when violence against a healthcare worker is made a felony offense, states still fail to pursue charges against the criminals committing the offenses. If the state is serious about reducing violence then responsible prosecutions against those who are initiating violence should be preferred over prosecuting hospitals for not managing internal records in a manner consistent with arbitrary state guidelines.
This bill increases the amount deducted from a fine for each day of a person's incarceration from $50 per day to $150 per day.
* While it is challenging to determine the total financial burden placed on an individual per day of incarceration, the current 'credit' for incarceration is more than 3.5x lower than the average 8 hour wage in NH (23.12/hr in June 15 per the NH Employment Security) and nearly 2x lower than even the lowest average 8 hour wage in the state ($11.06/hr). 24hr incarceration places additional burdens beyond lost wages on the incarcerated individual, including costs to a single parent associated with child care. The current deduction is therefore excessively punitive
* The fiscal note for this bill estimates that the average daily cost of incarcerating an individual may be as high as $110 per day. The current deduction level results in a net loss to the state for each day of incarceration chosen in lieu of fine. The new deduction level will ensure that the state is not penalized in cases where a citizen chooses incarceration instead of fine.
This bill is an attempt to tax free speech.
* This bill would require local candidates, political action committees, campaigns, and other advocacy organizations to pay a tax on funds spent on behalf of promoting their candidate, organization, or cause.
* Charging a tax for speech is not only unethical, but it violates Article 1 Part 22 of the NH constitution and the first amendment to the US constitution.
This bill steeply increases OHRV registration fees, especially for those who choose not to join clubs.
• This bill favors certain clubs over others. Different fees for different club affiliations creates a class system, and could hurt non approved clubs and their membership.
• OHRV riders should not be punished with higher registration fees because they choose not to become members of an approved non profit club.
• The $30 increase is too steep and will hurt OHRV tourism.
This bill steeply increases OHRV registration fees, especially for those who choose not to join clubs.
• This bill favors certain clubs over others. Different fees for different club affiliations creates a class
system, and could hurt non approved clubs and their membership.
• OHRV riders should not be punished with higher registration fees because they choose not to
become members of an approved non profit club.
• The $30 increase is too steep and will hurt OHRV tourism.
This bill steeply increases OHRV registration fees, especially for those who choose not to join clubs.
* This bill favors certain clubs over others. Different fees for different club affiliations creates a class system, and could hurt non approved clubs and their membership.
* OHRV riders should not be punished with higher registration fees because they choose not to become members of an approved non profit club.
* The $30 increase is too steep and will hurt OHRV tourism.
This bill protects the rights of NH residents to due process.
• Civil asset forfeiture involves the taking of property from a person who has not been convicted, or often even charged, with a crime. This bill corrects the injustices in current law, and protects due process, by requiring a criminal conviction prior to forfeiture of assets, and clear and convincing evidence on the part of the state.
• This bill ensures that property is returned to innocent property owners in a timely manner, and that they have recourse when it is not.
• This bill greatly reduces perverse incentives and appearances of impropriety by providing that proceeds from asset forfeiture no longer flow directly to the government agencies pursuing the forfeiture.
* The NHLA is not taking a position in support of section 1 of the bill, appropriating money to the prescription monitoring program.
With the committee amendment, this bill protects the rights of NH residents to due process.
• Civil asset forfeiture involves the taking of property from a person who has not been convicted, or often even charged, with a crime. This bill corrects the injustices in current law, and protects due process, by requiring a criminal conviction prior to forfeiture of assets, and “clear and convincing evidence” on the part of the state.
• This bill ensures that property is returned to innocent property owners in a timely manner, and that they have recourse when it is not.
• This bill greatly reduces perverse incentives and appearances of impropriety by providing that proceeds from asset forfeiture no longer flow directly to the government agencies pursuing the forfeiture.
This bill puts the government between doctors and patients.
• Patients facing chronic pain already have enough trouble receiving effective treatment. This new mandate removes discretion from trained medical professionals and forces them to treat chronic pain patients as if they are drug seeking addicts.
• Legislators should be seeking to reduce the already costly and extensive interferences by government into medical care, not expand them.
• The provisions that allow for 'random' drug testing are too broad and could be interpreted as allowing the doctor to demand a drug test at any time. This would further disrupt the life and livelihood of a patient.
• Patients facing chronic pain already have enough trouble receiving effective treatment. This new mandate removes discretion from trained medical professionals and forces them to treat chronic pain patients as if they are drug seeking addicts.
• Legislators should be seeking to reduce the already costly and extensive interferences by government into medical care, not expand them.
• The provisions that allow for 'random' drug testing are too broad and could be interpreted as allowing the doctor to demand a drug test at any time. This would further disrupt the life and livelihood of a patient.
This bill puts the government between doctors and patients.
* Patients facing chronic pain already have enough trouble receiving effective treatment. This new mandate removes discretion from trained medical professionals and forces them to treat chronic pain patients as if they are drug seeking addicts.
* Legislators should be seeking to reduce the already costly and extensive interferences by government into medical care, not expand them.
* The provisions that allow for 'random' drug testing are too broad and could be interpreted as allowing the doctor to demand a drug test at any time. This would further disrupt the life and livelihood of a patient.
This bill extends and expands a massive new entitlement program.
* This bill eliminates the existing sunset provision for Medicaid Expansion.
* Medicaid Expansion is a welfare program for able-bodied adults in their working years. The medical insurance provided has features such as no premiums, no deductibles and non-emergency transportation benefits that are simply not available to workers with full-time jobs. These benefits create a strong disincentive to full-time employment and career advancement.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached, and it is not free. The national debt is approaching $20 trillion.
* The Federal government will not keep its promises. As federal money dries up, costs will fall squarely on the State’s General Fund, which will only be able to support it through a new broad based tax, such as a sales or income tax, thereby destroying what remains of the New Hampshire Advantage.
* A free market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters
This bill expands the current failed approach to the war on drugs and perpetuates failed policies already signed into law.
* The Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery
has been in operation since 2000, while NH watches the heroin epidemic grow and expand, taking
the life of one Granite Stater every day last year. The State would be wise to wait to see results
from recently implemented programs before throwing yet more taxpayer dollars at the issue.
This bill expands the current failed approach to the war on drugs and perpetuates failed policies already signed into law.
* The Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery has been in operation since 2000, while NH watches the heroin epidemic grow and expand, taking the life of one Granite Stater every day last year. The State would be wise to wait to see results from recently implemented programs before throwing yet more taxpayer dollars at the issue.
* Wires are crossed in this legislation, which aims to both convict addicts and provide treatment to addicts. It is doubtful that this legislation, if passed, would accomplish anything of measure or value.
This bill requires parents to utilize adoption procedures of existing law for transferring children for adoption.
* The language of the bill is unclear and could result in parents being prosecuted for giving physical custody to a grandparent. It is not uncommon for parents to encounter circumstances that require physical transfer of custody for indeterminate time periods, which could easily be viewed as intent for permanent transfer.
* A parent who becomes ill with a terminal disease and who transfers physical custody to a grandparent should not be at risk of prosecution after 6 months.
* Asserting that a parent who is utilizing non-traditional means to arrange long term or indeterminate term childcare is guilty of endangering the welfare of the child is inappropriate without taking into account the circumstances of the transfer.
* The complexity and significant expense of the processes outlined in Chapter 170-B represent a real deterrent to completely valid adoptions. Legislators should seek to lessen the difficulty and expense of adoption, rather than universally mandate bureaucracy.
This bill enables the creation of a state mandated single provider monoply in video lottery and table gaming.
• It legislates a monopoly to one private provider which is unconstitutional under Part II, Article 83 of the New
Hampshire Constitution.
• The state should not be in the business of choosing winners or losers; all businesses should be allowed to
compete in a free market. An improvement would be modeling the casino licenses after other business
licenses, e.g., liquor licenses, that are available to any qualified applicant.
• The tax rates on gaming revenues in this bill could be considered usurious; they should be no different than
other business taxes.
• The Legislature should be looking at creative ways to reduce the size, scope, and cost of state
government, not large new revenue sources.
This bill creates government granted monopoly privileges.
* Allowing one special interest to conduct gambling operations, while prohibiting all others from competing, is a clear example of regulatory capture and an unjust use of government power.
* This bill would violate article 83 of the NH Constitution, which states "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it."
* This bill dramatically increases the size and scope of government. Once large bureaucracies and moneyed interests are created, they are very difficult to roll back.
* The NHLA would support a bill to more broadly legalize gambling, or allow for the creation of many independent casinos.
This bill allows New Hampshire companies to more accurately reflect expenses, particularly for capital investments, with regards to the business profits tax.
• NH currently allows only up to $25K in deductions; this bill would use the federal limit of $500K.
• At least 37 other states already allow deductions over $100K, and 33 allow deductions up to
$500K. (http://taxfoundation.org/).
• This bill encourages businesses to move to NH, and incentivizes existing NH companies to make
significant investments for future growth, which benefits all NH residents.
• NH legislators should work to make NH business friendly, rather than driving them away with
excessive taxes.
This bill allows New Hampshire companies to more accurately reflect expenses, particularly for capital investments, with regards to the business profits tax.
* NH currently allows only up to $25K in deductions; this bill would use the federal limit of $500K.
* At least 37 other states already allow deductions over $100K, and 33 allow deductions up to $500K. (http://taxfoundation.org/).
* This bill encourages businesses to move to NH, and incentivizes existing NH companies to make significant investments for future growth, which benefits all NH residents.
* NH legislators should work to make NH business friendly, rather than driving them away with excessive taxes.
This bill perpetuates privacy rights violations and expands bureaucracy.
* Opens the door to state funding of the prescriptions information database, with mandatory reporting of patients' private data, subject to hacking and other abuses.
* Increases burden of recordkeeping on prescribers.
* Mandates insurance coverage in accordance with recommendations of a private organization ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine), with interests not necessarily aligned with the state's interests.
* The fiscal note on this bill is inadequate and vague; not properly studied. This bill should not be rushed to pass without needed details.
This bill perpetuates privacy rights violations and expands bureaucracy
* Opens the door to state funding of the prescriptions information database, with mandatory reporting of patients' private data, subject to hacking and other abuses.
* Increases burden of record-keeping on prescribers
* Mandates insurance coverage in accordance with recommendations of a private organization ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine), with interests not necessarily aligned with the state's interests.
* The fiscal note on this bill is inadequate and vague; not properly studied. This bill should not be rushed to pass without needed details.
This bill dishonestly hides increases in state spending and unacceptably grows the size of state government.
* This bill allows the growth of government to be 10.5% in the General Fund for this proposed budget.
* This bill adopts a cut in projected revenue for several funds, which senior members of the Finance committee believe will come in later and can be adopted by the Fiscal committee. This is a dishonest accounting trick to reduce the apparent size of the budget.
* The legislature should seek to return the additional tax revenues to the taxpayers during the prosperous times so that government does not become unaffordable during the lean times.
This bill dishonestly hides increases in state spending and unacceptably grows the size of state government.
* This bill allows the growth of government to be 10.5% in the General Fund for this proposed budget.
* This bill adopts a cut in projected revenue for several funds, which senior members of the Finance committee believe will come in later and can be adopted by the Fiscal committee. This is a dishonest accounting trick to reduce the apparent size of the budget.
* The legislature should seek to return the additional tax revenues to the taxpayers during the prosperous times so that government does not become unaffordable during the lean times.
This bill continues the state's failed approach to the War on Drugs, promotes wealth transfer under the guise of property tax relief, and forces taxpayers to fund certain college tuition costs through a new state benefit that provides college scholarships.
* While the committee floor amendment (2017-1163h) addresses the college tuition concern, the amendment does not change our recommendation on the bill.
This bill continues the state's failed approach to the War on Drugs, promotes wealth transfer under the guise of property tax relief, and forces taxpayers to fund certain college tuition costs through a new state benefit that provides college scholarships.
This bill prohibits certain defenses in prostitution and human trafficking cases.
* "Mens rea" — ill intent — is a fundamental principle of Anglo-American common law. This bill would undermine it.
* People should not be convicted of felonies they were provably unaware of having committed.
This bill authorizes brewpubs to manufacture hard cider.
* This bill will help NH brewpubs and their customers by allowing the brewpub to sell cider. Cider is a growing product and this will help NH brewpubs capitalize on this trend in the beverage industry.
This bill prohibits the liquor commission from requiring a beverage vendor to obtain federal label approval for a beverage if sold exclusively in the state of New Hampshire.
* This bill will help prevent the NH Liquor Commission from overstepping its jurisdiction.
* Federal label approval is costly, time consuming, and an unnecessary expense for products sold exclusively within the State of New Hampshire.
This bill legalizes an additional category of fireworks.
* This will help small businesses by allowing them one more product to sell in their stores.
* A large amount of out of state money is used to buy fireworks and this bill will allow for toy smoke bombs to be included in those sales. This could help businesses other than firework stores.
Under this bill parents may temporarily remove their children from a classroom rather than having to argue for the removal of objectionable materials.
* This bill addresses the notification gap in RSA 186:11 IX-c that allows parents to select alternative materials for their children at their own expense. It does not censor the entire class' materials.
* This does not present any new or additional costs to districts as they already have notification systems in place that may be used, including but not limited to beginning-of-the-year course syllabi and material lists.
* This bill allows parents to make informed decisions regarding their children's education, and brings choices closest to the student for the best educational fit.
Under this bill a parent may temporarily remove their child from a classroom rather than having to argue for the removal of objectionable materials.
* This bill addresses the notification gap in RSA 186:11 IX-c that allows parents to select alternative materials for his/her child at their own expense. It does not censor the entire class' materials.
* This does not present any new or additional costs to districts as they already have notification systems in place that may be used, including but not limited to beginning of the year course syllabi and material lists.
* This bill allows parents to make informed decisions regarding their children's education, and bring choices closest to the student for the best educational fit.
This bill expands the definition of "e-cigarette", and creates new requirements for packaging of cartridges.
* Federal code16 C.F.R. section 1700.15 concerns packaging requirements for poisons. To apply these standards to e-cigarette cartridges, which "may or may not" contain nicotine at all is inappropriate, and would place an undue burden on manufacturers.
This bill infringes on the freedom of workers and employers.
* Workers and employers have a right to contract for whatever wage they wish. It is wrong for government to legally prohibit voluntary employment agreements.
* Minimum wage laws lower the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to gain critical experience.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs means more competition to hire all workers.
This bill would repeal the successful K-12 scholarship program.
* This bill represents a fourth attempt at repeal since the Education Tax Credit Scholarship program went into effect.
* The Education Tax Credit Scholarship program has helped many families have access to better educational opportunities.
* Similar tax-credit scholarship programs have been deemed constitutional by their home states and by the US Supreme Court.
* Free choice by families and students is the very best form of accountability, and leads to the best outcomes. By contrast, one-size-fits-all centralized government control of education has led to spiraling administrative costs and worsening outcomes.
* Education should serve the interests of students, not government unions.
* The scholarship program is funded through private donations, not tax dollars. Other states with Blaine Amendments have ruled tax-credit scholarship programs to be constitutional because monies are distributed to parents who choose the schools and not the schools directly.
This bill limits employers' hiring practices.
* The state should not be interfering in or dictating businesses' hiring practices.
* This would increase the risks involved in hiring, making firms more reluctant to expand or create new jobs. Like many other well-intentioned measures, this could result in detrimental effects on the people it seeks to help.
This bill directs courts to inform juries about their right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.
* This bill does not create any new power for juries—it simply provides mechanisms for the court to inform them of their longstanding rights to judge both fact and law in cases before them.
* While existing law already allows jurors to be informed, this bill provides clear language that will help to ensure that jurors receive consistent and clear instructions.
This bill directs courts to inform juries about their right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.
* This bill does not create any new power for juries—it simply provides mechanisms for the court to inform them of their longstanding rights to judge both fact and law in cases before them.
* While existing law already allows jurors to be informed, this bill provides clear language that will help to ensure that jurors receive consistent and clear instructions.
This bill directs courts to inform juries on their right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.
* This bill does not create any new power for juries - it simply provides mechanisms for them to be informed and educated on their longstanding rights to judge both fact and law in cases before them.
* While existing law already allows jurors to be informed, this bill provides clear language that will help to ensure that jurors receive consistent and clear instructions.
This bill requires municipal approval for siting high voltage transmission lines.
* This bill would require a 2/3 vote of the entire governing body of any city or a majority of those voting in a town vote to allow siting high voltage transmission lines within the boundaries of a municipality.
* This would potentially control the private property of others without regard for any adjudicated actual impact to surrounding property and places an unreasonable burden on the use of private property.
This bill mandates that all teachers at NH charter schools must be credentialed by the state.
* Currently, charter schools are permitted to consider qualified non-traditional candidates who may bring a valuable and diverse perspective to the teaching profession. This is exactly the kind of flexibility that has made charter schools more successful than school districts.
* By increasing protectionism and artificial barriers to entry, this bill would raise education costs.
* It is often difficult to find certified STEM field teachers. This can currently be mitigated by the large pool of industry STEM experts without certification who are available and could potentially do a better job than candidates with an arbitrary certificate. This bill would remove this option.
* Teacher hiring requirements are a critical part of innovation and flexibility unique to chartered public schools. Teacher credentials alone are not correlated with student performance.
Adding chronic pain to qualifying conditions under therapeutic use of cannabis.
* Cannabis has never been known to cause a fatal overdose, and many patients use it as an alternative to opioids for treating chronic pain. A comprehensive review of medical literature on cannabis recently published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that "There is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults".
* Research indicates that patients are taking fewer opioids in states where medical cannabis is legal, and those states are experiencing lower rates of overdose fatalities as well (Johns Hopkins https://goo.gl/vU0GvQ).
This bill adds post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions to the qualifying medical conditions under therapeutic use of cannabis.
*This bill, which originally only dealt with the use of therapeutic cannabis for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was amended by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to include other positive reforms that have already been approved by the Senate this year, including the addition of "moderate to severe chronic pain" and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
*Twenty-three states now allow doctors to recommend cannabis for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and several patients testified that they find it beneficial in alleviating their symptoms.
*Medical providers should be free to certify their patients for the use of therapeutic cannabis if they believe it may be helpful. There is no good reason for the state to continue to stand between medical providers and patients who may benefit from this treatment option.
This bill adds post-traumatic stress disorder to the qualifying medical conditions under therapeutic use of cannabis.
* Twenty-three states now allow doctors to recommend cannabis for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and several patients testified that they find it beneficial in alleviating their symptoms. Medical providers should be free to certify their patients for the use of therapeutic cannabis if they believe it may be helpful. There is no good reason for the state to continue to stand between medical providers and patients who may benefit from this treatment option.
This bill prohibits the state and its political subdivisions from assisting or enabling a federal agency in the collection of personal electronic data without informed consent or a warrant issued by a judge based upon probable cause.
* Both the NH Constitution (Article 19) and the US Constitution (4th Amendment) recognize the rights of citizens to be secure from searches and seizures of their papers and possessions.
* NH law enforcement should not be obligated to participate and assist in unconstitutional acts by federal agencies.
This bill removes jurisdiction of the Superior Court over education adequacy and funding.
* The General Court has constitutional authority to define the jurisdiction of the courts.
* The Supreme Court's rulings in Claremont wrongly equated "cherish" with "fund". The court should not be in the business of mandating funding levels; that is the role of the legislature.
This bill permits employers to pay wages to employees weekly or biweekly.
* Employers and employees are perfectly capable of determining appropriate pay periods themselves without government interference.
* One size may not fit all. Certain businesses may have many part-time employees and therefore pay weekly, while others could have long-tenured full-time employees and want to enjoy the efficiency of biweekly pay.
This bill requires background checks for all transfers or sales of firearms.
*This bill perpetuates the "gun show loophole" myth. Commercial firearm sales, whether in a retail outlet, over the internet, or at a gun show already require an NICS check by the licensed dealer.
* Gun control laws put barriers in the way of law-abiding citizens. Criminals will continue to find new ways to get firearms, regardless of the laws.
* The definition of commercial sales used in the bill is broad and conflicts with the stated exemption for private non-commercial sales, resulting in a vague law that will be difficult to enforce or follow.
* As drafted, the bill puts licensed dealers at risk of violating federal law on transfers between people in which the transaction does not go through instantly and when subsequently the seller wants to "hold on to the firearm". After the firearm has been handed over to a dealer, it cannot leave the premises until a background check has been run on either the seller or the buyer.
This bill requires background checks for all transfers or sales of firearms.
*This bill perpetuates the "gun show loophole" myth. Commercial firearm sales, whether in a retail outlet, over the internet, or at a gun show already require an NICS check by the licensed dealer.
* Gun control laws put barriers in the way of law-abiding citizens. Criminals will continue to find new ways to get firearms, regardless of the laws.
* The definition of commercial sales used in the bill is broad and conflicts with the stated exemption for private non-commercial sales, resulting in a vague law that will be difficult to enforce or follow.
* As drafted, the bill puts licensed dealers at risk of violating federal law on transfers between people in which the transaction does not go through instantly and when subsequently the seller wants to "hold on to the firearm". After the firearm has been handed over to a dealer, it cannot leave the premises until a background check has been run on either the seller or the buyer.
This bill creates an unaccountable, tax-funded redistricting commission.
• The approach for creating this 'independent' commission is unlikely to result in significant independence. Appointees would be selected from politically-connected citizens that the majority and minority parties would count on to counterbalance potential unfair plans from the opposing party.
• The purportedly independent commission would allow the legislature to claim plausible deniability in cases of gerrymandering, preventing voters from being able to properly influence the process or hold the officials involved accountable.
• The proposed “independent” commission would create significant new spending, including staff, rent, consultants, software, and other supplies, and even establishes a new state-funded election integrity attorney. This bill seeks to fund these new expenses by creating a new tax on political speech.
This bill criminalizes holding a public meeting or function without first making application for police attendance at that function.
* The language of "may potentially involve traffic-related problems, lead to a public disturbance or public nuisance, or endanger the public health, safety, or welfare" is exceedingly broad and potentially could apply to any size meeting or function.
* The bill is inconsistent with Article 32 of the NH Bill of Rights - Right of Assembly, Instruction, and Petition.
This bill criminalizes holding a public meeting or function without first making application for police attendance at that function.
* The language of "may potentially involve traffic-related problems, lead to a public disturbance or public nuisance, or endanger the public health, safety, or welfare" is exceedingly broad and potentially could apply to any size meeting or function.
* The bill is inconsistent with Article 32 of the NH Bill of Rights - Right of Assembly, Instruction, and Petition.
This bill expands the current prohibition on lobbying by recipients of state funds to cover those who receive county or municipal funds.
* Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for lobbyists to lobby against their interests.
* The local towns and city employees have the same opportunity to contact legislators as citizens do. County and municipal employees should not be allowed use taxpayer funds for activism. It's a clear conflict of interest.
* The state already restricts lobbying by entities that receive state funds under RSA 15:5. This bill simply expands the restriction to cover county and municipal funds while retaining the responsible exemptions from the prohibition that have served the state for more than 10 years.
This bill expands the current prohibition on lobbying by recipients of state funds to cover those who receive county or municipal funds.
* Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for lobbyists to lobby against their interests.
* The local towns and city employees have the same opportunity to contact legislators as citizens do. County and municipal employees should not be allowed use taxpayer funds for activism. It's a clear conflict of interest.
* The state already restricts lobbying by entities that receive state funds under RSA 15:5. This bill simply expands the restriction to cover county and municipal funds while retaining the responsible exemptions from the prohibition that have served the state for more than 10 years.
This bill expands the current prohibition on lobbying by recipients of state funds to cover those who receive county or municipal funds.
* Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for lobbyists that they may oppose.
* The local towns and city employees have the same opportunity to contact legislators as citizens do. County and municipal employees should not be allowed use taxpayer funds for activism. It's a clear conflict of interest.
* The state already restricts lobbying by entities that receive state funds under RSA 15:5. This bill simply expands the restriction to cover county and municipal funds while retaining the responsible exemptions from the prohibition that have served the state for more than 10 years.
This bill removes the current prohibition on aftermarket tinting of side windows.
• 46 other states already allow tinted side windows, with no widespread problems reported.
• NH law enforcement already encounters tinted windows on the thousands of tourist vehicles that visit NH each year. No widespread problems have been reported with these vehicles either.
• It is unfair to allow out-of-state visitors to drive with tinted windows, but prohibit them to NH residents.
This bill removes the current prohibition on aftermarket tinting of side windows.
• 46 other states already allow tinted side windows, with no widespread problems reported.
• NH law enforcement already encounters tinted windows on the thousands of tourist vehicles that visit NH each year. No widespread problems have been reported with these vehicles either.
• It is unfair to allow out-of-state visitors to drive with tinted windows, but prohibit them to NH residents.
This bill removes the current prohibition on aftermarket tinting of side windows.
• 46 other states already allow tinted side windows, with no widespread problems reported.
• NH law enforcement already encounters tinted windows on the thousands of tourist vehicles that visit NH each year. No widespread problems have been reported with these vehicles either.
• It is unfair to allow out-of-state visitors to drive with tinted windows, but prohibit them to NH residents.
This bill allows parents to opt their children out of the statewide assessment.
* At least seven states (Utah, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and California) already have opt-out provisions. No state or school district has lost federal funding due to lower participation rates, nor over opt-out provisions.
* The statewide assessment is an accountability tool for districts, not individual students. Parents have rights that districts cannot control, such as determining whether or not their child takes a statewide assessment. This bill recognizes the rights of parents and protects students and districts from penalty.
This bill repeals the existing criminal defamation statute.
* Existing law makes defamation a class B misdemeanor. This subjects citizens exercising the right to free speech to both criminal and civil penalties. While there ought to be consequences to untruthful and irresponsible speech that may cause others to face contempt or ridicule, the use of criminal statute is a poor substitute for the civil remedies.
* The burden of proof in the current law is quite high as it requires proof of knowledge on two counts "which he knows to be false" and "knows will tend to expose any other living person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule" - while this high burden helps to limit the potential for successful prosecution of speech made in error, it also means that the law is unlikely to lead to conviction.
* Nash v. Keene Publishing Corp., 127 N.H. 214 (1985) further found that statements of opinion rather than fact to not qualify as criminal defamation which further limits the applicability of the law.
* The theoretical benefit of a potential rare prosecution using the existing law is outweighed by the chilling effect that the law may have on unpopular political speech.
This bill allows cigarette smoking in cigar bars.
* This bill as amended is a small step toward improving private property rights.
* If an establishment is permitted to allow smoking of tobacco of one kind, it is not appropriate to prevent it from allowing smoking of tobacco in another form.
This bill reduces the negative impacts of the controlled drug prescription health and safety program by preventing veterinarians from having to comply with rules designed for human patients.
* Veterinarians prescribe drugs for animals, not people. As such, holding them to the same regulations as for doctors of human patients does not make sense.
* Veterinary practices are critical for farming and other economic aspects of our agrarian state; onerous regulations directly impact rural, generally low-income communities.
This bill adds additional requirements to the process of creating a charter school, which could hamper the development of new schools.
* The language prohibits additional schools similar in educational direction from being formed. Not everyone can commute the length of the state to attend the school that meets their needs.
* There have been numerous outcries for more STEM charter schools, but this bill would prohibit those schools from starting.
* Charter schools currently have waiting lists and this would cripple the ability to launch new schools to meet those needs.
This bill creates a new tax on premium cigars at a rate of 15% of the wholesale price.
* This bill would directly erode the New Hampshire advantage. NH presently has no tax on cigars. That fact has specifically drawn multiple cigar companies to NH; several moved here when MA imposed its cigar tax in 1996.
* The tax hike of $78,719 estimated in the fiscal note fails to take into account the impact of the inevitable lost sales that would result from out-of-state buyers who may now opt to purchase cigars in their home state. Business taxes paid by cigar sellers and other businesses that benefit from the out-of-state traffic that the sales generate would inevitably be lost due to decreased premium cigar sales.
This bill creates a new tax on premium cigars at a rate of 15% of the wholesale price.
* This bill would directly erode the New Hampshire advantage. NH presently has no tax on cigars. That fact has specifically drawn multiple cigar companies to NH; several moved here when MA imposed its cigar tax in 1996.
* The tax hike of $78,719 estimated in the fiscal note fails to take into account the impact of the inevitable lost sales that would result from out-of-state buyers who may now opt to purchase cigars in their home state. Business taxes paid by cigar sellers and other businesses that benefit from the out-of-state traffic that the sales generate would inevitably be lost due to decreased premium cigar sales.
This bill removes the exemption on premium cigars from the tobacco tax.
* This bill would directly erode the New Hampshire advantage. NH presently has no tax on cigars. That fact has specifically drawn multiple cigar companies to NH; several moved here when MA imposed its cigar tax in 1996.
* The tax hike of $340K estimated in the fiscal note fails to take into account the impact of the inevitable lost sales that would result from out-of-state buyers who may now opt to purchase cigars in their home state. Business taxes paid by cigar sellers and other businesses that benefit from the out-of-state traffic that the sales generate would inevitably be lost due to decreased premium cigar sales.
This bill removes the exemption on premium cigars from the tobacco tax.
* This bill would directly erode the New Hampshire advantage. NH presently has no tax on cigars. That fact has specifically drawn multiple cigar companies to NH; several moved here when MA imposed its cigar tax in 1996.
* The tax hike of $340K estimated in the fiscal note fails to take into account the impact of the inevitable lost sales that would result from out-of-state buyers who may now opt to purchase cigars in their home state. Business taxes paid by cigar sellers and other businesses that benefit from the out-of-state traffic that the sales generate would inevitably be lost due to decreased premium cigar sales.
This bill removes the exemption from the tobacco tax on premium cigars.
* This bill would directly erode the New Hampshire advantage. NH presently has no tax on cigars. That fact has specifically drawn multiple cigar companies to NH; several moved here when MA imposed its cigar tax in 1996.
* Per the fiscal note, this would likely raise taxes by $340k. HB333 seeks to raise revenue for the state, but will ultimately fail in doing so as the business taxes paid by cigar sellers and other businesses that benefit from the out of state traffic the sales generate would be lost due to decreased premium cigar sales.
This bill would make it a class B felony to possess a firearm or other deadly weapon at a polling place.
* This bill is a clear violation of Part First Article 2-a of the New Hampshire Constitution.
* Citizens of New Hampshire should not be required to surrender their right to carry an implement of self-defense or otherwise reduce their ability to defend themselves in order to exercise their right to vote.
* This bill is largely unenforceable, as many citizens peacefully and inconspicuously carry a concealed firearm daily throughout the state.
* As with the majority of proposed weapons regulations, this bill does nothing to prevent criminals from carrying out violent acts.
This bill expands the use of the death penalty in NH
* NH should not risk allowing the state to kill an innocent person. As recently as 2014, a death row inmate in TX (Henry Lee McCollum) was conclusively cleared by DNA evidence after having spent nearly 30 years on death row. He is far from the only example of an innocent person being placed on death row; several other examples were heard in testimony. Neither prosecutors nor courts are infallible.
* If a person is convicted and incarcerated, but is later found innocent of wrongdoing, the sentence is at least partially reversible. The death penalty is irreversible.
* There are two primary reasons to apprehend those who commit crimes against persons or property. The first reason is to obtain restitution for the victim of the crime, to whatever extent possible. The second reason is to prevent those who present a continuing threat to others from committing further crimes. Given the availability of secure prison facilities, the expansion of the death penalty as it exists in New Hampshire is not necessary for either of these purposes.
* Long-term incarceration costs NH taxpayers less than the death penalty.
This bill authorizes the sale of beer in refillable containers.
* This bill allows certain on- and off-premises liquor licensees to fill refillable containers of beer, aka "growlers". A growler is a way for a craft beer lover to bring home draft beer in the same form as they would enjoy it at a restaurant. This removes one small barrier to free commerce.
* This allows consumers wishing to minimize their impact on the environment to opt to reuse containers, rather than being forced to utilize containers that must be discarded after use or go through a more energy intensive recycling process.
* This gives NH brewers another way to distribute their product without investing in expensive bottling or canning equipment.
This bill authorizes the sale of beer in refillable containers.
* This bill allows certain on- and off-premises liquor licensees to fill refillable containers of beer, or "growlers". A growler is a way for a craft beer lover to bring home draft beer in the same form as they would enjoy it at a restaurant. This removes one small barrier to free commerce.
* This allows consumers who desire to minimize their impact on the environment to opt to reuse containers rather than being forced to utilize containers that are discarded after use or must go through a more energy intensive recycling process.
* This gives NH brewers another way to distribute their product without investing in expensive bottling or canning equipment.
This bill awards attorney's fees when a petitioner is successful in a right-to-know lawsuit where it is ruled the lawsuit was necessary in order to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Right-to-Know law or to address a purposeful violation.
* The Right-to-Know law is supposed to increase transparency in our government. It should be accessible to all NH citizens and not just the few who have the means to fund legal battles in the event of a bureaucratic mistake.
* This is a small but important change to the current law. It will make government more accountable for abuses of RSA 91-A and may provide better training to the people who hold our public records as a result.
* Support the motion to reconsider then support YEA OTP.
This bill awards attorney's fees when a petitioner is successful in a right-to-know lawsuit where it is ruled the lawsuit was necessary in order to enforce compliance with the provisions of the right-to-know law or to address a purposeful violation.
* The right-to-know law is supposed to increase transparency in our government. It should be accessible to all NH citizens and not just the few who have the means to fund legal battles in the event of a bureaucratic mistake.
* This is a small but important change to the current law. It will make government more accountable for abuses of RSA 91:A and may provide better training to the people who hold our public records as a result.
This bill awards attorney's fees when a petitioner is successful in a right-to-know lawsuit where it is ruled the lawsuit was necessary in order to enforce compliance with the provisions of the right-to-know law or to address a purposeful violation.
* The right-to-know law is supposed to increase transparency in our government. It should be accessible to all NH citizens and not just the few who have the means to fund legal battles in the event of a bureaucratic mistake.
* This is a small but important change to the current law. It will make government more accountable for abuses of RSA 91:A and may provide better training to the people who hold our public records as a result.
This bill awards attorney's fees when a petitioner is successful in a right-to-know lawsuit where it is ruled the lawsuit was necessary in order to enforce compliance with the provisions of the right-to-know law or to address a purposeful violation.
* This right-to-know law is supposed to increase transparency in our government. It should be accessible to all NH citizens and not just the few who have the means to fund legal battles in the event of a bureaucratic mistake.
* This is a small but important change to the current law. It will make government more accountable for abuses of RSA 91:A and may provide better training to the people who hold our public records as a result.
This bill makes technical changes to the tax credit statutes including removing certain restrictions on carrying forward contributions, expanding the period for businesses to submit qualifying donations and tax-credit applications, and approving the use of scholarships for distance learning, tutors, and dual-enrollment classes.
* Though the impact of the technical changes is relatively small, the updates make it easier to utilize existing pro-liberty tax credits that give parents of all income levels more options to influence the education of their children.
This bill helps to ensure that the state Board of Education will not adopt burdensome regulations on home school programs at some point in the future.
* Home education does not require additional regulation by the state board of education as existing law is extremely clear on notification, subjects to be instructed, and annual testing requirements.
* House rule 44(d) prohibits adoption of legislation with the type of broad rulemaking authority currently present in RSA 21-N:9. This bill repeals this non-compliant section.
This bill reduces or repeals several taxes and establishes an income tax. In addition, it requires the state to pay 35% of political subdivisions retirement contributions for certain member employees.
* While it is laudable to reduce or eliminate certain taxes, doing this at the expense of creating a new income tax is unwise as each state that has sought to reduce taxes through the imposition of a new state income tax has used the new tax to grow the size and scope of state government.
* State funding of the retirement system for political subdivisions shifts costs from taxpayers that are receiving services from the specific political subdivision to state taxpayers at large. This forces people to pay for services that they are not receiving and may not want. In addition, this encourages political subdivisions to view funding as 'free money' and tends to loosen fiscal restraint.
*Centralizing funding for local expenditures is bad policy. Citizens need accurate and easy-to-understand financial information to make informed decisions.
This bill removes law enforcement agency discretion for issuance of a $250 fine when a vehicle that does not display a special plate or placard is parked in a designated parking space for persons with a walking disability.
* Law enforcement agencies should not be forced to prosecute minor violations without discretion. For example, a person with an obvious disability utilizing a rental vehicle who is not in possession of their placard would be required to be fined even if the officer clearly identifies that they would meet the intent of the current law. While a person who forgets their placard would always run such a risk if ticketed without the officer witnessing their entrance/exit from the vehicle, an officer should not be forced to choose between violating the law and acting as a mindless automaton of the state.
* Smaller law enforcement agencies may not have adequent funds to prosecute all of the parking violations brought to them under this law, and should have the ability to decide which cases are worth pursuing.
This bill exempts persons using virtual currency from being licensed as money transmitters.
* Virtual currency technology is relatively new and still evolving at a rapid pace. The application of legacy money transmitter license requirements to this marketplace carries significant risk of stifling innovation and puts New Hampshire at a disadvantage to other states.
This bill exempts records of the initial screening process for employment in the public sector from the provisions of the Right-to-Know law.
* This bill exempts initial screening records of applications for public sector employment from 91-A requests.
* This could obscure the hiring of lesser-qualified applicants as records of better applicants would be unavailable for public inspection.
* Our constitution commands open and transparent government.
This bill prohibits employers from asking a job applicant about his or her criminal history prior to an interview.
* The state should not be interfering in or dictating businesses' hiring practices.
* The state should work to reduce the number of victimless crimes in order to reduce the number of people who are negatively impacted by their prior involvement in the criminal justice system.
This bill limits the use of cell site simulator devices for the purposes of tracking or intercepting communications without a warrant or judicially-recognized exception to the warrant requirement.
* Article 19 of the NH Bill of Rights states "Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions." This bill helps to protect that right by clearly indicating its applicability to electronic communication devices.
* Police departments across the country have been found to utilize such devices without first obtaining a warrant, demonstrating the need for a law such as this. https://goo.gl/Wo0td7
This bill allows towns to require retailers to charge for plastic bags, or ban their use by retailers altogether.
* Requiring reusable bags hurts health; after San Francisco's plastic bag tax went into effect, hospital admissions for bacterial infections rose significantly.
* Reusable bags result in more carbon emissions over their lifecycle than do lightweight plastic bags, even when they are discarded (https://goo.gl/qTIF25).
* Prohibiting retailers from providing plastic bags to customers is a violation of the rights of both retailers and their customers.
This bill adds additional requirements regarding who can initiate the process of creating a new charter school, which could hamper the development of new schools.
* This bill prevents a non-profit organization that has even a single out-of-state resident from submitting an application for a charter school.
* Restricting new applications to only NH residents could delay getting schools started.
This bill would allow a judge to indefinitely deny the right to petition for annulment of a criminal record.
* Under current law, a petitioner may refile a petition for annulment of a criminal record every 3 years. This bill removes that right by allowing the court to specify a time period after which the petitioner may file a new petition for annulment. This provides the court with unbounded discretion in limiting the rights of a petitioner.
This bill establishes a committee to review occupational licensing to determine which licenses could be made optional for practitioners.
* By raising barriers to entry, overly expansive occupational licensing raises costs and decreases the quality of available services (https://www.ij.org/images/pdf_folder/economic_liberty/occupational_licensing/licensetowork.pdf). Occupational licensing of lower income trades in particular discourages entrepreneurship and unjustly eliminates opportunites to those who are most vulnerable, and who do not have paid lobbyists speaking up for their rights and interests (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/magazine/so-you-think-you-can-be-a-hair-braider.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all).
* There are clear opportunities to improve NH licensing laws in order to allow more freedom of opportunity and choice, and without impacting public safety. For example, NH is one of only five states to license shampooers. It takes 1500 hours of training to become a cosmetologist in NH — far more than to become an EMT. Studying how these restrictions impact NH residents, and which of them could most benefit from reform, would provide valuable perspective to the legislature.
* The legislature should not refrain from studying this important issue out of fear of trade lobbyists, who are often looking to use the government to block competition. Instead, the legislature should concern itself with the interests of the public as a whole, which benefits from free choice, competition, and economic opportunity, and with defending the liberties of the people from regulatory capture and overreach (https://goldwater-media.s3.amazonaws.com/cms_page_media/2015/4/15/OccLicensingKauffman.pdf).
This bill clarifies the definition of "emergency" for purposes of a quorum under the Right-to-Know law.
* Currently the word "emergency" is undefined, and as such is subjective and can be used to justify operating without a quorum for any reason.
* This bill clarifies the definition of "emergency" to include only instances of immediate peril to the public health or safety.
* There is a demonstrated need for this bill. The committee minority report indicates "The minority felt that immediate action should be taken whenever it is needed regardless of whether or not there is a disaster going on at the time". This interpretation of "emergency" shows that certain individuals are willing to corrupt the meaning of the word dramatically differently from its commonly-held usage, presumably so as not to restrain their actions. This interpretation severely undermines the intent of the law.
This bill establishes a program to recycle and dispose of electronic waste funded by new fees on manufacturers, importers, and other entities.
* This bill will result in higher prices for electronics and will put NH consumers and manufacturers at a disadvantage.
* Local transfer stations already do a good job at collecting E-waste on a regular basis and have managed to keep costs low.
This bill changes the normal retirement age for non-vested and newly-hired employees of retirement system employers to be the normal retirement age under the federal Social Security Act.
* As recently as 2014, NH was found to have the 6th most underfunded pension fund in the nation. (http://www.nhbr.com/July-10-2015/NH-edging-out-of-its-pension-fund-hole/).
* Taking action to align future benefits to non-vested and newly-hired employees with retirement ages that better match with current life expectancy will help preserve benefits that were promised to existing vested employees while reducing future costs.
* Private sector pensions have become increasingly rare, and it is unfair to demand that citizens continue to fund pensions for state workers when they themselves are not eligible for defined benefit plans.
This bill changes the vehicle inspection requirement for motorcycles from annual to biennial.
* Per the minority report, the average rider puts 2,500 miles per year on a motorcycle, and it is unlikely that a component will wear out in 5,000 miles driven in a two-year span, except tires and brakes, if the rider abuses those components.
* 33 states require no periodic safety inspection of motorcycles. This includes states with longer driving seasons. A reduction to a biennial inspection system is a modest improvement without any evidence of a loss of safety for either riders or the public.
* Citizens and motorcycle enthusiasts who wish more frequent inspections can pay for more frequent inspections if they desire.
This bill increases the fee for vehicle inspection stickers, and allocates the increase to the motor vehicle air pollution abatement fund.
* NH drivers continue to get overtaxed, while infrastructure falls into disrepair. Further taxing drivers who need transportation to support themselves and their families adds insult to injury.
* The state's largest polluters are not car drivers. Forcing them to pay more while giving subsidies to coal-burning power plants sends the wrong message.
This bill establishes a credit against business profits taxes for media production expenditures made in New Hampshire.
* This crony-capitalist bill would subsidize media production at the expense of all other businesses.
* Government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers.
This bill repeals a violation of the First Amendment.
* Whereas the NHLA has a policy of not taking positions on the issue of abortion in general, this bill's restoration of freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment merits our taking a position in support of this bill.
* This bill repeals the "buffer zone" created by SB 319 (2014) restoring the right of people to peacefully assemble, as provided by the protections of the First Amendment.
* The provisions of SB 319 have not yet been instituted, which calls into question the necessity of the statute.
* SB 319 pushes protesters away from the source and into neighboring properties. Buffer zones are reminicent of the abhorrent "free speech zones" at Presidential events.
* Many of the complaints SB 319 looked to resolve are already covered by existing statutes.
This bill bans small scale suction dredging in the surface waters of the state.
* RSA 482-A:3 XI compliant suction dredging is a small scale hobby in NH with little to no environmental impact. Further restricting this hobby is unnecessary due to the lack of impact.
* The existing RSA already limits suction dredging to a 5 hp motor and a 4 inch tube. This has worked well in the past at keeping the environmental disturbance to a minimum.
* Spring runoff already results in turbidity that far exceeds the small scale impact that the suction dredging used in the state has.
This bill establishes the office of ombudsman in the Department of State.
* This bill creates a non-partisan office within the Secretary of State's office to investigate criminal complaints against public officials. Any complaints that have merit would be sent to the Attorney General for follow-up.
* The office would be staffed with "volunteers" paid a very small stipend and mileage to investigate these complaints.
This bill creates a new state-level program to fund grants to students who choose STEM degrees and affirm that they will reside and work in the state of New Hampshire for a minimum of 4 years after graduation.
* There are a variety of educational options available to graduating NH high school seniors, including universities, community colleges, trade schools, and internships. To take money from all NH residents in order to create another handout exclusively for students who attend the university system of NH is unfair to other kinds of students, who may choose other educational options.
* The high business and property tax rates in NH are two of the main driving forces that make NH a less attractive option for businesses and working adults. The legislature would better serve residents by reducing spending and taxes, instead of spending even more tax money on creating new bureaucratic programs and band-aid fixes.
* The requirement to work and reside in NH for a minimum of four years after graduation is practically unenforceable. Furthermore, the DoE estimates that up to three new full time employees would be needed to administer the program.
This bill creates a new state-level program to fund grants to students who choose to attend the Community College System of NH.
* There are a variety of educational options available to graduating NH high school seniors, including universities, community colleges, trade schools, and internships. To take money from all NH residents in order to create another handout exclusively for students who attend state universities or community colleges is unfair to other kinds of students, who may choose other educational options.
* The high business and property tax rates in NH are two of the main driving forces that make NH a less attractive option for businesses and working adults. The legislature would better serve residents by reducing spending and taxes, instead of spending even more tax money on creating new bureaucratic programs and band-aid fixes.
* The DoE estimates that up to three new full time employees would be needed to administer the program. On a $500,000 program, this is a very high overhead.
This bill establishes a state-administered social services scholarship program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in the social services.
* There are a variety of educational options available to graduating NH high school seniors, including universities, community colleges, trade schools, and internships. To take money from all NH residents in order to create a handout exclusively for ill-defined social services education is unfair to other kinds of students, who may choose other educational options. Though the initial bill only creates the fund, defines its use, and allocates $1 of taxpayer money, the bill contains a provision to allow future taxpayer funding per the proposed RSA-21 N(V) text which states "The fund shall include any sums appropriated for such purpose".
* The high business and property tax rates in NH are two of the main driving forces that make NH a less attractive option for businesses and working adults. The legislature would better serve residents by reducing spending and taxes, instead of creating new bureaucratic programs designed to supplant other private sector scholarship organizations.
This bill establishes a health care professionals scholarship program.
* There are a variety of educational options available to graduating NH high school seniors, including universities, community colleges, trade schools, and internships. To take money from all NH residents in order to create a handout exclusively for students choosing health care education is unfair to other kinds of students, who may choose other educational options. Though the initial bill only creates the fund, defines its use, and allocates $1 of taxpayer money, the bill contains a provision to allow future taxpayer funding per the proposed RSA-21 N(V) text which states "The fund shall include any sums appropriated for such purpose".
* The high business and property tax rates in NH are two of the main driving forces that make NH a less attractive option for businesses and working adults. The legislature would better serve residents by reducing spending and taxes, instead of creating new bureaucratic programs designed to supplant other private sector scholarship organizations.
* The fiscal note states that in FY 2019 and each year thereafter up to two full-time employees may be required to manage the "no cost" program.
This bill as amended updates the religious slaughter exemption, which in current law only covers Jewish ritual slaughter, and exempts non-commercial livestock transport by farmers from licensing requirements.
* The updated religious slaughter exemption is extended to any religion which follows federal humane slaughter guidelines.
* Exempting non-commercial livestock transport by farmers from licensing requirements removes one small burden the state places on farmers, reducing both direct costs and opportunity costs to the farmer.
This bill as amended removes the authority to charge each day of a continuing violation of planning and zoning laws as separate offenses.
* By allowing a separate violation for each day, municipalities can bypass the constitutional provision for jury trial where penalties exceed $1500.
* RSA 502-A:15 provides that in cases in which the damages claimed exceed $1,500, the defendant may file a written request for trial by jury, transfering the case from circuit court to superior court.
* The current statute allows municipalities to burden the circuit court with cases that would rise to the jurisdiction of superior court when multiple days of fines accumulate.
* Excessive fines and penalties should be open to judgment by a jury of one's peers.
This bill makes the day of the biennial state primary election preceding a general election and the day of biennial state general election legal holidays of the state.
* This bill would cost the state $300,000 in overtime for fiscal year 2018 and 2020 as well as nearly $2 million in lost productivity per year at the University of New Hampshire and Community College System of New Hampshire. Polling locations across the state are open sufficient hours to allow most citizens to vote and RSA 657:4 allows for absentee ballots for employment obligation, including the care of children and infirm adults, with or without compensation.
This bill allows health insurance policies without mandates to be sold to New Hampshire residents and allows insurers licensed to provide policies in other states to provide coverage to New Hampshire residents.
* This bill allows consumers greater flexibility in selecting health insurance policies that meet their needs, thereby broadening access to health coverage.
* This bill allows interstate competition in health insurance.
* This bill encourges additional companies to compete in the NH marketplace by lowering the bar to entry.
This bill repeals the New Hampshire health protection program.
* This bill repeals the New Hampshire health protection program which will sunset at the end of 2018 due to continued reduction in federal funding. This program provides able-bodied, childless adults in NH above the poverty line with free health care.
* In 2016, the NHLA indicated that the "severability clause" in the bill would allow Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to pick and choose which portions of the law would be enforced, such as the work requirement. In November 2016, as we predicted in multiple issues of the Gold Standard in the 2016 legislative season, CMS rejected the work requirement (http://goo.gl/j2nhaR).
* Federal money always comes with strings attached; it is not free. The national debt, which is approaching $20 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
* A free-market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
* Given the uncertainty in the federal law on which this program is based, support the motion to recommit if one is made, so that the bill may be amended if required in response to potential changes in the federal law upon which the existing RSA is based.
This bill respects self-ownership and reduces the harm of the drug war.
* The NH Constitution provides that "all penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense", but our state penalties for marijuana possession are no longer supported by public opinion and are far more severe than those of most nearby states. This bill would reduce the penalty for possession of 3/4 ounce or less of marijuana by a person 21 years of age or older to a violation.
* More than 60% of NH citizens support the legalization of marijuana for use by adults and more than 72% support decriminalization (2016 WMUR polls conducted by the UNH Survey Center — https://goo.gl/DoX9TJ).
* Decriminalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
This bill respects self-ownership, and reduces the harm of the drug war.
* The NH Constitution provides that "all penalties ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offense", but our state penalties for marijuana possession are no longer supported by public opinion and are far more severe than those of most nearby states. This bill would reduce the penalty for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana by a person 21 years of age or older to a violation.
* More than 60% of NH citizens support the legalization of recreational marijuana and more than 72% support decriminalization (2016 WMUR polls conducted by the UNH Survey Center — https://goo.gl/DoX9TJ)
* Decriminalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
This bill establishes a new tax on capital gains.
* New sources of taxation invite incremental increases in tax rates which results in higher long term spending and growth of government.
* Capital gains taxes income upon the realization of the gain. Taxpayers may delay selling investments that have unrealized capital gains to avoid the tax. This creates artificial economic inefficiency as people hold assets too long and avoid diversification. In the long term this does economic harm to our citizens that may outweigh the direct confiscation of this new tax.
This bill establishes privately-funded Education Savings Accounts for children with disabilities.
* Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are funds that children receive to a designated account that are used for specified educational purposes. This particular ESA is limited to students with a disability: children with IEPs or 504 plans. While ESAs are new to New Hampshire, they are not new to other states. Currently, five states offer ESA programs and each is unique with respect to the approved uses, eligibility qualifications, administration, accountability mechanisms, and funding sources.
* ESAs have withstood constitutional challenges. The dollar amount would be 90% of the per-pupil state adequacy amount plus any differentiated aid the home district would receive for students in grades 1 and above; 50% for kindergarten students. With 5% going to administration by a non-profit scholarship organization, the state keeps 5%, which represents a savings. Enrollment is optional.
* The Cato Institute and EdChoice representatives testified that districts would have savings if the ESA amount is less than the variable cost of an education.
This bill establishes privately-funded Education Savings Accounts for children with disabilities.
* Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are funds that children receive to a designated account that are used for specified educational purposes. This particular ESA is limited to students with a disability—children with IEPs or 504 plans. While they are new to New Hampshire, they are not new to other states. Currently five states offer ESA programs and each is unique with respect to the approved uses, eligibility qualifications, administration, accountability mechanisms, and funding sources.
* ESAs have withstood constitutional challenges. The dollar amount would be 90% of the per pupil state adequacy amount plus any differentiated aid the home district would receive for students in grades 1 and above; 50% for kindergarten students. With 5% going to administration by a non-profit scholarship organization, the state keeps 5% which represents a savings. Enrollment is optional.
* The Cato Institute and EdChoice representatives testified that districts would have savings if the ESA amount is less than the variable cost of an education.
This bill grants municipalities the ability to seek and execute search warrants on private property without evidence that a crime has been committed.
* This bill, as amended, allows municipalities to obtain a search warrant to inspect short-term/vacation rentals, upon probable cause that the property is unfit for human habitation.
* The short-term vacation rental market is already competitive, and utilizes active renter review systems.
* While the bill does contain some protections for short-term rental property owners, it erodes the rights of property owners and interferes in a marketplace that, while not perfect, self-regulates at least as well as other more highly-regulated market segments.
This bill provides fiscally responsible alternatives for approximately 50 school districts, which must already tuition out a portion of their student population.
• This bill as amended empowers districts without full K-12 in-district to contract with public and nonsectarian private schools, consistent with current practices in many districts.
• The amendment addresses accountability in ways consistent with existing statutes as well as to parents.
• This bill will expand more school choice options for children in rural areas of the state with few alternatives for a better educational fit.
• This bill also provides fiscally responsible options for school boards facing declining student populations and rising education costs.
• Just as school tuition programs expand choice for families, they provide fiscally responsible options for school boards given statewide student population declines and rising education costs.
This bill allows small districts to make agreements with other public and private schools if the grade level is not offered in-district.
* This bill contains the language of HB 1637 (2016) that passed the House and Senate only to be vetoed by Gov. Hassan.
* It clarifies existing statutes: small towns across the state that do not provide full K-12 education in-district may enter into tuition agreements with other schools.
* It is consistent with RSA 194:22 Contracts with Schools and RSA 193:1 Compulsory Attendance.
* It is consistent with current practices by NH districts that have tuition agreements with private schools, including some located out-of-state.
This bill uses $2 million of NH taxpayer money to bail out dairy producers.
* According to Dot Perkins of the UNH Cooperative Extension, New Hampshire Dairy farmers have a higher cost of production than producers in many other states (https://tinyurl.com/gvl8o9a). This is true even in years where there has been no drought. When combined with the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO) program and the fact that milk is a cross-state commodity, it has been difficult for NH dairy farmers to remain competitive.
* There are many individuals and businesses that have experienced loss in the past year; a number of them, however, try to make the case that they are "special" and deserve protection.
* This bill sets a terrible precedent that when businesses have a bad year, they should look to the state for handouts. Given the overall higher production costs in the state and the market distorting federal programs, it is unlikely that this will be a "one-time" bailout.
* The government has created the issue by mandating pricing policies at the federal level. The solution is not greater government involvement, but letting the free market set the price structure for milk and dairy products.
* This bill is the worst kind of aid: it attempts to help a very small number of people, while hurting the majority of citizens who are paying for this relief.
This bill uses $2 million of NH taxpayer money to bailout dairy producers
* According to Dot Perkins of the UNH Cooperative Extension, New Hampshire Dairy farmers have a higher cost of production than producers in many other states. (https://tinyurl.com/gvl8o9a). This is true even in years where there has been no drought. When combined with the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO) program and the fact that milk is a cross-state commodity, it has been difficult for NH dairy farmers to remain competitive. However, there are many individuals and businesses that have experienced loss in the past year, and many can and do make the case that they are "special" and deserve protection.
* This bill sets a terrible precedent that when businesses have a bad year, they should look to the state for handouts. Given the overall higher production costs in the state and the market distorting federal programs, it is unlikely that this will be a 'one-time' bailout.
This bill uses $2 million of NH taxpayer money to bail out dairy producers
* There's no reason to take $2 million from struggling taxpayers, then turn around and bail out dairy farmers. It is unethical to force NH residents to fund bailouts to favored businesses.
* There are many individuals and businesses that have experienced loss in the past year, and many can and do make the case that they are "special" and deserve protection. This bill does not help all struggling industries, or even all farmers, or even all of those impacted by drought specifically.
* This bill sets a terrible precedent that when businesses have a bad year, they should look to the state for handouts. The state should not be picking winners and losers.
This bill prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union and prohibits coercion and intimidation intended to compel an employee to join, affiliate with, or financially support a labor organization or to refrain from doing so.
* The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9a which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces.
* Right-to-work is the only way currently permitted under federal law to restore some of the freedom of dissenting workers and their employers to withhold support from unions with whom they disagree. While this bill interferes with freedom of contract, it does so in a way intended to remedy current, more egregious limitations of freedom of contract.
* Public sector collective bargaining is often more harmful than private sector collective bargaining because taxpayers are not directly represented in negotiations. “It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, who opposed public sector unions. Public sector right-to-work reduces union density in government and reduces government spending and taxes (Ichniowski & Zax 1991).
This bill prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union and prohibits coercion and intimidation intended to compel an employee to join, affiliate with, or financially support a labor organization or to refrain from doing so.
* The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9a which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces.
* Right-to-work is the only way currently permitted under federal law to restore some of the freedom of dissenting workers and their employers to withhold support from unions with whom they disagree. While this bill interferes with freedom of contract, it does so in a way intended to remedy current, more egregious limitations of freedom of contract.
* Public sector collective bargaining is often more harmful than private sector collective bargaining because taxpayers are not directly represented in negotiations. “It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, who opposed public sector unions. Public sector right-to-work reduces union density in government and reduces government spending and taxes (Ichniowski & Zax 1991).
This bill prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union and prohibits coercion and intimidation intended to compel an employee to join, affiliate with, or financially support a labor organization or to refrain from doing so.
* The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9a which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces.
* Right-to-work is the only way currently permitted under federal law to restore some of the freedom of dissenting workers and their employers to withhold support from unions with whom they disagree. While this bill interferes with freedom of contract, it does so in a way intended to remedy current, more egregious limitations of freedom of contract.
* Public sector collective bargaining is often more harmful than private sector collective bargaining because taxpayers are not directly represented in negotiations. “It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, who opposed public sector unions. Public sector right-to-work reduces union density in government and reduces government spending and taxes (Ichniowski & Zax 1991).
Makes NH pistol/revolver license optional; replaces vague term of "suitable" with "not prohibited by state or federal law"; extends license minimum period from 4 to 5 years
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the state Constitution: All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill restores the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly.
* Our neighbors Vermont and Maine, two states that allow concealed carry without a license, rank among the safest places in the country.
* This bill eliminates unnecessary and obscure definitions of "open" versus "concealed" carry, which are difficult to interpret, have led to several lawsuits, and unfairly criminalizes law-abiding citizens.
* This bill replaces the subjectivity of the phrase "suitable person", which has in the past been used by biased officials for ethnic, racial, and gender discrimination, with the objective and easily understood phrase of not prohibited by state or federal law.
* By making the license optional, this bill eliminates a vulnerability period that has prevented persons who may feel threatened (e.g. a woman with a stalker) from carrying discreet protection when needed. It also facilitates license reciprocity requirements between NH and other states.
* Other states that have enacted constitutional carry have seen either no statistically significant change in violent crime, or a slight downward trend.
*There is no evidence that the current NH pistol license provides a necessary benefit to public safety.
Makes NH pistol/revolver license optional; replaces vague term of "suitable" with "not prohibited by state or federal law"; extends license minimum period from 4 to 5 years
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the state Constitution: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill restores the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly.
* Our neighbors Vermont and Maine, two states that allow concealed carry without a license, rank among the safest places in the country.
* This bill eliminates unnecessary and obscure definitions of "open" versus "concealed" carry, which are difficult to interpret, have led to several lawsuits, and unfairly criminalizes law-abiding citizens.
* This bill replaces the subjectivity of the phrase "suitable person", which has in the past been used by biased officials for ethnic, racial, and gender discrimination, with the objective and easily understood phrase of not prohibited by state or federal law.
* By making the license optional, this bill eliminates a vulnerability period that has prevented persons who may feel threatened (e.g. a woman with a stalker) from carrying discreet protection when needed. It also facilitates license reciprocity requirements between NH and other states.
* Other states that have enacted constitutional carry have seen either no statistically significant change in violent crime, or a slight downward trend.
*There is no evidence that the current NH pistol license provides a necessary benefit to public safety.
This bill allows doctors to recommend cannabis for severe pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects.
* Numerous studies, including clinical trials, have shown medical cannabis to be a safe and effective treatment for pain.
* Doctors are already permitted to prescribe serious, habit forming drugs for pain management. By comparison, cannabis is extremely mild. It is not reasonable to allow the prescription of hard opioids to patients suffering from pain, but not to allow the recommendation of cannabis by doctors.
* Abuse of prescription opioids is a major contributing factor to the opioid epidemic in NH. Replacement of prescription opioids with cannabis will help prevent addiction and abuse in some patients, as well as potentially reducing the quantity of prescription opioids on the street.
This bill allows doctors to recommend cannabis for severe pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects.
* Numerous studies, including clinical trials, have shown medical cannabis to be a safe and effective treatment for pain.
* Doctors are already permitted to prescribe serious, habit forming drugs for pain management. By comparison, cannabis is extremely mild. It is not reasonable to allow the prescription of hard opioids to patients suffering from pain, but not allow recommendation of cannabis.
* Abuse of prescription opioids is a major contributing factor to the opioid epidemic in NH. Replacement of prescription opioids with cannabis will help prevent addiction and abuse in some patients, as well as potentially reducing the quantity of prescription opioids on the street.
This bill removes the requirement that a patient with hepatitis-C be "currently undergoing antiviral treatment" in order to qualify for the therapeutic cannabis program.
* According to a study published by the National Institutes for Health, there is substantial evidence that cannabis use may help address key challenges faced by drug users in hepatitis-C treatment (e.g., nausea, depression). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16957507
* The legislature should not be inserting itself in the patient/doctor relationship and pretending to understand the medical challenges faced by patients.
This bill removes the requirement that a patient with hepatitis-C be "currently undergoing antiviral treatment" in order to qualify for the therapeutic cannabis program
* According to a study published by the National Institutes for Health, there is substantial evidence that cannabis use may help address key challenges faced by drug users in hepatitis-C treatment (e.g., nausea, depression). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16957507
* The legislature should not be inserting itself in the patient/doctor relationship and pretending to understand the medical challenges faced by patients.
This bill legalizes additional categories of fireworks.
* The choice of whether to purchase, possess, and use fireworks should be a personal one - fireworks bans are paternalistic.
* Removing the ban on firecrackers will increase economic activity in New Hampshire.
This bill places additional restrictions on private property for the stated purpose of improving shoreland protection.
* This bill redefines the size/shape of segments that are used to score the impact of improvements landowners make to their property for the express purpose of protecting shorelines. Property owners already have financial incentives to maintain property and limit damage that may impact the future value of their property. Attempts to micromanage property improvements with a one-size-fits-all solution infringes on property owners' rights and is unlikely to significantly contribute to shoreland protection.
*The bill mainly serves to raise the value of existing shoreline property (landscaped under the older, less restrictive scheme) by adding restrictions to new shoreline construction, making it less desirable.
* The bill reduces the time that an applicant has to respond to information requests from 120 days to 60 days, at which time the application is denied, forcing applicants to refile and potentially incur a fee as high as $3,750 per 483-B:5-b. The reduction in time does not take into account that landowners are private individuals for whom 60 days may be an insufficient amount of time to obtain quotes, select an expert, schedule an investigation, and respond to the state's demand for additional information. Some required information may be weather-dependent or other circumstances could delay the applicant. There is no reason to place any deadline on an applicant, as their delay just affects when their permit would be received.
* The bill increases the time for the state's paid professional full-time staff to evaluate applications and make a determination from 20 days to 30 days.
This bill places additional restrictions on private property for the stated purpose of improving shoreland protection.
* This bill redefines the size/shape of segments that are used to score the impact of improvements landowners make to their property for the express purpose of protecting shorelines. Property owners already have financial incentives to maintain property and limit damage that may impact the future value of their property. Attempts to micromanage property improvements with a one-size-fits-all solution infringes on property owners' rights and is unlikely to significantly contribute to shoreland protection.
*The bill mainly serves to raise the value of existing shoreline property (landscaped under the older, less restrictive scheme) by adding restrictions to new shoreline construction, making it less desirable.
* The bill reduces the time that an applicant has to respond to information requests from 120 days to 60 days, at which time the application is denied, forcing applicants to refile and potentially incur a fee as high as $3,750 per 483-B:5-b. The reduction in time does not take into account that landowners are private individuals for whom 60 days may be an insufficient amount of time to obtain quotes, select an expert, schedule an investigation, and respond to the state's demand for additional information. Some required information may be weather-dependent or other circumstances could delay the applicant. There is no reason to place any deadline on an applicant, as their delay just affects when their permit would be received.
* The bill increases the time for the state's paid professional full-time staff to evaluate applications and make a determination from 20 days to 30 days.
This bill places additional restrictions on private property for the stated purpose of improving shoreland protection.
* This bill redefines the size/shape of segments that are used to score the impact of improvements landowners make to their property for the express purpose of protecting shorelines. Property owners already have financial incentives to maintain property and limit damage that may impact the future value of their property. Attempts to micromanage property improvements with a one-size-fits-all solution infringes on property owners' rights and is unlikely to significantly contribute to shoreland protection.
*The bill mainly serves to raise the value of existing shoreline property (landscaped under the older, less restrictive scheme) by adding restrictions to new shoreline construction, making it less desirable.
* The bill reduces the time that an applicant has to respond to information requests from 120 days to 60 days, at which time the application is denied, forcing applicants to refile and potentially incur a fee as high as $3,750 per 483-B:5-b. The reduction in time does not take into account that landowners are private individuals for whom 60 days may be an insufficient amount of time to obtain quotes, select an expert, schedule an investigation, and respond to the state's demand for additional information. Some required information may be weather-dependent or other circumstances could delay the applicant. There is no reason to place any deadline on an applicant, as their delay just affects when their permit would be received.
* The bill increases the time for the state's paid professional full-time staff to evaluate applications and make a determination from 20 days to 30 days.
This bill places additional restrictions on private property for the stated purpose of improving shoreland protection.
* This bill redefines the size/shape of segments that are used to score the impact of improvements landowners make to their property for the expressed purpose of protecting shorelines. Property owners already have financial incentives to maintain property and limit damage that may impact the future value of their property. Attempts to micromanage property improvements with a one-size-fits-all solution infringes on property owners' rights and is unlikely to significantly contribute to shoreland protection.
*The bill mainly serves to raise the value of existing shoreline property (landscaped under the older, less restrictive scheme) by adding restrictions to new shoreline construction, making it less desirable.
* The bill reduces the time that an applicant has to respond to information requests from 120 days to 60 days, at which time the application is denied, forcing applicants to refile and potentially incur a fee as high as $3,750 per 483-B:5-b. The reduction in time does not take into account that landowners are private individuals for whom 60 days may be an insufficient amount of time to obtain quotes, select an expert, schedule an investigation, and respond to the state's demand for additional information. Some required information may be weather-dependant or other circumstances could delay the applicant. There is no reason to place any deadline on an applicant, as their delay just affects when their permit would be received.
* The bill increases the time for the state's paid professional full time staff to evaluate applications and make a determination from 20 days to 30 days.
This bill places additional restrictions on private property for the stated purpose of improving shoreland protection.
* This bill redefines size/shape of segments that are used to score the impact of improvements landowners make to their property for the expressed purpose of protecting shorelines. Property owners already have financial incentives to maintain property and limit damage that may impact the future value of their property. Attempts to micromanage property improvements with a one size fits all solution infringes on property owners rights and is unlikely to significantly contribute to shoreland protection.
* The bill mainly serves to raise the value of existing shoreline property (landscaped under the older, less restrictive scheme) by adding restrictions to new shoreline construction, making it less desirable.
* The bill reduces the time that an applicant has to respond to information requests from 120 days to 60 days at which time the application is denied forcing applicants to refile and potentially incur a fee as high as $3,750 per 483-B:5-b. The reduction in time does not take into account that landowners are private individuals for whom 60 days may be an insufficient amount of time to obtain quotes, select an expert, schedule an investigation and respond to the state's demand for additional information. Some required information may be weather-dependant or other circumstances could delay the applicant. There is no reason to place any deadline on an applicant, as their delay just affects when their permit would be received.
* The bill increases the time for the state's paid professional full time staff to evaluate applications and make a determination from 20 days to 30 days.
This bill establishes a new handout to highly-paid workers, using $4 million in taxpayer funds to pay down student debt.
* There are a variety of educational options available to graduating NH high school seniors, including universities, community colleges, trade schools, and internships. To take money from all NH residents in order to create another handout exclusively for technology students is unfair to other kinds of students, who may choose other educational options.
* The high business and property tax rates in NH are two of the main driving forces that make NH a less attractive option for businesses and working adults. The legislature would better serve residents by reducing spending and taxes, instead of spending even more tax money on creating new bureaucratic programs and band-aid fixes.
This bill establishes a new hand-out to highly paid workers providing $4 million in taxpayer funds to pay down student debt.
* There are a variety of educational options available to graduating NH high school seniors, including universities, community colleges, trade schools, and internships. To take money from all NH residents in order to create another handout exclusively for technology students is unfair to other kinds of students, who may choose other educational options.
* The high business and property tax rates in NH are two of the main driving forces that make NH a less attractive option for businesses and working adults. The legislature would better serve residents by reducing spending and taxes, instead of spending even more tax money on creating new bureaucratic programs and band-aid fixes.
This bill eliminates the hearing requirement for late reinstatement of corporations.
* This reduces the burden on businesses that file for corporate reinstatement after the time period specified in 293-A:14.22.
* Streamlining of the reinstatement process will help ensure that the corporation is able to return to business more quickly, increasing economic activity.
This bill allows parents to make informed decisions about their children's participation in non-academic surveys.
* This bill contains the language of SB 320 (2016) that passed the House and Senate only to be vetoed by Gov. Hassan.
* Schools routinely ask students to complete non-academic surveys and questionnaires to assess their attitudes, values, decision-making, and behaviors.
* Parents should be fully informed on what is being asked of their children and give explicit authorization for them to participate.
This bill allows parents to make informed decisions about their children's participation in non-academic surveys.
* This bill contains the language of SB 320 (2016) that passed the House and Senate only to be vetoed by Gov. Hassan.
* Schools routinely ask students to complete non-academic surveys and questionnaires to assess their attitudes, values, decision-making, and behaviors.
* Parents should be fully informed on what is being asked of their children and give explicit authorization for them to participate.
This bill prohibits the state from requiring districts to implement Common Core State Standards.
* The Common Core standards claim to provide “evidence-based rigorous content,” yet there is no empirical evidence indicating that Common Core has improved student learning.
* Districts have been pressured into adopting Common Core standards, developing curricula aligned to Common Core, and buying textbooks aligned to Common Core, all at great time and expense.
* Teachers, parents, and school boards have lost control over the instruction being provided in their own classrooms under Common Core.
* Common Core is a top-down, centralized approach to education. Every child is different, and ideally should have education individualized to their needs and personality. Common Core is essentially the opposite of that.
This bill prohibits the state from requiring districts to implement Common Core State Standards.
* The Common Core standards claim to provide “evidence-based rigorous content,” yet there is no empirical evidence indicating that Common Core has improved student learning.
* Districts have been pressured into adopting Common Core standards, developing curricula aligned to Common Core, and buying textbooks aligned to Common Core, all at great time and expense.
* Teachers, parents, and school boards have lost control over the instruction being provided in their own classrooms under Common Core.
* Common Core is a top-down, centralized approach to education. Every child is different, and ideally should have education individualized to their needs and personality. Common Core is essentially the opposite of that.
This bill increases the number of hours of alcohol and drug use education required for initial licensure as a master licensed alcohol and drug counselor or as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.
* There is a shortage of alcohol and drug counselors in the state, and training requirements are already extensive, requiring years of full-time study. We should not be making it even more difficult for a person to become a licensed counselor.
* Suddenly raising requirements may force those who have already qualified as a counselor in NH to go back to school for additional training.
This bill would use state taxpayer money to fund selected municipal water projects.
Local water projects should be funded locally. It's inappropriate to take money from NH communities that do not have central water systems in order to subsidize communities that do.
This bill would use state taxpayer money to fund selected municipal water projects.
Local water projects should be funded locally. It's inappropriate to take money from NH communities which do not have central water systems in order to subsidize communities that do.
This bill adds several common vaccines to the list of vaccines approved for administration to adults by pharmacists.
* This bill increases convenience and liberty for adults who choose to receive certain vaccines.
* Adults should not be required to wait for a potentially more expensive doctor's visit in order to receive these common vaccines.
This bill adds several common vaccines to the list of vaccines approved for administration to adults by pharmacists.
* Reduces cost and increases convenience for adults who choose to receive certain vaccines.
* Adults should not be required to wait for a more expensive doctor's visit in order to receive these common vaccines.
This bill removes the state limit of $100,000 on expenses under the business profits tax, allowing taxpayers to use the current IRS limit of $500,000.
* Artificially low caps on capital expenses discourage investments in tangible property that is crucial to improving the productivity of NH businesses.
* Taxing businesses on profits that they are not realizing due to necessary capital expenditures is fundamentally unfair, and furthermore increases the costs of doing business, which will inevitably be passed on to customers.
This bill enables municipalities to reduce the assessed value of qualifying historic residential structures based on an analysis completed by an architectural historian.
* This bill allows for tax breaks for a select few at the expense of many in a municipality.
* Reducing restrictions on historic homes would do more to help the owners of these properties than a five-year temporary tax break.
This bill mandates the relative font size and content of labels for maple syrup.
* The state should not be mandating labels and font sizes. Local stores already do a good job of highlighting local products with large endcap signs.
* The bill goes into effect 60 days after passage and contains no provisions for stores to exhaust current supplies. This will require small retailers to manually modify labels on existing stock in order to remain in compliance with the law.
This bill infringes on the freedom of workers and employers.
* Workers and employers have a right to contract for whatever wage they wish. It is wrong for government to legally prohibit voluntary employment agreements.
* Minimum wage laws lower the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to gain critical experience.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation; more jobs means more competition to hire all workers.
This bill doubles the minimum tax rate employers pay for unemployment insurance.
* The current unemployment insurance tax is designed to adapt to changing economic conditions and adjust the minimum tax rate depending on the size of the state unemployment compensation fund. Increasing the minimum tax rate in cases where the compensation fund has significant resources will only tempt future legislators or governors to raid the dedicated fund for another purpose. RSA 282-A:140 II already provides broad authority for unexpected use of these funds.
* A 100% increase in the minimum tax rate will hurt businesses.
This bill as amended allocates $5 million to provide financing and state matching funds for state-sponsored housing projects.
* The projects as defined by RSA204-C:57 needlessly encourage the creation of high density low-income housing which crowds out other affordable housing options and raises artificial barriers that families must cross in order to distinguish themselves from those who do not strive for improved wages and living conditions.
* Concentrating poor or low-income people in a small area, whether in the projects or due to the fact that only certain housing providers are willing and able to accept payment through welfare programs, creates unintended negative side effects such as crime, lack of social cohesion, and poor examples for children, affecting their future income potential (https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa773.pdf pages 9 & 10)
This bill uses tax dollars extracted from everyone for the benefit of select landholders.
* It is wrong to force all taxpayers to subsidize certain farmers and landholders.
* This bill spends $3 million in taxes per year, largely on paying farmers to keep farming.
* Conservation efforts are better done at the local level, directly closest to the people having their property and income affected.
This bill makes a $4 million general fund appropriation for continuation of the project development phase of the New Hampshire capital rail corridor project (passenger rail along I-93 from Massachusetts to Concord).
* This bill allocates $4 million for the development of passenger rail from Massachusetts to Concord. This is a fraction of the full cost of such a project. Passenger rail is a waste of taxpayer money. It is particularly unsuited to a rural state such as New Hampshire. Only a tiny fraction of the population would use it, and at the expense of being heavily subsidized by other taxpayers.
* Bus service is far more cost-effective than passenger rail as it requires almost no capital outlays and has the flexibility to go where demand exists. For example, even in the heavily traveled Boston-New York market, the subsidized Amtrak fare is $100, while the unsubsidized private bus fares are under $25.
* Passenger rail is a 20th century solution in a 21st century world. According to a 2015 Gallup poll (https://tinyurl.com/gpnfo5p), 37% of U.S. workers say they have telecommuted — more than 4 times higher than what was found in 1995.
This bill would add yet another state mandate on our local school districts by requiring more temporary workers and substitute teachers to hold the place of part-time school district employees away on leave.
* The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires private businesses of more than 50 employees and all public employers to allow employees to take 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.
* FMLA restricts this benefit to employees who have worked a minimum of 20 weeks and 1,250 hours during the preceding year.
* This bill expands the federal requirement by providing benefits to part-time school district employees who have only worked 900 hours during the preceding year.
This bill creates a politically-connected redistricting commission to prepare a plan of apportionment of representative and senatorial districts following each decennial census.
* The makeup of the commission is designed to ensure that politically-connected individuals are appointed to this commission. While the stated purpose is to achieve a measure of independence, as designed the commission is little more than a shell game devised to shield legislators from accountability as the only options are to vote up or down the recommendation of the commission.
* According the the Secretary of State, the single largest group of registered voters in the state is "Undeclared": 279,044 (D), 305,368(R), 403,816(U). In allowing appointment by majority and minority leaders, this bill forms a commission that will have a bias to limit the emergence of alternate parties.
This bill would grant the public utilities commission expanded regulatory control over telecommunications services.
* There is no demonstrated need for this bill. Deregulation of telecommunications has been highly successful, causing higher quality service and lower prices.
* Freedom of competition is the best form of accountability. Expanding regulatory control by the public utilities commission would primarily have the effect of reducing competition and freedom of choice.
* The standards in this bill, including "unreasonable" interruption or "reasonably" adequate are ill-defined, broad, subjective, and vague. Authorizing the public utilities commission to use the full authority of RSA 365 on local exchange carriers based on these subjective criteria is imprudent, having the effect of re-regulating the industry.
This bill allocates funds to hire 5 state troopers to exclusively perform drug interdiction work.
* The War on Drugs has clearly failed; heroin was first federally regulated more than 100 years ago, yet is still beyond the control of governance even today. While it is tempting to look at the lists of arrests week after week in the paper and think we are just one more arrest from a solution, it is clear that the additional spending-and-enforcement approach is a failure.
* As with most government programs, once the new positions are created there will be significant pressure to retain the positions and their subsequent pension costs after the current "crisis" is over. This will likely result in more long-term spending than the fiscal note implies.
* "The available scientific evidence suggests… that drug-related violence and high homicide rates are likely a natural consequence of drug prohibition and that increasingly sophisticated and well-resourced methods of disrupting drug distribution networks may unintentionally increase violence. From an evidence-based public policy perspective, gun violence and the enrichment of organized crime networks appear to be natural consequences of drug prohibition..." International Centre for Science in Drug Policy at http://bit.ly/2sfOYdu
This bill allocates funds to hire 5 state troopers to exclusively perform drug interdiction work.
* The War on Drugs has clearly failed; heroin was first federally regulated more than 100 years ago, yet is still beyond the control of governance even today. While it is tempting to look at the lists of arrests week after week in the paper and think we are just one more arrest from a solution, it is clear that the additional spending-and-enforcement approach is a failure.
* As with most government programs, once the new positions are created there will be significant pressure to retain the positions and their subsequent pension costs after the current "crisis" is over. This will likely result in more long-term spending than the fiscal note implies.
This bill allocates funds to hire 5 state troopers to exclusively perform drug interdiction work.
* The War on Drugs has clearly failed; heroin was first federally regulated more than 100 years ago, yet is still beyond the control of governance even today. While it is tempting to look at the lists of arrests week after week in the paper and think we are just one more arrest from a solution, it is clear that the additional spending-and-enforcement approach is a failure.
* As with most government programs, once the new positions are created there will be significant pressure to retain the positions and their subsequent pension costs after the current "crisis" is over. This will likely result in more long-term spending than the fiscal note implies.
This bill allocates funds to hire 15 state troopers to exclusively perform drug interdiction work.
* The War on Drugs has clearly failed; heroin was first federally regulated more than 100 years ago, yet is still beyond the control of governance even today. While it is tempting to look at the lists of arrests week after week in the paper and think we are just one more arrest from a solution, it is clear that the additional spending and enforcement approach is a failure.
* As with most government programs, once the 15 new positions are created there will be significant pressure to retain the positions and the associated resulting pension costs. This will likely result in more long term spending than the fiscal note implies.
This bill mandates that all electrical installation shall be made by a person licensed by the electricians' board.
* Under both the current law and this bill, homeowners are allowed to perform electrical installations in their single family residence. However, under current law, the homeowner may seek the consult of a knowledgeable friend or relative to help ensure the safety of the work. Under this bill, even a qualified electrical engineer familiar with the code would be breaking the law by helping a friend perform electrical installations. As a result this bill may discourage individuals from offering help.
* This is practically unenforceable — homeowners safely change light switches and electrical outlets all the time under the guidance of an experienced friend or relative without issue.
* The bill further complicates our out-of-date law, which even restricts relatively simple IEEE 802.3af-2003 power-over-ethernet wiring applications. Homeowners often rely on knowledgeable friends and relatives to provide assistance in running network cables; however, under this bill the friend would be guilty of a misdemeanor for offering this assistance.
This bill requires the board of nursing to grant licenses to applicants for license by endorsement for persons holding a comparable license issued by Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, or Connecticut.
* This bill offers a minor improvement in the barriers created by state licensing of nurses by reducing the barriers to entry for qualified nurses or nursing assistants to obtain employment in New Hampshire after moving to the state.
This bill clarifies the definition of "qualifying medical condition" and deletes the requirement that a medical provider document how the injury affects activities of daily living in order for a patient to qualify for therapeutic use of cannabis.
* The clarified language of this bill removes an artificial barrier to therapeutic cannabis use which is not applied to other potentially harmful treatments. This reduces state interference in the doctor/patient relationship.
This bill authorizes individuals and small businesses to purchase health insurance from out-of-state companies.
* This bill provides for a small improvement in the choices provided to consumers by allowing the purchase of health insurance from out-of-state carriers that are approved by the state in which the carrier does business.
* The bill contains several restraints on trade including mandating that the the state in which the carrier is approved be a member of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and other requirements that would take effect if the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 is materially changed. However, the net effect on liberty is still moderately positive as it may result in an increase in choice to consumers while lowering the barriers to entry for businesses wishing to enter the NH market.
This bill adds Ehlers-Danlos syndrome to the list of qualifying conditions for therapeutic cannabis.
* Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of disorders that affect the connective tissues in skin, bones, blood vessels, and other tissues. Pain is a common manifestation of EDS. It can range from mild to severe, and can become chronic.
* Medical providers should be free to certify their patients for the use of therapeutic cannabis if they believe it may be helpful. There is no good reason for the state to continue to stand between medical providers and patients who may benefit from this treatment option.
This bill provides that accessory dwelling units may not be used as short-term rentals.
* An "Accessory Dwelling Unit'' is a second dwelling unit, attached or detached, located on the same lot as the permitted principal dwelling unit. Under the existing RSA 674:72 a municipality may require owner-occupancy of one of the dwelling units.
* This bill unconditionally bans short-term rental of accessory dwelling units, which places an arbitrary and unfair restriction on the use of private property.
* Depriving families of a potential source of supplementary income may mean the difference between a family being able to thrive in their home and failing to make ends meet and ultimately losing their home.
* The emerging sharing economy has been a benefit to NH residents and should be encouraged, not stifled by the state.
This bill increases the burden on businesses by requiring recordkeeping to show the town or city in which taxes were collected.
* While the incremental costs and complexity of this bill are small, the number of hours wasted each year in the collection, reporting, correction, and maintenance of the additional records is significant when applied to the more than 3,000 establishments for whom this would apply.
* While it is unlikely that the incremental costs of this bill would make or break the profitability of any business, the accumulated costs of ever increasing state-driven mandates are significant.
This bill expands state responsibility for funding of kindergarten.
* Full-day kindergarten is expensive and developmentally inappropriate and should not be funded by taxpayers.
* Research indicates that half-day kindergarten is beneficial, but concludes all-day kindergarten is too long, robs children of valuable free play, and is counterproductive. https://goo.gl/IlGr75
* Full-day kindergarten will compete with hundreds of small private businesses that are already providing these services without cost to the taxpayer.
* Studies have shown that accelerating education in young boys has potential long-term disadvantages, especially in the ability to focus at later ages. Delaying kindergarten for one year reduced inattention and hyperactivity by 73% for an average child at age 11, and it virtually eliminated the probability that an average child at that age would have an abnormal or higher-than-normal rating for the inattentive-hyperactive behavioral measure. https://goo.gl/VD9svV
* Support floor amendment 2017-1594h which defers program until July 1, 2018. This may reduce the harm of the bill by allowing more time for parents and small businesses to adapt to the change, and by aligning with SB193's timeline for EFSA now that it has been retained by the house committee.
* Oppose the bill whether 2017-1594h passes or fails.
This bill specifies the amount of school building aid grants to be distributed in each fiscal year of the biennium ending June 30, 2019, and provides that there shall be no moratorium on school building aid for the biennium ending June 30, 2019.
* With state building aid, local districts may fund more extravagant schools than they would if they had to pay the full cost themselves.
* The bill requires the commissioner of the Department of Education to distribute school building grants in the amount of $50 million. This mandated level of spending increases the risk of wasteful spending by establishing a sense of urgency to hit a specific spending target.
This bill transfers wealth from some working families and taxpayers to other working families.
* While reducing the impact of state spending on citizens is generally positive, it should be accomplished through broad-based tax rate reductions enabled by reduced spending, not by forced transfer of wealth from one class of taxpayers to another.
This bill more than doubles the administrative contribution rate (tax) paid by certain employers, and then attempts to manage the state's economy from Concord by providing employee training for skills that the state deems as in demand.
* Businesses in the free market are already solving the issue by creating their own training programs in an effort to attract and retain employees. As a result, NH already has the lowest unemployment rate in the country (2.7% as of Jan 2017 www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm).
* Adding additional government bureaucracy regarding unemployment and training when the state is already experiencing low unemployment rates is a poor use of tax revenue, and could potentially have unintended consequences.
This bill diverts money from the unemployment compensation fund and uses it for expanded administration and marketing of other government programs.
* This bill would divert money from the unemployment compensation trust fund and use it to further expand administration and training, more than quadrupling the contributions to those funds. In the future, if the unemployment rate is higher, this will inevitably result in increased unemployment insurance rates.
* The original and stated purpose of unemployment insurance is to provide coverage to employees who find themselves out of work. If the unemployment compensation trust is well-funded, the state would be better served by reducing unemployment insurance fees, rather than by irresponsibly using a temporary surplus of unemployment insurance fees as a backdoor tax to create or expand programs, under the dishonest guise of an "administrative contribution".
* There are a variety of training options available to NH residents. To tax everyone in order to subsidize certain government-run training programs is inappropriate and unfair to other workers.
This bill establishes the New Hampshire college graduate retention incentive partnership, which provides financial handouts to college graduates who are hired by participating employers.
* To take money from all NH residents in order to create another handout exclusively for students who attend college is unfair to other young adults who may choose other career options.
* The high business and property tax rates in NH are two of the main driving forces that make NH a less attractive option for businesses and young working adults. The legislature would better serve residents by reducing spending and taxes, instead of spending even more tax money on creating new bureaucratic programs and band-aid fixes.
* The bill will result in the need for additional recordkeeping by businesses and the state.
This bill establishes the New Hampshire college graduate retention incentive partnership which provides financial handouts to college graduates who are hired by participating employers.
* To take money from all NH residents in order to create another handout exclusively for students who attend college is unfair to other young adults who may choose other career options.
* The high business and property tax rates in NH are two of the main driving forces that make NH a less attractive option for businesses and young working adults. The legislature would better serve residents by reducing spending and taxes, instead of spending even more tax money on creating new bureaucratic programs and band-aid fixes.
* The bill will result in the need for additional recordkeeping by businesses and the state.
This bill helps to protect property rights from eminent domain abuse.
* This bill partially mitigates the harm done to residential landowners whose property is acquired via eminent domain. Owners of residential properties being taken may require the taking of the entire property, if they desire, so they will not be forced to live with the project being developed.
* It allows the owner of the property to select their own appraiser and to have the costs of the appraisal paid for by the pipeline company.
* It allows a resident owner to be awarded reasonable relocation, temporary housing, and legal expenses not to exceed 10 percent of the compensation ordered for the taking.
This bill respects self-ownership, and reduces the harm of the drug war.
* Adults have a fundamental right to make their own choices, including what substances they consume.
* There is no evidence that reducing or eliminating marijuana penalties has led to negative outcomes in the states where it has been tried. In fact, harm reduction will be achieved by allowing adults to grow and share a much less harmful alternative to opioids and alcohol. When allowed as a substitute, 68% of prescribed medicine users chose the less harmful option, cannabis.
* This bill would take millions of dollars, not to mention many customers, out of the hands of illicit street dealers.
This bill reduces the harm of the War on Drugs by exempting residual amounts of controlled substances in syringes from the provisions of the Controlled Drug Act and by authorizing entities to create self-funded syringe service programs to reduce the risk of spreading transmissible diseases.
* People are more likely to safely dispose of needles if they aren't in danger of arrest.
* Allowing easier access to clean needles will help prevent the spread of dangerous and costly diseases, including hepatitis and HIV.
* Needle exchange programs have a proven track record of reducing the harm of drug addiction (Steffanie A. Strathdee and David Vlahov, AIDScience Vol. 1, No. 16, December 2001, also: https://goo.gl/Q1wQYp, more: http://goo.gl/hWuJoa).
This bill, as amended, extends the medicaid expansion law from 2018 to 2020.
* This program provides able-bodied, childless adults in NH above the poverty line with taxpayer funded health care.
* In 2016, the NHLA indicated that the "severability clause" in the bill would allow Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to pick and choose which portions of the law would be enforced, such as the work requirement. In November 2016, as we predicted in multiple issues of the Gold Standard in the 2016 legislative session, CMS rejected the work requirement (http://goo.gl/j2nhaR).
* Federal money always comes with strings attached; it is not free. The national debt, which is approaching $20 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security. Under existing law, federal matching funds drop each year until 2020 making NH taxpayers directly fund the gap. Uncertainty over the path forward in Washington regarding updates to the federal program further complicates evaluation of whether the state will be able to maintain this program without resorting to new sources of revenue such as an income tax.
* A free-market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill violates the New Hampshire Constitution by creating state-enforced quasi-private monopolies for the purpose of expanding the size and scope of state government.
* The NHLA is not opposed to liberalizing gambling laws per se. The freedom to gamble is a liberty issue. However, this particular bill is anti-liberty for the following reasons:
* This bill creates two casino monopolies — one in each of two different categories. This is unconstitutional under Part II, Article 83 of the New Hampshire Constitution: "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it".
* The state should not be in the business of choosing winners or losers; all businesses should be allowed to compete in a free market.
* The legislature should be looking at creative ways to reduce the size, scope, and cost of state government, or expanding the tax base by opening new markets to free and fair competition, not creating large new revenue sources through state-sanctioned monopolies.
This bill violates the New Hampshire Constitution by creating state-enforced quasi-private monopolies for the purpose of expanding the size and scope of state government.
* The NHLA is not opposed to liberalizing gambling laws per se. The freedom to gamble is a liberty issue. However, this particular bill is anti-liberty for the following reasons:
* This bill creates two casino monopolies — one in each of two different categories. This is unconstitutional under Part II, Article 83 of the New Hampshire Constitution: "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it".
* The state should not be in the business of choosing winners or losers; all businesses should be allowed to compete in a free market.
* The legislature should be looking at creative ways to reduce the size, scope, and cost of state government, or expanding the tax base by opening new markets to free and fair competition, not creating large new revenue sources through state-sanctioned monopolies.
This bill requires the Department of Transportation to assist municipalities in implementing complete streets projects, update the state's minimum geometric guidelines for local roads, and establish a pilot program for facilitating matching grants to municipalities for complete streets projects.
* "Complete Streets" can already be built without new legislation.
* State funding for local projects of this type will tend to funnel money from rural towns to more densely populated cities.
This bill requires the Department of Transportation to assist municipalities in implementing complete streets projects, update the state's minimum geometric guidelines for local roads, and establish a pilot program for facilitating matching grants to municipalities for complete streets projects.
* "Complete Streets" can already be built without new legislation.
* State funding for local projects of this type will tend to funnel money from rural towns to more densely populated cities.
This bill increases the tax exemption for interest and dividends from $2,400 to $10,000.
* The existing threshold was last changed more than 20 years ago in HB56 (1995). Due to inflation, the net result has been the potential for a greater number of taxpayers to be subject to the tax and is an effective year-over-year tax increase as inflation erodes the spending power of the legacy exemption.
This bill increases the tax exemption for interest and dividends from $2,400 to $10,000.
* The existing threshold was last changed more than 20 years ago in HB56 (1995). Due to inflation, the net result has been the potential for a greater number of taxpayers to be subject to the tax and is an effective year-over-year tax increase as inflation erodes the spending power of the legacy exemption.
This bill increases the amount of income under the tax on interest and dividends that is exempted from taxation.
* This bill, as amended, increases the threshold at which interest and dividends are taxed from $2,400 to $10,000.
* The existing threshold was last changed more than 20 years ago in HB56 (1995). Due to inflation, the net result has been the potential for a greater number of taxpayers to be subject to the tax and is an effective year-over-year tax increase as inflation erodes the spending power of the legacy exemption.
This constitutional amendment will provide standing to taxpayers to access the superior court.
* Under current law a taxpayer must show personal harm in order to have standing to bring suit. Under this constitutional amendment, taxpayers will have broader access to the courts and greater ability to ensure governmental accountability.
This constitutional amendment will provide standing to taxpayers to access the superior court.
* Under current law a taxpayer must show personal harm in order to have standing to bring suit. Under this amendment, taxpayers will have broader access to the courts and greater ability to ensure governmental accountability.
This constitutional amendment states that persons have a right to live free from governmental intrusion in private or personal information.
* Under Part First, Article 19 of the NH Constitution we protect our privacy in our "person, houses, papers and effects" but this omits the modern ability to collect/analyze personal information, things like health data, information from our DNA, etc. This resolution will provide the same protection to our personal data that we have for our physical things.
This constitutional amendment provides carte blanche for local governments to infringe upon the rights of citizens.
* We believe that government is most accountable and accessible when it is most local. Local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates. We do believe that there is a higher principle, however: the principle of individual liberty. Indeed, the most "local" governance of all is the governance of an individual over his or her own life and property. This constitutional amendment violates this principle and is a backdoor whose express purpose is to enable prohibitions on liberty.
* Although it might appear that allowing local control would be liberty-enhancing, it would in fact create the opposite situation. In nearly all cases, passing additional laws restricts individuals' liberties, not enhances them. This constitutional amendment would allow local municipalities to pass nearly any law they wanted, further infringing on individuals' liberties. As it stands, local municipalities in NH are only allowed to make laws about things that the state explicitly authorizes. In this sense, the state actually serves to protect individuals from encroachment by local municipalities.
* As one example, NH currently has no restrictions on individuals' ownership of particular knives. Municipalities may not pass additional restrictions. Under this constitutional amendment, municipalities would be able to restrict individuals' freedoms by passing local knife laws.
This constitutional amendment provides carte blanche for local governments to infringe upon the rights of citizens.
* We believe that government is most accountable and accessible when it is most local. Local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates. We do believe that there is a higher principle, however: the principle of individual liberty. Indeed, the most "local" governance of all is the governance of an individual over his or her own life and property. This constitutional amendment violates this principle and is a backdoor whose express purpose is to enable prohibitions on liberty.
* Although it might appear that allowing local control would be liberty-enhancing, it would in fact create the opposite situation. In nearly all cases, passing additional laws restricts individuals' liberties, not enhances them. This constitutional amendment would allow local municipalities to pass nearly any law they wanted, further infringing on individuals' liberties. As it stands, local municipalities in NH are only allowed to make laws about things that the state explicitly authorizes. In this sense, the state actually serves to protect individuals from encroachment by local municipalities.
* As one example, NH currently has no restrictions on individuals' ownership of particular knives. Municipalities may not pass additional restrictions. Under this constitutional amendment, municipalities would be able to restrict individuals' freedoms by passing local knife laws.
This constitutional amendment provides carte blanche for local governments to infringe upon the rights of citizens.
* We believe that government is most accountable and accessible when it is most local. Local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates. We do believe that there is a higher principle, however: the principle of individual liberty. Indeed, the most "local" governance of all is the governance of an individual over his or her own life and property. This constitutional amendment violates this principle and is a backdoor whose express purpose is to enable prohibitions on liberty.
* Although it might appear that allowing local control would be liberty-enhancing, it would in fact create the opposite situation. In nearly all cases, passing additional laws restricts individuals' liberties, not enhances them. This constitutional amendment would allow local municipalities to pass nearly any law they wanted, further infringing on individuals' liberties. As it stands, local municipalities in NH are only allowed to make laws about things that the state explicitly authorizes. In this sense, the state actually serves to protect individuals from encroachment by local municipalities.
* As one example, NH currently has no restrictions on individuals' ownership of particular knives. Municipalities may not pass additional restrictions. Under this constitutional amendment, municipalities would be able to restrict individuals' freedoms by passing local knife laws.
This bill seeks to amend the Constitution to address failures of the state to follow existing victim's rights laws.
* Existing NH RSA 21-M:8-k already provides for rights for victims and alleged victims of crimes. If the state is failing to abide by this law then the law should be amended to add penalties for state employees who are failing to follow the law.
* This constitutional amendment would grant rights to alleged victims at the expense of defendants and erodes the presumption of innocence in criminal proceedings. Specifically, this constitutional amendment includes the right for alleged victims "to refuse an interview or deposition request made by the accused" which would conflict with the existing language in Part First, Article 15 of the NH Constitution which states "Every subject shall have a right to produce all proofs that may be favorable to himself; to meet the witnesses against him face to face, and to be fully heard in his defense, by himself, and counsel." and which would deny the accused access to potentially exculpatory evidence.
* As proposed, this bill would make the taxpayers financially responsible for unpaid restitution and impose numerous additional costs on state, county, and local governments without an identified funding source. While the minority amendment partially addresses some of these problems, it has had even less scrutiny by the public, enhancing the concern over unintended consequences that could only be addressed by passing an additional constitutional amendment.
This bill seeks to amend the Constitution to address failures of the state to follow existing victim's rights laws.
* Existing NH RSA 21-M:8-k already provides for rights for victims and alleged victims of crimes. If the state is failing to abide by this law then the law should be amended to add penalties for state employeers who are failing to follow the law.
* This amendment would grant rights to alleged victims at the expense of defendants and erodes the presumption of innocence in criminal proceedings. Specifically, this constitutional amendment includes the right for alleged victims "to refuse an interview or deposition request made by the accused" which would conflict with the existing language in Part First, Article 15 of the NH Constitution which states "Every subject shall have a right to produce all proofs that may be favorable to himself; to meet the witnesses against him face to face, and to be fully heard in his defense, by himself, and counsel." which would deny the accused access to potentially exculpatory evidence.
This bill adopts updated building codes (international code 2015 v.s. 2009) and expands the building code to incorporate swimming pool and spa code; adds hundreds of pages of new regulations.
* This bill increases the costs for building a new home in New Hampshire in order to comply with updated building code.
• Adopting these standards would implement an extensive list of burdensome new regulations, predominantly related to energy efficiency.
• As of July 2017, only 16 states have adopted the 2015 building code, and only 5 states have adopted the 2015 swimming pool and spa code.
• This legislation would add significant cost to taxpayers related to public infrastructure and in construction of private buildings.
This bill adopts updated building codes (international code 2015 v.s. 2009) and expands the building code to incorporate swimming pool and spa code; adds hundreds of pages of new regulations.
* This bill increases the costs for building a new home in New Hampshire in order to comply with updated building code.
This bill increases the maximum optional transportation improvements fee that may be charged by municipalities when collecting motor vehicle registration fees.
* The proposed increase (100%) is nearly double the compounded rate of inflation since the initial fee was established.
* NH drivers are already over-taxed. Further taxing NH drivers will not solve the problem. Responsible budgeting is the best approach to funding transportation improvements.
This bill partially addresses New Hampshire's non-competitive aircraft registration and operating fees.
* New Hampshire aircraft registration fees are currently significantly higher than surrounding states, which disincentivizes corporations from locating headquarters and certain operations in the state.
* Registration fees are an inappropriate way to impose a fee for state aviation costs as they disproportionately impact New Hampshire aircraft owners while the state aviation services are provided to both in-state and out-of-state aircraft owners who use state infrastructure.
This bill partially addresses New Hampshire's non-competitive aircraft registration fees.
* New Hampshire aircraft registration fees are currently significantly higher than surrounding states, which disincentivizes corporations from locating headquarters and certain operations in the state. While this bill does not fully address this imbalance, it is a positive step that reduces the risk of companies leaving the state for lower-cost states.
* Registration fees are an inappropriate way to impose a fee for state aviation costs as they disproportionately impact New Hampshire aircraft owners while the state aviation services are provided to both in-state and out-of-state aircraft owners who use state infrastructure.
This bill repeals the prohibition on "ballot selfies".
* There is no evidence to show that there is a problem in New Hampshire of citizens being coerced into showing their ballot. If someone attempts such a crime other statutes would be sufficient to prosecute.
* The statutory language in question has already been struck down in federal court. In that opinion, the court held that "Of course, many others may opt not to use this method to share how they voted for personal, professional, or normative reasons, but the First Amendment mandates that the editorial decision about whether and how to speak rests with the speaker, not the state".
* Vote NAY IS. YEA OTP.
This bill establishes a committee to study issues related to changing prostitution laws in New Hampshire.
* This bill establishes a committee that will study the potential costs and benefits of partial or full decriminalization of prostitution.
* As is generally the case, prohibition drives these activities underground, where dangers are higher for participants. Sex workers who report crimes to law enforcement face arrest, violence, and assault. While this bill will not change these facts directly, it may contribute to legislation that reduces the harm of our current laws.
* Many recent studies have concluded that decriminalization is necessary to reduce the harms associated with sex work. Major organizations, including the World Health Organization, The Lancet medical journal, Amnesty International, the UN Commission on on HIV and the Law, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, now support decriminalization (http://goo.gl/7yPoH0, https://goo.gl/4sMQTN, https://goo.gl/DNVry2, https://goo.gl/2FHw8V, https://goo.gl/DEZzB1, https://goo.gl/Qq2Wmv).
This bill establishes a committee to study issues related to changing prostitution laws in New Hampshire.
* This bill establishes a committee that will study the potential costs and benefits of partial or full decriminalization of prostitution.
* As is generally the case, prohibition drives these activities underground, where dangers are higher for participants. Sex workers who report crimes to law enforcement face arrest, violence, and assault. While this bill will not change these facts directly, it may contribute to legislation that reduces the harm of our current laws.
* Many recent studies have concluded that decriminalization is necessary to reduce the harms associated with sex work. Major organizations, including the World Health Organization, The Lancet medical journal, Amnesty International, the UN Commissionon on HIV and the Law, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, now support decriminalization. (http://goo.gl/7yPoH0, https://goo.gl/4sMQTN, https://goo.gl/DNVry2, https://goo.gl/2FHw8V, https://goo.gl/DEZzB1, https://goo.gl/Qq2Wmv)
This bill requires legislative approval for further increases to the system benefits charge.
* NH residents should not be subject to further increases to the system benefits charge without approval of elected representatives.
This bill requires legislative approval for further increases to the system benefits charge.
* NH residents should not be subject to further increases to the system benefits charge without approval of elected representatives.
This bill requires legislative approval for further increases to the system benefits charge.
* NH residents should not be subject to further increases to the systems benefits charge without approval of elected representatives.
This bill requires legislative approval for further increases to the system benefits charge.
* NH residents should not be subject to further increases to the systems benefits charge without approval of elected representatives.
Requires legislative approval for further increases to the system benefits charge.
* NH residents should not be subject to further increases to the systems benefits charge without approval of elected representatives.
This bill increases pensions for people working overtime or getting raises shortly before retiring; increases costs to everyone else.
* Current law appropriately limits incentive by government employees to "pad" or "spike" overtime in order to maximise pension payouts. Removing this important limitation would further incentivize government employees to seek additional overtime immediately prior to retirement in order to maximize payouts, ultimately harming taxpayers.
* The fiscal note, even as significant as it is, may underestimate the impact of this bill, as it would almost certainly affect the future behavior of government employees nearing retirement.
This bill effectively bans many uses of pesticides even in areas where no children play.
* This bill bans the use of lawn care, garden, and ornamental pesticide at schools, child day care agencies (including private homes), community playgrounds, and community athletic fields unless approved as a public health emergency by the county, city, or town board of health. As written, this ban would apply even to private residences that provide child care even in cases where the children are never allowed to play outside.
* Private property owners should be free to make choices about the appropriate means of controlling pests without having to request permission from the board of health.
This bill requires the state to pay 15 percent of the normal and accrued liability contributions of political subdivision retirement system employers for group I (teachers) and group II (police and fire) members.
• This bill will increase state spending by over $40 million every year.
• Political subdivisions such as towns, counties, and school districts should be responsible for their own employees.
• Residents of prudent and fiscally responsible towns/cities would now be forced, through state taxation, to pay for the liabilities of irresponsible local governments.
• Centralizing funding for local expenditures is bad policy. Citizens need accurate and easy-to-understand financial information to make informed decisions.
This bill increases state spending by more than $40 million each year.
* This bill requires state taxpayers to fund a portion of the retirement system for city/town teachers, police, and fire department members. These costs are currently paid locally. While net government spending by the state and its political subdivisions under a static evaluation of the bill is neutral, funding is best managed locally to avoid increases in spending that naturally result when politicians are spending "other people's money".
This bill increases state spending by more than $40 million each year.
* This bill requires state taxpayers to fund a portion of the retirement system for city/town teachers, police, and fire department members. These costs are currently paid locally. While net government spending by the state and its political subdivisions under a static evaluation of the bill is neutral, funding is best managed locally to avoid increases in spending that naturally result when politicians are spending "other people's money".
This bill would remove state restrictions on hobby distillation of liquors leaving only federal law to infringe upon the rights of those who would seek to enjoy this hobby.
* While the majority is correct that this change would not affect federal law, there is no compelling reason for New Hampshire law to help uphold unwise federal laws.
* Home distilling has only federal restrictions in at least 8 US states including Massachusetts and Maine (https://www.hobbydistillersassociation.org/index.php/legalization/state-laws-by-state).
This bill would remove state restrictions on hobby distillation of liquors leaving only federal law to infringe upon the rights of those who would seek to enjoy this hobby.
* While the majority is correct that this change would not affect federal law, there is no compelling reason for New Hampshire law to help uphold unwise federal laws.
* Home distilling has only federal restrictions in at least 8 US states including Massachusetts and Maine (https://www.hobbydistillersassociation.org/index.php/legalization/state-laws-by-state).
This bill permits qualifying patients and registered caregivers to cultivate cannabis for therapeutic use.
* Qualified patients and caregivers in all three neighboring states are protected from arrest if they cultivate a limited supply of cannabis. In Massachusetts, Maine, and five other states, all adults 21 years of age and older may now legally cultivate more cannabis plants than would be allowed under this bill. Currently, patients in New Hampshire are limited to purchasing cannabis at one of four dispensaries, and personal cultivation of cannabis is a felony offense.
* The House has voted five times since 2009 to grant patients this freedom, and there is no reason the House should change its position now.
* Vote NAY Interim Study - YEA OTP.
This bill as amended eliminates beverage vendor license fees.
* This bill eliminates beverage manufacturer vendor fees, which are a special class of fees applied to this industry but not others.
This bill increases maximum annual fees for beverage manufacturers by more than 7x.
* Currently, the maximum annual fee for a beverage vendor is $1,920 per year. This bill increases the maximum annual fee to $15,000. While this is offset slightly with lower fees for small manufacturers, the step increases in this bill are significant and represent a barrier to growth for manufacturers.
By eliminating the existing rebate to residential ratepayers, this bill increases a stealthy tax on NH electricity consumers.
* This bill removes longstanding rebates to residential customers, while preserving rebates to commercial/industrial customers, raising rates on residential customers and effectively forcing them to subsidize commercial/industrial customers.
* Electric rates are already high in NH. Efficiency projects that are truly fiscally responsible can and will be funded by electricity consumers themselves. It is unfair to force all ratepayers to fund projects for specific consumers, whether private or governmental.
* Money raised through RGGI, originally slated to support energy efficiency programs, was instead misappropriated into the general fund in 2010. Rather than putting more money into the hands of government in order to pick winners and losers, the money should remain with the ratepayers where it belongs.
This bill as amended increases the rebate to electricity ratepayers from 80% to 100%, while preserving RGGI emissions limitations.
* The costs of RGGI, which is effectively a carbon tax, are ultimately borne by ratepayers. It therefore makes sense for ratepayers to be rebated the proceeds from sales of carbon allowances.
* By increasing the rebate from 80% to 100%, this bill provides relief to NH residents and businesses, who are already paying very high electricity rates.
* Reducing the effective electricity rate, as this bill does, will reduce overhead to NH businesses and help attract new business.
This bill protects the rights of those involuntarily committed who lack the means to pay for a private psychiatric evaluation.
* Under current law, a person who is involuntarily committed may pay for an independent/private psychiatric evaluation; if the psychiatrist agrees they should be released, they are granted a hearing. This bill would allow for a person who has been involuntarily committed to petition for a hearing if at least two years have elapsed since the last hearing.
* While this bill may result in more frequent hearings with an accompanying cost to the state, such costs are appropriate to reduce the risk that someone is involuntarily held longer than required.
This bill begins the process of mandating that NH taxpayers fund college education costs for others.
* This type of program can be accomplished by private charities, either in coordination with each other or individually. It is inappropriate to use taxation and the state bureaucracy to establish such a program.
* No restrictions are specified by the bill on the use of these funds. Will funds be available only for tuition? For any purpose at all? Can funds be withdrawn and spent by parents?
* Per the amended bill, in 195-J-9 I, student accounts are established in the "responsible individual's" name (generally the parent or guardian). This allows children with two parents to potentially double dip and create two accounts,
This bill establishes a tax on income with dubious opt-out provisions.
* Employees can opt-in anytime, but can only opt-out when starting employment and the opt-out requires the onerous use of a notary.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state crowding out market solutions.
* Employees that do not opt-out are prohibited from opting out in the future unless they quit their job and work elsewhere.
* This bill adds more than 40 state employees, increasing the size of state government, and spends nearly $10 million over 4 years on salaries alone, before providing any benefits to citizens.
* High-earning workers would have every reason to opt-out since the program would not be financially beneficial to them, contributing to the likelihood of fund insolvency. There is no provision for fund insolvency; the state and all taxpayers would be on the hook for the mandates that the bill prescribes if the program fails.
* The state of Washington passed similar legislation in 2007, which they still have not been able to implement to this day.
* While the appropriate position is ITL, IS is acceptable.
* This bill will be weighted very heavily on the NHLA annual scorecard.
This bill, as amended, creates a new mandate on employers and institutes a market distorting/state-mandated price fixing scheme for family medical leave insurance.
* As amended, this bill interferes in the private insurance marketplace by setting a government-selected withholding rate for an insurance product.
* It places a new mandate on private employers to provide family and medical leave insurance from a state-approved list of insurers unless self-insured.
* There are multiple proposed similar federal programs under consideration. Passing any form of state-mandated program now is likely to incur costs for both private employers and state taxpayers that may well be wasted/duplicate efforts.
* Support the majority amendment 2018-1111h but regardless of whether amendment fails or passes, oppose HB 628.
* If the amendment 2018-1111h fails, the bill reverts to its prior form of a government-run program where employees can opt-in anytime, but can only opt-out when starting employment and the opt-out requires an onerous use of a notary. In addition the bill would add more than 40 state employees, increasing the size of state government, and spends nearly $10 million over 4 years on salaries alone.
* In the prior form of the bill, high-earning workers would have every reason to opt-out since the program would not be financially beneficial to them, contributing to the likelihood of fund insolvency. There was also no provision for fund insolvency; the state and all taxpayers would be on the hook for the mandates that the bill prescribes if the program fails.
* The state of Washington passed similar legislation in 2007, which they still have not been able to implement to this day.
* This bill will be weighted very heavily on the NHLA annual scorecard.
This bill, as amended, creates a new mandate on employers and institutes a market distorting/state-mandated price fixing scheme for family medical leave insurance.
* As amended, this bill interferes in the private insurance marketplace by setting a government-selected withholding rate for an insurance product.
* It places a new mandate on private employers to provide family and medical leave insurance from a state-approved list of insurers unless self-insured.
* There are multiple proposed similar federal programs under consideration. Passing any form of state-mandated program now is likely to incur costs for both private employers and state taxpayers that may well be wasted/duplicate efforts.
* Support the majority amendment 2018-1111h but regardless of whether amendment fails or passes, oppose HB 628.
* If the amendment 2018-1111h fails, the bill reverts to its prior form of a government-run program where employees can opt-in anytime, but can only opt-out when starting employment and the opt-out requires an onerous use of a notary. In addition the bill would add more than 40 state employees, increasing the size of state government, and spends nearly $10 million over 4 years on salaries alone.
* In the prior form of the bill, high-earning workers would have every reason to opt-out since the program would not be financially beneficial to them, contributing to the likelihood of fund insolvency. There was also no provision for fund insolvency; the state and all taxpayers would be on the hook for the mandates that the bill prescribes if the program fails.
* The state of Washington passed similar legislation in 2007, which they still have not been able to implement to this day.
* This bill will be weighted very heavily on the NHLA annual scorecard.
This bill establishes a tax on income with dubious opt-out provisions.
* Employees can opt-in anytime, but can only opt-out when starting employment and the opt-out requires an onerous use of a notary.
* The minority amendment increases the tax rate by 33% before the program has even been adopted.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state crowding out market solutions.
* Employees that do not opt-out are prohibited from opting out in the future unless they quit their job and work elsewhere.
* This bill adds more than 40 state employees, increasing the size of state government, and spends nearly $10 million over 4 years on salaries alone, before providing any benefits to citizens.
* This bill will be weighted very heavily on the NHLA annual scorecard.
This bill forces all employees to contribute to paid family and medical leave, whether they want the program or not.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
This bill forces all employees to contribute to paid family and medical leave, whether they want the program or not.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
This bill establishes a department of military and veterans services to coordinate and oversee the veterans benefits and services offered by organizations within the state of New Hampshire.
* There are multiple public and private organizations already available that provide assistance to veterans. There is not a demonstrated need for this department.
* The fiscal note estimates potential salary and benefit costs of between $107,000 and $118,000 annually for a new Commissioner of Veteran's Affairs. As is the case with most state departments, it is reasonable to assume that once the department is established, it will begin to lobby for additional resources.
* While the appropriate vote is ITL, IS is acceptable.
This bill ends marijuana prohibition for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire.
* This bill, which allows limited personal possession and cultivation of marijuana for adults 21 and older, already passed the House in a 207-139 vote on January 9.
* The bill would legalize cultivation of six plants, three of which could be mature. It would not regulate or tax the market. Adults in Massachusetts, Maine, five other states, and Washington, D.C. already enjoy the freedom to grow their own limited supply of cannabis without fear of state or local prosecution. 68% of Granite Staters support legalization.
* Vote NAY IS and then YEA OTP.
This bill ends marijuana prohibition for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire.
* This bill, which allows limited personal possession and cultivation of marijuana for adults 21 and older, already passed the House in a 207-139 vote on January 9.
* The bill would legalize cultivation of six plants, three of which could be mature. It would not regulate or tax the market. Adults in Massachusetts, Maine, five other states, and Washington, D.C. already enjoy the freedom to grow their own limited supply of cannabis without fear of state or local prosecution. 68% of Granite Staters support legalization.
* Vote NAY IS and then YEA OTP.
This bill ends marijuana prohibition for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire.
* This bill allows limited personal possession and cultivation of marijuana and establishes a regulated market for marijuana production and sale.
• The minority committee report is in support of an amendment (#2017-2478h) that would only legalize cultivation and possession without regulating or taxing the market. Adults in Massachusetts, Maine, and five other states already enjoy the freedom to grow their own limited supply of cannabis without fear of state or local prosecution. 68% of Granite Staters support legalization.
• The House should overturn the ITL, adopt the amendment, and pass HB 656.
This bill ends marijuana prohibition for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire.
* This bill allows limited personal possession and cultivation of marijuana and establishes a regulated market for marijuana production and sale.
* The minority committee report is in support of an amendment (#2017-2478h) that would only legalize cultivation and possession without regulating or taxing the market. Adults in Massachusetts, Maine, and five other states already enjoy the freedom to grow their own limited supply of cannabis without fear of state or local prosecution. 68% of Granite Staters support legalization.
* The House should overturn the ITL, adopt the amendment, and pass HB 656.
This bill limits the time for agencies to act on permits and enforces these limits by presuming non-action is approval.
* This bill establishes time limits in several areas in an effort to streamline the process for certain state agency actions. This helps to hold state agencies accountable to action within reasonable time frames.
* This bill also requires the Secretary of State to allow online business and corporate filings by January 1, 2020. While a small improvement, this helps to reduce the burden of interaction with the state.
This bill limits the time for agencies to act on permits and enforces these limits by presuming non-action is approval.
* This bill establishes time limits in several areas in an effort to streamline the process for certain state agency actions. This helps to hold state agencies accountable to action within reasonable time frames.
* This bill also requires the Secretary of State to allow online business and corporate filings by January 1, 2020. While a small improvement, this helps to reduce the burden of interaction with the state.
This bill limits the time for agencies to act on permits and enforces these limits by presuming non-action is approval.
* This bill establishes time limits in several areas in an effort to streamline the process for certain state agency actions. This helps to hold state agencies accountable to action within reasonable time frames.
* This bill also requires the Secretary of State to allow online business and corporate filings by January 1, 2020. While a small improvement, this helps to reduce the burden of interaction with the state.
This bill limits the time for agencies to act on permits and enforces these limits by presuming non-action is approval.
* This bill, as amended, establishes time limits in several areas in an effort to streamline the process for certain state agency actions. This helps to hold state agencies accountable to action within reasonable time frames.
* This bill also requires the Secretary of State to allow online business and corporate filings by January 1, 2020. While a small improvement, this helps to reduce the burden of interaction with the state.
This bill limits the time for agencies to act on permits and enforces these limits by presuming non-action is approval.
* This bill, as amended, establishes time limits in several areas in an effort to streamline the process for certain state agency actions. This helps to hold state agencies accountable to action within reasonable time frames.
* This bill also requires the Secretary of State to allow online business and corporate filings by January 1, 2020. While a small improvement, this helps to reduce the burden of interaction with the state.
This bill requires employers to pay terminated employees for vacation time and personal time.
* This bill imposes the will of the state on private employment contracts.
This bill requires an employer to pay its employees for unused vacation time.
* Vacation policy is a private agreement between employer and employee and should not be mandated by the state.
This bill requires an employer to pay its employees for unused vacation time.
* Vacation policy is a private agreement between employer and employee and should not be mandated by the state.
This bill requires an employer to pay its employees for unused vacation time.
* Vacation policy is a private agreement between employer and employee and should not be mandated by the state.
This bill bans the sale and distribution of new upholstered furniture for residential purposes that has been treated with flame retardant chemicals while still allowing their use in public facilities including schools.
* This bill enacts a broad ban against treatment of furniture with all current and future chemicals that offer flame retardant properties. This is a legislative overreaction to incomplete science on a specific subset of chemicals by preemptively banning all future uses of treatments with flame retardant properties.
* Proponents of the legislation express concern over limited science which suggests potential health impacts of certain legacy flame retardants to firefighters and children while still allowing children to be exposed to the treatments while in schools.
* The public already has an increasing number of options available for purchasing flammable furniture, including options at NH retailers such as Ethan Allen (https://www.ethanallen.com/en_US/faqs.html).
* While ITL is the appropriate vote, IS is acceptable.
This bill bans the sale and distribution of new upholstered furniture for residential purposes that has been treated with flame retardant chemicals while still allowing their use in public facilities including schools.
* This bill enacts a broad ban against treatment of furniture with all current and future chemicals that offer flame retardant properties. This is a legislative overreaction to incomplete science on a specific subset of chemicals by preemptively banning all future uses of treatments with flame retardant properties.
* Proponents of the legislation express concern over limited science which suggests potential health impacts of certain legacy flame retardants to firefighters and children while still allowing children to be exposed to the treatments while in schools.
* The public already has an increasing number of options available for purchasing flammable furniture, including options at NH retailers such as Ethan Allen (https://www.ethanallen.com/en_US/faqs.html).
* While ITL is the appropriate vote, IS is acceptable.
This bill bans the sale and distribution of new upholstered furniture for residential purposes that has been treated with flame retardant chemicals while still allowing their use in public facilities including schools.
* This bill enacts a broad ban against treatment of furniture with all current and future chemicals that offer flame retardant properties. This is a legislative overreaction to incomplete science on a specific subset of chemicals by preemptively banning all future uses of treatments with flame retardant properties.
* Proponents of the legislation express concern over limited science which suggests potential health impacts of certain legacy flame retardants to firefighters and children while still allowing children to be exposed to the treatments while in schools.
* The public already has an increasing number of options available for purchasing flammable furniture, including options at NH retailers such as Ethan Allen (https://www.ethanallen.com/en_US/faqs.html).
* While ITL is the appropriate vote, IS is acceptable.
This bill bans the sale and distribution of new upholstered furniture for residential purposes that has been treated with flame retardant chemicals while still allowing their use in public facilities including schools.
* This bill enacts a broad ban against treatment of furniture with all current and future chemicals that offer flame retardant properties. This is a legislative overreaction to incomplete science on a specific subset of chemicals by preemptively banning all future uses of treatments with flame retardant properties.
* Proponents of the legislation express concern over limited science which suggests potential health impacts of certain legacy flame retardants to firefighters and children while still allowing children to be exposed to the treatments while in schools.
* The public already has an increasing number of options available for purchasing flammable furniture, including options at NH retailers such as Ethan Allen (https://www.ethanallen.com/en_US/faqs.html).
* While ITL is the appropriate vote, IS is acceptable.
This bill expands who may qualify for a job as a school nurse, provided they are a registered nurse.
* In 2016 the legislature added a requirement for all school nurses to be certified by the State Board of Education, which created issues in hiring school nurses.
* This bill removes the changes from HB 1193 that created this issue.
This bill expands who may qualify for a job as a school nurse, provided they are a registered nurse.
* In 2016 the legislature added a requirement for all school nurses to be certified by the State Board of Education, which created issues in hiring school nurses.
* This bill removes the changes from HB 1193 that created this issue.
This bill limits free speech of individuals by placing an explicit restriction on their ability to ask certain questions during the candidate screening and interview process.
* This bill prevents employers from asking prospective candidates for their current salary prior to making an offer of employment. This can result in wasting the time and resources of the business and the candidate by allowing a lengthy interview process to proceed when the candidate's salary requirements are significantly disconnected from potential salary.
* The explicit limitation in speech infringes upon the Bill of Rights in the NH Constitution: "[Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and liberty of the press are essential to the security of freedom in a state: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved."
This bill limits free speech of individuals by placing an explicit restriction on their ability to ask certain questions during the candidate screening and interview process.
* This bill prevents employers from asking prospective candidates for their current salary prior to making an offer of employment. This can result in wasting the time and resources of the business and the candidate by allowing a lengthy interview process to proceed when the candidate's salary requirements are significantly disconnected from potential salary.
* The explicit limitation in speech infringes upon the Bill of Rights in the NH Constitution: "[Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and liberty of the press are essential to the security of freedom in a state: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved."
This bill limits free speech of individuals by placing an explicit restriction on their ability to ask certain questions during the candidate screening and interview process.
* This bill prevents employers from asking prospective candidates for their current salary prior to making an offer of employment. This can result in wasting the time and resources of the business and the candidate by allowing a lengthy interview process to proceed when the candidate's salary requirements are significantly disconnected from potential salary.
* The explicit limitation in speech infringes upon the Bill of Rights in the NH Constitution: "[Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and liberty of the press are essential to the security of freedom in a state: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved."
This bill limits the existing restriction on idling an unattended vehicle so that it does not apply when the vehicle is on the owner's property.
* Existing law bans idling of unattended vehicles unless they are started via a remote car starter. This bill removes that restriction when the vehicle is on the property of the vehicle operator.
* Property owners should be able to determine how they would like to utilize their property.
This bill limits the existing restriction on idling an unattended vehicle so that it does not apply when the vehicle is on the owner's property.
* Existing law bans idling of unattended vehicles unless they are started via a remote car starter. This bill removes that restriction when the vehicle is on the property of the vehicle operator.
* Property owners should be able to determine how they would like to utilize their property.
This bill protects property rights.
* This bill prevents cities and towns from infringing upon the property rights of farmers and inhabitants with regard to distribution, growing, cultivation, and harvesting of plants, and prevents local regulation on the type of fertilizer used for agricultural purposes.
* It should be the right of the grower to decide what crops and fertilizer make the most sense for them to use in order to sustain their business and their property.
This bill protects property rights.
* This bill prevents cities and towns from infringing upon the property rights of farmers and inhabitants with regard to distribution, growing, cultivation, and harvesting of plants, and prevents local regulation on the type of fertilizer used for agricultural purposes.
* It should be the right of the grower to decide what crops and fertilizer make the most sense for them to use in order to sustain their business and their property.
This bill allows qualified voters to sign more than one petition nominating political organizations.
* Voters should be free to support any and all political parties of their choosing.
* We could find no compelling arguments against making this simple change to the law.
* The underlying law quite obviously exists only to protect entrenched political power.
This bill would raise the minimum wage for tipped employees.
* Employees should be able to work for any agreeable pay, not be constrained by laws.
This bill would raise the minimum wage for tipped employees.
* Employees should be able to work for any agreeable pay, not be constrained by laws.
This bill would raise the minimum wage for tipped employees.
* Employees should be able to work for any agreeable pay, not be constrained by laws.
This bill promotes spending of taxpayer money and creates a new avenue for public funds to be diverted to politically-friendly businesses.
* This bill creates new solicitation and spending of taxpayer money that has no expiration. While no state funds are allocated this year, it is regularly the case that funds like this are established in one year and funded in a following year to obfuscate growth in state spending.
* This bill creates a new pathway for corrupt bureaucrats to direct taxpayer money to politically-favored businesses.
* The state should not be attempting to determine the training that businesses will require.
This bill mandates the use of seatbelts.
* This bill is paternalistic in that it forces adults to wear seatbelts when traveling in motor vehicles.
* Since this bill allows for the violation as a primary enforcement, it increases the potential for contact between law enforcement and citizens, increasing the risk of adverse interactions that otherwise would be avoided.
This bill mandates the use of seatbelts.
* This bill is paternalistic in that it forces adults to wear seatbelts when traveling in motor vehicles.
* Since this bill allows for the violation as a primary enforcement, it increases the potential for contact between law enforcement and citizens, increasing the risk of adverse interactions that otherwise would be avoided.
This bill mandates the use of seatbelts.
* This bill is paternalistic in that it forces adults to wear seatbelts when traveling in motor vehicles.
* Since this bill allows for the violation as a primary enforcement, it increases the potential for contact between law enforcement and citizens, increasing the risk of adverse interactions that otherwise would be avoided.
This bill allows the use of mobile electronic devices only while fully stopped at a traffic signal.
* This bill allows people the release valve of being able to use their cell phones (such as for navigation) while fully stopped at a traffic signal, where they are not endangering anyone. Without this option, people are more likely to attempt to use them at more dangerous times, such as while they're driving.
* Most of the testimony against this bill incorrectly focused on why use of cell phones is dangerous while driving. This bill, however, would only allow their use while at a traffic stop.
* Whether we like it or not, people currently are using phones while driving. This gives them the safe option to do so while they're still behind the wheel, but fully stopped.
This bill suspends New Hampshire state licensure laws for physicians and physician assistants employed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who possess a current medical license in good standing in their respective state or country of licensure allowing them to practice at other local facilities or hospitals.
* Occupational licensing increases costs and denies consumers choices in the marketplace. This bill effectively enables medical license reciprocity for physicians who offer services to patients who are veterans and limits the reciprocity to doctors employed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
* While not covered by this bill, New Hampshire should look to extend this courtesy to doctors treating private patients to help mitigate the shortage of doctors across the state.
This bill mandates treatment and/or forced placement of a minor at the Sununu Youth services center in cases where there is an assertion that a youth was revived with Narcan administered by a first responder.
* While it is admirable to want to provide assistance to those who are ready for it, mandated placement of minors into a secure treatment facility with others who may have significant substance abuse issues may be counterproductive both to the youth who is being placed as well as to those already receiving treatments.
* A review of available data performed by Yale Review of Law and Social Action titled Involuntary Treatment of Drug Addiction found: "Whatever the terminology used and whatever the means by which coercion is applied, compulsory treatment of addicts is void of benefits and counterproductive of the goals which form the rationale for depriving people of their liberty." (https://goo.gl/mWfLFz).
This bill mandates treatment and/or forced placement of a minor at the Sununu Youth services center in cases where there is an assertion that a youth was revived with Narcan administered by a first responder.
* While it is admirable to want to provide assistance to those who are ready for it, mandated placement of minors into a secure treatment facility with others who may have significant substance abuse issues may be counterproductive both to the youth who is being placed as well as to those already receiving treatments.
* A review of available data performed by Yale Review of Law and Social Action titled Involuntary Treatment of Drug Addiction found: "Whatever the terminology used and whatever the means by which coercion is applied, compulsory treatment of addicts is void of benefits and counterproductive of the goals which form the rationale for depriving people of their liberty." (https://goo.gl/mWfLFz).
This bill mandates treatment and/or forced placement of a minor at the Sununu Youth services center in cases where there is an assertion that a youth was revived with Narcan administered by a first responder.
* While it is admirable to want to provide assistance to those who are ready for it, mandated placement of minors into a secure treatment facility with others who may have significant substance abuse issues may be counterproductive both to the youth who is being placed as well as to those already receiving treatments.
* A review of available data performed by Yale Review of Law and Social Action titled Involuntary Treatment of Drug Addiction found: "Whatever the terminology used and whatever the means by which coercion is applied, compulsory treatment of addicts is void of benefits and counterproductive of the goals which form the rationale for depriving people of their liberty." (https://goo.gl/mWfLFz).
This bill removes the requirement for obtaining a permit and obtaining uniquely printed tickets for certain raffles run by charitable organizations.
* Currently, 287-A requires that charitable organizations wishing to hold raffles obtain a permit (287-A:7) and have tickets printed with the name of the organization, date, and location of the raffle. For smaller raffles this represents an undue hardship that undermines the fundraising ability of the organization.
* This bill changes the law to exempt raffles held in conjunction with an event lasting 12 hours or less and aligns current law with common practice across the state at school sporting events and other small civic events.
This bill removes the requirement for obtaining a permit and obtaining uniquely printed tickets for certain raffles run by charitable organizations.
* Currently, 287-A requires that charitable organizations wishing to hold raffles obtain a permit (287-A:7) and have tickets printed with the name of the organization, date, and location of the raffle. For smaller raffles this represents an undue hardship that undermines the fundraising ability of the organization.
* This bill changes the law to exempt raffles held in conjunction with an event lasting 12 hours or less and aligns current law with common practice across the state at school sporting events and other small civic events.
This bill removes the requirement for obtaining a permit and obtaining uniquely printed tickets for certain raffles run by charitable organizations.
* Currently, 287-A requires that charitable organizations wishing to hold raffles obtain a permit (287-A:7) and have tickets printed with the name of the organization, date, and location of the raffle. For smaller raffles this represents an undue hardship that undermines the fundraising ability of the organization.
* This bill changes the law to exempt raffles held in conjunction with an event lasting 12 hours or less and aligns current law with common practice across the state at school sporting events and other small civic events.
This bill allows for additional charges, such as late fees and utility costs, to be included in the demand notice.
* Tenants who fall behind in their rent may have a contractual obligation to pay late fees. Under current law the notice of demand may only ask for the late rent.
* Tenants with financial difficulties may have utility service disconnected, or change over to the landlord's account, possibly causing damages.
* If a landlord includes any charge other than the rent in the demand, it will be rejected by the court, requiring further and duplicate actions.
* A notice of demand for rent is not a notice of eviction.
This bill allows for additional charges, such as late fees and utility costs, to be included in the demand notice.
* Tenants who fall behind in their rent may have a contractual obligation to pay late fees. Under current law the notice of demand may only ask for the late rent.
* Tenants with financial difficulties may have utility service disconnected, or change over to the landlord's account, possibly causing damages.
* If a landlord includes any charge other than the rent in the demand, it will be rejected by the court, requiring further and duplicate actions.
* A notice of demand for rent is not a notice of eviction.
This bill allows for additional charges, such as late fees and utility costs, to be included in the demand notice.
* Tenants who fall behind in their rent may have a contractual obligation to pay late fees. Under current law the notice of demand may only ask for the late rent.
* Tenants with financial difficulties may have utility service disconnected, or change over to the landlord's account, possibly causing damages.
* If a landlord includes any charge other than the rent in the demand, it will be rejected by the court, requiring further and duplicate actions.
* A notice of demand for rent is not a notice of eviction.
This bill prohibits a law enforcement agency from setting up roadblocks that stop drivers without probable cause.
* These roadblocks stop all drivers without probable cause under the pretext of encouraging sober driving, but they infringe upon the liberty of law-abiding drivers. There is no evidence that roadblocks are more effective than policing that focuses on erratic driving to establish probable cause for a stop.
* Sobriety checkpoints are conspicuous enough that even impaired drivers can identify the flashing lights far enough in advance to make a legal U-turn and avoid police interaction.
* Arrests for DWI generally make up less than half the arrests at these stops.
This bill prohibits a law enforcement agency from setting up roadblocks that stop drivers without probable cause.
* These roadblocks stop all drivers without probable cause under the pretext of encouraging sober driving, but they infringe upon the liberty of law-abiding drivers. There is no evidence that roadblocks are more effective than policing that focuses on erratic driving to establish probable cause for a stop.
* Sobriety checkpoints are conspicuous enough that even impaired drivers can identify the flashing lights far enough in advance to make a legal U-turn and avoid police interaction.
* Arrests for DWI generally make up less than half the arrests at these stops.
This bill allows entertainers in establishments that are licensed to serve alcoholic beverages to drink alcohol while performing.
* Decisions about whether entertainers in establishments that serve alcohol should be allowed to drink while performing should be left to the business and not mandated by the state.
This bill allows entertainers in establishments that are licensed to serve alcoholic beverages to drink alcohol while performing.
* Decisions about whether entertainers in establishments that serve alcohol should be allowed to drink while performing should be left to the business and not mandated by the state.
This bill provides individuals with the ability to seek annulment of a criminal record more frequently than current law allows.
* Under current law, a person who petitioned for annulment of a criminal record, but was denied, must wait 3 years before trying again. During this time, they may have increased difficulty in getting a job, volunteering, or pursuing certain courses of study.
* This bill as amended reduces the time a person must wait to refile a petition to 1 year in cases where they were found not guilty or the charges were dismissed or not prosecuted.
This bill prevents a person from having to sell their principal residence or sole motor vehicle to satisfy a finding of civil contempt.
* Incarceration for civil contempt presumes that the debtor has the ability pay the debt. Imprisoning an individual for a debt that they do not have the ability to pay is debtors' prison — an archaic and counter-productive practice.
* Failure to ensure that the person who is being imprisoned for civil contempt has the ability to pay amounts to a failure of due process and maladministration of justice.
This bill prevents a person from having to sell their principal residence or sole motor vehicle to satisfy a finding of civil contempt.
* Incarceration for civil contempt presumes that the debtor has the ability pay the debt. Imprisoning an individual for a debt that they do not have the ability to pay is debtors' prison — an archaic and counter-productive practice.
* Failure to ensure that the person who is being imprisoned for civil contempt has the ability to pay amounts to a failure of due process and maladministration of justice.
This bill, as amended, prevents a person from having to sell their principal residence or sole motor vehicle to satisfy a finding of civil contempt.
* Incarceration for civil contempt presumes that the debtor has the ability pay the debt. Imprisoning an individual for a debt that they do not have the ability to pay is debtors' prison — an archaic and counter-productive practice.
* Failure to ensure that the person who is being imprisoned for civil contempt has the ability to pay amounts to a failure of due process and maladministration of justice.
This bill, as amended, prevents a person from having to sell their principal residence or sole motor vehicle to satisfy a finding of civil contempt.
* Incarceration for civil contempt presumes that the debtor has the ability pay the debt. Imprisoning an individual for a debt that they do not have the ability to pay is debtors' prison — an archaic and counter-productive practice.
* Failure to ensure that the person who is being imprisoned for civil contempt has the ability to pay amounts to a failure of due process and maladministration of justice.
This bill, as amended, prevents a person from having to sell their principal residence or sole motor vehicle to satisfy a finding of civil contempt.
* Incarceration for civil contempt presumes that the debtor has the ability pay the debt. Imprisoning an individual for a debt which they do not have the ability to pay is debtors' prison — an archaic and counter-productive practice.
* Failure to ensure that the person who is being imprisoned for civil contempt has the ability to pay amounts to a failure of due process and maladministration of justice.
This bill would make the legislature less able to be responsive to the will of the people.
* The legislative branch is a political body and the leadership of both chambers and all three political parties must have the option of having the people around them that support representing the positions of the voters who elected them.
This bill repeals the prohibitions on carrying a loaded pistol or revolver on an OHRV or a snowmobile.
* This bill is largely a housekeeping bill to align remaining sections of NH law with the constitutional carry provisions enacted in 2017.
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the NH Constitution: All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.
* Under current law, OHRV or snowmobile drivers may be forced to leave firearms unattended in their vehicles or unload them under less-than-ideal conditions prior to engaging in recreation.
This bill repeals the prohibitions on carrying a loaded pistol or revolver on an OHRV or a snowmobile.
* This bill is largely a housekeeping bill to align remaining sections of NH law with the constitutional carry provisions enacted in 2017.
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the NH Constitution: All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.
* Under current law, OHRV or snowmobile drivers may be forced to leave firearms unattended in their vehicles or unload them under less-than-ideal conditions prior to engaging in recreation.
This bill repeals the prohibitions on carrying a loaded pistol or revolver on an OHRV or a snowmobile.
* This bill is largely a housekeeping bill to align remaining sections of NH law with the constitutional carry provisions enacted in 2017.
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the NH Constitution: All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.
* Under current law, OHRV or snowmobile drivers may be forced to leave weapons unattended in their vehicles or unload them under less-than-ideal conditions prior to engaging in recreation.
This bill repeals the prohibitions on carrying a loaded pistol or revolver on an OHRV or a snowmobile.
* This bill is largely a housekeeping bill to align remaining sections of NH law with the constitutional carry provisions enacted in 2017.
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the NH Constitution: All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.
* Under current law, OHRV or snowmobile drivers may be forced to leave weapons unattended in their vehicles or unload them under less-than-ideal conditions prior to engaging in recreation.
This bill adds transparency to employment of top-level employees who report directly to elected officials.
* Current law allows discussions related to public employees to occur in non-public sessions, concealing employment decisions from the public.
* Whereas these chief executive officers only answer to elected officials, lack of transparency gives the public no information on which to judge the performance of the elected officials.
This bill adds transparency to employment of top-level employees who report directly to elected officials.
* Current law allows discussions related to public employees to occur in non-public sessions, concealing employment decisions from the public.
* Whereas these chief executive officers only answer to elected officials, lack of transparency gives the public no information on which to judge the performance of the elected officials.
This bill would reduce the burden on NH citizens by making motor vehicle inspections biennial.
* 33 states, including states with much harsher winters than NH (e.g. Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota), do not require any periodic safety inspections. Another 6 states require only biennial inspections.
* According to the Department of Transportation, only 1.2% of accidents are caused by a problem with the vehicle itself, leading to loss of control. The same study found that in only 6.8% of accidents was vehicle condition a factor at all, of which almost all were cases of tire/wheel damage (e.g. vehicle runs over a nail). Most accidents are caused by driver error or negligence.
* Yearly inspections are a special hardship on those with older vehicles and lower incomes, who often need the vehicle in order to get to work. Vehicles often fail for causes that have no material impact on safety.
* A comprehensive study by Brigham Young University concluded "This finding strongly suggests that vehicle safety inspection programs are no longer necessary, and are simply a form of residual government oversight." (https://goo.gl/D9rxE7)
This bill would reduce the burden on NH citizens by making motor vehicle inspections biennial.
* 33 states, including states with much harsher winters than NH (e.g. Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota), do not require any periodic safety inspections. Another 6 states require only biennial inspections.
* According to the Department of Transportation, only 1.2% of accidents are caused by a problem with the vehicle itself, leading to loss of control. The same study found that in only 6.8% of accidents was vehicle condition a factor at all, of which almost all were cases of tire/wheel damage (e.g. vehicle runs over a nail). Most accidents are caused by driver error or negligence.
* Yearly inspections are a special hardship on those with older vehicles and lower incomes, who often need the vehicle in order to get to work. Vehicles often fail for causes that have no material impact on safety.
* A comprehensive study by Brigham Young University concluded "This finding strongly suggests that vehicle safety inspection programs are no longer necessary, and are simply a form of residual government oversight." (https://goo.gl/D9rxE7)
This bill increases state licensing requirements for charter school teachers.
* Charter schools are permitted to consider qualified non-traditional candidates who may bring a valuable and diverse perspective to the teaching profession. This is exactly the kind of flexibility that has made charter schools more successful than school districts.
* By increasing protectionism and artificial barriers to entry, this bill would raise education costs.
* It is often difficult to find certified STEM field teachers. This can be mitigated by the large pool of industry STEM experts without certification who are available and could potentially do a better job than candidates with an arbitrary certificate. This bill would make it more difficult to exercise this option.
* Teacher hiring requirements are a critical part of innovation and flexibility unique to chartered public schools. Teacher credentials alone are not correlated with student performance.
This bill moves negotiations with respect to collective bargaining from non-public to public meeting under the Right-to-Know Law.
* While strategy meetings need to be kept private for the sake of fruitful negotiations, the negotiations themselves should allow for full transparency.
This bill moves negotiations with respect to collective bargaining from non-public to public meeting under the Right-to-Know Law.
* While strategy meetings need to be kept private for the sake of fruitful negotiations, the negotiations themselves should allow for full transparency.
This bill clarifies details needed in meeting minutes.
* Setting out the minimum requirements for meeting minutes will assist clerks in consistently keeping the minutes.
* Good minutes can save taxpayers dollars in unnecessary legal costs resulting from disputes that are caused by the lack of essential details in minutes.
This bill clarifies details needed in meeting minutes.
* Setting out the minimum requirements for meeting minutes will assist clerks in consistently keeping the minutes.
* Good minutes can save taxpayers dollars in unnecessary legal costs resulting from disputes that are caused by the lack of essential details in minutes.
This bill clarifies details needed in meeting minutes.
* Setting out the minimum requirements for meeting minutes will assist clerks in consistently keeping the minutes.
* Good minutes can save taxpayers dollars in unnecessary legal costs resulting from disputes that are caused by the lack of essential details in minutes.
This bill clarifies details needed in meeting minutes.
* Setting out the minimum requirements for meeting minutes will assist clerks in consistently keeping the minutes.
* Good minutes can save taxpayers dollars in unnecessary legal costs resulting from disputes that are caused by the lack of essential details in minutes.
This bill clarifies details needed in meeting minutes.
* Setting out the minimum requirements for meeting minutes will assist clerks in consistently keeping the minutes.
* Good minutes can save taxpayers dollars in unnecessary legal costs resulting from disputes that are caused by the lack of essential details in minutes.
This bill would require headlight use if a driver is using their wipers.
* While this practice may be good for driver safety in some cases, it is better to encourage safe driving practices through education rather than through the police and court systems.
* This bill would allow police to pull over a vehicle that has its wipers on (resulting in clearer vision for them), but would not allow a car in the neighboring lane who had not turned on wipers to be pulled over. This creates an uneven and confusing situation for drivers and the police.
* Drivers have enough to be concerned about with staying safely in their lane, without having to worry about whether they're abiding by any number of arbitrary rules, which can actually cause them to be less safe. The state should not be in the business of trying to overmanage drivers.
This bill increases the regulatory burden on business.
* This bill would prevent insurance companies from utilizing data that may accurately represent claims risk when setting premiums.
* This bill significantly increases price controls in personal auto insurance. Auto insurers should be free to underwrite insurance policies according to the estimated risk posed by the insured. Politically manipulating insurance companies' prices will likely result in more people having to go to the residual market and/or higher premiums for everyone.
* This bill prohibits the usage of education level and occupation information when determining rates for casualty insurance. This may cause broad-based increases in insurance costs.
This bill opens the door to more competition and more choice in health care.
• While there may be no companies currently interested in this model, we shouldn't ignore the possibility of a health care startup revolutionizing the industry and looking to do business in NH.
• Technology has transformed many industries, both local and global. This has allowed for more job opportunities, better customer service, and lower prices. The health care industry will follow this path and NH customers should be allowed the opportunity to buy healthcare from any insurer willing to sell it to them.
This bill removes a state mandate for a vaccine against a non-communicable disease.
* Parents and doctors are in the best position to determine appropriate care for their children. Tetanus is a non-communicable disease.
This bill removes a state mandate for a vaccine against a non-communicable disease.
* Parents and doctors are in the best position to determine appropriate care for their children. Tetanus is a non-communicable disease.
This bill, as amended, recognizes that people have a privacy right in their DNA and genetic information.
* Personal "biometric" data (e.g. DNA, retina/iris scans, etc) should not be involuntarily captured or used.
* At least half of US states have some form of DNA privacy law (http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/genetic-privacy-laws.aspx).
This bill, as amended, recognizes that people have a privacy right in their DNA and genetic information.
* Personal "biometric" data (e.g. DNA, retina/iris scans, etc) should not be involuntarily captured or used.
* At least half of US states have some form of DNA privacy law (http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/genetic-privacy-laws.aspx).
This bill, as amended, recognizes that people have a privacy right in their DNA and genetic information.
* Personal "biometric" data (e.g. DNA, retina/iris scans, etc) should not be involuntarily captured or used.
* At least half of US states have some form of DNA privacy law (http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/genetic-privacy-laws.aspx).
This bill removes the state mandate for separate bathrooms for businesses with 25 patrons or more.
* Restaurants should be able to decide how to make their guests most comfortable as they will suffer the consequences if their guests are unhappy.
* This bill could lower construction costs for restaurants and allow more seating in the dining area, giving restaurants a better chance to succeed.
This bill requires employers to pay terminated employees for vacation time and personal time.
* This bill imposes the will of the state on private employment contracts.
This bill requires employers to pay terminated employees for vacation time and personal time.
* This bill imposes the will of the state on private employment contracts.
This bill requires employers to pay terminated employees for vacation time and personal time.
* This bill imposes the will of the state on private employment contracts.
This bill, as amended, contains $10 million in new spending for the biennium ending June 30, 2019.
* This bill has been amended to contain $10 million in spending that was not part of the original house bill. Spending (which is likely to have a component that repeats year over year) at this level should be subject to public debate in both the house and senate and not rushed into law.
This bill, as amended, contains $10 million in new spending for the biennium ending June 30, 2019.
* This bill has been amended to contain $10 million in spending that was not part of the original house bill. Spending (which is likely to have a component that repeats year over year) at this level should be subject to public debate in both the house and senate and not rushed into law.
This bill would repeal the statute that prohibits the sale of bottle rockets.
* The choice of whether to purchase, possess, and use bottle rockets should be a personal one — fireworks bans are paternalistic.
* Removing the ban will increase economic activity in New Hampshire.
This bill would repeal the statute that prohibits the sale of bottle rockets
* The choice of whether to purchase, possess, and use bottle rockets should be a personal one — fireworks bans are paternalistic.
* Removing the ban will increase economic activity in New Hampshire.
This bill changes the vehicle inspection requirement for motorcycles from annual to biennial.
* The average rider puts 2,500 miles per year on a motorcycle; it is unlikely that a component will wear out in 5,000 miles driven in a two-year span (except tires and brakes if the rider abuses those components).
* 33 states require no periodic safety inspection of motorcycles. This includes states with longer driving seasons. A reduction to a biennial inspection system is a modest improvement without any evidence of a loss of safety for either riders or the public.
* Motorcycle enthusiasts who wish more frequent inspections can pay for more frequent inspections if they desire.
This bill permits habitual offenders under motor vehicle laws to be charged either as a felony or misdemeanor — restoring the option for a misdemeanor charge that was inadvertently repealed in 2016.
* Under current law, the option for a misdemeanor charge was dropped, which then only allowed for a felony charge under RSA 262:23.
* A felony conviction can have significant long-term impacts on a person's life and is not an appropriate charge in cases where there is no victim.
This bill sets an automatic trigger for cancelling existing planned tax reductions.
* Our ability to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses is vital to the health of our economy. Low unemployment benefits everyone.
* High business tax rates impede New Hampshire's ability to attract and retain businesses.
* When profits are not heavily taxed they can be reinvested to hire more staff, used to create more robust R&D, or invested in capital equipment.
This bill sets an automatic trigger for cancelling existing planned tax reductions.
* Our ability to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses is vital to the health of our economy. Low unemployment benefits everyone.
* High business tax rates impede New Hampshire's ability to attract and retain businesses.
* When profits are not heavily taxed they can be re-invested to hire more staff, used to create more robust R&D, or invested in capital equipment.
This bill sets an automatic trigger for cancelling existing planned tax reductions.
* Our ability to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses is vital to the health of our economy. Low unemployment benefits everyone.
* High business tax rates impede New Hampshire's ability to attract and retain businesses.
* When profits are not heavily taxed they can be re-invested to hire more staff, used to create more robust R&D, or invested in capital equipment.
This bill states that absent any harm or injury, a person who purposely or knowingly causes unprivileged physical contact is subject to a violation instead of a misdemeanor charge.
* Under current law, a person may be charged with misdemeanor assault simply because they laid their hand on someone's shoulder. This bill would require that such physical contact cause bodily injury to result in a misdemeanor — absent this, the contact would be considered a violation.
* This bill does not affect the domestic violence statute.
This bill imposes new mandates on private schools.
* This bill seeks to impose redundant requirements on private schools that they must already satisfy via federal laws regarding nondiscrimination and background checks.
* The proposed requirements also go beyond those applied to public schools; as an example, district schools do not perform background checks on all volunteers.
* Further, the bill seeks to apply these requirements to schools that accept students using tax-credit programs; however, these programs do not use public funds and are sourced via private donations from individuals and businesses. This is an intrusion in the operation of private organizations and businesses which is a dangerous precedent.
This bill imposes new mandates on private schools.
* This bill seeks to impose redundant requirements on private schools that they must already satisfy via federal laws regarding nondiscrimination and background checks.
* The proposed requirements also go beyond those applied to public schools; as an example, district schools do not perform background checks on all volunteers.
* Further, the bill seeks to apply these requirements to schools that accept students using tax-credit programs; however, these programs do not use public funds and are sourced via private donations from individuals and businesses. This is an intrusion in the operation of private organizations and businesses which is a dangerous precedent.
This bill authorizes an optional waiver of the driver education requirement if a parent provides equivalent classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training.
* Parents and guardians are capable of providing driving instruction and determining when a teen is ready to take the driver's test and drive.
* This bill does not remove the existing requirement for teen drivers to complete a minimum of 40 hours of practice driving under the supervision of a licensed adult.
* At least 5 states do not require formal driver education.
This bill authorizes an optional waiver of the driver education requirement if a parent provides equivalent classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training.
* Parents and guardians are capable of providing driving instruction and determining when a teen is ready to take the driver's test and drive.
* This bill does not remove the existing requirement for teen drivers to complete a minimum of 40 hours of practice driving under the supervision of a licensed adult.
* At least 5 states do not require formal driver education.
This bill directs courts to inform juries about their right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.
* This bill does not create any new power for juries — it simply provides mechanisms for the court to inform them of their longstanding right to judge both fact and law in cases before them.
* While existing law already allows jurors to be informed, this bill provides clear language that will help to ensure that jurors receive consistent and clear instructions.
This bill directs courts to inform juries about their right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.
* This bill does not create any new power for juries — it simply provides mechanisms for the court to inform them of their longstanding right to judge both fact and law in cases before them.
* While existing law already allows jurors to be informed, this bill provides clear language that will help to ensure that jurors receive consistent and clear instructions.
This bill directs courts to inform juries about their right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.
* This bill does not create any new power for juries — it simply provides mechanisms for the court to inform them of their longstanding right to judge both fact and law in cases before them.
* While existing law already allows jurors to be informed, this bill provides clear language that will help to ensure that jurors receive consistent and clear instructions.
This bill directs courts to inform juries about their right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.
* This bill does not create any new power for juries — it simply provides mechanisms for the court to inform them of their longstanding right to judge both fact and law in cases before them.
* While existing law already allows jurors to be informed, this bill provides clear language that will help to ensure that jurors receive consistent and clear instructions.
This bill provides more options for a political organization to gain party status.
* Political groups should not be shut out by unreasonable requirements that are set by other political groups.
* The majority makes a confusing argument when they state that "This bill would create arbitrary benchmarks...", but then go on to recite the current law, which is made up of arbitrary benchmarks.
* The bill doesn't make radical changes; the additional benchmarks follow the same pattern as those that already exist.
* This bill provides a more level playing field for minority groups and opinions.
This bill adds new mandates on New Hampshire businesses.
* Health insurance is a benefit provided at the discretion of the employer. This bill would mandate that if an employer provides health and dental insurance, that the insurance be extended throughout a period of up to 24 months while an employee is out on workers' compensation.
This bill adds new mandates on New Hampshire businesses.
* Health insurance is a benefit provided at the discretion of the employer. This bill would mandate that if an employer provides health and dental insurance, that the insurance be extended throughout a period of up to 24 months while an employee is out on workers' compensation.
This bill adds new mandates on New Hampshire businesses.
* Health insurance is a benefit provided at the discretion of the employer. This bill would mandate that if an employer provides health and dental insurance, that the insurance be extended throughout a period of up to 24 months while an employee is out on workers' compensation.
This bill helps to ensure equal treatment of residents by preventing subjective noise ordinances.
* This bill requires that noise ordinances specify a specific decibel level (which may vary by time of day) and a complaint to have been made in order for noise ordinances to be enforceable.
* This reduces the risk of bias (conscious or otherwise) playing a role in the enforcement of an ordinance.
This bill allows a judge flexibility with respect to sentencing for a victimless crime.
* Under current law, driving with a suspended license requires imprisonment for 7 consecutive 24-hour days and to have their license suspended for a year. As amended, this bill retains all penalties but allows the judge the option of having the time be served via non-consecutive days allowing for the option of serving time on weekends and potentially helping a person retain their job.
This bill, as amended, strengthens the existing anti-competitive licensing rules that prevent the market from reducing costs in nursing homes, intermediate care facilities and rehabilitation facilities.
* The average cost of nursing homes in New Hampshire is $316 per day. This is higher than the national average, which is $228 per day. The state should not be taking steps to decrease competition that are likely to result in higher overall costs to consumers.
This bill, as amended, strengthens the existing anti-competitive licensing rules that prevent the market from reducing nursing home costs.
* The average cost of nursing homes in New Hampshire is $316 per day. This is higher than the national average, which is $228 per day. The state should not be taking steps to decrease competition that are likely to result in higher overall costs to consumers.
This bill allows qualifying medical cannabis patients and designated caregivers to cultivate a limited number of plants for therapeutic use.
* This bill decreases medical costs for patients by allowing them to grow their own medicine.
* People should not have to choose between fearing criminal prosecution and not having access to medicine.
* This bill gives patients better access to their medicine. Many patients do not live near the few dispensaries in the state, and will benefit from this bill.
This bill allows qualifying medical cannabis patients and designated caregivers to cultivate a limited number of plants for therapeutic use.
* This bill decreases medical costs for patients by allowing them to grow their own medicine.
* People should not have to choose between fearing criminal prosecution and not having access to medicine.
* This bill gives patients better access to their medicine. Many patients do not live near the few dispensaries in the state, and will benefit from this bill.
This bill establishes a procedure for annulment of arrests or convictions for activities which are no longer a crime in New Hampshire.
* This bill provides a process for those with criminal records for arrests or convictions for possession of 3/4 of an ounce or less of marijuana to have those convictions and arrests annulled. HB 640 signed in July 2017 reduced this offense to a violation punishable only by a fine.
This bill establishes a procedure for annulment of arrests or convictions for activities which are no longer a crime in New Hampshire.
* This bill provides a process for those with criminal records for arrests or convictions for possession of 3/4 of an ounce or less of marijuana to have those convictions and arrests annulled. HB 640 signed in July 2017 reduced this offense to a violation punishable only by a fine.
This bill opens wireless devices such as Alexa and Smart TVs to warrantless wiretapping by the state.
* This bill adds wireless technology that uses a wireless entry or access point to transmit or receive any form of information to the definition of a "Communications common carrier". This addition provides no additional protection for NH citizens. Even without this change, existing RSA 570-A:2 already protects against willful interception of any telecommunication or oral communication.
* The expansion of the definition of "Communications Common Carrier" does explicitly allow service providers such as Amazon or Smart TV manufacturers to provide "information, facilities, or technical assistance to an investigative or law enforcement officers" who are seeking to gain access to this information. Under existing 570-A:2 II (d) and (e) authorization for seizing these private communications is granted by the attorney general, the deputy attorney general, or an assistant attorney general or county attorney. Thus, existing law allows for law enforcement to obtain communications from Communication Common Carriers without court order. Since the primary effect of this bill is to expand the definition of a Communication Common Carrier, then as a result, this bill, which is sold as a privacy protection bill, actually has the primary consequence of reducing protection for New Hampshire citizens.
This bill prohibits manufactured housing parks from charging a late fee for payments made within 7 days of the due date.
* The government should not be meddling in private contracts, especially when those contracts are providing a place to live for individuals with very few resources.
* Cities and towns begin applying interest/late fees immediately upon a tax payment being late — this bill holds private individuals to a different standard than the government.
This bill, as amended, prohibits manufactured housing parks from charging a late fee for payments made within 7 days of the due date.
* The government should not be meddling in private contracts, especially when those contracts are providing a place to live for individuals with very few resources.
* Cities and towns begin applying interest/late fees immediately upon a tax payment being late — this bill holds private individuals to a different standard than the government.
* This bill reduces the impact of state-level interference in private contracts by allowing up to two months' rent to be collected for a security deposit.
* Allowing two months' security deposit may enable a person who otherwise would not be qualified to rent an apartment due to poor credit to negotiate with the landlord to offer additional security deposit to offset the risk of prior defaults and failure to pay.
* Over-regulation of rentals reduces the number of investors willing to enter the rental business, and raises rental rates.
* Testimony in committee offered: "only nine states in the US restrict security deposits to just one month's rent".
* This bill reduces the impact of state-level interference in private contracts by allowing up to two months' rent to be collected for a security deposit.
* Allowing two months' security deposit may enable a person who otherwise would not be qualified to rent an apartment due to poor credit to negotiate with the landlord to offer additional security deposit to offset the risk of prior defaults and failure to pay.
* Over-regulation of rentals reduces the number of investors willing to enter the rental business, and raises rental rates.
* Testimony in committee offered: "only 9 states in the US restrict security deposits to just one month's rent".
* This bill reduces the impact of state-level interference in private contracts by allowing up to two months rent to be collected for a security deposit.
* Allowing two months security deposit may enable a person who otherwise would not be qualified to rent an apartment due to poor credit to negotiate with the landlord to offer additional security deposit to offset the risk of prior defaults and failure to pay.
* Over-regulation of rentals reduces the number of investors willing to enter the rental business, and raises rental rates.
* Testimony in committee offered: "only 9 states in the US restrict security deposits to just one month's rent".
This bill provides that new motor vehicles need not be inspected during the three years following the manufacturer's model year.
* 33 states, including states with much harsher winters than NH (e.g. Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota), do not require any periodic safety inspections. Another 6 states require only biennial inspections. This common sense change to eliminate inspections on new vehicles would save residents time and money without any measurable added risk.
* A comprehensive study by Brigham Young University concluded "This finding strongly suggests that vehicle safety inspection programs are no longer necessary, and are simply a form of residual government oversight." (https://goo.gl/D9rxE7)
This bill provides that new motor vehicles need not be inspected during the three years following the manufacturer's model year.
* 33 states, including states with much harsher winters than NH (e.g. Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota), do not require any periodic safety inspections. Another 6 states require only biennial inspections. This common sense change to eliminate inspections on new vehicles would save residents time and money without any measurable added risk.
* A comprehensive study by Brigham Young University concluded "This finding strongly suggests that vehicle safety inspection programs are no longer necessary, and are simply a form of residual government oversight." (https://goo.gl/D9rxE7)
This bill provides that new motor vehicles need not be inspected during the three years following the manufacturer's model year.
* 33 states, including states with much harsher winters than NH (e.g. Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota), do not require any periodic safety inspections. Another 6 states require only biennial inspections. This common sense change to eliminate inspections on new vehicles would save residents time and money without any measurable added risk.
* A comprehensive study by Brigham Young University concluded "This finding strongly suggests that vehicle safety inspection programs are no longer necessary, and are simply a form of residual government oversight." (https://goo.gl/D9rxE7)
The bill prohibits detaining someone for merely attempting to leave an area, unless there is cause.
* The Supreme Court has ruled that the police have no duty to protect, therefore no one should be arrested for simply wanting to leave an area that is under lockdown for a potential threat (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_of_Castle_Rock_v._Gonzales).
* Police are issuing shelter-in-place alerts more frequently and sometimes when no public threat is evident. A shelter-in-place is an unlawful detention, and should not be used to detain law-abiding individuals. A "papers please society" has no place in the free world.
* While shelter-in-place may be the appropriate course of action for many adverse events, allowing someone to be arrested for simply choosing a different course of action to ensure the safety of themselves and their family deprives individuals of the choice of determining the safest course of action.
This bill establishes a commission to examine the feasibility of limiting the freedom of healthcare providers and patients to contract.
* Although this bill only seeks to form a study commission, the expressed intent of the commission is to examine the feasibility of doing something that the state should not be doing — namely creating a single-payer healthcare system which would dramatically restrict freedom of choice for New Hampshire citizens.
* Vermont considered adopting a single-payer system in an attempt to achieve healthcare cost "savings". In December 2014, Governor Peter Shumlin announced that the effort would be abandoned owing to the cost. In 2011, the prediction was that their single-payer system would result in $590 million in savings in the first year, but with further analysis it became clear that wouldn't be the case. Green Mountain Care was slated to cost the state $4.3 billion in 2017 — almost doubling Vermont's total budget of $4.9 billion for fiscal year 2015. This would have required a payroll tax of 11.5% and a 9% tax on income.
This bill protects the rights of New Hampshire residents.
* This bill re-establishes the fourth amendment of the US Constitution Bill of Rights, and Part 1 Article 19 of the NH Constitution, for persons detained by a conservation officer.
* All law enforcement should be following the same laws, and a person's rights should not change based on which department is enforcing the laws.
* Conservation officers should not be expected to be the enforcement arm for all motor vehicle laws. They should focus on their area of expertise and continue to protect NH's wildlife. This bill will allow them to concentrate on what they do best.
This bill as amended would clarify that the university system and community college system cannot prohibit the lawful carry of firearms.
* "Gun free" zones only encourage greater lawlessness.
* A firearm will allow the victim in a crime the ability to respond in real time. A former University of Reno student, Amanda Collins, who had a carry license, was raped within sight of a police cruiser on school grounds, but could not defend herself (www.msnbc.com/msnbc/counterpoint-rape-survivor-argues-why-we-need-guns-campus).
* Vote NAY ITL, and support the minority ammendment 2018-0044h which addresses technical concerns with the original bill.
This bill phases out the interest and dividends tax over a 5-year period and repeals the tax on January 1, 2024.
* This bill eliminates the New Hampshire tax on interest and dividend income by reducing the tax rate each year until the tax is eliminated in 2024.
* Taxes on interest and dividends tend to discourage investment and savings, penalizing economic activity that would otherwise spur economic growth and improve productivity.
This bill phases out the interest and dividends tax over a 5-year period and repeals the tax on January 1, 2024.
* This bill eliminates the New Hampshire tax on interest and dividend income by reducing the tax rate each year until the tax is eliminated in 2024.
* Taxes on interest and dividends tend to discourage investment and savings, penalizing economic activity that would otherwise spur economic growth and improve productivity.
This bill reduces the narrow Research and Development tax credit for a broader Interest and Dividend tax rate exemption.
* Eliminating the narrow R&D tax reduction to favor a broader I&D tax reduction follows the sound economic policy of "An economically efficient tax system has a sensible, broad tax base and a low tax rate."
* The I&D tax for individuals is not adjusted for inflation, and this bill provides this inflationary adjustment.
This bill requires live internet streaming and retention of all committees meetings of the NH house.
* The NH house has broad powers to impact the lives of NH citizens and as a result, the modest spending in this bill is justified to improve transparency.
* Concerns expressed over potential imperfections in audio quality are insufficient to justify the ITL as senate committee hearings area already recorded and while the sound is a times imperfect, the transparency provided is still invaluable to citizens.
This bill prohibits the open carrying of a firearm in multiple places including private property where property owners are already free to determine their own policy.
* The language in this bill is so broad that it would prohibit a person from carrying or storing in their car a firearm in a number of places that they typically travel to during daily activities, including locations like retail drug stores, and most restaurants.
* Forcing citizens to store firearms in cars parked off site of these establishments could lead to a rise in firearm theft from vehicles.
* Possession crimes by their very nature make law-abiding citizens criminals where no actual crime has been committed.
This bill prohibits the open carrying of a firearm in multiple places including private property where property owners are already free to determine their own policy.
* The language in this bill is so broad that it would prohibit a person from carrying or storing in their car a firearm in a number of places that they typically travel to during daily activities, including locations like retail drug stores, and most restaurants.
* Forcing citizens to store firearms in cars parked off site of these establishments could lead to a rise in firearm theft from vehicles.
* Possession crimes by their very nature make law-abiding citizens criminals where no actual crime has been committed.
This bill requires a minimal set of records be kept for two categories of non-meetings: collective bargaining and consultation with legal counsel.
* When a quorum of a public body meets without notice, concerned citizens may be alarmed. Release of minimal records aids transparency and eases unjustified concerns.
This bill requires a minimal set of records be kept for two categories of non-meetings: collective bargaining and consultation with legal counsel.
* When a quorum of a public body meets without notice, concerned citizens may be alarmed. Release of minimal records aids transparency and eases unjustified concerns.
This bill requires a minimal set of records be kept for two categories of non-meetings: collective bargaining and consultation with legal counsel.
* When a quorum of a public body meets without notice, concerned citizens may be alarmed. Release of minimal records aids transparency and eases unjustified concerns.
This bill requires that a driver's license revocation or suspension resulting from a hearing commence no sooner than the day of the hearing at 11:59 PM.
* The current law interferes with the ability of the accused to attend the trial. The bill and the amendment ensure that the citizen has the right to be at the hearing and return home before loss of license.
This bill requires that a driver's license revocation or suspension resulting from a hearing commence no sooner than the day of the hearing at 11:59 PM.
* The current law interferes with the ability of the accused to attend the trial. The bill and the amendment ensure that the citizen has the right to be at the hearing and return home before loss of license.
This bill allows towns and cities to adopt an additional surcharge under the meals and rooms tax on hotel occupancy.
* Though the initial local option tax in this bill is small, it provides another avenue for taxation which will inevitably grow over time.
This bill allows towns and cities to adopt an additional surcharge under the meals and rooms tax on hotel occupancy.
* Though the initial local option tax in this bill is small, it provides another avenue for taxation which will inevitably grow over time.
This bill allows towns and cities to adopt an additional surcharge under the meals and rooms tax on hotel occupancy.
* Though the initial local option tax in this bill is small, it provides another avenue for taxation which will inevitably grow over time.
This bill interferes in private commerce by creating new mandates for sellers of real property.
* This bill requires sellers of real property to provide notice to buyers of environmentally hazardous sites within one mile of the property, and to disclose water test results if a source of MTBE or perfluorinated chemicals is identified within one mile of the property.
* This is a burdensome and unrealistic requirement.
This bill interferes in private commerce by creating new mandates for sellers of real property.
* This bill requires sellers of real property to provide notice to buyers of environmentally hazardous sites within one mile of the property, and to disclose water test results if a source of MTBE or perfluorinated chemicals is identified within one mile of the property.
* This is a burdensome and unrealistic requirement.
This bill interferes in private commerce by creating new mandates for sellers of real property.
* This bill requires sellers of real property to provide notice to buyers of environmentally hazardous sites within one mile of the property, and to disclose water test results if a source of MTBE or perfluorinated chemicals is identified within one mile of the property.
* This is a burdensome and unrealistic requirement.
This bill interferes in private commerce by creating new mandates for sellers of real property.
* This bill requires sellers of real property to provide notice to buyers of environmentally hazardous sites within one mile of the property, and to disclose water test results if a source of MTBE or perfluorinated chemicals is identified within one mile of the property.
* This is a burdensome and unrealistic requirement.
This bill requires school districts to have data security plans and policies.
* To the extent the government has access to anyone's personal information, it has the responsibility to safeguard such information.
This bill requires school districts to have data security plans and policies.
* To the extent the government has access to anyone's personal information, it has the responsibility to safeguard such information.
This bill requires school districts to have data security plans and policies. It also mandates certain provisions when schools contract with third parties.
* To the extent the government has access to anyone's personal information, it has the responsibility to safeguard such information.
* When contracting with third parties, the government should ensure that any data shared will be treated at least as securely by the third party as it is by the government agency itself.
This bill removes the requirement for vehicle owners to install a state-mandated front license plate on passenger vehicles.
* Many vehicle types do not include mounting brackets for a front plate, which requires owners to damage/drill into the bumper to install a mount. The state should not require owners to damage their vehicles.
* 19 states in the US and 9 (of 13) Canadian jurisdictions do not require front license plates at all while another 7 states do not require them depending on certain circumstances. Vermont no longer requires an unique front plate as of 2012. Rear-plate-only vehicles are already on our roads.
* Support Floor Amendment 2018-0462h which removes the requirement for an E-Z Pass transponder from the bill.
This bill removes the requirement for vehicle owners to install a state-mandated front license plate on passenger vehicles.
* Many vehicle types do not include mounting brackets for a front plate, which requires owners to damage/drill into the bumper to install a mount. The state should not require owners to damage their vehicles.
* 19 states in the US and 9 (of 13) Canadian jurisdictions do not require front license plates at all while another 7 states do not require them depending on certain circumstances. Vermont no longer requires an unique front plate as of 2012. Rear-plate-only vehicles are already on our roads.
* Support Floor Amendment 2018-0462h which removes the requirement for an E-Z Pass transponder from the bill.
This bill requires bottled water to be tested for the presence of certain chemicals and labeled with certain results of such tests.
* New labeling requirements would place an undue burden on retailers, wholesalers, and producers throughout the state and region.
* If there is a widespread public outcry for such labeling, companies (both producers and retailers) will ultimately lead the charge to satisfy customer demand.
This bill requires bottled water to be tested for the presence of certain chemicals and labeled with certain results of such tests.
* New labeling requirements would place an undue burden on retailers, wholesalers, and producers throughout the state and region.
* If there is a widespread public outcry for such labeling, companies (both producers and retailers) will ultimately lead the charge to satisfy customer demand.
This bill requires bottled water to be tested for the presence of certain chemicals and labeled with certain results of such tests.
* New labeling requirements would place an undue burden on retailers, wholesalers, and producers throughout the state and region.
* If there is a widespread public outcry for such labeling, companies (both producers and retailers) will ultimately lead the charge to satisfy customer demand.
This bill requires bottled water to be tested for the presence of certain chemicals and labeled with certain results of such tests.
* New labeling requirements would place an undue burden on retailers, wholesalers, and producers throughout the state and region.
* If there is a widespread public outcry for such labeling, companies (both producers and retailers) will ultimately lead the charge to satisfy customer demand.
This bill allows parents to direct a portion of the state funds apportioned for their child at his or her assigned, government-run school to the learning environment of the family's choice. It also makes unused school district facilities available to chartered public schools for purchase or lease and establishes a death benefit for a school employee killed in the line of duty.
* As amended, this bill establishes education freedom savings accounts for children between 5 and 20 years of age that redirects 90% of the per pupil adequate education grant to a scholarship organization that will provide grants to parents to provide an education for the eligible student.
* The Education Freedom Savings Account will shift the locus of control from government bureaucrats to families — allowing parents additional options for their children based on their individual education needs. It uses funds that the state had already dedicated for education on a per-pupil basis.
* The current education system has failed to keep pace with the evolving improvements that are happening around the world. Shifting power from a government monopoly to families choosing options in a market will spur innovation (e.g., online education, competency-based education, etc.). Having accountability rest directly on those who bear the consequences of a school's performance is superior to top-down regulatory accountability.
* This bill is constitutional. The "Blaine Amendment" prohibits the government from directly funding religious schools. This bill doesn't do that. Rather, it returns tax dollars directly to families who are empowered to choose from a wide variety of schools and non-school educational options, with or without a religious affiliation.
* This bill offers the opportunity for some local tax reductions, as the portion of the funding spent by the municipalities on education for students who make use of this program is not part of the ESA, and could therefore be used to reduce the local budget. While individual students participating in the program will not automatically result in an immediate cost reduction to the district, the reduction in students in some districts may allow marginal reduction in the variable costs for education that can be passed on to the local taxpayers.
* The NHLA has taken no position with respect to provisions in the bill that provide a death benefit for school employees killed in the line of duty nor with respect to provisions that make unused school district facilities available to chartered public schools.
This bill removes DCYF as the primary responder for education neglect and restores the local school board as the agency to respond.
* DCYF should be focused on cases of physical and sexual abuse and not on areas where they lack sufficient training.
* Current law already allows the local truant officer to investigate any education neglect cases. It is unnecessary for DCYF to get involved.
* Support OTP or OTP/A with minority amendment 2018-0783h.
This bill restricts the type of beverage offered with a children's meal to choices such as milk, fruit juice, or water.
* The government should not be in the business of creating menus for adults or children. Menu offerings are the responsibility of the restaurant owner, and what a child eats is the responsibility of the parents.
* Government food recommendations may not be best for everyone. A person must learn what works best for them and their child.
* As an example, a parent might not want to keep soda in the house, but might like to occasionally take their child to have soda as a treat with their children's meal at a restaurant. This bill would prohibit that parent's choice.
* This bill, along with the meals and rooms tax, will encourage diners to eat in neighboring states.
This bill prohibits the release of any information related to therapeutic cannabis to federal agencies without a warrant based on probable cause.
* Federal agencies consider cannabis use to be a crime. The state of New Hampshire has a duty to protect its citizens from overreaching federal agents.
This bill prohibits the release of any information related to therapeutic cannabis to federal agencies without a warrant based on probable cause.
* Federal agencies consider cannabis use to be a crime. The state of New Hampshire has a duty to protect its citizens from overreaching federal agents.
This bill prohibits the release of any information related to therapeutic cannabis to federal agencies without a warrant based on probable cause.
* Federal agencies consider cannabis use to be a crime. The state of New Hampshire has a duty to protect its citizens from overreaching federal agents.
This bill prohibits the release of any information related to therapeutic cannabis to federal agencies without a warrant based on probable cause.
* Federal agencies consider cannabis use to be a crime. The state of New Hampshire has a duty to protect its citizens from overreaching federal agents.
This bill reduces the interest charged on delinquent property tax payments.
* This bill reduces interest and lien rates for delinquent property taxes. The existing interest rate of 18% was set in the 1980's when private lending rates were more than twice today's rates. This bill reduces interest rates from 12% to 8% and from 18% to 14% per annum.
* Article 18 of the Constitution states that "...penalties ought to be proportional to the nature of the offense". If the offense is a payment delinquency that causes a town to borrow money at 2.5%, an 18% lien rate penalty is not proportional.
This bill reduces the interest charged on delinquent property tax payments.
* This bill reduces interest and lien rates for delinquent property taxes. The existing interest rate of 18% was set in the 1980's when private lending rates were more than twice today's rates. This bill reduces interest rates from 12% to 8% and from 18% to 14% per annum.
* Article 18 of the Constitution states that "...penalties ought to be proportional to the nature of the offense". If the offense is a payment delinquency that causes a town to borrow money at 2.5%, an 18% lien rate penalty is not proportional.
This bill reduces the interest charged on delinquent property tax payments.
* This bill reduces interest and lien rates for delinquent property taxes. The existing interest rate of 18% was set in the 1980's when private lending rates were more than twice today's rates. This bill reduces the rate to 6 percent for the first year, 9 percent for the second year, and 12 percent for the third and any subsequent year.
* Article 18 of the Constitution states that "...penalties ought to be proportional to the nature of the offense". If the offense is a payment delinquency that causes a town to borrow money at 2.5%, an 18% lien rate penalty is not proportional.
This bill reduces the interest charged on delinquent property tax payments.
* This bill bases interest and lien rates for delinquent property taxes on the same system the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) has used since 1998 for taxes it collects. The rate is reset yearly, covers the cost of borrowing, and includes a healthy safety margin (current DRA rate is 6%).
* The existing interest rates of 12% and 18% were set as fixed rates in the 1980's when private lending rates were more than twice today's rates.
* Article 18 of the Constitution states that "...penalties ought to be proportional to the nature of the offense". If the offense is a payment deliquency that causes a town to borrow money at 2.5%, an 18% lien rate penalty is not proportional.
This bill makes small positive improvements to New Hampshire's burdensome licenses.
* This bill repeals the license requirements for showmen, ventriloquists, puppeteers, and other similar performers.
* In addition, this bill repeals license requirements for pool tables and bowling alleys.
* A penalty of felony ventriloquism has no place in a free society.
This bill makes small positive improvements to New Hampshire's burdensome licenses.
* This bill repeals the license requirements for showmen, ventriloquists, puppeteers, and other similar performers.
* In addition, this bill repeals license requirements for pool tables and bowling alleys.
* A penalty of felony ventriloquism has no place in a free society.
This bill reduces the penalty for certain first offense drug possession charges from a felony to either a felony or a misdemeanor.
* Allowing for flexibility of charges for victimless crimes reduces the negative impact of the failed war on drugs.
This bill reduces the penalty for certain first offense drug possession charges from a felony to either a felony or a misdemeanor.
* Allowing for flexibility of charges for victimless crimes reduces the negative impact of the failed war on drugs.
This bill reduces the penalty for certain first offense drug possession charges from a felony to either a felony or a misdemeanor.
* Allowing for flexibility of charges for victimless crimes reduces the negative impact of the failed war on drugs.
This bill reduces the penalty for certain first offense drug possession charges from a felony to either a felony or a misdemeanor.
* Allowing for flexibility of charges for victimless crimes reduces the negative impact of the failed war on drugs.
This bill establishes an occupational regulation review commission to determine if regulatory boards utilize the least-restrictive regulation required to protect consumers from significant and substantiated harm.
* By raising barriers to entry, overly-expansive occupational licensing raises costs and decreases the quality of available services (https://www.ij.org/images/pdf_folder/economic_liberty/occupational_licensing/licensetowork.pdf).
* Occupational licensing of lower-income trades in particular discourages entrepreneurship, and unjustly eliminates opportunities to those who are most vulnerable and who do not have paid lobbyists speaking up for their rights and interests.
* There are clear opportunities to improve NH licensing laws in order to allow more freedom of opportunity and choice, and without impacting public safety. For example, it takes 1500 hours of training to become a cosmetologist in NH — far more than to become an EMT. Studying how these restrictions impact NH residents, and which of them could most benefit from reform, would provide valuable perspective to the legislature.
This bill establishes an occupational regulation review commission to determine if regulatory boards utilize the least-restrictive regulation required to protect consumers from significant and substantiated harm.
* By raising barriers to entry, overly-expansive occupational licensing raises costs and decreases the quality of available services (https://www.ij.org/images/pdf_folder/economic_liberty/occupational_licensing/licensetowork.pdf).
* Occupational licensing of lower-income trades in particular discourages entrepreneurship, and unjustly eliminates opportunities to those who are most vulnerable and who do not have paid lobbyists speaking up for their rights and interests.
* There are clear opportunities to improve NH licensing laws in order to allow more freedom of opportunity and choice, and without impacting public safety. For example, it takes 1500 hours of training to become a cosmetologist in NH — far more than to become an EMT. Studying how these restrictions impact NH residents, and which of them could most benefit from reform, would provide valuable perspective to the legislature.
This bill establishes an occupational regulation review commission to determine if regulatory boards utilize the least-restrictive regulation required to protect consumers from significant and substantiated harm.
* By raising barriers to entry, overly-expansive occupational licensing raises costs and decreases the quality of available services (https://www.ij.org/images/pdf_folder/economic_liberty/occupational_licensing/licensetowork.pdf).
* Occupational licensing of lower-income trades in particular discourages entrepreneurship, and unjustly eliminates opportunities to those who are most vulnerable and who do not have paid lobbyists speaking up for their rights and interests.
* There are clear opportunities to improve NH licensing laws in order to allow more freedom of opportunity and choice, and without impacting public safety. For example, it takes 1500 hours of training to become a cosmetologist in NH — far more than to become an EMT. Studying how these restrictions impact NH residents, and which of them could most benefit from reform, would provide valuable perspective to the legislature.
This bill puts NH liquor distillers on equal footing with wineries and breweries by allowing liquor festivals.
* This bill allows liquor distillers to seek additional options to showcase and sell their products. This slightly reduces state barriers to commerce and will promote NH tourism and businesses.
* The craft spirits market is growing, and NH has an opportunity to be at the forefront of this burgeoning industry by allowing liquor festivals.
This bill puts NH liquor distillers on equal footing with wineries and breweries by allowing liquor festivals.
* This bill allows liquor distillers to seek additional options to showcase and sell their products. This slightly reduces state barriers to commerce and will promote NH tourism and businesses.
* The craft spirits market is growing, and NH has an opportunity to be at the forefront of this growing industry by allowing liquor festivals.
This bill requires high school students to pass a citizenship test either similar to or identical to the U.S. citizenship exam.
* Regardless of the subject matter or intent, the legislature should not be involved in telling school districts what should be required for graduation or taught in the schools.
This bill requires high school students to pass a citizenship test either similar to or identical to the U.S. citizenship exam.
* Regardless of the subject matter or intent, the legislature should not be involved in telling school districts what should be required for graduation or taught in the schools.
This bill clarifies existing law that permits the use of physical force in defense of another person.
* Under the existing RSA 627:4, II(c), a person may use physical force in defense of another person when a perpetrator is committing or about to commit kidnapping or a forcible sex offense. This bill clarifies the existing law to indicate that defense of another person is also authorized in preventing someone from physically aiding or abetting another person who is committing these crimes.
* Vote NAY IS and YEA OTP.
This bill effectively increases taxes on businesses that collect the meals and rooms tax by capping the amount that they can withhold to administer the collection of these taxes.
* This increases taxes on business and will likely result in higher prices as these costs are passed on to consumers.
This bill effectively increases taxes on businesses that collect the meals and rooms tax by capping the amount that they can withhold to administer the collection of these taxes.
* This increases taxes on business and will likely result in higher prices as these costs are passed on to consumers.
This bill establishes a committee to study options for interfering in private contracts.
* This bill establishes a study committee to study options for tenants to dispute a rent increase in a manufactured housing if the increases are "arbitrary and unreasonable". At best, this committee is paternalistic and seeking to have the general court act as a life coach for citizens. At worst, this is a prelude to recommending additional legislation where the state would seek to determine the reasonableness of private transactions.
This bill funnels unemployment compensation training funds to union apprenticeship programs for trades selected by the state.
* This bill creates a government jobs program with a $12 minimum wage, and creates additional bureaucracy to administer the program.
* While government-sponsored jobs training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
This bill funnels unemployment compensation training funds to union apprenticeship programs for trades selected by the state.
* This bill creates a government jobs program with a $12 minimum wage, and creates additional bureaucracy to administer the program.
* While government-sponsored jobs training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
This bill funnels unemployment compensation training funds to union apprenticeship programs for trades selected by the state.
* This bill creates a government jobs program with a $12 minimum wage, and creates additional bureaucracy to administer the program.
* While government-sponsored jobs training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
This bill simplifies the donation of liquors to non-profits by allowing direct donations instead of a complex transaction that achieves the same effect.
* Nonprofits are important to a free society. This bill allows NH breweries, wineries, and distilleries to make direct donations to nonprofits in an effort to raise money for these organizations.
* This bill reduces the red tape in the donation process and will benefit nonprofits in NH.
This bill allows a NH beverage manufacturer to store contract brewed beverages in NH even if they were brewed out of state.
* This bill will give NH beverage manufacturers greater control over their own product.
* Proper storage is essential to good quality beverages. By allowing the licensee to store their own product, this could reduce costs to businesses and customers while improving the quality of the product.
This bill clarifies parental ability to have their child not participate in statewide assessments, without fear of penalty.
* At least seven states (Utah, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and California) already have opt-out provisions. No state or school district has lost federal funding due to lower participation rates, nor over opt-out provisions.
* The statewide assessment is an accountability tool for districts, not individual students. Parents have rights that districts cannot control, such as determining whether or not their child takes a statewide assessment. This bill recognizes the rights of parents and protects students and districts from penalty.
* Nashua and Manchester school districts have opt-out policies without adversely affecting participation rates.
This bill clarifies parental ability to have their child not participate in statewide assessments, without fear of penalty.
* At least seven states (Utah, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and California) already have opt-out provisions. No state or school district has lost federal funding due to lower participation rates, nor over opt-out provisions.
* The statewide assessment is an accountability tool for districts, not individual students. Parents have rights that districts cannot control, such as determining whether or not their child takes a statewide assessment. This bill recognizes the rights of parents and protects students and districts from penalty.
* Nashua and Manchester school districts have opt-out policies without adversely affecting participation rates.
This bill would hold local officials accountable for violating state law.
* Vote NAY IS and then support OTP/A on floor amendment 2018-0408h which appeared in the house calendar.
* Current statutes prohibit local municipalities from creating their own firearm laws. Under this bill, elected officials who do so would face a civil fine for violating our liberties.
* This bill provides an enforcement mechanism for existing law that prevents local municipalities from implementing ordinances that would create a complex patchwork of restrictive firearms regulations across the state. The penalties in the amended version have been reduced from $5,000 to $500, being fair to all parties.
This bill, as amended, increases the list of legal-age relations allowed to accompany a driver under the age of 21 while transporting alcoholic beverages in a vehicle.
* Current statute allows for drivers under the age of 21 to transport alcohol within a vehicle if they're accompanied by a relation of legal drinking age who is a parent, legal guardian, or spouse. This bill expands the list of chaperones to include stepparent, grandparent, domestic partner, or sibling.
* Simply transporting alcohol in a vehicle is not a risk to the public, and family relations should be allowed to accompany an underage driver without the driver fearing a suspension of their license.
This bill, as amended, increases the list of legal-age relations allowed to accompany a driver under the age of 21 while transporting alcoholic beverages in a vehicle.
* Current statute allows for drivers under the age of 21 to transport alcohol within a vehicle if they're accompanied by a relation of legal drinking age who is a parent, legal guardian, or spouse. This bill expands the list of chaperones to include stepparent, grandparent, domestic partner, or sibling.
* Simply transporting alcohol in a vehicle is not a risk to the public, and family relations should be allowed to accompany an underage driver without the driver fearing a suspension of their license.
This bill increases spending to provide additional retirement benefits that were not part of the original benefit package.
* Retired state and municipal employees are receiving the benefits that were promised to them when they were employed. This bill increases retirement spending to provide additional non-promised benefits and forces current state taxpayers to fund the increase.
This bill increases spending to provide additional retirement benefits that were not part of the original benefit package.
* Retired state and municipal employees are receiving the benefits that were promised to them when they were employed. This bill increases retirement spending to provide additional non-promised benefits and forces current state taxpayers to fund the increase.
This bill increases spending to provide additional retirement benefits that were not part of the original benefit package.
* Retired state and municipal employees are receiving the benefits that were promised to them when they were employed. This bill increases retirement spending to provide additional non-promised benefits and forces current state taxpayers to fund the increase.
This bill increases spending to provide additional retirement benefits that were not part of the original benefit package.
* Retired state and municipal employees are receiving the benefits that were promised to them when they were employed. This bill increases retirement spending to provide additional non-promised benefits and forces current state taxpayers to fund the increase.
This bill increases fees on most vehicles without reducing other fees/taxes to offset the increase.
* This bill adds a new road usage fee based on the miles per gallon efficiency of the vehicle with a graduated fee for vehicles above 20 MPG. In 2018, even large-class vehicles often have EPA ratings exceeding this metric, resulting in this new fee likely applying broadly to the majority of vehicles. In fact, the fleet average MPG including all passenger cars and light trucks sold after 2014 is estimated to be at least 31 MPG (https://goo.gl/ndWWaC).
* This bill simply raises more revenue; it does not reduce other taxes or fees in any way. If there is simply a desire to ensure that road maintenance burden is shared by all drivers, this new fee should be accompanied by a reduction in other fees.
* This bill will encourage drivers to purchase less fuel-efficient vehicles, resulting in more fossil fuels being burned in NH.
* This bill will hurt elderly drivers the most. According to the Federal Highway Administration drivers over the age of 65 drive an average of 7,646 miles per year, yet this bill will tax them an extra 30% more than they drive on average.
This bill increases fees on most vehicles without reducing other fees/taxes to offset the increase.
* This bill adds a new road usage fee based on the miles per gallon efficiency of the vehicle with a graduated fee for vehicles above 20 MPG. In 2018, even large-class vehicles often have EPA ratings exceeding this metric, resulting in this new fee likely applying broadly to the majority of vehicles. In fact, the fleet average MPG including all passenger cars and light trucks sold after 2014 is estimated to be at least 31 MPG (https://goo.gl/ndWWaC).
* This bill simply raises more revenue; it does not reduce other taxes or fees in any way. If there is simply a desire to ensure that road maintenance burden is shared by all drivers, this new fee should be accompanied by a reduction in other fees.
* This bill will encourage drivers to purchase less fuel-efficient vehicles, resulting in more fossil fuels being burned in NH.
* This bill will hurt elderly drivers the most. According to the Federal Highway Administration drivers over the age of 65 drive an average of 7,646 miles per year, yet this bill will tax them an extra 30% more than they drive on average.
This bill creates a new position of State Toxicologist within the Department of Health and Human Services.
* The duties of this position are largely covered by existing state and federal agencies.
* Creating a new (and unfunded) position now increases the risk of budget failure in future years as the position would need to be funded in upcoming budgets.
This bill increases state spending by creating a government-funded campaign finance system for Governor, Executive Councilor, and State Senator.
* Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the campaign activities of any candidate, particularly those with whom they vigorously disagree.
This bill mandates screening all newborn children for a rare but serious recessive genetic disease.
* Universal mandates interfere in the doctor/patient relationship and increase healthcare costs. The decision about whether to perform these types of tests should be between the doctors and parents.
This bill, as amended, sets a maximum rate of 10 cents per page for copies made under the Right-to-Know Law.
* This bill clarifies existing wording in RSA 91-A:4, IV which previously stated that the person may be charged "the actual cost of" providing the copy. The existing wording is unclear and may result in widely varying costs per page.
This bill, as amended, sets a maximum rate of 10 cents per page for copies made under the Right-to-Know Law.
* This bill clarifies existing wording in RSA 91-A:4, IV which previously stated that the person may be charged "the actual cost of" providing the copy. The existing wording is unclear and may result in widely varying costs per page.
This bill, as amended, sets a maximum rate of 10 cents per page for copies made under the Right-to-Know Law.
* This bill clarifies existing wording in RSA 91-A:4, IV which previously stated that the person may be charged "the actual cost of" providing the copy. The existing wording is unclear and may result in widely varying costs per page.
This bill, as amended, sets a maximum rate of 10 cents per page for copies made under the Right-to-Know Law.
* This bill clarifies existing wording in RSA 91-A:4, IV which previously stated that the person may be charged "the actual cost of" providing the copy. The existing wording is unclear and may result in widely varying costs per page.
This bill establishes a state health care corporation.
* The majority of New Hampshire residents already have access to high quality health care through the remnants of the free market.
* Health care costs would be better reduced by eliminating state-imposed barriers to entry into the marketplace.
This bill dramatically expands spending and control over the economy by establishing a single payer health care system administered by the state.
* This bill would result in a dramatic increase in state spending that would require broad-based tax increases.
* Vermont investigated the feasibility of a single payer health care system and ultimately rejected it as unaffordable.
This bill mandates additional penalties/fees for environmental cleanup activities.
* The penalty imposed by this bill is anti-business and counterproductive as it increases costs involved in accidents when there is public identification and cleanup. Existing penalties are sufficient to provide an incentive to reduce the risks of accidents, and restitution to directly impacted parties is a better solution than enriching the state's general fund.
This bill enables the state to seize firearms from a person for emotional neglect of a vulnerable adult.
* The majority of this bill is intended to protect vulnerable adults from exploitation and abuse, including financial exploitation. While this is well-meaning, the bill in its current form is flawed due to an incomplete definition of neglect and for enabling seizure of firearms for neglect findings.
* The bill allows a vulnerable adult to seek a protective order for neglect, which is defined by new section 173-D:2 VIII as "an act or omission which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult."
* Other states with similar laws require that the person being accused of neglect have a caregiver role (e.g. Alabama Title 38-9-2, Montana 52-3-803, New Jersey 52:27D-407). The New Hampshire definition would allow a parent to seek a protective order for neglect against an estranged child who maintains no contact with the parent.
* A simple finding of neglect under this bill would require the defendant's firearms to be seized and held by the police for the duration of the protective order (173-D:6 I).
* An amendment that adjusts the definition of "Neglect" to an act or omission by a caretaker which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult would improve the bill; however even with this change the bill would still enable the seizure of firearms for a finding of neglect. Further, the decision to seize firearms and prohibit future purchases is made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 VI, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
This bill enables the state to seize firearms from a person for emotional neglect of a vulnerable adult.
* The majority of this bill is intended to protect vulnerable adults from exploitation and abuse, including financial exploitation. While this is well-meaning, the bill in its current form is flawed due to an incomplete definition of neglect and for enabling seizure of firearms for neglect findings.
* The bill allows a vulnerable adult to seek a protective order for neglect, which is defined by new section 173-D:2 VIII as "an act or omission which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult."
* Other states with similar laws require that the person being accused of neglect have a caregiver role (e.g. Alabama Title 38-9-2, Montana 52-3-803, New Jersey 52:27D-407). The New Hampshire definition would allow a parent to seek a protective order for neglect against an estranged child who maintains no contact with the parent.
* A simple finding of neglect under this bill would require the defendant's firearms to be seized and held by the police for the duration of the protective order (173-D:6 I).
* An amendment that adjusts the definition of "Neglect" to an act or omission by a caretaker which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult would improve the bill; however even with this change the bill would still enable the seizure of firearms for a finding of neglect. Further, the decision to seize firearms and prohibit future purchases is made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 VI, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
This bill enables vulnerable adults to seek protective orders for abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
* The majority of this bill is intended to protect vulnerable adults from exploitation and abuse, including financial exploitation. While this is well-meaning, the bill in its current form is flawed due to an incomplete definition of neglect and for enabling seizure of firearms for neglect findings.
* The bill allows a vulnerable adult to seek a protective order for neglect, which is defined by new section 173-D:2 VIII as "an act or omission which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult."
* Other states with similar laws require that the person being accused of neglect have a caregiver role (e.g. Alabama Title 38-9-2, Montana 52-3-803, New Jersey 52:27D-407). The New Hampshire definition would allow a parent to seek a protective order for neglect against an estranged child who maintains no contact with the parent.
* A simple finding of neglect under this bill would require the defendant's firearms to be seized and held by the police for the duration of the protective order (173-D:6 I).
* An amendment that adjusts the definition of "Neglect" to an act or omission by a caretaker which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult would improve the bill; however even with this change the bill would still enable the seizure of firearms for a finding of neglect. Further, the decision to seize firearms and prohibit future purchases is made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 VI, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
This bill creates a new position of State Demographer.
* Creating a new (and unfunded) position now increases the risk of budget failure in future years as the position would need to be funded in upcoming budgets.
This bill decriminalizes working.
* This bill reduces the penalties for violations of the statutes or rules regulating various occupations from misdemeanors to violations.
* Vote NAY IS and support OTP.
This bill decriminalizes working.
* This bill reduces the penalties for violations of the statutes or rules regulating various occupations from misdemeanors to violations.
* Vote NAY IS and support OTP.
This bill modestly reforms regulation restricting patient access to contraceptives.
* This bill allows pharmacists to dispense hormonal contraceptives pursuant to a standing order entered into by health care providers.
* Under this bill, patients would still consult with a health care provider for initial hormonal contraceptive prescription and would remain free to consult with their providers if there is a change in their health needs. Studies indicate that women are able to accurately self-screen for contraindications for oral contraceptive use (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2615461).
* Research indicates that even women who have access to oral contraceptives without prescription continue to receive preventive health screenings at a high rate (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22520645).
This bill defines a political advocacy organization so broadly as to potentially be interpreted as applying to individuals.
* This bill requires civic groups, news sources, and potentially individuals to register as political advocacy organizations, and disclose sources of income if they spend more than $5,000 in a year and mention by name any candidate during the 60 days prior to the election.
* The bill contains language that states: '"Political advocacy organization'' means any entity, including, but not limited to, an organization described in RSA 664:2, III'. This unbounded definition may have unintended consequences and may infringe upon the freedom of speech of individuals.
* While the appropriate vote is ITL, IS is acceptable.
This bill defines a political advocacy organization so broadly as to potentially be interpreted as applying to individuals.
* This bill requires civic groups, news sources, and potentially individuals to register as political advocacy organizations, and disclose sources of income if they spend more than $5,000 in a year and mention by name any candidate during the 60 days prior to the election.
* The bill contains language that states: '"Political advocacy organization'' means any entity, including, but not limited to, an organization described in RSA 664:2, III'. This unbounded definition may have unintended consequences and may infringe upon the freedom of speech of individuals.
* While the appropriate vote is ITL, IS is acceptable.
This bill allows individuals certified by the Department of Environmental Services to perform services on backflow devices that are not directly adjacent to a drinking water distribution system. In addition, this bill removes the power to detain and arrest from fire marshals.
* New Hampshire's licensed backflow preventer testers are already qualified to work on these devices. Requiring a plumber to service backflow preventers is an unnecessary expense to the property owner and may delay servicing of defective devices, increasing risk to the public.
* It is not safe for state fire marshals to be making arrests, and should be left to trained professionals who more regularly exercise the power of arrest. It is not worth the risk to ask fire marshals to perform dangerous acts just to catch an unlicensed worker. The majority report's example of an arsonist or unlicensed worker could be handled with a simple video of the person in the act and a call to the police.
This bill authorizes a liquor manufacturer to sell its product directly to customers at its separate licensed location without having to purchase the product from the liquor commission.
* This is a modest improvement in the freedom of commerce for liquor manufacturers in that it allows manufacturers to sell products they produce directly to the consumer without first having to cycle the product through the liquor commission.
* The state should not interfere in private commerce between manufacturers and customers.
This bill interferes in private contracts and provides a financial incentive for borrowers to default on title loans.
* As amended, this bill prevents a lender from allowing interest to accrue on title loans 60 days after the borrower has been declared in default, unless the borrower cures such default. An unintended consequence of this is that it may increase the costs of title loans for borrowers who repay loans in a timely manner (to allow lenders to recoup the lost interest that previously could potentially be recouped from selling the asset securing the loan).
* Borrowers who get into trouble with title loans will now have a financial incentive to allow default and repossession to continue rather than attempt to cure the loan as interest accrual will cease at 60 days if they remain in default but will resume if the borrower attempts to cure the default.
This bill creates a permanent council designed to identify opportunities to spend state and federal dollars to promote the creative economy.
* Creative economy is a term coined by John Howkins in 2001 to describe economic systems where value is based on novel imaginative qualities rather than the traditional resources of land, labor, and capital. While economic interaction in this space is exciting, the last thing that creativity needs is the state to define it, fund it, and regulate it.
* Government interference in the creative economy partially deprives it of a price mechanism where the prices of goods and services are impacted by the price elasticity of demand. The state is poor at predicting future trends and will tend to suppress creativity by starving it of resources and labor in order to meet the demands of the central planners.
This bill would allow anyone over 18 years of age to purchase oral contraceptives without a prescription.
* Limitations on access to medications are paternalistic. Studies indicate that women are able to accurately self-screen for contraindications for oral contraceptive use (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2615461).
* Research indicates that women who have access to oral contraceptives without prescription continue to receive preventive health screenings at a high rate (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22520645).
* Vote NAY Interim Study - YEA OTP.
This bill impacts NH residents' access to affordable health insurance.
* This bill is unnecessary as the NH insurance department has already taken the position that the Affordable Care Act mandates that policies cover the procedures in the bill (www.nh.gov/insurance/media/pr/2016/documents/060616_2.pdf).
* Hyper-regulation of the insurance market has already dramatically limited health insurance choices in NH. Anthem and AMBetter insurance already have indicated that their policies cover 3D mammography.
* Coverage mandates prevent consumers from making choices about the level of coverage that they can afford and may result in families choosing no insurance instead of insurance that would meet 99% of their potential needs.
This bill creates a small pilot program allowing lower-income families to direct a portion of the state funds apportioned for their child at his or her assigned, government-run school to the learning environment of the family's choice.
* The Education Freedom Savings Account will shift the locus of control from government bureaucrats to families — allowing parents additional options for their children based on their individual education needs. It uses funds that the state had already dedicated for education on a per-pupil basis.
* The current education system has failed to keep pace with the evolving improvements that are happening around the world. Shifting power from a government monopoly to families choosing options in a market will spur innovation (e.g., online education, competency-based education, etc.). Having accountability rest directly on those who bear the consequences of a school's performance is superior to top-down regulatory accountability.
* This bill is constitutional. The "Blaine Amendment" prohibits the government from directly funding religious schools. This bill doesn't do that. Rather, it returns tax dollars directly to families who are empowered to choose a wide variety of schools and non-school educational options, with or without a religious affiliation.
* This bill offers the opportunity for some local tax reductions, as the portion of the funding spent by the municipalities on education for students who make use of this program is not part of the ESA, and could therefore be used to reduce the local budget. While individual students participating in the program will not automatically result in an immediate cost reduction to the district, the reduction in students in some districts may allow marginal reduction in the variable costs for education that can be passed on to the local taxpayers.
* Support reconsideration. NAY on IS and support OTP. This version of the bill already passed the house on 1/3/2018. As compared to the minority amendment, it allows additional students to make use of education savings accounts, as all students who applied and were not admitted to a chartered public school are eligible.
This bill creates a small pilot program allowing lower-income families to direct a portion of the state funds apportioned for their child at his or her assigned, government-run school to the learning environment of the family's choice.
* The Education Freedom Savings Account will shift the locus of control from government bureaucrats to families — allowing parents additional options for their children based on their individual education needs. It uses funds that the state had already dedicated for education on a per-pupil basis.
* The current education system has failed to keep pace with the evolving improvements that are happening around the world. Shifting power from a government monopoly to families choosing options in a market will spur innovation (e.g., online education, competency-based education, etc.). Having accountability rest directly on those who bear the consequences of a school's performance is superior to top-down regulatory accountability.
* This bill is constitutional. The "Blaine Amendment" prohibits the government from directly funding religious schools. This bill doesn't do that. Rather, it returns tax dollars directly to families who are empowered to choose a wide variety of schools and non-school educational options, with or without a religious affiliation.
* This bill offers the opportunity for some local tax reductions, as the portion of the funding spent by the municipalities on education for students who make use of this program is not part of the ESA, and could therefore be used to reduce the local budget. While individual students participating in the program will not automatically result in an immediate cost reduction to the district, the reduction in students in some districts may allow marginal reduction in the variable costs for education that can be passed on to the local taxpayers.
* Oppose the IS recommendation and support OTP. This version of the bill already passed the house on 1/3/2018. As compared to the minority amendment, it allows additional students to make use of education savings accounts, as all students who applied and were not admitted to a chartered public school are eligible.
This bill allows lower income families additional choices in where their children are educated and what methods are used for instruction.
* The Education Freedom Savings Account will shift the locus of control from government bureaucrats to families — allowing parents additional options for their children based on their individual education needs using funds that the state had already dedicated for education on a per pupil basis.
* The current education system has failed to keep pace with the evolving improvements that are happening around the world. Shifting power from a government monopoly to families choosing in a market will spur innovation (e.g., online education, competency-based education, etc.). Having accountability rest directly on those who bear the consequences of a school's performance is superior to top-down regulatory accountability.
* This bill is constitutional. The "Blaine Amendment" prohibits the government from directly funding religious schools. This bill doesn't do that. Rather, it returns tax dollars directly to families who are empowered to choose a wide variety of schools and non-school educational options, with or without a religious affiliation.
* Although all families should have access to their tax dollars back, this bill allows lower-income families additional choices in where and how their children are educated.
This bill forces existing businesses and taxpayers to subsidize the commercial ventures of small businesses who are adept at navigating the requirements of a bureaucratic program and not necessarily proficient at meeting the needs of their customers.
* The state should not be in the business of choosing winners or losers; all businesses should be allowed to compete fairly in a free market.
* Broad-based tax rate reductions are superior to focused tax credits as they reduce state-induced market distortions that limit the effectiveness of voluntary interaction.
* The Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) indicates that at least one staff person will be required to manage the program. This will result in a permanent increase in state spending along with the liability of additional future pension costs.
* While the appropriate vote is ITL, IS is acceptable.
This bill forces existing businesses and taxpayers to subsidize the business ventures of small businesses who are adept at navigating the requirements of a bureaucratic program and not necessarily proficient at meeting the needs of their customers.
* The NHLA is not making a formal recommendation with regard to the committee's interim study recommendation. The NAY OTP recommendation is intended to convey our position should the vote on interim study fail.
* The state should not be in the business of choosing winners or losers; all businesses should be allowed to compete fairly in a free market.
* Broad-based tax rate reductions are superior to focused tax credits as they reduce state-induced market distortions that limit the effectiveness of voluntary interaction.
* The Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) indicates that at least one staff person will be required to manage the program. This will result in a permanent increase in state spending along with the liability of additional future pension costs.
This bill mandates universal testing for lead in children.
* The new mandate for universal testing of all one and two year olds is a massive dictate on medical providers and parents. It is virtually unenforceable and an interference with the parent's right to direct a child's healthcare freedom.
* This bill creates a new state loan program to lend money to private property owners. This is not the proper role of government. There is no Fiscal Note to account for loan defaults, which would be in effect paid by taxpayers.
* While the majority blurb indicates "Finance determined that there are no additional costs to these tests as they are already included in all insurance policies" this fails to recognize economic reality. This bill will take a procedure that is currently used when medically appropriate and mandate its use universally. The increased costs will be passed through to consumers in the form of higher premiums.
* This new proposed blood testing level is 40% lower than the current CDC standard of 5 micrograms per deciliter: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/acclpp/blood_lead_levels.htm
This bill extends medicaid expansion in New Hampshire by replacing the program that is set to expire in December 2018 with a new managed care program.
* This is a hidden tax on private health care buyers. The incentives for Granite Advantage will increase costs for all other health care participants.
* Under existing law, federal matching funds drop each year until 2020, making NH taxpayers directly fund the gap. Uncertainty over the path forward in Washington regarding updates to the federal program further complicates evaluation of whether the state will be able to maintain this program without resorting to new sources of revenue such as an income tax.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached; it is not free. The national debt, which is now greater than $21 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
* A free-market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to have sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill extends medicaid expansion in New Hampshire by replacing the program that is set to expire in December 2018 with a new managed care program.
* This is a hidden tax on private health care buyers. The incentives for Granite Advantage will increase costs for all other health care participants.
* Under existing law, federal matching funds drop each year until 2020, making NH taxpayers directly fund the gap. Uncertainty over the path forward in Washington regarding updates to the federal program further complicates evaluation of whether the state will be able to maintain this program without resorting to new sources of revenue such as an income tax.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached; it is not free. The national debt, which is now greater than $21 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
* A free-market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to have sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill extends medicaid expansion in New Hampshire by replacing the program that is set to expire in December 2018 with a new managed care program.
* This is a hidden tax on private health care buyers. The incentives for Granite Advantage will increase costs for all other health care participants.
* Under existing law, federal matching funds drop each year until 2020, making NH taxpayers directly fund the gap. Uncertainty over the path forward in Washington regarding updates to the federal program further complicates evaluation of whether the state will be able to maintain this program without resorting to new sources of revenue such as an income tax.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached; it is not free. The national debt, which is now greater than $21 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
* A free-market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to have sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill extends medicaid expansion in New Hampshire by replacing the program that is set to expire in December 2018 with a new managed care program.
* This is a hidden tax on private health care buyers. The incentives for Granite Advantage will increase costs for all other health care participants.
* Under existing law, federal matching funds drop each year until 2020, making NH taxpayers directly fund the gap. Uncertainty over the path forward in Washington regarding updates to the federal program further complicates evaluation of whether the state will be able to maintain this program without resorting to new sources of revenue such as an income tax.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached; it is not free. The national debt, which is now greater than $21 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
* A free-market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to have sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill exempts auctions conducted over the Internet from the requirements of RSA 311-B.
* This bill gives NH residents an advantage over other states that attempt to regulate online auctions.
* 23 states do not require a license to buy or sell in an auction.
* NH does not have the resources to enforce the licensing requirement. This bill will help clarify when licensing is required.
This bill exempts auctions conducted over the Internet from the requirements of RSA 311-B.
* This bill gives NH residents an advantage over other states that attempt to regulate online auctions.
* 23 states do not require a license to buy or sell in an auction.
* NH does not have the resources to enforce the licensing requirement. This bill will help clarify when licensing is required.
This bill relaxes state interference in youth employment, leaving more decisions to individuals and families.
* This bill repeals certain provisions of the youth employment law governing the employment of youths 16 and 17 years of age — including but not limited to a repeal of RSA 276-A:5 - relative to youth employment certificates, RSA 276-A:13 - relative to youth night work, and RSA 276-A:22 - relative to evidence of violations of youth employment in certain jobs. This allows families and employers to better align work schedules and durations with the unique needs of teens.
This bill relaxes state interference in youth employment, leaving more decisions to individuals and families.
* This bill repeals certain provisions of the youth employment law governing the employment of youths 16 and 17 years of age — including but not limited to a repeal of RSA 276-A:5 - relative to youth employment certificates, RSA 276-A:13 - relative to youth night work, and RSA 276-A:22 - relative to evidence of violations of youth employment in certain jobs. This allows families and employers to better align work schedules and durations with the unique needs of teens.
This bill reduces the harm caused by New Hampshire's excessive occupational license laws.
* This bill requires state licensing boards to adopt rules to allow a temporary license or permit for 120 days to be issued to a person who is currently licensed in the US, while the person has a pending application for licensure with the board.
This bill reduces the harm caused by New Hampshire's excessive occupational license laws.
* This bill requires state licensing boards to adopt rules to allow a temporary license or permit for 120 days to be issued to a person who is currently licensed in the US, while the person has a pending application for licensure with the board.
This bill reduces the harm caused by NH's excessive occupational license laws.
* This bill requires state licensing boards to adopt rules to allow a temporary license or permit to be issued to a person who is currently licensed in the US for 120 days while the person has a pending application for licensure with the board.
This bill adjusts the default budget such that funding for positions that were eliminated in the proposed budget are removed from the default budget.
* If the proposed operating budget fails in SB2 towns or SB2 school districts, the default budget automatically goes into effect. This bill helps to ensure that some potential cost reductions for the proposed budget are reflected in the default budget.
This bill adjusts the default budget such that funding for positions that were eliminated in the the proposed budget are removed from the default budget.
* The default budget automatically goes into effect should the proposed operating budget fail in SB2 towns or SB2 school districts. This bill helps to ensure that some potential cost reductions for the proposed budget are reflected in the default budget.
This bill requires electric distribution companies to purchase power from renewable generation services.
* This bill mandates a state solution to volatile energy costs by mandating that electric distribution companies purchase the net energy output of renewable energy facilities located in the electric distribution company's service territory.
* This requires customers to continue to subsidize power generation facilities that are unable to produce power at a competitive rate.
This bill requires electric distribution companies to purchase power from renewable generation services.
* This bill mandates a state solution to volatile energy costs by mandating that electric distribution companies purchase the net energy output of renewable energy facilities located in the electric distribution company's service territory.
* This requires customers to continue to subsidize power generation facilities that are unable to produce power at a competitive rate.
This bill requires electric distribution companies to purchase power from renewable generation services.
* This bill mandates a state solution to volatile energy costs by mandating that electric distribution companies purchase the net energy output of renewable energy facilities located in the electric distribution company's service territory.
* This requires customers to continue to subsidize power generation facilities that are unable to produce power at a competitive rate.
This bill requires electric distribution companies to purchase power from renewable generation services.
* This bill mandates a state solution to volatile energy costs by mandating that electric distribution companies purchase the net energy output of renewable energy facilities located in the electric distribution company's service territory.
* This requires customers to continue to subsidize power generation facilities that are unable to produce power at a competitive rate.
This bill requires electric distribution companies to purchase power from renewable generation services.
* This bill mandates a state solution to volatile energy costs by mandating that electric distribution companies purchase the net energy output of renewable energy facilities located in the electric distribution company's service territory.
* This requires customers to continue to subsidize power generation facilities that are unable to produce power at a competitive rate.
This bill permanently increases state spending to administer programs designed to limit a competitive free market for labor.
* The need for additional staff is due to New Hampshire's excessive use of occupational licenses.
* New Hampshire requires a license to perform 34 low-to-moderate income jobs — many of which are safely performed in other states without a license. According to the Institute for Justice, eleven of the occupations NH licenses are licensed by less than half of the other states. For example, NH is one of only 16 states that licenses sign language interpreters. Laws requiring licensing of these kinds of occupations, which most other states are doing fine without licensing, are candidates for reform (ij.org/report/license-to-work/ltw-state-data/?state=nh).
* We should look to reform and reduce existing professional licensing laws rather than expand an office that should be contracting.
This bill permanently increases state spending to administer programs designed to limit a competitive free market for labor.
* The need for additional staff is due to New Hampshire's excessive use of occupational licenses.
* New Hampshire requires a license to perform 34 low-to-moderate income jobs — many of which are safely performed in other states without a license. According to the Institute for Justice, eleven of the occupations NH licenses are licensed by less than half of the other states. For example, NH is one of only five states that licenses shampooers. Laws requiring licensing of these kinds of occupations, which most other states are doing fine without licensing, are candidates for reform.
* We should look to reform and reduce existing professional licensing laws rather than expand an office that should be contracting.
This bill requires dental hygienist applicants to provide fingerprints and pay for an FBI background check.
* Background checks should be between the employer and the employee. Requiring background checks to get an application for licensure takes the responsibility away from private practices, and may prevent otherwise qualified applicants from getting a job.
* Current delays in processing fingerprints negatively impacts those workers seeking to find new employment.
This bill requires dental hygienist applicants to provide fingerprints and pay for an FBI background check.
* Background checks should be between the employer and the employee. Requiring background checks to get an application for licensure takes the responsibility away from private practices, and may prevent otherwise qualified applicants from getting a job.
* Current delays in processing fingerprints negatively impacts those workers seeking to find new employment.
This bill requires dental hygenist applicants to provide fingerprints and pay for an FBI background check.
* Background checks should be between the employer and the employee. Requiring background checks to get an application for licensure takes the responsibility away from private practices, and may prevent otherwise qualified applicants from getting a job.
This bill declares that a parent or legal guardian shall not be required to have their child immunized against Hepatitis B or sexually transmitted diseases.
* Decisions about which diseases to vaccinate against and their timing should be left to parents and guardians to make in consultation with their selected health care provider — particularly for diseases that are not easily communicable in casual contact.
This bill establishes a commission to study ways for the state to interfere in the free market.
* The members of this commission include stakeholders who have demonstrated a vested interest in market-distorting regulation such as the facility moratorium mandated by the senate committee amendment on HB 1468.
* There is no evidence that the commission includes members who would consider free market solutions to reducing costs.
This bill relaxes the rule requiring a 3-month relationship for a person in, or qualifying for, hospice care.
* While no person should have the legislature inserted in decisions between themselves and their doctors, the existing restriction of a 3-month provider-patient relationship is particularly abhorrent for patients in hospice care or near-term end-of-life situations.
This bill modestly improves patient access to medicine.
* This bill authorizes the Dept. of Health and Human Services to establish a second dispensary location for therapeutic cannabis in the geographic area that includes Carroll, Coos, and Grafton counties. Under current law NH residents in many areas of the state have to travel great distances, in some cases as long as 3-4 hours round trip, to pick up legal medication.
This bill modestly improves patient access to medicine.
* This bill authorizes the Dept. of Health and Human Services to establish a second dispensary location for therapeutic cannabis in the geographic area that includes Carroll, Coos, and Grafton counties. Under current law NH residents in many areas of the state have to travel great distances, in some cases as long as 3-4 hours round trip, to pick up legal medication.
This bill phases out the interest and dividends tax over a 5-year period and repeals the tax on January 1, 2024.
* This bill eliminates the New Hampshire tax on interest and dividend income by reducing the tax rate each year until the tax is eliminated in 2024.
* Taxes on interest and dividends tend to discourage investment and savings, penalizing economic activity that would otherwise spur economic growth and improve productivity.
This bill phases out the interest and dividends tax over a 5-year period and repeals the tax on January 1, 2024.
* This bill eliminates the New Hampshire tax on interest and dividend income by reducing the tax rate each year until the tax is eliminated in 2024.
* Taxes on interest and dividends tends to discourage investment and savings, penalizing economic activity that would otherwise spur economic growth and improve productivity.
This bill declares that public meeting for the purposes of the right-to-know law shall not include strategy with respect to collective bargaining if only one party is present.
* This bill retains the privacy of strategic collective bargaining talks which could be harmful to taxpayers or unions if revealed.
This bill declares that public meeting for the purposes of the right-to-know law shall not include strategy with respect to collective bargaining if only one party is present.
* This bill retains the privacy of strategic collective bargaining talks which could be harmful to taxpayers or unions if revealed.
This bill declares that public meeting for the purposes of the right-to-know law shall not include strategy with respect to collective bargaining if only one party is present.
* This bill retains the privacy of strategic collective bargaining talks which could be harmful to taxpayers or unions if revealed.
This bill imposes mandates on private insurance carriers.
* This bill mandates that coverage for contraceptives be dispensed in a quantity intended to last for a 12-month period, if prescribed in that quantity. While barriers to access to contraceptives should be lowered, this should not be done at the expense of new mandates on private businesses.
* This bill mandates that “a deductible, copayment, co-insurance, or other cost-sharing requirement shall not be imposed” for prescription contraceptive drugs, devices, or services.
This bill imposes mandates on private insurance carriers.
* This bill mandates that coverage for contraceptives be dispensed in a quantity intended to last for a 12-month period, if prescribed in that quantity. While barriers to access to contraceptives should be lowered, this should not be done at the expense of new mandates on private businesses.
* This bill mandates that “a deductible, copayment, co-insurance, or other cost-sharing requirement shall not be imposed” for prescription contraceptive drugs, devices, or services.
This bill dramatically erodes parental influence in a child's participation in non-academic surveys.
* Prior to SB 43, which passed in Feb. 2017, schools would routinely require students to complete non-academic surveys and questionnaires to assess their attitudes, values, decision making, and behaviors without the consent of parents — this bill undermines the important parental rights protected by current law.
* Parents should be fully informed on non-academic surveys being given to their children and should have the ability to have their children not participate. This bill undermines that ability by eliminating the existing opt-out provision for any "locally approved grants, initiatives, or contracts" which is such a broad exclusion that it seeks to eliminate the participation of the parent in the non-academic aspects of their children's lives.
* This bill would decrease the classroom time spent on academic material by increasing the number of non-academic surveys the students need to complete.
This bill dramatically erodes parental influence in a child's participation in non-academic surveys.
* Prior to SB 43, which passed in Feb. 2017, schools would routinely require students to complete non-academic surveys and questionnaires to assess their attitudes, values, decision making, and behaviors without the consent of parents — this bill undermines the important parental rights protected by current law.
* Parents should be fully informed on non-academic surveys being given to their children and should have the ability to have their children not participate. This bill undermines that ability by eliminating the existing opt-out provision for any "locally approved grants, initiatives, or contracts" which is such a broad exclusion that it seeks to eliminate the participation of the parent in the non-academic aspects of their children's lives.
This bill dramatically erodes parental influence in a child's participation in non-academic surveys.
* Prior to SB 43, which passed in Feb. 2017, schools would routinely require students to complete non-academic surveys and questionnaires to assess their attitudes, values, decision making, and behaviors without the consent of parents — this bill undermines the important parental rights protected by current law.
* Parents should be fully informed on non-academic surveys being given to their children and should have the ability to have their children not participate. This bill undermines that ability by eliminating the existing opt-out provision for any "locally approved grants, initiatives, or contracts" which is such a broad exclusion that it seeks to eliminate the participation of the parent in the non-academic aspects of their children's lives.
This bill expands who may qualify for a job as a school nurse, provided they are a registered nurse.
* In 2016 the legislature added a requirement for all school nurses to be certified by the State Board of Education, which created issues in hiring school nurses.
* This bill removes the changes that created this issue.
This bill expands who may qualify for a job as a school nurse, provided they are a registered nurse.
* In 2016 the legislature added a requirement for all school nurses to be certified by the State Board of Education, which created issues in hiring school nurses.
* This bill removes the changes that created this issue.
Increases the production power threshold on certain customers that are eligible for net metering.
* The bill increases the limit for "customer-generator" facilites to receive preferred treatment under the law. This new threshold is above what is available to the average consumer allowing corporations to receive special handouts not available to consumers. The constitution is clear about the role of government and this bill does exactly the opposite: "Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security, of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men...".
* Electricity rates in NH are already well above the surrounding states and expanding special programs will drive rates higher and create a further disadvantage for ratepayers and manufacturing facilities.
This bill would establish a commission to study the expansion of the size and power of the state.
* State involvement in the electric market is part of the reason why New Hampshire ended up with some of the highest electric rates in the nation.
* The minority expresses concern that "There's no central place responsible for implementing a coordinated energy policy for NH, one that will do long-term planning to address all our energy needs." Centrally-planned economies produce shortages and increase costs. The lack of central responsibility for implementing a state-mandated energy policy is a feature of liberty — not a bug.
This bill increases the requirements for continuing education for license renewals of real estate brokers and salespersons.
* Although the training mandated by this bill may be useful and is supported by professional organizations, such mandates would be better handled by the professional organizations themselves requiring standards that their members must meet to continue membership.
This bill establishes a paint recycling program that requires producers of paint sold at retail in New Hampshire to create a program for collecting, transporting, recycling, processing, and disposing of post-consumer paint.
* The Dept. of Environmental Services does not have the resources to manage and review the audits the proposed program requires.
* This bill will not only increase paint prices in NH, it will also increase taxes to cover the costs of managing the program.
* Smaller paint companies will not be able to afford the cost of this program, and will be forced out of NH, leaving customers fewer options for paint.
* Consumers would be charged a fee during purchase, forcing users who use all of their paint to subsize inefficient users of paint.
This bill compels health care providers to provide medical advice that is deemed appropriate by the state.
* The state should not be in the position of mandating specific medical advice and compelling speech.
This bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of certain firearm accessories.
* The language describing "bump stocks" is so broad, the prohibitions would also include many replacement or upgrade parts used in modern firearms, including match grade triggers, higher quality bolt assemblies, better quality magazines, and stronger/weaker springs (depending on location).
* According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, NH has the highest number of jobs per capita in the US for firearms and firearms component manufacturing (http://bit.ly/2DMjKju). Additional regulations on typical firearms components would negatively impact NH businesses.
* 3D printing and other broadly penetrated technologies render such legislation largely ineffective and negatively impacts law-abiding citizens.
* While ITL is the most appropriate motion for this bill, Interim Study is acceptable.
This bill clarifies that sleeping in a vehicle is not considered driving and should not be arrestable under the DWI statute.
* As amended, this bill would exclude safe activity such as sleeping/resting or sheltering in place in a legal parking zone from being considered an attempt to drive. This common sense definition reduces the risk of facing a DWI charge for activity that poses no threat to the public.
* Arresting people who do the right thing by not driving while intoxicated does not make the roads any safer. This bill clarifies that sleeping in a vehicle or being outside of a vehicle is not considered driving and should not be arrestable under the driving while intoxicated statute.
This bill clarifies the definition of "drive or attempt to drive" in DWI prohibitions.
* As amended, this bill would exclude safe activity such as sleeping/resting or sheltering in place in a legal parking zone from being considered an attempt to drive. This common sense definition reduces the risk of facing a DWI charge for activity that poses no threat to the public.
* Arresting people who do the right thing by not driving while intoxicated does not make the roads any safer. This bill clarifies that sleeping in a vehicle or being outside of a vehicle is not considered driving and should not be arrestable under the driving while intoxicated statute.
This bill mandates the disclosure of sensitive data from property owners in order to provide potentially misleading data in support of appraisals.
* Information collected could be used against a real estate investment business. This bill will encourage municipalities to raise taxes on efficient property owners.
* Accurate appraisals can be made without knowing the income/expense data for a property.
* This bill will penalize a property owner who decides to protect their privacy and not disclose income records, but does not penalize abuse of the collected information by government officials.
* This bill may result in higher rents if a municipality taxes on potential rent based on the income records.
This bill prohibits motorcycle-only checkpoints.
* There is a demonstrated need for this legislation, as during the committee hearing, testimony was given that the town of Portsmouth is said to have been pursuing motorcycle-only checkpoints.
* Roadside checkpoints which stop vehicles without probable cause are an infringement upon the right to be free from unreasonable searches of possessions.
This bill prohibits the state or a political subdivision of the state from conducting motorcycle-only checkpoints for the purpose of enforcing the existing RSA relative to noise prevention.
* There is a demonstrated need for this legislation, as during the committee hearing testimony was given that the town of Portsmouth is said to have been pursuing motorcycle-only checkpoints.
* Roadside checkpoints which stop vehicles without probable cause are an infringement upon the right to be free from unreasonable searches of possessions.
This bill spends taxpayer dollars to pay for full-cost meals for students who are already eligible for reduced-cost meals.
* Under federal guidelines students from families above 1.35x the household-size-adjusted poverty level and below 1.85x the household-size-adjusted poverty level are already eligible for reduced-price breakfast. This bill would allow those qualifying for reduced-price meals to receive breakfast at the expense of taxpayers — some of whom may be just over the limit and who would now be forced to subsidize the children of other families.
This bill spends taxpayer dollars to pay for full-cost meals for students who are already eligible for reduced-cost meals.
* Under federal guidelines students from families above 1.35x the household-size-adjusted poverty level and below 1.85x the household-size-adjusted poverty level are already eligible for reduced-price breakfast. This bill would allow those qualifying for reduced-price meals to receive breakfast at the expense of taxpayers — some of whom may be just over the limit and who would now be forced to subsidize the children of other families.
This bill requires DES to conduct an unplanned study and would require reallocation of resources in a non-budget year.
* Predictable flooding is not a good reason to reallocate budget money that has been earmarked for other important projects.
* The fiscal note estimates for the cost of the proposed study varied. Without knowing how much is needed to fund the study, it is irresponsible to pass this bill.
This bill restricts competition and access to art therapy services by imposing arduous and excessive licensing requirements.
• Only 12 states currently license art therapy. Licensing often creates unintended consequences and in this case, restricts access to resources. As hiring a certified and licensed professional becomes more expensive, more individuals will seek substitutes to professional services or neglect to obtain services entirely in order to save money.
• The requirements of this bill are excessive, mandating thousands of hours of school and thousands of hours of additional experience, under specific conditions. It prohibits even those who are licensed therapists who have received training in art therapy and have years of experience, but hold a more generalized degree in psychotherapy, from serving as art therapists.
• Licensing is no replacement for references and reputation. Some licensed service providers are incompetent and many unlicensed service providers are highly competent. Licensing creates a false sense of security for consumers and reduces the overall quality of work provided by raising barriers to entry and reducing competition.
• Licensing makes it more difficult even for experienced, educated, and competent workers to start small businesses. We should be reducing the already significant regulatory load on small businesses, not increasing it.
This bill expands state spending to fund full-day kindergarten.
* Communities that choose to offer half-day kindergarten should not be forced to subsidize those that choose to offer full-day kindergarten. Both the decision, and the funding, should be local.
This bill provides a new benefit to firefighters, many of whom work under collectively bargained contracts, without negotiating the addition of this benefit as part of regular contract negotiations.
* This bill creates a new program to reimburse costs associated with firefighters who have cancer under the presumption that these cancers are work-related.
* While there may be cancers caused by work-related exposure, the language is broad enough that effectively all non-smoking employees will be provided with a new healthcare benefit paid for by NH residents who do not receive such a benefit themselves. As amended by the house, the cancer type must be "a type which may be caused by exposure to heat, radiation, or a known carcinogen, as defined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer". The International Agency for Research on Cancer indicates that alcohol is a carcinogen that carries risk for multiple cancers including liver and oral cancers (monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol100E/mono100E-11.pdf). As written, an employee who abuses alcohol and develops a cancer which may be due to this known carcinogen is entited to coverage for up to 20 years after retirement.
* Firefighers are far from the only workers in society who have unique environmental exposures or other elevated risk factors for disease. Police have elevated risks of prostate cancer as compared to the general population (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5693511/), sanitation workers have elevated risk of infection and cancer (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2796749/), and computer/IT workers are at a higher risk for blood clots (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2966881).
* If this is a valuable employee benefit that can be offered at a low cost, then it should be offered as part of contract negotiations.
This bill provides a new benefit to firefighters, many of whom work under collectively bargained contracts, without negotiating the addition of this benefit as part of regular contract negotiations.
* This bill effectively creates a new program to reimburse costs associated with firefighters who have cancer under the presumption that these cancers are work-related.
* While there may be cancers caused by work-related exposure, the language is broad enough that effectively all non-smoking employees will be provided with a new healthcare benefit paid for by NH residents who do not receive such a benefit themselves.
* Firefighers are far from the only workers in society who have unique environmental exposures or other elevated risk factors for disease. Police have elevated risks of prostate cancer as compared to the general population (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5693511/), sanitation workers have elevated risk of infection and cancer (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2796749/), and computer/IT workers are at a higher risk for blood clots (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2966881).
* If this is a valuable employee benefit that can be offered at a low cost, then it should be offered as part of contract negotiations.
This bill allows the governor to use money in the revenue stabilization fund upon making a declaration that there is a public health emergency.
* The sponsor of the bill indicates that a primary (though not only) purpose of the bill is to allow the governor the power to access funds in the "rainy day" account for spending on items such as the opioid epidemic. The state has already allocated significant funds through the normal legislative process. These funds are intended to be used when there is a short-term funding shortfall that would be difficult to address in a economic downturn — not to spend additional money on failed approaches to the drug war.
This bill burdens New Hampshire taxpayers with additional cost for certain retired state workers.
* This bill changes premium contribution requirements for retired state employees and/or spouses who are eligible for Medicare Parts A and B due to age or disability, and are therefore eligible for retiree coverage under the State Health Benefit Plan (HBP). Premium contributions would no longer be required until employees hired on or after September 1, 2009 begin to retire.
This bill bans the sale and possession of tobacco products by many adults in NH.
* This bill extends the current prohibition on tobacco products to adults between the ages of 18 and 21.
* While tobacco products are harmful, applying restrictions on their use to adults is paternalistic.
This bill establishes a biased commission to study legislation for lowering the burden of proof for a workers' compensation Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) claim.
* As the minority of the committee noted, this committee would study mental health issues with no mental health professionals from the state or the Governor's Commission on Disability.
* PTSD is a serious and real condition but it is also a finding that has been subject to growing abuse (edition.cnn.com/2014/02/24/justice/new-york-ptsd-9-11-scam).
* According to the minority of the committee, first responders can already seek help through workers' compensation on mental health issues.
This bill infringes on the freedom of workers and employers.
* Workers and employers have a right to contract for whatever wage they wish. It is wrong for government to legally prohibit voluntary employment agreements.
* Minimum wage laws lower the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to gain critical experience.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation enabled by a free market; more jobs means more competition to hire all workers.
* Very few businesses pay minimum wage, almost all pay $10 or more per hour, and the marketplace has effectively raised the minimum wage already. This bill will raise the cost of living for all NH residents and will hurt low income families.
This bill revises the procedures for the granting of bail and revises the procedure for annulment of violations and class B misdemeanors.
* This bill prohibits the court from setting a bail so high (as compared to the defendant's ability to pay the bail or bond fee) that a person is forced to remain in jail while awaiting trial. This will save the state at least $3200/month per individual who is no longer held for months while awaiting trial — higher if medical costs are considered.
* In addition, this bill streamlines the process for annulment of violations unless there is an enhanced penalty for subsequent convictions one year after a person has completed all the terms and conditions of the sentence.
* This bill also creates a commission on pretrial detention, pretrial schedule, and pretrial services.
This bill revises the procedures for the granting of bail and revises the procedure for annulment of violations and class B misdemeanors.
* The bill prohibits the court from setting a bail so high (as compared to the defendant's ability pay the bail or bond fee) that a person is forced to remain in jail while awaiting trial. This will save the state at least $3200/month per individual who no longer is held for months while awaiting trial — higher if medical costs are considered.
This bill creates a tax exemption for a certain group of favored businesses.
* The purpose of this bill is to direct the behavior of citizens and businesses toward activity that the state believes may have long-term financial benefit. The state should not be picking winners and losers and setting aside targeted tax cuts for specific classes of businesses.
* New Hampshire can better retain and attract businesses without resorting to central planning by broadly reducing our existing punishing business taxes.
This bill creates a tax exemption for a certain group of favored businesses.
* The purpose of this bill is to direct the behavior of citizens and businesses toward activity that the state believes may have long-term financial benefit. The state should not be picking winners and losers and setting aside targeted tax cuts for specific classes of businesses.
* New Hampshire can continue to retain and attract businesses without resorting to central planning by broadly reducing our existing punishing business taxes.
This bill partially addresses New Hampshire's non-competitive aircraft registration/operating fees.
* New Hampshire aircraft registration and operating fees are currently significantly higher than surrounding states, which disincentivizes corporations from locating headquarters and certain operations in the state. While this bill does not fully address this imbalance, it is a positive step that reduces the risk of companies leaving the state for lower-cost states.
* Registration fees are an inappropriate way to impose a fee for state aviation costs as they disproportionately impact New Hampshire aircraft owners while the state aviation services are provided to both in-state and out-of-state aircraft owners who use state infrastructure.
This bill partially addresses New Hampshire's non-competitive aircraft registration fees.
* New Hampshire aircraft registration fees are currently significantly higher than surrounding states, which disincentivizes corporations from locating headquarters and certain operations in the state. While this bill does not fully address this imbalance, it is a positive step that reduces the risk of companies leaving the state for lower-cost states.
* Registration fees are an inappropriate way to impose a fee for state aviation costs as they disproportionately impact New Hampshire aircraft owners while the state aviation services are provided to both in-state and out-of-state aircraft owners who use state infrastructure.
This bill partially addresses New Hampshire's non-competitive aircraft registration fees.
* New Hampshire aircraft registration fees are currently significantly higher than surrounding states, which disincentivizes corporations from locating headquarters and certain operations in the state. While this bill does not fully address this imbalance, it is a positive step that reduces the risk of companies leaving the state for lower-cost states.
* Registration fees are an inappropriate way to impose a fee for state aviation costs as they disproportionately impact New Hampshire aircraft owners while the state aviation services are provided to both in-state and out-of-state aircraft owners who use state infrastructure.
This bill partially addresses New Hampshire's non-competitive aircraft registration fees.
* New Hampshire aircraft registration fees are currently significantly higher than surrounding states, which disincentivizes corporations from locating headquarters and certain operations in the state. While this bill does not fully address this imbalance, it is a positive step that reduces the risk of companies leaving the state for lower-cost states.
* Registration fees are an inappropriate way to impose a fee for state aviation costs as they disproportionately impact New Hampshire aircraft owners while the state aviation services are provided to both in-state and out-of-state aircraft owners who use state infrastructure.
This bill creates government-granted monopoly privileges.
* Allowing two special interests to conduct gambling operations while prohibiting all others from competing is a clear example of regulatory capture and an unjust use of government power.
• This bill would violate article 83 of the NH Constitution, which states "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it.".
• This bill dramatically increases the size and scope of government. Once large bureaucracies and moneyed interests are created, they are very difficult to roll back.
• The NHLA would support a bill to more broadly legalize gambling, or allow for the creation of many independent casinos.
This bill changes the penalty for capital murder to life imprisonment without the possibility for parole.
* NH should not risk allowing the state to kill an innocent person. As recently as 2014, a death row inmate in TX (Henry Lee McCollum) was conclusively cleared by DNA evidence after having spent nearly 30 years on death row. He is far from the only example of an innocent person being placed on death row; several other examples were heard in testimony. Neither prosecutors nor courts are infallible.
* If a person is convicted and incarcerated, but is later found innocent of wrongdoing, the sentence is at least partially reversible. The death penalty is irreversible.
* There are two primary reasons to punish those who commit crimes against persons or property. The first reason is to obtain restitution for the victim of the crime, to whatever extent possible. The second reason is to prevent those who present a continuing threat to others from committing further crimes. Given the availability of secure prison facilities, the death penalty as it exists in New Hampshire is not necessary for either of these purposes.
* As shown in the fiscal note, long-term incarceration costs NH taxpayers less than the death penalty.
This bill changes the penalty for capital murder to life imprisonment without the possibility for parole.
* NH should not risk allowing the state to kill an innocent person. As recently as 2014, a death row inmate in TX (Henry Lee McCollum) was conclusively cleared by DNA evidence after having spent nearly 30 years on death row. He is far from the only example of an innocent person being placed on death row; several other examples were heard in testimony. Neither prosecutors nor courts are infallible.
• If a person is convicted and incarcerated, but is later found innocent of wrongdoing, the sentence is at least partially reversible. The death penalty is irreversible.
• There are two primary reasons to apprehend those who commit crimes against persons or property. The first reason is to obtain restitution for the victim of the crime, to whatever extent possible. The second reason is to prevent those who present a continuing threat to others from committing further crimes. Given the availability of secure prison facilities, the death penalty as it exists in New Hampshire is not necessary for either of these purposes.
• As shown in the fiscal note, long-term incarceration costs NH taxpayers less than the death penalty.
This bill changes the penalty for capital murder to life imprisonment without the possibility for parole.
* NH should not risk allowing the state to kill an innocent person. As recently as 2014, a death row inmate in TX (Henry Lee McCollum) was conclusively cleared by DNA evidence after having spent nearly 30 years on death row. He is far from the only example of an innocent person being placed on death row; several other examples were heard in testimony. Neither prosecutors nor courts are infallible.
• If a person is convicted and incarcerated, but is later found innocent of wrongdoing, the sentence is at least partially reversible. The death penalty is irreversible.
• There are two primary reasons to apprehend those who commit crimes against persons or property. The first reason is to obtain restitution for the victim of the crime, to whatever extent possible. The second reason is to prevent those who present a continuing threat to others from committing further crimes. Given the availability of secure prison facilities, the death penalty as it exists in New Hampshire is necessary for neither of these purposes.
• As shown in the fiscal note, long-term incarceration costs NH taxpayers less than the death penalty.
This constitutional amendment provides carte blanche for local governments to infringe upon the rights of citizens.
* We believe that government is most accountable and accessible when it is most local. Local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates. We do believe that there is a higher principle, however: the principle of individual liberty. Indeed, the most "local" governance of all is the governance of an individual over his or her own life and property. This constitutional amendment violates this principle and is a backdoor whose express purpose is to enable prohibitions on liberty.
* Although it might appear that allowing local control would be liberty-enhancing, it would in fact create the opposite situation. In nearly all cases, passing additional laws restricts individuals' liberties, not enhances them. This constitutional amendment would allow local municipalities to pass nearly any law they wanted, further infringing on individuals' liberties. As it stands, local municipalities in NH are only allowed to make laws about things that the state explicitly authorizes. In this sense, the state actually serves to protect individuals from encroachment by local municipalities.
* As one example, NH currently has no restrictions on individuals' ownership of particular knives. Municipalities may not pass additional restrictions. Under this constitutional amendment, municipalities would be able to restrict individuals' freedoms by passing local knife laws.
This bill provides misleading voter's guide information for a constitutional amendment that attempts to limit how future income tax proceeds would be spent.
* This proposed constitutional amendment states that "any personal income tax enacted in the state shall be returned to the cities, towns, school districts, and counties to assist in property tax relief." while the voter instructions state that "if an income tax is ever enacted, the revenue from it would be used only to reduce property taxes." There is no guarantee in the amendment that the total property tax bill would be less than a prior tax bill — simply that the funding 'would assist in relief', which could be interpreted as offsetting a planned increase in total spending enabled by the new tax.
This bill provides misleading voter's guide information for a constitutional amendment that attempts to limit how future income tax proceeds would be spent.
* This proposed constitutional amendment states that "any personal income tax enacted in the state shall be returned to the cities, towns, school districts, and counties to assist in property tax relief." while the voter instructions state that "if an income tax is ever enacted, the revenue from it would be used only to reduce property taxes." There is no guarantee in the amendment that the total property tax bill would be less than a prior tax bill — simply that the funding 'would assist in relief', which could be interpreted as offsetting a planned increase in total spending enabled by the new tax.
This CACR would modify the Constitution to prevent the adoption of any new sales taxes.
* New Hampshire has a strong economy based on not collecting sales taxes. Business at the borders with other states would be hurt if a long-term sales tax were adopted.
* Sales taxes disproportionately impact lower income families, as a larger portion of their income is spent directly on products within the state.
* New Hampshire derives much of its income from tourism. Allowing a sales tax would negatively impact our tourism.
This CACR would modify the Constitution to prevent the adoption of any new sales taxes.
* New Hampshire has a strong economy based on not collecting sales taxes. Business at the borders with other states would be hurt if a long-term sales tax were adopted.
* Sales taxes disproportionally impact lower income families, as a larger portion of their income is spent directly on products within the state.
* New Hampshire derives much of its income from tourism. Allowing a sales tax would negatively impact our tourism.
This CACR would modify the Constitution to prevent the adoption of an income tax.
* Taxation of earnings from labor is on a par with forced labor.
* Allowing individuals to keep more of their money would benefit those who want to work harder and earn more.
* New Hampshire has a well-established brand identity as a non-income, non-sales tax state. Establishing in the Constitution the prohibition on an income tax would incentivize companies to locate in New Hampshire to take advantage of this provision. This would increase economic activity in the state.
This CACR would modify the Constitution to prevent the adoption of an income tax.
* Taxation of earnings from labor is on a par with forced labor.
* Allowing citizens to keep more of their money would benefit those who want to work harder and earn more.
* New Hampshire has a well-established brand identity as a non-income, non-sales tax state. Establishing in the Constitution the prohibition on an income tax would incentivize companies to locate in New Hampshire to take advantage of this provision. This would increase economic activity in the state.
This CACR would modify the Constitution to prevent the adoption of an income tax.
* Taxation of earnings from labor is on a par with forced labor.
* Allowing citizens to keep more of their money would benefit those who want to work harder and earn more.
* New Hampshire has a well-established brand identity as a non-income, non-sales tax state. Establishing in the Constitution the prohibition on an income tax would incentivize companies to locate in New Hampshire to take advantage of this provision. This would increase business revenue to the state.
This bill makes appropriations in excess of current tax sources and significantly increases spending.
* This budget dramatically increases New Hampshire spending going beyond the excessive levels requested by the governor.
* The level of spending proposed will require new taxes that will forever alter the fiscal landscape of New Hampshire.
* This budget applies one-time surplus funds as recurring spending increases, which dramatically increases the risk of needing future tax increases.
* This budget increases government taxation and spending at a rate of almost $1000/person for this biennium.
This bill makes appropriations in excess of current tax sources and significantly increases spending.
* This budget dramatically increases New Hampshire spending going beyond the excessive levels requested by the governor.
* The level of spending proposed will require new taxes that will forever alter the fiscal landscape of New Hampshire.
* This budget applies one-time surplus funds as recurring spending increases, which dramatically increases the risk of needing future tax increases.
* This budget increases government taxation and spending at a rate of almost $1000/person for this biennium.
This bill makes appropriations in excess of current tax sources and significantly increases spending.
* This budget dramatically increases New Hampshire spending going beyond the excessive levels requested by the governor.
* The level of spending proposed will require new taxes, including a capital gains tax that will forever alter the fiscal landscape of New Hampshire.
* This budget applies one-time surplus funds as recurring spending increases, which dramatically increases the risk of needing future tax increases.
This bill makes appropriations in excess of current tax sources and significantly increases spending.
* This budget dramatically increases New Hampshire spending going beyond the excessive levels requested by the governor.
* The level of spending proposed will require new taxes, including a capital gains tax that will forever alter the fiscal landscape of New Hampshire.
* This budget applies one-time surplus funds as recurring spending increases, which dramatically increases the risk of needing future tax increases.
This bill includes a tax on earned income, and sets the state up for future expansion of taxes on income.
* The Committee of Conference report leaves intact a retroactive BET/BPT tax increase on small businesses, something that impacts 133,000 ( >50% of the work force) small businesses in the state: www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/2018-Small-Business-Profiles-NH_0.pdf
* This bill imposes new regulations and taxes on "Electronic cigarettes", making it more expensive for people to switch off of traditional tobacco products.
* It creates a 20% additional fee for Real ID compliant drivers licenses, disenfranchising those of low income who would choose this form of ID to travel by air.
* Along with HB 1, this bill spends all but $5 million of the $166 million left over after the 2018-2019 biennium. Worse yet, much of this spending is inappropriately allocated to ongoing expenses rather than one-time items.
* This bill raises business taxes $125 million over current law, and $35 million over the House budget. This is about an 8% increase in business taxes at a time when such revenues are already way up.
* Rather than pump up taxes and spending as though these good times will never stop, it would be much more prudent to take last year's excess and pay down some of the state's debts and unfunded pension liabilities. When times are good and school enrollments are down, government should be declining, not increasing.
This bill includes a tax on earned income, and sets the state up for future expansion of taxes on income.
* The Committee of Conference report leaves intact a retroactive BET/BPT tax increase on small businesses, something that impacts 133,000 ( >50% of the work force) small businesses in the state: www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/2018-Small-Business-Profiles-NH_0.pdf
* This bill imposes new regulations and taxes on "Electronic cigarettes", making it more expensive for people to switch off of traditional tobacco products.
* It creates a 20% additional fee for Real ID compliant drivers licenses, disenfranchising those of low income who would choose this form of ID to travel by air.
* Along with HB 1, this bill spends all but $5 million of the $166 million left over after the 2018-2019 biennium. Worse yet, much of this spending is inappropriately allocated to ongoing expenses rather than one-time items.
* This bill raises business taxes $125 million over current law, and $35 million over the House budget. This is about an 8% increase in business taxes at a time when such revenues are already way up.
* Rather than pump up taxes and spending as though these good times will never stop, it would be much more prudent to take last year's excess and pay down some of the state's debts and unfunded pension liabilities. When times are good and school enrollments are down, government should be declining, not increasing.
This bill includes a tax on earned income, and sets the state up for future expansion of taxes on income.
* Along with HB 1, this bill spends all but $5 million of the $166 million left over after the 2018-2019 biennium. Worse yet, much of this spending is inappropriately going to ongoing expenses rather than one-time items.
* This bill raises business taxes $125 million over current law, and $35 million over the House budget. This is about an 8% increase in business taxes at a time when such revenues are already way up.
* This bill contains a new mandated family medical leave program that is funded via a 0.5% tax on earned income. Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
* The commissioner of the Department of Employment Security will be empowered to raise the earned income tax rate or lower the benefits, up to 10%, without legislative approval.
* Rather than pump up taxes and spending as though these good times will never stop, it would be much more prudent to take last year's excess and pay down some of the state's debts and unfunded pension liabilities. When times are good and school enrollments are down, government should be declining, not increasing.
This bill includes a tax on earned income, a new tax on capital gains, and sets the state up for future expansion of taxes on income.
* This bill creates a new tax on capital gains in New Hampshire. Capital gains taxes make capital investments more expensive, and therefore less investment occurs.
* This bill contains a new mandated family medical leave program that is funded via a 0.5% tax on earned income. Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate. Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
* The commissioner of the Department of Employment Security will be empowered to raise the earned income tax rate or lower the benefits, up to 10%, without legislative approval.
This bill allows school districts or chartered public schools to adopt a policy infringing upon the right of self-defense for adults.
* This bill would grant broad powers to school boards by removing all restrictions on their ability to adopt policies related to use, possession, or transportation of firearms and knives. The grant of authority does not restrict these policies to only activities taking place on school property.
* Studies have shown no correlation between the enactment of gun free zones and improved safety. (www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/gun-free-zones.html)
This bill adds a new definition for commercial firearms sales that would result in a transfer being considered a commercial sale even if no money or item of value is exchanged but the transfer is initiated after the firearm was displayed.
* This bill poorly defines "commercial sale" such that friends and family who happen to innocently plan their next hunting trip while at a gun show could find themselves unknowingly committing a misdemeanor if they swap guns while on that trip.
* The bill will criminalize lawful firearms transactions between friends, family, neighbors, and members of the same shooting club by redefining these isolated events as "commercial sales".
* The newly-mandated background checks are effectively a 'poll tax' on a constitutionally-protected right.
* This bill is unnecessary as private transfer of pistols and revolvers is already regulated under RSA 159:8, III and RSA 159:10 without the unintended consequences added by this bill.
This bill adds a new definition for commercial firearms sales that would result in a transfer being considered a commercial sale even if no money or item of value is exchanged but the transfer is initiated after the firearm was displayed.
* This bill poorly defines "commercial sale" such that friends and family who happen to innocently plan their next hunting trip while at a gun show could find themselves unknowingly committing a misdemeanor if they swap guns while on that trip.
* The bill will criminalize lawful firearms transactions between friends, family, neighbors, and members of the same shooting club by redefining these isolated events as "commercial sales".
* The newly-mandated background checks are effectively a 'poll tax' on a constitutionally-protected right.
* This bill is unnecessary as private transfer of pistols and revolvers is already regulated under RSA 159:8, III and RSA 159:10 without the unintended consequences added by this bill.
This bill adds a new definition for commercial firearms sales that would result in a transfer being considered a commercial sale even if no money or item of value is exchanged but the transfer is initiated after the firearm was displayed.
* This bill poorly defines "commercial sale" such that friends and family who happen to innocently plan their next hunting trip while at a gun show could find themselves unknowingly committing a misdemeanor if they swap guns while on that trip.
* The bill will criminalize lawful firearms transactions between friends, family, neighbors, and members of the same shooting club by redefining these isolated events as "commercial sales".
* The newly mandated background checks are effectively a 'poll tax' on a constitutionally-protected right.
* This bill is unnecessary as private transfer of pistols and revolvers is already regulated under RSA 159:8, III and RSA 159:10 without the unintended consequences added by this bill.
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to notify a child's primary healthcare provider of a report of suspected abuse or neglect regarding the child.
* Physicians are already required to report any suspected abuse (RSA 169-C:29 Persons Required to Report). This bill could lead to false suspicion of abuse and physicians violating patients' medical privacy.
* This bill demeans parental rights and medical privacy by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to notify the primary care physician in cases of suspected child abuse, before the parents are actually convicted and deemed guilty of child abuse.
* This bill would have potentially unintended consequences of causing even a wrongly-accused parent to second guess bringing their child to the doctor after an accidental injury and may therefore increase risk of harm to a child.
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to notify a child's primary healthcare provider of a report of suspected abuse or neglect regarding the child.
* Physicians are already required to report any suspected abuse (RSA 169-C:29: Persons Required to Report). This bill could lead to false suspicion of abuse and physicians violating patients' medical privacy.
* This bill demeans parental rights and medical privacy by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to notify the primary care physician in cases of suspected child abuse, before the parents are actually convicted and deemed guilty of child abuse.
* This bill would have potentially unintended consequences of causing even a wrongly-accused parent to second guess bringing their child to the doctor after an accidental injury and may therefore increase risk of harm to a child.
This bill establishes licensure and inspection practice for body art and massage establishments and creates a new apprentice license.
* This bill burdens law-abiding massage therapists and body artists with new requirements and new fees.
* New establishment fees are undefined and likely much more than an individual license.
* This will increase costs to small independent businesses both to obtain the new license as well as to allocate time to work with state inspectors. This will be a disproportionate burden on small establishments in that not only will they have to pay a new license fee, but they may also have to cancel client appointments to work with the inspector.
This bill establishes licensure and inspection practice for body art establishments.
* Body art practitioners are already licensed and regulated. This is primarily a service industry that is labor intensive, so the quality of their labor is much more important than where the actual services are performed.
* The extra license fee will do nothing to protect the public; rather, it will force businesses to close permanently or go underground, or as often happens, it will just make the cost to the consumer more expensive without any real benefit.
This bill repeals a violation of the First Amendment.
* Whereas the NHLA has a policy of not taking positions on the issue of abortion in general, this bill's restoration of freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment merits our taking a position in support of this bill.
* This bill repeals the "buffer zone" created by SB 319 (2014) restoring the right of people to peacefully assemble, as provided by the protections of the First Amendment.
* This law has been in place for nearly 5 years and appears to be unenforced. Buffer zones are reminicent of the abhorrent "free speech zones" at presidential events.
* Many of the complaints SB 319 looked to resolve are already covered by existing statutes.
This bill seeks to control network management policies of private internet service providers.
* According to the fiscal note, this bill would spend more than a half a million dollars per year of taxpayer funds to evaluate and enforce compliance, and this does not even consider the costs to New Hampshire businesses to service the regulatory infrastructure that the bill creates.
* The New Hampshire Department of Information Technology interprets the bill as requiring ISPs to operate under net neutrality principles in order to do business in the state and also to be eligible to be awarded contracts by the state.
* A year after the end of net neutrality at the federal level, internet speeds as measured by independent agents are more than 35% faster (www.recode.net/2018/12/12/18134899/internet-broafband-faster-ookla).
This bill makes small positive improvements to New Hampshire's burdensome licenses.
* This bill repeals the license requirements for showmen, ventriloquists, puppeteers, and other similar performers.
* In addition, this bill repeals license requirements for pool tables and bowling alleys.
* A penalty of felony ventriloquism has no place in a free society.
This bill requires municipalities to notify the property owner of changes in the assessed value in cases where the property owner is unlikely to be aware of the change.
* This bill ensures that property owners are given timely notice for assessed value changes, allowing them the time to appeal changes that they believe to be in error. This will help ensure that property owners have ample time to address errors.
* The bill contains exemptions for cases in which the property owner is likely to be aware of ongoing reassessment such as changes in value as a result of issued building permits.
This bill repeals the requirement for legislative approval for increases to the system benefits charge, allowing the Public Utilities Commission to approve fee increases when such fees are used to fund wealth transfer programs.
* NH residents should not be subject to further increases to the systems benefits charge without approval of elected representatives.
This bill repeals the requirement for legislative approval for increases to the system benefits charge, allowing the Public Utilities Commission to approve fee increases when such fees are used to fund wealth transfer programs.
* NH residents should not be subject to further increases to the systems benefits charge without approval of elected representatives.
This bill allows a waiver to institutional driver's education if a parent provides instruction.
* The current driving instruction option requires that parents drive with their children to and from these mandatory courses and then the parents wait in the parking lot during the course, taking time that could be better used for one-on-one instruction with their children.
* This bill would not do away with driving schools but it will provide a choice for parents allowing them to focus their efforts on the approaches that are most effective for their children.
* Who has the greater interest in a child being well-taught in driving: an instructor or a parent?
This bill mandates license suspension for second offenses of the prohibition against using mobile electronic devices while driving.
* Handheld phone bans cause some drivers to hide their phone use by placing the phone in their lap and taking their eyes off the road, which is far more dangerous. Increasing the penalties will only incentivize them even further to try to hide usage.
* Studies show that bans on use of handheld devices while driving have had no effect on accident rates (e.g. NE Burger, DT Kaffine, B Yu Transportation research part A: policy and practice 66, 162-172, and IIHS Status Report, Vol. 45, No. 2).
This bill mandates license suspension for second offenses of the prohibition against using mobile electronic devices while driving.
* Handheld phone bans cause some drivers to hide their phone use by placing the phone in their lap and taking their eyes off the road, which is far more dangerous. Increasing the penalties will only incentivize them even further to try to hide usage.
* Studies show that bans on use of handheld devices while driving have had no effect on accident rates (e.g. NE Burger, DT Kaffine, B Yu Transportation research part A: policy and practice 66, 162-172, and IIHS Status Report, Vol. 45, No. 2).
This bill mandates license suspension for second offenses of the prohibition against using mobile electronic devices while driving.
* Handheld phone bans cause some drivers to hide their phone use by placing the phone in their lap and taking their eyes off the road, which is far more dangerous. Increasing the penalties will only incentivize them even further to try to hide usage.
* Studies show that bans on use of handheld devices while driving have had no effect on accident rates (e.g. NE Burger, DT Kaffine, B Yu Transportation research part A: policy and practice 66, 162-172, and IIHS Status Report, Vol. 45, No. 2).
This bill, as amended, increases the penalties imposed for violations of the prohibition against using mobile electronic devices while driving.
* The original bill sought to clean up the RSAs by removing an old RSA involving prohibiting text messaging specifically, which is now redundant with the general mobile-device-while-driving ban.
* The amended version still does that, but in addition severely raises the fines for such usage, as well as possibly suspending someone's license for a second offense.
* Handheld phone bans cause some drivers to hide their phone use by placing the phone in their lap and taking their eyes off the road, which is far more dangerous. Increasing the fines will only incentivize them even further to try to hide usage.
* Studies show that bans on use of handheld devices while driving have had no effect on accident rates (e.g. NE Burger, DT Kaffine, B Yu Transportation research part A: policy and practice 66, 162-172, and IIHS Status Report, Vol. 45, No. 2).
* Vote NAY on the adoption of amendment 2019-0412h, and NAY OTP/A if the amendment does get adopted. If the amendment is defeated, vote YEA OTP on the original bill.
This bill, as amended, increases the penalties imposed for violations of the prohibition against using mobile electronic devices while driving.
* The original bill sought to clean up the RSAs by removing an old RSA involving prohibiting text messaging specifically, which is now redundant with the general mobile-device-while-driving ban.
* The amended version still does that, but in addition severely raises the fines for such usage, as well as possibly suspending someone's license for a second offense.
* Handheld phone bans cause some drivers to hide their phone use, by placing the phone in their lap and taking their eyes off the road, which is far more dangerous. Increasing the fines will only incentivize them even further to try to hide them.
* Studies show that bans on use of handheld devices while driving have had no effect on accident rates (e.g. NE Burger, DT Kaffine, B Yu Transportation research part A: policy and practice 66, 162-172, and IIHS Status Report, Vol. 45, No. 2).
* Vote NAY on the adoption of amendment 2019-0412h, and NAY OTP/A if the amendment does get adopted. If the amendment is defeated, vote YEA OTP on the original bill.
This bill would affirm the right of a person within their dwelling or property to utilize deadly force to protect another.
* This bill states that the use of force is justified when an assailant is likely to use unlawful force against another person in the commission of a felony within one's home or property. This is consistent with the New Hampshire Constitution: "Part 1 [Art.] 2-a. [The Bearing of Arms.] All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
This bill permits legal action against a public official of a municipality by a person who is aggrieved by the enactment or enforcement of an ordinance, bylaw, or regulation that is in violation of the authority of a town or city set forth in RSA 31 or RSA 47.
* Legislation that enables civil action always carries a risk of enabling lawsuits that may be deemed as 'frivolous' by some parties. However, when an individual is aggrieved by a municipality, the imbalance of power between the individual and an apparatus of the state is such that few individuals would be able to sustain the costs of legal action against an adversary who is able to derive funding from the public — including the party who was harmed. This bill seeks to address this power imbalance by providing standing for speedy civil action to address harm caused by an improper ordinance, bylaw, or regulation.
This bill limits free speech of individuals by placing an explicit restriction on their ability to ask certain questions during the candidate screening and interview process.
* This bill prevents employers from asking prospective candidates for their current salary or salary history prior to making an offer of employment with a salary. This can result in wasting the time and resources of the business and the candidate by allowing a lengthy interview process to proceed when the candidate's recent salary and expectations are significantly disconnected from the available budget.
* The explicit limitation in speech infringes upon the Bill of Rights in the NH Constitution: "[Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and Liberty of the press are essential to the security of Freedom in a State: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved."
This bill limits free speech of individuals by placing an explicit restriction on their ability to ask certain questions during the candidate screening and interview process.
* This bill prevents employers from asking prospective candidates for their current salary or salary history prior to making an offer of employment with a salary. This can result in wasting the time and resources of the business and the candidate by allowing a lengthy interview process to proceed when the candidate's recent salary and expectations are significantly disconnected from the available budget.
* The explicit limitation in speech infringes upon the Bill of Rights in the NH Constitution: "[Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and Liberty of the press are essential to the security of Freedom in a State: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved."
This bill limits free speech of individuals by placing an explicit restriction on their ability to ask certain questions during the candidate screening and interview process.
* This bill prevents employers from asking prospective candidates for their current salary or salary history prior to making an offer of employment with a salary. This can result in wasting the time and resources of the business and the candidate by allowing a lengthy interview process to proceed when the candidate's recent salary and expectations are significantly disconnected from the available budget.
* The explicit limitation in speech infringes upon the Bill of Rights in the NH Constitution: "[Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and Liberty of the press are essential to the security of Freedom in a State: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved."
This bill seeks to prevent a law enforcement officer from using deadly force to effect an arrest when there is no risk to human life nor risk of serious injury.
* Under current law, deadly force is deemed reasonably necessary for any case where an officer believes an arrest is lawful and the officer believes there is apparently no other possible means of effecting the arrest (RSA 627:5 VIII). This bill would retain a law enforcement officer's ability to utilize deadly force in self-defense or defense of another as well as in cases where the officer believes a suspect is likely to seriously endanger human life or inflict serious bodily injury unless apprehended without delay. However, this bill would remove the authority to utilize deadly force for arrests of simple non-violent crimes in order to effect an arrest.
This bill increases the minimum percentage of teachers that must be licensed by the state of NH for charter schools from 50% of the teaching staff to 75% and removes the ability to substitute prior teaching experience in lieu of New Hampshire certification.
* Charter schools are permitted to consider qualified non-traditional candidates who may bring a valuable and diverse perspective to the teaching profession. This is exactly the kind of flexibility that has made charter schools more successful than school districts.
* By increasing protectionism and artificial barriers to entry, this bill would raise education costs.
* It is often difficult to find certified STEM field teachers. This can be mitigated by the large pool of industry STEM experts without certification who are available and could potentially do a better job than candidates with an arbitrary certificate. This bill would make it more difficult to exercise this option.
* Flexible hiring requirements are a critical part of innovation and are unique to chartered public schools. Teacher credentials alone are not correlated with student performance.
* Moving toward a one-size-fits-all approach for teacher qualifications may negatively impact the diversity of the teaching population.
This unenforceable bill gives police officers an excuse to pull drivers over.
* This bill is unenforceable; since minors don't carry ID, there is no way an officer could tell what their age is.
* Interactions between police officers and private individuals should be minimized, not encouraged. At best traffic stops take valuable time away from already time-strapped, hard-working individuals. At worst, since situations can escalate out of control, they could end in arrest for completely unrelated reasons.
* With this bill, somebody could be pulled over for vaping, even though studies show that vaping is a safer alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes and has a very low risk factor to public health and safety (bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-18#Sec17). The bill only mentions the smoking of "tobacco products" and does not differentiate vaping from cigarettes. An officer could even pull someone over just for seeing water vapor in the car, even if the person is vaping a tobacco-free solution.
This unenforceable bill gives police officers an excuse to pull drivers over.
* This bill is unenforceable; since minors don't carry ID, there is no way an officer could tell what their age is.
* Interactions between police officers and private individuals should be minimized, not encouraged. At best traffic stops take valuable time away from already time-strapped, hard-working individuals. At worst, since situations can escalate out of control, they could end in arrest for completely unrelated reasons.
* With this bill, somebody could be pulled over for vaping, even though studies show that vaping is a safer alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes and has a very low risk factor to public health and safety (bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-18#Sec17). The bill only mentions the smoking of "tobacco products" and does not differentiate vaping from cigarettes. An officer could even pull someone over just for seeing water vapor in the car, even if the person is vaping a tobacco-free solution.
This bill requires cities and towns to comply with unconstitutional detainer requests.
* This bill would require police departments to enforce ICE detainers (proposed RSA 103-A:3), which have been declared in the First Circuit to be a violation of the Fourth Amendment. As a result, this bill violates Article 19 of the NH Constitution as well as the US Fourth Amendment. See the case Morales v. Chadbourne (www.aclu.org/cases/immigrants-rights/morales-v-chadbourne).
* Officers and towns would be subject to 18 USC 1983 civil rights claims, which would result in towns having to pay monetary settlements, and thus increase town budgets.
This bill permits restaurant owners to allow all dogs in restaurants.
* Restaurant owners should be able to establish their own animal policies/rules on their private property.
* Restaurant patrons will be made aware of any animal policies via signs on location. At that point, they can make the choice to visit the establishment or not.
* By only allowing service animals, we are providing legal protections for only a certain group of people. This could be abused as restaurant owners on their private property are not legally allowed to ask for service animal documentation.
This bill effectively increases taxes on businesses that collect the meals and rooms tax by capping the amount that they can withhold to administer the collection of these taxes.
* This bill increases taxes (estimated at $6.6 million had this been in place in 2018) on business and will likely result in higher prices as these costs are passed on to consumers.
This bill returns the minimum qualifications for a school nurse to simply being a registered professional nurse currently licensed in New Hampshire.
* The broad expansion of certification requirements passed in 2016 is an unfunded mandate that places financial and other burdens on school districts. This bill will reduce costs by removing artificial barriers to entry for qualified medical professionals.
This bill establishes a commission to study methods of forcing some New Hampshire residents to fund services for other residents.
* According to the statement of intent, this commission pre-supposes that state-run health insurance would make healthcare insurance more affordable to the residents of New Hampshire and therefore only seeks to find the best way to utilize force to enact a new program.
* Elimination of state mandates or a moratorium on new state mandates on health insurance would be a better way to stem increasing health insurance costs.
This bill requires that the Fish and Game conservation officers seek a warrant before executing a search.
* With the exception of Fish and Game officers, all other law enforcement officers need to meet the basic requirements of probable cause and they must obtain a warrant prior to a search.
* In 2014, SB 389 expanded the authority of Fish and Game officers to oversee motor vehicle laws, effectively giving them greater authority than the state troopers.
* All law enforcement officers, regardless of the department that they represent, should be required to follow the constitutions of both the United States and the State of New Hampshire.
This bill requires the removal and destruction of certain older wood stoves upon the sale of a home.
* In Horne v. Department of Agriculture, the US Supreme Court found (www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/horne-v-department-of-agriculture-2/) that the US Constitution's Fifth Amendment’s takings clause requires the government to pay compensation for takings of personal property. This bill would require homeowners to remove and destroy certain wood stoves upon the sale of a home if the home is in an area that has been designated as densely populated by the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services.
* While there is still a buy-back program that may provide partial relief for some owners, the forced 'taking' of personal properly without a guarantee of just compensation is unconstitutional.
This bill prohibits employers from using credit history in employment decisions.
* Employers are already required to get consent of an applicant before acquiring a credit report by federal law. This is not an invasion of privacy if consent is given (www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf).
* Employers only get a modified variation of credit history. They do not see a credit score. An employer pulling this info has no effect on credit score (www.businessinsider.com/employers-cannot-check-your-credit-score-2014-5).
* Employers are already required to notify an applicant of failing to hire due to credit history. This provides the applicant the chance to review the credit history for incorrect information.
This bill prohibits employers from using credit history in employment decisions.
* Employers are already required to get consent of an applicant before acquiring a credit report by federal law. This is not an invasion of privacy if consent is given (www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf).
* Employers only get a modified variation of credit history. They do not see a credit score. An employer pulling this info has no effect on credit score (www.businessinsider.com/employers-cannot-check-your-credit-score-2014-5).
* Employers are already required to notify an applicant of failing to hire due to credit history. This provides the applicant the chance to review the credit history for incorrect information.
This bill prohibits employers from using credit history in employment decisions.
* Employers are already required to get consent of an applicant before acquiring a credit report by federal law. This is not an invasion of privacy if consent is given (www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf).
* Employers only get a modified variation of credit history. They do not see a credit score. An employer pulling this info has no effect on credit score (www.businessinsider.com/employers-cannot-check-your-credit-score-2014-5).
* Employers are already required to notify an applicant of failing to hire due to credit history. This provides the applicant the chance to review the credit history for incorrect information.
This bill repeals a provision of law that requires health facilities and special health care service licensees to provide services regardless of the ability to pay.
* This bill eliminates the requirement for certain health services providers, including ambulatory surgical centers, walk-in care centers, and cardiac catheterization laboratory services, to provide services regardless of a person's ability to pay.
* Existing law increases barriers to entry and may result in fewer health care choices throughout the state.
This bill requires pharmacists and pharmacies to use a new red warning label for any prescription containing opiates.
* This bill increases regulation on an already heavily-regulated pharmaceutical industry.
* Patients taking opiates already know they're taking opiates. The new highly visible warning label will ensure everyone else knows they're taking opiates as well — reducing privacy for patients.
* Doctors and pharmacists should be telling patients the risks of opiates, not relying on warning labels that simply add to the visual clutter on the bottles.
The bill requires pharmacists and pharmacies to use a new red warning label for any prescription containing opiates.
* This bill increases regulation on an already heavily-regulated pharmaceutical industry.
* Patients taking opiates already know they're taking opiates. The new highly visible warning label will ensure everyone else knows they're taking opiates as well — reducing privacy for patients.
* Doctors and pharmacists should be telling patients the risks of opiates, not relying on warning labels that simply add to the visual clutter on the bottles.
This bill allows qualifying medical cannabis patients to cultivate a limited number of plants for therapeutic use.
* This bill decreases medical costs for patients by allowing them to grow their own medicine.
* People should not have to choose between fearing criminal prosecution and not having access to medicine.
* This bill gives patients better access to their medicine. Many patients do not live near the few dispensaries in the state and will benefit from this bill.
This bill allows qualifying medical cannabis patients and designated caregivers to cultivate a limited number of plants for therapeutic use.
* This bill decreases medical costs for patients by allowing them to grow their own medicine.
* People should not have to choose between fearing criminal prosecution and not having access to medicine.
* This bill gives patients better access to their medicine. Many patients do not live near the few dispensaries in the state and will benefit from this bill.
This bill allows qualifying medical cannabis patients and designated caregivers to cultivate a limited number of plants for therapeutic use.
* This bill decreases medical costs for patients by allowing them to grow their own medicine.
* People should not have to choose between fearing criminal prosecution and not having access to medicine.
* This bill gives patients better access to their medicine. Many patients do not live near the few dispensaries in the state and will benefit from this bill.
This bill would increase costs for New Hampshire ratepayers.
* This bill subsidizes businesses and municipalities that choose to operate large scale energy generation facilities by increasing the subsidized net metering cap from the current 1 megawatt limit up to 5 megawatts.
* The recipients of these subsidies will get millions more at the expense of others without providing any substantial benefits to the grid, as the energy from these systems is often intermittent and unreliable.
* Large subsidies for renewables no longer make sense as studies claim that solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. If this is true, then operators of these facilities already have a significant competitive advantage and would not require subsidy to be profitable.
* This bill has essentially no impact on individual homeowner use of net metering as the existing threshold of 1 megawatt is already approximately 100 times larger (as compared to a 10 kilowatt system) than what a typical homeowner is capable of generating via rooftop solar (www.solarreviews.com/blog/10kw-solar-systems-are-becoming-very-popular-here-is-why).
This bill limits political speech by prohibiting candidates for secretary of state and state treasurer or current office holders of these positions from forming a political committee or political advocacy organization or soliciting contributions for such organizations.
* Part 1 [Art.] 22. of the New Hampshire Constitution states "[Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and Liberty of the press are essential to the security of Freedom in a State: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved." — limits on all speech and particularly political speech may be a tempting solution to a problem but it is not a proper solution.
This bill removes the requirement for vehicle owners to install a state-mandated front license plate on passenger vehicles.
* Many vehicle types do not include mounting brackets for a front plate, which requires owners to damage/drill into the bumper to install a mount. The state should not require owners to damage their vehicles.
* 20 states in the US and 9 (of 13) Canadian jurisdictions do not require front license plates at all while another 7 states do not require them depending on certain circumstances. Vermont no longer requires a unique front plate as of 2012. Rear-plate-only vehicles are already on our roads.
This bill removes the requirement for vehicle owners to install a state-mandated front license plate on passenger vehicles.
* Many vehicle types do not include mounting brackets for a front plate, which requires owners to damage/drill into the bumper to install a mount. The state should not require owners to damage their vehicles.
* 20 states in the US and 9 (of 13) Canadian jurisdictions do not require front license plates at all while another 7 states do not require them depending on certain circumstances. Vermont no longer requires a unique front plate as of 2012. Rear-plate-only vehicles are already on our roads.
This bill removes the requirement for vehicle owners to install a state-mandated front license plate on passenger vehicles.
* Many vehicle types do not include mounting brackets for a front plate, which requires owners to damage/drill into the bumper to install a mount. The state should not require owners to damage their vehicles.
* 20 states in the US and 9 (of 13) Canadian jurisdictions do not require front license plates at all while another 7 states do not require them depending on certain circumstances. Vermont no longer requires a unique front plate as of 2012. Rear-plate-only vehicles are already on our roads.
This bill increases government accountability in 91-A right-to-know requests by requiring that denials be documented as to the reason for refusal.
* The New Hampshire Constitution, Part 1 [Art.] 8. states in part "Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive". This bill would offer a minor but important improvement in transparency.
This bill establishes a procedure for annulment of arrests or convictions for activities which are no longer a crime in New Hampshire.
* This bill provides a process for those with criminal records for arrests or convictions for possession of 3/4 of an ounce or less of marijuana prior to September 16, 2017 to have those convictions and arrests annulled.
This bill establishes a procedure for annulment of arrests or convictions for activities which are no longer a crime in New Hampshire.
* This bill provides a process for those with criminal records for arrests or convictions for possession of 3/4 of an ounce or less of marijuana prior to September 16, 2017 to have those convictions and arrests annulled.
This bill establishes a procedure for annulment of arrests or convictions for activities which are no longer a crime in New Hampshire.
* This bill provides a process for those with criminal records for arrests or convictions for possession of 3/4 of an ounce or less of marijuana prior to September 16, 2017 to have those convictions and arrests annulled.
This bill removes the exemption from the tobacco tax on premium cigars.
* This bill would directly erode the New Hampshire advantage. NH presently has no tax on cigars. That fact has specifically drawn multiple cigar companies to NH; several moved here when MA imposed its cigar tax in 1996.
* Per the fiscal note, this would likely raise taxes by about $500,000. HB 438 seeks to raise revenue for the state, but will ultimately fail in doing so as the business taxes paid by cigar sellers and other businesses that benefit from the out-of-state traffic the sales generate would be lost due to decreased premium cigar sales.
This bill removes the exemption from the tobacco tax on premium cigars.
* This bill would directly erode the New Hampshire advantage. NH presently has no tax on cigars. That fact has specifically drawn multiple cigar companies to NH; several moved here when MA imposed its cigar tax in 1996.
* Per the fiscal note, this would likely raise taxes by about $500k. HB 438 seeks to raise revenue for the state, but will ultimately fail in doing so as the business taxes paid by cigar sellers and other businesses that benefit from the out-of-state traffic the sales generate would be lost due to decreased premium cigar sales.
This bill changes the penalty for capital murder to life imprisonment without the possibility for parole.
* Long-term incarceration costs NH taxpayers less than the death penalty.
* If a person is convicted and incarcerated but is later found innocent of wrongdoing, the sentence is at least partially reversible. The death penalty is irreversible.
* There are two primary reasons to apprehend those who commit crimes against persons or property. The first reason is to obtain restitution for the victim of the crime, to whatever extent possible. The second reason is to prevent those who present a continuing threat to others from committing further crimes. Given the availability of secure prison facilities, the death penalty as it exists in New Hampshire is necessary for neither of these purposes.
This bill changes the penalty for capital murder to life imprisonment without the possibility for parole.
* Long-term incarceration costs NH taxpayers less than the death penalty.
* If a person is convicted and incarcerated but is later found innocent of wrongdoing, the sentence is at least partially reversible. The death penalty is irreversible.
* There are two primary reasons to apprehend those who commit crimes against persons or property. The first reason is to obtain restitution for the victim of the crime, to whatever extent possible. The second reason is to prevent those who present a continuing threat to others from committing further crimes. Given the availability of secure prison facilities, the death penalty as it exists in New Hampshire is necessary for neither of these purposes.
This bill changes the penalty for capital murder to life imprisonment without the possibility for parole.
* Long-term incarceration costs NH taxpayers less than the death penalty.
* If a person is convicted and incarcerated but is later found innocent of wrongdoing, the sentence is at least partially reversible. The death penalty is irreversible.
* There are two primary reasons to apprehend those who commit crimes against persons or property. The first reason is to obtain restitution for the victim of the crime, to whatever extent possible. The second reason is to prevent those who present a continuing threat to others from committing further crimes. Given the availability of secure prison facilities, the death penalty as it exists in New Hampshire is necessary for neither of these purposes.
This bill changes the penalty for capital murder to life imprisonment without the possibility for parole.
*Long-term incarceration costs NH taxpayers less than the death penalty.
*If a person is convicted and incarcerated, but is later found innocent of wrongdoing, the sentence is at least partially reversible. The death penalty is irreversible.
* There are two primary reasons to apprehend those who commit crimes against persons or property. The first reason is to obtain restitution for the victim of the crime, to whatever extent possible. The second reason is to prevent those who present a continuing threat to others from committing further crimes. Given the availability of secure prison facilities, the death penalty as it exists in New Hampshire is necessary for neither of these purposes.
This bill assures that the intention of a warrant article in an SB2 town will not be changed by amendment.
* Changes made to a petitioned warrant article by a small minority that subvert its intent are disrespectful and discouraging to those who make an effort to participate in the process.
This bill would force everyone who gets a drivers' license or nondrivers ID to unnecessarily prove their citizenship.
* This bill is a step in the wrong direction. There are already federal documents that are used for the purpose of determining US citizenship.
* There is no valid reason to force everyone who get a drivers' license or nondrivers ID to provide documentation of citizenship; it is an unnecessary requirement as it is not required to be a citizen in order to receive those cards. Furthermore, many might not have easy access to the required documents.
* Everyone who sees someone's license, whether a police officer, someone checking ID at a bar, or a cashier at a grocery store when a person is buying alcohol, would see this piece of information. This is a privacy violation and could easily be used to discriminate. It would also tend to divide and separate people as being in an 'in-class' or 'out-class'.
This bill would lessen state restrictions on hobby distillation by removing the state restrictions for limited liquor produced from beer or wine.
* While this change would not affect federal law, there is no compelling reason for New Hampshire law to help uphold unwise federal laws.
* Home distilling would be legal in at least 8 states, including Massachusetts and Maine, if not for federal restrictions (https://hobbydistillersassociation.org/state-laws-by-state.html).
* New Hampshire has already legalized medical cannabis and may legalize cannabis this term without a corresponding change in federal law. Given that the federal restrictions on cannabis are significantly more restrictive than distillation, it makes little sense to retain a state restriction on this process over concerns that it will still remain illegal at the federal level.
This bill would rebate all funds from auction proceeds deposited into the Energy Efficiency Fund back to New Hampshire ratepayers.
* The costs of RGGI, which is effectively a carbon tax, are ultimately borne by ratepayers. It therefore makes sense for ratepayers to be rebated the proceeds from sales of carbon allowances.
* Reducing the effective electricity rate, as this bill does, will reduce overhead to NH businesses and help attract new business.
This bill would rebate all funds from auction proceeds deposited into the Energy Efficiency Fund back to New Hampshire ratepayers.
* The costs of RGGI, which is effectively a carbon tax, are ultimately borne by ratepayers. It therefore makes sense for ratepayers to be rebated the proceeds from sales of carbon allowances.
* Reducing the effective electricity rate, as this bill does, will reduce overhead to NH businesses and help attract new business.
This bill creates government-granted monopoly privileges.
* Selecting special interest agents to conduct gambling operations while prohibiting all others from competing is a clear example of regulatory capture and an unjust use of government power. Proposed RSA 287-I:5 would limit Sports Book Retail Operations to no more than 10 locations.
* This bill would violate Article 83 of the NH Constitution, which states "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it.".
* This bill increases the size and scope of government. Once large bureaucracies and moneyed interests are created, they are very difficult to roll back.
* The NHLA would support a bill to more broadly legalize private sports gambling.
This bill creates government-granted monopoly privileges.
* Selecting special interest agents to conduct gambling operations while prohibiting all others from competing is a clear example of regulatory capture and an unjust use of government power. Proposed RSA 287-I:5 would limit Sports Book Retail Operations to no more than 10 locations.
* This bill would violate Article 83 of the NH Constitution, which states "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it.".
* This bill increases the size and scope of government. Once large bureaucracies and moneyed interests are created, they are very difficult to roll back.
* The NHLA would support a bill to more broadly legalize private sports gambling.
This bill creates government-granted monopoly privileges.
* Selecting special interest agents to conduct gambling operations while prohibiting all others from competing is a clear example of regulatory capture and an unjust use of government power.
* This bill would violate Article 83 of the NH Constitution, which states "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it.".
* This bill increases the size and scope of government. Once large bureaucracies and moneyed interests are created, they are very difficult to roll back.
* The NHLA would support a bill to more broadly legalize private sports gambling.
This bill requires that probation-parole officers receive instruction on the current state of the law regarding the rights of individuals who have attained final discharge of their sentence. This bill defines final discharge. It clarifies that someone on probation or parole meets the definition of final discharge.
*This bill increases the accountability of probation and parole officers.
*This bill protects individual voting rights by defining final discharge as the release of a prisoner from incarceration. This includes a person who is on probation or parole.
This bill requires that probation-parole officers receive instruction on the current state of the law regarding the rights of individuals who have attained final discharge of their sentence. This bill defines final discharge. It clarifies that someone on probation or parole meets the definition of final discharge.
*This bill increases the accountability of probation and parole officers.
*This bill protects individual voting rights by defining final discharge as the release of a prisoner from incarceration. This includes a person who is on probation or parole.
This bill provides alternate public school options for students meeting the conditions of 'Manifest Educational Hardship'.
* This bill allows parents a path to work with the administrators in the public education system to find a better school for their child when their child is experiencing the issues of 'Manifest Educational Hardship'.
* The bill facilitates parents working with the teachers and administrators to solve serious education issues instead of forcing parents to remove children from the public schools when their children are experiencing the problems outlined in 'Manifest Educational Hardship'.
*Note: bill passed the House on the Consent Calendar
This bill clarifies that failure to answer a request of a peace officer to identify oneself is not grounds for arrest.
Part 1 Art. 15. of the New Hampshire Constitution states "[Right of Accused.] No subject shall be held to answer for any crime, or offense, until the same is fully and plainly, substantially and formally, described to him; or be compelled to accuse or furnish evidence against himself." Remaining silent is constitutionally protected and is not grounds for arrest.
This bill clarifies that failure to answer a request of a peace officer to identify oneself is not grounds for arrest.
Part 1 Art. 15. of the New Hampshire Constitution states "[Right of Accused.] No subject shall be held to answer for any crime, or offense, until the same is fully and plainly, substantially and formally, described to him; or be compelled to accuse or furnish evidence against himself." Remaining silent is constitutionally protected and is not grounds for arrest.
This bill would prohibit operation of OHRVs on all ways that the city or town has the duty to maintain regularly.
* Under existing RSA 215-A:15, city or town councils and boards of selectmen may authorize OHRV on class V city/town-maintained roads. This bill would remove that authority and replace it with a state-mandated ban on operation of these vehicles on these roads.
* We believe that government is most accountable and accessible when it is most local. Local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates.
This bill would allow voters to show support for multiple candidates in a given race.
* With this simple ballot change voters will be able to easily express their opinion on every candidate.
* This eliminates the "wasted vote" problem in which voters believe that votes for a less popular candidate will be wasted because the candidate has little chance of winning.
* Approval voting enabled by this bill requires no complex method for tallying votes to determine the winner(s) of a race, as votes tallying works the same as with the current system — that is to say, vote totals for a candidate is the sum of all votes cast for the candidate.
This bill adds vaping to the indoor smoking ban and adds vaping to the law prohibiting youth access to and use of tobacco products.
* Private property owners should be able to decide if they will allow or prohibit vaping inside their establishment.
* Studies show that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes and have a very low risk factor to public health and safety. A 2014 study found that "Even when compared to workplace standards for involuntary exposures, and using several conservative (erring on the side of caution) assumptions, the exposures from using e-cigarettes fall well below the threshold for concern for compounds with known toxicity." (bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-18#Sec17).
* There are approximately 50 vaping stores currently in New Hampshire. Adding vaping to the indoor smoking ban will have a negative impact on small business in New Hampshire.
This bill adds vaping to the indoor smoking ban and adds vaping to the law prohibiting youth access to and use of tobacco products.
* Private property owners should be able to decide if they will allow or prohibit vaping inside their establishment.
* Studies show that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes and have a very low risk factor to public health and safety. A 2014 study found that "Even when compared to workplace standards for involuntary exposures, and using several conservative (erring on the side of caution) assumptions, the exposures from using e-cigarettes fall well below the threshold for concern for compounds with known toxicity."
(bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-18#Sec17).
* There are approximately 50 vaping stores currently in New Hampshire. Adding vaping to the indoor smoking ban will have a negative impact on small business in New Hampshire.
This bill adds vaping to the law prohibiting youth access to and use of tobacco products and adds vaping to the indoor smoking ban.
* Private property owners should be able to decide if they will allow or prohibit vaping inside their establishments.
* Studies show that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes and have a very low risk factor to public health and safety. A 2014 study found "Even when compared to workplace standards for involuntary exposures, and using several conservative (erring on the side of caution) assumptions, the exposures from using e-cigarettes fall well below the threshold for concern for compounds with known toxicity." (bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-18#Sec17).
* There are approximately 50 vaping stores in New Hampshire currently. Adding vaping to the indoor smoking ban will have a negative impact on small business in New Hampshire.
This bill establishes a waiting period for the delivery of a firearm.
* This bill bans individuals, including those who already have firearms and women who have reason to fear an attacker, from purchasing a firearm without first waiting a minimum of 3 calendar days, not including weekends and legal holidays.
* Waiting periods make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and as a result, encourage criminal activity.
* There is no statistical evidence that a waiting period for handgun purchases reduces violence (www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2015/apr/27/van-wanggaard/no-evidence-waiting-period-handgun-purchases-reduc/).
* The bill requires licensed firearms dealers to make their business records available for inspection by any law enforcement agency; in addition, there is no warrant requirement, violating the right to privacy under the New Hampshire Constitution Part 1, Article 2-b.
This bill establishes a waiting period for the delivery of a firearm.
* This bill bans individuals, including those who already have firearms and women who have reason to fear an attacker, from purchasing a firearm without first waiting a minimum of 9 calendar days.
* Waiting periods make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and as a result, encourage criminal activity.
* There is no statistical evidence that a waiting period for handgun purchases reduces violence (www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2015/apr/27/van-wanggaard/no-evidence-waiting-period-handgun-purchases-reduc/).
* The bill requires licensed firearms dealers to make their business records available for inspection by any law enforcement agency; in addition, there is no warrant requirement, violating the right to privacy under the New Hampshire Constitution Part 1, Article 2-b.
This bill establishes a waiting period for the delivery of a firearm.
* This bill bans individuals, including those who already have firearms and women who have reason to fear an attacker, from purchasing a firearm without first waiting a minimum of 9 calendar days.
* Waiting periods make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and as a result, encourage criminal activity.
* There is no statistical evidence that a waiting period for handgun purchases reduces violence (www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2015/apr/27/van-wanggaard/no-evidence-waiting-period-handgun-purchases-reduc/).
* The bill requires licensed firearms dealers to make their business records available for inspection by any law enforcement agency and there is no warrant requirement, violating the right to privacy under the New Hampshire Constitution Part 1, Article 2-b.
This bill allows the commissioner of motor vehicles to release personal information to the public.
* The authority given to the commissioner in this bill is extraordinarily broad and intrusive. It would allow the commissioner of motor vehicles to release to the public any person's name, age, height, weight, eye color, photograph, or computerized image at the commissioner's discretion.
This bill prohibits law enforcement officers from questioning a minor on school property without a parent or guardian present.
* Children may be more prone to false confessions and not understanding their rights. This is particularly a risk when the child is in a school setting where they might normally have an expectation that the adults in the school have their best interests at heart. Children and teens are more prone to giving false confessions than adults, falling prey to the legal high-pressure, manipulative, and deceptive interrogation techniques that may be employed in an attempt to identify a guilty party.
* According to the National Registry of Exonerations, in the last 25 years, 38% of exonerations for crimes allegedly committed by youth under 18 years of age involved false confessions, compared with 11% for adults (www.innocenceproject.org/false-confessions-more-prevalent-among-teens/).
* Minors are not aware of their constitutional protections and therefore might say something that could be held against them.
* Society has established that age 18 is the age at which someone is mature enough to make responsible decisions, enter into contracts, etc. For example, tanning is prohibited until age 18 under 313-A:31 Tanning of Minors Prohibited.
* A minor might not know that they should have an attorney present for any questioning.
This bill prohibits law enforcement officers from questioning a minor on school property without a parent or guardian present.
* Children may be more prone to false confessions and not understanding their rights. This is particularly a risk when the child is in a school setting where they might normally have an expectation that the adults in the school have their best interests at heart. Children and teens are more prone to giving false confessions than adults, falling prey to the legal high-pressure, manipulative, and deceptive interrogation techniques that may be employed in an attempt to identify a guilty party.
* According to the National Registry of Exonerations, in the last 25 years, 38% of exonerations for crimes allegedly committed by youth under 18 years of age involved false confessions, compared with 11% for adults (www.innocenceproject.org/false-confessions-more-prevalent-among-teens/).
This bill expands occupational licensing in the state.
* All NH residents deserve the opportunity to earn an honest living. Occupational licenses are permission slips from the government and routinely stand in the way of honest employment, and are designed to exclude entry into the marketplace.
* Consumers and employers, not the state, should decide who is qualified for which jobs.
* Polysomnographers work in hospitals and sleep clinics and perform work under physicians' orders, providing data that is evaluated by other professionals. Additional licensing is not warranted.
This bill prohibits the distribution of plastic straws without an explicit request from the customer.
* By stating that the request must be explicitly from the customer, this bill leaves open to confusion whether a business may offer the straw in the absence of a request and therefore infringes on free speech.
* The bill is likely to increase CO2 emissions: many customers will pull away from a drive-through window at an establishment that only provides "on request" plastic straws, only to later find that they lack the ability to consume their beverage while on the road, requiring a return trip to the window.
* The majority committee blurb already indicates a path forward that does not require legislation — "Seacoast Sustainability is an alliance which includes restaurants that voluntarily follow this practice. One restaurant reported purchasing 35,000 plastic straws in 2017 and, after implementing the request policy, they bought only 1,200 plastic straws in 2018. Their customers were surveyed and had an overwhelmingly positive response to this decision."
This bill prohibits the distribution of plastic straws without an explicit request from the customer.
* By stating that the request must be explicitly from the customer, this bill leaves open to confusion whether a business may offer the straw in the absence of a request and therefore infringes on free speech.
* The bill is likely to increase CO2 emissons: many customers will pull away from a drive-through window at an establishment that only provides "on request" plastic straws, only to later find that they lack the ability to consume their beverage while on the road, requiring a return trip to the window.
* The majority committee blurb already indicates a path forward that does not require legislation — "Seacoast Sustainability is an alliance which includes restaurants that voluntarily follow this practice. One restaurant reported purchasing 35,000 plastic straws in 2017 and, after implementing the request policy, they bought only 1,200 plastic straws in 2018. Their customers were surveyed and had an overwhelmingly positive response to this decision."
This bill bans single-use carry-out bags, institutes price controls for other carry-out bags, and mandates that businesses provide expensive multi-use bags to customers who make use of certain public welfare programs.
* Prohibiting retailers from providing plastic bags to customers is a violation of the rights of both retailers and their customers.
* This bill may harm the environment. Reusable cotton bags require reuse of more than 173 times before breaking even on the environmental impacts of single-use bags (terngoods.com/blogs/learn/reusable-vs-disposable-bags-whats-better-for-the-environment).
* Thus, for people going shopping weekly, they would need to use a particular bag for well over 3 years without losing it or damaging it; otherwise, rather than helping the environment, the creation and use of the bag actually ended up harming it, which no one wants.
This bill bans single-use carry out bags, institutes price controls for other carry out bags, and mandates that businesses provide expensive multi-use bags to customers who make use of certain public welfare programs.
* Prohibiting retailers from providing plastic bags to customers is a violation of the rights of both retailers and their customers.
* This bill may harm the environment. Reusable cotton bags require reuse of more than 173 times before breaking even on the environmental impacts of single-use bags (terngoods.com/blogs/learn/reusable-vs-disposable-bags-whats-better-for-the-environment).
* Thus, for people going shopping weekly, they would need to use a particular bag for well over 3 years without losing it or damaging it; otherwise, rather than helping the environment, the creation and use of the bag actually ended up harming it, which no one wants.
This bill adopts revised building codes (international code 2015 vs. 2009) and expands the building code to incorporate swimming pool and spa code — it adds hundreds of pages of new regulations.
* This bill increases the costs for building a new home in New Hampshire in order to comply with revised building codes.
* Adopting these standards would implement an extensive list of burdensome new regulations, predominantly related to energy efficiency.
* As of July 2017, only 16 states have adopted the 2015 building code, and only 5 states have adopted the 2015 swimming pool and spa code.
* This legislation would add significant cost to taxpayers related to public infrastructure and in construction of private buildings.
This bill creates unarmed victim zones in and around schools.
* This bill would ban law-abiding adults from carrying a firearm into an area designated as a so-called "safe school zone" and would deny a mother who walks to pick up her child at school a tool to protect herself and her children.
* Studies have shown no correlation between the enactment of gun-free zones and improved safety (www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/gun-free-zones.html).
* This bill criminalizes the mere possession of a physical item.
* The bill requires a public hearing with the local school board before a person can get permission to protect themselves or their families.
This bill creates unarmed victim zones in and around schools.
* This bill would ban law-abiding adults from carrying a firearm into an area designated as a so-called "safe school zone" and would deny a mother who walks to pick up her child at school a tool to protect herself and her children.
* Studies have shown no correlation between the enactment of gun-free zones and improved safety (www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/gun-free-zones.html).
* This bill criminalizes the mere possession of a physical item.
* Requires a public hearing with the local school board before a person can get permission to protect themselves or their families.
This bill creates unarmed victim zones in and around schools.
* This bill would ban law-abiding adults from carrying a firearm into an area designated as a so-called "safe school zone" and would deny a mother who walks to pick up her child at school a tool to protect herself and her children.
* Studies have shown no correlation between the enactment of gun-free zones and improved safety (www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/gun-free-zones.html).
* This bill criminalizes the mere possession of a physical item.
This bill creates unarmed victim zones in and around schools.
* This bill would ban law-abiding adults from carrying a firearm into an area designated as a so-called "safe school zone" and would deny a mother who walks to pick up her child at school a tool to protect herself and her children.
* Studies have shown no correlation between the enactment of gun-free zones and improved safety (www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/gun-free-zones.html).
* This bill criminalizes the mere possession of a physical item.
This bill creates unarmed victim zones in and around schools.
* This bill would ban law-abiding adults from carrying a firearm into an area designated as a so-called "safe school zone" and would deny a mother who walks to pick up her child at school a tool to protect herself and her children.
* The definition of "safe school zone" in 193-D:1, V. is exceedingly broad as it covers not only real property but also "equipment used for school purposes" resulting in a ban that may cover numerous locations throughout the state that are not located in or near a school building.
* Studies have shown no correlation between the enactment of gun-free zones and improved safety (www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/gun-free-zones.html).
This bill increases costs for New Hampshire residential ratepayers.
* This bill removes longstanding rebates to residential customers, while preserving rebates to commercial/industrial customers, raising rates on residential customers and effectively forcing them to subsidize commercial/industrial customers.
* Electric rates are already high in New Hampshire. Efficiency projects that are truly fiscally responsible can and will be funded by electricity consumers themselves. It is unfair to force all ratepayers to fund projects for specific consumers, whether private or governmental.
* Rather than putting more money into the hands of government in order to pick winners and losers, the money should remain with the ratepayers where it belongs.
* This bill removes longstanding rebates to residential customers, while preserving rebates to commercial/industrial customers, raising rates on residential customers and effectively forcing them to subsidize commercial/industrial customers.
* Electric rates are already high in New Hampshire. Efficiency projects that are truly fiscally responsible can and will be funded by electricity consumers themselves. It is unfair to force all ratepayers to fund projects for specific consumers, whether private or governmental.
* Rather than putting more money into the hands of government in order to pick winners and losers, the money should remain with the ratepayers where it belongs.
By eliminating the existing rebate to residential ratepayers, this bill increases a stealthy tax on New Hampshire electricity consumers.
* This bill removes longstanding rebates to residential customers, while preserving rebates to commercial/industrial customers, raising rates on residential customers and effectively forcing them to subsidize commercial/industrial customers.
* Electric rates are already high in New Hampshire. Efficiency projects that are truly fiscally responsible can and will be funded by electricity consumers themselves. It is unfair to force all ratepayers to fund projects for specific consumers, whether private or governmental.
* Rather than putting more money into the hands of government in order to pick winners and losers, the money should remain with the ratepayers where it belongs.
* The current law allows younger drivers to develop their skill while under adult supervision after having successfully completed an approved snowmobile or OHRV training program. This bill would remove that liberty and result in a situation where a young person is legally able to drive a motor vehicle under adult supervision as part of the training toward getting a license but would be prohibited from operating an OHRV.
* OHRV riding is an important piece of the economic puzzle in the north country; any imposed contraction will be harmful.
* The current law allows younger drivers to develop their skill while under adult supervision after having successfully completed an approved snowmobile or OHRV training program. This bill would remove that liberty and result in a situation where a young person is legally able to drive a motor vehicle under adult supervision as part of the training toward getting a license but would be prohibited from operating an OHRV.
* OHRV riding is an important piece of the economic puzzle in the north country; any imposed contraction will be harmful.
This bill repeals a provision of the OHRV statute that allows those 12 and older to travel on the road where permitted.
* The current law allows younger drivers to develop their skill while under adult supervision after having successfully completed an approved snowmobile or OHRV training program. This bill would remove that liberty and result in a situation where a young person is legally able to drive a motor vehicle under adult supervision as part of the training toward getting a license but would be prohibited from operating an OHRV.
* OHRV riding is an important piece of the economic puzzle in the north country; any imposed contraction will be harmful.
This bill gives New Hampshire wine makers and nano-breweries the option to sell their products at other licensed locations.
* This bill would allow a New Hampshire wine maker who serves consumers at their facility to invite a New Hampshire nano-brewery to sell and/or sample their products at the wine maker’s location for a day. It would also allow nano-breweries to enter into a similar arrangement with a winemaker. This would slightly lessen existing restrictions on businesses and provide for greater consumer flexibility.
* This bill requires businesses who would like to exercise this new option to pay an annual fee of $120. While businesses should not be forced to pay additional fees for the right to transact with willing customers, this bill does represent a small improvement over the existing prohibition on this activity.
This bill enables individuals to be charged with crimes who may in no way be participating in such crimes.
* Under New Hampshire RSA 644:8-a it is already a felony to engage in or promote exhibitions of animal fighting. This bill would expand the law to cover not only these acts but also to ban possession and sale or manufacture of equipment that have uses in both responsible pet ownership as well as in illegal animal fighting.
* While this ban seemingly requires proof of intent, the bar for intent set by this bill is low enough that innocent people run the risk of having to choose between an expensive legal battle and accepting a plea deal to simply move on with their lives.
* This bill states that "the proximity of the object in time and space to the direct violation of this section" can be used to determine intent. A person walking their young pit bull in a neighborhood while responsibly carrying an implement to "break" the bite of a tenacious dog early in its training could easily be caught up in an arrest if there is an animal fight in the area.
* This bill states that intent can be established when a person should reasonably know that an object they sell might facilitate a violation of this section. Someone selling "treatment supplies" must now always profile customers to decide if they may be using the supplies to treat an animal that may have been injured in an animal fight.
This bill enables individuals to be charged with crimes who may in no way be participating in such crimes.
* Under New Hampshire RSA 644:8-a it is already a felony to engage in or promote exhibitions of animal fighting. This bill would expand the law to cover not only these acts but also to ban possession and sale or manufacture of equipment that have uses in both responsible pet ownership as well as in illegal animal fighting.
* While this ban seemingly requires proof of intent, the bar for intent set by this bill is low enough that innocent people run the risk of having to choose between an expensive legal battle and accepting a plea deal to simply move on with their lives.
* This bill states that "the proximity of the object in time and space to the direct violation of this section" can be used to determine intent. A person walking their young pit bull in a neighborhood while responsibly carrying an implement to "break" the bite of a tenacious dog early in its training could easily be caught up in an arrest if there is an animal fight in the area.
* This bill states that intent can be established when a person should reasonably know that an object they sell might facilitate a violation of this section. Someone selling "treatment supplies" must now always profile customers to decide if they may be using the supplies to treat an animal that may have been injured in an animal fight.
This enables individuals to be charged with crimes who may in no way be participating in such crimes.
* Under New Hampshire RSA 644:8-a it is already a felony to engage in or promote exhibitions of animal fighting. This bill would expand the law to cover not only these acts but also to ban possession and sale or manufacture of equipment that have uses in both responsible pet ownership as well as in illegal animal fighting.
* While this ban seemingly requires proof of intent, the bar for intent set by this bill is low enough that innocent people run the risk of having to choose between an expensive legal battle and accepting a plea deal to simply move on with their lives.
* This bill states that "the proximity of the object in time and space to the direct violation of this section" can be used to determine intent. A person walking their young pit bull in a neighborhood while responsibly carrying an implement to "break" the bite of a tenacious dog early in its training could easily be caught up in an arrest if there is an animal fight in the area.
* This bill states that intent can be established when a person should reasonably know that an object they sell might facilitate a violation of this section. Someone selling "treatment supplies" must now always profile customers to decide if they may be using the supplies to treat an animal that may have been injured in an animal fight.
This bill repeals the definition of contracts relative to official ballot default budgets, resulting in budget increases that have not been properly vetted by voters.
* This bill would allow contracts to include escalation clauses that have not been presented to voters in a prior warrant article.
* Under current law, if a proposed town budget fails and the default budget is activated, contracts continue at the same cost as the previous year unless a prior warrant article enumerated escalation amounts in subsequent budgets. This prevents governing bodies from hiding spending increases in the default budget in a manner that is not transparent to voters.
This bill repeals the definition of contracts relative to official ballot default budgets, resulting in budget increases that have not been properly vetted by voters.
* This bill would allow contracts to include escalation clauses that have not been presented to voters in a prior warrant article.
* Under current law, if a proposed town budget fails and the default budget is activated, contracts continue at the same cost as the previous year unless a prior warrant article enumerated escalation amounts in subsequent budgets. This prevents governing bodies from hiding spending increases in the default budget in a manner that is not transparent to voters.
This bill prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union and prohibits coercion and intimidation intended to compel an employee to join, affiliate with, or financially support a labor organization or to refrain from doing so.
* The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9a which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces.
* Right-to-work is the only way currently permitted under federal law to restore some of the freedom of dissenting workers and their employers to withhold support from unions with whom they disagree. While this bill interferes with freedom of contract, it does so in a way intended to remedy current, more egregious limitations of freedom of contract.
* Public sector collective bargaining is often more harmful than private sector collective bargaining because taxpayers are not directly represented in negotiations. “It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, who opposed public sector unions. Public sector right-to-work reduces union density in government and reduces government spending and taxes (Ichniowski & Zax 1991).
This bill mandates universal changing stations for use by persons with physical disabilities to be installed in places with the capacity to serve 1,500 or more persons per day.
* This bill would increase costs to small business of at least $12,000 (keeponmovin.org/awarded-12000-from-mceachern-trust-for-adolescent-adult-changing-table/) to purchase and have installed a power height-adjustable changing table. While stadiums and rest areas are explicitly listed, the trigger for this mandate would be locations with the capacity to serve 1,500 or more persons per day. At this threshold even modest-sized high-traffic locations would trigger the mandate, increasing costs.
This bill mandates universal changing stations for use by persons with physical disabilities to be installed in places with the capacity to serve 1,500 or more persons per day.
* This bill would increase costs to small business of at least $12,000 (keeponmovin.org/awarded-12000-from-mceachern-trust-for-adolescent-adult-changing-table/) to purchase and have installed a power height-adjustable changing table. While stadiums and rest areas are explicitly listed, the trigger for this mandate would be locations with the capacity to serve 1,500 or more persons per day. At this threshold even modest-sized high-traffic locations would trigger the mandate, increasing costs.
This bill eliminates the Education Tax Credit (ETC) for businesses and individuals that voluntarily donate to fund scholarships for low- and moderate-income NH children.
* This bill increases the cost of education to local and state taxpayers — from the fiscal note: "The repeal of the ETC program may result in students attending a public school (traditional district or charter) that otherwise would have attended a non-public school or have been home educated. To the extent this occurs, local school district expenditures would increase (as early as FY 2020), as well as state expenditures".
* This bill eliminates family-empowered innovation in education. The current education system has failed to keep pace with the evolving improvements that are happening around the world. Shifting power from a government monopoly to families choosing in the education market spurs innovation (e.g., online education, etc.). Having accountability rest directly on those who bear the consequences of a school's performance is superior to top-down regulatory accountability.
* Hundreds of families use these scholarships to access K-12 schools and for other education expenses that would otherwise be unaffordable, in order to best meet their child’s learning needs.
This bill establishes a study commission that will seek to expand occupational licensing in the state.
* All NH residents deserve the opportunity to earn an honest living. Occupational licenses are permission slips from the government and routinely stand in the way of honest employment, and are designed to exclude entry into the marketplace.
* Consumers and employers, not the state, should decide who is qualified for which jobs.
This bill creates a new local option rooms tax initially capped at $2 per night.
* New sources of taxation rarely stay at their initial rate, whether set as a flat dollar amount or as a percentage. While the initial amount is small, the rate will certainly grow over time.
* Hotels already pay property taxes and spur economic activity in the municipalities in which they are located.
This bill creates a new local option rooms tax initially capped at $2 per night.
* New sources of taxation rarely stay at their initial rate, whether set as a flat dollar amount or as a percentage. While the initial amount is small, the rate will certainly grow over time.
* Hotels already pay property taxes and spur economic activity in the municipalities in which they are located.
This bill creates a new local option rooms tax initially capped at $2 per night.
* New sources of taxation rarely stay at their initial rate, whether set as a flat dollar amount or as a percentage. While the initial amount is small, the rate will certainly grow over time.
* Though the bill makes the claim that the money will be used "for the purpose of establishing a municipal capital improvement or
This bill requires an insurer to reimburse an automobile repairer for all repairs if the repairer follows the original equipment manufacturer's recommended collision repair procedures.
* This bill will increase premiums for automobile insurance in New Hampshire by mandating reimbursement from insurance companies for all such recommendations made by original equipment manufacturers (OEM) that a repair shop intends to follow.
* This bill is mandating that OEM recommendations now be required repairs. There are differences between OEM recommendations versus requirements. Recommendations are not held to any standard and mostly include general indemnifying language. Required procedures are things that should or must be undertaken to ensure proper safety standards.
* This bill is classic crony capitalism that will provide an economic incentive for a repairer to complete steps that they do not believe to be necessary but that they know nevertheless they will be compensated for, without an obvious direct expense to their customer.
This bill requires an insurer to reimburse an automobile repairer for all repairs if the repairer follows the original equipment manufacturer's recommended collision repair procedures.
* This bill will increase premiums for automobile insurance in New Hampshire by mandating reimbursement from insurance companies for all such recommendations made by original equipment manufacturers (OEM) that a repair shop intends to follow.
* This bill is mandating that OEM recommendations now be required repairs. There are differences between OEM recommendations versus requirements. Recommendations are not held to any standard and mostly include general indemnifying language. Required procedures are things that should or must be undertaken to ensure proper safety standards.
* This bill is classic crony capitalism that will provide an economic incentive for a repairer to complete steps that they do not believe to be necessary but that they know nevertheless they will be compensated for, without an obvious direct expense to their customer.
* While the committee recommendation of re-refer is acceptable, should there be a motion to pass this bill in its current form, the appropriate vote is NAY OTP.
This bill requires an insurer to reimburse an automobile repairer for all repairs if the repairer follows the original equipment manufacturer's recommended collision repair procedures.
* This bill will increase premiums for automobile insurance in New Hampshire by mandating reimbursement from insurance companies for all such recommendations made by original equipment manufacturers (OEM) that a repair shop intends to follow.
* This bill is mandating that OEM recommendations now be required repairs. There are differences between OEM recommendations versus requirements. Recommendations are not held to any standard and mostly include general indemnifying language. Required procedures are things that should or must be undertaken to ensure proper safety standards.
* This bill is classic crony capitalism that will provide an economic incentive for a repairer to complete steps that they do not believe to be necessary but that they know nevertheless they will be compensated for, without an obvious direct expense to their customer.
* While the committee recommendation of re-refer is acceptable, should there be a motion to pass this bill in its current form, the appropriate vote is NAY OTP.
This bill requires an insurer to reimburse an automobile repairer for all repairs if the repairer follows the original equipment manufacturer's recommended collision repair procedures.
* This bill will increase premiums for automobile insurance in New Hampshire by mandating reimbursement from insurance companies for all such recommendations made by original equipment manufacturers (OEM) that a repair shop intends to follow.
* This bill is mandating that OEM recommendations now be required repairs. There are differences between OEM recommendations versus requirements. Recommendations are not held to any standard and mostly include general indemnifying language. Required procedures are things that should or must be undertaken to ensure proper safety standards.
* This bill is classic crony capitalism that will provide an economic incentive for a repairer to complete steps that they do not believe to be necessary but that they know nevertheless they will be compensated for, without an obvious direct expense to their customer.
* While the committee recommendation of re-refer is acceptable, should there be a motion to pass this bill in its current form, the appropriate vote is NAY OTP.
This bill requires an insurer to reimburse an automobile repairer for all repairs if the repairer follows the original equipment manufacturer's recommended collision repair procedures.
* This bill will increase premiums for automobile insurance in New Hampshire by mandating reimbursement from insurance companies for all such recommendations made by original equipment manufacturers (OEM) that a repair shop intends to follow.
* This bill is mandating that OEM recommendations now be required repairs. There are differences between OEM recommendations versus requirements. Recommendations are not held to any standard and mostly include general indemnifying language. Required procedures are things that should or must be undertaken to ensure proper safety standards.
* This bill is classic crony capitalism that will provide an economic incentive for a repairer to complete steps that they do not believe to be necessary but that they know nevertheless they will be compensated for, without an obvious direct expense to their customer.
* This bill increases fees for shoreline and wetland activities including establishing fees for activities that previously required no fee (proposed RSA 482-A:3 IV-a).
* This bill allows the commissioner of Department of Environmental Services to review the fees and increase them without the approval of the legislature. It is worth noting that no power is granted to allow reduction in fees, should the DES find more efficient ways of administering these programs.
* This bill increases fees for shoreline and wetland activities including establishing fees for activities that previously required no fee (proposed RSA 482-A:3 IV-a).
* This bill allows the commissioner of Department of Environmental Services to review the fees and increase them without the approval of the legislature. It is worth noting that no power is granted to allow reduction in fees, should the DES find more efficient ways of administering these programs.
This bill nearly triples the revenue from certain fees and delegates the power for future increases to unelected bureaucrats.
* This bill increases fees for shoreline and wetland activities including establishing fees for activities that previously required no fee (proposed RSA 482-A:3 IV-a).
* This bill allows the commissioner of Department of Environmental Services to review the fees and increase them without the approval of the legislature. It is worth noting that no power is granted to allow reduction in fees, should the DES find more efficient ways of administering these programs.
This bill repeals the current "Sale of Pets" law (RSA 437:1-10) and replaces it with complex new regulations that will infringe upon the rights of law-abiding pet owners while having little impact on animal safety.
* The bill defines "hobby breeders" as anyone transferring ownership of even one animal per year and would result in a large number of unsuspecting animal lovers being caught up in complex state regulation, including allowing inspection (warrantless searches) of their premises by state and local officials, law enforcement, or health officials.
* According to the fiscal note, this bill would cost state taxpayers approximately $1.5 million per year for personnel and equipment excluding likely additional costs for facilities. These costs would be incurred before the first animal is purported to be helped.
This bill expands taxpayer subsidy of college education and discriminates against children who are home schooled or who attend private and/or religious schools.
* While the bill does not explicitly allocate money from the general fund for this program and opts instead for an increased fee (annual surcharge on open-ended mutual funds), proposed RSA 195-J:6 I-VI ensure that future budgets will allocate funds to the program, forcing taxpayers, including those who choose non-college career paths, to subsidize the education costs of those who choose college.
* Subsidies, including both direct subsidy and subsidized student loans, ultimately increase costs for all students as colleges expand to adapt to the inflow of money (www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/media/research/staff_reports/sr733.pdf).
This bill expands taxpayer subsidy of college education and discriminates against children who are home schooled or who attend private and/or religious schools.
* While the bill as amended no longer explicitly allocates money from the general fund for this program and opts instead for an increased fee (annual surcharge on open-ended mutual funds), proposed RSA 195-J:6 I-VI ensure that future budgets will allocate funds to the program, forcing taxpayers, including those who choose non-college career paths, to subsidize the education costs of those who choose college.
* Subsidies, including both direct subsidy and subsidized student loans, ultimately increase costs for all students as colleges expand to adapt to the inflow of money (www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/media/research/staff_reports/sr733.pdf).
This bill allows a person to be deprived of their property without a hearing when a peace officer has probable cause to believe a vulnerable adult has been neglected.
* This bill allows a vulnerable adult or guardian of a vulnerable adult to seek a protective order for neglect, which is defined by new section 173-D:2 VIII as "an act or omission which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult".
* This bill compels peace officers to seize weapons from a defendant without a trial in cases when the weapon is 'involved' in the neglect per the proposed 173-D:11 I(a). This is a needlessly vague standard that is subject to confusion and abuse and violates due process.
* Hearings under this bill are made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 V, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
This bill allows a person to be deprived of their property without a hearing when a peace officer has probable cause to believe a vulnerable adult has been neglected.
* This bill allows a vulnerable adult or guardian of a vulnerable adult to seek a protective order for neglect, which is defined by new section 173-D:2 VIII as "an act or omission which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult".
* This bill compels peace officers to seize weapons from a defendant without a trial in cases when the weapon is 'involved' in the neglect per the proposed 173-D:11 I(a). This is a needlessly vague standard that is subject to confusion and abuse and violates due process.
* Hearings under this bill are made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 V, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
This bill allows a person to be deprived of their property, immunities, and privileges without the ability to offer a defense or to meet the witnesses against them face to face as required by Article 15. [Right of Accused.] of the New Hampshire Constitution.
* This bill allows a vulnerable adult or guardian of a vulnerable adult to seek a protective order for neglect, which is defined by new section 173-D:2 VIII as "an act or omission which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult".
* Similar to civil asset forfeiture laws, this bill allows personal property, including cars, animals, and firearms, to be seized prior to the commission of a crime or conviction by the courts, violating various NH Constitution articles, including Part 1 Article 15.
* Other states with similar laws require that the person being accused of neglect have a caregiver role (e.g. Alabama Title 38-9-2, Montana 52-3-803, New Jersey 52:27D-407). The New Hampshire definition would allow a parent to seek a protective order for neglect against an estranged child who maintains no contact with the parent.
* A simple finding of neglect under this bill would allow the defendant's firearms to be seized and held by the police for the duration of the protective order (173-D:6 I).
* An amendment that adjusts the definition of "Neglect" to "an act or omission by a caretaker which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult" would improve the bill; however even with this change the bill would still enable the seizure of firearms for a finding of neglect. Further, the decision to seize firearms and prohibit future purchases is made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 V, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
This bill allows a person to be deprived of their property, immunities, and privileges without the ability to offer a defense or to meet the witnesses against them face to face as required by Article 15. [Right of Accused.] of the New Hampshire Constitution.
* This bill allows a vulnerable adult or guardian of a vulnerable adult to seek a protective order for neglect, which is defined by new section 173-D:2 VIII as "an act or omission which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult".
* Similar to civil asset forfeiture laws, this bill allows personal property, including cars, animals, and firearms, to be seized prior to the commission of a crime or the conviction by the courts, violating various NH Constitution articles, including Part 1 Article 15.
* Other states with similar laws require that the person being accused of neglect have a caregiver role (e.g. Alabama Title 38-9-2, Montana 52-3-803, New Jersey 52:27D-407). The New Hampshire definition would allow a parent to seek a protective order for neglect against an estranged child who maintains no contact with the parent.
* A simple finding of neglect under this bill would allow the defendant's firearms to be seized and held by the police for the duration of the protective order (173-D:6 I).
* An amendment that adjusts the definition of "Neglect" to "an act or omission by a caretaker which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult" would improve the bill; however even with this change the bill would still enable the seizure of firearms for a finding of neglect. Further, the decision to seize firearms and prohibit future purchases is made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 V, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
This bill enables vulnerable adults to seek protective orders for abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
* This bill allows a vulnerable adult or guardian of a vulnerable adult to seek a protective order for neglect, which is defined by new section 173-D:2 VIII as "an act or omission which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult".
* Other states with similar laws require that the person being accused of neglect have a caregiver role (e.g. Alabama Title 38-9-2, Montana 52-3-803, New Jersey 52:27D-407). The New Hampshire definition would allow a parent to seek a protective order for neglect against an estranged child who maintains no contact with the parent.
* A simple finding of neglect under this bill would allow the defendant's firearms to be seized and held by the police for the duration of the protective order (173-D:6 I).
* An amendment that adjusts the definition of "Neglect" to "an act or omission by a caretaker which results or could result in the deprivation of essential services or supports necessary to maintain the minimum mental, emotional, or physical health and safety of a vulnerable adult" would improve the bill; however even with this change the bill would still enable the seizure of firearms for a finding of neglect. Further, the decision to seize firearms and prohibit future purchases is made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 V, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
This bill establishes criteria for valuating utility property, which has suffered from widely varying assessments of similar property in different towns.
* Establishing clear and uniform criteria for utility assessments ensures uniform taxation throughout the state and reduces the risk and cost of continued lawsuits between the utilities and the municipalities.
This bill establishes criteria for valuating utility property, which has suffered from widely varying assessments of similar property in different towns.
* Establishing clear and uniform criteria for utility assessments ensures uniform taxation throughout the state and reduces the risk and cost of continued lawsuits between the utilities and the municipalities.
* The approach for creating this 'independent' commission is unlikely to result in significant independence. Appointees would be selected from politically-connected citizens by the Secretary of State.
* The purportedly independent commission would allow the legislature to claim plausible deniability in cases of gerrymandering, preventing voters from being able to properly influence the process or hold the officials involved accountable.
* This bill would add a new and potentially unconstitutional and unenforceable requirement for candidates seeking future office, mandating that commission members waive their right to hold any federal, state, or local elective public office (662-B:2 V.(a)). States can't add qualifications for candidates to federal office: U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton, 514 U.S. 779 (1995) (supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/514/779/).
* The approach for creating this 'independent' commission is unlikely to result in significant independence. Appointees would be selected from politically-connected citizens by the Secretary of State.
* The purportedly independent commission would allow the legislature to claim plausible deniability in cases of gerrymandering, preventing voters from being able to properly influence the process or hold the officials involved accountable.
* This bill would add a new and potentially unconstitutional and unenforceable requirement for candidates seeking future office, mandating that commission members waive their right to hold any federal, state, or local elective public office (662-B:2 V.(a)). States can't add qualifications for candidates to federal office: U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton, 514 U.S. 779 (1995) (supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/514/779/).
This bill creates an unaccountable redistricting commission.
* The approach for creating this 'independent' commission is unlikely to result in significant independence. Appointees would be selected from politically-connected citizens by the Secretary of State.
* The purportedly independent commission would allow the legislature to claim plausible deniability in cases of gerrymandering, preventing voters from being able to properly influence the process or hold the officials involved accountable.
* This bill would add a new and potentially unconstitutional and unenforceable requirement for candidates seeking future office, mandating that commission members waive their right to hold any federal, state, or local elective public office (662-B:2 V.(a)). States can't add qualifications for candidates to federal office: U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton, 514 U.S. 779 (1995) (supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/514/779/).
This bill violates the New Hampshire Constitution by mandating expansion of bus transportation to children in kindergarten.
* The New Hampshire Constitution Part 1 [Art.] 28-a. [Mandated Programs.] indicates "The state shall not mandate or assign any new, expanded or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in such a way as to necessitate additional local expenditures by the political subdivision unless such programs or responsibilities are fully funded by the state or unless such programs or responsibilities are approved for funding by a vote of the local legislative body of the political subdivision." This bill clearly violates this article as it mandates an expanded program that will necessitate additional local expenditures.
This bill establishes the position of School Nurse Coordinator in the Division of Learner Support, Department of Education, spending more than $100,000 per year without any increase in direct services to students.
* While the dollar amount is small, this bill furthers the trend of increasing administrative overhead costs for state services without providing any direct benefit to the population that is intended to be served by the spending.
This bill establishes the position of School Nurse Coordinator in the Division of Learner Support, Department of Education, spending more than $100,000 per year without any increase in direct services to students.
* While the dollar amount is small, this bill furthers the trend of increasing administrative overhead costs for state services without providing any direct benefit to the population that is intended to be served by the spending.
This bill, which is designed to address potential inequities in the criminal justice system, is unconstitutional.
* The New Hampshire constitution states in Part 1, [Art.] 2. [Natural Rights.] All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, and protecting, property; and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by this state on account of race, creed, color, sex or national origin. This bill proposes RSA 651:71 I and II(h), each containing provisions that mandate non-equal protection under the law based on race.
* The state should seek to reduce the number of victimless crime statutes to reduce the risk of over-sentencing and potential sentencing inequity.
This bill creates a new tax on employee wages of at least 0.5% to implement a new family medical leave program.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
* The commissioner of the Department of Employment Security will be empowered to raise the tax rate or lower the benefits, up to 10%, without legislative approval.
* There is a cap on benefits at 85% of the average weekly NH salary, so workers who make over the average salary will be paying for benefits that they cannot collect and are disproportionately impacted by the legislation.
* The current short-term disability insurance market will be negatively impacted by government interference in the insurance marketplace.
* Long term, the fiscal note for the program estimates that the state of NH will need 43+ additional employees and $6.6 million per year that would need to be subsidized by the participants.
This bill creates a new tax on employee wages of at least 0.5% to implement a new family medical leave program.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
* The commissioner of the Department of Employment Security will be empowered to raise the tax rate or lower the benefits, up to 10%, without legislative approval.
* There is a cap on benefits at 85% of the average salary, so workers who make over the average salary will be paying for benefits that they cannot collect and are disproportionately impacted by the legislation.
* The current short-term disability insurance market will be negatively impacted by government interference in the insurance marketplace.
* Long term, the fiscal note for the program estimates that the state of NH will need 43+ additional employees and $6.6 million per year that would need to be subsidized by the participants.
This bill creates a new tax on employee wages of at least 0.5% to implement a new family medical leave program.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
* The commissioner of the Department of Employment Security will be empowered to raise the tax rate or lower the benefits, up to 10%, without legislative approval.
* There is a cap on benefits at 85% of the average salary, so workers who make over the average salary will be paying for benefits that they cannot collect and are disproportionately impacted by the legislation.
* The current short-term disability insurance market will be negatively impacted by government interference in the insurance marketplace.
* Long term, the fiscal note for the program estimates that the state of NH will need 43+ additional employees and $6.6 million per year that would need to be subsidized by the participants.
This bill creates a new tax on employee wages of at least 0.5% to implement a new family medical leave program.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
* The commissioner of the Department of Employment Security will be empowered to raise the tax rate or lower the benefits without legislative approval (amendment caps this to 10%).
* There is a cap on benefits at 85% of the average salary, so workers who make over the average salary will be paying for benefits that they cannot collect and are disproportionately impacted by the legislation.
* The current short-term disability insurance market will be negatively impacted by government interference in the insurance marketplace.
* Long term, the fiscal note for the program estimates that the state of NH will need 43+ additional employees and $6.6 million per year that would need to be subsidized by the participants.
This bill increases the administrative fee on unemployment compensation and spends money on government-directed job training programs.
* While government-sponsored job training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
* The state should not have a role in determining the training that businesses will require.
This bill increases the administrative fee on unemployment compensation and spends money on government-directed job training programs.
* While government-sponsored job training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
* The state should not have a role in determining the training that businesses will require.
This bill increases the administrative fee on unemployment compensation and spends money on government-directed job training programs.
* While government-sponsored job training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
* The state should not have a role in determining the training that businesses will require.
This bill doubles the administrative fee on unemployment compensation. It then spends one-third of the amount collected, less 10% for further administration, on job training programs.
* While government-sponsored job training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
* The state should not have a role in determining the training that businesses will require.
This bill allocates 3 million dollars of funding to expand taxpayer-funded mental health and substance misuse programs.
* Though this bill's allocation of funding is for a single year, it will likely become part of the baseline Department of Health and Human Services budget and serve as a basis for future increases.
* This funding expansion grows a program, using dollars from the general fund, that was sold to the public in 2018 as not requiring/allowing state general funds.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs means more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* The economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill replaces the judgment of the family with that of the state in determining the hours that a teen may work.
* This bill limits the number of hours a teen may work in a week to 40.25 if the teen is enrolled in school and there is even a single session day in that week.
* Teens work for many reasons including, at times, the need to help support the family. The new restrictions may force a student to make the choice to drop out of school entirely in order to earn money rather than stay in school and develop time management skills.
This bill replaces the judgment of the family with that of the state in determining the hours that a teen may work.
* This bill limits the number of hours a teen may work in a week to 40.25 if the teen is enrolled in school and there is even a single session day in that week.
* Teens work for many reasons including, at times, the need to help support the family. The new restrictions may force a student to make the choice to drop out of school entirely in order to earn money rather than stay in school and develop time management skills.
This bill eliminates a $42 million annual tax over five years.
* This bill phases out a hidden tax that is passed through to NH utility customers over a period of five years. This will reduce utility rates in the state and improve government funding transparency.
This bill prohibits candidates for certain offices from making political contributions to certain candidates, committees, parties, and political advocacy organizations.
* Part 1 [Art.] 22. of the New Hampshire Constitution states "[Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and Liberty of the press are essential to the security of Freedom in a State: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved." — limiting all speech and particularly political speech may be a tempting solution to a perceived problem but it is not a proper solution.
This bill prohibits candidates for certain offices from making political contributions to certain candidates, committees, parties, and political advocacy organizations.
* Part 1 [Art.] 22. of the New Hampshire Constitution states "[Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and Liberty of the press are essential to the security of Freedom in a State: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved." — limiting all speech and particularly political speech may be a tempting solution to a perceived problem but it is not a proper solution.
This bill prohibits offshore oil and natural gas exploration or infrastructure that transports oil or natural gas from production facilities located in federal waters.
* Energy costs in New Hampshire already are a significant burden on families and businesses. Prohibiting expansion of additional local energy sources will only continue the trend of non-competitive energy costs.
* In May 2017, Sig Sauer announced that it was locating a new manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Arkansas. While there were several factors that contributed to that decision, electricity costs in Arkansas are half that of New Hampshire’s. The majority of NH's electricity generation is derived from clean-burning natural gas (www.eia.gov/state/?sid=NH#tabs-4).
This bill prohibits offshore oil and natural gas exploration or infrastructure that transports oil or natural gas from production facilities located in federal waters.
* Energy costs in New Hampshire already are a significant burden on families and businesses. Prohibiting expansion of additional local energy sources will only continue the trend of non-competitive energy costs.
* In May of 2017, Sig Sauer announced that it was locating a new manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Arkansas. While there were a number of factors that contributed to that decision, electricity costs in Arkansas are half that of New Hampshire’s. The majority of NH's electricity generation is derived from clean-burning natural gas (www.eia.gov/state/?sid=NH#tabs-4).
This bill removes the artificial time frame for a patient-provider relationship prior to a healthcare provider being authorized to provide certifying documentation of a qualifying medical condition for therapeutic use of cannabis.
* The state should not be inserting itself in the patient-provider relationship.
* Existing restrictions may have unintended consequences resulting in prescription of less-appropriate and potentially habit-forming pharmaceuticals.
This bill removes the artificial time frame for a patient-provider relationship prior to a healthcare provider being authorized to provide certifying documentation of a qualifying medical condition for therapeutic use of cannabis.
* The state should not be inserting itself in the patient-provider relationship.
* Existing restrictions may have unintended consequences resulting in prescription of less-appropriate and potentially habit-forming pharmaceuticals.
This bill removes the artificial time frame for a patient-provider relationship prior to a healthcare provider being authorized to provide certifying documentation of a qualifying medical condition for therapeutic use of cannabis.
* The state should not be inserting itself in the patient-provider relationship.
* Existing restrictions may have unintended consequences resulting in prescription of less-appropriate and potentially habit-forming pharmaceuticals.
This bill removes the artificial time frame for a patient-provider relationship prior to a health care provider being authorized to provide certifying documentation of a qualifying medical condition for therapeutic use of cannabis.
* The state should not be inserting itself in the patient-provider relationship.
* Existing restrictions may have unintended consequences resulting in prescription of less-appropriate and potentially habit-forming pharmaceuticals.
* Under current law, employers must pay for workers' compensation insurance for their employees covering up to 5 years of disability. Employees who desire longer term coverage have the option of buying long-term disability insurance in the marketplace. This bill would mandate indefinite coverage in the state-mandated insurance program, requiring employers to factor in the increased costs of this insurance into employee compensation.
* While the fiscal note provides no estimate of the increased costs and lost wages to employees, estimates on the private market (www.policygenius.com/disability-insurance) show that the increased costs for a 39-year-old female road worker could be between $1,992 and $2,700 per year for a policy that changes from 5 years of coverage to a policy that extends to age 67.
* Social Security Disability benefits are substantially offset by workers' compensation benefits (www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v65n4/v65n4p3.html) but Social Security tax rates remain fixed regardless of the duration of coverage offered by workers' compensation programs in a state. As a result, by adopting this bill NH workers will be subsidizing the Social Security Disability Insurance for workers in other states.
* The unbounded coverage mandated in this bill would continue payments even after the employee reaches full retirement age and is collecting Social Security.
This bill creates a new mandate requiring that workers' compensation insurance must provide payments indefinitely for individuals who qualify for compensation.
* Under current law, employers must pay for workers' compensation insurance for their employees covering up to 5 years of disability. Employees who desire longer term coverage have the option of buying long-term disability insurance in the marketplace. This bill would mandate indefinite coverage in the state-mandated insurance program, requiring employers to factor in the increased costs of this insurance into employee compensation.
* While the fiscal note provides no estimate of the increased costs and lost wages to employees, estimates on the private market (www.policygenius.com/disability-insurance) show that the increased costs for a 39-year-old female road worker could be between $1,992 and $2,700 per year for a policy that changes from 5 years of coverage to a policy that extends to age 67.
* Social Security Disability benefits are substantially offset by workers' compensation benefits (www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v65n4/v65n4p3.html) but Social Security tax rates remain fixed regardless of the duration of coverage offered by workers' compensation programs in a state. As a result, by adopting this bill NH workers will be subsidizing the Social Security Disability Insurance for workers in other states.
* The unbounded coverage mandated in this bill would continue payments even after the employee reaches full retirement age and is collecting Social Security.
This bill limits the speech of individuals by prohibiting employers from asking questions about prior criminal convictions on an employment application or conducting a criminal record check of an applicant prior to the initial interview unless the government has mandated such check.
* The state should not be interfering in or dictating businesses' hiring practices nor prohibiting speech.
* The state should work to reduce the number of victimless crimes in order to reduce the number of people who are negatively impacted by their prior involvement in the criminal justice system.
This bill limits the speech of individuals by prohibiting employers from asking questions about prior criminal convictions on an employment application or conducting a criminal record check of an applicant prior to the initial interview unless the government has mandated such check.
* The state should not be interfering in or dictating businesses' hiring practices nor prohibiting speech.
* The state should work to reduce the number of victimless crimes in order to reduce the number of people who are negatively impacted by their prior involvement in the criminal justice system.
* The committee amendment contains additional restrictions against discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin based on the name of the applicant however this duplicates the protection already provided under NH RSA 354-A:7.
This bill limits the speech of individuals by prohibiting employers from asking questions about prior criminal convictions on an employment application or conducting a criminal record check of an applicant prior to the initial interview unless the government has mandated such check.
* The state should not be interfering in or dictating businesses' hiring practices nor prohibiting speech.
* The state should work to reduce the number of victimless crimes in order to reduce the number of people who are negatively impacted by their prior involvement in the criminal justice system.
This bill repeals and defers scheduled reductions in the business profits tax and business enterprise tax.
* NH's ability to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses is vital to the health of our economy. High business tax rates impede NH's ability to attract and retain businesses. Low unemployment benefits everyone.
* When profits are not heavily taxed they can be re-invested to hire more staff, create more robust research and development, or invested in capital equipment.
* Enterprise taxes are a tax on compensation. Lowering these taxes directly enables businesses to increase compensation to employees.
This bill forms a committee to study NH taxpayers offering a guarantee of refinancing student loans.
* This bill establishes a committee that presumes a solution to student debt reduction is for New Hampshire taxpayers to assume partial responsibility for student debt. Among the items listed for study are "The committee shall review the possibility of a state guarantee of refinancing student loans and explore the possibility of a state guarantee of refinancing student loans...".
* A study by the New York Federal Reserve (www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/sr733.html) found that a significant factor in unsustainable cost increases is the existing government interference in the marketplace: "We find a pass-through effect on tuition of changes in subsidized loan maximums of about 60 cents on the dollar, and smaller but positive effects for unsubsidized federal loans." Adding additional state interference in the marketplace may defer some of the immediate impacts of the prior government interference but will further exacerbate the cost growth problem.
* The study committee is directed to solicit advice from stakeholders who have a vested interest in continuing the unsustainable rate of cost increases for higher education (e.g. university leaders, bankers, etc.) by continuing to shift and now disperse costs, which further separates the consumer of the product from the costs.
This bill removes the requirement that medical cannabis alternative treatment centers only be organized as not-for-profit entities allowing the option of these entities to operate for-profit.
* This bill reduces restriction on trade and therefore reduces the impacts of state interference in the marketplace.
* Profit represents the creation of wealth from mutually-beneficial transactions. The opportunity to create wealth promotes investment and employment.
This bill removes the requirement that medical cannabis alternative treatment centers only be organized as not-for-profit entities allowing the option of these entities to operate for-profit.
* This bill reduces restriction on trade and therefore reduces the impacts of state interference in the marketplace.
* Profit represents the creation of wealth from mutually-beneficial transactions. The opportunity to create wealth promotes investment and employment.
This bill opens the door to more competition and more choice in health insurance.
* While there may be no companies currently interested in this model, we shouldn't ignore the possibility of a healthcare startup revolutionizing the industry and looking to do business in New Hampshire.
* Technology has transformed many industries, both local and global. This has allowed for more job opportunities, better customer service, and lower prices. The healthcare industry will follow this path and New Hampshire customers should be allowed the opportunity to buy healthcare from any insurer willing to sell it to them.
This bill increases the risk of pet abandonment and potentially subjects individuals to commercial license requirements for non-commercial hobbyist activity.
* This bill would require individuals who transfer a pet they can no longer care for to obtain vaccinations (and a certificate in triplicate) from a veterinarian prior to the transfer.
* This bill grants the authority to the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food to adopt rules that could result in an individual who transfers reptiles from just one litter or clutch being treated as a pet vendor subject to commercial license requirements and unannounced home inspections.
This bill increases the risk of pet abandonment and potentially subjects individuals to commercial license requirements for non-commercial hobbyist activity.
* This bill would require individuals who transfer a pet they can no longer care for to obtain vaccinations (and a certificate in triplicate) from a veterinarian prior to the transfer.
* This bill grants the authority to the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food to adopt rules that could result in an individual who transfers reptiles from just one litter or clutch being treated as a pet vendor subject to commercial license requirements and unannounced home inspections.
This bill increases state interference in the energy marketplace.
* This bill may increase energy costs in the state by at least $30 million per year by 2025 by mandating increases in class 2 energy. Solar energy adoption in New Hampshire is already increasing without this new state mandate.
This bill increases state interference in the energy marketplace.
* This bill may increase energy costs in the state by at least $30 million per year by 2025 by mandating increases in class 2 energy. Solar energy adoption in New Hampshire is already increasing without this new state mandate.
This bill increases state interference in the energy marketplace.
* The committee heard testimony that this bill may increase energy costs in the state $30 million dollars per year by 2025 by mandating increases in class 2 energy. Solar energy adoption in New Hampshire is already increasing without this new state mandate.
This bill allocates funds to hire five state troopers to exclusively perform drug interdiction work.
* The War on Drugs has clearly failed; heroin was first federally regulated more than 100 years ago, yet is still beyond the control of governance even today. While it is tempting to look at the lists of arrests week after week in the paper and think we are just one more arrest from a solution, it is clear that the additional spending-and-enforcement approach is a failure.
* As with most government programs, once the new positions are created there will be significant pressure to retain the positions and their subsequent pension costs after the current "crisis" is over. This will likely result in more long-term spending than the fiscal note implies.
* "The available scientific evidence suggests… that drug-related violence and high homicide rates are likely a natural consequence of drug prohibition and that increasingly sophisticated and well-resourced methods of disrupting drug distribution networks may unintentionally increase violence. From an evidence-based public policy perspective, gun violence and the enrichment of organized crime networks appear to be natural consequences of drug prohibition..." (International Centre for Science in Drug Policy at www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/ICSDP-1%20-%20FINAL.pdf)
* The Department of Safety reports the appropriated sum in this bill for the hiring of five state troopers does not fully fund the estimated costs for five troopers.
This bill increases the amount of additional exemptions against the tax on interest and dividends for the blind, disabled, and persons over 65.
* Elderly and/or retired persons are disproportionately impacted by the interest and dividends tax as they often rely on a lifetime of savings to provide a regular income stream. While elimination of this tax or a broad-based increase in the exemptions for all residents would be an improvement over this bill, these exemptions would be a useful step forward for New Hampshire.
This bill bans the sale and distribution of new upholstered furniture for residential purposes that has been treated with flame-retardant chemicals while still allowing their use in public facilities, including schools.
* This bill enacts a broad ban against treatment of furniture and carpeting with all current and future chemicals that offer flame-retardant properties. This is a legislative overreaction to incomplete science on a specific subset of chemicals by preemptively banning all future uses of treatments with flame-retardant properties.
* The public already has an increasing number of options available for purchasing flammable furniture, including options at NH retailers such as Ethan Allen (www.ethanallen.com/en_US/faqs.html).
* Flame retardants were initially added to furniture in 1975 due to government overreach in California. More than 40 years later and 6 years after California lifted the initial requirement, we are still suffering the long-term consequences of this overreach.
* The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers trade organization has already issued guidance (www.bifma.org/page/advocacyareas) supporting removal of dangerous fire-retardant chemicals previously added under state mandate. Additional overly broad and confusing government regulation is not needed.
This bill bans the sale and distribution of new upholstered furniture and carpeting for residential purposes that have been treated with flame-retardant chemicals while still allowing their use in public facilities, including schools.
* This bill enacts a broad ban against treatment of furniture and carpeting with all current and future chemicals that offer flame-retardant properties. This is a legislative overreaction to incomplete science on a specific subset of chemicals by preemptively banning all future uses of treatments with flame-retardant properties.
* The public already has an increasing number of options available for purchasing flammable furniture, including options at NH retailers such as Ethan Allen (www.ethanallen.com/en_US/faqs.html).
* Flame retardants were initially added to furniture in 1975 due to government overreach in California. More than 40 years later and 6 years after California lifted the initial requirement, we are still suffering the long-term consequences of this overreach.
* The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers trade organization has already issued guidance (www.bifma.org/page/advocacyareas) supporting removal of dangerous fire-retardant chemicals previously added under state mandate. Additional overly broad and confusing government regulation is not needed.
This bill dramatically erodes parental influence in a child's participation in non-academic surveys.
* Prior to SB 43, which passed in Feb. 2017, schools would routinely require students to complete non-academic surveys and questionnaires to assess their attitudes, values, decision making, and behaviors without the explicit consent of parents — this bill undermines the important parental rights protected by current law.
* Parents should be fully informed on non-academic surveys being given to their children and should have the ability to have their children not participate. This bill would undermine that ability by requiring an opt-out rather than explicit parental consent to participate in these non-academic surveys.
* Active consent, as required in current law, is consistent with the federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) and carves out an exception for the Youth Risk Behavior Survey created by the CDC, allowing passive consent.
This bill dramatically erodes parental influence in a child's participation in non-academic surveys.
* Prior to SB 43, which passed in Feb. 2017, schools would routinely require students to complete non-academic surveys and questionnaires to assess their attitudes, values, decision making, and behaviors without the explicit consent of parents — this bill undermines the important parental rights protected by current law.
* Parents should be fully informed on non-academic surveys being given to their children and should have the ability to have their children not participate. This bill, as amended, would undermine that ability by requiring an opt-out rather than explicit parental consent to participate in these non-academic surveys.
* Active consent, as required in current law, is consistent with the federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) and carves out an exception for the Youth Risk Behavior Survey created by the CDC, allowing passive consent.
This bill dramatically erodes parental influence in a child's participation in non-academic surveys.
* Prior to SB 43, which passed in Feb. 2017, schools would routinely require students to complete non-academic surveys and questionnaires to assess their attitudes, values, decision making, and behaviors without the explicit consent of parents — this bill undermines the important parental rights protected by current law.
* Parents should be fully informed on non-academic surveys being given to their children and should have the ability to have their children not participate. This bill, as amended, would undermine that ability by requiring an opt-out rather than explicit parental consent to participate in these non-academic surveys.
* Active consent, as required in current law, is consistent with the federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) and carves out an exception for the Youth Risk Behavior Survey created by the CDC, allowing passive consent.
* The committee amendment, #0313s, which requires school districts to notify families about the non-academic survey via "email or text in addition to any written notice given via the student", does not address the fundamental concern. This is a school-choice issue because public school students should not be subject to increased intrusiveness or privacy violations, nor should their families forfeit their rights to direct their children’s education simply because children attend their local district schools.
This bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules requiring annual training in suicide awareness and prevention for teachers and administrators while providing no funding for the new mandate.
* Suicide is a tragic, but rare, occurrence and mandating that almost all school personnel spend two hours every year learning how to detect and prevent such tragedies is another piece of "feel good" legislation that will do nothing to solve a complex problem.
* Teachers are employed in schools to teach, not become psychologists; schools already have counselors to work with troubled children.
* This bill will be a boon for the training and certification industrial complex, but for teachers and other school personnel will be just another administrative burden to fulfill.
* The New Hampshire Constitution Part 1 [Art.] 28-a. [Mandated Programs.] states "The state shall not mandate or assign any new, expanded or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in such a way as to necessitate additional local expenditures by the political subdivision unless such programs or responsibilities are fully funded by the state or unless such programs or responsibilities are approved for funding by a vote of the local legislative body of the political subdivision.". This bill represents an unfunded mandate on local districts.
This bill enables the system benefits charge to be increased without legislative approval in certain cases.
* This bill contains a hidden tax on utility ratepayers by authorizing increases in the system benefits charge.
* These new taxes are earmarked for workforce development programs that support energy auditors and weatherization contractors and to enable low-income ratepayers to go into debt by mandating that the state develop relationships with big banks and other lending institutions to provide low-income financing of energy efficiency measures.
This bill enables the system benefits charge to be increased without legislative approval in certain cases.
* This bill contains a hidden tax on utility ratepayers by authorizing increases in the system benefits charge.
* These new taxes are earmarked for workforce development programs that support energy auditors and weatherization contractors and to enable low-income ratepayers to go into debt by mandating that the state develop relationships with big banks and other lending institutions to provide low-income financing of energy efficiency measures.
This bill repeals provisions of the law that require legislative approval for further increases to the system benefits charge.
* New Hampshire ratepayers should not be subject to further increases to the systems benefits charge without approval of elected representatives. This charge is a hidden tax on ratepayers.
This bill creates a new state government office and position of director of outdoor recreation.
* New Hampshire has gone 243 years without an Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development, but yet now in 2019, even as the legislature expresses concern about property tax rates, this bill proposes that we are in need of this new office and position. While the costs for the new office and position are initially small, each new state government office builds its own constituency that seeks to expand budgets in future years.
This bill creates a new state government office and position of director of outdoor recreation.
* New Hampshire has gone 243 years without an Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development, but yet now in 2019, even as the legislature expresses concern about property tax rates, this bill proposes that we are in need of this new office and position. While the costs for the new office and position are initially small, each new state government office builds its own constituency that seeks to expand budgets in future years.
This bill would make the legislature less able to respond to the will of the people.
* This bill establishes the legislature as a public employer under the Public Employee Labor Relations Act and provides procedures for collective bargaining by a defined group of legislative employees. The legislative branch is a political body and the leadership of both chambers and all political parties must have the option of having the people around them that support representing the positions of the voters who elected them.
* The legislature would be required to negotiate "terms and conditions" of employment for these employees which would potentially place restrictions on staff changes for future legislatures.
This bill would make the legislature less able to respond to the will of the people.
* This bill establishes the legislature as a public employer under the public employee labor relations act and provides procedures for collective bargaining by a defined group of legislative employees. The legislative branch is a political body and the leadership of both chambers and all political parties must have the option of having the people around them that support representing the positions of the voters who elected them.
* The legislature would be required to negotiate "terms and conditions" of employment for these employees which would potentially place restrictions on staff changes for future legislatures.
This bill spends $2 million per year to replicate the capabilities of a cell phone.
* This bill creates a new statewide system for the purpose of allowing school personnel to notify law enforcement officials directly in the event of a direct threat against a school community. While a 'batphone' may have made sense in the 1970's, this replicates capabilities that most faculty and many students already have to call 911.
* Faculty and students already know how to use their cell phones and are regularly testing them. This single-purpose system would generally be unused and as a result would have a higher risk of failure when it might be needed most.
This bill spends $2 million per year to replicate the capabilities of a cell phone.
* This bill creates a new statewide system for the purpose of allowing school personnel to notify law enforcement officials directly in the event of a direct threat against a school community. While a "batphone" may have made sense in the 1970's, this replicates capabilities that most faculty and many students already have to call 911.
* Faculty and students already know how to use their cell phones and are regularly testing them. This single-purpose system would generally be unused and as a result would have a higher risk of failure when it might be needed most.
* Although this bill is recommended as rerefer, a motion of ITL is the most appropriate path forward.
This bill reverses the common-sense slow reduction in education stabilization grants, which is part of current law, intended to allow communities time to adapt to changes in the education funding formulas.
* According to a study by the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, between the 1992 and 2014 fiscal years, real spending per student in New Hampshire public schools increased by 56 percent, with student enrollment growing by only 4 percent.
* During that same interval the number of teachers increased by 29 percent, while the number of non-teaching staff positions increased by 89 percent — 22 times the rate needed to accommodate student growth.
This bill spends more than $9 million of additional taxpayer money by funding full-day kindergarten which may harm as many children as it helps and allocates $15 million dollars of state taxpayer funds for school building aid.
* Full-day kindergarten will compete with hundreds of small private businesses that are already providing these services without cost to the taxpayer.
* Research indicates that half-day kindergarten is beneficial, but concludes all-day kindergarten is too long, robs children of valuable free play, and is counterproductive (www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/08/17/why-pushing-kids-to-learn-too-much-too-soon-is-counterproductive/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.01b75ee7836d).
* Studies have shown that accelerating education in young boys has potential long-term disadvantages, especially in the ability to focus at later ages. Delaying kindergarten for one year reduced inattention and hyperactivity by 73% for an average child at age 11, and it virtually eliminated the probability that an average child at that age would have an abnormal or higher-than-normal rating for the inattentive-hyperactive behavioral measure (ed.stanford.edu/news/stanford-gse-research-finds-strong-evidence-mental-health-benefits-delaying-kindergarten).
This bill spends more than $9 million of additional taxpayer money on an unproven mandate that may harm as many children as it helps.
* Research indicates that half-day kindergarten is beneficial, but concludes all-day kindergarten is too long, robs children of valuable free play, and is counterproductive (www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/08/17/why-pushing-kids-to-learn-too-much-too-soon-is-counterproductive/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.01b75ee7836d).
* Full-day kindergarten will compete with hundreds of small private businesses that are already providing these services without cost to the taxpayer.
* Studies have shown that accelerating education in young boys has potential long-term disadvantages, especially in the ability to focus at later ages. Delaying kindergarten for one year reduced inattention and hyperactivity by 73% for an average child at age 11, and it virtually eliminated the probability that an average child at that age would have an abnormal or higher-than-normal rating for the inattentive-hyperactive behavioral measure (ed.stanford.edu/news/stanford-gse-research-finds-strong-evidence-mental-health-benefits-delaying-kindergarten).
This bill exposes student data to testing entities and imposes no penalties if they share or fail to protect this sensitive information.
* Giving testing entities students' names and Unique Pupil Identifiers defeats the purpose of UPIs, which are intended to protect student identities.
* RSA 189:67 already allows testing entities to access student names or UPIs, not both.
* The Committee of Conference recommendation removed the penalties for inappropriate use of this data that were in the Senate version.
* Schools and families may already maintain a file of the scores and reports from year to year; this bill is not necessary.
This bill mandates federally-determined prevailing minimum wages on state-funded public works projects.
* This bill would impose significant additional recordkeeping and weekly reporting requirements for contractors supporting state projects. These increased overhead costs, which are not directly represented by the fiscal note, would ultimately be borne as additional costs to the taxpayer.
* The bill mirrors similar federal legislation (Davis Bacon Act) which was passed with the deliberate intent to prevent non-unionized, less established, minority laborers from competing with established, unionized, white workers during the depression. While times have changed and the intent of this bill may be somewhat different, the effect will still be to dramatically increase the risk and/or cost of employing workers with potential for growth but with lower demonstrated skill level.
* Small firms may not have the personnel to absorb compliance overhead costs. This bill would have the effect of biasing state contracts toward larger/established firms.
This bill mandates federally-determined prevailing minimum wages on state-funded public works projects.
* This bill would impose significant additional recordkeeping and weekly reporting requirements for contractors supporting state projects. These increased overhead costs, which are not directly represented by the fiscal note, would ultimately be borne as additional costs to the taxpayer.
* The bill mirrors similar federal legislation (Davis Bacon Act) which was passed with the deliberate intent to prevent non-unionized, less established, minority laborers from competing with established, unionized, white workers during the depression. While times have changed and the intent of this bill may be somewhat different, the effect will still be to dramatically increase the risk and/or cost of employing workers with potential for growth but with lower demonstrated skill level.
* Small firms may not have the personnel to absorb compliance overhead costs. This bill would have the effect of biasing state contracts toward larger/established firms.
This bill mandates federally-determined prevailing minimum wages on state-funded public works projects.
* This bill would impose significant additional recordkeeping and weekly reporting requirements for contractors supporting state projects. These increased overhead costs, which are not directly represented by the fiscal note, would ultimately be borne as additional costs to the taxpayer.
* The bill mirrors similar federal legislation (Davis Bacon Act) which was passed with the deliberate intent to prevent non-unionized, less established, minority laborers from competing with established, unionized, white workers during the depression. While times have changed and the intent of this bill may be somewhat different, the effect will still be to dramatically increase the risk and/or cost of employing workers with potential for growth but with lower demonstrated skill level.
* Small firms may not have the personnel to absorb compliance overhead costs. This bill would have the effect of biasing state contracts toward larger/established firms.
This bill has a non-germane amendment that requires an insurer to reimburse an automobile repairer for all repairs if the repairer follows the original equipment manufacturer's recommended collision repair procedures.
* As amended by 2019-2139h, this bill will increase premiums for automobile insurance in New Hampshire by mandating reimbursement from insurance companies for all such recommendations made by original equipment manufacturers (OEM) that a repair shop intends to follow.
* This bill is mandating that OEM recommendations now be required repairs. There are differences between OEM recommendations versus requirements. Recommendations are not held to any standard and mostly include general indemnifying language. Required procedures are things that should or must be undertaken to ensure proper safety standards.
* This bill is classic crony capitalism that will provide an economic incentive for a repairer to complete steps that they do not believe to be necessary but that they know nevertheless they will be compensated for, without an obvious direct expense to their customer.
This bill mandates new coverage for health insurance, driving up rates for everyone, and will require funding of expensive treatments from the state's general fund for those purchasing coverage on the ACA marketplace.
* In 2018 the average annual premium for employer-based family coverage rose 5 percent, outpacing inflation (www.ncsl.org/research/health/health-insurance-premiums.aspx). Part of the reason for the increase is continued increases in state-mandated services such as those included in this bill.
This bill mandates new coverage for health insurance, driving up rates for everyone, and will require funding of expensive treatments from the state's general fund for those purchasing coverage on the ACA marketplace.
* In 2018 the average annual premium for employer-based family coverage rose 5 percent, outpacing inflation (www.ncsl.org/research/health/health-insurance-premiums.aspx). Part of the reason for the increase is continued increases in state-mandated services such as those included in this bill.
This bill mandates new coverage for health insurance, driving up rates for everyone, and will require funding of expensive treatments from the state's general fund for those purchasing coverage on the ACA marketplace.
* In 2018 the average annual premium for employer-based family coverage rose 5 percent, outpacing inflation (www.ncsl.org/research/health/health-insurance-premiums.aspx). Part of the reason for the increase is continued increases in state-mandated services such as those included in this bill that would require coverage of expensive in vitro fertilization and cryopreservation for a period of 5 years from the time of each cryopreservation.
* The federal ACA law specifies that the cost of newly-enacted mandates associated with coverage through the exchange must be borne by the state. According to the fiscal note: "The Department assumes that the costs associated with artificial insemination services and assisted reproductive technologies, as well as the costs of the diagnostics tests and drugs to support the same, for exchange products, would be borne by the State's general fund."
This bill requires each public school to develop a plan to train staff, volunteers, and students on suicide prevention tactics.
* Suicide is a tragic, but rare, occurrence and mandating that faculty, staff, school volunteers, and students receive training is another piece of "feel good" legislation that will do nothing to solve a complex problem.
* Local school districts already have the ability to adopt programs such as this without a state mandate.
* The New Hampshire Constitution Part 1 [Art.] 28-a. [Mandated Programs.] states "The state shall not mandate or assign any new, expanded or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in such a way as to necessitate additional local expenditures by the political subdivision unless such programs or responsibilities are fully funded by the state or unless such programs or responsibilities are approved for funding by a vote of the local legislative body of the political subdivision.". This bill represents an unfunded mandate on local districts.
This bill allows the use of general funds for expanded Medicaid in New Hampshire.
* Medicaid is a welfare program for able-bodied adults in their working years. The medical insurance provided has features such as no premiums, no co-pays, no deductibles, and non-emergency transportation that are simply not available to workers with full-time jobs. These benefits create a strong disincentive to full-time employment and career advancement. This bill expands these negative incentives by reducing work requirements and eliminating them entirely for homeless individuals providing a disincentive for establishing a residence.
* A free-market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to have sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill allows the use of general funds for expanded Medicaid in New Hampshire.
* Medicaid is a welfare program for able-bodied adults in their working years. The medical insurance provided has features such as no premiums, no co-pays, no deductibles, and non-emergency transportation that are simply not available to workers with full-time jobs. These benefits create a strong disincentive to full-time employment and career advancement. This bill expands these negative incentives by reducing work requirements and setting up a trigger to eliminate the requirement entirely when 500 beneficiaries are suspended or disenrolled as a result of noncompliance with the reduced work requirements.
* A free-market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to have sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill allows the use of general funds for expanded Medicaid in New Hampshire.
* Medicaid is a welfare program for able-bodied adults in their working years. The medical insurance provided has features such as no premiums, no co-pays, no deductibles, and non-emergency transportation that are simply not available to workers with full-time jobs. These benefits create a strong disincentive to full-time employment and career advancement. This bill expands these negative incentives by reducing work requirements and setting up a trigger to eliminate the requirement entirely when 500 beneficiaries are suspended or disenrolled as a result of noncompliance with the reduced work requirements.
* A free-market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to have sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill repeals scheduled reductions in the business profits tax and business enterprise tax.
* NH's ability to attract new businesses and retain existing businesses is vital to the health of our economy. High business tax rates impede NH's ability to attract and retain businesses. Low unemployment benefits everyone.
* When profits are not heavily taxed they can be re-invested to hire more staff, create more robust research and development, or invested in capital equipment.
* Enterprise taxes are a tax on compensation. Lowering these taxes directly enables businesses to increase compensation to employees.
This bill reverses the common-sense slow reduction in education stabilization grants, which is part of current law, intended to allow communities time to adapt to changes in the education funding formulas.
* According to a study by the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, between the 1992 and 2014 fiscal years, real spending per student in New Hampshire public schools increased by 56 percent, with student enrollment growing by only 4 percent.
* During that same interval the number of teachers increased by 29 percent, while the number of non-teaching staff positions increased by 89 percent — 22 times the rate needed to accommodate student growth.
This bill reverses the common-sense slow reduction in education stabilization grants, which is part of current law, intended to allow communities time to adapt to changes in the education funding formulas.
* According to a study by the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, between the 1992 and 2014 fiscal years, real spending per student in New Hampshire public schools increased by 56 percent, with student enrollment growing by only 4 percent.
* During that same interval the number of teachers increased by 29 percent, while the number of non-teaching staff positions increased by 89 percent — 22 times the rate needed to accommodate student growth.
This bill creates government-granted monopoly privileges.
* Allowing two special interests to conduct gambling operations while prohibiting all others from competing is a clear example of regulatory capture and an unjust use of government power.
* This bill would violate Article 83 of the NH Constitution, which states "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it.".
* This bill dramatically increases the size and scope of government. Once large bureaucracies and moneyed interests are created, they are very difficult to roll back.
* The NHLA would support a bill to more broadly legalize gambling, or allow for the creation of many independent casinos.
This bill creates government-granted monopoly privileges.
* Allowing two special interests to conduct gambling operations while prohibiting all others from competing is a clear example of regulatory capture and an unjust use of government power.
* This bill would violate article 83 of the NH Constitution, which states "Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of the people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it.".
* This bill dramatically increases the size and scope of government. Once large bureaucracies and moneyed interests are created, they are very difficult to roll back.
* The NHLA would support a bill to more broadly legalize gambling, or allow for the creation of many independent casinos.
This bill partitions dollars reserved from the Education Tax Credit program so that 40% of the dollars are no longer available for use by students but rather are now allocated to public school projects.
* This bill debilitates the Education Tax Credit program. It would cut funding so drastically as to be available to 1,000 fewer low-income students.
* The committee heard testimony that even under the existing law, a family could use a scholarship from the Education Tax Credit program to pay for tuition at a public school.
This proposed constitutional amendment provides that a state broad-based tax may only be enacted to reduce property taxes.
* This proposed constitutional amendment is misleading as there is nothing that would prevent property taxes from being raised in a subsequent year, resulting in a total tax burden and/or property tax burden that is higher than when the broad-based tax was introduced. The bill is intended to provide cover for a new broad-based tax that ultimately will hurt New Hampshire residents.
This bill allows municipalities to infringe upon the rights of citizens.
* We believe that government is most accountable and accessible when it is most local. Local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates. We do believe that there is a higher principle, however: the principle of individual liberty. Indeed, the most "local" governance of all is the governance of an individual over his or her own life and property. For this reason, we oppose state laws that grant municipalities the ability to abridge the personal or property rights of individuals.
This bill requires licensure and inspection of massage establishments.
* Currently, massage therapists need to be licensed to work legally in New Hampshire. This bill will now require massage establishments to also obtain a license.
* New establishment fees are undefined and likely much more than an individual license.
* This will increase costs to small independent businesses both to obtain the new license as well as to allocate time to work with state inspectors. This will be a disproportionate burden on owner/operator establishments in that not only will they have to pay a new license fee but they also may have to cancel client appointments to work with the inspector.
* This bill allows license revocation or suspension if the licensee "has engaged in illegal activity" (proposed RSA 328-B:8 VI.) which is subjective, overly broad, and does not require conviction before punishment.
This bill makes certain disciplinary records concerning law enforcement officers which have been finally adjudicated subject to the Right-to-Know Law.
* This bill affirms the right of inhabitants to obtain adjudicated disciplinary records for law enforcement officers. Disclosure would be allowed for records relating to police discharge of a firearm that led to serious injury or death.
* It would also permit disclosure of disciplinary records, after final adjudication, if a law enforcement officer has been found guilty of sexual assault or a sustained finding of dishonesty including perjury, false statements, filing false reports, destruction, or falsifying or concealing evidence.
* Public employees who hold extraordinary powers combined with immunities must be held to high standards.
This bill requires a determination of whether information in a police officer's personnel file constitutes exculpatory evidence and allows a police officer who has information determined to be exculpatory evidence in his or her personnel file to have an opportunity to challenge the disciplinary finding.
* This bill will assure that exculpatory evidence is available to prosecutors allowing them to review data and determine if it is appropriate to release to the defense.
* A fair trial is dependent upon all exculpatory evidences being available to the defense.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
* While this bill has a recommendation of Interim Study, which is acceptable, the appropriate path forward is to find this bill Inexpedient To Legislate.
This bill will increase state spending by providing adults in the Medicaid program with dental coverage.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage.
* This will likely result in new costs of between $6 million and $11 million in state taxpayer funds and more than $28 million of taxpayer funding overall when state and federal spending are considered. The bill provides no cap on annual per-patient expenses and therefore the total cost impact may be higher.
This bill will increase state spending by providing adults in the Medicaid program with dental coverage.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage.
* This will likely result in new costs of between $6 million and $11 million in state taxpayer funds and more than $28 million of taxpayer funding overall when state and federal spending are considered. The bill provides no cap on annual per-patient expenses and therefore the total cost impact may be higher.
This bill, with the committee amendment, will increase state spending by providing adults in the Medicaid program with dental coverage.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage.
* This will likely result in new costs of between $6 million and $11 million in state taxpayer funds and more than $28 million of taxpayer funding overall when state and federal spending are considered. The bill provides no cap on annual per-patient expenses and therefore the total cost impact may be higher.
This bill prohibits employers from asking a job applicant about his or her criminal history prior to an interview.
* The state should not be interfering in or dictating businesses' hiring practices.
* This bill contains an exemption from this restriction for state or local government agencies while denying this choice to private employers.
* The state should work to reduce the number of victimless crimes in order to reduce the number of people who are negatively impacted by their prior involvement in the criminal justice system.
* While this bill has a recommendation of Interim Study, which is acceptable, the appropriate path forward is to find this bill Inexpedient To Legislate.
This bill prohibits employers from asking a job applicant about his or her criminal history prior to an interview.
* The state should not be interfering in or dictating businesses' hiring practices.
* This bill contains an exemption from this restriction for state or local government agencies while denying this choice to private employers.
* The state should work to reduce the number of victimless crimes in order to reduce the number of people who are negatively impacted by their prior involvement in the criminal justice system.
* While this bill has a recommendation of Interim Study, which is acceptable, the appropriate path forward is to find this bill Inexpedient To Legislate.
This bill allows light tinting on driver-side and passenger-side windows.
*46 other states already allow tinted side windows, with no widespread problems reported.
* NH law enforcement already encounters tinted windows on the thousands of tourist vehicles that visit NH each year. No widespread problems have been reported with these vehicles either.
* It is unfair to allow out-of-state visitors to drive with tinted windows while prohibiting NH residents the same freedom.
This bill would make the legislature less able to respond to the will of the people.
* This bill establishes the legislature as a public employer under the public employee labor relations act and provides procedures for collective bargaining by a defined group of legislative employees. The legislative branch is a political body and the leadership of both chambers and all political parties must have the option of having the people around them that support representing the positions of the voters who elected them.
* The legislature would be required to negotiate "terms and conditions" of employment for these employees which would potentially place restrictions on staff changes for future legislatures.
This bill adds opioid use disorder to the qualifying conditions for therapeutic cannabis, with certain restrictions.
* Many patients suffering with opioid use disorder report that cannabis helps with their withdrawal symptoms.
* If a qualified medical professional believes a patient with opioid use disorder could benefit from using cannabis, the state should not stand in the way.
This bill changes the purpose of the Child Protection Act from protection from abuse to the state determining the 'best interest of the child'.
* There is no objective standard to determine the best interest of the child. Under this bill, judicial prerogative to determine the child’s best interest becomes the default, rather than a last resort reserved for when a parent has been proven unfit.
* According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (www.nber.org/digest/oct05/w11377.html) "Doubling the rate of religious attendance raises household income by 9.1 percent, decreases welfare participation by 16 percent from baseline rates, decreases the odds of being divorced by 4 percent, and increases the odds of being married by 4.4 percent." — should the state show a preference for removing a child from a non-religious parent and placing them with a religious family? Clearly not, and while such decisions are unlikely to become commonplace even with this bill, a decision to remove a child from a parent is not something that should be left to such a vaguely worded standard subject to judicial evolution of interpretation.
This bill adds "moderate to severe insomnia" to the list of qualifying conditions for therapeutic cannabis.
* If a qualified medical professional believes therapeutic cannabis is an appropriate treatment for a patient's insomnia, the state should not interfere with this decision.
This bill mandates that manufacturers of digital electronic products must make product repair information available to independent repair facilities.
* This bill would place a mandate on manufacturers even if they chose not to offer products for sale in NH, as the bill language places the mandate on manufacturers if a product is "sold or used in this state".
This bill increases fees on most vehicles without reducing other fees/taxes to offset the increase.
* This bill adds a new road usage fee based on the miles per gallon efficiency of the vehicle with a graduated fee for vehicles above 20 MPG. In 2018, even large-class vehicles often have EPA ratings exceeding this metric, resulting in this new fee likely applying broadly to the majority of vehicles. In fact, the fleet average MPG including all passenger cars and light trucks sold after 2014 is estimated to be at least 31 MPG (https://goo.gl/ndWWaC).
* This bill simply raises more revenue; it does not reduce other taxes or fees in any way. If there is simply a desire to ensure that road maintenance burden is shared by all drivers, this new fee should be accompanied by a reduction in other fees.
* This bill will encourage drivers to purchase less fuel-efficient vehicles, resulting in more fossil fuels being burned in NH.
* This bill will hurt elderly drivers the most. According to the Federal Highway Administration drivers over the age of 65 drive an average of 7,646 miles per year (www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/onh00/bar8.htm), yet this bill will tax them an extra 30% more than they drive on average.
This bill eliminates penalties for limited personal possession and home cultivation of cannabis for adults 21 and older.
* This bill would increase personal freedom by allowing adults 21 and older to possess and give away (but not sell) up to one ounce of cannabis, five grams of concentrated cannabis, and infused products with 500 milligrams of THC outside of their homes; and securely cultivate up to six plants, three of which could be mature (with a household limit of 12 total, six mature), and possess the cannabis produced by their plants at home.
* Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
* Polls have shown 2/3 of Granite Staters and 2/3 of Americans support legalizing cannabis.
* While the bill creates new taxes and regulatory infrastructure, this compromise is a substantial improvement over current law, which subjects people to criminal penalty and potential destruction of their livelihood for victimless behavior.
This bill restricts competition and access to art therapy services by imposing arduous and excessive licensing requirements.
* Only 13 states currently license art therapy. Licensing often creates unintended consequences and in this case, restricts access to resources. As hiring a certified and licensed professional becomes more expensive, more individuals will seek substitutes to professional services or neglect to obtain services entirely in order to save money.
* The requirements of this bill are excessive, mandating thousands of hours of school and thousands of hours of additional experience, under specific conditions. It prohibits even those who are licensed therapists who have received training in art therapy and have years of experience, but hold a more generalized degree in psychotherapy, from serving as art therapists.
* Licensing is no replacement for references and reputation. Some licensed service providers are incompetent and many unlicensed service providers are highly competent. Licensing creates a false sense of security for consumers and reduces the overall quality of work provided by raising barriers to entry and reducing competition.
* Licensing makes it more difficult even for experienced, educated, and competent workers to start small businesses. We should be reducing the already significant regulatory load on small businesses, not increasing it.
This bill restricts competition and access to art therapy services by imposing arduous and excessive licensing requirements.
* Only 13 states currently license art therapy. Licensing often creates unintended consequences and in this case, restricts access to resources. As hiring a certified and licensed professional becomes more expensive, more individuals will seek substitutes to professional services or neglect to obtain services entirely in order to save money.
* The requirements of this bill are excessive, mandating thousands of hours of school and thousands of hours of additional experience, under specific conditions. It prohibits even those who are licensed therapists who have received training in art therapy and have years of experience, but hold a more generalized degree in psychotherapy, from serving as art therapists.
* Licensing is no replacement for references and reputation. Some licensed service providers are incompetent and many unlicensed service providers are highly competent. Licensing creates a false sense of security for consumers and reduces the overall quality of work provided by raising barriers to entry and reducing competition.
* Licensing makes it more difficult even for experienced, educated, and competent workers to start small businesses. We should be reducing the already significant regulatory load on small businesses, not increasing it.
This bill, as amended, mandates the characteristics and price of point of sale bags.
* This bill mandates the characteristics of point-of-sale bags such that traditional single use 20 mil plastic bags would no longer be allowed.
* This bill may harm the environment as retailers will be forced to use heavier plastic bags and charge a fee with the hope that this results in a substantial increase in the reuse of the bags. If such an increase does not occur, this bill would result in increased plastic being introduced into landfills.
* The state should not be directing the price or options available to consumers.
This bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules requiring annual training in suicide awareness and prevention for teachers and administrators while providing no funding for the new mandate.
* Suicide is a tragic, but rare, occurrence and mandating that almost all school personnel spend two hours every year learning how to detect and prevent such tragedies is another piece of "feel good" legislation that will do nothing to solve a complex problem.
* Teachers are employed in schools to teach, not become psychologists; schools already have counselors to work with troubled children.
* This bill will be a boon for the training and certification industrial complex, but for teachers and other school personnel will be just another administrative burden to fulfill.
* The New Hampshire Constitution Part 1 [Art.] 28-a. [Mandated Programs.] states "The state shall not mandate or assign any new, expanded or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in such a way as to necessitate additional local expenditures by the political subdivision unless such programs or responsibilities are fully funded by the state or unless such programs or responsibilities are approved for funding by a vote of the local legislative body of the political subdivision.". This bill represents an unfunded mandate on local districts.
This bill allows personal property, including firearms, to be taken when no crime has been committed.
* This bill eliminates traditional due-process protections prior to search and seizure of personal property.
* The bill violates the 4th Amendment protections under the US Bill of Rights and Article 19 of the NH Bill of Rights: "[Art.] 19. [Searches and Seizures Regulated.] Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions."
* The language in the bill allows for hearsay 'evidence' to be admitted into the trial violating Article 15: "[Art.] 15. [Right of Accused.] No subject shall be held to answer for any crime, or offense, until the same is fully and plainly, substantially and formally, described to him;"
* The respondent will be stripped of personal property and will need to spend time and money via the court system for return of the property without having committed a crime.
* Under this bill, courts are not bound by the traditional rules of evidence typically given to the defendant. (159-E:3 IX)
This bill allows personal property, including firearms, to be taken when no crime has been committed.
* This bill eliminates traditional due-process protections prior to search and seizure of personal property.
* The bill violates the 4th Amendment protections under the US Bill of Rights and Article 19 of the NH Bill of Rights: "[Art.] 19. [Searches and Seizures Regulated.] Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions."
* The language in the bill allows for hearsay 'evidence' to be admitted into the trial violating Article 15: "[Art.] 15. [Right of Accused.] No subject shall be held to answer for any crime, or offense, until the same is fully and plainly, substantially and formally, described to him;"
* The respondent will be stripped of personal property and will need to spend time and money via the court system for return of the property without having committed a crime.
* Under this bill, courts are not bound by the traditional rules of evidence typically given to the defendant. (159-E:3 IX)
This bill allows personal property, including firearms, to be taken when no crime has been committed.
* This bill violates the 4th Amendment protections under the US Bill of Rights and Article 19 of the NH Bill of Rights: "[Art.] 19. [Searches and Seizures Regulated.] Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions."
* The language in the bill allows for hearsay 'evidence' to be admitted into the trial violating Article 15: "[Art.] 15. [Right of Accused.] No subject shall be held to answer for any crime, or offense, until the same is fully and plainly, substantially and formally, described to him;"
* The respondent will be stripped of personal property and will need to spend time and money via the court system for return of the property without having committed a crime.
* Under this bill, courts are not bound by the traditional rules of evidence typically given to the defendant. (159-E:3 IX)
This bill complicates the process for the introduction of potentially life-saving drugs to the marketplace.
* This bill would require prescription drug manufacturers to notify the New Hampshire insurance department in writing when introducing a new prescription drug at a wholesale cost that exceeds the threshold set for a specialty drug under the Medicare Part D program. When this is triggered, the manufacturer will be required to provide the state with data such as a description of the marketing and pricing plans for the drug. The state would then publish this information on its website quarterly.
* While this new mandate is only a small increase in regulatory costs for the deployment of a new drug, along with other regulatory complexity it will continue to put upward pressure on healthcare costs.
This bill creates a new tax on income from wages of at least 0.5% to implement a new family medical leave program.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
* There is a cap on benefits at 85% of the average salary, so workers who make over the average salary will be paying for benefits that they cannot collect and are disproportionately impacted by the legislation.
* The current short-term disability insurance market will be negatively impacted by government interference in the insurance marketplace.
* Long term, the fiscal note for the program estimates that the state of NH will need 43+ additional employees and $6.6 million per year that would need to be subsidized by the participants.
This bill creates a new tax on income from wages of at least 0.5% to implement a new family medical leave program.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
* There is a cap on benefits at 85% of the average salary, so workers who make over the average salary will be paying for benefits that they cannot collect and are disproportionately impacted by the legislation.
* The current short-term disability insurance market will be negatively impacted by government interference in the insurance marketplace.
* Long term, the fiscal note for the program estimates that the state of NH will need 43+ additional employees and $6.6 million per year that would need to be subsidized by the participants.
This bill creates a new tax on income from wages of at least 0.5% to implement a new family medical leave program.
* Employees and employers should be free to negotiate benefit programs such as paid family and medical leave insurance without the state forcing all to participate.
* The commissioner of the Department of Employment Security in conjunction with an advisory council will be empowered to raise the tax rate or lower the benefits without legislative approval (amendment caps this to 10%).
* There is a cap on benefits at 85% of the average salary, so workers who make over the average salary will be paying for benefits that they cannot collect and are disproportionately impacted by the legislation.
* The current short-term disability insurance market will be negatively impacted by government interference in the insurance marketplace.
* Long term, the fiscal note for the program estimates that the state of NH will need 43+ additional employees and $6.6 million per year that would need to be subsidized by the participants.
This bill would impose new mandates on private schools participating in the town tuitioning (e.g. Croydon) program.
* This bill, with the proposed amendment, requires all private schools participating in a town-tuitioning (e.g. Croydon) program to be "an approved program as defined in RSA 186-C:2, II." This would require every participating private school to offer the same special education programs as public schools; there is no mention of funding from the federal government or state that would flow to the private schools, in which case it would be an unfunded mandate.
* Federal and NH law as well as state rules have local public districts in charge of special education services to students, determining what and how those services are provided when appropriate. Currently, private schools that participate in a town-tuitioning program work with the home district to provide special education services to those children that qualify. Also, there are existing federal protections for private-school students with special needs. Per the Americans with Disabilities Act, nonpublic schools must provide "auxiliary aids and services" to children with special needs if they are otherwise qualified for admission. This bill, as amended, imposes significant changes to private schools’ responsibilities if they participate in town-tuitioning programs.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill creates a complex state tax and refund program.
* This bill will result in increases to ratepayers — both individuals and municipalities — offset by a partial refund to NH residents. This complex program will disrupt the NH economy.
* The majority blurb indicates that this is important to achieve a clean energy economy by 2050; however, according to Think Progress, renewables will undercut coal and gas almost everywhere by 2030, rendering this program obsolete (thinkprogress.org/renewables-now-cheaper-than-new-coal-or-gas-across-two-thirds-of-the-world-c4980412cb53/).
This bill mandates a minimum 3-day waiting period prior to taking possession of a firearm.
* Proponents of the bill claim this is about reducing suicides; however, the bill does not contain an exemption for someone who already owns a firearm and is purchasing another firearm.
* Current law already allows dealers the ability to deny a sale to anyone that they believe is not being truthful in filling out the required paperwork or anyone whom they have concerns about selling to.
* The net effect of the bill is a minimum of two trips to the dealer, increasing costs and the environmental impacts of the purchase.
As amended, this bill requires that all food service establishments must at all hours have a person in charge who is a certified food protection manager, with approved training, as well as mandating signage.
* Many restaurants are already choosing to cater to the needs of customers with food allergies and sensitivities, both to improve business, and to protect against liability. General mandates, like this one, have unintended consequences and are often poorly suited to situations in which they are applied.
* The position of food production manager was added by HHS to regulations in 2019, and is not codified into current law.
* This bill is poorly and confusingly written, first applying section 143-A:8-a to, "Each food service establishment licensed by the state under RSA 143-A:6" then stating in Section 143-A:8-a part III that "This section shall not apply to any food service establishment exempt from licensure or inspection under RSA 143-A:5", but then amending the exceptions in RSA 143-A:5 to say that the allergy provisions of Section 143-A:8-a (which is all of it) will be applied to certain categories of exempt establishments.
* Current New Hampshire law exempts locally-licensed food service establishments and food retail stores from state licensure. This bill overrides that longstanding policy, and local control, by directly imposing HHS regulations on locally-licensed establishments.
* If a person is allergic, informing the restaurant before ordering is common sense. To mandate that private parties place signs explaining common sense is an unlimited and unending task, and not an appropriate role of the state.
This bill permits the parties in divorce proceedings to request a continuance if meaningful evidence is not submitted 5 days prior to the hearing.
* This bill would enable all parties to prepare for the proceedings so that each party will know the issues and be fully prepared on the facts. Providing parties with sufficient time to consider evidence may help the court come to a more equitable decision.
* This bill allows for introduction of new evidence within the 5-day restriction if the evidence was not available 5 days prior to the hearing or if the judge declares it de minimis.
This bill permits the parties in divorce proceedings to request a continuance if meaningful evidence is not submitted 5 days prior to the hearing.
* This bill would enable all parties to prepare for the proceedings so that each party will know the issues and be fully prepared on the facts. Providing parties with sufficient time to consider evidence may help the court come to a more equitable decision.
* This bill allows for introduction of new evidence within the 5-day restriction if the evidence was not available 5 days prior to the hearing or if the judge declares it de minimis.
This bill would reduce the burden on NH citizens by removing annual vehicle inspection requirements for private passenger vehicles that are used for non-commercial purposes.
* 33 states, including states with much harsher winters than NH (e.g. Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota), do not require any periodic safety inspections. Another 6 states require only biennial inspections.
* Yearly inspections are a special hardship on those with older vehicles and lower incomes, who often need the vehicle in order to get to work. Vehicles often fail for causes that have no material impact on safety.
* A comprehensive study by Brigham Young University concluded "This finding strongly suggests that vehicle safety inspection programs are no longer necessary, and are simply a form of residual government oversight." (https://goo.gl/D9rxE7)
This bill infringes upon the rights of property owners.
* Under current law, firearms may be safety utilized outside of the compact area of a town, which includes areas at least 300 feet from nonresidential and commercial buildings. This distance and the associated property usage were already defined when properties were acquired. This bill would increase the distance to 900 feet, which would deny full use of property that may have been acquired with this specific usage in mind.
This bill repeals limited liability for firearm and ammunition sellers and manufacturers.
* Firearms dealers and manufacturers are already required to meet numerous federal, state, and local regulations, regulations that exceed other industries. There is no need to have these regulations if the consumer can then sue them even if they are not party to the sale.
* New Hampshire has a significant number firearms manufacturers (http://www3.nssf.org/share/PDF/EconomicImpact/2018data/newhampshire.pdf) and this bill would put those firms at financial risk or force them to consider moving those jobs elsewhere.
* According the CNBC, the medical industry is the 3rd leading cause of death (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html) yet has a similar protection: 508:18 Liability Limited; Health Care Facilities and Personnel.
This bill makes it a felony to possess or create non-pornographic sexualized images of children unless it is being done for commercial purposes.
* Creation, distribution, and possession of child pornography is already criminalized under NH RSA 649-A. This bill expands prohibition to suggestive poses for “purely prurient purposes”. Creating a new felony based on the assumed state of mind of the offender creates a subjective offense that is subject to abuse.
* It is unclear what message the state would be trying to send if it accepted that such images are acceptable as long as they are being used to sell a legal product.
This bill would make it a misdemeanor for anyone to reveal personally-identifiable information of a public servant if the purpose could be interpreted as harassing, threatening, or intimidating that public servant.
* Public servants who do not like the political positions of their constituents will use this as a weapon to silence dissent. There is no enhanced penalty in the bill to provide enhanced punishment for false reports.
* Harassment is already a crime under RSA 644:4 for all forms of communication.
* Threatening is already a crime under RSA 631:4.
* While the appropriate motion for this bill is ITL, a vote for IS is acceptable.
This bill authorizes local municipalities to impose a $2 per day local occupancy tax.
* Occupancy taxes in NH are already high enough.
* If local hotel operators wish to cooperate on efforts to increase local tourism, they can do so voluntarily — they should not be compelled to do so by local government.
* There is little-to-no accountability to local government to spend this money effectively, since local businesses cannot opt out. Government can waste the money, or effectively use it to offset existing expenses, since money is fungible. This should be accomplished on a voluntary basis, so that the fund is accountable to local operators.
This bill incorporates language from HB 377 that changes the purpose of the Child Protection Act from protection from abuse instead to the state determining the 'best interest of the child'.
* There is no objective standard to determine the best interest of the child. Under this bill, judicial prerogative to determine the child’s best interest becomes the default, rather than a last resort reserved for when a parent has been proven unfit.
* According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (www.nber.org/digest/oct05/w11377.html) "Doubling the rate of religious attendance raises household income by 9.1 percent, decreases welfare participation by 16 percent from baseline rates, decreases the odds of being divorced by 4 percent, and increases the odds of being married by 4.4 percent." — should the state show a preference for removing a child from a non-religious parent and placing them with a religious family? Clearly not, and while such decisions are unlikely to become commonplace even with this bill, a decision to remove a child from a parent is not something that should be left to such a vaguely worded standard subject to judicial evolution of interpretation.
This bill, with the committee amendment, incorporates language from HB 377 that changes the purpose of the Child Protection Act from protection from abuse to the state determining the 'best interest of the child'.
* There is no objective standard to determine the best interest of the child. Under this bill, judicial prerogative to determine the child’s best interest becomes the default, rather than a last resort reserved for when a parent has been proven unfit.
* According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (www.nber.org/digest/oct05/w11377.html) "Doubling the rate of religious attendance raises household income by 9.1 percent, decreases welfare participation by 16 percent from baseline rates, decreases the odds of being divorced by 4 percent, and increases the odds of being married by 4.4 percent." — should the state show a preference for removing a child from a non-religious parent and placing them with a religious family? Clearly not, and while such decisions are unlikely to become commonplace even with this bill, a decision to remove a child from a parent is not something that should be left to such a vaguely worded standard subject to judicial evolution of interpretation.
This bill increases unemployment compensation rates to be a larger fraction of the individual's normal salary and mandates new paid benefits to be provided by employers.
* The increases in unemployment provided for in this bill are permanent and not limited to the response to COVID-19. Some employees will end up receiving more money on unemployment than they did while working. This is a disincentive to work and is ultimately harmful to individuals. For example, an individual earning $192 per week would be eligible for $220 a week while unemployed.
* The bill also requires unlimited paid time off for COVID-19 testing requested by the employee, as proposed 277:10-a indicates that only the employee request is required to trigger access to a test or time-off for the test.
This bill increases unemployment compensation rates to be a larger fraction of the individual's normal salary and mandates new paid benefits to be provided by employers.
* The increases in unemployment provided for in this bill are permanent and not limited to the response to COVID-19. Some employees will end up receiving more money on unemployment than they did while working. This is a disincentive to work and is ultimately harmful to individuals. For example, under the proposed amendment, an individual earning $192 per week would be eligible for $220 a week while unemployed.
* The committee amendment also requires unlimited paid time off for COVID-19 testing requested by the employee, as proposed 277:10-a indicates that only the employee request is required to trigger access to a test or time-off for the test.
This bill, with the committee amendment, increases unemployment compensation rates to be a larger fraction of the individual's normal salary and mandates new paid benefits to be provided by employers.
* The increases in unemployment provided for in this bill are permanent and not limited to the response to COVID-19. Some employees will end up receiving more money on unemployment than they did while working. This is a disincentive to work and is ultimately harmful to individuals. For example, under the proposed amendment, an individual earning $192 per week would be eligible for $220 a week while unemployed.
* The committee amendment also requires unlimited paid time off for COVID-19 testing requested by the employee, as proposed 277:10-a indicates that only the employee request is required to trigger access to a test or time-off for the test.
This bill hurts government transparency.
* Under current law, votes in meetings of public bodies subject to RSA 91-A are required to use a roll call vote for all votes when a member participates and votes electronically. This bill would eliminate that requirement and reduce transparency.
* In the modern era, particularly for the smaller boards to which the existing law applies, the requirement for roll call is a small inconvenience and certainly is far less than the overhead that government regulations regularly place upon private individuals.
This bill creates a political investigatory commission from members of the house and senate who are tasked to investigate for-profit and non-profit advocacy and lobbyist organizations and refer cases to the attorney general or secretary of state.
* No objective criteria is established for which organizations will be subject to inquiry, which runs the risk of this being a political witch hunt.
* Investigations initiated from a highly politicized body such as the general court that target advocacy and lobbyist organizations may have a chilling effect on freedom of speech and political activism in New Hampshire.
This bill outlines the rights of an individual being discussed in a nonpublic session under the right-to-know law.
* Under current law, a public body normally subject to RSA 91-A may hold a private meeting to discuss matters that would likely adversely affect the reputation of any person, other than a member of the public body itself, unless the person being discussed requests an open meeting. This bill would allow the person being discussed in the private session to be present, optionally with council present at the session, and provide them with 48 hours notice to support their ability to attend. This would help to protect the rights of the person being discussed.
* The committee majority expresses concerns that a 48 hour delay could raise a safety issue; however, if there are truly safety issues, nothing in the law would prevent engagement of law enforcement. In addition, existing law already provides that a person being discussed should have the option for an open meeting, which already presumes that prior notification of a reasonable amount of time should be provided. This bill simply clarifies that notification time frame.
This bill increases state spending by providing 10% larger pension checks from age 65 to full social security retirement age.
* Three quarters of the $37 million in unfunded liability will likely need to be funded by local property taxes, for the next 20 years. Half the affected population is teachers, one quarter local and county employees.
* Increases in state spending ultimately result in increases in property taxes or the introduction of new taxes.
This bill would increase costs for New Hampshire ratepayers.
* This bill subsidizes businesses and municipalities that choose to operate large scale energy generation facilities by increasing the subsidized net metering cap from the current 1 megawatt limit up to 5 megawatts.
* The recipients of these subsidies will get millions more at the expense of others without providing any substantial benefits to the grid, as the energy from these systems is often intermittent and unreliable.
* Net metering subsidies for renewables may no longer make sense as studies claim that solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. If this is true, then operators of these facilities already have a significant competitive advantage and would not require subsidy to be profitable.
* This bill has essentially no impact on individual homeowner use of net metering as the existing threshold of 1 megawatt is already approximately 100 times larger (as compared to a 10 kilowatt system) than what a typical homeowner is capable of generating via rooftop solar (www.solarreviews.com/blog/10kw-solar-systems-are-becoming-very-popular-here-is-why).
This bill would increase costs for New Hampshire ratepayers.
* This bill subsidizes businesses and municipalities that choose to operate large scale energy generation facilities by increasing the subsidized net metering cap from the current 1 megawatt limit up to 5 megawatts.
* The recipients of these subsidies will get millions more at the expense of others without providing any substantial benefits to the grid, as the energy from these systems is often intermittent and unreliable.
* Net metering subsidies for renewables may no longer make sense as studies claim that solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. If this is true, then operators of these facilities already have a significant competitive advantage and would not require subsidy to be profitable.
* This bill has essentially no impact on individual homeowner use of net metering as the existing threshold of 1 megawatt is already approximately 100 times larger (as compared to a 10 kilowatt system) than what a typical homeowner is capable of generating via rooftop solar (www.solarreviews.com/blog/10kw-solar-systems-are-becoming-very-popular-here-is-why).
This bill prohibits employers from using credit history in employment decisions.
* Employers are already required to get consent of an applicant before acquiring a credit report by federal law. This is not an invasion of privacy if consent is given (www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf).
* Employers only get a modified variation of credit history. They do not see a credit score. An employer pulling this info has no effect on credit score (www.businessinsider.com/employers-cannot-check-your-credit-score-2014-5).
* Employers are already required to notify an applicant of failing to hire due to credit history. This provides the applicant the chance to review the credit history for incorrect information.
This bill prohibits employers from using credit history in employment decisions.
* Employers are already required to get consent of an applicant before acquiring a credit report by federal law. This is not an invasion of privacy if consent is given (www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf).
* Employers only get a modified variation of credit history. They do not see a credit score. An employer pulling this info has no effect on credit score (www.businessinsider.com/employers-cannot-check-your-credit-score-2014-5).
* Employers are already required to notify an applicant of failing to hire due to credit history. This provides the applicant the chance to review the credit history for incorrect information.
This bill prohibits the state and its political subdivisions from utilizing technological surveillance techniques to determine the location of motor vehicles or the identity or location of pedestrians.
* In 2018, New Hampshire citizens overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state constitution: [Art.] 2-b. [Right of Privacy.] An individual's right to live free from governmental intrusion in private or personal information is natural, essential, and inherent. This bill is a small step in that direction and will help to ensure that our state remains relatively free from broad-based technological surveillance.
This bill requires proposed natural gas facilities to include decommissioning costs in its application and requires a separate state-managed fund be created to cover 25 percent of the decommissioning costs.
* This bill creates an additional unique burden on natural gas facilities that is not applied to certain other facilities such as geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro-power.
* While one may argue the merits of tracking decommissioning costs for aggressively modified land use, this bill requires that the separate fund be able to be raided by future actions of the legislature due to the clause that requires that the decommissioning fund also be used for "significant changes in regulatory procedures" that might impact ability to provide services.
* According to testimony, under existing law the SEC cannot issue a certificate to any energy facility project that lacks plans for a fully-funded decommissioning plan.
This bill is an omnibus bill that contains approximately 40 different topics, limiting the ability of the public to participate and comment and forcing legislators to accept unrelated provisions in a single vote.
* This bill raises protectionist barriers by preventing EMTs or paramedics who are nationally certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and licensed in their home state from being employed in New Hampshire without first completing NH's processes for licensing.
* New Hampshire is still in the midst of an opioid crisis and a medical state of emergency. Now is not the time to try a dangerous protectionist experiment that will complicate the process for businesses to attract qualified emergency personnel from other states.
* While the bill contains a number of positive or neutral provisions, the negative provisions and the limited time for public review are unacceptable.
This bill is an omnibus bill that contains approximately 40 different topics, limiting the ability of the public to participate and comment and forcing legislators to accept unrelated provisions in a single vote.
* This bill raises protectionist barriers by preventing EMTs or paramedics who are nationally certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and licensed in their home state from being employed in New Hampshire without first completing NH's processes for licensing.
* New Hampshire is still in the midst of an opioid crisis and a medical state of emergency. Now is not the time to try a dangerous protectionist experiment that will complicate the process for businesses to attract qualified emergency personnel from other states.
* While the bill contains a number of positive or neutral provisions, the negative provisions and the limited time for public review of the amendment are unacceptable.
This bill, with the committee amendment, is an omnibus bill that contains approximately 40 different topics, limiting the ability of the public to participate and comment and forcing legislators to accept unrelated provisions in a single vote.
* As amended, this bill raises protectionist barriers by preventing EMTs or paramedics who are nationally certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and licensed in their home state from being employed in New Hampshire without first completing NH's processes for licensing.
* New Hampshire is still in the midst of an opioid crisis and a medical state of emergency. Now is not the time to try a dangerous protectionist experiment that will complicate the process for businesses to attract qualified emergency personnel from other states.
* While the bill contains a number of positive or neutral provisions, the negative provisions and the limited time for public review of the amendment are unacceptable.
This bill contains approximately 36 different topics, limiting the ability of the public to participate and comment and forcing legislators to accept unrelated provisions in a single vote. It grants the state the ability to infringe on private property rights and raises the tobacco possession/sale age to 21.
* While portions of this this bill are attempting to address public safety, there are insufficient protections for property rights. Unelected state officials are given the right to enter on any property, public or private, for the purpose of investigating the condition, construction, or operation of any potentially hazardous dam or associated equipment, facility, or property to take emergency actions without even a simple review by a judge. It allows property entry if there is a flood warning issued by the National Weather Service but does not require the flood warning to be in a region that is associated with the dam. History has shown that vague emergency powers will be broadly interpreted beyond the original stated intent.
* This bill bans the sale and possession of tobacco and e-cigarette products by young adults in NH by increasing the age for most provisions from 19 to 21.
This bill, with the committee amendment, contains approximately 36 different topics, limiting the ability of the public to participate and comment and forcing legislators to accept unrelated provisions in a single vote. It grants the state the ability to infringe on private property rights and raises the tobacco possession/sale age to 21.
* While portions of this this bill are attempting to address public safety, there are insufficient protections for property rights. Unelected state officials are given the right to enter on any property, public or private, for the purpose of investigating the condition, construction, or operation of any potentially hazardous dam or associated equipment, facility, or property to take emergency actions without even a simple review by a judge. It allows property entry if there is a flood warning issued by the National Weather Service but does not require the flood warning to be in a region that is associated with the dam. History has shown that vague emergency powers will be broadly interpreted beyond the original stated intent.
* This bill bans the sale and possession of tobacco and e-cigarette products by young adults in NH by increasing the age for most provisions from 19 to 21.
This bill prohibits a landlord from filing a possessory action based on nonpayment of rent that became due during the state of emergency unless the renter has been provided with a written offer to allow payment over a 6 month period that begins from the date of the written offer.
* This bill provides a one-size-fits-all solution to the complexities the economic hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated state actions. Small landlords, who themselves may have felt impacts from the state of emergency, may lose their property, which may also have unforeseen negative consequences for the tenants.
This bill prohibits a landlord from filing a possessory action based on nonpayment of rent that became due during the state of emergency unless the renter has been provided with a written offer to allow payment over a 6 month period that begins from the date of the written offer.
* This bill provides a one-size-fits-all solution to the complexities the economic hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated state actions. Small landlords, who themselves may have felt impacts from the state of emergency, may lose their property, which may also have unforeseen negative consequences for the tenants.
This bill requires in-person or certified mail notice of at least 60 days of a proposed rent increase that exceeds 5 percent or notice of at least 90 days of an increase that exceeds 8 percent.
* Terms for permissible increases should be the subject of private rental and/or lease agreements and not done by state mandate.
* This places a burden upon property owners that the state has not chosen to place upon themselves. Increases in taxes or utility rates driven by state policy come with no such in-person or certified mail requirement, and may also result in a landlord facing state-driven increases in costs that will not be able to be passed on to tenants.
* This bill will tend to drive up rents as property owners manage their risk of unexpected cost increases by passing on higher initial rental costs in the initial agreement.
This bill requires in-person or certified mail notice of at least 60 days of a proposed rent increase that exceeds 5 percent or notice of at least 90 days of an increase that exceeds 8 percent.
* Terms for permissible increases should be the subject of private rental and/or lease agreements and not done by state mandate.
* This places a burden upon property owners that the state has not chosen to place upon themselves. Increases in taxes or utility rates driven by state policy come with no such in-person or certified mail requirement, and may also result in a landlord facing state-driven increases in costs that will not be able to be passed on to tenants.
* This bill will tend to drive up rents as property owners manage their risk of unexpected cost increases by passing on higher initial rental costs in the initial agreement.
This bill establishes an advisory council that will seek to increase barriers to entry for registered opticians.
* There is no compelling public need for this new advisory council. Establishing the council and requiring it to meet quarterly will set the expectation that the council needs to justify its existence and will result in additional rules and continuing education mandates that will increase costs and limit entry into the marketplace.
This bill allows individuals to order their own laboratory testing without a licensed medical practitioner's order.
* Allowing individuals to get routine testing done without having to see a physician first will increase personal freedom and potentially reduce costs.
* The majority report seems to assume that the laboratory testing will be done exclusively for "diagnosing" or following up on particular disorders or conditions. However, there may be any number of other reasons for an individual to order tests. For example, an individual might be working to get in better shape via diet and exercise, and is using the labs to track their progress via their base metrics.
* Preventing individuals from ordering their own tests is paternalistic and presumes to know what their intentions are.
This bill eliminates the option for individuals to access policies with deductibles for insulin and grants the state the power to import drugs from Canada while not providing the same freedom to private individuals or businesses.
* While it may be comforting to feel as if we are saving individuals money, each new mandate we add increases the total cost for insurance and may end up making the difference between a family being able to afford insurance and not being able to afford it.
* Deductibles in medical insurance policies allow insurers to offer policies at lower costs because it helps ensure that the customer takes total cost into account. This bill changes the incentive structure so that there is no reason for someone to choose a lower cost and potentially equally effective generic equivalent since their costs will be the same. This will further drive premium increases.
* Reducing barriers to accessing potentially lower cost medicine from Canada (or other sources) is commendable; however, the state does not belong in the business of being the sole wholesaler or providing a special grant of privilege to a single wholesaler.
This bill eliminates the option for individuals to access policies with deductibles for insulin and grants the state the power to import drugs from Canada while not providing the same freedom to private individuals or businesses.
* While it may be comforting to feel as if we are saving individuals money, each new mandate we add increases the total cost for insurance and may end up making the difference between a family being able to afford insurance and not being able to afford it.
* Deductibles in medical insurance policies allow insurers to offer policies at lower costs because it helps ensure that the customer takes total cost into account. This bill changes the incentive structure so that there is no reason for someone to choose a lower cost and potentially equally effective generic equivalent since their costs will be the same. This will further drive premium increases.
* Reducing barriers to accessing potentially lower cost medicine from Canada (or other sources) is commendable; however, the state does not belong in the business of being the sole wholesaler or providing a special grant of privilege to a single wholesaler.
This bill eliminates the option for individuals to access policies with deductibles for insulin.
* While it may be comforting to feel as if we are saving individuals money, each new mandate we add increases the total cost for insurance and may end up making the difference between a family being able to afford insurance and not being able to afford it.
* Deductibles in medical insurance policies allow insurers to offer policies at lower costs because it helps ensure that the customer takes total cost into account. This changes the incentive structure so that there is no reason for someone to choose a lower cost and potentially equally effective generic equivalent since their costs will be the same. This will further drive premium increases.
This bill mandates epinephrine auto-injector coverage in insurance policies.
* Insurance mandates add to the cost of policies by requiring purchasing "insurance" for something that the consumer may or may not want. This may lead to increased premiums for everyone.
* The state should be looking to reduce barriers to participation in the marketplace to help control costs.
This bill creates unarmed victim zones in and around schools.
* This bill would ban law-abiding adults from carrying a firearm on school property and would deny a mother who walks to pick up her child at school a tool to protect herself and her children.
* This bill would mandate that firearms be left in vehicles which would increase the risk of theft.
* Studies have shown no correlation between the enactment of gun-free zones and improved safety (www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/gun-free-zones.html).
This bill expands occupational licensing without a compelling public interest.
* Per the proposed amended bill, music therapy does not include the screening, diagnosis, or assessment of any physical, mental, or communication disorder. Music therapists are not qualified mental health professionals.
* This bill would simply create a new state-granted barrier of entry into a profession that will limit consumer choices and ultimately grow state government.
This bill requires insurance coverage for long-term antibiotic therapy for tick-borne illness.
* The details of insurance coverage ought to be left to the free market to work out. When specific treatments are mandated to be covered by insurance, the increased costs are borne by all policyholders.
* Traditionally, where we have had insurance coverage mandates, they were for therapies where there was the highest degree of scientific consensus recommending it, considering efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness. This is not the case here. For example, the CDC explicitly recommends against long-term antibiotic treatments for Lyme, saying it has outcomes that are no better than a placebo, but brings risks of serious, sometimes deadly complications both for the individual taking the medication and others due to the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
* This change would be considered a state-mandated benefit, and under federal law, the cost of coverage for this benefit for policies sold through the health insurance exchange would have to be borne by New Hampshire taxpayers.
* Although we support the "right to try" for patients, and would not outlaw long-term antibiotic treatments for Lyme, neither should we mandate that all insurance plans cover this treatment.
This bill would require that approved petition warrant articles be binding on the applicable town or school district unless restricted by any other provision of law.
* Once a governing body has voted to approve a petition warrant article, it is a reasonable expectation of the voters that the warrant would be carried out.
* Article 1 of the New Hampshire Constitution states: "All men are born equally free and independent; Therefore, all government of right originates from the people, is founded in consent, and instituted for the general good.". Failing to carry out a legal article is in direct opposition to the consent of the people.
This bill, with the committee amendment, requires family division circuit courts to make written findings of fact prior to incarcerating a person for civil contempt.
* This bill would still allow courts to apply an extreme sanction of incarceration for civil concept when a parent disregards child support obligations, but would require that there be written findings of fact to support the incarceration.
* While it may be comforting to believe courts always make the right decisions and avoid 'debtor prison' sanctions, the evidence suggests that improper decisions can and do happen. In 2014, the ACLU of New Hampshire secured the release of three people imprisoned for failing to pay court-imposed fines that they could not afford (www.aclu-nh.org/en/cases/modern-day-debtors-prisons). The temptation to incarcerate someone who is unable to pay when child support is involved is even higher than when simple fines are unpaid. While abuses may be rare, this will be of little comfort to an individual who is unjustly incarcerated.
This bill prohibits issuance of a permit for new or expanded landfills within two miles of the boundary of any state or national park.
* This is an arbitrary restriction on both the placement of new landfills and sustainment of existing landfills that may result in increased costs and a manufactured crisis of a shortage of landfill space.
* This restriction may result in the placement of a landfill at a far greater distance from the source of the waste, potentially resulting in a higher lifetime usage of energy to dispose of waste in a landfill.
* Existing law already mandates that permits "ensure that appropriate measures will be taken to prevent present and future damage to the public health and safety or to the environment, in the event that the operations at the facility are abandoned, interrupted, or stopped." — RSA 149-M:9 X(b)
This bill increases pensions for police, fire, and corrections officers who were working but not vested in 2011.
* This bill increases spending and will lead to higher local property taxes or an increased need for state taxes.
* Most private sector employees no longer have pensions. Asking New Hampshire taxpayers to absorb future tax increases to provide additional pension benefits to public sector employees who have worked without the promise of this benefit for more than a decade without clearly showing where funding will come from is misleading and unfair.
This bill removes the requirement that medical cannabis alternative treatment centers only be organized as not-for-profit entities, allowing the option of these entities to operate for-profit.
* This bill reduces restriction on trade and therefore reduces the impacts of state interference in the marketplace.
* Profit represents the creation of wealth from mutually-beneficial transactions. The opportunity to create wealth promotes investment and employment.
This bill prohibits the sale or transfer of a firearm unless accompanied by an approved safety device.
* Most gun locks distributed with new firearms as required by federal law are little more than a collection of metal and plastic that is destined for a landfill, and unnecessarily add waste.
* Responsible firearms owners use and store firearms responsibly with or without a mandate for a disposable lock.
This bill prohibits the sale or transfer of a firearm unless accompanied by an approved safety device.
* Most gun locks distributed with new firearms as required by federal law are little more than a collection of metal and plastic that is destined for a landfill and unnecessarily add waste.
* Responsible firearms owners use and store firearms responsibly with or without a mandate for disposable lock.
This bill provides a person under 21 with immunity from prosecution for underage drinking if a related medical emergency is reported in a good faith and timely manner.
* The purpose of state restrictions on the possession and use of alcohol is ostensibly to reduce the risk of harm. Current law may increase that risk in some cases by causing an individual to delay requests for help for fear of criminal prosecution.
This bill would allow state agencies to waste taxpayer money.
* Under current law, voluntarily-surrendered firearms must be sold at public auction or kept by the state agency for its own use, with the proceeds from firearms sold at public auction deposited in the general fund. This bill would change that so instead of selling an asset and adding to the general fund, the agency would be able to potentially spend taxpayer funds to destroy the firearm.
* Requiring that the firearms be sold is a means to keep government honest about the final transfer of the firearm so it does not get 'lost'.
This bill prohibits mobile telecommunications service providers from sharing location data without an explicit request or affirmative waiver.
* Individuals should have an expectation of privacy unless they have been informed and consent to sharing data.
This bill redefines the meaning of commercial sale and subjects almost all firearms transfers to an NICS background check.
* The bill prohibits a transfer unless a "proceed" response has been received from either the NH Gun Line or the ATF, meaning if the government simply chooses not to process the background check, they can by failure to act, prohibit sales/transfers of all firearms.
* Background checks are already required at all dealers.
* State law already mandates that unless you know the person personally, you may not sell a pistol or revolver to them.
* Transfer for the simple purpose of firearms training would be treated as a misdemeanor-level crime.
This bill, as amended by the committee, represents a modest improvement in the freedom to contract.
* This bill allows for the option of a modest additional security deposit for new rental agreements allowing pets. This provides more freedom both for property owners who will better be able to manage risks associated with pet damage and for renters who may see an increase in available properties willing to accept pets.
* The potential increased supply of properties willing to accept pets may reduce rents as renters with pets often have few options to choose from due to the increased risks and/or perception of increased risks of property damage.
* No new security deposits are allowed for a support or service animal to which a person with disabilities would be entitled pursuant to the Federal Fair Housing Act or for an animal that a tenant was permitted to have in her or his household prior to the passage of this legislation.
This bill prohibits smoking cigarettes or e-cigarettes in a vehicle when a passenger under 16 years of age is present.
* The government does not have the right to demand what someone does in their own private property.
* Police should be solving crimes and not trying to catch moderately 'irresponsible' parents.
This bill increases the risk of disease in New Hampshire residents.
* This bill bans e-cigarette liquid flavors other than menthol and tobacco.
* Adults should be free to utilize products that they choose without the interference of the state.
* This flavor ban may result in more adults smoking cigarettes for a longer period of time as they may not be able to find a low/no-nicotine vaping alternative that allows them to transition to a potentially less harmful alternative. A report by the National Academy of Science found that "across a range of studies and outcomes, e-cigarettes appear to pose less risk to an individual than combustible tobacco cigarettes." (nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/2018/public-health-consequences-of-e-cigarettes.aspx).
* Highly publicized deaths associated with vaping are primarily linked to black market alternatives (https://www.npr.org/2019/12/19/789892785/). This bill would encourage growth of black market alternatives where consumers are left with little recourse from harmful products due to fears of retribution by the state.
This bill establishes a 2-year moratorium on the issuance of permits for new landfills or the expansion of existing landfills for the purpose of studying the creating of municipal waste districts.
* Per the fiscal note, the prohibition would result in the temporary closure and cessation of activities at two privately owned and operated municipal solid waste landfills. These two landfills receive approximately 65% of waste generated in the state and their closure would result in expenditures for transportation and disposal, as waste would have to be trucked to out-of-state landfills.
* This bill would risk a dramatic increase in the energy usage to transport and dispose of New Hampshire waste and would force cost increases and a crisis that is not otherwise needed.
* The manufactured crisis would no doubt be exploited by future legislation that would attempt to 'solve' the state-created crisis with additional taxes and spending.
* While the appropriate motion for this bill is ITL, a vote of IS is acceptable.
This bill increases costs for administering education tax credit scholarships.
* The education tax credit scholarship program already has reporting requirements in the existing law. This bill expands the reporting requirements, including requiring receipts. This expands the existing requirement to report on administrative expenses while simultaneously increasing those expenses.
* Ultimately, this bill will result in less time or funding being available to help students participating in the program.
This bill repeals the law that allows OHRV use on select roads in northern New Hampshire.
* This bill will hurt tourism and recreation in NH. Hunters and recreational riders rely on these roads to travel.
* The Jericho ATV Festival is one of the biggest events in northern NH and this bill will discourage tourism to the festival and will also discourage hunting tourism which relies on OHRV use to transport equipment and game.
This bill repeals the law that allows OHRV use on select roads in northern New Hampshire.
* This bill will hurt tourism and recreation in NH. Hunters and recreational riders rely on these roads to travel.
* The Jericho ATV Festival is one of the biggest events in northern NH and this bill will discourage tourism to the festival and will also discourage hunting tourism which relies on OHRV use to transport equipment and game.
This bill burdens New Hampshire taxpayers with additional cost for certain retired state workers.
* This bill repeals the requirements for retired state employees and judicial retirees who are Medicare-eligible to pay premium contributions for the state retiree health plan. This will risk a future spending increase for New Hampshire taxpayers or result in reduction in benefits for all retirees.
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This bill delegates New Hampshire consumer choices for vehicles to a legislative body outside of the state.
* This bill increases regulation on automobiles, which may increase costs to consumers.
* This bill reduces New Hampshire sovereignty and delegates New Hampshire's regulatory environment to individuals that residents of our state never voted for.
* The state should be looking to reduce state barriers to lower electricity costs by eliminating ratepayer subsidy for unreliable and unaffordable power sources. This would help all New Hampshire residents and make electric vehicles more attractive without resorting to increased regulation.
This bill would shift power from away voters in SB2 towns.
* Under current law the default budget, based on the prior year budget, serves as an important check on proposed spending increases since voters and leaders understand that rejecting the operating budget warrant article will result in flat spending or the need to call a special meeting to consider a revised operating budget. This bill would weaken that check on run-away spending increases by allowing the default budget to be an increase over the prior year.
This bill increases the complexity for organizations looking to offer alternative "Learn Everywhere" for-credit programs by allowing local school boards to reject alternative learning or work-based programs.
* Ultimately parents are in the best position to determine what is best for the education of their children. Under current law, parents and alternative learning providers can work with the state board of education to ensure that alternative programs meet education standards. This bill would increase complexity for parents and educators by allowing the local school board to reject the work-based program credit even if it is not executing within the geographic region covered by the board and is supported by the parent.
This bill increases the complexity for organizations looking to offer alternative "Learn Everywhere" for-credit programs by allowing local school boards to reject alternative learning or work-based programs.
* Ultimately parents are in the best position to determine what is best for the education of their children. Under current law, parents and alternative learning providers can work with the state board of education to ensure that alternative programs meet education standards. This bill would increase complexity for parents and educators by allowing the local school board to reject the work-based program credit even if it is not executing within the geographic region covered by the board and is supported by the parent.
This bill increases the complexity for organizations looking to offer alternative "Learn Everywhere" for-credit programs by allowing local school boards reject alternative learning or work-based programs.
* Ultimately parents are in the best position to determine what is best for the education of their children. Under current law, parents and alternative learning providers can work with the state board of education to ensure that alternative programs meet education standards. This bill would increase complexity for parents and educators by allowing the local school board to reject the work-based program credit even if it is not executing within the geographic region covered by the board and is supported by the parent.
This bill increases the complexity for organizations looking to offer alternative "Learn Everywhere" for-credit programs by allowing local school boards to set the rules for these programs.
* Ultimately parents are in the best position to determine what is best for the education of their children. Under current law, parents and alternative learning providers can work with the state board of education to ensure that alternatives programs meet education standards. This bill would would increase complexity for parents and educators by requiring approval from each local school board even when the work-based program is not executing within the geographic region covered by the board.
This bill would increase the cost of auto insurance premiums by limiting the ability of insurers to negotiate what is reasonable in the repair process.
* This bill forces insurance companies to pay for work that may not be required. It elevates manufacturer "recommendations" to the level of manufacturer "requirements," and requires payment of all such repairs. While the committee amendment attempts to mitigate this through the inclusion of "rebuttable presumption" language, the cost and risk associated with defending a position likely will result in 'defensive repairs' and drive costs needlessly higher.
This bill erode parental involvement in the non-academic surveys that their children may be required to complete.
* Prior to SB 43 in 2017, schools would routinely ask students to complete non-academic surveys and questionnaires to assess their attitudes, values, decision-making, and behaviors. SB 43 modified the law to require parents to explicitly give permission for these non-academic surveys. This bill would remove that protection and erode parental involvement by forcing a parent to explicitly opt their child out of these surveys. Further, this bill would allow schools to rely on the student to deliver the notice which may result in parents not even having the opportunity to opt out.
* In the spring of 2014, Bedford middle school students were given an objectionable survey. Out of 160 questions, there were many in-depth inquiries pertaining to sexual activity and preference, suicide, and drug use. In 2018, a Bedford guidance counselor plead guilty to four counts of felonious sexual assault. Allowing staff such as this to participate in the administration of potentially sensitive topics without explicit authorization by the parents is unacceptable.
This bill requires governing bodies and local budget committees to use full line-item detail in active spreadsheet format for all budgets.
* This bill increases government transparency by increasing the level of detail and usability of budget data, which will help support the ability of the public to understand how the governing body proposes to spend taxpayer funds.
This bill removes the commercial license requirement for mixed-use school bus drivers and allows use of a passenger vehicle for transporting students.
* This bill will help the barrier to entry for school bus drivers. There is a shortage of bus drivers, and removing the commercial license requirement for passenger vehicles and mixed-use (van) school buses could help alleviate the labor shortage.
* As more and more students are being driven to and picked up from school, the need for large 72 passenger school buses is shrinking. By reducing the regulation on small mixed-use and passenger vehicles, it will lower the cost of transportation for many school districts.
* Parents carpool kids all the time and don't get commercial licenses. Requiring a commercial license to operate a passenger vehicle or minivan is an overreach of government regulation that doesn't do anything to keep kids safe.
* The committee majority assertion that "there is no way to ensure or enforce any safety measures on non-certified drivers" is disingenuous given the 28,948 words in RSA 265 "Rules of the Road" alone.
This bill prohibits a food service business from providing single-use plastic straws unless explicitly requested.
* By stating that the request must be explicitly from the customer, this bill leaves open to confusion whether a business may offer the straw in the absence of a request and therefore infringes on free speech.
* The bill is likely to increase CO2 emissions: many customers will pull away from a drive-through window at an establishment that only provides "on request" plastic straws, only to later find that they lack the ability to consume their beverage while on the road, requiring a return trip to the window.
* The majority committee blurb indicates "This practice has been in place in some NH cities over the past three years with an estimated decrease of plastic straw use of 90%. Some restaurants have converted to paper and other biodegradable material straws." — This is an indication that market forces are already addressing public concerns.
This bill removes one of the loopholes passed into law last year that allows the System Benefits Charge to be increased without the approval of the legislature.
* New Hampshire ratepayers should not be subject to further increases to the systems benefits charge without approval of elected representatives. The charge is a hidden tax on ratepayers.
This bill removes one of the loopholes passed into law last year that allows the System Benefit Charge to be increased without the approval of the legislature.
* New Hampshire ratepayers should not be subject to further increases to the systems benefits charge without approval of elected representatives. The charge is a hidden tax on ratepayers.
This bill gives restaurant owners the option of allowing dogs in outdoor dining areas.
* Restaurant owners should be able to establish their own animal policies/rules on their private property. This bill is a small step in that direction.
* Restaurant patrons will be made aware of any animal policies via signs on location. At that point, they can make the choice to visit the establishment or not.
This bill commandeers private educational facilities and regulates them as if they were a public forum.
* Although free speech in public forums is to be protected, a private college, like any other private entity, has the right to set and enforce its own rules regarding acceptable expression and communications.
* The voluntary freedom of association between the student and the college is impaired when a college cannot discipline a student for infraction of campus speech codes.
* Although a nod to the rights of religious colleges is made, this is only for colleges controlled by a religious organization. Under this bill, a college administration could not discipline a student who disrupted a meeting of a student ministry prayer session voluntarily organized by students, if done at a secular college.
This bill places a sales tax on the retail sale of electronic devices.
* This bill establishes a 4.3% sales tax on electronics.
* The implementation of this bill would be a significant administrative burden on small businesses.
* New Hampshire enjoys a constant flow of retail customers from surrounding states; this tax will raise prices and drive these customers away.
By eliminating the existing rebate to residential ratepayers, this bill increases a stealthy tax on NH electricity consumers.
* This bill, with the committee amendment, removes long-standing rebates to residential customers, while preserving rebates to commercial/industrial customers, raising rates on residential customers and effectively forcing them to subsidize commercial/industrial customers.
* Electric rates are already high in NH. Efficiency projects that are truly fiscally responsible can and will be funded by electricity consumers themselves. It is unfair to force all ratepayers to fund projects for specific consumers, whether private or governmental.
* Money raised through RGGI, originally slated to support energy efficiency programs, was instead misappropriated into the general fund in 2010. Rather than putting more money into the hands of government in order to pick winners and losers, the money should remain with the ratepayers where it belongs.
This bill increases the costs of doing business and will result in increased spending of taxpayer funds.
* This bill creates a new salaried state government employee and will increase costs for the New Hampshire banking department that will likely result in additional spending in the coming years. The purpose of this new spending is to ensure that students are aware of the implications and programs available associated with student loans. Colleges and universities already fill this need.
* This bill will increase the cost of being in the student loan business and will result in additional costs which will be passed on to future student borrowers.
This bill allows non-functional aftermarket equipment to be on the vehicle and pass inspection so long as the needed safety equipment works.
* This bill is a common sense approach to vehicle safety. If the vehicle meets safety standards of the state, we should not reject a safety inspection on aftermarket items that don't reduce vehicle safety.
* Unused, non-functional-but-installed fog lights could cause a vehicle to fail inspection even if the primary driving lights work perfectly. This inspection rule does not help safety, and causes unnecessary repairs to vehicles that aren't safety related.
This bill allows the seizing of firearms from adults.
* This bill enables hearsay evidence to be used as a portion of the basis to seize firearms.
* The bill is almost a verbatim rewrite of HB696 that was vetoed last year and numerous suggestions for improvement to the legislation were not adopted into the updated version.
* The bill may do little to improve public safety as it assumes that the state can properly identify a person who is a danger to themselves or others but that the danger is eliminated by reducing access to that person's firearms while still allowing the dangerous individual to freely attend class, purchase gasoline, and have access to children.
* While the recommendation is Interim Study and this is acceptable, the appropriate motion on this bill is ITL.
This bill will financially hurt most property owners in New Hampshire by increasing their property taxes to defray the limited increase in their neighbors' tax rate.
* Property taxes are too high in NH, and giving a select group of people a limit on tax increases is unconstitutional. The difference will have to be made up by the other property owners, who already suffer from a significant tax burden.
* The legislature should be looking at ways to reduce everyone's taxes instead of trying to limit the increase of a few. Lower taxes for all through lower spending is more sustainable than trying to limit increases for some.
This bill will increase rents and reduce availability of safe and affordable housing.
* This bill would potentially subject property owners to significant and unpredictable costs by requiring the property owner to pay moving expenses and differential rent for renting a new property. The rent differential will result in rent increases for any property currently renting below the HUD rate as property owners will need to manage their risk. These increases at the bottom of the market are likely to result in additional rent increases in other properties.
* If the parties wish to agree to a lump sum payment in lieu of moving expenses and potential rental subsidy, this bill would require that the property owner refund the full security deposit regardless of any damage to the property or rental arrears. This would encourage disgruntled tenants who wish to break a lease to damage an older property including any prior HUD approved (www.hud.gov/sites/documents/LBPH-15.PDF) encapsulation abatement as a means to break the lease. This could result in lead exposures to children in the dwelling and nearby dwellings, resulting in this bill having the opposite of the intended effect.
This bill with the committee amendment creates a new office within the department of education and a new counselor coordinator position for that office.
* Costs for education continue to rise in the state. Often, these increased costs are at least partially due to continued expansion of bureaucratic infrastructure positions that have no direct role in education. This bill continues the expansion of overhead positions.
* While the amendment defers determination of the funding of the new position to a future biennium, creating a new mandate with deferral of funding allows a future spending increase to claim that the state is 'simply fulfilling an earlier mandate' which diffuses accountability.
This bill increases state bureaucracy and regulation without any demonstrated benefit.
* This bill will increase the barrier to a young adult starting to drive by delaying their learning until they can schedule a written test.
* Requiring a written exam prior to hands-on learning with a responsible adult will disadvantage individuals who have alternate learning styles.
* This bill may result in less safe roads as teens who delay hands-on driving experience may have fewer hours behind the wheel when they are first able to drive on their own.
This bill covers 19 different areas related to education including municipal bonds, school funding, and background checks.
* This bill allows a school board or charter school board of trustees the ability to extend a suspension for mere possession of a paint ball gun without any requirement that the possession take place on or near school grounds.
* This bill decreases the town vote threshold from 2/3 to 3/5 for bonds and other long term debt, allowing towns to more easily shift the burden for current spending to future taxpayers.
This bill, with the committee amendment, covers 19 different areas related to education including municipal bonds, school funding, and background checks.
* This bill allows a school board or charter school board of trustees the ability to extend a suspension for mere possession of a paint ball gun without any requirement that the possession take place on or near school grounds.
* This bill decreases the town vote threshold from 2/3 to 3/5 for bonds and other long term debt, allowing towns to more easily shift the burden for current spending to future taxpayers.
This bill provides for a modest improvement in government transparency.
* With the committee amendment, this bill would automatically unseal minutes from nonpublic sessions associated with the acquisition, sale, or lease of real or personal property after one year unless a majority of the members vote that the minutes should remain sealed.
* People have a right to know how their money is being spent, and what policies are being enacted in their name. Pragmatically, transparency is required in order to keep corruption and waste in check. While it is always challenging for the public to hold officials accountable, without reliable information it is nearly impossible.
This bill prohibits sale of most foods in polystyrene containers.
* This bill would increase the costs to consumers as polystyrene is an inexpensive means to temporarily store food and insulate food at the same time.
* Polystyrene cups require less energy to produce than paper cups, meaning less energy is consumed when they are disposed of.
This bill establishes a paint recycling program that requires producers of paint sold at retail in New Hampshire to create a program for collecting, transporting, recycling, processing, and disposing of post-consumer paint.
* The Dept. of Environmental Services does not have the resources to manage and review the audits the proposed program requires.
* This bill will not only increase paint prices in NH, it will also increase taxes to cover the costs of managing the program.
* Smaller paint companies will not be able to afford the cost of this program, and will be forced out of NH, leaving customers fewer options for paint.
* Consumers would be charged a fee during purchase, forcing users who use all of their paint to subsidize inefficient users of paint.
This bill prohibits anyone from weaponizing drones and prohibits private individuals from collecting images from a drone if they contain pictures of individuals without the consent of everyone in the images even if the individuals are in a public place without any expectation of privacy.
* Invasions of privacy are already a crime under RSA 644:9. This bill goes beyond criminalizing invasions of privacy in that it would prohibit private individuals from collecting recognizable photographs of individuals in public places even if they have no expectation of privacy in that location.
* The limitations on use by police for surveillance without a warrant are laudable; however, the exclusions for "law enforcement investigations" 422-D2 II(a) and exceptions for (images) "derived from lands owned by or under the control of the government entity" (422-D:3) weaken this protection.
* This bill would make it a class A felony for someone to mount a flamethrower on a drone — even if this was done on a large private property for purposes of pest control.
This bill, as amended, prohibits anyone from weaponzing drones and prohibits private individuals from publishing images collected from a drone if they contain recognizable pictures of individuals without the consent of everyone in the images.
* Invasions of privacy are already a crime under RSA 644:9. This bill goes beyond criminalizing invasions of privacy in that it would prohibit private individuals from recording recognizable photographs of individuals in public places even if they have no expectation of privacy in that location.
* The limitations on use by police for surveillance without a warrant are laudible; however, the exclusions for "law enforcement
investigations" 422-D2 II(a) and exceptions for (images) "derived from lands owned by or under the control of the government entity" (422-D:3) weaken this protection.
* This bill would make it a class A felony for someone that mounts a BB gun on a drone — even if this was done on a large private property for purposes of protecting livestock from a predatory animal.
This bill spends state taxpayer dollars on special programs for veterans, performing functions that in many cases are already covered by federal programs.
* Many local employers already offer beneficial treatment for hiring and training veterans — it is unclear that additional state spending in the area of job training and apprenticeship will have any positive outcome.
* Proposed changes relative to reducing barriers to employment created by the state's excessive occupational licensing framework are admirable but likely ineffective. Veterans and all New Hampshire residents would be better served by reductions to state-sponsored protectionist legislation.
* While improved outcomes for veterans from this legislation are uncertain, what is certain is that this bill will increase spending and result in higher taxes for everyone, including New Hampshire's veterans.
This bill, with the committee amendment, spends state taxpayer dollars on special programs for veterans, performing functions that in many cases are already covered by federal programs.
* Many local employers already offer beneficial treatment for hiring and training veterans — it is unclear that additional state spending in the area of job training and apprenticeship will have any positive outcome.
* Proposed changes relative to reducing barriers to employment created by the state's excessive occupational licensing framework are admirable but likely ineffective. Veterans and all New Hampshire residents would be better served by reductions to state-sponsored protectionist legislation.
* While improved outcomes for veterans from this legislation are uncertain, what is certain is that this bill will increase spending and result in higher taxes for everyone, including New Hampshire's veterans.
This bill would limit the speech of individuals running retail establishments by prohibiting them from posting signs that indicate cash payment is not accepted and would require that all establishments accept cash.
* Businesses should be free to determine appropriate means of payment, and customers are free to decide if these means of payment are acceptable and make decisions about where to shop.
* The poor wording of the bill's mandate on "cash", without any additional qualifiers, would seem to require that merchants accept the Venezuelan Bolívar. This is problematic because the socialist policies that Venezuela has pursued have resulted in substantial devaluation of their cash, and this bill would prohibit retailers from charging a higher amount to offset their risk of further devaluation.
This bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, transfer, and possession of standard-capacity firearm magazines.
* The bill language redefines standard-capacity magazines to be high-capacity magazines based on an arbitrary number of rounds.
* Criminalizing the mere possession of an item is antithetical to a free society. Crimes should be punished; but mere possession of a physical item like a stamped metal part with a spring and a molded plastic insert should not be punishable.
* The amendment allows a carve out for movies, but still prohibits a person from purchasing a similar size magazine to protect themselves.
* A number of people in New Hampshire are employed making parts used in firearm magazines, and these jobs would be at risk of being located to other states.
This bill increases the penalties imposed for violations of the prohibition against using mobile electronic devices while driving.
* This bill severely raises the fines for mobile electronic device usage and requires suspending an individual's license for a third offense.
* Handheld phone bans cause some drivers to hide their phone use by placing the phone in their lap and taking their eyes off the road, which is far more dangerous. Increasing the fines will only incentivize them even further to try to hide them.
* Studies show that bans on use of handheld devices while driving have had no effect on accident rates (e.g. NE Burger, DT Kaffine, B Yu Transportation research part A: policy and practice 66, 162-172, and IIHS Status Report, Vol. 45, No. 2).
This bill mandates the use of helmets when operating a motorcycle or motorized bicycle.
* This bill is paternalistic in that it forces adults to wear helmets when operating motorcycles and motorized bicycles.
* Free individuals should have the freedom to choose what safety equipment they wear on their body. NH does not require safety clothing for any other passenger vehicles.
* Laconia Motorcycle Week is the oldest continuous motorcycle event in the U.S. and a huge boon to the state economy and the Lakes Region. This law will hurt all local businesses that benefit from that rally, which brings many out-of-state riders into New Hampshire.
This bill mandates the use of helmets when operating a motorcycle or motorized bicycle.
* This bill is paternalistic in that it forces adults to wear helmets when operating motorcycles and motorized bicycles.
* Free individuals should have the freedom to choose what safety equipment they wear on their body. NH does not require safety clothing for any other passenger vehicles.
* Laconia Motorcycle Week is the oldest continuous motorcycle event in the U.S. and a huge boom to the state economy and the lake region. This law will hurt all local businesses that benefit from that rally which brings a lot of out of state riders into New Hampshire.
This bill mandates the use of seatbelts.
* This bill is paternalistic in that it forces adults to wear seatbelts when traveling in motor vehicles.
* According to the CDC, New Hampshire already has a lower rate of death from vehicle accidents than the national average (www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pdf/seatbelts/Restraint_Use_in_NH.pdf).
This bill reduces penalties for first-time victimless crimes.
* This bill reduces the crime for certain first-time possession charges from a felony to a misdemeanor. This small improvement will help reduce the impact from the state from ruining the life of someone who been caught up in a first time offense in the failed War on Drugs.
This bill creates an animal health database and requires pet vendors, animal shelters, and vets to submit electronic records to the department of agriculture.
* This bill will allow the state to create a database of health records for animals, but also allows the department of agriculture to collect any data they deem necessary. This is an overreach of the state's responsibility.
* With data breaches increasing every day, we should not be creating more targets for bad actors to attack to get personal information. While the intentions of the bill are in good faith, this database will only grow with time and reach into other aspects of NH citizen's lives. The amendment's language of "The commissioner shall also ensure that the database is secure from unauthorized access or use" is little more than wishful thinking and attempts to achieve this mandate will drive development and sustainment costs far beyond what was listed in the original fiscal note.
* Municipalities already get vaccination records. By requiring the veterinarians to do more paperwork and government filing, it will only increase health care costs of animals. This type of regulation has killed the health care industry and will kill the pet care industry next if we allow this bill to pass.
This bill increases the limit of pets that may be transferred without a pet vendor license from 25 to 35 dogs and from 25 to 50 cats.
* The bill also contains provisions to provide an option to individuals who have a long-standing hobbyist service to transiently and moderately exceed the limit and seek exemption from licensure. This could happen in cases where a hobbiest breeder has a larger-than-normal litter.
This bill covers 17 different topics. Among these are a new insurance mandate for potentially ineffective antibiotics therapy, as well as raising barriers to competition and growth in the healthcare market.
* Traditionally, where we have had insurance coverage mandates, they were for therapies where there was the highest degree of scientific consensus recommending it, considering efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. This is not the case here. The CDC explicitly recommends against long-term antibiotic treatments for tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme, saying it has outcomes that are no better than a placebo (www.cdc.gov/lyme/postlds/index.html), but brings risks of serious, sometimes deadly complications. The Infectious Disease Society of America also notes that such treatment is ineffective and presents a harm to public health, due to the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
* Although we support the "right to try" for patients, and would not ban long-term antibiotic treatments for Lyme, neither should we mandate that insurance plans cover this treatment.
* The bill would also require any new ambulatory surgical center, hospital, walk-in-care center (and other similar health care facilities) that would be located within 15 miles of an existing critical access hospital to inform the hospital and allow it to object to the new nearby competition. While this is not a full return to the failed certificate of need mechanism of years past, it does raise new barriers to competition and potentially limits growth in the healthcare sector. Just months ago, experts predicted a shortage of testing facilities and hospital beds and now the legislature is considering raising new barriers to expansion.
This bill, with the committee amendment, covers 17 different topics. Among these are a new insurance mandate for potentially ineffective antibiotics therapy, as well as raising barriers to competition and growth in the healthcare market.
* Traditionally, where we have had insurance coverage mandates, they were for therapies where there was the highest degree of scientific consensus recommending it, considering efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. This is not the case here. The CDC explicitly recommends against long-term antibiotic treatments for tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme, saying it has outcomes that are no better than a placebo (www.cdc.gov/lyme/postlds/index.html), but brings risks of serious, sometimes deadly complications. The Infectious Disease Society of America also notes that such treatment is ineffective and presents a harm to public health, due to the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
* Although we support the "right to try" for patients, and would not ban long-term antibiotic treatments for Lyme, neither should we mandate that insurance plans cover this treatment.
* The bill would also require any new ambulatory surgical center, hospital, walk-in-care center (and other similar health care facilities) that would be located within 15 miles of an existing critical access hospital to inform the hospital and allow it to object to the new nearby competition. While this is not a full return to the failed certificate of need mechanism of years past, it does raise new barriers to competition and potentially limits growth in the healthcare sector. Just months ago, experts predicted a shortage of testing facilities and hospital beds and now the legislature is considering raising new barriers to expansion.
This bill prohibits the state, its political subdivisions, and officials from utilizing facial recognition systems or associated facial recognition system data.
* State use of facial recognition poses a significant threat to our privacy and could hamper First Amendment protected protests and other legal activities.
* A false match can lead to lengthy interrogations and increase the risk of negative outcomes with improperly initiated police encounters.
* As recently as December of 2019, there have been well-publicized concerns from federal studies that showed "Facial-recognition systems misidentified people of color more often than white people" (www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/12/19/federal-study-confirms-racial-bias-many-facial-recognition-systems-casts-doubt-their-expanding-use/).
* The committee minority amendment 2020-1255h, while not offering protection as strong as the original bill, is still a step in the right direction.
This bill prohibits the state, its political subdivisions, and officials from utilizing facial recognition systems or associated facial recognition system data.
* State use of facial recognition poses a significant threat to our privacy and could hamper First Amendment protected protests and other legal activities.
* A false match can lead to lengthy interrogations and increase the risk of negative outcomes with improperly initiated police encounters.
This bill amends the statute governing post-conviction DNA testing procedures so that it applies to individuals on probation, parole, or anyone whose liberty is otherwise restrained.
* While exoneration via DNA testing is most critical for the falsely convicted who are still in custody, any time an inhabitant's rights are improperly restrained by the state a great injustice is being done with potentially long-term and multi-generational impacts.
This bill legalizes adults' possession of small amounts of cannabis.
* This bill would make it legal for adults 21 and older to possess up to 3/4 ounce of cannabis, five grams of hashish, and up to 300 mg of cannabis-infused products, and to cultivate up to six plants (including up to 3 mature plants) in a secure location.
* The bill does not impose any taxes or create any new bureaucracy.
* All neighboring jurisdictions have legalized possession and cultivation of cannabis for adults; Granite Staters should not have less freedom with regard to cannabis than adults in Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and Canada.
This bill increases fees on most vehicles without reducing other fees/taxes to offset the increase.
* This bill adds a new road usage fee based on the miles per gallon efficiency of the vehicle with a graduated fee for vehicles above 20 MPG. In 2020, even large-class vehicles often have EPA ratings exceeding this metric, resulting in this new fee likely applying broadly to the majority of vehicles. In fact, the fleet average MPG including all passenger cars and light trucks sold after 2014 is estimated to be at least 31 MPG (https://goo.gl/ndWWaC).
* This bill simply raises more revenue; it does not reduce other taxes or fees in any way. If there is merely a desire to ensure that road maintenance burden is shared by all drivers, this new fee should be accompanied by a reduction in other fees.
* This bill will encourage drivers to purchase less fuel-efficient vehicles, resulting in more fossil fuels being burned in NH.
* This bill will hurt elderly drivers the most. According to the Federal Highway Administration, drivers over the age of 65 drive an average of 7,646 miles per year, yet this bill will tax them an extra 30% more than they drive on average.
This bill increases fees on most vehicles without reducing other fees/taxes to offset the increase.
* This bill adds a new road usage fee based on the miles per gallon efficiency of the vehicle with a graduated fee for vehicles above 20 MPG. In 2020, even large-class vehicles often have EPA ratings exceeding this metric, resulting in this new fee likely applying broadly to the majority of vehicles. In fact, the fleet average MPG including all passenger cars and light trucks sold after 2014 is estimated to be at least 31 MPG (https://goo.gl/ndWWaC).
* This bill simply raises more revenue; it does not reduce other taxes or fees in any way. If there is merely a desire to ensure that road maintenance burden is shared by all drivers, this new fee should be accompanied by a reduction in other fees.
* This bill will encourage drivers to purchase less fuel-efficient vehicles, resulting in more fossil fuels being burned in NH.
* This bill will hurt elderly drivers the most. According to the Federal Highway Administration drivers over the age of 65 drive an average of 7,646 miles per year, yet this bill will tax them an extra 30% more than they drive on average.
This bill increases vehicle registration fees and sets an automated annual escalation in these fees of 2.4% and creates a new fee based on miles traveled.
* This bill simply raises more revenue; it does not reduce other taxes or fees in any way. If there is merely a desire to ensure that road maintenance burden is shared by all drivers, this new fee should be accompanied by a reduction in other fees or taxes.
* Currently there is no order mandated with respect to registration renewal and vehicle inspections. This bill does not change that but pre-supposes that inspection data will be available at time of registration renewal.
This bill adds sales of ski area lift tickets to the meals and rooms tax.
* Incremental expansion of the meals and rooms tax is an additional step toward a general sales tax.
* Increased taxes would hurt tourism at both the ski areas directly impacted by the new tax and surrounding businesses that benefit from the increased tourism.
This bill adds sales of ski area lift tickets to the meals and rooms tax.
* Incremental expansion of meals and rooms tax is an additional step towards a general sales tax.
* Increased taxes would hurt tourism both at the ski areas directly impacted by the new tax and surrounding businesses that benefit from the increased tourism.
This bill creates a system for issuing a civil restraining order for actions that are already treated as a crime.
* Current statutes [RSA 631: 4,8,9] already address these actions as criminal behaviors: Section 631:4 Criminal Threatening; Section 631:8 Criminal Neglect of Elderly, Disabled, or Impaired Adults; Section 631:9 Financial Exploitation of an Elderly, Disabled, or Impaired Adult.
* This bill violates due process on numerous fronts and because these are civil actions, the poor will not have access to a public defender.
* Further, the decision to seize firearms and prohibit future purchases is made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 VI, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
* The bill prohibits by law, prosecution of those who committed perjury when filing a petition.
This bill creates a system for issuing a civil restraining order for actions that are already treated as a crime.
* Current statutes [RSA 631: 4,8,9] already address these actions as criminal behaviors: Section 631:4 Criminal Threatening; Section 631:8 Criminal Neglect of Elderly, Disabled, or Impaired Adults; Section 631:9 Financial Exploitation of an Elderly, Disabled, or Impaired Adult.
* This bill violates due process on numerous fronts and because these are civil actions, the poor will not have access to a public defender.
* Further, the decision to seize firearms and prohibit future purchases is made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 VI, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
* The bill prohibits by law, prosecution of those who committed perjury when filing a petition.
This bill creates a system for issuing a civil restraining order for actions that are already treated as a crime.
* Current statutes [RSA 631: 4,8,9] already address these actions as criminal behaviors: Section 631:4 Criminal Threatening. Section 631:8 Criminal Neglect of Elderly, Disabled, or Impaired Adults. Section 631:9 Financial Exploitation of an Elderly, Disabled, or Impaired Adult.
* This bill violates due process on numerous fronts and because these are civil actions, the poor will not have access to a public defender.
* Further, the decision to seize firearms and prohibit future purchases is made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 VI, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
* The bill prohibits by law, prosecution of those who committed perjury when filing a petition.
This bill bans the sale and possession of tobacco and e-cigarette products by many adults in NH.
* This bill extends the current prohibition on tobacco products to adults under 20 years of age and extends the ban on the sale and possession of rolling papers to adults under 21 years of age.
* While tobacco products are harmful, applying restrictions on their use to adults is paternalistic.
* Any OTP motion (should one appear) should be opposed. No explicit NHLA recommendation is made with respect to either the committee majority or minority approach to avoid passage of the bill.
This bill bans the sale and possession of tobacco and e-cigarette products by many adults in NH.
* This bill extends the current prohibition on tobacco products to adults under 20 years of age and extends the ban on the sale and possession of rolling papers to adults under 21 years of age.
* While tobacco products are harmful, applying restrictions on their use to adults is paternalistic.
This bill establishes public policy that NH will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 even in the face of increasing population.
* Though the bill claims to simply set goals, the committee amendment still retains language (125-O:30 III) that requires state agencies to incorporate the goals into rulemaking.
* The bill requires that the state climate action plan change land-use patterns to support transit-oriented development, which will require additional future 'top down' central planning that are nearly certain to interfere with property rights.
* This bill is unconstitutional as it conflicts with article 28-a. Mandated Programs.
This bill increases state spending to replicate monitoring sites that are already in place.
* This bill increases state spending — plausibly greater than $100,000 per year — with equipment purchase and maintenance.
* There is an extensive network of monitors that are deployed and have been since the Seabrook Station came online. No significant incidences have ever occurred. The nearby Portsmouth Naval Shipyard also monitors for nuclear pollutants. These are external monitoring stations.
* Seabrook Station has over 80 monitors inside the plant and on its property.
This bill dramatically increases taxes on certain electronic cigarette liquid.
* This bill increases the tax rate on open and closed e-cigarette systems. In the case of open systems, the tax rate is increased from 8% to 40%.
* This tax hike will increase the risk of death or disease of e-cigarette users. Consumers may opt to obtain these products online or from black market sources that may be distributing contaminated product.
This bill dramatically increases taxes on certain electronic cigarette liquid.
* This bill increases the tax rate on open and closed e-cigarette systems. In the case of open systems the tax rate is increased from 8% to 40%.
* This tax hike will increase the risk of death or disease of e-cigarette users. Consumers may opt to obtain these products online or from black market sources that may be distributing contaminated product.
This bill would create a new salaried state position to oversee a single-use single plastic recycling program that largely already exists.
* Hannaford, Shaws, Market Basket, Target, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart and many other stores already provide this service without the need for a government mandate or salaried position.
This bill would increase costs for New Hampshire ratepayers.
* This bill subsidizes businesses and municipalities that choose to operate large scale energy generation facilities by increasing the subsidized net metering cap from the current 1 megawatt limit up to 5 megawatts.
* The recipients of these subsidies will get millions more at the expense of others without providing any substantial benefits to the grid, as the energy from these systems is often intermittent and unreliable.
* Large subsidies for renewables no longer make sense as studies claim that solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. If this is true, then operators of these facilities already have a significant competitive advantage and would not require subsidy to be profitable.
* This bill has essentially no impact on individual homeowner use of net metering as the existing threshold of 1 megawatt is already approximately 100 times larger (as compared to a 10 kilowatt system) than what a typical homeowner is capable of generating via rooftop solar (www.solarreviews.com/blog/10kw-solar-systems-are-becoming-very-popular-here-is-why).
This bill enables the disclosure of personal information held by the state to a private organization.
* This bill allows the state to release the home address, email, and personal phone numbers of state employees to labor unions without regard for whether the employee wishes this data to be released to the organization.
* In 2018, a constitutional amendment passed with 81% of the vote stating "An individual's right to live free from governmental intrusion in private or personal information is natural, essential, and inherent." — this bill would undermine this constitutional right.
* Employees who wish to share this information with their union may already do so voluntarily.
This bill enables the disclosure of personal information held by the state to a private organization.
* This bill allows the state to release the home address, email, and personal phone numbers of state employees to labor unions without regard for whether the employee wishes this data to be released to the organization.
* In 2018, a constitutional amendment passed with 81% of the vote stating "An individual's right to live free from governmental intrusion in private or personal information is natural, essential, and inherent." — this bill would undermine this constitutional right.
* Employees who wish to share this information with their union may already do so voluntarily.
This bill clarifies the definition of "drive or attempt to drive" in DWI prohibitions.
* This bill would exclude safe activity such as sleeping/resting or sheltering in place in a legal parking zone from being considered an attempt to drive. This common-sense definition reduces the risk of facing a DWI charge for activity that poses no threat to the public.
* Arresting people who do the right thing by not driving while intoxicated does not make the roads any safer. This bill clarifies that sleeping in a vehicle or being outside of a vehicle is not considered driving and should not be arrestable under the driving-while-intoxicated statute.
* The minority amendment, 2019-2781 limits the clarifications provided by this bill such that only an occupant who is "not seated at the controls of the vehicle" is excluded from the definition of 'drive'. The bill ought to pass with or without this amendment.
By eliminating the existing rebate to residential ratepayers, this bill increases a stealthy tax on New Hampshire electricity consumers.
* This bill removes long-standing rebates to middle class residential customers, while preserving rebates to commercial/industrial customers, thereby raising rates on residential customers and effectively forcing them to subsidize commercial/industrial customers as well as low-income and local governments.
* Electric rates are already high in New Hampshire. Efficiency projects that are truly fiscally responsible can and will be funded by electricity consumers themselves. It is unfair to force all ratepayers to fund projects for specific consumers, whether private or governmental.
* Rather than putting more money into the hands of government in order to pick winners and losers, the money should remain with the ratepayers where it belongs.
By eliminating the existing rebate to residential ratepayers, this bill increases a stealthy tax on New Hampshire electricity consumers.
* This bill removes long-standing rebates to middle class residential customers, while preserving rebates to commercial/industrial customers, thereby raising rates on residential customers and effectively forcing them to subsidize commercial/industrial customers as well as low-income and local governments.
* Electric rates are already high in New Hampshire. Efficiency projects that are truly fiscally responsible can and will be funded by electricity consumers themselves. It is unfair to force all ratepayers to fund projects for specific consumers, whether private or governmental.
* Rather than putting more money into the hands of government in order to pick winners and losers, the money should remain with the ratepayers where it belongs.
This bill increases state interference in the energy marketplace.
* This bill may increase energy costs in the state by mandating potentially non-competitive energy sources. Should proponents of these sources be correct that they will be cheaper than alternatives, then no state mandate would be needed.
* The bill disadvantages increases in other carbon-neutral energy sources such as nuclear.
This bill increases state interference in the energy marketplace.
* This bill may increase energy costs in the state by mandating potentially non-competitive energy sources. Should proponents of these sources be correct that they will be cheaper than alternatives, then no state mandate would be needed.
* The bill disadvantages increases in other carbon-neutral energy sources such as nuclear.
This bill changes "qualifying medical condition" to any condition for which treatment is determined to be necessary by a provider.
* Medical cannabis has been proven to be effective in the treatment of a variety of debilitating medical conditions.
* Medical providers and patients should be able to determine the best course of action to treat the patient's illness.
This bill would establish a "duty to report" harm or exposure to harm that is so broad that nearly everyone could be subject to fine.
* This bill modifies RSA 508 setting a broad new duty to report exposure to harm to authorities.
* Existing RSA 508:19 I.(f)(1) states that there is a "propensity of an equine to behave in ways that may result in injury, harm, or death to persons on or around them" — should everyone be required to report proximity to horses? Crafting positive obligation 'bad Samaritan laws' is complex and may result in unintended consequences and unnecessary interactions with law enforcement.
* While this bill has a recommendation of Interim Study, which is acceptable, the appropriate path forward is to find this bill Inexpedient To Legislate.
This bill bans the sale and possession of tobacco products by many adults in NH.
* This bill extends the current juvenile prohibition on tobacco products to adults between the ages of 18 and 21.
* While tobacco products are harmful, applying restrictions on their use to adults is paternalistic.
* The federal government has banned the sale of tobacco products to adults under 21 as part of the $738 billion defense spending bill, rendering this unwise legislation also unnecessary.
This bill, as amended, forms a committee to study public funding of certain state election campaigns.
* Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the campaign activities of any candidate, particularly those with whom they vigorously disagree.
* While a study committee is less harmful than the original bill text, there is no compelling reason to spend taxpayer money to study this topic.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill allows qualifying medical cannabis patients and designated caregivers to cultivate a limited number of plants for therapeutic use.
* This bill decreases medical costs for patients by allowing them to grow their own medicine.
* People should not have to choose between fearing criminal prosecution and not having access to medicine.
* This bill gives patients better access to their medicine. Many patients do not live near the few dispensaries in the state, and will benefit from this bill.
* The New Hampshire Democratic platform states "We support policies to improve access to health care in our rural communities and other medically underserved areas". What better way to help contribute to access than to allow patients to cultivate their own medicine?
This bill provides for enhanced penalties for certain motor vehicle violations if the operator was also using a mobile electronic device.
* Penalties for each of the violations listed in RSA 265, RSA 265-A, and RSA 630:3 are presumably set based on the potential impact of the infraction. A blanket increase of the penalty when these actions are also accompanied by a mobile device infraction are unlikely to change behaviors of individuals; however, the option of enhanced penalties will be used by prosecutors to coerce individuals to accept a lower penalty plea vs. facing a more serious charge even if the individual is innocent.
This bill gives airports the authority to tax services that they are not providing. Airports already have fees and don't need the authority to create new taxes.
* NH residents are continually feeling squeezed as taxes keep increasing. Allowing airports to arbitrarily charge taxes and fees for services they don't provide creates a dangerous precedent for other popular destinations to charge fees to transportation network companies.
This bill allows liquor manufacturers to offer samples at farmers markets.
* This bill is a small improvement in that it reduces restriction of free trade and allows businesses to transact with customers in more locations.
* Allowing local businesses to showcase local products benefits NH residents and helps the NH economy.
This bill allows liquor manufacturers to offer samples at farmers markets.
* This bill is a small improvement in that it reduces restriction of free trade and allows businesses to transact with customers in more locations.
* Allowing local businesses to showcase local products benefits NH residents and helps the NH economy.
This bill gives owners of brew pubs the option to allow customers to bring dogs to open-air patio areas.
* Operators of these facilities should have the option to conduct business in a manner that they find appropriate and allow the market to decide if the decision is beneficial or not.
* This bill could be improved if it were expanded to apply to all restaurant open-air patios regardless of whether or not they hold a brew pub license under RSA 178:13.
This bill would allow municipalities to restrict shooting ranges through local ordinances, creating a patchwork of varying regulations around the state.
* The safest gun owners are those who train regularly with their tools. Limiting access to shooting ranges would lower firearm safety in the state.
* Hunters must train to assure that their shots are precisely placed, thereby avoiding animal suffering from inaccurate shot placement.
* As drafted, the bill would impact all citizens', including law enforcement's, ability to train.
* The "2 seconds between shots" rule proposed in 159-B:2(I) would allow municipalities to essentially ban multiple members from using a range at the same time.
This bill allows municipalities to raise taxes on existing property owners by providing preferential tax credits to densely-built housing.
* Relaxation of zoning and/or codes and other government barriers to building should be prefered ways of increasing available housing instead of social engineering where the state determines the appropriate use of property.
This bill allows municipalities to raise taxes on existing property owners by providing preferential tax credits to densely-built housing.
* Relaxation of zoning and/or codes and other government barriers to building should be prefered ways of increasing available housing instead of social engineering where the state determines the appropriate use of property.
This bill mandates additional insurance coverage in a manner that goes beyond the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
* Insurance mandates add to the cost of policies by requiring purchasing "insurance" for something that the consumer may or may not want. This may lead to increased premiums for everyone.
* Per the fiscal note, federal law requires the cost of state mandates for policies sold through the insurance exchange to be borne by the State so this bill would increase spending.
This bill increases the fee for recording a deed, mortgage, etc. from $25 to $35.
* This is a 40% increase over the existing fee and is estimated to extort an additional $1.5 million in FY 2021 from New Hampshire property owners.
* This is not a 'fee for service' as the funds are not used to defray the cost of maintaining deed records, but rather funds a program unrelated to the property being registered.
This bill increases the fee for recording a deed, mortgage, etc. from $25 to $35.
* This is a 40% increase over the existing fee and is estimated to extort an additional $1.5 million in FY 2021 from New Hampshire property owners.
* This is not a 'fee for service' as the funds are not used to defray the cost of maintaining deed records, but rather funds a program unrelated to the property being registered.
This bill would require the taxpayers of the State of New Hampshire to take on additional responsibility for the losses of investors in the Financial Resources Mortgage debacle.
* In a free market, investors evaluate offers, take risks, win some, and lose some. This legislation would have the unintended consequence of future investors using less due diligence to evaluate offers before investing.
* This situation is a reminder that despite all the laws and criminal penalties and licensing and government agency oversight, malefactors will still behave badly and deceive people; government cannot protect everyone from bad things happening — investors should still look out for themselves and others they care about.
This bill would require the taxpayers of the State of New Hampshire to take on additional responsibility for the losses of investors in the Financial Resources Mortgage debacle.
* In a free market, investors evaluate offers, take risks, win some, and lose some. This legislation would have the unintended consequence of future investors using less due diligence to evaluate offers before investing.
* This situation is a reminder that despite all the laws and criminal penalties and licensing and government agency oversight, malefactors will still behave badly and deceive people; government cannot protect everyone from bad things happening — investors should still look out for themselves and others they care about.
This bill raises protectionist barriers by preventing EMTs or paramedics who are nationally certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and licensed in their home state from being employed in New Hampshire without first completing NH's processes for licensing.
* New Hampshire is still in the midst of an opioid crisis. Now is not the time to try a dangerous protectionist experiment that will complicate the process for businesses to attract qualified emergency personnel from other states.
This bill removes the annual $500,000 per fiscal year borrowing cap currently imposed on the University of New Hampshire system and reduces restrictions on the usage of the borrowed funds.
* Borrowing by the University of New Hampshire ultimately puts New Hampshire taxpayers potentially at risk. The university system has already showed multiple times over the past several years that it needs restrictions and oversight on spending such as when they spent $1 million in donated funds on a scoreboard — a move that caused then Governor Hassan to state: "It is concerning and perplexing that the University of New Hampshire decided to use part of this generous donation on an expensive new scoreboard." (www.fosters.com/news/20160916/unh-ripped-for-using-1m-of-major-gift-for-scoreboard).
* While the recommendation is Interim Study and this is acceptable, the appropriate motion on this bill is ITL.
This bill expands state job training and placement spending.
* While government-sponsored job training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
* New Hampshire’s preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for January 2020 was 2.6%. The state should not be spending money to provide job matching services as this is already well supported by the free market.
This bill mandates the use of seatbelts.
* This bill is paternalistic in that it forces adults to wear seatbelts when traveling in motor vehicles.
* Since this bill allows for the violation as a primary enforcement, it increases the potential for contact between law enforcement and citizens, increasing the risk of adverse interactions that otherwise would be avoided.
This bill mandates additional insurance coverage in a manner may go beyond the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
* Insurance mandates add to the cost of policies by requiring purchasing "insurance" for something that the consumer may or may not want. This may lead to increased premiums for everyone.
* Per the fiscal note, federal law requires the cost of state mandates for policies sold through the insurance exchange to be borne by the State so this bill may increase state spending.
This bill mandates additional insurance coverage in a manner that goes beyond the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
* Insurance mandates add to the cost of policies by requiring purchasing "insurance" for something that the consumer may or may not want. This may lead to increased premiums for everyone.
* Per the NH DHHS website (www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/pfcs/blood-testing.htm), a PFAS blood test cannot: tell you where or how you were exposed to PFAS found in your body; tell you what, if any, health problems might occur or have occurred because of PFAS in your body; or be used by your doctor to guide treatment decisions.
* Per the fiscal note, federal law requires the cost of state mandates for policies sold through the insurance exchange to be borne by the State so this bill would increase spending.
This bill increases salaries of certain state employees outside of collective bargaining agreements, reducing the bargaining power of taxpayers and increasing costs by up to $3 million per year.
* Increases in compensation and benefits for employees that have chosen to operate under collective bargaining should be negotiated along with all of the terms and conditions of the contract rather than pre-emptively providing an increased benefit with no potential for consideration.
* While the recommendation is Interim Study and this is acceptable, the appropriate motion on this bill is ITL.
This bill prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union and prohibits coercion and intimidation intended to compel an employee to join, affiliate with, or financially support a labor organization or to refrain from doing so.
* The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9a which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces.
* Right-to-work is the only way currently permitted under federal law to restore some of the freedom of dissenting workers and their employers to withhold support from unions with whom they disagree. While this bill interferes with freedom of contract, it does so in a way intended to remedy current, more egregious limitations of freedom of contract.
This bill, with the proposed amendment, establishes a committee that pre-supposes that it is the proper role of the state to 'invest' taxpayers' money in risky start-up businesses.
* The committee created by this bill is directed to find evidence to support a pre-supposition that it is the proper role of the state to provide funding to start-up businesses.
* The state should not be in the business of choosing winners or losers; all businesses should be allowed to compete in a free market.
This bill attempts to reduce costs by authorizing new fees on health insurance providers, drug manufacturers, distributors, and others.
* This bill mandates new annual reporting requirements on manufacturers and creates a new state bureaucracy that will need to be serviced by these providers in a belief that doing so will improve affordability. This bureaucracy and its reporting requirements, along with new fees, will result in increased costs that will be passed on to New Hampshire residents.
This bill allows qualifying cannabis patients to make purchases from any dispensary in the state.
* Patients should not be denied access to medicine simply because they are visiting a different area of the state.
* Oppose committee amendment 2020-0771s which implies that a medical cannabis card should be revoked for obtaining more than 2 ounces of cannabis in any 10-day period. Existing law already allows for revocation of a card for rules violations or other violations of the relevant RSA. It is worth noting that the NH Democratic platform contains "We believe that marijuana should be legalized, taxed, and regulated." — it makes little sense to support legalization for recreational use while penalizing patients who use cannabis for medical purposes.
* Whether committee amendment 2020-0771s is adopted or not, support passage of the resulting bill.
This bill allows qualifying cannabis patients to make purchases from any dispensary in the state.
* Patients should not be denied access to medicine simply because they are visiting a different area of the state.
* Oppose committee amendment 2020-0771s which implies that a medical cannabis card should be revoked for obtaining more than 2 ounces of cannabis in any 10-day period. Existing law already allows for revocation of a card for rules violations or other violations of the relevant RSA. It is worth noting that the NH Democratic platform contains "We believe that marijuana should be legalized, taxed, and regulated." — it makes little sense to support legalization for recreational use while penalizing patients who use cannabis for medical purposes.
* Whether committee amendment 2020-0771s is adopted or not, support passage of the resulting bill.
This bill adds a new fee of up to $25 on both commercial and non-commercial saltwater fishing licenses, forcing responsible anglers to cover the costs of cleanup for irresponsible anglers.
* This bill attempts to address the problem of abandoned gear that contributes to coastal pollution such as micro-plastics by applying a new fee to existing license fees. For resident commercial saltwater licenses, based on committee testimony, this is up to a 50% increase in the license fees.
* The increased fees may result in an increase in people fishing without a license who may then be more likely to abandon gear.
* The portion of the bill that would redirect fines for littering in coastal waters or beaches and for abandoning fishing gear to the derelict fishing gear, coastal cleanup, and fishing for energy fund is acceptable.
This bill further victimizes crime victims.
* This bill requires a person who owns a firearm that is lost or stolen to report the event to police within 72 hours or face up to a misdemeanor charge. A study by the non-partisan RAND Corporation found no impact on public safety from lost or stolen firearms laws (www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/lost-or-stolen-firearms.html). Note that the RAND corporation is rated as "Pro-Science, least bias and high for factual reporting" (mediabiasfactcheck.com/rand-corporation/).
* Crime victims should not be further victimized by the state or fear reporting a crime four days after an event for concern that they may face charges for late reporting.
This bill spends more than a quarter of a million dollars per year on special programs for veterans, performing functions that in many cases are already covered by federal programs.
* Many local employers already offer beneficial treatment for hiring and training veterans — it is unclear that additional state spending in the area of job training and apprenticeship will have any positive outcome.
* Proposed changes to 110-B:73-b and 188-F:16-b relative to reducing barriers to employment created by the state's excessive occupational licensing framework are admirable but likely ineffective. Veterans and all New Hampshire residents would be better served by reductions in state-sponsored protectionist legislation.
* While improved outcomes for veterans from this legislation are uncertain, what is certain is that this bill will increase spending and result in higher taxes for everyone, including New Hampshire's veterans.
This bill provides a new taxpayer-funded benefit to state employees.
* Many state employees work under collectively-bargained contracts. Providing a new benefit outside of the context of contract negotiations eliminates the option of trading or offsetting other potential salary or benefit increases during negotiations.
* Even prior to covering the cost of any negotiated coverage with a private vendor, this bill would commit the state to spending IT and staff infrastructure costs in excess of $1.5 million per year.
* While the appropriate motion for this bill is ITL, IS is acceptable.
This bill forces state taxpayers to buy organs from kidney donors by funneling taxpayer funds through health insurance premiums.
* Donation of a kidney is currently a deeply personal and altruistic act. While there may be reason to eliminate restrictions on private compensation for the act, New Hampshire taxpayers should not be forced to participate in the practice of organ sales.
* While the appropriate motion for this bill is ITL, IS is acceptable.
This bill will increase state spending by providing adults in the Medicaid program with dental coverage.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage at taxpayer expense.
* Testimony at the public hearing indicated costs between $6 million and $11 million in state taxpayer funds and more than $28 million of taxpayer funding overall when state and federal spending are considered. These costs were stated to be a 'starting point' as the bill provides no cap on annual per-patient expenses.
This CACR would modify the Constitution to prevent the adoption of an income tax.
* Taxation of earnings from labor is on a par with forced labor.
* Allowing individuals to keep more of their money would benefit those who want to work harder and earn more.
* New Hampshire has a well-established brand identity as a non-income, non-sales tax state. Establishing in the Constitution the prohibition on an income tax would incentivize companies to locate in New Hampshire to take advantage of this provision. This would increase economic activity in the state.
* A larger variety of taxing methods obfuscates the true cost of goverment. Preventing the adoption of a new source of taxation helps to ensure that the populace is better aware of the costs imposed by the actions of the state.
This CACR would modify the Constitution to prevent the adoption of any new sales taxes.
* New Hampshire has a strong economy based on not collecting sales taxes. Business at the borders with other states would be hurt if a long-term sales tax were adopted.
* Sales taxes disproportionally impact lower income families, as a larger portion of their income is spent directly on products within the state.
* New Hampshire derives much of its income from tourism. Allowing a sales tax would negatively impact our tourism.
This amendment provides that money raised by taxation may be applied for the use of religious educational institutions.
* This amendment will, if approved, allow money raised by taxation to be granted to or applied for the use of a school of a religious sect or denomination.
This bill would eliminate the constitutional limit on legislator salary.
* The existing constitutional language on legislator salary provides a cap on compensation that prevents individuals from taking on a role in the legislature as a career. This bill would remove that language as a first step toward setting a higher salary via statute, as discussed in the minority comittee report.
* The existing modest compensation increases the probability that individuals will only attempt to serve for a limited number of terms and saves New Hampshire taxpayers from being compelled to further fund an organization that demonstrably has as its goal the expansion of state power.
This proposed constitutional amendment clarifies the protections afforded in article 2-a of the New Hampshire Constitution to better affirm that it prevents the state or its political subdivisions from restricting the right own, carry, or use firearms. Further, it precludes New Hampshire law enforcement from participating in enforcement of federal laws that infringe upon rights protected under the New Hampshire Constitution.
* Though the existing article 2-a language of the New Hampshire Constitution fairly clearly outlines protection of the right to keep and bear arms, it is clear that the meaning is not well understood by some in the legislature. This amendment would help provide much needed clarity.
* The 10th Amendment in the Bill of Rights reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government for the states, and firearms laws were not delegated to the Federal Government.
This bill limits the acceleration of property tax increases.
* Slowing down the rate of taxation increases encourages localities to manage spending.
* More money in the hands of citizens increases development and participation in the local buisness economy.
This bill seeks to prevent a law enforcement officer from using deadly force to effect an arrest when there is no risk to human life nor risk of serious injury.
* Under current law, deadly force is deemed reasonably necessary for any case where an officer believes an arrest is lawful and the officer believes there is apparently no other possible means of effecting the arrest (RSA 627:5 VIII). This bill would retain a law enforcement officer's ability to utilize deadly force in self-defense or defense of another, as well as in cases where the officer believes a suspect is likely to seriously endanger human life or inflict serious bodily injury unless apprehended without delay. However, this bill would remove the authority to utilize deadly force for arrests of simple non-violent crimes in order to effect an arrest.
This bill prohibits the superior court from allowing special school meetings for recent items that were not approved or were rejected at the regular meeting.
* This bill prohibits the superior court from allowing special school meetings for a collective bargaining agreement that was voted down at the regular meeting.
* Courts should not override the voters on matters of shared fiscal responsibility.
This bill prohibits the superior court from allowing special school meetings for recent items that were not approved or were rejected at the regular meeting.
* This bill prohibits the superior court from allowing special school meetings for a collective bargaining agreement that was voted down at the regular meeting.
This bill prohibits a person or company (but not the government) from charging an additional fee for paying by mail or receiving a paper billing statement.
* Individuals should be allowed to determine business practices, and their customers can decide if those practices meet their needs. The state should not be playing a role in mandating or prohibiting fees.
* This bill would result in consumers who are using potentially lower cost methods of paying bills subsidizing the individuals who choose to use legacy payment methods.
* This bill would harm the environment by encouraging greater consumption of paper and fuel required to deliver the paper.
This bill increases residential electricity costs by $5 million per year. It spends that money on state-sponsored energy efficiency, taking away the choice of how people spend their money.
* Approximately $5 million of RGGI–sourced funds are rebated each year to New Hampshire residential ratepayers and another $12 million to commercial and industrial customers. This bill would eliminate the residential rebate and provide it to fund centrally-planned energy efficiency projects.
* The imbalance in this bill would makes residential ratepayers subsidize commercial/industrial customers' energy efficiency — corporate welfare.
This bill protects residents who use deadly force on their own property to protect family members or guests.
* New Hampshire law already protects residents who must defend themselves against the threat of unlawful force while on their own property.
* This bill would simply extend that protection to residents who defend their family or guests in similar circumstances.
This bill prohibits the inclusion of a non-disparagement clause in a settlement agreement involving a governmental unit.
* This bill would prohibit public bodies from hiding bad actors and actions. It prevents making settlements in suits which include nondisclosure agreements.
* Article 8 of the New Hampshire Constitution states in part: "All power residing originally in, and being derived from, the people, all the magistrates and officers of government are their substitutes and agents, and at all times accountable to them. Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive. To that end, the public’s right of access to governmental proceedings and records shall not be unreasonably restricted." Allowing political subdivisions to include non-disparagement clauses enables unelected actors of the state to inhibit the public's right to actions that have been taken in their name.
This bill establishes the position of school counselor coordinator as well as the office of school counseling and psychology within the Department of Education. Annual cost expectation for this position is $106,000 in salary with $17,000 in projected annual expenses.
* This bill would create a new position starting at a cost of $123,000/yr to increase annually.
* This bill establishes no clear objective to be measured against this cost.
* This would entice expansion and therefore more spending in the future.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage of $22.50 per hour.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through private sector job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage of $22.50 per hour.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through private sector job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill modifies qualified immunity to give citizens a path to seek redress when their rights are violated by the state.
* Constitutional rights are inherent and violations of those rights, even by a government agency, must be addressed.
* This bill does NOT place a burden on employees of the State. Instead, this bill changes the incentive structure in agencies to ensure training and employee guidelines do not violate rights.
* The bill permits the government to fire the bad actor. So if nothing else, the government will not be left on the hook in perpetuity for a bad actor who continually violates constitutional rights.
* The bill offers an opportunity to restore trust between the citizenry and their government by treating all citizens equally under the law.
This bill requires an employer to pay its employees for unused vacation time.
* Vacation policy is a private agreement between employer and employee and should not be mandated by the state.
This bill removes language from statute that requires the Legislature to approve increases in the systems benefits charge. Legislative oversight of any non-essential expenses, such as energy efficiency, is necessary for prudent governance.
* New Hampshire ratepayers should not be subject to further increases to the systems benefits charge without approval of elected representatives. The charge is a hidden tax on ratepayers.
* Absent legislative oversight, there is a possible increase in this charge from $62 million in 2020 to $280 million by 2023.
This bill provides immunity from prosecution for prostitution for a person reporting to law enforcement that such person or another person is the victim of a sexual assault.
* An individual who has been victimized should not fear further victimization by the state if they seek help.
This bill permits the parties in divorce proceedings to request a continuance if meaningful evidence is submitted less than 5 days prior to the hearing.
* This bill would enable all parties to prepare for the proceedings so that each party will know the issues and be fully prepared on the facts. Providing parties with sufficient time to consider evidence may help the court come to a more equitable decision.
* This bill allows for introduction of new evidence within the 5-day restriction if the evidence was not available 5 days prior to the hearing or if the judge declares it de minimis.
This bill creates a private right of action (against a public school) for bullying and cyberbullying that happens as a result of gross negligence or willful misconduct in violation of any provision of RSA 193:F.
* This bill provides the opportunity for an aggrieved party who wins a suit against a school district or charter school to recover legal costs.
This bill would limit consumer choice and limit the ability for market forces to moderate the prices of certain prescription drugs.
* Doctors and patients should be free to agree on the format in which prescriptions are provided.
* The bill would reduce patients' control over their own prescriptions by denying them a physical copy.
* A paper prescription can be more convenient for patients who are traveling or are otherwise unable to use their regular pharmacy.
This bill expands the definition of prime wetland for local protection in fill and dredge permits.
* Current law defines prime wetlands as having to be at least 50 feet wide within a two-acre area as well as meeting other criteria. This bill would allow municipalities to include narrower sections in the wetlands definition if they demonstrate that the section would provide "a significant contribution to the primary wetland functions", however there is no definition of 'significant' and the bill's language that requires municipalities to "consider any potential adverse effects on the landowner from including any narrower portion" is similarly ill-defined and likely to be meaningless in practice.
* Expansion of the prime wetlands designation proposed by this bill will have a negative effect on land owners who will be subject to new stringent permitting on usable land presently not under such requirements.
This bill would make rent increases unenforceable by landlords unless they inform tenants of the increase within a notice period required by law.
* Tenants and landlords should be free to agree on rental terms without the interference of the government.
* This bill would impose additional record-keeping requirements on landlords, the costs of which would surely be passed along to tenants.
* Any bill which makes rental property management less attractive to landlords will eventually lead to fewer properties on the rental market. At this time of skyrocketing housing costs and reduced inventory, this will hurt marginal tenants most.
* Rent control begins with restrictions on the terms of contracts by setting a baseline of restrictions on contract that are then cited as part of the justification for further restrictions.
This bill imposes California emissions standards on New Hampshire and sets mandates for electric vehicle (EV) sales.
* This bill would fine New Hampshire dealerships for not selling enough EVs. This would distort market forces and potentially lead to higher EV costs and crowd out lower income state residents.
* Consumers are already starting to adopt EVs as prices are coming down and range is increasing. New Hampshire citizens would be better served by removing state-imposed fees and removing barriers to the entry of new energy sources in the market, which would drive down New Hampshire's high electrical costs, and allowing the free market to adopt sales of EVs through normal human action.
This bill requires the quarterly report of the retirement system's independent investment committee to include a description of investment fees and requires independent investment committee reports to be available on the retirement system's website.
* People have a right to know how their money is being spent, and what policies are being enacted in their name. Pragmatically, transparency is required in order to keep corruption and waste in check. While it is always challenging for the public to hold officials accountable, without reliable information, it is nearly impossible.
* This bill is a small improvement in the area of government transparency.
This bill prohibits the siting of new landfills if any portion of the landfill is within two miles of a state park.
* This is an arbitrary restriction on the placement of new landfills that may result in both increased costs and a manufactured crisis of a shortage of landfill space.
* This restriction may result in the placement of a landfill at a far greater distance from the source of the waste, potentially resulting in a higher lifetime usage of energy to dispose of waste in a landfill.
* Existing law already mandates that permits "(e)nsure that appropriate measures will be taken to prevent present and future damage to the public health and safety or to the environment, in the event that the operations at the facility are abandoned, interrupted, or stopped." — RSA 149-M:9 X(b)
This bill clarifies existing law by adding language that indicates mere display of a firearm does not constitute reckless conduct.
* This common sense clarification states that display of a firearm does not constitute reckless conduct as defined by RSA 631:3.
* While the committee minority indicates that this bill is not needed since they believe RSA 631:4 already covers this case, the existing language in this section is inadequate as it explictly only exempts defensive display of a firearm from consideration of the Criminal Threatening section of the RSA.
This bill would require the negotiating by public employers and the union representing the public employees to be done in open sessions.
* Currently everything about collective bargaining is done in secrecy. Letting the represented parties know how their representatives are advancing their interests will empower both taxpayers and rank and file union membership.
* People have a right to know how their money is being spent, and what policies are being enacted in their name. Pragmatically, transparency is required in order to keep corruption and waste in check. While it is always challenging for the public to hold officials accountable, without reliable information, it is nearly impossible.
This bill expands occupational licensing in New Hampshire.
* Per the RSA proposed by the bill (326-M:1 V), music therapy does not include the screening, diagnosis, or assessment of any physical, mental, or communication disorder. Music therapists are not qualified mental health professionals. This bill would simply create a new state-granted barrier of entry into a profession that will limit consumer choices, increase costs, and ultimately grow state government.
* Music therapists already work in New Hampshire. This license enables Medicaid/insurance reimbursement which increases federal spending.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, defines the rights for medical freedom in immunizations and establishes a committee to examine the policy of medical intervention including immunizations.
* This bill affirms an individual's right to be free from the state or its political subdivisions compelling the individual to receive an immunization for COVID-19 in order to secure, receive, or access any public facility, any public benefit, or any public service.
This bill makes the state immunization registry an opt-in program rather than an opt-out program.
* While existing law allows individuals to opt-out of the immunization registry, this bill would require an explicit opt-in. This reduces the risk that an individual's data would be included in a registry without their consent due to error, loss of opt-out information, or failure to understand what is being offered to them.
* Article 2-b of the New Hampshire Constitution states "An individual’s right to live free from governmental intrusion in private or personal information is natural, essential, and inherent." — this recognizes that the state should not presume to know the individual's intent without explicitly asking them.
This bill would relax the existing prohibition on aftermarket tinted windows to the left and right of the driver.
* Only 3 states including New Hampshire have a prohibition on window tinting (instamotor.com/blog/window-tinting-laws-50-states).
* New Hampshire law enforcement already encounters tinted windows on the thousands of tourist vehicles that visit New Hampshire each year. No widespread problems have been reported with these vehicles.
* It is unfair to allow out-of-state visitors to drive with tinted windows while prohibiting New Hampshire residents the same freedom.
* Aftermarket side window tinting to the left and right of the driver would be allowed to the same degree as is currently already allowed when provided directly from the vehicle manufacturer.
This bill would relax the existing prohibition on aftermarket tinted side windows.
* Only 3 states including New Hampshire have a prohibition on window tinting (instamotor.com/blog/window-tinting-laws-50-states).
* New Hampshire law enforcement already encounters tinted windows on the thousands of tourist vehicles that visit New Hampshire each year. No widespread problems have been reported with these vehicles.
* It is unfair to allow out-of-state visitors to drive with tinted windows while prohibiting New Hampshire residents the same freedom.
* With the recommended committee amendment, aftermarket side window tinting would be allowed to the same degree as is currently already allowed when provided directly from the vehicle manufacturer.
This bill requires municipal, district, and administrative unit budgets to use full line item detail and publish data in industry-standard spreadsheet format.
* People have a right to know how their money is being spent, and what policies are being enacted in their name. Pragmatically, transparency is required in order to keep corruption and waste in check. While it is always challenging for the public to hold officials accountable, without reliable information, it is nearly impossible.
This bill creates a system for issuing a civil restraining order for actions that are already treated as a crime.
* Current statutes [RSA 631: 4,8,9] already address these actions as criminal behaviors: Section 631:4 Criminal Threatening.; Section 631:8 Criminal Neglect of Elderly, Disabled, or Impaired Adults.; Section 631:9 Financial Exploitation of an Elderly, Disabled, or Impaired Adult.
* Further, the decision to seize firearms and prohibit future purchases is made in a proceeding where the normal rules of evidence need not apply as 173-D:4 VI, as proposed, includes "In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material."
This bill removes the requirement for certain vehicle owners to install a state-mandated front license plate on passenger vehicles.
* Many vehicle types do not include mounting brackets for a front plate, which requires owners to damage/drill into the bumper to install a mount. The state should not require owners to damage their vehicles.
* 20 states in the US (up from 19 in 2018 with the addition of Ohio) and 9 (of 13) Canadian jurisdictions do not require front license plates at all while another 7 states do not require them depending on certain circumstances. Vermont no longer requires a unique front plate as of 2012. Rear-plate-only vehicles are already on our roads.
* While this bill would not apply to all vehicles, it still represents a meaningful step in the correct direction.
This bill removes the requirement for certain vehicle owners to install a state-mandated front license plate on passenger vehicles.
* Many vehicle types do not include mounting brackets for a front plate, which requires owners to damage/drill into the bumper to install a mount. The state should not require owners to damage their vehicles. While the committee amendment dramatically reduces the positive impacts of the original bill, it still represents a meaningful step in the correct direction.
* 20 states in the US (up from 19 in 2018 with the addition of Ohio) and 9 (of 13) Canadian jurisdictions do not require front license plates at all while another 7 states do not require them depending on certain circumstances. Vermont no longer requires a unique front plate as of 2012. Rear-plate-only vehicles are already on our roads.
This bill requires cities and towns to comply with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detainer requests that hold individuals for whom there is no criminal warrant reviewed by a judge.
* An ICE detainer request is not a warrant. They are issued by an official from the executive branch without any judicial review to determine if probable cause exists to hold the indivdual named in the request. As events in the last several years have revealed, unfettered power in the hands of federal agencies can and will be abused if not held at least partially in check by a moderately independent judicial branch.
* The lack of oversight in ICE detainers increases the risk of errors. U.S. Army veteran and U.S citizen Rennison Castillo was held for seven months by ICE before they realized their error (www.foxnews.com/world/rennison-castillo-gets-apology-and-400000-after-government-wrongly-tries-to-deport-him).
* This bill would remove all discretion from local officials by requiring that they shall "Fully comply with, honor, and fulfill any instruction or request made in the detainer request" (proposed 103-A:3 I(a)) such that even a local law enforcement officer who knew that an individual was a US citizen would be compelled to keep them imprisoned.
* The Frequently Asked Questions published by ICE (www.ice.gov/identify-and-arrest/detainers/ice-detainers-frequently-asked-questions) state that if a local law enforcement agency believes the individual to be a US citizen that they should notify the ICE Law Enforcement Support Center at (802) 872-6020. At this point, local law enforcement has kidnapped a US citizen who has no criminal warrant, and the remedy is to make a phone call?
* Support motion to Table or Indefinitely Postpone.
This bill increases state spending by more than $40 million each year.
* This bill requires state taxpayers to fund a portion of the retirement system for city/town teachers, police, and fire department members. These costs are currently paid locally. While net government spending by the state and its political subdivisions under a static evaluation of the bill is neutral, funding is best managed locally to avoid increases in spending that naturally result when politicians are spending "other people's money".
* Increased state funding to municipalties rarely results in local property tax relief as municipalities grow long-term spending even on 'one-time' money. Municipalties already have a means of achieving local property tax relief by reducing the number of employees to align with the reduced student populations across the state.
This bill requires school districts with unused properties to offer them for lease or sale to charter schools.
* This bill provides a requirement to school districts to offer unused properties to charter schools for sale or lease.
* Taxpayer-funded properties would be used for instruction of students instead of potentially being abandoned and becoming dilapidated.
This bill requires school districts with unused properties to offer them for lease or sale to charter schools.
* This bill provides a requirement to school districts to offer unused properties to charter schools for sale or lease.
* Taxpayer-funded properties would be used for instruction of students instead of potentially being abandoned and becoming dilapidated.
This bill requires school districts with unused properties to offer them for lease or sale to charter schools.
* This bill provides a requirement to school districts to offer unused properties to charter schools for sale or lease.
* Taxpayer-funded properties would be used for instruction of students instead of potentially being abandoned and becoming dilapidated.
This bill requires school districts with unused properties to offer them for lease or sale to charter schools.
* This bill provides a requirement to school districts to offer unused properties to charter schools for sale or lease.
* Taxpayer-funded properties would be used for instruction of students instead of potentially being abandoned and becoming dilapidated.
This bill deletes the requirement that a private school be nonsectarian in order to be approved as a school tuition program.
* Under current law, if there is no public school for the child's grade in the resident district, the school board may assign the child to another public school or private school; however, current law precludes private sectarian schools. This bill would remove that restriction. This increases the schools that parents can choose from, if they live in a tuitioning town and their school board contracts with such schools, giving them the ability to choose a school that fits their child's needs.
This bill deletes the requirement that a private school be nonsectarian in order to be approved as a school tuition program.
* Under current law, if there is no public school for the child's grade in the resident district, the school board may assign the child to another public school or private school; however, current law precludes private sectarian schools. This bill would remove that restriction. This increases the schools that parents can choose from, if they live in a tuitioning town and their school board contracts with such schools, giving them the ability to choose a school that fits their child's needs.
This bill eliminates a low cost way for property owners to secure justice when local governments violate their right to build housing.
* The Housing Appeals Board (HAB) reduces the cost of legal disputes between municipalities and landowners by providing an alternative to the court system.
* The HAB helps discourage land use boards from unlawfully delaying development approvals.
* HAB works just like other appeals boards that the state has used successfully.
This bill attempts to make the absentee ballot process for an election transparent. It requires the secrectary of state to provide these reports for elections.
* This bill requires the secretary of state to make information regarding mail-in ballots in elections available upon request.
* Increasing transparency in elections is key to legitimate elections.
* Mail-in ballots are a likely source of voter fraud (nypost.com/2020/08/29/political-insider-explains-voter-fraud-with-mail-in-ballots/).
This bill allows a waiver to institutional driver's education if a parent or guardian provides instruction.
* The current driving instruction option requires that parents/guardians drive with their children to and from these mandatory courses and then the parents wait in the parking lot during the course, taking time that could be better used for one-on-one instruction with their children.
* This bill would not do away with driving schools but it will provide a choice for parents allowing them to focus their efforts on the approaches that are most effective for their children.
* Who has the greater interest in a child being well-taught in driving: an instructor or a parent?
This bill prohibits law enforcement from transfering seizures of less than $100,000 made under state law to the federal government, circumventing our state's criminal asset forfeiture law.
* In 2016 NH abandoned civil asset forfeiture in favor of requiring due process protections required in a criminal proceeding.
* The federal government maintains a program called Equitable Sharing which allows law enforcement to circumvent our state's criminal process.
* Funds forfeited in the federal process return 80% directly to the agency, bypassing normal appropriations (and oversight) of legislative bodies.
* Forfeiture creates an incentive to delay seizing drugs (which would be destroyed) to a later time (after the drugs are on the streets) when money can be seized.
* This bill is limited so as to not interfere with joint task force operations.
* The vast majority of forfeitures are below $10,000, affecting those with few resources to defend themselves, as opposed to the drug kingpins that are claimed to be the targets of civil asset forfeiture.
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a of the state Constitution: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill removes the infringement of the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly when operating snowmobiles or OHRVs.
This a modest improvement to New Hampshire's existing constitutional carry law which corrects an oversight that mandates a permit when carrying a pistol or revolver when operating a snowmobile or Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV).
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a of the state Constitution: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill removes the infringement of the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly when operating snowmobiles or OHRVs.
This a modest improvement to New Hampshire's existing constitutional carry law which corrects an oversight that mandates a permit when carrying a pistol or revolver when operating a snowmobile or Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV).
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the state Constitution: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill removes the infringement of the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly when operating snowmobiles or OHRVs.
* Under current law, theft of a dog is an unspecified misdemeanor. An unspecified misdemeanor can be either class A or class B, with the presumption being a class B misdemeanor. If class B, the punishment can be a fine and up to one year in prison. This bill would increase the penalty for repeat offenders to a class B felony potentially carrying a sentence of up to seven years in prison. As a society we must recognize that not all crime can or should come with a potentially dramatically life-altering penalty. While we might imagine such penalties only being used against the most heinous of actors, prosecutors often 'stack' charges to bully potentially innocent individuals into accepting lesser charges.
* Restitution for the victim should be the primary goal of the criminal justice process. A dog is not mere property and thus while it is unlikely that a uniquely property rights-based solution to the anguish of the owner and the animal is entirely sufficient, it is not clear that enhanced retribution by state actors remedies the situation.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, makes the crime of dog theft and the crime of intentional poisoning of a dog a class B felony on the first offense and a class A felony on subsequent offenses.
* Under current law, theft or poisoning of a dog is an unspecified misdemeanor. An unspecified misdemeanor can be either class A or class B, with the presumption being a class B misdemeanor. If class B, the punishment can be a fine and up to one year in prison. As a society we must recognize that not all crime can or should come with a potentially dramatically life-altering penalty. While we might imagine such penalties only being used against the most heinous of actors, prosecutors often 'stack' charges to bully potentially innocent individuals into accepting lesser charges.
* Restitution for the victim should be the primary goal of the criminal justice process. A dog is not mere property and thus while it is unlikely that a uniquely property rights-based solution to the anguish of the owner and the animal is entirely sufficient, it is not clear that enhanced retribution by state actors, particularly for the first offense, remedies the situation either.
This bill preempts local regulation of private property to the extent that such regulation prohibits the building of multifamily homes on a single parcel (up to four units) in certain areas.
* By enhancing the rights of private property owners, this bill is emphatically pro-liberty.
* Lack of suitable housing in New Hampshire may be relieved if property owners have the freedom to build multi-unit homes on their parcels.
This bill creates a new license for wild mushroom foragers and dealers.
* All NH residents deserve the opportunity to earn an honest living. Occupational licenses are permission slips from the government and routinely stand in the way of honest employment, and are designed to exclude entry into the marketplace.
* Consumers and employers, not the state, should decide who is qualified for which jobs.
* This bill attempts to address prior incremental erosion of liberty with further incremental erosion by adding this new license to mitigate the adoption of the 2017 Food and Drug Administration Food Code by the NH Department of Health and Human Services. The appropriate action is to reverse that prior error.
This bill creates a new license for wild mushroom foragers and dealers.
* All NH residents deserve the opportunity to earn an honest living. Occupational licenses are permission slips from the government and routinely stand in the way of honest employment, and are designed to exclude entry into the marketplace.
* Consumers and employers, not the state, should decide who is qualified for which jobs.
* This bill attempts to address prior incremental erosion of liberty with further incremental erosion by adding this new license to mitigate the adoption of the 2017 Food and Drug Administration Food Code by the NH Department of Health and Human Services. The appropriate action is to reverse that prior error.
This bill allows qualifying medical cannabis patients and designated caregivers to cultivate a limited number of plants for therapeutic use.
* This bill decreases medical costs for patients by allowing them to grow their own medicine.
* People should not have to choose between having access to medicine and not fearing criminal prosecution.
* This bill gives patients better access to their medicine. Many patients do not live near the few dispensaries in the state, and will benefit from this bill.
* The New Hampshire Democratic platform states "We support policies to improve access to health care in our rural communities and other medically underserved areas". What better way to help contribute to access than to allow patients to cultivate their own medicine?
* Bedford Chief of Police John Bryfonski stated that Canada is struggling to contain home cultivation and it is destroying commercial operations. Does the New Hampshire Senate really want to take the position that our culture of self-reliance is subservient to commercial interests?
* The committee recommendation of rerefer should not be supported and this bill should be passed.
* This bill provides visibility and accountability for certain increases in electricity costs.
* The bill gives voters a say in how government-mandated charges get spent.
This bill requires legislative approval of increases to the systems benefits charge.
* This bill provides visibility and accountability for certain increases in electricity costs.
* The bill gives voters a say in how government-mandated charges get spent.
This bill would create new state licensing requirements by requiring the commissioner of the department of safety to adopt rules relative to the safe operation of recreational vehicles on state roads and highways.
* New restrictions placed on New Hampshire inhabitants should not be considered lightly. This bill requires a single individual to adopt new restictions without any guidance from the legislature that would constrain the nature of the new restrictions.
This bill will drive up housing costs in NH and interfere in the condominium market.
* This bill would prohibit future condominium bylaws from requiring more than a simple majority vote for the installation of solar photovoltaic energy systems. The result would be that condominium residents could quickly have to absorb increased capital costs that could make the difference between making the mortgage and homelessness.
* As solar costs continue to fall and efficiency increases, if solar is economically viable, it will not require state mandates to force spending increases on condominium residents.
This bill expands the authority of the U.S. Customs Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the U.S. Marshalls to carry out law enforcement operations in the state of New Hampshire.
* Every time a law enforcement officer with police power interacts with a private citizen, there is always the possibility of overreaction and unintended deaths, injuries, and destruction of property. Giving the power to arrest to more officers increases the likelihood of violence, not peace.
* Policing is a local issue, and getting federal officers involved in law enforcement problems has led to increased militarization of local police services. Certifying federal police to make arrests in New Hampshire would be a step in the wrong direction.
This bill allows parents to request that a child with manifest educational hardship be transfer to an approved private school.
* Under current law, a parent may request that a student be moved to a public school in another district if the child is experiencing manifest educational hardship at the geographically-assigned school. This bill would expand the options to include the possibility of utilizing a private school to address the issues if the private school is approved and contracted by a local public school board. That is the same as existing law for when the student transfers to an out-of-district public school; this bill extends that provision to private schools.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, allows parents to request that a child with manifest educational hardship be transfer to an approved private school.
* Under current law, a parent may request that a student be moved to a public school in another district if the child is experiencing manifest educational hardship at the geographically-assigned school. This bill would expand the options to include the possibility of utilizing a private school to address the issues if the private school is approved and contracted by a local public school board. That is the same as existing law for when the student transfers to an out-of-district public school; this bill extends that provision to private schools.
This bill provides for modest protection of private property rights by adding a requirement that 2/3 of the House and Senate must agree to emergency takings.
* Article 2 of the New Hampshire Constitution states "[Natural Rights.] All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, and protecting, property; and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness...." Though New Hampshire has not yet seen abuse of the existing broad grant of emergency taking power, as we have witnessed over the past year, emergency powers can be abused beyond what is intended in original legislative authority. This bill would place a modest check on potential future executive abuse of power.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires legislative oversight of executive power during a renewed state of emergency.
* This bill would terminate a state of emergency 30 days after it has been declared unless renewed by the legislature, while still allowing for incremental extension in the cases where the legislature is unable to meet.
* In addition, renewed emergencies would require legislative approval of any executive orders issued. Any federal or private emergency funding to the state would go through the governor and the Executive Council, and would also be required to go through the general court fiscal committee.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires legislative oversight of executive power during a renewed state of emergency.
* This bill would terminate a state of emergency 30 days after it has been declared unless renewed by the legislature, while still allowing for incremental extension in the cases where the legislature is unable to meet.
* In addition, renewed emergencies would require legislative approval of any executive orders issued. Any federal or private emergency funding to the state would go through the governor and the Executive Council, and would also be required to go through the general court fiscal committee.
This bill modifies the drug forfeiture fund to expand its use to include costs of drug treatment, mental health treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, or education.
* The War on Drugs has clearly failed; heroin was first federally regulated more than 100 years ago, yet is still beyond the control of governance even today. While it is tempting to look at the lists of arrests week after week in the paper and think we are just one more arrest from a solution, it is clear that the enforcement-centric approach is a failure.
* While this bill would still allow the use of forteiture funds for state and local costs associated with an enforcement approach to drug issues, it is a small step in the right direction by allowing for a less harmful use of these funds.
This bill repeals a violation of the First Amendment.
* Whereas the NHLA has a policy of not taking positions on the issue of abortion in general, this bill's restoration of freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment merits our taking a position in support of this bill.
* This bill repeals the "buffer zone" created by SB 319 (2014), restoring the right of people to peacefully assemble, as provided by the protections of the First Amendment.
* This law has been in place for more than 6 years and appears to be unenforced. Buffer zones are reminiscent of the abhorrent "free speech zones" at presidential events. A similar Massachusetts law was already struck down by the U.S. supreme court in a 9-0 opinion (McCullen v. Coakley, 573 U.S. 464 (2014) — www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mccullen-v-coakley/)
* Many of the complaints SB 319 looked to resolve are already covered by existing statutes.
This bill repeals a violation of the First Amendment.
* Whereas the NHLA has a policy of not taking positions on the issue of abortion in general, this bill's restoration of freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment merits our taking a position in support of this bill.
* This bill repeals the "buffer zone" created by SB 319 (2014), restoring the right of people to peacefully assemble, as provided by the protections of the First Amendment.
* This law has been in place for more than 6 years and appears to be unenforced. Buffer zones are reminiscent of the abhorrent "free speech zones" at presidential events. A similar Massachusetts law was already struck down by the U.S. supreme court in a 9-0 opinion (McCullen v. Coakley, 573 U.S. 464 (2014) — www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mccullen-v-coakley/)
* Many of the complaints SB 319 looked to resolve are already covered by existing statutes.
This bill limits the authority of city councils to make bylaws and ordinances to those by which they are specifically empowered by state statute.
* This is a modest change that removes one overly vague delegation of power to city councils by eliminating the phrase in statute "They may make any other bylaws and regulations which may seem for the well-being of the city; but".
* Even with this change, city councils are still delegated substantial authority to adopt bylaws and ordinances as RSA 47:17 contains a large number of other explicit grants of authority.
This bill requires home appliance manufacturers to make available to appliance owners and repair providers certain repair-related documentation, parts, and tools.
* This bill would place a mandate on manufacturers even if they chose not to offer products for sale in New Hampshire, as the bill language places the mandate on manufacturers if a product is "sold or used in this state".
* Businesses should not be mandated to provide repair/service manuals by threat of force from government.
This bill increases the minimum coverage amount required for motor vehicle liability insurance.
* Even without an insurance mandate, New Hampshire has amoung the lowest (7th lowest) rate of uninsured motorists in the country (www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists). Increasing mimimum liability limits would drive up insurance costs and might make the difference between an individual having some coverage and no coverage at all.
* This bill would have a disproportionate discriminatory effect on people of modest incomes.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires police disciplinary hearings to be open to the public unless certain confidential information may be revealed and authorizes the department of justice to maintain an exculpatory evidence schedule.
* This bill would help increase government accountability by making police disciplinary hearings open to the public unless there are compelling reasons to keep a portion confidential. In addition, with the proposed committee amendment, it would authorize the department of justice to maintain an exculpatory evidence schedule.
This bill requires a law enforcement officer to inform a person of their right to refuse a consensual search before conducting a consensual search.
* This modest but important improvement helps to ensure that individuals are made aware of their right, protected under the New Hampshire Constitution: Article 19. [Searches and Seizures Regulated.] Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions.
This bill prohibits a law enforcement officer from seeking, executing, or participating in the execution of a no-knock search warrant.
* "No-knock" warrants allow law enforcement to use force to gain entry into a residence without giving any prior notice or announcing their entry. This is dangerous both for the police and the potentially-innocent occupants of the household as the resulting confusion dramatically increases the probability of inadvertent injury or death.
* Per the New Hampshire Law enforcement manual (www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/documents/law-enforcement-manual.pdf) the purpose of 'knock and announce' is to protect people's rights to privacy in their homes and to prevent unnecessary violence that could result from unannounced entries.
This bill makes the first 4 convictions of controlled substances under 4 ounces a misdemeanor offense instead of a felony. The bill makes possession of rohypnol (aka "roofies", date rape drug) a felony offense.
* This bill reduces the severity of charges for the posession of small amounts of schedule I-IV substances.
This bill requires that customer information in records of communications common carriers only be provided pursuant to a search warrant or a judicially-recognized exception to the warrant requirement.
* Under current law, otherwise-private information held by communication common carriers must be provided to the state upon written demand of the attorney general. This is incompatible with the spirit and potentially the letter of the New Hampshire Constitution which states that "[Art.] 2-b. [Right of Privacy.] An individual's right to live free from governmental intrusion in private or personal information is natural, essential, and inherent.".
* Inhabitants' private information should be protected and require judicial review of the requests of agents of the executive branch to reduce the risk of abuse.
This bill provides that any prohibition on in-person gatherings during a declared state of emergency shall be no more restrictive than restrictions placed on other essential services.
* Our system of government guarantees the free exercise of religion and the right of people to peaceably assemble, yet under current law we allowed these rights to be trampled through simple executive action.
* While this bill would preserve the ability of the government to require religious organizations to comply with neutral health and safety regulations believed to be essential to further a compelling government interest, and this is likely to be subject to future abuse and broad interpretation, the bill is an important step toward reinforcing the protections outlined in the Constitution.
This bill provides that any prohibition on in-person gatherings during a declared state of emergency shall not apply to houses of worship.
* The amended version of this bill recognizes the religious freedom outlined in the united States and New Hampshire Constitutions. Our system of government guarantees the free exercise of religion and the right of people to peaceably assemble, yet under current law we allowed these rights to be trampled through simple executive action.
* While this bill would preserve the ability of the government to require religious organizations to comply with the least restrictive possible neutral health and safety regulations believed to be essential to further a compelling government interest, and this is likely to be subject to future abuse and broad interpretation, the bill is an important step toward reinforcing the protections outlined in the Constitution.
This bill provides immunity from controlled substance-based criminal charges for a person who reports to law enforcement that an individual has been the victim of a violent crime.
* This bill would save lives by encouraging people to call 911 or otherwise seek medical attention when a violent crime has been committed.
* The purpose of state restrictions on controlled substances is ostensibly to reduce the risk of harm. Current law may increase that risk in some cases by causing an individual to delay requests for help for fear of criminal prosecution. In addition, current law increases the risk that the perpetrator of a violent crime may escape punishment due to witnesses being afraid to report the crime. This bill would reduce that risk.
This bill seeks to delay evictions during the current state of emergency for which numerous sources of aid have already been provided.
* This bill assumes landlords have no costs involved in offering their rentals. When landlords are forced to absorb the costs of non-payment, they will increase rents to factor in losses. This bill will increase already high rents.
This bill prevents the commissioner of corrections from using isolation as a punishment for prisoners.
* This bill does not abolish solitary confinement in New Hampshire, which is ordinarily authorized under the statutes permitting punitive, medical, and administrative segregation. However, it does repeal a particular authority to impose solitary confinement for "ill language" or "refractory" behavior. The language repealed is archaic and the provision outdated. Experts now recommend that solitary confinement be used only to protect prisoners or guards from those prisoners who engage in violence or threats.
* While this bill prevents the commissioner of corrections from using isolation as a punishment for prisoners, it does not prevent them from using said isolation to protect the prisoners. See: www.scientificamerican.com/article/neuroscientists-make-a-case-against-solitary-confinement
* While there may be value to holding some information in confidence during negotiations on the acquisition or sale of property to ensure that a public body can effectively negotiate with a third party, once the transaction is abandoned or completed, the public has a right to know how their representatives came to the conclusions that led to the outcome of the transaction. This is a small step to add more transparency to government.
This bill with the proposed committee amendment requires that sealed minutes of a nonpublic session related to the acquisition, sale, or lease of real or personal property be released once the transaction closes or the public body decides not to proceed.
* While there may be value to holding some information in confidence during negotiations on the acquisition or sale of property to ensure that a public body can effectively negotiate with a third party, once the transaction is abandoned or completed, the public has a right to know how their representatives came to the conclusions that led to the outcome of the transaction. This is a small step to add more transparency to government.
This bill defines tiny houses and provides for the authority and requirements for municipal regulation.
* This bill on net increases liberty, because it legalizes tiny houses statewide, whereas they are at present legal only in a few towns.
* The committee summary makes note that the New Hampshire Municipal Association opposed the bill as they felt that very few people would have interest in this as a housing solution. This may in fact be the case but this position fundamentally undermines the rights of private property owners by supplanting the wishes of the property owner with an assumption made by a political subdivision of the state.
This bill requires employers to provide paid time off for all employees for illnesses and certain other absences.
* This bill would increase costs for all employers, many of whom are struggling to stay in business due to the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* The bill would increase the risks of frivolous legal action as the barrier for a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation is low, allowing nearly any terminated employee to make a reasonable case that termination was related to the provisions of this bill.
This bill would make it a violation for any food delivery platform to arrange for the delivery of food without having an agreement in place with the restaurant or store.
* This bill limits choices for consumers and increases the complexity of commerce in the state.
* Had the terms of this bill been in place at the start of the restrictions imposed by the Governor due to the pandemic, consumers would have been left with fewer choices and a longer transition to finding more food delivery choices.
* Restaurants can already include flyers or other informational materials with their take out orders pointing consumers to preferred vendors.
This bill states that a person may provide barbering, cosmetology, or esthetics services without payment of services and not be guilty of a misdemeanor.
* While the exemptions to licensing in this bill are only a small positive improvement to New Hampshire's overly burdensome licensing scheme, the bill still represents a positive step forward by eliminating one risk of selective enforcement that could be used to target historically disadvantaged communities.
This bill permits schools and school districts to pursue innovations in school staffing, curriculum and assessment, class scheduling, use of financial and other resources, and faculty recruitment, employment, evaluation, and compensation.
* This bill would allow public schools to seek waivers from the department of education's administrative rules if required to implement identified innovation.
* The bill would allow public schools to explore alternatives that might better meet the needs of students without requiring a statewide change of administrative rules. This would allow local districts to respond more quickly to the potentially unique needs of their community.
This bill updates the penalty to the average, but requires the judge shall (vs may) suspend the driver's license.
* This bill updates the penalty to require the suspension of a driver's license. The punishment is excessive.
This bill makes modest improvements by reducing some of the harm of the state's failed War on Drugs.
* This bill is a "right on crime" adjustment to criminal penalties for drug offenses. It slightly reduces some maximum sentences for first-time offenders and eliminates some mandatory minimum sentences. Research overwhelmingly shows that sentence length does not deter crime very much. Probability of punishment is a far more effective deterrent.
* Shorter sentences make it possible for first-time offenders to rehabilitate and become productive members of society.
* By reducing the population of nonviolent offenders in prison, this bill will reduce state spending and taxation.
This bill makes modest improvements by reducing some of the harm of the state's failed War on Drugs.
* This bill is a "right on crime" adjustment to criminal penalties for drug offenses. It slightly reduces some maximum sentences for first-time offenders and eliminates some mandatory minimum sentences. Research overwhelmingly shows that sentence length does not deter crime very much. Probability of punishment is a far more effective deterrent.
* Shorter sentences make it possible for first-time offenders to rehabilitate and become productive members of society.
* By reducing the population of nonviolent offenders in prison, this bill will reduce state spending and taxation.
This bill makes modest improvements by reducing some of the harm of the state's failed War on Drugs.
* This bill is a "right on crime" adjustment to criminal penalties for drug offenses. It slightly reduces some maximum sentences for first-time offenders and eliminates some mandatory minimum sentences. Research overwhelmingly shows that sentence length does not deter crime very much. Probability of punishment is a far more effective deterrent.
* Shorter sentences make it possible for first-time offenders to rehabilitate and become productive members of society.
* By reducing the population of nonviolent offenders in prison, this bill will reduce state spending and taxation.
This bill makes modest improvements by reducing some of the harm of the state's failed War on Drugs.
* This bill is a "right on crime" adjustment to criminal penalties for drug offenses. It slightly reduces some maximum sentences for first-time offenders and eliminates some mandatory minimum sentences. Research overwhelmingly shows that sentence length does not deter crime very much. Probability of punishment is a far more effective deterrent.
* Shorter sentences make it possible for first-time offenders to rehabilitate and become productive members of society.
* By reducing the population of nonviolent offenders in prison, this bill will reduce state spending and taxation.
This bill prohibits the sale of many foods in polystyrene containers.
* This bill would increase the costs to consumers, as polystyrene is an inexpensive means to temporarily store food and insulate food at the same time.
* Polystyrene cups require less energy to produce than paper cups, meaning less energy is consumed when they are disposed of.
This bill inserts a new definition of controlled drug analog, inserts a prohibition on the sale or possession of synthetic urine and urine additives, and repeals obsolete statutes governing the sale of synthetic drugs.
* This bill broadly bans the sale or possession of synthetic urine. While the intent appears to be to reduce the risk of fraud associated with individuals attempting to sidestep drug testing, the language is so broad that it has unintended and potentially dangerous consequences. Deer hunters will occasionally use urine products to lure bucks into range for a shot. This increases the probability of being able to cleanly take the animal. Some hunters choose to use synthetic urine products for this activity. As written, this bill would ban that practice. While scientific evidence for the transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease (transmitted via a prion) via urine is not settled, some hunters choose to use synthetic urine (v.s. natural deer urine) to mitigate this risk. This bill would eliminate that option.
This bill requires city charter exclusions and ordinances that have the effect of a budget cap override to require a supermajority vote.
* New Hampshire municipalities derive the authority for their charters from legislative grants from the general court. This bill clarifies the existing grant of authority for a spending cap provision in city charters. This bill would require that votes or accounting practices that have the effect of redistributing budget items from within the limits of the cap to outside the limits of the cap shall be construed as the functional equivalent to an override and shall require the same supermajority vote as an override threshold.
* This bill retains the authority for a municipality to adopt a cap that excludes dedicated, enterprise, or self-supporting funds or accounts, capital reserve funds, grants, or revenue from sources other than local taxes and adds interest and principal payments on municipal bonded debt to the list of potential exclusions.
This bill requires city charter exclusions and ordinances that have the effect of a budget cap override to require a supermajority vote.
* New Hampshire municipalities derive the authority for their charters from legislative grants from the general court. This bill clarifies the existing grant of authority for a spending cap provision in city charters. This bill would require that votes or accounting practices that have the effect of redistributing budget items from within the limits of the cap to outside the limits of the cap shall be construed as the functional equivalent to an override and shall require the same supermajority vote as an override threshold.
* This bill, with the recommended committee amendment, retains the authority for a municipality to adopt a cap that excludes dedicated, enterprise, or self-supporting funds or accounts, capital reserve funds, grants, or revenue from sources other than local taxes and adds interest and principal payments on municipal bonded debt to the list of potential exclusions.
This bill allows the state to impose sanctions on individuals who are safely operating a motor vehicle or Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV) if an open container of a cannabis-derived medication is being transported.
* This bill would put drivers and passengers of vehicles in legal jeopardy for transporting one limited class of medication that happens to be open even if neither the driver nor passenger is making use of the medication.
* No such medication restriction is applied to other legal pharmaceuticals.
* The bill is poorly worded with regard to transport in a vehicle or OHRV without a trunk as it requires the medication to be stored in a compartment "which is the least accessible to the driver." — this vaguely worded standard is open to abuse and puts both police and the general public in the difficult situation of weighing the relative accessibility and definition of each nook and cranny in the vehicle. This may encourage storage in locations where the medication is likely to be lost and later recovered by a minor.
This bill prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union and prohibits coercion and intimidation intended to compel an employee to join, affiliate with, or financially support a labor organization or to refrain from doing so.
* The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9a, which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces.
* Right-to-work is the only way currently permitted under federal law to restore some of the freedom of dissenting workers and their employers to withhold support from unions with whom they disagree. While this bill interferes with freedom of contract, it does so in a way intended to remedy current, more egregious constraints on freedom of contract.
* Public sector collective bargaining is often more harmful than private sector collective bargaining because taxpayers are not directly represented in negotiations. “It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, who opposed public sector unions. Public sector right-to-work reduces union density in government and reduces government spending and taxes (Ichniowski & Zax 1991).
* "... when it came to earning more than nonunion workers, union members in right-to-work states actually out-performed those in non-right-to-work states." (news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-law-analysis/analysis-are-unions-really-weaker-in-right-to-work-states). This is potentially due to the incentive for unions to be more responsive to their member's needs when they are not compelled to join.
This bill prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union and prohibits coercion and intimidation intended to compel an employee to join, affiliate with, or financially support a labor organization or to refrain from doing so.
* The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9a which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces.
* Right-to-work is the only way currently permitted under federal law to restore some of the freedom of dissenting workers and their employers to withhold support from unions with whom they disagree. While this bill interferes with freedom of contract, it does so in a way intended to remedy current, more egregious constraints on freedom of contract.
* Public sector collective bargaining is often more harmful than private sector collective bargaining because taxpayers are not directly represented in negotiations. “It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, who opposed public sector unions. Public sector right-to-work reduces union density in government and reduces government spending and taxes (Ichniowski & Zax 1991).
* "... when it came to earning more than nonunion workers, union members in right-to-work states actually out-performed those in non-right-to-work states." (news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-law-analysis/analysis-are-unions-really-weaker-in-right-to-work-states). This is potentially due to the incentive for unions to be more responsive to their member's needs when they are not compelled to join.
This bill prohibits the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and e-cigarette cartridges with an exception for menthol and requires the department of environmental services to make rules relative to the disposal of e-cigarettes.
* This bill requires new regulation on e-cigarettes ostensibly because they contain hazardous materials including lithium-ion batteries. Numerous products offered for sale in the state contain lithium-ion batteries and are not subject to similar regulation. We look forward to opposing the similar bills that will clearly be submitted imposing these new regulations on the Toyota Prius, Bluetooth headsets used to support remote meetings, cell phones, solar panels, and video game controllers.
* Free market solutions to proper battery disposal already exist; there is no need for the state to create new regulations or bureaucracy regarding e-cigarette or any other battery disposal. For example, stores such as Batteries Plus Bulbs will take them for recycling.
* This bill encourages e-cigarette manufacturers to target those in the African American community by prohibiting all flavor additives except menthol. According to at least one study, more than 80 percent of African-American smokers use menthol cigarettes — compared to just 29 percent of white smokers (sph.unc.edu/sph-news/study-finds-menthol-cigarette-marketing-targets-african-americans).
This bill would extend provisions of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act to small businesses normally exempt from the act.
* Finding and retaining qualified employees remains a challenge for small employers, and as a result most employers are already willing to work with their employees through challenging times when possible.
* For very small businesses though, provisions of the federal law intended for large businesses may be impossible to achieve. For example, a small business that employs several members from the same household may be be forced to close permanently when they are unable to hire replacement staff to permanent positions due to 29 U.S.C. section 28 2614 which requires that the employees be returned to similar or equivalent positions upon their return.
* Provisions of the bill that attempt to mitigate this issue, via language that states that the bill does not apply when the commissioner determines there to be an economic hardship, are of little value as the lack of clarity means that neither the employer nor the employees are provided with any certainty as to how and when the provision will be decided.
* While the committee recommendation of rerefer is acceptable, should there be a motion to pass this bill in its current form, the appropriate vote is NAY OTP.
This bill requires employers to provide paid time off for all employees for illnesses and certain other absences.
* This bill would increase costs for all employers, many of whom are struggling to stay in business due to the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
* The bill would increase the risks of frivolous legal action as the barrier for a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation is low, allowing nearly any terminated employee to make a reasonable case that termination was related to the provisions of this bill.
This bill increases state spending by more than $50 million each year.
* This bill requires state taxpayers to fund a portion of the retirement system for city/town teachers, police, and fire department members. These costs are currently paid locally. While net government spending by the state and its political subdivisions under a static evaluation of the bill is neutral, funding is best managed locally to avoid increases in spending that naturally result when politicians are spending "other people's money".
* Increased state funding to municipalties rarely results in local property tax relief as municipalities grow long-term spending even on 'one-time' money. Municipalties already have a means of achieving local property tax relief by reducing the number of employees to align with the reduced student populations across the state.
This bill lays the groundwork for future increases in taxpayer spending and seeks to establish a foothold for prevailing wage laws in taxpayer-funded projects.
* This bill contains a study commission provision to determine the appropriate way to institute a state prevailing wage law.
* Similar federal legislation (Davis Bacon Act) was passed with the deliberate intent to prevent non-unionized, less established, minority laborers from competing with established, unionized, white workers during the depression. The effect of this will still be to dramatically increase the risk and/or cost of employing workers with potential for growth but with lower demonstrated skill level.
* If instituted, small firms may not have the personnel to absorb compliance overhead costs. This bill would have the effect of biasing state contracts towards larger/established firms.
This bill clarifies existing New Hampshire RSAs relative to Advance Health Care Directives allowing surrogates to consent to clinical trials or experimental treatments.
* This bill clarifies a number of aspects of the existing New Hampshire RSAs associated with advance directives for health care including new language that outlines the ability for a surrogate to consent to experimental treatment consistent with authority granted in a durable power of attorney for health care (when such conditions are explictly mentioned) or consistent with standard guidelines when the durable power of attorney for health care does not cover the topic.
* These changes improve the ability for an individual to delegate a person they trust to ensure their wishes are being fufilled when they are unable to express their wishes to due to permanent or temporary lack of capacity to make health care decisions.
This bill clarifies existing New Hampshire RSAs relative to Advance Health Care Directives allowing surrogates to consent to clinical trials or experimental treatments.
* This bill clarifies a number of aspects of the existing New Hampshire RSAs associated with advanced directives for health care including new language that outlines the ability for a surrogate to consent to experimental treatment consistent with authority granted in a durable power of attorney for health care (when such conditions are explictly mentioned) or consistent with standard guidelines when the durable power of attorney for health care does not cover the topic.
* These changes improve the ability for an individual to delegate a person they trust to ensure their wishes are being fufilled when they are unable to express their wishes to due to permanent or temporary lack of capacity to make health care decisions.
With the proposed committee amendment, this bill protects the rights of property owners by preventing political subdivisions from adopting restrictions on the installation of safe and commercially available heating or other energy systems of their choice.
* Government is most accountable and accessible when it is most local. Local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates. There is a higher principle, however: the principle of individual liberty. Indeed, the most “local” governance of all is the governance of an individual over his or her own life and property. This bill slightly reduces the ability of a political subdivision to infringe on the rights of property owners by protecting their right to choose an energy system for their property.
This omnibus bill makes modest modifications to energy law, but contains a key protection against a transfer of income from regular electricity ratepayers to the special class of net metering generators. It adds language to statute to prevent cost shifts between customers and customer-generators. This change reduces the government's ability to pick winners and losers in the energy business.
* This bill protects ratepayers from escalating energy costs.
* The bill balances the interests of ratepayers and net metering generators, and prevents cost shifting from customers to customer-generators and vice versa.
* The bill replaces language that implies that cost shifting can be just and reasonable.
This bill increases the minimum gross business income required for filing a business profits tax return, reducing the burden of preparing tax filings for thousands of businesses who ultimately would not have any tax liability.
* The threshold for filing was last increased to its current value of $50,000 in 1994; since that time, the actions of the Federal Reserve have devalued US currency such that the same threshold today would be more than $88,000 (www.usinflationcalculator.com). With the proposed committee amendment, this bill would increase the filing threshold to $92,000, mitigating the filing cost impacts for businesses that today are required to file but who would not have had to file in 1994. Further, the amendment causes the future filing threshold to automatically adapt based on the regional change to the consumer price index, reducing the need for future legislation.
* Per testimony given in the senate hearing, this bill is estimated to have an effect on 4,664 taxpayers. With the slightly modified filing threshold of this amendment, the number would be slightly higher. Of those who filed business profits tax returns with NH in 2019, the Department of Revenue Administration estimated that 4004 of these businesses that were required to file ultimately had no tax liability, wasting time of the businesses as well as the state in generating and processing these returns.
This bill increases the minimum gross business income required for filing a business profits tax return, reducing the burden of preparing tax filings for thousands of businesses who ultimately would not have any tax liability.
* The threshold for filing was last increased to its current value of $50,000 in 1994; since that time, the actions of the Federal Reserve have devalued US currency so that same threshold today would be more than $88,000 (www.usinflationcalculator.com). This bill would increase the filing threshold to $75,000, partially mitigating the filing cost impacts for businesses that today are required to file but who would not have had to file in 1994.
* Per testimony given in the hearing, this bill is estimated to have an effect on 4,664 taxpayers. Of those who filed business profits tax returns with NH in 2019, the Department of Revenue Administration estimated that 4004 of these businesses that were required to file ultimately had no tax liability, wasting time of the businesses as well as the state in generating and processing these returns.
* In 1993, author Jonathan Rauch wrote in a New York Times opinion piece "Until the concept of "verbal violence" is discredited, it will keep inspiring activists to hunt for legal ways to restrict speech. It will eat at the moral foundation of the liberal intellectual system, a system that sorts sound beliefs from frivolous ones by means of robust and, yes, often hurtful criticism" (www.nytimes.com/1993/06/26/opinion/words-aren-t-violence.html). This opinion is as valid today as it was then.
* The bill is vague as to what "verbal violence" entails, as it does not define it. If it is intended to mean "(verbal) threat of physical violence" then that is already a crime, and we don't need the new term "verbal violence", which is completely subject to interpretation.
* The New Hampshire Constitution Part 1 (Bill of Rights) states: [Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and Liberty of the press are essential to the security of Freedom in a State: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved. (www.nh.gov/glance/bill-of-rights.htm)
This bill codifies the concept of "verbal violence" into New Hampshire law without defining it, undermining freedom of speech.
* In 1993, author Jonathan Rauch wrote in a New York Times opinion piece "Until the concept of "verbal violence" is discredited, it will keep inspiring activists to hunt for legal ways to restrict speech. It will eat at the moral foundation of the liberal intellectual system, a system that sorts sound beliefs from frivolous ones by means of robust and, yes, often hurtful criticism" (www.nytimes.com/1993/06/26/opinion/words-aren-t-violence.html). This opinion is as valid today as it was then.
* The bill is vague as to what "verbal violence" entails, as it does not define it. If it is intended to mean "(verbal) threat of physical violence" then that is already a crime, and we don't need the new term "verbal violence", which is completely subject to interpretation.
* The New Hampshire Constitution Part 1 (Bill of Rights) states: [Art.] 22. [Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and Liberty of the press are essential to the security of Freedom in a State: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved. (www.nh.gov/glance/bill-of-rights.htm)
This bill claims that human interaction with the environment is the driving force for global climate change.
* This bill will impact all manner of commerce and may be used as an excuse to destroy liberty on multiple fronts. Examples: Rolling blackouts during summer to limit electricity consumption, increasing barriers and costs to starting a business, outlawing or prohibiting lead ammunition for firearms, decreasing the farming of livestock and thereby inflating the cost of food.
* The goals in this bill will insidiously drive up taxation in New Hampshire through fee increases and tax increases on items such as gasoline and utilities.
* If "because the science" works for COVID, then the science clearly shows that the sun is the driving force of climate change. Nothing else matters as much. With respect to New Hampshire, it is 84% forested. We are where CO2 goes to get converted to oxygen. No exportation of gaseous plant fertilizer here.
This omnibus bill creates an animal health database and requires pet vendors, animal shelters, and vets to submit electronic records to the department of agriculture and allocates $10 million in taxpayer funds for a social engineering project referred to as "affordable housing" projects.
* This bill will allow the state to create a database of health records for animals, but also allows the department of agriculture to collect any data they deem necessary. This is an overreach of the state's responsibility.
* With data breaches increasing every day, we should not be creating more targets for bad actors to attack to get personal information. While the intentions of the bill are in good faith, this database will only grow with time and reach into other aspects of NH citizens' lives. The bill's language of "The commissioner shall also ensure that the database is secure from unauthorized access or use" is little more than wishful thinking, and attempts to achieve this mandate will drive development and sustainment costs far beyond what was listed in the fiscal note.
* Municipalities already get vaccination records. By requiring the veterinarians to do more paperwork and government filing, it will only increase healthcare costs of animals. This type of regulation has killed the healthcare industry and will kill the pet care industry next if we allow this bill to pass.
* The projects as defined by RSA 204-C:57 needlessly encourage the creation of high density low-income housing that crowds out other affordable housing options and raises artificial barriers that families must cross in order to distinguish themselves from those who do not strive for improved wages and living conditions.
* Concentrating poor or low-income people in a small area, whether in the projects or due to the fact that only certain housing providers are willing and able to accept payment through welfare programs, creates unintended negative side effects such as crime, lack of social cohesion, and poor examples for children, affecting their future income potential (https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa773.pdf pages 9 & 10).
This bill, with or without the proposed committee amendment, contains a provision that infringes upon private property rights and free speach by prohibiting pointing of a laser pointing device at a structure.
* The provisions of this bill that restrict certain usages of laser pointing devices are obstensibly due to the potential safety hazards of such usage, however the language in proposed 631:3-a II.(a) that prohibits shining the beam of a laser pointing device at a structure is anti-liberty. An individual pointing a laser pointer at a building they own would be violating this provision. In addition, an individual using a laser pointing device to display a message on a public structure such as the base of a bridge would also be in violation of this provision. This is not simply a theoretical concern, as projection of a message safely at the base of a public structure is an approach that has been used in New Hampshire during peaceful political protest.
* Individuals who utilize a laser pointing-based holiday light system to project images on their own home would be at risk of violations and seizure of their device (www.amazon.com/dp/B07SWJ9PSX/).
* Support floor amendment 2021-1801h which mitigates the private property and free speech concerns. If the floor amendment passes, we have no recommendation on the bill. If it fails, oppose the bill.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage of $10 per hour on January 1, 2020, increasing to $12 per hour on January 1, 2024.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through private sector job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill will increase state spending by providing adults in the Medicaid program with dental coverage.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with dental coverage at taxpayer expense.
* This bill would cost state taxpayers between $6 million and $11 million in state taxpayer funds and more than $28 million of taxpayer funding overall when state and federal spending are considered. These costs would be a 'starting point' as the bill provides no cap on annual per-patient expenses.
This bill will increase state spending by providing adults in the Medicaid program with dental coverage.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage at taxpayer expense.
* This bill would cost state taxpayers between $6 million and $11 million in state taxpayer funds and more than $28 million of taxpayer funding overall when state and federal spending are considered. These costs would be a 'starting point' as the bill provides no cap on annual per-patient expenses.
* Self defense is a basic human right. This right is recognized by both the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as well as Article 2a of the New Hampshire Constitution. As a result, potential infringement on this basic right should necessarily receive close and explicit scrutiny by the representatives of the people. This bill would provide some assurance that state resources are not used to enforce federal laws that infringe upon the right of self-defense.
This bill prohibits any agent of the state from enforcing any executive order, federal regulation, or law that has the purpose or effect of restricting or regulating the right of the people to keep and bear arms unless explicitly enabled by New Hampshire law.
* Self defense is a basic human right. This right is recognized by both the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as well as Article 2a of the New Hampshire Constitution. As a result, potential infringement on this basic right should necessarily receive close and explicit scrutiny by the representatives of the people. This bill would ensure that state resources are not used to enforce federal laws that infringe upon the right of self-defense.
This bill prohibits any agent of the state from enforcing any Executive Order of the current or future President of the United States that has the purpose or effect of restricting or regulating the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
* An executive order is a published directive from the President of the United States that manages operations of the federal government. To the extent these orders provide clarity to the executive branch on how to carry out the intent of federal laws or the powers explicitly granted to the president, these orders are arguably a necessary use of executive authority. However, for more than one hundred years, presidents from all parties have sought to expand their powers. This bill would modestly restrict such expansion.
* In Federalist 37 (avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed47.asp), James Madison wrote "There can be no liberty where the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or body of magistrates". While this bill only seeks to limit expansive use of federal executive authority for one purpose, it is a good first step toward ensuring that at least one enumerated right is offered modest protection from infringement by a single branch of government.
This proposed constitutional amendment would potentially provide a positive right to join a union that goes beyond what is required to meet freedom of association.
* The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9a, which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces. While this proposed amendment would seek to establish a right to join a union, it would do nothing to protect the right of workers to not join a union and therefore it strengthens federal corersion and would potentially further infringe upon the rights of individuals to choose the manner in which they negotiate with employers.
This proposed constitutional amendment establishes the right for all adults to possess cannabis for personal consumption.
* People have a right of self-ownership. The government has no business telling people what they can and cannot put in their bodies.
This proposed constitutional amendment prohibits the legislature from making laws that prohibit the use, sale, or cultivation of cannabis for adults.
* For too long, New Hampshire has been an island of cannabis prohibition in a sea of legalization. This constitutional amendment is a firm step in the right direction, allowing for a substance that is nearly harmless and certainly less harmful than alcohol and tobacco to be used by the general public without incurring a fine for doing so. This should receive bi-partisan support as it increases personal liberty and reduces state power, as well as reducing the number of interactions that people will have with law enforcement over a victimless "crime".
This proposed constitutional amendment establishes the right for all adults to possess, use, and cultivate cannabis, subject to further regulation by the legislature.
* This CACR is a step in the right direction toward the right of a person to consume whatever they choose.
* CACR 34 is superior to CACR 35 as it eliminates all state interference with regard to cannabis.
This bill requires that all food service establishments must have a certified food protection manager available at all hours.
* Many restaurants are already choosing to cater to the needs of customers with food allergies and sensitivities, both to improve business, and to protect against liability. General mandates, like this one, have unintended consequences and are often poorly suited to situations in which they are applied.
* The position of food production manager was added by HHS to regulations in 2019, and is not codified into current law.
* Current New Hampshire law exempts locally-licensed food service establishments and food retail stores from state licensure. This bill overrides that longstanding policy, and local control, by directly imposing HHS regulations on locally-licensed establishments.
* If a person is allergic, informing the restaurant before ordering is common sense. To mandate that private parties place signs explaining common sense is an unlimited and unending task, and not an appropriate role of the state.
* While the ideal motion for this bill is ITL, IS is acceptable.
This study committee has a stated purpose of studying licensure of companion animal groomers.
* Barriers like these make it harder for people to find jobs and build new businesses that create jobs, particularly those of lesser means.
* The only certainty about licensure is that it manufactures political patronage jobs in the regulatory bureaucracy and reduces competition by restricting free entry into an occupation — thereby bestowing unearned profits upon those who are already licensed.
This bill further expands the Medicaid program.
* This bill expands the size, scope, and cost of Medicaid, adding to the taxpayer burden.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage at taxpayer expense.
* Expanded state-controlled dental benefits will slowly crowd out private solutions and provide another government-controlled item that can be used as a carrot and stick to force the population to conform to state-dictated behaviors.
* Further expansion of federal dollars and programs in the state will, as was the case with the CMS vaccine mandates, result in more federal control of New Hampshire citizens.
This bill further greatly expands the Medicaid program.
* This bill expands the size, scope, and cost of Medicaid, adding to the taxpayer burden.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage at taxpayer expense.
* Expanded state-controlled dental benefits will slowly crowd out private solutions and provide another government-controlled item that can be used as a carrot and stick to force the population to conform to state-dictated behaviors.
* Further expansion of federal dollars and programs in the state will, as was the case with the CMS vaccine mandates, result in more federal control of New Hampshire citizens.
This bill further greatly expands the Medicaid program.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage at taxpayer expense.
* Expanded state-controlled dental benefits will slowly crowd out private solutions and provide another government-controlled item that can be used as a carrot and stick to force the population to conform to state-dictated behaviors.
* Further expansion of federal dollars and programs in the state will, as was the case with the CMS vaccine mandates, result in more federal control of New Hampshire citizens.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, will increase state spending by providing adults in the Medicaid program with dental coverage.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage at taxpayer expense.
* Expanded state-controlled dental benefits will slowly crowd out private solutions and provide another government-controlled item that can be used as a carrot and stick to force the population to conform to state-dictated behaviors.
* Further expansion of federal dollars and programs in the state will, as was the case with the CMS vaccine mandates, result in more federal control of New Hampshire citizens.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, will increase state spending by providing adults in the Medicaid program with dental coverage.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage at taxpayer expense.
* This bill would cost state taxpayers initially $2 million per year and more when state and federal spending are considered.
* Expanded state-controlled dental benefits will slowly crowd out private solutions and provide another government-controlled item that can be used as a carrot and stick to force the population to conform to state-dictated behaviors.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, continues a dangerous trend of seeking to elevate punishment for all crimes to higher levels of punishment.
* Assault is a serious crime and already treated that way under currently law. Adding a special status for certain categories of victims is a never-ending spiral of enhanced victimhood that allows for prosecutorial 'charge stacking' that increases the risk of an innocent party accepting a plea deal in order to avoid significant punishment for a crime they did not commit.
This bill requires that any pool, spa, or other water feature structure (excluding surface waters like ponds, lakes, etc.) on the premises of a foreclosed residential property have an approved cover or net.
* This bill would require a potentially expensive cover on foreclosed property pools without consideration of other safety features that may be present (e.g. tall fences, locked gates, etc.).
* The state could reduce the risk of foreclosed property hazards by cutting spending, allowing property taxes to be reduced and thus reducing the risk of foreclosure.
This bill would increase costs for New Hampshire ratepayers.
* This bill subsidizes businesses and municipalities that choose to operate large-scale energy generation facilities by increasing the subsidized net metering cap from the current 1 megawatt limit up to 5 megawatts.
* The recipients of these subsidies will get millions more at the expense of others without providing any substantial benefits to the grid, as the energy from these systems is often intermittent.
* Net metering subsidies for renewables may no longer make sense as studies claim that solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. If this is true, then operators of these facilities already have a significant competitive advantage and would not require subsidy to be profitable.
* This bill has essentially no impact on individual homeowner use of net metering as the existing threshold of 1 megawatt is already approximately 100 times larger (as compared to a 10 kilowatt system) than what a typical homeowner is capable of generating via rooftop solar (www.solarreviews.com/blog/10kw-solar-systems-are-becoming-very-popular-here-is-why).
This bill sets onerous emissions goals on New Hampshire businesses, residents, and government.
* This bill would increase the already-high energy costs for individuals and businesses in the State of New Hampshire.
* It would require the state to adopt policies to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to at least 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2025, at least 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2035, and net zero by 2050. Further, it would discourage adoption of carbon sequestration technology that would allow net negative carbon emissions by capping emissions to be no greater than a level that is 85 percent below the 1990 level.
* By setting goals irrespective of population, this bill would encourage future anti-immigration policies — potentially resulting in individuals being discouraged from moving to NH and therefore at a planetary level may result in increased emissions in other geographic regions that have less efficient energy production than New Hampshire.
This bill eliminates penalties for limited personal possession and home cultivation of cannabis for adults 21 and older.
* This bill would increase personal freedom by allowing adults 21 and older to possess and give away (but not sell) up to one ounce of cannabis, five grams of concentrated cannabis, and infused products with 500 milligrams of THC outside of their homes; and securely cultivate up to six plants, three of which could be mature (with a household limit of 12 total, six mature), and possess the cannabis produced by their plants at home.
* Further, the bill would enable the establishment of retail cannabis stores.
* Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
* Polls have shown 2/3 of Granite Staters and 2/3 of Americans support legalizing cannabis.
* While the bill creates new taxes and regulatory infrastructure, this compromise is a substantial improvement over current law, which subjects people to criminal penalty and potential destruction of their livelihood for victimless behavior.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, effectively bans private entities from requiring COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment.
* This well-intentioned bill attempts to respond to federal overreach of COVID mandates by requiring that businesses, clubs, and religious organizations unconditionally accept employees' objections on the basis of personal conscience, a religious belief, or medical reasons. Underlying this bill is an assumption that individuals have a right to be employed by a specific organization and therefore that inclusion of a vaccine requirement is compelling the individual in a manner similar to the power of the state. New Hampshire generally remains an at-will employment state and this bill would erode that.
* The bill infringes on freedom of association by requiring employers to remain associated with employees who exercise their right not to receive vaccination.
* While it’s tempting to view all employers as large multinational crony actors, this bill does not limit state response only to large employers. It would apply even to a two-employee home healthcare agency that would like to offer services of vaccinated employees based on a belief that there is a market demand for this service as part of pursuing a strategy of 'focused protection', as suggested by the signers of the Great Barrington Declaration and others.
* This bill protects employers from the negative consequences of the market by prohibiting them from taking actions that may ultimately cost them employees and customers.
* The State of New Hampshire is exercising its proper role of protecting citizens from federal overreach by joining lawsuits that are in opposition to these federal mandates. The state should not pursue its own attempt at mandating behavior of private actors in the market.
* This bill may have unintended consequences. Under the OSHA rules employers must evaluate requests for accomodation, granting or denying. While this puts employers in a difficult position, and some employers may not seriously consider their responsibility, there is a significant risk that the outcome of this bill would be additional federal meddling that looks to supplant the judgment of all employers. According to OSHA (www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2/faqs), "In particular, OSHA intends for the ETS to preempt and invalidate any State or local requirements that ban or limit an employer’s authority to require vaccination, face covering, or testing. State and local requirements that prohibit employers from implementing employee vaccination mandates, or from requiring face coverings in workplaces, serve as a barrier to OSHA’s implementation of this ETS, and to the protection of America’s workforce from COVID-19." While we support state efforts to nullify federal laws that exceed federal authority, the existing employer exemption process coupled with the risk of even greater federal involvement provides substantial risk of an outcome that is worse than the current situation.
This bill makes modest revisions to state of emergency powers requiring that the legislature act if it is to be extended beyond 84 days.
* Under current law, a state of emergency can be renewed indefinitely by the governor, with the legislature only given the option to cancel it. With the proposed committee amendment of this bill, the legislature is forced to go on record to extend the significant expansion of state power inherent in the state of emergency if it continues beyond 84 days.
* While this is only a modest change, the residents of the state deserve to have their elected officials on record, one way or another. Absent this, it is difficult for voters to hold the legislature accountable, as individual legislators can claim to have held nearly any position that voters would have liked to have seen.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, makes modest revisions to state of emergency powers requiring that the legislature act if it is to be extended beyond 84 days.
* Under current law, a state of emergency can be renewed indefinitely by the governor, with the legislature only given the option to cancel it. With the proposed committee amendment of this bill, the legislature is forced to go on record to extend the significant expansion of state power inherent in the state of emergency if it continues beyond 84 days.
* While this is only a modest change, the residents of the state deserve to have their elected officials on record, one way or another. Absent this, it is difficult for voters to hold the legislature accountable, as individual legislators can claim to have held nearly any position that voters would have liked to have seen.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, allows retail locations that are allowed to sell lottery tickets to sell Keno tickets in jurisdictions that have voted to allow Keno.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, opens up new revenue streams for struggling small businesses in NH.
* Keno is an extension of the NH Lotto and should not be restricted to a select few business types. Any business competent to sell NH Lotto tickets can also operate a Keno game with very little instructions and training. This bill is a natural extension to the already abundant NH Lottery system.
* NH residents often cross the border to play Keno in MA. This bill will help keep that money within the state.
* While a less restrictive approach than the current government monopoly would be preferable, this bill offers a modest improvement by reducing a state restriction and allowing a wider range of actors to operate in the market.
This bill permits the governor to recommend but not compel an evacuation and stipulates that emergency services shall not be required for those who have chosen not to evacuate.
* Even during an emergency or natural disaster, individuals must be free to decide how best to protect themselves and their families. An individual's right to their own life doesn't end during an emergency.
* People are primarily responsible for their own personal safety, and they should never give up that responsibility, especially to government officials.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage that automatically elevates each year.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill requires local law enforcement to give public notice when a federal agency intends to conduct an immigration checkpoint.
* Part 1, Article 19 of the New Hampshire Constitution notes the "..right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions." In STATE v. KOPPEL (1985), the NH Supreme Court noted that "Stopping and detaining an automobile and its occupants, whether by roving patrol or roving roadblock, constitutes a seizure within the meaning of article 19 of our State Constitution."
* In STATE v. HUNT (2007), the Supreme Court found "To justify the search or seizure of a motor vehicle, absent probable cause or even a reasonable suspicion that a criminal offense is being committed, the State must prove that its conduct significantly advances the public interest in a manner that outweighs the accompanying intrusion on individual rights. It must further prove that no less intrusive means are available to accomplish the State's goal.". While the federal government may not be bound by the NH Constitution, our state law enforcement officers are and should take every effort to minimize undesired infringement and seizure.
* Notification is consistent with the approach New Hampshire uses for sobriety checkpoints.
This bill requires local law enforcement give public notice when a federal agency intends to conduct an immigration checkpoint.
* Part 1, Article 19 of the New Hampshire Constitution notes the "..right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions." In STATE v. KOPPEL (1985), the NH Supreme Court noted that "Stopping and detaining an automobile and its occupants, whether by roving patrol or roving roadblock, constitutes a seizure within the meaning of article 19 of our State Constitution."
* In STATE v. HUNT (2007), the Supreme Court found "To justify the search or seizure of a motor vehicle, absent probable cause or even a reasonable suspicion that a criminal offense is being committed, the State must prove that its conduct significantly advances the public interest in a manner that outweighs the accompanying intrusion on individual rights. It must further prove that no less intrusive means are available to accomplish the State's goal.". Checkpoints at the border are clearly less intrusive than random stops of people traveling within the state. While the federal government may not be bound by the NH Constitution, our state law enforcement officers are and should take every effort to minimize undesired infringement and seizure.
* Notification is consistent with the approach New Hampshire uses for sobriety checkpoints.
This bill would deprive New Hampshire residents of the choice to receive vaccinations for COVID-19.
* This bill uses a poorly-thought-out approach to assign responsibility to a vaccine manufacturer for injury to a party. As written, an individual who falls ill due to food poisoning 5 days after receipt of a vaccine and has a single doctor that asserts it was due to the vaccine would likely be due monetary compensation.
* Requiring compensation for lost work time from modest and known side effects would be an unprecedented level of interference in health care. Nearly all medications and treatments have risks of side effects.
* The burden of proof and level of inconvenience mandated by this bill is so low that it would likely have the effect of forcing NH residents to travel out of state in order to choose treatment.
* While the appropriate motion for this bill is ITL, IS is acceptable.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, provides for accountability for some instances of government intrusion of privacy.
* In 2019, over 80% of New Hampshire voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the State Constitution enshrining an explicit "right to privacy", adding Part 1, Article 2-b "An individual's right to live free from governmental intrusion in private or personal information is natural, essential, and inherent.". This bill is a small first step at providing for accountability for invasion of privacy.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, would prohibit the government or government contractor from acquiring, collecting, retaining, or using personal information with broad exclusions for emergencies, warrants signed by a judge, and activities explicitly called for by law. This prohibition is backed by the hazard of misdemeanor charges for corporations/non-natural persons and a violation for natural persons. In addition, a person who suffers injury as a result of invasions of privacy is entitled to a civil remedy under this bill.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, establishes an option for local school districts to adopt "local education freedom accounts" to establish locally funded accounts for students seeking other education options.
* This is enabling legislation that allows a super majority (60%) of voters in a district to adopt an education funding option that will allow 80% of the local per-student costs (minus special education funding) to follow the student to an alternate education environment.
* The local education freedom account is a mutually-exclusive alternate program to the existing state-funded education freedom account that allows local districts the option to have local funds follow the student instead of state funds.
* This new option will further shift the locus of control from government bureaucrats to families — allowing parents additional options for their children based on their individual education needs. It uses funds that the school district has already dedicated for education on a per-pupil basis.
* The current education system has failed to keep pace with the evolving improvements that are happening around the world. Shifting power from a government monopoly to families choosing options in a market will spur innovation (e.g. online education, competency-based education, etc.). Having accountability rest directly on those who bear the consequences of a school's performance is superior to top-down regulatory accountability.
This bill legalizes adult possession and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis.
* This bill makes it legal for adults 21 and older to possess up to 3/4 ounce of cannabis, five grams of hashish, and up to 300 mg of cannabis-infused products, and to cultivate up to six plants (including up to three mature plants) in a secure location.
* The bill does not impose any taxes or create any new bureaucracy.
* All neighboring jurisdictions have legalized possession and cultivation of cannabis for adults; Granite Staters should not have less freedom with regard to cannabis than adults in Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and Canada.
* The proposed floor amendment 2022-1706s strips provisions allowing for personal cultivation while retaining provisions to legalize possession of moderate amounts of cannabis. This leaves individuals in a confusing situation where they may legally possess a substance but have no legal means of obtaining it within the state. Oppose floor amendment 2022-1706s and support final passage of the bill with or without the amendment.
This bill legalizes adult possession of small amounts of cannabis.
* This bill makes it legal for adults 21 and older to possess up to 3/4 ounce of cannabis, five grams of hashish, and up to 300 mg of cannabis-infused products, and to cultivate up to six plants (including up to three mature plants) in a secure location.
* The bill does not impose any taxes or create any new bureaucracy.
* All neighboring jurisdictions have legalized possession and cultivation of cannabis for adults; Granite Staters should not have less freedom with regard to cannabis than adults in Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and Canada.
This bill legalizes adult possession of small amounts of cannabis.
* This bill would make it legal for adults 21 and older to possess up to 3/4 ounce of cannabis, five grams of hashish, and up to 300 mg of cannabis-infused products, and to cultivate up to six plants (including up to 3 mature plants) in a secure location.
* The bill does not impose any taxes or create any new bureaucracy.
* All neighboring jurisdictions have legalized possession and cultivation of cannabis for adults; Granite Staters should not have less freedom with regard to cannabis than adults in Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and Canada.
This bill would establish a politically-charged procedure for removal of members of the general court without a criminal conviction.
* This bill would allow a party with a slim majority in the house or senate to remove one or all members of the opposing party by a majority vote that finds that the member engaged in insurrection or rebellion, or has given aid or comfort to "the enemies of the state".
* This bill's inclusion of "enemy of the state" is a dangerous escalation of rhetoric from simple ill-advised public accusations of individuals, to explicit enabling of political oppression of minorities not seen since the early bloody days of Soviet Stalinist communism. Even the Soviets eventually rejected use of such language when Nikita Khrushchev in his 1956 speech stated "It made possible the use of the cruelest repression, violating all norms of [...] legality, against anyone who in any way disagreed with Stalin, against those who were only suspected of hostile intent, against those who had bad reputations ... The formula ‘enemy of the people’ was specifically introduced for the purpose of physically annihilating such individuals."
* Removal of political enemies would be enabled even for individuals who engage in peaceful and lawful actions.
This bill increases the penalty from a violation to a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $2,000) for acts such as drawing a hopscotch board on a public sidewalk with chalk or attempting to clean graffiti from public property.
* Under current law, an individual who has vandalized, defaced, destroyed, tampered with, or made any other unauthorized alteration, whether permanent or temporary, on public property is guilty of a violation and must make restitution for any damage they have caused. This bill would increase that penalty to a Class A misdemeanor.
* Criminal penalties for items such as temporary defacement of public property is a significant overreach that will eventually have unintended consequences. Providing the state with this new criminal tool will eventually result in it being used to silence political dissent.
* Existing law already provides for a Class A misdemeanor in cases where the property damage is in excess of $100 (per RSA 634:2 II-a.) and this applies both to private and public property (per RSA 634:2 I). Increasing the penalty to a class A misdemeanor for incidental items such as chalking or unauthorized cleanup of graffiti is a significant overreach.
This bill establishes requirements for remote access to public meetings under RSA 91-A, the right-to-know law.
* Freedom of speech is inextricably tied to having the physical space to express that speech.
* This bill allows for public officials to have the ability to dodge public accountability and not allow for in person confrontation and debate to take place. It also sets a dangerous precedent moving forward that will continue to hinder the ability of citizens to engage with their government in a public way.
* It was observed that the government was less accountable when people have been barred from physically attending public meetings due to the coronavirus situation.
* This bill will have the downstream affect of denying attendance of public meetings to citizens who do not have access to a reliable Internet connection or sufficient hardware or the expertise necessary to successfully use the software, or who choose not to use such software due to privacy concerns.
This bill establishes additional criminal penalties for causing or threatening harm to an essential worker.
* This bill would dramatically change the penalties for crimes against a small subset of the population. While an assault against anyone is a serious crime, it is not clear that assaulting a liquor store worker should be considered more serious than assaulting a librarian.
* The provisions that make it a Class B felony for 'any' crime against an essential worker are also exceedingly vague and would almost certainly have unintended consequences.
* A Class A felony conviction will result in incarceration of at least 7 ½ years, to a maximum sentence of 15 years.
* A Class B felony conviction will result in incarceration of at least 3 ½ years, to a maximum sentence of 7 years.
This bill would provide for modest protections of private property rights that are used for religious purposes.
* This bill would prohibit zoning ordinances or site plan review regulations that restrict the use of land or structures for religious purposes that are more restrictive than restrictions placed on non-religions property use.
* Per the New Hampshire Constitution Article 5: "Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and reason; and no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession, sentiments, or persuasion; provided he doth not disturb the public peace or disturb others in their religious worship."
This bill allows pharmacists to dispense ivermectin pursuant to a standing order entered into by licensed health care providers.
* This bill provides the option for a licensed physician or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) to provide a standing order to a pharmacist to dispense ivermectin under the delegated prescriptive authority of the physician or APRN.
* Medications should be available to individuals to purchase over-the-counter. While there are risks with allowing individuals choice, freedom is not without risks and the current barriers increase costs and encourage patients to take a passive role in the management of their health.
This bill allows pharmacists to dispense ivermectin pursuant to a standing order entered into by licensed health care providers.
* This bill provides the option for a licensed physician or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) to provide a standing order to a pharmacist to dispense ivermectin under the delegated prescriptive authority of the physician or APRN.
* Medications should be available to individuals to purchase over-the-counter. While there are risks with allowing individuals choice, freedom is not without risks and the current barriers increase costs and encourage patients to take a passive role in the management of their health.
This bill allows pharmacists to dispense ivermectin pursuant to a standing order entered into by licensed health care providers.
* This bill provides the option for a licensed physician or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) to provide a standing order to a pharmacist to dispense ivermectin under the delegated prescriptive authority of the physician or APRN.
* Medications should be available to individuals to purchase over-the-counter. While there are risks with allowing individuals choice, freedom is not without risks and the current barriers increase costs and encourage patients to take a passive role in the management of their health.
This act prohibits law enforcement from encrypting public frequencies, except when necessary to ensure the safety of law enforcement and the public.
* This bill would provide modest protection of the public's right to know by prohibiting encryption of public frequencies except when necessary to ensure the safety of law enforcement and the public. While the included 'loophole' to encryption may essentially allow agencies to regularly still encrypt communications, the bill would provide some check on agencies by at least making the position of the legislature on open government clear.
* The committee majority opinion includes the scare phrase of "We should be grateful that New Hampshire is the safest state and should not jeopardize our unique position by not practicing common sense." — it is worth noting that encryption of public frequencies is a relatively new occurrence in New Hampshire and that part of the reason we have the safety we have is the relative level of trust between the inhabitants and the state. Encryption of law enforcement communications undermines that trust.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, prohibits counties, municipalities, and school districts from using state or local property taxes for lobbying.
* Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for lobbyists that they may oppose.
* The local towns and city employees have the same opportunity to contact legislators as citizens do. County and municipal employees or professional lobbyists should not be allowed to use taxpayer funds for activism. It's a clear conflict of interest.
This bill would make the legislature less able to respond to the will of the people.
* This bill establishes the legislature as a public employer under the public employee labor relations act and provides procedures for collective bargaining by a defined group of legislative employees. The legislative branch is a political body and the leadership of both chambers and all political parties must have the option of having the people around them who support representing the positions of the voters who elected them.
* The legislature would be required to negotiate "terms and conditions" of employment for these employees, which would potentially place restrictions on staff changes for future legislatures.
* Expanded public sector collective bargaining is more harmful than private sector collective bargaining because taxpayers are not directly represented in negotiations. “It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, who opposed public sector unions.
This bill exempts certain health facilities that exclusively provide services to persons making direct payment from requirements on written policies for providing services.
* This bill reduces constraints on the health care market and opens up the opportunity for lower-cost, high-quality health care providers.
* The bill offers the possibility for consumers to explore health care without paying the cumbersome and prohibitive insurance industry, which have inserted themselves between the doctor and the patient at great cost to both.
* The appropriate motion for this bill is OTP.
This bill exempts certain health facilities that exclusively provide services to persons making direct payment, from requirements on written policies for providing services.
* This bill reduces constraints on the health care market and opens up the opportunity for lower-cost, high quality health care providers.
* The bill offers the possiblility for consumers to explore health care without paying the cumbersome and prohibitive insurance industry, which have inserted themselves between the doctor and the patient at great cost to both.
This bill removes the restriction on magazine size used for hunting while retaining a limitation on the number of rounds that may be loaded.
* This is a small commonsense relaxation of restrictions that prevent a hunter from having to purchase a special and often hard-to-find magazine in order to hunt.
This bill requires an employer to pay an hourly rate of time and a half for hours worked by an employee who chooses to go in to work upon request to work hours that were not previously scheduled.
* This bill interferes with the employee's ability to negotiate their own employment terms. This bill assumes that New Hampshire residents are not educated enough to handle their own employment terms and conditions.
* This is an unnecessary cost increase to New Hampshire businesses that will ultimately hurt customers by passing on these expenses to them.
* This bill may have unintended consequences such as encouraging an employee who feels ill to feel pressure to go into work to prevent placing a financial burden on the employer whom they respect.
This bill would remove default grant of applications for a licensed profession in cases where the state fails to approve/deny an application within a reasonable time period.
* Under current law, if a state agency fails to take any required action on an application within 60 days, the application is granted by default. This important protection was put in place to provide a strong incentive for the state to complete review and take action in a timely manner. This bill would effectively remove this protection entirely by requiring that the application only be approved by the executive director if the application otherwise meets the requirements for licensure established in law or administrative rule. The absense of a time limit for this review/approval process by the executive director could mean that applicants are denied their right to work in the chosen profession essentially forever while waiting for the decision of the executive director.
* The minority committee report wrote "...the underlying problem is that New Hampshire requires licenses for too many professions. We require more professions to be licensed than many other states which do not appear to have significant public safety problems caused by that lack of licensure. If there are not enough people either willing to serve on a licensure board or who are willing to meet in order to perform their duties the requirement for a license for such professions should be repealed."
This bill creates a new license.
* Occupational licensing decreases competition and favors those willing to endure the bureaucratic cost and obstruction from being able to engage in business.
* The free market naturally controls to better outcomes as customers gravitate to providers of higher demonstrable products and services.
* Licensing is a bureaucratic inefficiency which is dragging down the economy of New Hampshire.
This bill requires the default budget in an official ballot town or district to be reduced by any reduction to an appropriation the governing body made in the proposed operating budget.
* This bill prevents any proposed budget to be artificially higher than it should be because the default budget includes expenses that no longer exist. This prevents backdoor spending where the proposed budget is rejected due to voters not wanting to pay for a new spending item contained within it, only to find that money remains allocated for a purpose that is no longer valid in the current year.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, imposes burdensome regulations on New Hampshire businesses to address problems that are better dealt with by the market.
* The New Hampshire unemployment rate currently and historically sits below 3%. Our workers enjoy unparalleled ability to leave a job where they are treated poorly to find other employment. The state should not be inserting itself into the employer/employee relationship.
This bill allows for the dissolution of a village district by a simple majority vote at an annual district meeting.
This bill makes it easier to dissolve a village district, moving from a 2/3 to a simple majority vote of its legal residents to do so. This is pro-liberty as it lets people decide their own form of government and because village districts tend to add costs and regulations on top of regular municipality taxes and regulations. Making it easier to dissolve the village district will tend to result in lower taxes and regulations.
This bill limits political speech by prohibiting candidates for Secretary of State and State Treasurer or current office holders of these positions from forming a political committee or political advocacy organization or soliciting contributions for such organizations.
* Part 1, [Art.] 22. of the New Hampshire Constitution states "[Free Speech; Liberty of the Press.] Free speech and Liberty of the press are essential to the security of Freedom in a State: They ought, therefore, to be inviolably preserved." — limits on all speech and particularly political speech may be a tempting solution to a perceived problem but it is not a proper solution.
This bill limits the authority of local land use planning boards to control private property by prohibiting government restrictions that require more than a 10,000 square foot lot size for single family housing.
* This bill reduces regulations that would otherwise require large lots, wherever the municipality offers water and sewer. As such, it protects private property rights.
* The bill seeks to balance property owner rights with those in the community by still allowing restrictions in cases where the new lots would exceed the existing municipal or community water and sewer infrastructure capacity.
This bill adds the right to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to use personal protective equipment such as face masks and face shields while employed in the workplace.
* This bill would establish a positive right to vaccination for COVID-19. Based on its placement within RSA 275 a potential implication of this right could be paid time off to get vaccinated or employers being forced to pay for vaccinations once the current state of emergency ends.
* In addition, this bill provides for the right to use personal protective equipment such as face masks and face shields while employed in the workplace, while making no provisions for cases where such equipment may be incompatible with the role the person is employed under.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, would render noncompete agreements unenforceable if an employee was terminated resulting from the material change in terms of employment or the failure to agree to a new employment contract or new noncompete contract.
* This bill provides for modest clarification of the existing non-compete agreement scope.
* Parties should be able to freely contract without the involvement of the state; however, when one party unilaterally changes the condition of the contract or violates the contract, external parties such as the state or arbitors are ultimately required to help resolve the differences. In most jurisdictions, ambiguous contracts are resolved against the party that drafted the contract. This bill would establish some clarity that in New Hampshire, a new requirement for vaccination, medical testing, or intervention would be considered a material change.
* In the long term, businesses that find this problematic may simply choose to draft broad language that indicates that such interventions may be a normal part of employment and, should this occur, prospective employees who find such terms problematic are free to seek alternate employment. However, this bill would ensure that there is clarity interpreting existing agreements that were previously created in an ambigious manner that would likely be resolved against the business anyway. The legislative certainty may ultimately reduce costs for disputes.
This bill requires employers with 10 or more employees in this state or 2 or more locations in this state to schedule a rest period between certain employment shifts and to provide employees with 7 days advance notice of the work schedule.
* This bill interferes in private interactions between individuals by mandating a one-size-fits-all approach to work schedules that fails to take into account the unique circumstances of the business, the employees, and the work that they are performing.
* In order to comply with this new state mandate, employers would likely need to mandate that employees request specific days off two weeks or more in advance to allow for determination of a work schedule. This reduces flexibility for both the employer and the employees.
* It's unclear how a business that needs to operate on an on-call basis such as winter snow-plowing could possibly comply with the provisions of this bill and still service its customers.
This bill prohibits the open carrying or display of a deadly weapon within 100 feet of a polling place.
* The right to defense of one's self and property is paramount in a free society. This bill not only places a substantial burden on those who do not wish to compromise their safety in public areas, it also inhibits their right to vote in federal and state elections. No one should have to compromise their safety or liberty to take part in the civic process of voting.
* Additionally, the absence of armed civilians puts everyone in the polling place at risk. 94-97% of all mass shootings happen in gun free zones (crimeresearch.org/2018/06/more-misleading-information-from-bloombergs-everytown-for-gun-safety-on-guns-analysis-of-recent-mass-shootings/).
* By not allowing for open carry in polling locations, voters are left susceptible to increased, unnecessary risk in a way that also demeans civil rights.
This bill asserts that no person shall be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in order to receive benefits or services from the Department of Health and Human Services.
* No taxpayer should be denied services for which they paid.
* Medical freedom, self-ownership, and bodily integrity are at the heart of liberty and no institution that receives public funding shall deny access based on vaccination status.
* This bill more explicitly extends the medical freedom that exists in public (government) facilities to also apply to the DHHS, which is a service funded by tax money and should be accessible to all who pay taxes in NH.
This bill asserts that no person shall be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in order to receive benefits or services from the Department of Health and Human Services.
* No taxpayer should be denied services for which they paid.
* Medical freedom, self-ownership, and bodily integrity are at the heart of liberty and no institution that receives public funding shall deny access based on vaccination status.
* This bill more explicitly extends the medical freedom that exists in public (government) facilities to also apply to the DHHS, which is a service funded by tax money and should be accessible to all who pay taxes in NH.
This bill limits the conditions under which seized property may be transferred to a federal agency. More specifically, state or local police cannot transfer property seized under state law to a federal agency for seizure under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
* In 2016 NH abandoned civil asset forfeiture in favor of requiring due process protections required in a criminal proceeding.
* The federal government maintains a program called "Equitable Sharing", which allows law enforcement to circumvent our state's criminal process. Funds forfeited in the federal process return 80% directly to the agency, bypassing normal appropriations (and oversight) of legislative bodies.
* The vast majority of forfeitures are below $10,000, affecting those with few resources to defend themselves, as opposed to the drug kingpins that are claimed to be the targets of civil asset forfeiture.
* The appropriate motion for this bill is OTP.
This bill limits the conditions under which seized property may be transferred to a federal agency. More specifically, state or local police cannot transfer property seized under state law to a federal agency for seizure under the federal Controlled Substances Act.
* In 2016 NH abandoned civil asset forfeiture in favor of requiring due process protections required in a criminal proceeding.
* The federal government maintains a program called Equitable Sharing which allows law enforcement to circumvent our state's criminal process. Funds forfeited in the federal process return 80% directly to the agency, bypassing normal appropriations (and oversight) of legislative bodies.
* The vast majority of forfeitures are below $10,000, affecting those with few resources to defend themselves, as opposed to the drug kingpins that are claimed to be the targets of civil asset forfeiture.
This bill requires Education Freedom Account program scholarship organizations to compile a directory of public profiles for education service providers.
* This bill seeks to make Education Freedom Accounts more bureaucratic with the intention of putting additional barriers to entry as a way of disincentivizing parents/scholarship organizations from using them.
* Additionally, this bill seeks to obtain invasive data such as the curriculum, school performance data, teaching philosophy, and other information that the state has no justifiable reason for obtaining.
* It is a parent's unalienable right to rear and educate their children as they see fit.
* Education Freedom Accounts put the choice of education in the rightful hands of the parents and this bill seeks to dismantle that by creating ineffective and unnecessary bureaucratic red tape.
This bill requires the statewide student assessment tests for the record of educational attainment under the Education Freedom Account program.
* This bill seeks to undermine the advancement of education quality by requiring that a failing measure of assessment be used by parents using Education Freedom Accounts.
* One benefit of Education Freedom Accounts is to allow parents to find innovative, efficient, and highly effective alternate means of educating their children. These outcomes are the primary concern and purview of the parents and should not be constrained further, as this bill seeks.
This bill redundantly adds specific people to the criminal threatening statute.
* Current law identifies the protected as 'any person'. As a result, this includes any person. That person can be alone or in a group.
* This bill is entirely superfluous, worthless, and unnecessary.
This bill allows towns to regulate single-use plastic bags and paper bags.
* Prohibiting retailers from providing plastic or paper bags to customers is a violation of the rights of both retailers and their customers.
* Local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates. We do believe that there is a higher principle, however: the principle of individual liberty. Indeed, the most “local” governance of all is the governance of an individual over his or her own life and property. For this reason, we oppose state laws that allow local governments to abridge the personal or property rights of individuals.
This bill adds compliance requirements for education service providers requesting payment from Education Freedom Account funds.
* This bill attempts to disadvantage and harm children by thwarting and undermining heroic parents who choose to work extra hard and adopt alternatives to enfeebled public education.
* Education Freedom Accounts are designed to support innovation and free choice in education. As such, they should not be transformed into becoming public schools.
This bill prohibits school boards and other public education agencies from adopting, enforcing, or implementing a policy that requires students or members of the public to wear a facial covering.
* This bill prevents public schools from adopting broad mandatory masking policies, leaving the choice to parents and students.
* With or without masks and with or without the current risks of COVID-19, there will always be risks of interacting in public with our own species. It is unreasonable to use the power of the state to dictate masking for normal human interaction. One person's wise cautious behavior is another person's 'germophobe', and inserting government into these personal decisions within the confines of services provided through taxation will always result in one side or the other being unhappy with the outcome.
* Expansion of school choice programs that enhance the ability of individuals to associate in the manner in which they desire is likely the only long-term solution. Until we achieve that goal, the state should leave as much choice to the individual as possible.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, prohibits school boards and other public education agencies from adopting, enforcing, or implementing a policy that requires students or members of the public to wear a facial covering.
* This bill prevents public schools from adopting broad mandatory masking policies, leaving the choice to parents and students.
* With or without masks and with or without the current risks of COVID-19, there will always be risks of interacting in public with our own species. It is unreasonable to use the power of the state to dictate masking for normal human interaction. One person's wise cautious behavior is another person's 'germophobe', and inserting the state into these personal decisions within the confines of services provided through taxation will always result in one side or the other being unhappy with the outcome.
* Expansion of school choice programs that enhance the ability of individuals to associate in the manner in which they desire is likely the only long-term solution. Until we achieve that goal, the state should leave as much choice to the individual as possible.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, prohibits school boards and other public education agencies from adopting, enforcing, or implementing a policy that requires students or members of the public to wear a facial covering.
* This bill prevents public schools from adopting broad mandatory masking policies, leaving the choice to parents and students.
* With or without masks and with or without the current risks of COVID-19, there will always be risks of interacting in public ways with our own species. It is unreasonable to use the power of the state to dictate masking for normal human interaction. One person's wise cautious behavior is another person's 'germophobe', and inserting the state into these personal decisions within the confines of services provided through taxation will always result in one side or the other being unhappy with the outcome.
* Expansion of school choice programs that enhance the ability of indiviuals to associate in the manner in which they desire is likely the only long-term solution. Until we achieve that goal, the state should leave as much choice to the individual as possible.
This bill removes the requirement for a vote of teachers, superintendent, and principal for conversion of a public school to a chartered public school, and adds the requirement for a majority vote of the school district at a regular annual meeting or special meeting.
* The purpose of public schools is to meet the educational requirements of the students and the desires of the parents and the public who are paying for the schools through their taxes.
* The monopoly school district should not get to decide whether to keep the status quo or adopt an educational model that the parents and public believe will better serve the students.
This bill removes the requirement for a vote of teachers, superintendent, and principal for conversion of a public school to a chartered public school, and adds the requirement for a majority vote of the school district at a regular annual meeting or special meeting.
* The purpose of public schools is to meet the educational requirements of the students and the desires of the parents and the public who are paying for the schools through their taxes.
* The monopoly school district should not get to decide whether to keep the status quo or adopt an educational model that the parents and public believe will better serve the students.
This bill provides a modest improvement by providing a process through which individuals may petition the state for permission to operate certain vehicles with only a single license plate.
* Many vehicle types do not include mounting brackets for front plates, which requires owners to damage/drill into the bumper to install a mount. The state should not require owners to damage their vehicles.
* Twenty states in the US and ten (of thirteen) Canadian jurisdictions do not require front license plates. Operators of vehicles from these states travel upon our roadways without front plates and enjoy greater freedom than we provide to our own citizens.
* Current law provides a pretext for greater interaction between citizens and police, which may result in unacceptable outcomes. Other states have waited until the situation in which an individual was killed by a police officer after a stop that was initiated solely for a missing front plate, prior to reforming their laws. While broad elimination of this requirement would be preferable to this modest improvement, this bill would potentially prevent New Hampshire from being the next state to wait for loss of life before taking action.
This bill prohibits the open carry or display of a firearm, knife, or other deadly weapon at a parade, funeral procession, picket line, march, rally, vigil, demonstration, or other similar event.
* This bill would criminalize even incidental witnessing of a parade, picket line, or demonstration as a spectator while open carrying a firearm. Free people should not be forced to turn and flee if a march is approaching them.
* This bill could force citizens to store firearms in cars parked off site and potentially lead to a rise in firearm theft from vehicles.
* Possession crimes by their very nature make law-abiding citizens criminals where no actual crime has been committed.
This bill reduces both spending and the risk of a future tax increase.
* This bill reduces spending and overhead cost of a portion of the government bureaucracy, thereby reducing risk of a future tax increase.
* Private insurance carriers have offered to provide this type of insurance in New Hampshire with or without this legislation.
* The appropriate motion for this bill is OTP.
This bill repeals the Granite State paid family leave plan.
* This bill will reduce spending and overhead cost of a portion of the government bueauracracy, thereby reducing risk of a future tax increase.
* Private insurance carriers have offered to provide this type of insurance in New Hampshire with or without this legislation.
This bill exempts niche beauty services from occupational and shop license requirements.
* By further limiting the licensing of services, New Hampshire increases its ability to develop its economy.
* Eliminating licensing allows the free market to naturally and effectively differentiate providers based on performance and value.
This bill requires towns to ensure that residents of public housing have access to a composting and waste recycling facility.
* This bill mandates expansion of existing programs for towns in violation of Article 28-a of the New Hampshire Constitution.
* Private and quasi-private options are already growing without this state mandate. For example, Nashua (www.grownashua.org/composting) already provides low cost options for composting for a fraction of the cost of a cable TV bill.
* Mandating expanded recycling pickup also likely has little-to-no positive environmental benefit, as recycled items often still end up in landfills (www.investors.com/politics/editorials/recycling-china-landfills-cost-waste-environment-global-warming/).
* While the appropriate motion for this bill is ITL, IS is acceptable.
This bill allows for a person to record interactions with public officials during the performance of their duties.
* This bill is an opportunity to dramatically enhance transparency in government, as well as public trust in it and its works.
* While this bill would offer the opportunity to record all public officials, it does not preclude the right of private citizens to remain unrecorded.
This bill would preempt local zoning regulations to the extent necessary to allow private property owners to build up to four housing units on any lot served by municipal water and sewer.
* This would be a high-impact, statewide change to legalize home-building and use of private property.
* Excessively strict zoning regulations have contributed to a severe housing shortage in New Hampshire.
* Local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates. We do believe that there is a higher principle, however: the principle of individual liberty. Indeed, the most “local” governance of all is the governance of an individual over his or her own life and property. For this reason, we support state laws that prevent local governments from abridging the personal or property rights of individuals.
This bill adds state protections to the U.S. Second Amendment guarantee that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed.
* This bill prohibits the state of New Hampshire and its political subdivisions from assisting with enforcement of any federal law or executive order relative to firearms, firearm components, or ammunition that is inconsistent with explicitly-defined law of this state.
* The bill and proposed committee amendment contain broad exceptions to allow cooperation with federal officials for activites associated with violation of New Hampshire firearm laws as well as violation of federal laws/orders that are unrelated to firearms. While the exceptions are broad and may weaken the bill compared to how it was originally introduced in the House, it provides legislative coverage for New Hampshire officials who attempt to resist unconstitutional federal overreach that is inconsistent with New Hampshire law.
This bill adds state protections to the U.S. Second Amendment guarantee that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed.
* The bill, prior to the proposed committee amendment, protected against the enforcement of federal acts designed to infringe upon the citizen's right to bear arms.
* We encourage the general court to pass the bill without amendment 2022-0479h.
* The right to self-defense and to bear arms is fundamental to the citizens of the United States and the state of New Hampshire and those rights shall not be infringed upon.
This bill requires a supermajority vote of the legislative body to override a local tax cap.
* Current law enables towns to adopt a local tax cap by a 3/5 super majority of the voters but allows the legislative body to override the tax cap by a simple majority vote. Requiring a 3/5 super majority, instead of a simple majority vote of the legislative body to override, provides a greater assurance that the public supports the unplanned growth of government.
This bill mandates that an employer grant an employee who would be working during the time polls are open get at least 3 hours paid time off in order to vote.
* The negotiation of terms of employment is between employee and employer, not employer and state.
* There is a finite amount of resources that employers (particularly small businesses) have access to. This change either will require that employers raise prices or cut pay/employees to compensate for this change.
* RSA 657:1 already provides for absentee ballot access for individuals who will be unable to appear live at the polls due to employment commitments.
This bill authorizes a waiver of the driver education requirement if a father, mother, guardian, or other responsible adult provides equivalent classroom instruction and behind the wheel training.
* Parents are ultimately in charge of their children's education (including behind the wheel) and have the responsibility to ensure they are safe drivers. This bill does not eliminate driver education programs but allows for choice for parents on the best way to educate their children, and removes a barrier to entry for lower income families.
* This bill would remove a barrier to entry for lower-income families who may be unable to afford driver education.
* Mandating driving schools is a racket that benefits rent-seeking instructors and companies at the expense of parents.
This bill eliminates a low cost way for property owners to secure justice when local governments violate their right to build housing.
* The Housing Appeals Board (HAB) reduces the cost of legal disputes between municipalities and landowners by providing an alternative to the court system.
* The HAB helps discourage land use boards from unlawfully delaying development approvals.
* HAB works just like other appeals boards that the state has used successfully.
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This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, reduces the Business Profits Tax from 7.6% to 7.5%.
* As introduced, this bill would have reduced both the Business Profits Tax (from 7.6% to 7.5%) and the Business Enterprise Tax (from 0.55% from 0.5%). While the amendment still offers a modest improvement, the original text would ensure New Hampshire maintains our economic advantage and better positions us to survive any downturn in the national or global economy.
* It would be preferable to pass the bill in its original form.
This bill expands infringement of private property rights by expanding the definition of prime wetlands.
* This bill expands the definition of prime wetlands to include potentially extremely narrow regions that only meet four of twelve characteristics of prime wetlands required by existing law.
* Expansion of the prime wetlands designation proposed by this bill will have a negative effect on land owners who will be subject to new stringent permitting on usable land presently not under such requirements.
This bill prohibits school districts from mandating that students have a COVID-19 vaccination in order to attend school.
* Parents, rather than school boards or the Department of Health and Human Services, should be given the decision to make important medical decisions that will impact their children's lives. This is particularly true in cases where the vaccine is shown to offer little protection in the way of third-party infection risk.
* This bill further cements New Hampshire's commitment to parental rights. If a facility is receiving public funding, there is scant justification to barring otherwise eligible taxpayers from utilizing that state resource.
* During the public hearing, testimony was provided that DHHS and others believe that school districts already do not have the authority to compel vaccinations; however, it is not unheard of for municipalities or other political subdivisions to overstep their authority when it is not clearly delineated in legislation. This bill would provide that clarity.
* The appropriate motion for this bill is OTP.
This bill prohibits school districts from mandating that students have a COVID-19 vaccination in order to attend school.
* Parents, rather than school boards or the Department of Health and Human Services, should be given the decision to make important medical decisions that will impact their children's lives. This is particularly true in cases where the vaccine is shown to offer little protection in the way of third-party infection risk.
* This bill will further cement New Hampshire's commitment to parental rights. If a facility is receiving public funding, there is scant justification to barring otherwise eligible taxpayers from utilizing that state resource.
This bill would set the minimum wage for tipped employees to the federal minimum wage for untipped employees.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs means more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill prohibits state, county, municipal, or judicial officials from adopting or enforcing policies restricting enforcement of federal immigration laws.
* The 10th Amendment and state nullification of federal laws are the greatest check on federal power. This bill seeks to undermine allowing the state of NH not to follow federal law even if the federal law is repugnant.
* This bill attempts to defer almost all power of the state to the federal government's "immigration laws".
* While the sponsors and supporters of this bill might like the current legal framework, there is nothing that would stop the federal government from imposing immigration laws that these same sponsors and supporters find distasteful.
* This bill is an example of unnecessary water carrying for the feds that undermines NH's sovereignty in this and similar matters.
* New Hampshire is typically said to be a Dillon's Rule state, in that municipal governments have the authority to act only when the power is granted in the express words of the statute, private act, or charter creating the municipal corporation. Existing RSA 47:17, XV is largely compatible with this by enumerating specific topics that city councils may regulate; however, the phrasing of "They may make any other bylaws and regulations which may seem for the well-being of the city...", which when interpreted broadly, would eliminate the need for the enumerated powers earlier in the paragraph.
* This bill would clarify that the power of city councils is limited to the enumerated areas including "for the abatement of nuisances that interfere with the use or enjoyment of property".
* This change would modestly curtail the power of city councils to infringe on the rights of inhabitants of the city.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, limits the authority of city councils to make bylaws and ordinances to those they are specifically empowered to make.
* New Hampshire is typically said to be a Dillon's Rule state, in that municipal governments have the authority to act only when the power is granted in the express words of the statute, private act, or charter creating the municipal corporation. Existing RSA 47:17, XV is largely compatible with this by enumerating specific topics that city councils may regulate; however, the phrasing of "They may make any other bylaws and regulations which may seem for the well-being of the city...", which when interpreted broadly, would eliminate the need for the enumerated powers earlier in the paragraph.
* This bill would clarify that the power of city councils is limited to the enumerated areas including "for the abatement of nuisances that interfere with the use or enjoyment of property".
* This change would modestly curtail the power of city councils to infringe on the rights of inhabitants of the city.
* Parents have the right, as stewards of their children, to make medical decisions for their children, not the state. This bill seeks to affirm that basic notion.
This bill prohibits the state from terminating parental rights because of a parent's decision not to have their child vaccinated.
* Parents have the right, as stewards of their children, to make medical decisions for their children, not the state. This bill seeks to affirm that basic notion.
This bill requires that customer information in records of communications common carriers only be provided pursuant to a search warrant or a judicially-recognized exception to the warrant requirement.
* Under current law, otherwise-private information held by communication common carriers must be provided to the state upon written demand of the attorney general. This is incompatible with the spirit and potentially the letter of the New Hampshire Constitution which states that "[Art.] 2-b. [Right of Privacy.] An individual's right to live free from governmental intrusion in private or personal information is natural, essential, and inherent.".
* Inhabitants' private information should be protected and require judicial review of the requests of agents of the executive branch to reduce the risk of abuse.
This bill repeals the statement that Education Freedom Account funds shall not constitute taxable income to the parent of the Education Freedom Account student.
* While the ultimate decision of what the federal government may choose to tax may be out of the control of the New Hampshire legislature, the inclusion of the existing language clearly specifies legislative intent and offers at least some protection against adminstrative rulemaking authorities in the IRS choosing to deem Education Freedom Accounts as taxable income.
This bill prohibits a property owner from refusing to rent to any prospective tenant on the basis that the prospective tenant will receive housing subsidy under the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
* Property owners should be free to screen prospective tenants to determine if they represent a risk to the property or to other tenants. The Housing Authority does not screen tenants. While this bill would not necessarily preclude a property owner from screening a tenant for other reasons, predisclosure of participation would provide potential grounds to at least initiate legal action, increasing costs to property owners that would ultimately be passed to renters.
* Property owners may be conscientious objectors to the acceptance of public funds that are obtained through threats of violence (taxes), and this bill would infringe upon the property owner's right to avoid acceptance of these funds.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, establishes a procedure for the forfeiture of items used in connection with a drug offense.
* Under current law, as modified in 2016, a criminal conviction is generally required prior to seeking asset forfeiture. This bill would strengthen the protection against government overreach by linking the forfeiture case with the criminal case, including allowing a public defender who may be representing the accused to represent the individual with regard to the asset forfeiture.
* In addition, this bill contains provisions that allow a defendant or any other person with an interest in the property the right to a post-seizure hearing where the court may order the property returned if the seizure was invalid or the property is not reasonably required to be held as evidence. This important protection, particularly of third parties with an interest in the property, may prevent the state from ruining the life of someone with no direct tie to the alleged crime.
* Finally, this bill limits transfer of seized assets to the federal government, which maintains a program called "Equitable Sharing", which allows law enforcement to circumvent our state's criminal process. Funds forfeited in the federal process return 80% directly to the agency, bypassing normal appropriations (and oversight) of legislative bodies.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, establishes a procedure for the forfeiture of items used in connection with a drug offense.
* Under current law, as modified in 2016, a criminal conviction is generally required prior to seeking asset forfeiture. This bill would strengthen the protection against government overreach by linking the forfeiture case with the criminal case, including allowing a public defender that may be representing the accused to represent the individual with regard to the asset forfeiture.
* In addition, this bill contains provisions that allow a defendant or any other person with an interest in the property the right to a post-seizure hearing where the court may order the property returned if the seizure was invalid or property is not reasonably required to be held as evidence. This important protection, particularly of third parties with an interest in the property, may prevent the state from ruining the life of someone with no direct tie to the alledged crime.
* Finally, this bill limits transfer of seized assets to the federal government, which maintains a program called Equitable Sharing, which allows law enforcement to circumvent our state's criminal process. Funds forfeited in the federal process return 80% directly to the agency, bypassing normal appropriations (and oversight) of legislative bodies.
This bill streamlines the procedure for obtaining a permit to import or display wildlife and establishes an appeal process for denial of such permits.
* Under current law, there is no time limit specified for the approval or denial of a permit to import live marine species or wildlife or eggs. This bill requires that the permit be granted within 60 days of the request, unless there is reason to deny it. Having a time period outlined in the law allows businesses and individuals to better understand how government regulations may impact their actions.
* In addition, the bill specifies an appeal process, which is not a part of the current law. Any individual or organization can make an error, and certainly individuals within the government are not immune to errors; therefore an appeal process provides a modest check on the power of the state to restrict commerce.
This bill streamlines the procedure for obtaining a permit to import or display wildlife and establishes an appeal process for denial of such permits.
* Under current law, there is no time limit specified for the approval or denial of a permit to import live marine species or wildlife or eggs. This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires that the permit be granted within 60 days of the request, unless there is reason to deny it. Having a time period outlined in the law allows businesses and individuals to better understand how government regulations may impact their actions.
* In addition, the bill specifies an appeals process, which is not a part of the current law. Any individual or organization can make an error, and certainly individuals within the government are not immune to errors; therefore an appeals process provides a modest check on the power of the state to restrict commerce.
This bill limits law enforcement's authority to stop and weigh any vehicle to commercial vehicles only.
* This bill protects an individual's right to travel without interference from law enforcement for the purpose of verifying a vehicle's weight.
* This bill enforces one's Fourth Amendment right and the right in Article 19 of the New Hampshire Constitution to be secure from all unreasonable searches of one's possessions.
This bill limits law enforcement's authority to stop and weigh any vehicle to commercial vehicles only.
* This bill will protect an individual's right to travel without interference from law enforcement for the purpose of verifying a vehicle's weight.
* This bill enforces one's Fourth Amendment right and the right in the New Hampshire Constitution's Article 19 to be secure from all unreasonable searches of one's possessions.
This bill requires the director of the state police in consultation with the bureau of marine patrol to report annually to the legislature regarding new developments in electric and gasoline powered recreational watercraft.
* This bill would increase the workload of the state police and bureau of marine patrol — requiring them to create a report that may ultimately not be read by anyone.
* We are living in the information age, where legislators have easier access to information than at any other time in history. Creating a standing requirement of a research paper with a stated desired outcome of recommendations for rulemaking or new legislation is a solution looking for a problem and would bias the state toward expanding new restrictions on inhabitants and visitors to the state.
This bill repeals the requirements for the certification and regulation of medical technicians by the office of professional licensure and certification.
* This bill reduces the barrier to entry for medical technicians providing quality services to the New Hampshire medical provider industry and the people, its customers.
* By further limiting the licensing of services, New Hampshire increases its ability to develop its economy.
This bill excepts the state university system and the community college system from the statute pertaining to medical freedom in immunizations.
* Per RSA 141-C:1-a, every person has the natural, essential, and inherent right to bodily integrity, free from any threat or compulsion by government to accept an immunization.
* Even under current law, there are no state restrictions on the rights of students and faculty to receive a vaccine should they choose to do so. The state and its political subdivisions should not be compelling behavior that should be accepted or rejected voluntarily.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, exempts nursing homes and rehabilitation centers that accept direct payment or operate on a membership-based business model from the moratorium on new facilities and from the requirement for them to accept all forms of payment.
*During the global pandemic, the impacts of government restirctions on the building of hospitals and residential care facilities became immediately apparent. This bill would provide a modest relaxation of one of New Hamphire's remaining market-distorting laws that limits the licensing (and thus creation) of nursing home, skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, or rehabilitation facilities. Under this bill, new facilities that operate on a membership-based business model or exclusively provide services to persons who make direct payment for services would not be subject to the market-distorting moratorium that is still present in our laws.
* This bill fosters competition and innovation in the nursing and rehabilitation facility market and offers potential employment options for those who were impacted by federal control over healthcare.
This bill decriminalizes the possession or use of a certain amount of psilocybin mushrooms by a person 18 years of age or older.
* Individuals own themselves; what they put in their bodies would not be dictated by the state in a free society.
* Drug laws create criminals where there are none, and waste state and law enforcement resources in doing so.
* For psilocybin specifically, it tends to be disproportionately utilized by college students and veterans, and is a substance that is neither chemically nor physically addictive to the user (areterecovery.com/psilocybin/). Additionally, the reason why it is disproportionately used by veterans is because it has been demonstrated to be a potent treatment for PTSD (hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/blog/2013/07/15/low-doses-of-psychedelic-drug-erases-conditioned-fear-in-mice).
* Furthermore, it has been shown that the use of psilocybin has assisted cancer patients in reducing anxiety and depression, and has helped with end of life care (nyulangone.org/news/single-dose-hallucinogenic-drug-psilocybin-relieves-anxiety-depression-patients-advanced-cancer).
* Decriminalizing the act of using psilocybin will not harm anyone, and in some cases will improve the quality of life of those who use it. This bill protects the liberty, health, and autonomy of Granite Staters.
This bill establishes an additional penalty for transportation of a controlled drug into New Hampshire with the intent to distribute.
* The draconian war on drugs has torn families apart and destroyed lives while doing little to reduce drug use or end gang violence. This bill seeks to make the problem even worse by mandating additional mandatory minimums, which have been demonstrated not to work in the long and arduous war on drugs.
* The current laws on drugs do not reflect our nation's or state's values of personal autonomy, freedom, and self determination, and this bill seeks to erode those values even further.
This bill prohibits deed restrictions of homeowners' associations from prohibiting or restricting the installation and use of a solar photovoltaic energy system.
* This bill violates the rights of private parties to enter into mutually agreed upon and/or enforceable contracts.
This bill prohibits an employer from using an employee's or prospective employee's credit history as a criterion for making certain employment decisions.
* Government should not be dictating hiring practices for businesses.
* This would increase the risks involved in hiring, making firms more reluctant to bring on new employees. Like many other well-intentioned measures, this could have a detrimental effect on the people it seeks to help.
* Credit reports are less-subjective criteria for evaluating the potential of new employees. Without the use of a pre-employment credit check, many employers will likely use other more arbitrary means in making a selection.
* The bill contains exclusions for cases where the employer is required by state or federal law to use individual credit history. This implies that the state recognizes that there are times when credit history provides information that is meaningful. Employers should be free to determine whether credit history is a meaningful factor in potential employee performance without the state playing a role.
This bill establishes the requirements and procedure for the adoption of a school district budget cap.
* This bill allows voters to impose fiscal discipline on school districts by linking budgets to enrollment. Voters can establish the cost per student they wish to support, and district budgets then must not exceed that per-student cost times the number of enrolled students. Voters may also vote for an automatic inflation adjustment.
* This bill provides an actual budget for school districts and allows for a 3/5 supermajority to override the cap when necessary.
This bill establishes the requirements and procedure for the adoption of a school district budget cap.
* This bill allows voters to impose fiscal discipline on school districts by linking budgets to enrollment. Voters can establish the cost per student they wish to support and district budgets then must not exceed that per-student cost times the number of enrolled students. Voters may also vote for an automatic inflation adjustment.
* This bill provides an actual budget for school districts and allows for a 3/5 supermajority to override the cap when nesessary.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, prohibits sharing vehicle mileage information with public authority not associated with the State of New Hampshire without the consent of the vehicle's owner.
* This bill protects our citizens' individually-identifiable vehicle mileage data from being sent to taxing authorities external to New Hampshire without their consent.
* How much we use our vehicles and how much we travel should be protected private information.
* With data breaches increasing every year, any information that is shared and stored is a liability to those storing it, and a potential risk to those whose information is stored.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, prohibits sharing vehicle mileage information with public authority not associated with the State of New Hampshire without the consent of the vehicle's owner.
* This bill protects our citizens' individually identifiable vehicle mileage data from being sent to taxing authorities external to New Hampshire without their consent.
* How much we use our vehicles and how much we travel should be protected private information. With data breaches increasing every year, any information that is shared and stored is a liability for those storing it, and a potential risk to those whose information is stored.
This bill shifts the costs of residential tenancy application fees from those who don't qualify for a rental due to poor credit or a criminal record to those who do qualify.
* While the bill allows property owners to itemize and deduct out-of-pocket expenses for service incurred in connection with consideration of an application, this bill would specifically prohibit consideration of time and effort that a property owner or agent spends processing the application. Some may argue that the property owner simply needs to 'absorb' the cost of doing business, but ultimately these incremental costs end up being paid for tenants.
This bill requires the attorney general to request information from federal agencies operating in New Hampshire and to compile and display such information on a website.
* This bill is another opportunity to enhance government transparency and accountability to the public.
* Trust is a vital outcome of enhanced government transparency.
This bill prohibits a provider of broadband Internet access service from using, disclosing, selling, or permitting access to customer personal information unless the customer expressly consents to that use, disclosure, sale, or access.
* This bill attempts to insert the state into the business of two private parties who should remain free to engage in contractual agreements of their consent.
* This choice is best left to the free market to pick a desirable behavior instead of interference from the state.
* Many of the items that this bill seeks to protect are better handled via technology or services such as virtual private networks (VPNs).
This bill provides that the state shall pay 7.5% of contributions of retirement system employers other than the state for group I teachers and group II members.
* This bill is a massive expansion of the New Hampshire state public retirement fund liability.
* This would further socialize the cost of public retirement, forcing all citizens of the state to pay for committments made by localities.
This bill provides that the state shall pay 7.5% of contributions of retirement system employers other than the state for group I teachers and group II members.
* This bill is a massive expansion of the New Hampshire state public retirement fund liability.
* This would further socialize the cost of public retirement, forcing all citizens of the state to pay for committments made by localities.
This bill provides that the state shall pay 7.5% of contributions of retirement system employers other than the state for group I teachers and group II members.
* This bill is a massive expansion of the New Hampshire state public retirement fund liability.
* This would further socialize the cost of public retirement, forcing all citizens of the state to pay for committments made by localities.
This bill establishes a civilian climate corps advisory commission. This is intended to be a constant voice to advocate for more government under the guise of environmental protection.
* This bill attempts to install an unfunded organization to grow government and its control.
* As an example of the superfluous nature of this legislation: despite 84% of the state of New Hampshire being forested, this bill in part claims to seek "increasing reforestation".
This bill eliminates an arbitrary speed limit of 45 miles per hour for boats on Lake Winnipesaukee.
* Existing law limits speed at dawn and dusk and requires that operators manage their speed so that the operator will be able to avoid endangering or colliding with any person, vessel, object, or shore. In addition, existing law limits maximum speed to 45 miles per hour.
* This bill removes the 45 mph limit while retaining the requirement that the speed must be reasonable to avoid endangering or colliding with any person, vessel, object, or shore.
* The arbitrary limit is inappropriately low on open calm and uncrowded water that often exists.
This bill eliminates an arbitrary speed limit of 45 miles per hour for boats on Lake Winnipesaukee.
* Existing law limits speed at dawn and dusk and requires that operators manage their speed so that the operator will be able to avoid endangering or colliding with any person, vessel, object, or shore. In addition existing law limits maximum speed to 45 miles per hour.
* This bill removes the 45 mph limit while retaining the requirement that the speed must be reasonable to avoid endangering or colliding with any person, vessel, object, or shore.
* The arbitrary limit is inappropriately low on open calm and uncrowded water that often exists.
This bill modifies the power of the governor and council to take private property during states of emergency and modifies the calculation of compensation paid for such takings.
* This bill seeks to allow for fairer compensation when real property is taken by eminent domain during an emergency. While we generally view such takings as abhorrent, to the extent they occur they should be rare and individuals should be fairly compensated for both the property as well as loss of use and other indirect costs associated with the seizure.
* This bill gives the owner the right of first refusal to purchase the property back in the event that the property should be put up for sale, helping to reduce the risk of takings during an emergency being used to circumvent the protections in the New Hampshire Constitution Part 1, [Art.] 12-a. "[Power to Take Property Limited.] No part of a person's property shall be taken by eminent domain and transferred, directly or indirectly, to another person if the taking is for the purpose of private development or other private use of the property."
This bill modifies the power of the governor and council to take private property during states of emergency and modifies the calculation of compensation paid for such takings.
* This bill seeks to allow for fairer compensation when real property is taken by eminent domain during an emergency. While we generally view such takings as abhorent, to the extent they occur they should be rare and individuals should be fairly compensated for both the property as well as loss of use and other indirect costs associated with the seizure.
* This bill gives the owner the right of first refusal to purchase the property back in the event that the property should be put up for sale, helping to reduce the risk of takings during an emergency being used to circumvent the protections in the New Hampshire Constitution Part 1, [Art.] 12-a. "[Power to Take Property Limited.] No part of a person's property shall be taken by eminent domain and transferred, directly or indirectly, to another person if the taking is for the purpose of private development or other private use of the property."
This bill modifies the power of the governor and council to take private property during states of emergency and modifies the calculation of compensation paid for such takings.
* This bill seeks to allow for fairer compensation when real property is taken by eminent domain during an emergency. While we generally view such takings as abhorent, to the extent they occur, it should be rare and individuals should be fairly compensated for both the property as well as loss of use and other indirect costs associated with the seizure.
* This bill gives the owner the right of first refusal to purchase the property back in the event that the property should be put up for sale, helping to reduce the risk of takings during an emergency being used to circumvent the protections in the New Hampshire Constitution Part 1, [Art.] 12-a. "[Power to Take Property Limited.] No part of a person's property shall be taken by eminent domain and transferred, directly or indirectly, to another person if the taking is for the purpose of private development or other private use of the property."
This bill would prohibit state funds from being used for the planning, construction, operation, or management of passenger rail projects in New Hampshire.
* If passenger rail is economically viable, it will be pursued by private actors — particularly if New Hampshire's regulatory and licensing environment is improved.
* Using taxpayer dollars to fund passenger rail as we move into a 21st century era of increased remote work and autonomously-operated vehicles is solving the problems of the 20th century with the technology of the 19th century.
* Parents and the people paying for government schooling should have access to curriculum course materials since they are developed or procured using tax dollars.
* Existing RSA 91-A preamble states "Openness in the conduct of public business is essential to a democratic society. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure both the greatest possible public access to the actions, discussions and records of all public bodies, and their accountability to the people".
* Posting curriculum materials on the school administrative unit's website may ultimately reduce costs as it may support fewer right-to-know requests and potential legal battles over the applicability of existing right-to-know law to public school curriculum.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires that curriculum course materials taught to pupils in public schools and public academies be available to the public.
* Parents and the people paying for government schooling should have access to curriculum course materials since they are developed or procured using tax dollars.
* Existing RSA 91-A preamble states "Openness in the conduct of public business is essential to a democratic society. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure both the greatest possible public access to the actions, discussions and records of all public bodies, and their accountability to the people".
* Posting curriculum materials on the school administrative unit's website may ultimately reduce costs as it may support fewer right-to-know requests and potential legal battles over the applicability of existing right-to-know law to public school curriculum.
This bill prohibits state enforcement of any federal law, order, or rule that requires an individual, as a condition of employment or any other activity, to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or to submit more than once per month to COVID-19 testing.
* Taxpayer money should not provide funding to oppress the taxpayer. The federal government, through executive action not explicity authorized by Congress, has chosen to utilize adminstrative rulemaking authority and the power of the purse over a segment of the economy that it has seized through force to compel behaviors that we now know offer little-to-no third-party protection. The state of New Hampshire should not participate in this overreach.
This bill prohibits state enforcement of any federal law, order, or rule that requires an individual, as a condition of employment or any other activity, to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or to submit more than once per month to COVID-19 testing.
* Taxpayer money should not provide funding to oppress the taxpayer. The federal government, through executive action not explicity authorized by Congress, has chosen to utilize adminstrative rule making authority and the power of the purse over a segment of the economy that it has seized through force to compel behaviors that we now know offer little-to-no third-party protection. The state of New Hampshire should not participate in this overreach.
This bill requires the Department of Safety to issue a 45-day extension to the expiration of a motorcycle learner's permit, upon application of the permit holder.
* This bill creates an extended opportunity for those learning to ride a motorcycle to practice and prepare for passing their motorcycle licensing examination.
* While this extension is definitely a step in the right direction, it would be improved if there were no limits on the number of renewals.
This bill clarifies circumstances under which a physician, physician assistant, and advanced practice registered nurse may prescribe a drug for an off-label indication. The bill also prohibits disciplinary action against a pharmacist for filling a valid prescription for off-label use.
* This bill enhances the freedom with which a physician may elect to treat a patient with an off-label prescribed medication.
* This would enhance the ability for citizens of New Hampshire to obtain effective, recently discovered treatments for potentially life-threatening illnesses.
* Further, this bill protects pharmacists from the treatment directions made by the prescribing physician.
This bill removes cannabis as a controlled substance.
* This bill ends one of the most socially destructive components of the 'War on Drugs' by rescinding government control of cannabis.
* This pro-liberty bill will reduce costs to society by preventing loss of life, liberty, and treasure of the citizens.
* Passing of this bill will allow police to no longer be distracted by enforcement of cannabis-related infractions.
This bill uses state power to interfere in employer and employee relations.
* Employees should be free to organize and collectively bargain without interference from the state, and by the same token, businesses should be free to reject association with these groups.
* This bill would prohibit a business from replacing employees who strike, while recognizing an exception for cases where the state has mandated that employees shall not be allowed to strike.
This bill, as modified by the Committee of Conference, adds a new provision for mandatory detainment of an individual for prior arrests — with no time limit and no consideration of the outcome of prior charges.
* Granite Staters deserve due process and a presumption of innocence until proven guilty. As modified by the Committee of Conference, this bill would place individuals with two prior arrests 30 years ago for charges that the individual was cleared of in the same category as someone who was arrested, released on bail, and then potentially re-offended.
* For example, a person could have been falsely charged with two counts of trespassing for being in the proximity of a protest in the 1980s, be cleared of those charges, then get picked up in 2022 for driving on an expired license and now must be detained.
* This bill disregards our fundamental legal principle of presumed innocence and ignores defendants' rights, creates confusion with conflicting language, and would result in more backlog for our already strained judicial system.
* Granite Staters deserve due process and a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
* This bill disregards our fundamental legal principle of presumed innocence and ignores defendants' rights, creates confusion with conflicting language, and would result in more backlog for our already strained judicial system.
This bill provides that a person who commits an offense while on bail shall be detained without bail pending a hearing before a judge.
* Granite Staters deserve due process and a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
* This bill disregards our fundamental legal principle of presumed innocence and ignores defendants' rights, creates confusion with conflicting language, and would result in more backlog for our already strained judicial system.
This bill utilizes an increase in the business profits tax as a weapon to force businesses with 100 or more employees to impose a de facto minimum wage.
* By focusing only on wages, this bill would have unintended consequences, potentially causing employers to drop other benefits in lieu of direct salary to optimize their total costs — possibly resulting in lower total compensation for employees.
* A de facto state-set minimum wage prevents individuals from freely agreeing to a lower rate while they prove their productivity or learn on the job. People who are willing to work for less cash but higher benefits should be able to express this preference in the marketplace.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning, as it implies that citizens don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill utilizes an increase in the business profits tax as a weapon to force businesses with 100 or more employees to impose a de facto minimum wage.
* By focusing only on wages, this bill would have unintended consequences, potentially causing employers to drop other benefits in lieu of direct salary to optimize their total costs — potentially resulting in lower total compensation for employees.
* A de facto state-set minimum wage prevents individuals from freely agreeing to a lower rate while they prove their productivity or learn on the job. People who are willing to work for less cash but higher benefits should be able to express this preference in the marketplace.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning, as it implies that citizens don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill repeals the statute pertaining to medical freedom in immunizations.
* This bill repeals RSA 141-C:1-a, which states that no person may be compelled to receive an immunization for COVID-19 in order to secure, receive, or access any public facility, any public benefit, or any public service from the state of New Hampshire, or any political subdivision thereof, including but not limited to counties, cities, towns, precincts, water districts, school districts, school administrative units, or quasi-public entities.
* The state and its political subdivisions extort money from individuals with a threat of violence. Denying individuals access to the services paid for by this extortion adds further insult to the theft.
This bill provides that an individual's request to withdraw from the state immunization registry shall have the option of being notarized by an authorized government official instead of requiring a former or current health official.
* This bill makes a commonsense update to allow for people who would like to be removed from a vaccine registry to do so without having to track down a former healthcare worker or hire one currently.
This bill prohibits business owners from having a policy that requires vaccination or wearing of masks (medical devices).
* Public accommodation laws insert the state directly into interactions between private citizens and should therefore be looked at with significant scrutiny. While a private business that chooses to require vaccination or masks (medical devices) may be repugnant, the state should not be forcing individuals to accept risks to themselves, their employees, or customers in order to operate a business.
* None of the other categories of public accommodation includes categories where there is plausible increased risk of interacting with the public. While mask mandates appear to have at most marginal impact on the spread of COVID-19 or variants, business owners who believe they offer a benefit should be free to associate only with customers that wear shirts, shoes, or even masks and suffer the consequences of their decision. Similarly, a day care center, private school, or other public accommodation that would like to cater to individuals who have chosen to be vaccinated for measles, COVID, or polio should also be free to do so and again to suffer the consequences of their decision.
This bill prohibits the state from requiring businesses to require vaccine or documentation related to vaccination or immunity status.
* This bill prohibits the state from imposing backdoor vaccine mandates or vaccine passport systems by seeking to require businesses to impose mandates that might otherwise be unconstitutional if the state were to seek them directly.
* The state should not have the authority to compel a third-party actor such as a business to enforce an infringement on liberty.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, prohibits the state from requiring businesses to require vaccine or documentation related to vaccination or immunity status.
* This bill prohibits the state from imposing back door vaccine mandates or vaccine passport systems by seeking to require businesses to impose mandates that might otherwise be unconstitutional if the state were to seek them directly.
* The state should not have the authority to compel a third-party actor such as a business to enforce an infringement on liberty.
This bill creates a clean energy accelerator fund, administered by the NH Department of Energy, to finance goods and services producing low or zero greenhouse gas emissions and use other financial tools to mitigate climate change.
* This bill creates potentially extremely large and unlimited fiscal liabilities to the state taxpayers with no realistic or obtainable goals.
* The free market will naturally, without state intervention, decide to use machinery without fossil fuels when it makes practical, economic, or personal sense to do so.
This bill prohibits an employer from discharging or disciplining an employee who is a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical technician and whose failure to report for work was due to the employee responding to an emergency.
* While the bill is well intentioned, it places a mandatory 'volunteer' burden on small businesses who now need to absorb impacts of volunteer service without having chosen or agreeing to do so.
* This may have unintended consequences of causing an small employer to avoid hiring a volunteer for certain positions, knowing that regardless of the level of impact to the business of repeated failure to appear, the state will prohibit the employer from taking action necessary to prevent the business from failing as a result of repeated no-shows.
This bill, even with the proposed committee minority amendment, is an incremental encroachment on interactions between private individuals.
* The freedom to contract is paramount in a free society, particularly between an employee and employer. This bill seeks to restrict the freedom to contract by forcing employers to pay an employee for unused earned time under certain conditions.
This bill requires that the education trust funds used for funding education freedom account grants or transfers exclude any revenues collected and locally retained from the state education tax or local school taxes.
* This bill increases taxes by forcing additional funding above the present educational tax.
* Education freedom accounts are established to extract a portion of the funding from education taxes and give the parents control as to how and where it is spent.
* Parents should be the ultimate authority as to how and where their children are educated, not a government.
This bill creates a new taxpayer-funded handout designed to subsidize individuals who are considering pursuing postsecondary education or employment in New Hampshire after completion of AmeriCorps or Peace Corps service.
* While the spending is initially small, this bill would require a new state position to administer the fund. Ultimately, this would become a state-funded lobbying group that would see to increase spending and outreach for distribution of taxpayer money.
* We can encourage people to move to the state by reducing spending and barriers to private property use that currently may make New Hampshire unaffordable for both returning volunteers and existing residents.
This bill creates a new taxpayer-funded subsidy designed to subsidize individuals who are considering pursuing postsecondary education or employment in the state of New Hampshire after completion of AmeriCorps or Peace Corps service.
* While the spending is initially small, this bill would require a new state position to administer the fund. Ultimately, this would become a state-funded lobbying group that would see to increase spending and outreach for distribution of taxpayer money.
* We can encourage people to move to the state by reducing spending and barriers to private property use that currently may make New Hampshire unaffordable for both returning volunteers and existing residents.
This bill mandates federally-determined prevailing minimum wages on state-funded public works projects.
* This bill mirrors similar federal legislation (Davis Bacon Act) which was passed with the deliberate intent to prevent non-unionized, less established, minority laborers from competing with established, unionized, white workers during the Depression. While times have changed and the intent of this bill may be somewhat different, the effect will still be to dramatically increase the risk and/or cost of employing workers with potential for growth but with lower demonstrated skill level.
* This bill would impose significant additional recordkeeping and weekly reporting requirements for contractors supporting state projects. These increased overhead costs, which are not directly represented by the fiscal note, would ultimately be borne as additional costs to the taxpayer.
* Small firms may not have the personnel to absorb compliance overhead costs. This bill would have the effect of biasing state contracts toward larger/established firms.
This bill modifies the requirements for nonresident licensure by the Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics to eliminate subjective requirements for reciprocal licenses.
* This bill provides for a simple reciprocal agreement with those licensed out of state in the fields of barbering, cosmetology, and esthetics.
* Reducing licensing and associated complexities increases economic and competitive growth.
This bill mandates a new program that will require additional local expenditures by the political subdivision in violation of the New Hampshire Constitution.
* This bill would allow those qualifying for reduced-price meals to receive breakfast at the expense of taxpayers — some of whom may be just over the income limit and who would now be forced to subsidize the children of other families.
* The sponsors of this bill have violated their oath of office by proposing legislation that is directly violating the New Hampshire Constitution Part 1, [Art.] 28-a. "[Mandated Programs.] The state shall not mandate or assign any new, expanded or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in such a way as to necessitate additional local expenditures by the political subdivision unless such programs or responsibilities are fully funded by the state or unless such programs or responsibilities are approved for funding by a vote of the local legislative body of the political subdivision."
This bill establishes a capital improvement grant program and fund for the benefit of state and agricultural fairs.
* The state should not be picking winners and losers by offering select fairs taxpayer-funded grants.
* Fairs have multiple revenue streams and can be profitable on their own merit without draining the taxpayers' general fund.
This bill establishes a capital improvement grant program and fund for the benefit of state and agricultural fairs.
* The state should not be picking winners and losers by offering select fairs taxpayer-funded grants.
* Fairs have multiple revenue streams and can be profitable on their own merit without draining the taxpayers' general fund.
This bill modifies the calculation of compensation paid in excess of the full base rate of compensation under the definition of average final compensation in the retirement system for persons hired after July 1, 2011.
* This bill expands pension costs thereby perpetually increasing taxpayer burden.
* Instead of spending more, New Hampshire may return excess funds to the taxpayer who may then invest as they see fit.
By reducing the existing rebate to electricity ratepayers, this bill increases a stealthy tax on New Hampshire electricity consumers.
* This bill reduces long-standing rebates to electricity rate payers thereby raising effective energy rates.
* Electric rates are already high in New Hampshire. Efficiency projects that are truly fiscally responsible can and will be funded by electricity consumers themselves. It is unfair to force all ratepayers to fund projects for specific consumers, whether private or governmental.
* Rather than putting more money into the hands of government in order to pick winners and losers, the money should remain with the ratepayers where it belongs.
This bill makes the state immunization registry an opt-in program rather than an opt-out program.
* Under Article 2-b of the New Hampshire Constitution, it is illegal for the government to collect private medical data in a centralized registry without the consent of the participants.
* This bill seeks to assist the state government in complying with the law that the NH voters established in 2018.
* Privacy, particularly medical privacy, is profoundly important to maintaining the liberty of the citizenry.
This bill makes the state immunization registry an opt-in program rather than an opt-out program.
* Under Article 2-b of the New Hampshire Constitution, it is illegal for the government to collect private medical data in a centralized registry without the consent of the participants.
* This bill seeks to assist the state government in complying with the law that the NH voters established in 2018.
* Privacy, particularly medical privacy, is profoundly important to maintaining the liberty of the citizenry.
This bill authorizes a liquor manufacturer distilling less than 1,000 cases of liquor per year to sell its liquor at its facility for off-premises consumption.
* This bill enhances the free market opportunities for purchasing liquor in New Hampshire by allowing businesses to sell their product to willing consumers.
By eliminating the existing rebate to electricity ratepayers, this bill increases a stealthy tax on New Hampshire electricity consumers.
* This bill removes long-standing rebates to electricity rate payers thereby raising effective energy rates.
* Electric rates are already high in New Hampshire. Efficiency projects that are truly fiscally responsible can and will be funded by electricity consumers themselves. It is unfair to force all ratepayers to fund projects for specific consumers, whether private or governmental.
* Rather than putting more money into the hands of government in order to pick winners and losers, the money should remain with the ratepayers where it belongs.
This bill repeals a violation of the First Amendment.
* Whereas the NHLA has a policy of not taking positions on the issue of abortion in general, this bill's restoration of freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment merits our taking a position in support of this bill.
* This bill repeals the "buffer zone" created by SB 319 (2014) restoring the right of people to peacefully assemble, as provided by the protections of the First Amendment.
* This law has been in place for 8 years and appears to be unenforced. The governor as much as admits this in his veto message.
* Buffer zones are reminiscent of the abhorrent "free speech zones" at presidential events.
This bill repeals a violation of the First Amendment.
* Whereas the NHLA has a policy of not taking positions on the issue of abortion in general, this bill's restoration of freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment merits our taking a position in support of this bill.
* This bill repeals the "buffer zone" created by SB 319 (2014) restoring the right of people to peacefully assemble, as provided by the protections of the First Amendment.
* This law has been in place for 7 years and appears to be unenforced. Buffer zones are reminiscent of the abhorrent "free speech zones" at presidential events.
This bill repeals a violation of the First Amendment.
* Whereas the NHLA has a policy of not taking positions on the issue of abortion in general, this bill's restoration of freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment merits our taking a position in support of this bill.
* This bill repeals the "buffer zone" created by SB 319 (2014) restoring the right of people to peacefully assemble, as provided by the protections of the First Amendment.
* This law has been in place for 7 years and appears to be unenforced. Buffer zones are reminiscent of the abhorrent "free speech zones" at presidential events.
This bill is a modest improvement to New Hampshire's existing Constitutional Carry law that corrects an oversight that mandates a permit when carrying a pistol or revolver when operating a snowmobile or Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV).
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the state Constitution: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill removes the infringement of the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discretely when operating snowmobiles or OHRVs.
This a modest improvement to New Hampshire's existing constitutional carry law which corrects an oversight that mandates a permit when carrying a pistol or revolver when operating a snowmobile or Off Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV).
* New Hampshire voters affirmed our inherent right to self-defense in 1982 with the adoption of Article 2-a. of the state Constitution: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
* A requirement to have a license to carry a concealed firearm is an infringement on an individual's right to self-defense. This bill removes the infringement of the right of law-abiding citizens to carry protection discreetly when operating snowmobiles or OHRVs.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, would make the Youth Risk Behavior Survey as opt-in (v.s. opt-out), aligning it with other non-academic survey requirements in New Hampshire Schools.
* Requiring districts to have parents opt-in to non-academic surveys is respectful of parental rights and helps address student privacy concerns by ensuring explicit consent is given prior to completion of the survey.
This bill forces parents to have their children's blood lead-level tested before they are allowed to send them to any day care or public school.
* This bill adds an unnecessary expense and barrier for families trying to educate and care for their children.
* This bill intrudes on the privacy and autonomy of parents and their children.
* There is no communicable condition related to someone with high lead-levels in their system; therefore there is no reason for the state to be forcing the drawing of blood from small children.
This bill establishes a New Hampshire farm-to-school reimbursement program and makes an appropriation therefor.
* This bill increases costs of education unnecessarily.
* There is already a free school lunch program. Present funding should be used for the purchase of food served in schools.
* Schools may already choose to source some of their food from New Hampshire farms without increasing expenses.
This bill requires schools to make free or reduced-cost breakfast and lunch available to children who meet federal eligibility guidelines and provides for reimbursement to schools for offering meals at no cost to eligible students.
* This bill increases costs of education unnecessarily.
* There is already a free school lunch program. Present funding should be used for the purchase of food served in schools.
* This bill would increase dependency on government institutions.
This bill replicates aspects of federal firearm laws limiting transfers and adds new requirements not present in the federal restrictions.
* Under federal law (28 CFR Part 25, Section 25.6(c)(1)(iv)(B)), a federal firearms licensee may choose to transfer a firearm to an individual if the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background check is delayed for more than 3 days. While many dealers opt not to exercise this option, particularly for unknown customers, it is an important protection that reduces the risk of a de facto firearms ban through administrative delay. This bill would remove that protection through the provisions of proposed RSA 159-E:3 which states that "No firearm shall be delivered to an individual pursuant to a commercial sale until NICS has issued a “proceed” response"
* Although the bill claims to make an exception for non-commercial transfers, it adds new requirements not present in federal law that would effectively ban private transfers. Specifically under federal law, a person may transfer a firearm to an unlicensed resident of their state, provided the transferor does not know or have reasonable cause to believe the transferee is prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under federal law. Under this bill, while there is an exception, it requires that if the status of either party’s eligibility to own or possess a firearm cannot be ascertained, the transaction shall be completed through a licensed firearm dealer. This shifts the burden significantly such that the exclusion would carry little to no weight.
This bill establishes the law enforcement conduct review committee in the New Hampshire police standards and training council.
* Police accountability is paramount in a society that values rule of law, accountability, and preventing abuses of power. This bill seeks to create a review committee of police standards to ensure just that. Further, it is vital that police conform to high standards of moral character, integrity, knowledge, and trust if they wish to operate in NH communities.
This bill would repeal Education Freedom Accounts for children, destroying the option for parents to use existing adequate education grant funding to support education opportunities outside of the student's geographically assigned school.
* Education Freedom Accounts are funds that children receive to a designated account, administered by a scholarship organization, that are used for specified educational purposes. This bill will repeal the Education Freedom Account program and force nearly 2,000 students back to government-run schools that might not have been working for them and did not work for them during the goverment's response to the global pandemic.
* Giving education consumers (parents) more options gets us away from the one-size-fits-all mentality of traditional public schools.
This bill limits the amounts of funds appropriated from the education trust fund to the education freedom account program to budgeted sums.
* This bill is another attempt to perpetuate the funding of public schools despite the possibility of parents not wanting to send their children to them.
* This bill would prevent almost all New Hampshire parents from choosing how and where to educate their children, which is directly contrary to the intent of educational freedom.
This bill grows the scope of the existing government-sponsored job training program and will result in additional demand for taxpayer funds for centrally-planned job training.
* While government-sponsored job training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
* The state should not have a role in determining the training that businesses will require.
* While the bill does not appropriate any new funds, it grows the constituency and argument for additional spending on the fund.
This bill, even with the proposed committee amendment, rolls back critical protections to due process rights in New Hampshire.
* This bill further encroaches on the fundamental principle that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This means the judicial behavior must be heavily biased in favor of freedom of the defendant to defend themselves, not in the convenience of the state.
* Under this bill (proposed 572:2 (1)), an individual who is accused of a felony while in possession of a firearm, even if that possession was incidental and unrelated to the crime, would be denied access to the speedy bail commissioner process and would instead be held for up to 36 hours waiting for a formal arraignment.
* This legislation puts the burden of proof on the defendant and not the state in proving why the accused should be held pre-trial. The state should have to prove why a defendant should be held, not the other way around.
* Presumption of innocence is violated throughout this bill. Broadly declaring that a defendant “shall” be held takes away judicial discretion in assessing the individual case. This treats all accused as equal threats to communities and takes a top-down approach when a more targeted response may be appropriate.
This bill seeks to increase regulation of body art establishments and practices.
* Licenses for industries such as "body art" are not meant to protect consumers. They do however entrench established players in the industry by burdening those trying to create new small businesses. They also unnecessarily grow govenment and thereby discourage competition and innovation.
* Fewer occupational licensing laws will enhance entreprenureal enterprise creation, spur growth, and strengthen the free market's ability to judge value.
This bill attempts to disincentivize productive growth when participating in the Education Freedom program.
* This bill seeks by force of law to disincentivize families from growing their income if they choose to participate in the Education Freedom program.
* All taxpaying parents should have the freedom to apply their tax dollars to the educational programs and facilities of their choice with their own tax dollars.
This bill prohibits municipalities from adopting ordinances that ban short-term rentals.
* This bill protects rights of private property and entrepreneurship from undue local government interference.
* Banning short-term rentals does not increase the supply of affordable housing, it simply discourages new housing from being built.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, elevates the urgency of financing broadband infrastructure bonds to the same level as spending on public defense or any military purpose in time of war.
* This bill makes the accrual of new debts to taxpayers far less obvious by including broadband infrastructure bonds in the list of expenses that a simple special town meeting may enact. For context, the only other expenses enjoying this privilege are the public defense or any military purpose in time of war.
This bill removes consideration of labor agreements from the process of selecting contractors, subcontractors, or offerers for government construction projects.
* This bill supports the right to work by preventing government contracts from being able to include labor agreement requirements.
This bill removes consideration of labor agreements from the process of selecting contractors, subcontractors, or offerers for government construction projects.
* This bill supports the right to work by preventing government contracts from being able to include labor agreement requirements.
This bill allows the state health assessment and health improvement plan advisory council and the therapeutic cannabis medical oversight board to meet remotely.
* Freedom of speech is inextricably tied to having the physical space to express that speech. This bill allows for public officials to have the ability to dodge public accountability and not allow for in-person confrontation and debate to take place. It also sets a dangerous precedent moving forward that will continue to hinder the ability of citizens to engage with their government in a public way. It is not a secret that the government was less accountable when people have been barred from physically attending public meetings due to the coronavirus situation.
* Additionally, this will likely have the downstream affect of denying attendance at public meetings to citizens who do not have access to a reliable Internet connection or sufficient hardware. It will also impact those who chose not to interact with these modes of communication and are therefore not "tech savvy". If this bill encouraged public meetings to have the option for people to have a virtual option in addition to meeting in a physical space, that would expand freedom of speech and expression. This bill, however, restricts the options that people have to attend public meetings and is therefore anti-free speech and anti-liberty in orientation.
This bill repeals the legislation restricting certain discrimination in public workplaces and education.
* Government employees should not promote discrimination, particularly in the public schools. This bill seeks to repeal the legislation that was passed in RSA 354A:29-34 and RSA 193:40 which basically holds public schools to the same standards that public employers are held to in relation to discrimination. Namely, that you cannot teach material that is designed to make students feel inferior on the basis of their race, especially utilizing taxpayer money to do so. The current legislation is even tailored to ensure that intellectual freedom is still preserved in the public schools while also ensuring that children are not made to feel inferior with state-sponsored support.
This bill repeals the legislation restricting certain discrimination in public workplaces and education.
* Government employees should not promote discrimination, particularly in the public schools. This bill seeks to repeal the legislation that was passed in RSA 354A:29-34 and RSA 193:40 which basically holds public schools to the same standards that public employers are held to in relation to discrimination. Namely, that you cannot teach material that is designed to make students feel inferior on the basis of their race, especially utilizing taxpayer money to do so. The current legislation is even tailored to ensure that intellectual freedom is still preserved in the public schools while also ensuring that children are not made to feel inferior with state sponsored support.
This bill would enable government employees to teach that it is acceptable to discriminate based on race.
* This bill would would repeal this statute [RSA 193:40 I. (b)] "No pupil in any public school in this state shall be taught, instructed, inculcated or compelled to express belief in, or support for . . . That an individual, by virtue of his or her age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously."
* "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." — The Declaration of Independence
This bill would enable government employees to teach that it is acceptable to discriminate based on race.
* This bill would would repeal this statute [RSA 193:40-I-b] "That an individual, by virtue of his or her age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously."
* "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." — The Declaration of Independence
This bill significantly increases penalties for using electronic devices in running vehicles.
* The penalties for motor vehicle violations are already more than severe.
* This bill skyrockets the penalties up to and including class A felonies, similar to murder, with an up to 15 year jail term.
* People are naturally incentivized not to be distracted while driving as they have an inherent self-interest in their own survival.
This bill expands the hours during which games of chance may be conducted.
* This bill extends the hours in which games of chance may be conducted, lessening an onerous restriction on those businesses that choose to engage in legal gambling.
This bill expands the hours during which games of chance may be conducted.
* This bill extends the hours in which games of chance may be conducted, lessening an onerous restriction on those businesses that choose to engage in legal gambling.
This bill expands the hours during which games of chance may be conducted.
* This bill extends the hours in which games of chance may be conducted, lessening an onerous restriction on those businesses that choose to engage in legal gambling.
This bill encourages insurance companies to offer financial incentives to members who comply with government vaccine mandates.
* This bill attempts to force those unwilling to get a Covid vaccine to subsidize a financial reward for people who submit to government vaccine mandates.
* If a provably safe, effective, and affordable vaccine is available, it is reasonable to presume that the citizens will avail themselves of it without the coercion of the state.
This bill creates state-mandated dispute resolution procedures for homeowners' associations.
* This bill seeks to insert the state into contracts present and future that are between private parties conducting business with homeowners' associations.
* The state is attempting to mandate the 'due dilligence' that is expected of any person considering investment in a property under contractual obligation with a condo or homeowners' association.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires a supermajority vote of the legislative body to override a local tax cap.
* Current law enables towns to adopt a local tax cap by a 3/5 supermajority of the voters but allows the legislative body to override the tax cap by a simple majority vote. Requiring a 3/5 supermajority, instead of a simple majority vote of the legislative body to override, provides a greater assurance that the public supports the unplanned growth of government.
This bill allows municipalities to add a new local occupancy tax.
* This bill adds yet another tax to NH visitors, and will deter tourism in NH and hurt small businesses statewide that benefit from increased tourism.
* This bill will tax visitors for services that they will likely not use. Municipalities already have the ability to tax for the services they provide and do not need the ability to create new taxes.
This bill allows municipalities to add a new local occupancy tax.
* This bill adds yet another tax to NH visitors, and will deter tourism in NH and hurt small businesses statewide that benefit from increased tourism.
* This bill will tax visitors for services that they will likely not use. Municipalities already have the ability to tax for the services they provide and do not need the ability to create new taxes.
This bill removes arbitrary regulations on to direct-to-consumer shipments of alcohol to New Hampshire residents.
* This bill removes the arbitrary cap that limits the quantity of liquor and wine that may be shipped to a consumer's address.
* It also removes the requirements placed on micro breweries, pubs, etc. regarding the quantity of beer that they are allowed to ship to a consumer's address.
* Additionally, it eliminates the state-mandated invasion of privacy that requires beverage manufacturers to keep records of the names and addresses of the purchasers to whom alcoholic beverages were shipped.
* Consumers who purchase alcohol at physical stores, including state liquor stores, are not subject to limits or invasive recordkeeping. The New Hampshire Constitution Part 1, [Art.] 2-b. states "[Right of Privacy.] An individual's right to live free from governmental intrusion in private or personal information is natural, essential, and inherent.". The government mandate to create these records is a governmental intrusion in private or personal information.
* Reject the committee recommendation of Interim Study and move for Ought to Pass.
This bill improves youth worker access to employment.
* This bill expands the access of minor employees to available work.
* This is a welcome commonsense update to antiquated employment laws in light of the serious shortage of available workers in the state.
This bill creates a new government program subsidizing the purchasing preferences of consumers of organic products.
* Consumers have a wide variety of preferences for the foods they choose. Establishing a state-run organic certification program crowds out private certification programs, limiting consumer choice.
* Single certification authorities run by the government run a significant risk of regulatory capture where the industry that is funding the 'self-sustaining' monopoly government program exercises undo influence on the certification process. During the public hearing, Robert Johnson from the NH Farm Bureau as much as admitted to this possibility by indicating that NH Farm Bureau producers support the State handling the certification because they believe that when they have an issue and bring it to the State, they have recourse. They believe the private entities will not hear their concerns like the State would.
This bill reduces consumer choice and increases costs in employing the services of a medical professional in New Hampshire.
* This bill explicitly requires that a medical professional who is providing services to an individual currently within the state of New Hampshire must be licensed, certified, or registered by a New Hampshire licensing board — even if that professional is already licensed in another state.
* New Hampshire is experiencing a healthcare shortage and requires out-of-state help to meet the demand. This bill seeks to reduce citizens' access to heathcare by prohibiting out-of-state healthcare workers who would be otherwise qualified to assist. We should be allowing more access for our citizens' healthcare needs, not less.
* As written, an individual visiting New Hampshire may be surprised to find they are denied access to their long-term physician who has a deep understanding of their medical history because the New Hampshire legislature believes they know better who should provide telehealth services.
* The committee majority expresses concern that without this prohibition on service that providers may face uncertainty with regard to the jurisdiction where malpractice claims would be settled. This is a dubious claim as this bill would replace a risk of multiple civil claims in the cases where a medical provider is asserted to have committed medical malpractice with a criminal charge under RSA 329:24 should the provider provide telehealth without the permission of New Hampshire.
This bill reduces consumer choice and increases costs in employing the services of a medical professional in New Hampshire.
* This bill explicitly requires that a medical professional who is providing services to an individual currently within the state of New Hampshire must be licensed, certified, or registered by a New Hampshire licensing board — even if that professional is already licensed in another state.
* New Hampshire is experiencing a healthcare shortage and requires out-of-state help to meet the demand. This bill seeks to reduce citizens' access to heathcare by prohibiting out-of-state healthcare workers who would be otherwise qualified to assist. We should be allowing more access for our citizens' healthcare needs, not less.
* As written, an individual visiting New Hampshire may be surprised to find they are denied access to their long-term physician who has a deep understanding of their medical history because the New Hampshire legislature believes they know better who should provide telehealth services.
This bill reduces consumer choice and increases costs in employing the services of a medical professional in New Hampshire.
* This bill explicitly requires that a medical professional who is providing services to an individual currently within the state of New Hampshire must be licensed, certified, or registered by a New Hampshire licensing board — even if that professional is already licensed in another state.
* New Hampshire is experiencing a healthcare shortage and requires out-of-state help to meet the demand. This bill seeks to reduce citizens' access to heathcare by prohibiting out-of-state healthcare workers who would be otherwise qualified to assist. We should be allowing more access for our citizens' healthcare needs, not less.
* As written, an individual visiting New Hampshire may be surprised to find they are denied access to their long-term physician who has a deep understanding of their medical history because the New Hampshire legislature believes they know better who should provide telehealth services.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, establishes procedures for the use of restraints on pregnant women in county or state correctional custody.
* This bill seeks to affirm the concept that a stressful environment can have negative effects on a child when they are in the womb and that a child's life should not be jeopardized because of the mistakes of the mother. It also affirms the basic human dignity that should be granted to a woman when she is in that state. Even criminals deserve basic human decency including measures such as these.
* Property owners who are required to submit applications for projects on their property deserve a clear rational for any rejection of their requests that limit their ability to utilize their property as they see fit. This bill would require land use boards to provide rationale for approval and disapproval allowing property owners and abutters to understand the rationale of the board.
* This bill allows voters to impose fiscal discipline on school districts by linking budgets to enrollment. Voters can establish the cost per student they wish to support and district budgets then must not exceed that per-student cost times the number of enrolled students. Voters may also vote for an automatic inflation adjustment.
* This bill provides an actual budget for school districts and allows for a 3/5 supermajority to override the cap when nesessary.
This bill changes statutes such that instead of land use boards being authorized to provide <i>voluntary</i> incentives to certain property owners to develop "affordable housing", land use boards will now be authorized to <i>require</i> certain property owners developing their property to produce "affordable housing".
* Under current law, the state defines "inclusionary zoning" to include land use/regulatory powers that provide "a voluntary incentive or benefit to a property owner in order to induce the property owner to produce housing units which are affordable to persons or families of low and moderate income". This bill would shift to more coercive language by enabling land use boards to "require a property owner to produce, as part of a development which meets certain characteristics, housing units which are affordable to persons or families of low and moderate income".
* While the portions of this bill that reduce regulatory burden on property owners to allow them to build with increased density, reduced lot size, and expedited approval enhance private property rights, the expanded coercive provisions are an encroachment on private property rights.
This bill re-establishes the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
* The taxpayer should not have to shoulder providing expensive organic fruits and vegetables. This bill seeks to further cripple the taxpayer by instituting another social program that will increase taxes, incentivize poverty, and expand the power of the government, all the while reducing the quality of life of Granite Staters in the process.
* This also replaces private charitable work with government aid, which will always inevitably result in a decrease in the amount and care given to those who are genuinely disadvantaged.
This bill re-establishes the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
* The taxpayer should not have to shoulder providing expensive organic fruits and vegetables. This bill seeks to further cripple the taxpayer by instituting another social program that will increase taxes, incentivize poverty, and expand the power of the government, all the while reducing the quality of life of Granite Staters in the process.
* This also replaces private charitable work with government aid, which will always inevitably result in a decrease in the amount and care given to those who are genuinely disadvantaged.
* While the appropriate motion for this bill is ITL, referral to Interim Study is acceptable.
This bill re-establishes the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
* The taxpayer should not have to shoulder providing expensive organic fruits and vegetables. This bill seeks to further cripple the taxpayer by instituting another social program that will increase taxes, incentivize poverty, and expand the power of the government, all the while reducing the quality of life of Granite Staters in the process.
* This also replaces private charitable work with government aid, which will always inevitably result in a decrease in the amount and care given to those who are genuinely disadvantaged.
* While the appropriate motion for this bill is ITL, referral to Interim Study is acceptable.
This bill encourages more people to become dependent on federal money rather than seeking help from private charities.
* This bill seeks to encourage more people to become dependent on federal money rather than empowering themselves to fund their own expenses or to seek assistance from private charities that are more than willing to provide relief in a non-coercive way. While this will not increase state taxes directly, it will cause NH to become more dependent upon the federal government, as well as having an impact on federal tax rates and diverting private funds that could have been better spent directly helping those in need.
This bill establishes a supplemental nutrition assistance program outreach program.
* This bill seeks to encourage more people to become dependent on federal money rather than empowering themselves to fund their own expenses or to seek assistance from private charities that are more than willing to provide relief in a non-coercive way. While this will not increase state taxes directly, it will still have an impact on federal tax rates and will funnel private funds that could have been better spent directly helping those in need.
This bill expands Medicaid.
* This bill is an expansion of entitlement spending. This is an expense that should not be borne by those who made responsible choices; instead those in need should seek the readily available charities for their assistance.
* This bill creates even more dependency on the state and unnecessarily increases the burden of the already heavily-encumbered and coerced taxpayer.
* This bill takes by force from the taxpayer and subsidizes individuals who did not plan for or provide for the expenses incurred with having children.
* This bill is initially expected to accelerate spending by up to $1 million per year in perpetuity.
This bill expands Medicaid.
* This bill is a blatant expansion of entitlement spending. It takes by force from the taxpayer and subsidizes individuals who did not plan for or provide for the expenses incurred with having children.
* This is an expense that should not be borne by those who made responsible choices; instead those in need should seek the readily available charities for their assistance.
* This bill creates even more dependency on the state and unnecessarily increases the burden of the already heavily-encumbered and coerced taxpayer.
* This bill is initially expected to accelerate spending by up to $1 million per year in perpetuity.
This bill expands Medicaid.
* This bill is a blatant expansion of entitlement spending. It takes by force from the taxpayer and subsidizes individuals who did not plan for or provide for the expenses incurred with having children.
* This is an expense that should not be borne by those who made responsible choices; instead those in need should seek the readily available charities for their assistance.
* This bill creates even more dependency on the state and unnecessarily increases the burden of the already heavily encumbered and coerced taxpayer.
* This bill is initially expected to accelerate spending by up to $1 million per year in perpetuity.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, would require that public school board meetings include at least 30 minutes for public comment.
*Part 1, Article 8 of the New Hampshire Constitution states in part "All power residing originally in, and being derived from, the people, all the magistrates and officers of government are their substitutes and agents, and at all times accountable to them. Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive."
* This bill would take a modest step toward ensuring accountability and responsiveness of school boards by requiring a public comment period in meetings.
This bill makes an appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of increasing rates paid to homeless shelters.
* Privately funded charity always works best, and crippling the taxpayer should not be the solution to solve poverty. The appropriation will be $9 million in 2022 and the same amount in 2023, and would likely set a new baseline that would be increased in future budgets.
This bill makes an appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of increasing rates paid to homeless shelters.
* Privately funded charity always works best, and crippling the taxpayer should not be the solution to solve poverty. The appropriation will be $9 million in 2022 and the same amount in 2023, and would likely set a new baseline that would be increased in future budgets.
This bill increases state education spending by forcing state taxpayers to provide additional education subsidies beyond what is required for an adequate education.
* This bill spends millions more unnecessarily on education at the expense of the taxpayer with no clear benefit or accountability.
This bill increases state education spending by forcing state taxpayers to provide additional education subsidies beyond what is required for an adequate education.
* This bill spends millions more unnecessarily on education at the expense of the taxpayer with no clear benefit or accountability.
This bill increases state education spending by forcing state taxpayers to provide additional education subsidies beyond what is required for an adequate education.
* This bill spends millions more unnecessarily on education at the expense of the taxpayer with no clear benefit or accountability.
This bill increases state education spending by forcing state taxpayers to provide additional education subsidies beyond what is required for an adequate education.
* This bill would spend millions more unnecessarily on education at the expense of the taxpayer with no clear benefit or accountability.
This bill increases state education spending by forcing state taxpayers to provide additional education subsidies beyond what is required for an adequate education.
* This bill would spend millions more unnecessarily on education at the expense of the taxpayer with no clear benefit or acccountability.
This bill further greatly expands the Medicaid program.
* This bill expands the size, scope, and cost of Medicaid, adding to the taxpayer burden.
* This program provides able-bodied adults in New Hampshire with taxpayer-funded dental coverage at taxpayer expense.
* Expanded state-controlled dental benefits will slowly crowd out private solutions and provide another government-controlled item that can be used as a carrot and stick to force the population to conform to state-dictated behaviors.
* Further expansion of federal dollars and programs in the state will, as was the case with the CMS vaccine mandates, result in more federal control of New Hampshire citizens.
This bill seeks to expand Medicaid entitlement benefits.
* This bill would expand the size, scope, and cost of Medicaid, adding to the taxpayer burden.
This bill changes the formula for calculating state grants to school districts to be based on the highest average daily membership in residence for the past three years.
* This bill is a backdoor tactic for appropriating more than $30 million of taxpayers' money for school districts to compensate for their losses from the voluntary withdrawal of students from the public school system.
* Education funding should be based on the number of individual students enrolled in the current year, not a past year that saw a different number of students enrolled.
This bill changes the formula for calculating state grants to school districts to be based on the highest average daily membership in residence for the past three years.
* This bill is a backdoor tactic for appropriating more than $30 million of taxpayers' money for school districts to compensate for their losses from the voluntary withdrawal of students from the public school system.
* Education funding should be based on the number of individual students enrolled in the current year, not a past year that saw a different number of students enrolled.
This bill changes the formula for calculating state grants to school districts to be based on the highest average daily membership in residence for the past three years.
* This bill is a back door tactic for appropriating more than $30 million of taxpayers' money for school districts to compensate for their losses from the voluntary withdrawal of students from the public school system.
* Education funding should be based on the number of individual students enrolled in the current year, not a past year which saw a different number of students enrolled.
This bill establishes a scholarship fund to cover costs for certain individual small business owners.
* This bill is a $1 million annual 'social justice' giveaway to be paid for by the New Hampshire taxpayer.
* To be fair to all the taxpayers, reducing taxation and government interference in the creation of businesses in New Hampshire would be far more productive in encouraging small business creation and accelerating economic growth.
This bill would end the Education Freedom program.
* The Education Freedom program was designed to give parents the power to choose where and how to educate their children and to assign those parents' tax dollars toward that effort.
* Ending the Education Freedom program would be a blow to free choice, representative taxation, and liberty in New Hampshire.
This bill corrects a 'bug' in the business profits tax that currently makes New Hampshire non-competitive with most (or all) other states.
* Under current law, a business that derives profits from activity both inside and outside of New Hampshire must apportion those profits in a manner that attempts to fairly determine the fraction of profits that are associated with New Hampshire activity and thus subject to the NH business profits tax. Similarly, when a business has a net operating loss, the same apportionment is used to determine the impact of the loss. A portion of the losses may be carried forward to offset profits in future years until the loss is consumed or until 10 years have elapsed. However, under current law, the apportioning calculation gets applied both in the year when the loss occurred, and again in subsequent years as the loss is consumed — potentially dramatically reducing the ability to deduct losses.
* This bill ensures that the apportioning calculation is only done once, preventing inadvertent reduction in loss calculation and ensuring that taxes are not collected on transient profits that are offset by losses.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, would correct a 'bug' in the business profits tax that currently makes New Hampshire non-competitive with most (or all) other states.
* Under current law, a business that derives profits from activity both inside and outside of New Hampshire must apportion those profits in a manner that attempts to fairly determine the fraction of profits that are associated with New Hampshire activity and thus subject to the NH business profits tax. Similarly, when a business has a net operating loss, the same apportionment is used to determine the impact of the loss. A portion of the losses may be carried forward to offset profits in future years until the loss is consumed or until 10 years have elapsed. However, under current law, the apportioning calculation gets applied both in the year when the loss occurred, and again in subsequent years as the loss is consumed — potentially dramatically reducing the ability to deduct losses.
* This bill would ensure that the apportioning calculation is only done once, preventing inadvertent reduction in loss calculation and ensuring that taxes are not collected on transient profits that are offset by losses.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, would correct a 'bug' in the business profits tax that currently makes New Hampshire non-competitive with most (or all) other states.
* Under current law, a business that derives profits from activity both inside and outside of New Hampshire must apportion those profits in a manner that attempts to fairly determine the fraction of profits that are associated with New Hampshire activity and thus subject to the NH business profits tax. Similarly, when a business has a net operating loss, the same apportionment is used to determine the impact of the loss. A portion of the losses may be carried forward to offset profits in future years until the loss is consumed or until 10 years have elapsed. However, under current law, the apportioning calculation gets applied both in the year when the loss occurred, and again in subsequent years as the loss is consumed — potentially dramatically reducing the ability to deduct losses.
* This bill would ensure that the apportioning calculation is only done once, preventing inadvertent reduction in loss calculation and ensuring that taxes are not collected on transient profits that are offset by losses.
This bill increases the maximum tax that a municipality may charge for municipal transportation improvement purposes.
* NH drivers continue to get excessively taxed. This bill increases the tax to register a vehicle in NH. With gas prices at an all-time high and rising inflation, the legislature should be looking for ways to reduce the cost of living in NH rather than further increasing taxes.
* Municipalities already have multiple ways to increase revenue without increasing vehicle registration taxes.
This bill denies a vehicle owner the right to utilize their property as the result of even a potentially trivial toll collection issue.
* Under current law, an individual's ability to renew their vehicle registration may be denied if there is an unresolved issue with a toll collecting account associated with the individual. With this bill, it changes from a failure to renew to a mandated suspension of registration within 30 days.
* Billing disputes should not be handled by invoking the heavy-handed power of the state to deny the right to travel and potentially cause a vehicle owner to lose their job. Collection of unpaid bills is a civil matter and should be handled accordingly.
* This heavy-handed state action is particularly troubling when reciprocal tolling is used, as there have been a number of high profile cases of E-ZPass improperly billing people (usatoday.com/story/news/local/2021/12/10/ri-ez-pass-truck-toll-gantry-system-incorrectly-charged-1800-cars/6460940001) as well as instances of improper bills being generated by the pay-by-plate system that is used in multiple states (cbsnews.com/chicago/news/despite-reform-instituted-last-year-some-illinois-tollway-users-struggle-to-resolve-incorrect-charges/).
This bill denies a vehicle owner the right to utilize their property as the result of even a potentially trivial toll collection issue.
* Under current law, an individual's ability to renew their vehicle registration may be denied if there is an unresolved issue with a toll collecting account associated with the individual. With this bill, it changes from a failure to renew to a mandated suspension of registration within 30 days.
* Billing disputes should not be handled by invoking the heavy-handed power of the state to deny the right to travel and potentially cause a vehicle owner to lose their job. Collection of unpaid bills is a civil matter and should be handled accordingly.
* This heavy-handed state action is particularly troubling when reciprocal tolling is used, as there have been a number of high profile cases of E-ZPass improperly billing people (usatoday.com/story/news/local/2021/12/10/ri-ez-pass-truck-toll-gantry-system-incorrectly-charged-1800-cars/6460940001) as well as instances of improper bills being generated by the pay-by-plate system that is used in multiple states (cbsnews.com/chicago/news/despite-reform-instituted-last-year-some-illinois-tollway-users-struggle-to-resolve-incorrect-charges/).
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, denies a vehicle owner the right to utilize their property as the result of even a potentially trivial toll collection issue.
* Under current law, an individual's ability to renew their vehicle registration may be denied if there is an unresolved issue with a toll collecting account associated with the individual. With this bill, it changes from a failure to renew to a mandated suspension of registration within 30 days.
* Billing disputes should not be handled by invoking the heavy-handed power of the state to deny the right to travel and potentially cause a vehicle owner to lose their job. Collection of unpaid bills is a civil matter and should be handled accordingly.
* This heavy-handed state action is particularly troubling when reciprocal tolling is used, as there have been a number of high profile cases of E-ZPass improperly billing people (usatoday.com/story/news/local/2021/12/10/ri-ez-pass-truck-toll-gantry-system-incorrectly-charged-1800-cars/6460940001) as well as instances of improper bills being generated by the pay-by-plate system that is used in multiple states (cbsnews.com/chicago/news/despite-reform-instituted-last-year-some-illinois-tollway-users-struggle-to-resolve-incorrect-charges/).
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, directs a state agency to develop and submit a chlidcare plan with a stated purpose that includes taxpayer subsidy.
* Parents have a right and a responsibility to care for their children. This bill presumes that it is the responsibility of the state to provide child care.
* Though the amendment is an improvement over the bill as introduced, it puts New Hampshire on a path to expanding state control of private industry.
* Government programs create dependency and perverse incentives that often do far more harm than good. Effective social assistance is based on sincere care for a person and most often occurs in the context of a genuine personal relationship. Voluntary charities are the ideal way to address these problems, and foster these kinds of relationships.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, directs a state agency to develop and submit a plan with a stated purpose that includes taxpayer subsidy.
* Parents have a right and a responsibility to care for their children. This bill presumes that it is the responsibility of the state to provide child care.
* Though the amendment is an improvement over the bill as introduced, it puts New Hampshire on a path to expanding state control of private industry.
* Government programs create dependency and perverse incentives that often do far more harm than good. Effective social assistance is based on sincere care for a person and most often occurs in the context of a genuine personal relationship. Voluntary charities are the ideal way to address these problems, and foster these kinds of relationships.
This bill establishes an unfunded legislative gap with an expectation that future funds would be spent on electric vehicle infrastructure.
* This bill creates an unlimited expectation that New Hampshire taxpayers will fund electric vehicle charging stations.
* The private market will establish when the time is right to support electric vehicle infrastructure; it should not be mandated or controlled by the state.
This bill requires the DMV to violate the privacy of citizens by storing full or partial social security numbers of NH citizens.
* Under current law, individuals who choose to obtain a non-"REAL ID" drivers license may request that the state not store their social security number in the motor vehicle databases. This bill would dramatically weaken that privacy protection by requiring that the state retain either the full social security number or the last 5 digits of their social security number.
* This bill violates Part 1, Article 2-b of the New Hampshire Constitution and puts NH citizens at risk of identity theft and fraud.
* This bill also makes the Department of Safety's database a larger target for malicious cyber attacks. In the age of data breaches, the State of NH should be looking for opportunities to store less data that could be used against citizens if it falls into the wrong hands.
This bill establishes a fund to increase government subsidies for certain companies located in New Hampshire.
* This bill creates a perennial $5 million spending burden to the taxpayer with little guidance for how and to whom it is allocated.
This bill expands taxpayer-funded childcare.
* Let the private sector establish preschool programs, not the state.
* The federal Health and Human Services (HHS) admits in a 2012 report (acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/third-grade-follow-head-start-impact-study-final-report) that the longest running federal preschool program, Head Start, did not produce long-term gains for our youngest learners. The preschool programs that showed success were exorbitantly expensive and in small studies that do not scale to a statewide program.
* While the appropriate motion for this bill is ITL, referral to Interim Study is acceptable.
* Violence in any space is already illegal. This bill adds a large amount of unnecessary bureaucracy and cost to further burden health care facilities.
* Law enforcement does not require a warrant to arrest someone when they observe or suspect criminal behavior. No further expansion of state powers that would erode the rights of the private citizen is required.
This bill requires health care facilities to implement and maintain workplace violence prevention programs and establishes the health care workplace safety commission. This bill also permits law enforcement to arrest an individual without a warrant in certain circumstances related to health care workplaces.
* Violence in any space is already illegal. This bill adds a large amount of unnecessary bureaucracy and cost to further burden health care facilities.
* Law enforcement does not require a warrant to arrest someone when they observe or suspect criminal behavior. No further expansion of state powers that would erode the rights of the private citizen is required.
This bill requires health care facilities to implement and maintain workplace violence prevention programs and establishes the health care workplace safety commission. This bill also permits law enforcement to arrest an individual without a warrant in certain circumstances related to health care workplaces.
* Violence in any space is already illegal. This bill adds a large amount of unnecessary bureaucracy and cost to further burden health care facilities.
* Law enforcement does not require a warrant to arrest someone when they observe or suspect criminal behavior. No further expansion of state powers that would erode the rights of the private citizen is required.
This bill requires health care facilities to implement and maintain workplace violence prevention programs and establishes the health care workplace safety commission. This bill also permits law enforcement to arrest an individual without a warrant in certain circumstances related to health care workplaces.
* Violence in any space is already illegal. This bill adds a large amount of unnecessary bureaucracy and cost to further burden health care facilities.
* Law enforcement does not require a warrant to arrest someone when they observe or suspect criminal behavior. No further expansion of state powers that would erode the rights of the private citizen is required.
This proposed constitutional amendment would increase the limit on legislator salary and enable future increases through the normal legislative process.
* The existing constitutional language on legislator salary provides a cap on compensation that prevents individuals from taking on a role in the legislature as a career. This bill would weaken that language as a first step toward setting a higher salary via statute.
* The existing modest compensation increases the probability that individuals will only attempt to serve for a limited number of terms and saves New Hampshire taxpayers from being compelled to further fund an organization that demonstrably has as its goal the expansion of state power.
This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution removes the prohibition on the use of money raised by taxation for schools of any religious sect or denomination.
* This amendment repeals the Blaine Amendment from the NH Constitution, thereby following US Supreme Court decisions in recent years that say that if you provide tax-paid tuition to secular private schools, it would be discriminatory if you did not also provide tax-paid tuition to religious private schools.
* In Carson v Makin, Chief Justice Roberts noted that the First Amendment's free exercise clause protects against, "...indirect coercion or penalties on the free exercise of religion, not just outright prohibitions." (https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-1088_dbfi.pdf)
This bill repeals the prohibition, penalty, and exceptions relating to the carrying and possessing with intent to sell a blackjack, slung shot, or metallic knuckles.
* Blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles are currently illegal in NH. This bill will make them legal.
* The right to self-defense and to bear arms is fundamental to the citizens of the United States and the state of New Hampshire. Both entities' Constitutions make clear that those rights shall not be infringed.
* Mere possession of these items harms no one; using them harmfully is illegal and would remain so even with passage of this bill.
This bill repeals the prohibition, penalty, and exceptions relating to the carrying and possessing with intent to sell a blackjack, slung shot, or metallic knuckles.
* Blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles are illegal in NH. This bill will make them legal.
* The right to self-defense and to bear arms is fundamental to the citizens of the United States and the state of New Hampshire. Both entities' Constitutions make clear that those rights shall not be infringed.
* Mere possession of these items harms no one; using them harmfully is illegal and would remain so even with passage of this bill.
This bill infringes upon the natural rights of New Hampshire citizens.
* The right to defense of one's self and property is paramount in a free society. This bill not only places a substantial burden on those who do not wish to compromise their safety in public areas, it also inhibits their right to vote in federal and state elections, which are often held in schools. No one should have to compromise their safety or liberty to take part in the civic process of voting.
* Additionally, the absence of armed civilians puts everyone at risk. 94-97% of all mass shootings happen in gun free zones (crimeresearch.org/2018/06/more-misleading-information-from-bloombergs-everytown-for-gun-safety-on-guns-analysis-of-recent-mass-shootings/).
* The New Hampshire Constitution Article 2-a. states: "[The Bearing of Arms.] All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."
This bill would reduce the conditions under which a municipality may prohibit a property owner from exercising their private property rights.
* Government is most accountable and accessible when it is most local. Local control is generally preferable to state or national mandates. There is a higher principle, however: the principle of individual liberty. Indeed, the most "local" governance of all is the governance of an individual over his or her own life and property. This bill slightly reduces the ability of a political subdivision to infringe on the rights of property owners.
* The right of property owners to make their own choices about their property should be respected. Increasing housing flexibility benefits everyone.
* Lack of suitable housing in New Hampshire may be relieved if property owners have the freedom to build multi-unit homes on their parcels.
This bill would form a committee to study student loan forgiveness options in New Hampshire.
* There is no pro-liberty purpose for this study committee. Private businesses that would like to offer student loan forgiveness to attract talent may already do so without the permission of the state. Taxpayer-funded student loan forgiveness programs shift costs that individuals take on voluntarily to taxpayers — many of whom themselves did not choose to take on such debt.
This bill requires towns and school districts, when using local funds to lobby for legislation, to use warrant articles for each lobbying agency.
* This bill increases transparency in municipal spending by allowing voters to make informed decisions in spending by towns and school districts.
* This bill adds the simple requirement of towns and school districts that fund lobbyists defined under RSA 15:1, I, that they shall use a warrant article for each agency that reads as follows: "Shall the town or school district fund ____________________________ (name of lobbyist or lobbyist agency) using local funds to lobby for legislation."
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage that automatically elevates each year.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce. The well-meaning carve out for younger employees adds a further barrier to older unskilled staff entering the workforce, potentially putting a path to employment forever out of their reach.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill would set the minimum wage for tipped employees to the federal minimum wage for untipped employees.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs means more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
* The restaurant industry is already very low margin; this could have the unintended consequence of forcing owners to cut staff, and/or raise prices on their food.
This bill adds a new definition for commercial firearms sales that would result in a transfer being considered a commercial sale even if no money or item of value is exchanged but the transfer is initiated after the firearm was displayed.
* This bill poorly defines "commercial sale" within 159-F:1, I, such that all transfers are commercial sales.
* The bill will criminalize lawful firearms transactions between friends, family, neighbors, and members of the same shooting club by redefining these isolated events as "commercial sales".
* The newly mandated background checks are effectively a 'poll tax' on a constitutionally-protected right.
* This bill is unnecessary as private transfer of pistols and revolvers is already regulated under RSA 159:8, III and RSA 159:10 without the unintended consequences added by this bill.
This bill seeks to make it legal to discriminate based on race and sex in public workplaces.
* This bill seeks to repeal from New Hampshire law the following: "The general court hereby finds and declares that practices of discrimination against any New Hampshire inhabitants because of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin are a matter of state concern, that discrimination based on these characteristics not only threatens the rights and proper privileges of New Hampshire inhabitants but menaces the institutions and foundation of a free democratic state and threatens the peace, order, health, safety and general welfare of the state and its inhabitants." (RSA 354 A:29 I)
* The bill prevents teachers from being sued or otherwise challenged for teaching racist, discriminatory materials (and presumably child sexual grooming materials).
* The bill would presumably shield teachers from parents' questioning or criticism for what they teach, thus suppressing the parents' First Amendment rights.
This bill exempts facilities operating with membership-based or direct payment business models from the special health care licensing requirement that the facility adopt a policy to assure that it provides services to all persons who require the services of the facility regardless of the source of payment.
* This bill will protect vital health-care service facilities who are able to survive due to their membership-based and/or direct payment models from having to accept persons who can't participate in that model.
* Those seeking treatment have a plethora of far more common options available to them than membership-based businesses.
This bill is an incremental encroachment on interactions between private individuals.
* The freedom to contract is paramount in a free society, particularly between an employee and employer. This bill seeks to restrict the freedom to contract by forcing employers to pay an employee for unused earned time under certain conditions.
This bill is an incremental encroachment on interactions between private individuals.
* The freedom to contract is paramount in a free society, particularly between an employee and employer. This bill seeks to restrict the freedom to contract by forcing employers to pay an employee for unused earned time under certain conditions.
This bill infringes on the right to bear arms.
* Waiting periods make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and as a result, encourage criminal activity.
* There is no statistical evidence that a waiting period for handgun purchases reduces violence (www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2015/apr/27/van-wanggaard/no-evidence-waiting-period-handgun-purchases-reduc/).
* The US Constitution is the supreme law of our country and in it the 2nd Amendment clearly states that "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
* No law interfering with the ability to purchase arms or their components is legal, ethical, or moral.
This bill would repeal the modest protections provided by existing RSA 159-E which limit state and political subdivision resources from being used in certain cases to support federally initiated infringement on the right to keep and bear arms.
* Article 2-a of the New Hampshire Constitution is quite clear stating that: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state." — the existing RSA provides a small degree of protection to at least ensure that state resources are not used to enforce mandates that infringe upon this right.
This bill adds even more "suggestions" for local planning master plans to contain sections on transition to renewable energy and more.
* This bill would add green initiatives to an already "suggested" and lengthy list of items contained in master planning RSAs.
* This bill is unnecessary legislation amending RSA 674:2, III, which should instead be re-drafted in future legislation in an attempt to eliminate and consolidate language rather than adding on to an ever-growing list of "suggestions" for master plan considerations.
This bill seeks to impose California regulations in New Hampshire.
* This bill would fine New Hampshire dealerships for not selling enough "Zero" Emission Vehicles (ZEVs). This would distort market forces and potentially lead to higher ZEV costs and crowd out lower-income residents.
* As nearly all manufacturers have plans for sales of ZEVs, the market-distorting credit system that this bill enables New Hampshire to play in is unlikely to continue to have significant long-term value. As a result, concerns over the inability of New Hampshire dealers to obtain certain lower-demand vehicles is largely unfounded and unlikely to continue.
* Consumers are already starting to adopt ZEVs as prices are coming down and range is increasing. New Hampshire citizens would be better served by removing state-imposed fees and removing barriers to the entry of new energy sources in the market, which would drive down New Hampshire's high electrical costs, and allowing the free market to adopt sales of ZEVs through normal human action.
* This bill would abdicate control of what cars we could buy, when we could buy them, and how we could operate them to the dictates of California and its lawmakers.
This bill allows personal property, including firearms, to be taken when no crime has been committed.
* This bill violates the 4th Amendment protections under the US Bill of Rights and Article 19 of the NH Bill of Rights: "[Art.] 19. [Searches and Seizures Regulated.] Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions."
* The language in the bill allows for hearsay 'evidence' to be admitted into the trial violating Article 15: "[Art.] 15. [Right of Accused.] No subject shall be held to answer for any crime, or offense, until the same is fully and plainly, substantially and formally, described to him;"
* The respondent will be stripped of personal property and will need to spend time and money via the court system for return of the property without having committed a crime.
* Under this bill, courts are not bound by the traditional rules of evidence typically given to the defendant. (159-F:3 IX)
This bill requires the owner of restricted residential property to provide tenants with notice of sale of the property and an opportunity to make an offer to purchase the property.
* Freedom to contract includes the right of the current and future property owners to be able to peacefully transfer the sale without interference of government.
* If tenants and landlords wanted to voluntarily put in their lease agreement a provision that allows for a so-called "right to notification" there is nothing preventing them from doing so. Tenants are already protected by having a lease which remains valid and binding on the present and future owner regardless of the sale.
* This bill significantly disincentivizes investment in the severely under-supplied New Hampshire real estate market.
This bill allows a minor 16 years of age or older to consent to mental health treatment without parental consent.
* Parents are legally and financially responsible for their children up to the age of 18 years. This bill would force parents to pay for treatments they did not want or consent to.
* Minor children should have no ability to consent to mental health treatment if they are suspected of poor mental health. Instead, the responsible, mentally-healthy parents should be the sole decision makers for such critical, potentially life-altering choices.
This bill allows a minor 16 years of age or older to consent to mental health treatment without parental consent.
* Parents are legally and financially responsible for their children up to the age of 18 years. This bill would force parents to pay for treatments they did not want or consent to.
* Minor children should have no ability to consent to mental health treatment if they are suspected of poor mental health. Instead, the responsible, mentally healthy parents should be the sole decision makers for such critical, potentially life-altering choices.
This bill adds the expiration of the term of a lease or tenancy that is over 6 months as grounds for an eviction.
* Common sense would lead a person to believe that at the end of a lease, with proper notice, a landlord would be able to reclaim their property, and if necessary, evict the tenant; however, courts have found that given current New Hampshire law, the end of a lease that is not renewed is not sufficient grounds for eviction.
* A lease agreement is a contract between two parties to provide safe access to a property for a pre-determined period of time. Absent this bill, the time provisions of a lease are not meaningful.
This bill adds the expiration of the term of the lease or tenancy that is over 6 months as grounds for an eviction.
* Common sense would lead a person to believe that at the end of a lease, with proper notice, a landlord would be able to reclaim their property, and if necessary, evict the tenant; however, courts have found that given current New Hampshire law, the end of a lease that is not renewed is not sufficient grounds for eviction.
* A lease agreement is a contract between two parties to provide safe access to a property for a pre-determined period of time. Absent this bill, the time provisions of a lease are not meaningful.
This bill seeks to further limit when and how much people aged 16 or 17 can work.
* A young person aged 16 or 17 is fully capable of negotiating their responsibilities with their parents on how much and when they should work.
* The parents, not the government, should be empowered to appropriately manage a minor child.
* Some children learn more at a brief time at the workplace than they do during their entire academic career.
* Students use employment as a means of generating more income for themselves for future endeavors, which should not be overly burdened by government restrictions on their ability to make money.
* This restricts a person's ability to create more opportunity and wealth for themselves at a young age.
This bill revises the authority of the governor and general court to declare, renew, or terminate a state of emergency.
* This bill modifies existing law and limits the length of a state of emergency that could be declared by the governor.
* This would prevent the governor from declaring an indefinite state of emergency. Dictatorial powers of the governor should not be allowed to perpetually constrain personal liberties of the citizens.
This bill revises the authority of the governor and general court to declare, renew, or terminate a state of emergency.
* This bill modifies existing law and limits the length of a state of emergency that could be declared by the governor.
* This would prevent the governor from declaring an indefinite state of emergency. Dictatorial powers of the governor should not be allowed to perpetually constrain personal liberties of the citizens.
This bill cancels $50 million of debt that the Burgess Biopower plant owes to NH ratepayers.
* Eversource customers have already paid more than $150 million in above-market rates for electricity generated by the Burgess Biopower plant. This bill reduces the amount that the Burgess Biopower electricity generation plant owes the ratepayers of Eversource.
* The operation of the Burgess plant is a market-distorting jobs program funded by a mandatory rate increase on Eversource customers. With electric rates at near-record highs, the plant is still unable to operate competitively. This bill does nothing to address the long-term problem that has required legislative interference on a regular basis, but simply kicks the can once again to the commissars who will be back in two more years asking for further relief.
This bill cancels $50 million of debt that the Burgess Biopower plant owes to NH ratepayers.
* Eversource customers have already paid more than $150 million in above-market rates for electricity generated by the Burgess Biopower plant. This bill reduces the amount that the Burgess Biopower electricity generation plant owes the ratepayers of Eversource.
* The operation of the Burgess plant is a market-distorting jobs program funded by a mandatory rate increase on Eversource customers. With electric rates at near-record highs, the plant is still unable to operate competitively. This bill does nothing to address the long-term problem that has required legislative interference on a regular basis, but simply kicks the can once again to the commissars who will be back in two more years asking for further relief.
This bill cancels $50 million of debt that the Burgess Biopower plant owes to NH ratepayers.
* Eversource customers have already paid more than $150 million in above-market rates for electricity generated by the Burgess Biopower plant. This bill reduces the amount that the Burgess Biopower electricity generation plant owes the ratepayers of Eversource.
* The operation of the Burgess plan is a market-distorting jobs program funded by a mandatory rate increase on Eversource customers. With electric rates at near-record highs, the plant is still unable to operate competitively. This bill does nothing to address the long term problem that has required legislative interference on a a regular basis but simply kicks the can once again to the commissars who will be back in two more years asking for further relief.
This bill removes the requirement that nano breweries manufacture beverages in a public building.
* This bill frees up economic access for the popular craft-brewing culture to grow and thrive in New Hampshire.
* Allowing for the proliferation of nano breweries is good for the Granite State economy and increasing the happiness, prosperity, and wealth of Granite Staters.
This bill enables a land owner to cut timber in certain cases where they have not received a response to the notice of intent to cut timber, and makes it a violation for assessing officials to fail to forward a notice to cut to the Department of Revenue Administration in a timely fashion.
* In the event that a tax assessor delays or refuses to process an application by a landowner to log their property, this bill would allow such owners to proceed.
* During the public hearing, testimony was provided that indicated that while not systemic across the state, some towns have not responded to requests for four months. This bill protects the right of a property owner to use their private resources as they choose without being effectively denied that right by an assessor refusing to do their job.
This bill would allow state agencies to waste taxpayer money.
* Under current law, voluntarily-surrendered firearms must be sold at public auction or kept by the state agency for its own use, with the proceeds from firearms sold at public auction deposited in the general fund. This bill would change that so instead of selling an asset and adding to the general fund, the agency would be able to potentially spend taxpayer funds to destroy the firearm.
This bill decreases the penalty for driving without a license from a class B misdemeanor to a violation (for the first offense).
* It is unlikely that the high potential penalty for first time offenses is well understood by individuals who may be impacted by this law. What is certain is that a misdemeanor conviction may negatively impact their ability to find a job. The "crime" of driving without a license, for an individual who is not otherwise committing any other offense, does not have a clear victim and thus the existing penalty is unreasonable.
This bill decreases the penalty for driving without a license from a class B misdemeanor to a violation (for the first offense).
* The statist portion of the committee "believes" that driving is a privilege to be handed out by an omipotent state. Furthermore, they presume to arbitrarily deem certain rights to actually be privileges and then assume the state has the power to parcel out these rights as paternalistic allowances.
* It is unlikely that the higher potential penalty for first time offenses is even well understood by individuals who may be impacted by this law. What is certain is that a misdemeanor conviction may negatively impact their ability to find a job. An individual who drives without a license, who is not otherwise committing any other offense, does not have a clear victim, and as a result the existing penalty is unreasonable.
This paternalistic bill mandates testing of private wells.
* Property owners have an incentive to test for contaminants in their private wells on their own. Mandating it will only force property owners to engage in a more arduous process to obtain testing for their own property which is particularly problematic if they do not desire that protection.
* The choice to inspect one's own water or to request notification for potential contaminants should be the responsibility of the property owner.
This bill sets state policy of a goal of achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 with a required expectation of net CO2 emissions 85 percent below the 1990 level.
* Emissions as defined in this bill are not simply for those of the state and its political subdivisions but rather are all CO2 emissions/sequestration/etc by all sources in the state — as such this makes it official state policy to dramatically impact the actions of NH inhabitants without regard to the potential impacts.
* While the bill offers no explicit policy recommendations and does not provide funding for the additional work that it mandates the Department of Environmental Services complete, the outcome of the bill would be additional work that would eventually require additional funding.
This bill exempts dimethyltryptamine (DMT) from the controlled drug act.
* This bill eliminates DMT from the controlled drug act, thereby supporting the fundamental right that a person owns themselves.
* People have an inherent right to body autonomy and should not be coerced by the state with respect to what they do with or put into their own bodies.
* This bill may save a modest amount of money in enforcement, prosecution, and incarceration costs, which would provide the potential to lower property taxes.
This bill mandates the use of seatbelts.
* This bill is paternalistic in that it forces adults to wear seatbelts when traveling in motor vehicles.
* Since this bill allows for the violation as a primary enforcement, it increases the potential for contact between law enforcement and citizens, increasing the risk of adverse interactions that otherwise would be avoided.
This bill allows towns and municipalities to regulate the distribution and disposal of certain solid waste within landfills.
* This bill attempts to make it illegal to throw almost anything away. It gives municipalities the power to regulate what you can and cannot discard by applying the vacuous term 'single-use' as the only filter on this disastrously ill-conceived bill.
* New Hampshire is known for its cleanliness and beautiful forests and roadways such as the White Mountains and the Kancamagus. One of the obvious side effects of not providing easily-accesible garbage disposal is illegal roadside dumping. The potential impact to the state tourism industry is profound.
This bill exempts certain farming and agricultural operations from municipal noise ordinances.
* Farm and agricultural land owners need to be free to conduct operations suitable to their businesses and livelihood without infringement by government from noise ordinances.
* This bill protects farmers and other agricultural operators from noise complaints of new nearby residents who knowingly "moved to the nuisance" and now want to shut down existing operations.
* Prospective property purchasers are required to perform due diligence to mitigate their own dissatisfaction. The government should not rescue the willfully-ignorant from the foreseeable consequences of their inaction.
* With the proposed committee amendment, farm actvities associated with agritourism are excluded from this protection — putting farms on a similar footing to other businesses for non-agricultural uses of the property.
This bill exempts farming and agricultural operations from municipal noise ordinances.
* Farm and agricultural land owners need to be free to conduct operations suitable to their businesses and livelihood without infringement by government from noise ordinances.
* This bill protects farmers and other agricultural operators from noise complaints of new nearby residents who knowingly "moved to the nuisance" and now want to shut down existing operations.
* Prospective property purchasers are required to perform due diligence to mitigate their own dissatisfaction. The government should not rescue the willfully ignorant from the foreseeable consequences of their inaction.
This bill requires that a political contribution by a limited liability company be allocated to members for purposes of determining whether a member has exceeded the contribution limits.
* This bill would assign to members of LLCs a proportion of the political contribution limit spent by the LLC regardless of whether or not that member actually supported the political contribution.
* LLCs should not be especially penalized for campaign contributions; this would not apply to corporations and those employees therein.
* This bill would force the LLC to provide the identities of all members irrespective of whether those members endorsed the political contribution, thereby violating their right to privacy.
This bill prohibits operation of a motor vehicle while the driver has an animal of any size on his or her person.
* This bill provides a pretext for police to stop a driver who is not demonstrating any unsafe or negligent driving behavior.
This bill adds naturopathic doctors to the definition of "licensed medical practitioner" for health facilities authorized for laboratory testing.
* Naturopathic doctors are licensed by New Hampshire and require the ability to utilize laboratory testing facilities to enhance the effective health outcomes for their patients.
This bill allows a pupil's parents to pay the difference between a receiving district's school tuition cost and the sending district tuition cap in a school tuition program. With the proposed committee amendment, there must be at least one option that is a public school or public academy that does not require additional tuition payment from the parent.
* Since the "Croydon bill", a few school districts with town tuitioning have been setting a tuition cap, any amount over which would be paid by parents who selected those schools. Putting it into law would allow more districts to go this route, which can expand school choice and provide certainty to parents making use of town tuition dollars at institutions that charge a higher fee than the town's base rate.
* All current tuitioning towns already have a public school or public academy option that does not require additional tuition payment from the parents.
This bill allows a pupil's parents to pay the difference between a receiving district's school tuition cost and the sending district tuition cap in a school tuition program.
* Since the "Croydon bill", a few school districts with town tuitioning have been setting a tuition cap, any amount over which would be paid by parents who selected those schools. Putting it into law would allow more districts to go this route, which can expand school choice.
This bill repeals obsolete laws adding cost to the energy sector.
* This bill eliminates the obsolete requirement placed on energy companies by the state to submit least-cost plans on energy generation. Since most energy generation is not performed by New Hampshire energy companies it is an antiquated additional cost passed through to Granite Staters for no actual benefit.
This bill heaps additional costs and burdens on those looking to use personal wireless services.
* This bill seeks to force those who have applied for personal wireless devices such as HAM radio or cellular antennas to hire the services of a professional enginner to verify that all of the federal and state codes are being obeyed. This makes the barrier to entry for radio hobbyists so high as to effectively eliminate an activity that often inspires ingenuity and innovation.
* The state already confiscates resources from the citizens to perform code inspections. This law is a double tax on Granite Staters and should not be tolerated.
This bill prohibits medical businesses from choosing not to treat someone based on their ability to pay for the services.
* This bill would prohibit a medical business such as a hospital, employing surgeons, nurses, and others, to verify the patient's ability to pay for the proposed services such as providing proof of insurance or other credit.
* Hospitals, doctors, and nurses spent immeasurable resources in the form of time and money to obtain the skills necessary to provide the outstanding health care options available in New Hampshire. These services cannot be required for free as citizens are not slaves or indentured to servitude due to the qualities of their skills.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires the supervisors of the checklist to meet every 90 days.
* This bill increases government transparency by making the checklist maintenance process open and available to the public.
This bill establishes taxpayer-funded campaign financing for eligible candidates for governor and executive council.
* Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the campaign activities of any candidate, particularly those with whom they vigorously disagree.
* While the bill initially appropriates only $1 to the newly created fund, this is a placeholder which will eventually be funded with taxpayer dollars.
This bill legalizes the possession and use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, psilocybin, and peyote for persons 21 years of age and older.
* Some doctors are finding that the use of psychedelics can be a powerful therapy for the treatment of mental health disorders such as depression and PTSD.
* The fundamental right to self-ownership is inviolate.
* No person should, by the state, be forced to take or be prevented from taking any substance they choose.
This bill removes the household income criteria from eligibility requirements for the Education Freedom Accounts program.
* The Education Freedom Accounts have been a smashing success for providing Granite Staters with greater access to private, home, charter, or other alternative schooling options for their children for a lower tax burden on Granite Staters.
* This bill would allow all Granite Staters to opt out of public school and choose a program that will cost the taxpayer generally half as much as the public option while providing the opportunity for superior education outcomes.
* This also allows for greater innovation in the field of education in the state as the public schools are now having to compete for students as well as the private programs needing to innovate to be successful.
* This bill increases government transparency by requiring the office of professional licensure and certification to announce its meetings beforehand, allow for public commentary on matters of interest, and provide meeting materials beforehand or at the time of the meeting.
* This bill increases government transparency by requiring the office of professional licensure and certification to announce its meetings beforehand, allow for public commentary on matters of interest, and provide meeting materials beforehand or at the time of the meeting.
This bill directs the office of professional licensure and certification to provide to the public notice of its meetings and an opportunity to comment in such meetings.
* This bill increases government transparency by requiring the office of professinal licensure and certification to announce its meetings beforehand, allow for public commentary on matters of interest, and provide meeting materials beforehand or at the time of the meeting.
This bill creates (but does not fund) a new taxpayer-funded benefit.
* Shifting the cost of pharmaceuticals to New Hampshire taxpayers is a band-aid approach to a problem caused by federal and state interference in the marketplace. The answer is not to introduce additional market distortons for a select group of citizens.
* Medicaid insulin coverage is already just a $1 co-pay for up to a 90-day supply.
This bill requires licensure and inspection of massage establishments.
* Currently, massage therapists need to be licensed to work legally in New Hampshire. This bill will now require massage establishments to also obtain a license. This will increase costs to small independent businesses both to obtain the new license as well as to allocate time to work with state inspectors.
* This bill is attempting to fix a perceived law enforcement issue with unwarranted inspections that presume guilt executed by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
This bill denies children access to public education, which is paid for by dollars that have already been forcibly extracted from parents, making it more difficult for them to afford private education.
* This bill would force parents to pay for a blood test for children to test their lead levels.
* Lead poisoning is not communicable and should not be a requirement to be in class with other children.
* This pushes entrance criteria into public schools over the edge toward requiring blood tests for disclosure of any number of unnecessarily privacy-invading attributes such as a proclivity to certain potential traits based on genetic investigation.
* This bill would force parents to pay for a blood test for children to test their lead levels.
* Lead poisoning is not communicable and should not be a requirement to be in class with other children.
* This pushes entrance criteria into public schools over the edge towards requiring blood tests for disclosure of any number of unnecssarily privacy-invading attributes such as a proclivity to certain potential traits based on genetic investigation.
This bill provides that a person who has been appointed a guardian shall retain the right to access and consent to the release of his or her confidential records unless the terms of the appointment provide otherwise.
* This bill returns the liberty to a ward who was previously deemed incapacitated to release and share their very own private records with another of their choosing, which may allow another professional to render an informed opinion of their present state.
* Those under court-appointed conservatorship may find relief from their situation by offering for review documentation that the present appointed 'guardian' may find disagreeable.
This bill infringes on a person's own access to their firearms and has severe consequences if their Second Amendment right is not yielded.
* This bill is a violation of Supreme Court precedent. In the 2008 Heller decision, the court stated: "...Similarly, the requirement that any lawful firearm in the home be disassembled or bound by a trigger lock makes it impossible for citizens to use arms for the core lawful purpose of self-defense and is hence unconstitutional." (554 U.S., pp 3).
* This bill will force firearm owners to pay for the fearful emotions of some by forcing them to purchase an additional device with their firearms.
* Children are fundamentally the charge and responsiblility of their parents. This bill violates the Second Amendment while making everyone responsible for someone else's child.
* The primary ability of a person to defend themselves in their own home would be effectively disincentivized by this bill, making it far less problematic for home invaders to break in and have their way with homeowners.
* Only a parent should be held to any responsibility for the actions of their children, not "Any person who stores or leaves on premises under that person's control a loaded firearm". Homeowners, or property owners who are typically without children should have no burden of protection for someone else's child.
This bill legalizes the possession and use of cannabis for persons 21 years of age and older.
* NH remains an island in a sea of cannabis legalization; most Granite Staters live within a 30 minute drive from a cannabis dispensary in another state.
* This bill will give NH the best cannabis laws in the US, which sets the bar rather low; however, the United States is slowly becoming an epicenter of cannabis industry, with NH hopefully leading the forefront after legislation like this.
* With fentanyl and other opioid death rates at an all-time high, now is the time to start to bring an end to the failed 52-year-old War On Drugs policies that have contributed to dangerous products and underground usage that has helped to fuel the crisis.
This bill legalizes the possession and use of cannabis for persons 21 years of age and older.
* NH remains an island in a sea of cannabis legalization; most Granite Staters live within a 30 minute drive from a cannabis dispensary in another state.
* This will give NH the best cannabis laws in the US, which sets the bar rather low, but the United States is slowly becoming an epicenter of cannabis industry, with NH hopefully leading the forefront after legislation like this.
* This will result in increased prosperity and wealth for Granite Staters who grow or consume cannabis.
This bill changes the deadlines for candidates filing by nomination papers for state general elections.
* This bill decouples the filing period for candidates who wish to appear on the general election ballot but who are not participants in party primary elections from the date of the state primary.
* This only impacts candidates who run as independents or as a member of a minor political party. Currently the barrier for these candidates to appear on the ballot is substantially higher than candidates who choose to run with one of the entrenched parties that utilize taxpayer-funded primaries to select their preferred candidate. This bill would leave the existing high barriers in place but would make a modest change that would prevent changes to the primary dates from inadvertently negatively impacting these candidates who would otherwise face shortened time to gather petitions/signatures.
* While this bill on its own does not have significant impacts to liberty, the impact is significant when coupled with numerous bills from both this term and prior recent terms that seek to modify the primary date without correcting this oversight of an artificial coupling of independent candidate filings to primary elections.
This bill makes a modest increase in the income eligibility threshold for participation in the Education Freedom Accounts program.
* Education Freedom Accounts have partially shifted the locus of control from government bureaucrats to families — allowing parents additional options for their children based on their individual education needs, using funds that the state had already dedicated to education on a per-pupil basis.
* The legacy education system has failed to keep pace with the evolving improvements that are happening around the world. Shifting power from a government monopoly to families choosing in a market will spur innovation (e.g., online education, competency-based education, etc.). Having accountability rest directly on those who bear the consequences of a school's performance is superior to top-down regulatory accountability.
* Although all families should have access to their tax dollars back, this bill increases the number of families that are provided with additional choices in where and how their children are educated.
This bill makes a modest increase in the income eligibility threshold for participation in the Education Freedom Accounts program.
* Education Freedom Accounts have partially shifted the locus of control from government bureaucrats to families — allowing parents additional options for their children based on their individual education needs, using funds that the state had already dedicated to education on a per-pupil basis.
* The legacy education system has failed to keep pace with the evolving improvements that are happening around the world. Shifting power from a government monopoly to families choosing in a market will spur innovation (e.g., online education, competency-based education, etc.). Having accountability rest directly on those who bear the consequences of a school's performance is superior to top-down regulatory accountability.
* Although all families should have access to their tax dollars back, this bill increases the number of families that are provided with additional choices in where and how their children are educated.
This bill makes a modest increase in the income eligibility threshold for participation in the Education Freedom Accounts program.
* The Education Freedom Accounts have partially shifted the locus of control from government bureaucrats to families — allowing parents additional options for their children based on their individual education needs, using funds that the state had already dedicated for education on a per pupil basis.
* The legacy education system has failed to keep pace with the evolving improvements that are happening around the world. Shifting power from a government monopoly to families choosing in a market will spur innovation (e.g., online education, competency-based education, etc.). Having accountability rest directly on those who bear the consequences of a school's performance is superior to top-down regulatory accountability.
* Although all families should have access to their tax dollars back, this bill increases the number of families that are provided with additional choices in where and how their children are educated.
* Oppose both 2023-0226h and 2023-0449h amendments. The former does make a modest improvement over the existing income test in current law; however, the unamended bill is superior. The latter adopts the same small increase in income theshold but would then require income threshold testing each year. This creates a perverse incentive that puts families in a untenable position of working to improve their incomes or losing the EFA funds.
This bill reduces parental control over non-academic social and behavioral content in public schools.
* Prior to 2017, schools routinely asked students to complete non-academic surveys and questionnaires to assess their attitudes, values, decision-making, and behaviors. Some of these surveys could been seen as 'push polls' that were attempting to influence the non-academic beliefs of the student. SB43 (2017) modified our law to explicitly require parental approval for participation in these non-academic exercises. This bill would modify the existing 'opt-in' provisions to an 'opt-out' regime that would reduce parental involvement and allow for 'inadvertent' administration of potentially objectionable content.
* Parents should be fully informed on what is being asked of their children and give explicit authorization for them to participate.
* The portion of the bill that explicitly extends non-academic survey provisions to public charter schools is beneficial, however it is not worth the loss of parental control contained in the rest of the bill.
This bill would allow private passenger vehicles to display only one number plate on the rear of the vehicle.
* Many vehicle types do not include mounting brackets for a front plate, which requires owners to damage/drill into the bumper to install a mount. The state should not require owners to damage their vehicles. Alternately, some vehicle manufacturers often provide adhesive plate mounts to handle states that have a front plate requirement. These adhesive-based mounts may break free resulting in the plate becoming a hazard to other drivers.
* 20 states in the US (up from 19 in 2018 with the addition of Ohio) and 9 (of 13) Canadian jurisdictions do not require front license plates at all while another 7 states do not require them depending on certain circumstances. Vermont no longer requires a unique front plate as of 2012. Rear-plate-only vehicles are already on our roads.
This bill requires the Department of Education to design and administer a high school diploma equivalency test, which would except students age 13 or older who pass the test from school attendance requirements. The bill also provides a private right of action to enforce the provisions of the bill.
* This bill increases the opportunities for high-achieving students to graduate from high-school early and thereby potentially enter advanced training or education earlier.
* This bill is an economic opportunity for New Hampshire, as high-achieving students who graduate early will create less burden over time on the school system, while also encouraging the greatest realization of such high potential in these students.
This bill establishes certain criteria for evictions based on the landlord's intent to renovate or remove the property from the residential housing market.
* Property owners have a fundamental right to control who is on their property, when someone is present, how their property is used, and what it is being used for at all times so long as they are not infringing on the rights of their neighbors, without interference of government.
* This bill fundamentally violates property owner rights by using force to coerce Granite Staters to serve the whims of the government instead of their needs.
* This bill significantly disincentivizes investment in the severely under-supplied New Hampshire real estate market.
This bill establishes requirements for public meetings held by a school board to include a designated time period for questions from the public and answers from the board. The bill also allows an attendee of a meeting of the school board to demand which New Hampshire statute or administrative rule gives the school board the authority described in a school policy or operational procedure.
* This should not be legislation that has to be made, but it has been increasingly common for school boards to deny the public opportunities to be heard and to have their questions answered.
* Parents and members of the public have been arrested for speaking their minds at school board meetings with no knowledge of any NH statute or administrative rule that would enlighten the member of the public as to why the school board thinks that they have the authority to take that action.
* This is common sense legislation for anyone who values transparency, accountability, and basic respect towards parents and members of the public at school board meetings.
This bill expands education costs by requiring all schools in New Hampshire to serve lunch and breakfast.
* 67 more schools in New Hampshire would be required to add staff, logistical management, product, storage, preparation, and serving facilities to support the required lunch and breakfast provision, which is a massive expansion on costs to be passed down to the respective school districts.
* School districts can decide for themselves already if they would like to provide lunch or breakfast to students. There is no need for a state mandate.
This bill requires students to have been enrolled in a public school for at least one year, unless they're going into kindergarten or first grade, to qualify for Education Freedom Accounts.
* This anti-liberty bill attempts to take freedom away from families by removing their opportunity to avoid public schooling entirely.
* Education Freedom Accounts exist to provide parents the freedom to choose by whom and where their children are educated.
* The public money provided is intended for the students to achieve top-notch educational outcomes as set by their parents, not any particular system.
* Parents hold the highest responsibility, and therefore authority, for guiding their children to their successes, not the state.
This bill requires students to have been enrolled in a public school for at least one year, unless they're going into kindergarten or first grade, to qualify for Education Freedom Accounts.
* This anti-liberty bill attempts to take freedom away from families by removing their opportunity to avoid public schooling entirely.
* Education Freedom Accounts exist to provide parents the freedom to choose by whom and where their children are educated.
* The public money provided is intended for the students to achieve top-notch educational outcomes as set by their parents, not any particular system.
* Parents hold the highest responsibility, and therefore authority, for guiding their children to their successes, not the state.
This bill allows qualifying medical cannabis patients and designated caregivers to cultivate a limited number of plants for therapeutic use.
* This bill decreases medical costs for patients by allowing them to grow their own medicine.
* People should not have to choose between fearing criminal prosecution and not having access to medicine.
* This bill gives patients better access to their medicine. Many patients do not live near the few dispensaries in the state, and will benefit from this bill.
This bill requires annual determination of eligibility for awarding of Education Freedom Account funds.
* The Education Freedom Accounts should be available to all New Hampshire children, regardless of income.
* This bill would make it likely that children, once qualified and in the Education Freedom Accounts program, would be disqualified if their parents got a raise at work that would put them over the aribtrary income limit; thereby promoting poverty at the cost of children's education freedom.
This bill increases the amount for relief aid grants based on eligibility for free or reduced-priced school meals and adjusts the grants by changes in the consumer price index.
* This bill removes a barrier that prevents runaway spending by tying the already very-generous free school food program to the inflating CPI instead of its current limit of $17.5 million.
This bill prohibits possessing a firearm at a polling place.
* This bill creates an area of targets for easy criminal prey at polling locations.
* Citizens of New Hampshire should not be required to surrender their right to carry an implement of self-defense or otherwise reduce their ability to defend themselves in order to exercise their right to vote.
* This bill is largely unenforceable, as many citizens peacefully and inconspicuously carry a concealed firearm daily throughout the state.
* As with the majority of proposed weapons regulations, this bill does nothing to prevent criminals from carrying out violent acts.
* Granite Staters need to be free from constitutionally illegal restrictions on firearms in order to protect themselves and their families.
This bill expands the definition of who is an eligible student qualifying under the Education Freedom Accounts program.
* This bill serves to better protect and develop children by expanding eligibility for access to the Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) to certain groups of students regardless of the income of their parents. These groups include children in foster care, migratory children, homeless children or youths, children with a parent in the armed forces on full-time duty, English language learners, children who are persistently bullied, children with a disability, children with a documented approved manifest educational hardship, children living in school districts identified as a comprehensive support and improvement school (failing school), and children in school districts designated as being a persistently dangerous school.
* These children have a more difficult time obtaining the opportunity for an adequate education and could benefit from the EFA program by being able to use their adequacy grant money to attend a different public school or a private school, or to pay to provide for their particular special education needs.
This bill requires public playgrounds in use on or after January 1, 2024 to have solid rubber or rubber composite surfacing for accessibility to the playground and each piece of equipment.
* This bill removes the ability for towns, cities, and local communities to make their own decisions about how their public playgrounds are structured.
* This will also increase the tax rates of all towns that do not have these accommodations already made without the consent of the people that live there.
* Perhaps there is an even safer material to place; this forces a town to waste money on material that is not up to the safety standards of the town.
* Rubber is not an indigenous product and forces New Hampshire localities to purchase imported products despite the fact that better domestic products may be available.
This bill prohibits discrimination against tenants holding certain vouchers for purposes of renting dwellings.
* This bill seeks to strip property owners of their rights to their property by denying them the basic authority to decide who may or may not rent it.
* There are property owners who believe that taking tax money for payment is unjust. This compels them to violate their reasonable moral beliefs to accommodate this government mandate.
* This bill significantly disincentivizes investment in the severely under-supplied New Hampshire real estate market.
* Receiving federal rent vouchers obligates the landlord to follow different rules from the federal government that they were otherwise except from. This forces them into a different type of business of providing federal housing they didn't set out to do and may not fit into their actual business model.
This bill reduces the penalty for certain schedule I, II, III, and IV drug offenses.
* This bill reduces the number of people incarcerated for these nonviolent, victimless offenses. Currently it costs $64,233 per person per year to incarcerate someone in New Hampshire.
* This bill reduces the number of NH citizens with a felony record, and it eliminates some exorbitant fines for drug use.
* This reforms our drug laws to be more in line with the New Hampshire Constitution's Part I, Art. 18.: "No wise Legislature will affix the same punishment to the crimes of theft, forgery, and the like, which they do to those of murder and treason. Where the same undistinguishing severity is exerted against all offenses, the people are led to forget the real distinction in the crimes themselves, and to commit the most flagrant with as little compunction as they do the lightest offenses."
This bill prohibits municipal inspections of owner-occupied units within residential structures of 4 units or less.
* The NH Constitution enshrines the right to privacy, and having municipalities conduct inspections of owner-occupied buildings of 4 units or less greatly infringes on that constitutionally-protected right.
* This bill prevents the government from violating the sanctity of one's home by conducting inspections without the owner's consent.
* Owner-occupied residential structures of 4 units or less are basically houses, and most NH home owners would view it as ridiculous if their houses were inspected by the municipality.
This bill prohibits municipal inspections of owner-occupied units within residential structures of 4 units or less.
* The NH Constitution enshrines the right to privacy; having municipalities conduct inspections of owner-occupied buildings of 4 units or less greatly infringes on that constitutionally-protected right.
* This bill prevents the government from violating the sanctity of one's home by conducting inspections without the owner's consent.
* Owner-occupied residential structures of 4 units or less are basically houses, and most NH home owners would view it as ridiculous if their houses were inspected by the municipality.
* There is no reason why multi-family home owners should be treated as second-class citizens in terms of their protections from municipal inspections.
This bill would prevent foreign states from using the power of the state to deprive a New Hampshire citizen of the ability to register any vehicle due to incurring civil fines associated with an alleged toll evasion.
* Billing disputes should not be handled by invoking the heavy-handed power of the state to deny the right to travel and potentially cause a vehicle owner to lose their job. Collection of unpaid bills is a civil matter and should be handled accordingly.
* This heavy-handed state action is particularly troubling when reciprocal tolling is used, as there have been a number of high profile cases of E-ZPass improperly billing people (usatoday.com/story/news/local/2021/12/10/ri-ez-pass-truck-toll-gantry-system-incorrectly-charged-1800-cars/6460940001) as well as instances of improper bills being generated by the pay-by-plate system that is used in multiple states (cbsnews.com/chicago/news/despite-reform-instituted-last-year-some-illinois-tollway-users-struggle-to-resolve-incorrect-charges/).
This bill establishes a New Hampshire farm-to-school reimbursement program to provide children in public school with subsidized maple syrup and other local farm products.
* Local school districts already have the option of running farm-to-school programs that take into account the needs of the students and the availability of appropriate food from farms. A state taxpayer-funded program is not needed.
* Subsidy of local farm products provides an incentive for schools to purchase food that may be different from the dietary choices that the students are willing to make, potentially increasing food waste.
* The proposed committee amendment to this bill grows the allocated funding for this program from $195,000 to $745,000 (nearly a 4x increase before the bill has even passed), reminding us that even low-cost state funding programs will tend to grow to consume all available funding.
This bill establishes a county tourism development fund administered by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs and makes an appropriation therefor. The bill also establishes a county tourism grant program funded from tax on meals and rooms income.
* Tourism in New Hampshire already has state and local investments. This bill adds cost for nothing of substance.
* This bill attempts to take money from taxpayers to promote the state without stipulating any objective performance requirements for the monies spent. This is not behavior in which most responsible individuals or businesses would engage and should not be tolerated from our government.
This bill requires conservation officers to obtain a search warrant for conducting certain enforcement operations.
* Conservation officers do not have more important tasks to carry out than any other law enforcement official that should permit them to be able to operate above the law and the Constitution.
* Conservation officers have also been tasked with enforcement of other laws, in particular, motor vehicle laws (RSA 206:26,XV).
* In both the United States Constitution 4th and 5th Amendments as well as in the New Hampshire Constitution, Part First, Article 19, the government is prohibited from warrantless, unreasonable searches and people cannot be compelled to testify against themselves in a criminal proceeding. Unlike the other law enforcement agencies in the state, including the State Police that require probable cause, Fish and Game can detain and search under the far lower standard of 'reasonable and articulable suspicion'. This bill is necessary to ensure that all of the citizens of New Hampshire are treated equally under the law.
* If reconsideration passes, recommend NAY ITL.
This bill requires conservation officers to obtain a search warrant for conducting certain enforcement operations.
* Conservation officers do not have more important tasks to carry out than any other law enforcement official that should permit them to be able to operate above the law and the Constitution.
* Conservation officers have also been tasked with enforcement of other laws, in particular, motor vehicle laws (RSA 206:26,XV).
* In both the United States Constitution 4th and 5th Amendments as well as in the New Hampshire Constitution, Part First, Article 19, the government is prohibited from warrantless, unreasonable searches and people cannot be compelled to testify against themselves in a criminal proceeding. Unlike the other law enforcement agencies in the state, including the State Police that require probable cause, Fish and Game can detain and search under the far lower standard of 'reasonable and articulable suspicion'. This bill is necessary to ensure that all of the citizens of New Hampshire are treated equally under the law.
This bill modifies the procedure for physicians, physician assistants, and APRNs to prescribe certain non-opioid and opioid controlled drugs by means of telemedicine.
* This bill improves liberty through granting quicker and more efficient access to needed medicines via telemedicine with patients who already have an established patient-provider relationship.
This bill clarifies existing law so that penalties for the unlicensed practice of a profession regulated under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification do not apply so long as the person practicing does not hold themselves out as being licensed or certified and discloses the fact that he or she is not licensed or certified.
* Occupational licensing offers little in the way of benefit, except for those who benefit from the limited competition that results from raising barriers for would-be entrepreneurs.
* This bill would increase liberty by allowing consumers who would like the option of working with an unlicensed professional to do so without negatively impacting individuals who prefer the government stamp of approval by retaining state licensing structure, but not imposing penalties on individuals who are open with potential customers.
* Democrat members of the House should consider supporting this bill as it aligns with the NH Democratic platform plank of "We recognize the importance of our immigrant population to our workforce and economic growth." A study by the Federal Reserve found that nationally, workers of color are less likely to be licensed (www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2022/how-occupational-licensing-limits-access-to-jobs-among-workers-of-color) and even within education groups, workers of color are underrepresented among licensed workers.
* Republican members of the House should consider supporting this bill as it aligns with multiple NH Republican platform planks including: "Remove barriers to business formation and encourage small businesses", "Minimize business regulations, permits, licenses and paperwork".
* All members of the House should vote OTP on this bill as it aligns with the NH Constitution — "[Art.] 2. [Natural Rights.] All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, and protecting, property; and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by this state on account of race, creed, color, sex or national origin."
This bill removes the exemption from the tobacco tax on premium cigars.
* This bill would directly erode the New Hampshire Advantage. NH presently has no tax on cigars. That fact has specifically drawn multiple cigar companies to NH; several moved here when MA imposed its cigar tax in 1996.
* This bill seeks to raise revenue for the state, but will ultimately fail in doing so as the business taxes paid by cigar sellers and other businesses that benefit from the out-of-state traffic the sales generate would be lost due to decreased premium cigar sales.
This bill requires towns, cities, state departments, and state institutions to coordinate with a new "complete streets" advisory committee to plan and follow the complete streets program.
* This bill would increase costs to municipalties or force them to downshift costs to local taxpayers while seeing their tax dollars used to expand infrastructure in other towns.
* This provides an incentive for a nationally-set strategy for local streets that may not align with the needs of the local taxpayer.
This bill raises the threshold price for allowance sales eligible for rebate under the energy efficiency fund.
* This bill would increase yearly ratepayer costs by $6.7 million in the first year and $70 million or more over the next ten years.
* Granite Staters are suffering under the burden of drastically-inflated energy rates and do not need their government creating even more unnecessary, self-inflicted pain.
This bill directs the commissioner of the Department of Revenue Administration to annually set the tobacco and nicotine tax based on the rates charged by neighboring states (MA, VT, and ME), and directs the commissioner to produce a report detailing the uses of such taxes.
* The New Hampshire advantage exists due in part to our low taxes and as such, people from all over the Northeast and the country patronize New Hampshire.
* The present 65% tax rate on tobacco products is already uncharacteristically punitive of New Hampshire and should not be capable of being adjusted up based on the command of an un-elected bureaucrat.
*If anything, taxes on tobacco and alcohol should be eliminated to further drive business, prosperity, and wealth into NH.
This bill expands occupational licensing without a compelling public interest.
* Music therapy does not include the screening, diagnosis, or assessment of any physical, mental, or communication disorder. Music therapists are not qualified mental health professionals.
* This bill simply creates a new state-granted barrier of entry into a profession. This will limit consumer choices, ultimately growing state government under the guise of providing an option for such therapy to be covered under health insurance.
This bill expands occupational licensing without a compelling public interest.
* Music therapy does not include the screening, diagnosis, or assessment of any physical, mental, or communication disorder. Music therapists are not qualified mental health professionals.
* This bill would simply create a new state-granted barrier of entry into a profession that will limit consumer choices and ultimately grow state government under the guise of providing an option for such therapy to be covered under health insurance.
This bill creates a water assistance fund to be used to repair and replace drinking water treatment sources damaged by natural disasters. The bill also makes an appropriation to the fund.
* This bill pointlessly allocates $5 million from the general fund to a new 'water assistance' fund. There is already a rainy day fund that would more effectively and efficiently provide relief for any type of disaster as the legislature sees fit.
This bill creates a water assistance fund to be used to repair and replace drinking water treatment sources damaged by natural disasters. The bill also makes an appropriation to the fund.
* This bill pointlessly allocates $5 million from the general fund to a new 'water assistance' fund. There is already a rainy day fund that would more effectively and efficiently provide relief for any type of disaster as the legislature sees fit.
This bill allows school districts to adopt a program for local education freedom accounts for a parent of an eligible student to receive a grant from a scholarship organization for qualifying educational expenses at a public school, chartered public school, nonpublic school, or program approved by the Department of Education.
* Education Freedom Accounts have allowed for unparalleled innovation in increasing educational outomes, enhancing liberty and free choice, and moving towards a cost-effective, industry-responsive educational model that will enhance opportunities for Granite Staters.
* Expanding this program to local communities will increase access to participation in the program.
This bill prohibits a public elementary or secondary school from conducting a vaccination clinic during school hours.
* The intended use of a public school is for education and this bill will allow those institutions to focus on education and protect them from expensive mission creep.
* Vaccine availability is already prolific at pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals. This bill targets the very definition of wasteful spending.
* Parents, not public schools, are responsible for the health and well-being of their children with respect to vaccination.
This bill removes money from the state's rainy day fund, which was established to address revenue shortfalls that result from things such as recessions, to a new program that rewards public schools that increase mathematics test scores in statewide assessments.
* This bill establishes a dangerous precedent of pulling from a fund that was explicitly established to address shortfalls that result when general fund revenues in the most-recently-completed fiscal biennium were less than the budget forecast. Repurposing these funds for other purposes weakens the purpose of the fund and undermines public trust.
* The bill allows the Department of Education to determine criteria to qualify for awards. While they may choose wise criteria, if too few schools qualify, there will be pressure to reduce the standards over time and no legislative oversight or guidance is present to prevent this.
* The bill may have unintended consequences. Under RSA 193-C:6, parents may opt their children out of the statewide standardized assessment. While we support this option, there is a risk that a school may advise or pressure families of students with educational challenges to consider alternatives to standardized testing based not on what is best for the child as an individual but rather what is best for causing test scores to rise.
This bill removes the rulemaking authority of the commissioner of health and human services on immunization requirements beyond those diseases identified in statute.
* This bill limits the required vaccinations to those explicitly stated in RSA 141-C:20-a.
* This bill would further remove the ability of unelected officials from dictating that parents vaccinate children with new and unproven therapies.
This bill requires a landlord of certain residential property to provide additional notice of a prospective rent increase.
* Requiring additional government mandates to a consensual agreement between two parties undermines the purpose of the contract and restricts the freedom to contract and of association.
* It is standard in lease agreements for landlords to warn tenants of a rent increase, so mandating this is pointless and just creates more barriers to investment in New Hampshire's greatly stressed real estate market.
This bill limits the amounts of funds distributed from the education trust fund to the Education Freedom Accounts program to budgeted sums.
* The Education Freedom Accounts are not intended to be a separate tax on the citizens, but a direct replacement for public education through school choice.
* This bill would de facto create a new tax cost in New Hampshire where instead of using the public's education funding for the education of their choice, they now have to generate new tax revenue.
This bill establishes an additional inflationary entitlement program by expanding the WIC program.
* Welfare programs are detrimental to the people who are on them and to the taxpayer. While reestablishing a Farmers Market Program for WIC recipients may sound nice, it will actually just be incentivizing buying overpriced food paid for by the taxpayer.
* This may also result in farmers market food becoming more expensive due to the increase in demand as a result of the flood of new cash into the market. This is a double whammy for taxpayers, who are also forced to pay for this program.
This bill provides for an orderly end to the New Hampshire controlled drug act.
* This bill would effectively end the failed drug war conducted by New Hampshire and allow for there to be a smooth transition with a legislative committee to accommodate the transition.
* The drug war has claimed countless lives, endless destruction of property, and has resulted in an untold number of years of incarceration for innocent people who simply changed their consciousness.
This bill allows an eligible incarcerated person to apply for parole upon the completion of 65 percent of such person's minimum sentence.
* This bill allows an incarcerated person serving more than a 5-year sentence to be considered for parole at 65% of their sentence, provided they were not convicted of certain violent crimes and their minimum original sentence was 7.5 years.
* The Department of Corrections says this bill could affect up to 915 inmates.
* Releasing such non-violent inmates from prison will save the State $54,386/year per inmate.
* This bill will reduce the burden on society of keeping these inmates in prison, and give them a second chance to be productive members of society.
This bill adds self-identified race and ethnicity as optional information that may be included on a driver's license and nondriver's picture identification card and requires law enforcement agencies to collect such data.
* When the government is given the ability to easily identify the race or ethnicity of their population, there has historically been a negative outcome. While we might imagine the state only using such data for positive purposes, such a system is equally likely to be abused.
* Having law enforcement agencies collect this information is especially problematic given the history of the police as it pertains to race.
This bill adds compliance requirements for education service providers requesting payment from Education Freedom Account funds, including criminal history records checks of employees with direct contact with students.
* The Education Freedom Accounts are available to New Hampshire parents who do not see the public school system as the best environment to achieve the highest educational outcomes for their children.
* This bill attempts to enforce those policies, which in part make the public school system an exceedingly poor choice for many, onto the alternative providers parents have selected to assist in the education of their children.
* This bill would add an anchor of unnecessary regulation, thereby making it too costly for talented independent education providers to offer desired services.
* Instead of attempting to limit choice, public school systems should embrace the challenge to compete for the highest educational outcomes for the children of New Hampshire.
This bill requires that upon enrolling in a public school an Education Freedom Account program student's participation and funding are terminated. The bill also requires audits by the scholarship organization and investigation of misuses of funds.
* This bill closes a loophole that allowed those who returned to the public school system from the Education Freedom Account program from continuing to spend previously awarded EFA grants.
* This will reduce extra cost to the education system by preventing double-spending.
This bill requires local law enforcement give public notice when a federal agency intends to conduct an immigration checkpoint.
* Part 1, Article 19 of the New Hampshire Constitution notes the "...right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions." In STATE v. KOPPEL (1985), the NH Supreme Court noted that "Stopping and detaining an automobile and its occupants, whether by roving patrol or roving roadblock, constitutes a seizure within the meaning of article 19 of our State Constitution."
* In STATE v. HUNT (2007), the Supreme Court found "To justify the search or seizure of a motor vehicle, absent probable cause or even a reasonable suspicion that a criminal offense is being committed, the State must prove that its conduct significantly advances the public interest in a manner that outweighs the accompanying intrusion on individual rights. It must further prove that no less intrusive means are available to accomplish the State's goal.". Checkpoints at the border are clearly less intrusive than random stops of people traveling within the state. While the federal government may not be bound by the NH Constitution, our state law enforcement officers are and should make every effort to minimize undesired infringement and seizure.
* Notification is consistent with the approach New Hampshire uses for sobriety checkpoints.
This bill requires local law enforcement give public notice when a federal agency intends to conduct an immigration checkpoint.
* Part 1, Article 19 of the New Hampshire Constitution notes the "...right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions." In STATE v. KOPPEL (1985), the NH Supreme Court noted that "Stopping and detaining an automobile and its occupants, whether by roving patrol or roving roadblock, constitutes a seizure within the meaning of article 19 of our State Constitution."
* In STATE v. HUNT (2007), the Supreme Court found "To justify the search or seizure of a motor vehicle, absent probable cause or even a reasonable suspicion that a criminal offense is being committed, the State must prove that its conduct significantly advances the public interest in a manner that outweighs the accompanying intrusion on individual rights. It must further prove that no less intrusive means are available to accomplish the State's goal.". Checkpoints at the border are clearly less intrusive than random stops of people traveling within the state. While the federal government may not be bound by the NH Constitution, our state law enforcement officers are and should take every effort to minimize undesired infringement and seizure.
* Notification is consistent with the approach New Hampshire uses for sobriety checkpoints.
This bill changes the administration of Education Freedom Accounts from non-profit scholarship organizations to the Department of Education.
* The Department of Education would have to expend taxpayer funds to set up staff and infrastructure that the non-profit scholarship organization already has in place with no clear return on investment. Costs to adminster the program would, over time, grow as expensive taxpayer-funded retirement programs are expanded to provide benefits to the additional staff who would run the program.
This bill changes the administration of the Education Freedom account from non-profit scholarship organizations to the Department of Education.
* The Department of Education would have to expend taxpayer funds to set up staff and infrastructure that the non-profit scholarship organization already has in place with no clear return on investment. Costs to adminster the program would, over time, grow as expensive taxpayer-funded retirement programs are expanded to provide benefits to the additional staff who would run the program.
This bill establishes a student bill of entitlements.
* This bill introduces a 'student bill of rights' that mostly says that any rights listed in the US or NH Constitutions apply to students in public schools. However, it also lists some entitlements, which should never be conflated with rights.
* This bill would be aligned with liberty if it simply stated that schools have to apply the US and NH Constitutions to students in public schools.
* This bill conflates rights with entitlements. The entitlement of one person requires the enslavement of another. Rights require nothing more than to simply live and let live.
This bill legalizes cannabis in New Hampshire.
* This bill would increase personal freedom by allowing adults 21 and older to purchase, possess, transport, and give away (but not sell) up to four ounces of cannabis, twenty grams of concentrated cannabis, and infused products with 2000 milligrams of THC.
* Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
* Polls have consistently shown that a substantial majority of Granite Staters support legalizing cannabis (scholars.unh.edu/survey_center_polls/689).
* A federal judge has recently ruled that prohibitions on firearms ownership simply for the use of cannabis is unconstitutional. While it is likely that further court battles on the topic remain, concerns expressed over the potential impact to gun rights are paternalistic.
This bill legalizes cannabis in New Hampshire.
* This bill would increase personal freedom by allowing adults 21 and older to purchase, possess, transport, and give away (but not sell) up to four ounces of cannabis, twenty grams of concentrated cannabis, and infused products with 2000 milligrams of THC.
* Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
* Polls have consistently shown that a substantial majority of Granite Staters support legalizing cannabis (scholars.unh.edu/survey_center_polls/689).
* A federal judge has recently ruled that prohibitions on firearms ownership simply for the use of cannabis is unconstitutional. While it is likely that further court battles on the topic remain, concerns expressed over the potential impact to gun rights are paternalistic.
This bill legalizes cannabis in New Hampshire.
* This bill would increase personal freedom by allowing adults 21 and older to purchase, possess, transport, and give away (but not sell) up to four ounces of cannabis, twenty grams of concentrated cannabis, and infused products with 2000 milligrams of THC.
* Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
* Polls have consistently shown that a substantial majority of Granite Staters support legalizing cannabis (scholars.unh.edu/survey_center_polls/689).
* A federal judge has recently ruled that prohibitions on firearms ownership simply for the use of cannabis is unconstitutional. While it is likely that further court battles on the topic remain, concerns expressed over the potential impact to gun rights are paternalistic.
This resolution urges congress to enact unconstitutional and ineffective laws relative to firearms.
* All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property, and the state. The state of New Hampshire should not be urging members of congress to infringe upon the right to self-defense.
This bill increases the permitted number of game dates of bingo allowed for licensees each month and within each calendar year.
* With the exception of a role to address fraud, the state should have no role in regulating bingo games that people consent to participate in. If the state is to be engaged in it though, it should increase the number of licenses allowed.
*An improvement would be to remove the licensing system for bingo games altogether, or to increase the amount of licenses such that the number of licenses that could be obtained is essentially unlimited.
* Bingo is disproportionately played by the elderly community; allowing for more bingo will encourage the retirement community in NH to flourish and promote more prosperity and happiness in NH.
This bill will result in significant expenditures to support the growing number of older adults in the state to, among other things, allow them to stay in their homes by increasing the total tax burden on younger generations — many of whom cannot afford to buy homes.
* This bill continues the great tradition of needing to pass bills to see what is in them, as the costs for the annually expanding programs are characterized within the fiscal note as "significant" and "indeterminable".
* While it is a laudable goal to allow elderly to remain in their homes, doing so while increasing the future tax burden on the young, many of whom can't afford homes of their own, will only serve to accelerate the flight of younger families from the state, resulting in a unsustainable cost spiral and future tax increases.
* While initially a portion of the expanded programs are paid for with federal funds, it is worth noting that the New Hampshire families also pay federal taxes, and with the federal deficit swelling to $1.4 trillion in 2023 and expected to grow to $2 trillion in 2024 and beyond (www.cbo.gov/publication/58848), we are building a new entitlement on a foundation that will not hold and putting state taxpayers on the hook for additional future costs when the federal funds inevitably dry up.
* The police already have the authority to arrest people if they view someone committing a crime or have probable cause to believe that the person will cause further personal injury or damage to property.
* Amendment 2023-1490h, part (c) would allow for the following scenario: "A parent brings their child in for medical care (such as stiches). The attending provider decides they need an mRNA vaccine in addition to the stiches. The parent declines. The healthcare provider decides the ends justify the means and claim a preceived threat of violence. The parent is arrested by an officer on the report of the healthcare provider and the child is given the vaccine against the wishes of their parent."
This bill lowers the threshold needed for a warrantless arrest in medical facilities.
* This bill lowers the threshold for a warrantless arrest without defining "threatened violence".
* The police already have the authority to arrest people if they view someone committing a crime or have probable cause to believe that the person will cause further personal injury or damage to property.
This bill lowers the threshold needed for a warrantless arrest in medical facilities.
* This bill would lower the threshold for a warrantless arrest without defining "threatened violence".
* The police already have the authority to arrest people if they view someone committing a crime or have probable cause to believe that the person will cause further personal injury or damage to property.
This bill lowers the threshold needed for a warrantless arrest in medical facilities.
* This bill would lower the threshold for a warrantless arrest without defining "threatened violence".
* The police already have the authority to arrest people if they view someone committing a crime or have probable cause to believe that the person will cause further personal injury or damage to property.
This bill lowers the threshold needed for a warrantless arrest in medical facilities, to "actual or threatened violence".
* This bill would lower the threshold for a warrantless arrest without defining "threatened violence". One wonders, if a patient refuses to wear a mask or take a vaccine, could they be accused of "threatening violence"?
* The police already have the authority to arrest people if they view someone committing a crime, with no requirement for a warrant.
This bill requires that utilities purchase power from non-profit net energy metering generators with a total peak generating capacity up to 5 megawatts at a non-market rate.
* This bill subsidizes non-profit entities that choose to operate large scale energy generation facilities by increasing the subsidized net metering cap from the current 1 megawatt limit up to 5 megawatts.
* The recipients of these subsidies will get millions more at the expense of others without providing any substantial benefits to the grid, as the energy from these systems is often intermittent and unreliable.
* Large subsidies for renewables no longer make sense, as studies claim that alternatives such as solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. If this is true, then operators of these facilities already have a significant competitive advantage and would not require subsidy to operate.
This bill requires State Board of Education rules on manifest educational hardship to allow for a school board's assignment of a pupil to an approved private school.
* This bill enables greater freedom of choice for parents and school superintendents by permitting the assignment of students facing "manifest hardship" to approved private schools.
* This bill provides additional opportunities for enhancing educational outcomes for students who are not well-suited to their current public school assignments.
This bill risks shifting utility rate costs from industrial and municipal hosts to consumers by allowing for subsidy to those that use the electrical grid as a zero-cost energy storage solution (the large institutions) while shifting costs to consumers.
* This bill subsidizes industrial hosts that choose to operate large scale energy generation facilities by increasing the subsidized net metering cap from the current 1 megawatt limit up to 5 megawatts for industrial hosts.
* The recipients of these subsidies will get millions more at the expense of others without providing guaranteed benefits to the grid, as the energy from these systems is often intermittent and unreliable.
* Large subsidies for renewables no longer make sense, as studies claim that solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. If this is true, then operators of these facilities already have a significant competitive advantage and would not require subsidy to be profitable.
* Forcing utilities to purchase additional excess power without regard to when the grid needs the power is a state-mandated handout to big business.
* This bill subsidizes industrial hosts that choose to operate large scale energy generation facilities by increasing the subsidized net metering cap from the current 1 megawatt limit up to 5 megawatts.
* The recipients of these subsidies will get millions more at the expense of others without providing any substantial benefits to the grid, as the energy from these systems is often intermittent and unreliable.
* Large subsidies for renewables no longer make sense, as studies claim that solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. If this is true, then operators of these facilities already have a significant competitive advantage and would not require subsidy to be profitable.
This bill would increase costs for New Hampshire ratepayers by requiring utilities to purchase power from industrial hosts (public or private entities) with a total peak generating capacity up to 5 megawatts at a non-market rate.
* This bill subsidizes industrial hosts that choose to operate large scale energy generation facilities by increasing the subsidized net metering cap from the current 1 megawatt limit up to 5 megawatts.
* The recipients of these subsidies will get millions more at the expense of others without providing any substantial benefits to the grid, as the energy from these systems is often intermittent and unreliable.
* Large subsidies for renewables no longer make sense, as studies claim that solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. If this is true, then operators of these facilities already have a significant competitive advantage and would not require subsidy to be profitable.
* Whether or not a New Hampshire citizen chooses to gamble online or elsewhere should not be infringed through government regulation.
* This bill attempts to prey on Granite Staters who choose to gamble to pay for further expanding the state government by spending more on unnecessary gambling regulation and growing the state's community college expenditures.
* Whether or not a New Hampshire citizen chooses to gamble online or elsewhere should not be infringed through government regulation.
* This bill attempts to prey on Granite Staters who choose to gamble to pay for further expanding the state government by spending more on unnecessary gambling regulation and growing the state's community college expenditures.
This bill regulates online gambling and directs the net proceeds to a newly established community college education scholarship fund.
* Whether or not a New Hampshire citizen chooses to gamble online or elsewhere should not be infringed through government regulation.
* This bill attempts to prey on Granite Staters who choose to gamble to pay for further expanding the state government by spending more on unnecessary gambling regulation and growing the state's community college expenditures.
This bill protects privacy by providing that only de-identified information shall be submitted on the facility worksheet for a live birth.
* This bill promotes personal privacy as well as the freedom of choice by a mother for release or confidentiality of her personal information.
* It removes the possibility that omission of certain information on a live birth worksheet may result in a violation or criminal penalty.
This bill changes the age of a child for the purpose of negligent storage of firearms from 16 to 18.
* In NH, it is common for parents to take their 16-year-olds hunting and to provide them with ready access to firearms for this purpose.
* This greatly infringes on the parent's right to provide their responsible 16-year-olds with access to their firearms for the purposes of hunting and self-defense.
* The parents already have an increased responsibility to ensure that their 16-year-olds act responsibly around firearms. This just denies New Hampshire's responsible 16-year-olds the ability to own and have ready access to firearms if needed.
* Historically, New Hampshire people aged 16 years have not been wreckless handlers of firearms.
This bill changes the age of a child for the purpose of negligent storage of firearms from 16 to 18.
* In NH, it is common for parents to take their 16-year-olds hunting and to provide them with ready access to firearms for this purpose.
* This greatly infringes on the parent's right to provide their responsible 16-year-olds with access to their firearms for the purposes of hunting and self-defense.
* The parents already have an increased responsibility to ensure that their 16-year-olds act responsibly around firearms. This just denies New Hampshire's responsible 16-year-olds the ability to own and have ready access to firearms if needed.
* Historically, New Hampshire people aged 16 years have not been wreckless handlers of firearms.
This bill exempts members of charitable organizations who do not participate directly in the operation of games of chance from background and criminal records checks.
* This bill enhances access for people to charitable organizations by reducing the barrier to entry.
* Reducing this unnecessary restriction allows for those who may not pass a background check to participate in charitable organizations, which may provide a rehabilitative opportunity.
This bill exempts members of charitable organizations who do not participate directly in the operation of games of chance from background and criminal records checks.
* This bill enhances access for people to charitable organizations by reducing the barrier to entry.
* Reducing this unnecessary restriction allows for those who may not pass a background check to participate in charitable organizations, which may provide a rehabilitative opportunity.
This bill requires cities and towns to comply with potentially-unconstitutional detainer requests.
* This bill would require police departments to enforce ICE detainers, which have been declared in the First Circuit to be a violation of the Fourth Amendment. As a result, this bill violates Article 19 of the NH Constitution as well as the US Fourth Amendment. See the case Morales v. Chadbourne (www.aclu.org/cases/immigrants-rights/morales-v-chadbourne).
* Officers and towns would be subject to 18 USC 1983 civil rights claims, which would result in towns having to pay monetary settlements, and thus increase town budgets.
* Local officials and law enforcement agencies would incur costs to enforce federal laws of potentially no interest to the local taxpayers — who would ultimately be forced to pay for these activities.
This bill requires cities and towns to comply with potentially unconstitutional detainer requests.
* This bill would require police departments to enforce ICE detainers, which have been declared in the First Circuit to be a violation of the Fourth Amendment. As a result, this bill violates Article 19 of the NH Constitution as well as the US Fourth Amendment. See the case Morales v. Chadbourne (www.aclu.org/cases/immigrants-rights/morales-v-chadbourne).
* Officers and towns would be subject to 18 USC 1983 civil rights claims, which would result in towns having to pay monetary settlements, and thus increase town budgets.
This bill requires cities and towns to comply with potentially unconstitutional detainer requests.
* This bill would require police departments to enforce ICE detainers, which have been declared in the First Circuit to be a violation of the Fourth Amendment. As a result, this bill violates Article 19 of the NH Constitution as well as the US Fourth Amendment. See the case Morales v. Chadbourne (www.aclu.org/cases/immigrants-rights/morales-v-chadbourne).
* Officers and towns would be subject to 18 USC 1983 civil rights claims, which would result in towns having to pay monetary settlements, and thus increase town budgets.
This bill creates a requirement to attend government institutions in a program designed to allow parents the choice of keeping their children from those institutions.
*The Education Freedom Accounts are quite popular and successful at providing parents and students with a higher quality education at a lower cost to the taxpayer.
*There is no logical reason as to why a child must be subjected to a lower quality, more expensive government institution at the expense of the taxpayer.
* The goal of public support for education is to support the young student, not the failing infrastructure, systems, or unions. The investment should be completely tied to the child, and the child's parents should have the freedom to choose where, how, what, and by whom their child is educated.
*The purpose of this bill is to undermine this successful program, which should instead be expanded.
This bill creates a requirement to attend government institutions in a program designed to allow parents the choice of keeping their children from those institutions.
*The Education Freedom Accounts are quite popular and successful at providing parents and students with a higher quality education at a lower cost to the taxpayer.
*There is no logical reason as to why a child must be subjected to a lower quality, more expensive government institution at the expense of the taxpayer.
* The goal of public support for education is to support the young student, not the failing infrastructure, systems, or unions. The investment should be completely tied to the child, and the child's parents should have freedom to choose where, how, what, and by whom their child is educated.
*The purpose of this bill is to undermine this successful program which should instead be expanded.
This bill assigns taxpayer money to individuals based on racial preferences.
* This bill increases the burden on taxpayers to support a program which will allow public monies to be redistributed based on racial preference.
* The free market is the best measure of goods and services and should decide which ones get supported.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce. The well-meaning carve out for younger employees adds a further barrier to older unskilled staff entering the workforce, potentially putting a path to employment forever out of their reach.
* Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill creates a new, expansive state government program to redistribute taxpayer dollars in an attempt to pick winners in the housing development market.
* This bill grows government by spending more than $28 million in taxpayer money in the next two years so that the state can pick housing development winners, which will likely be in the urban centers around the Seacoast, Manchester, and Nashua at the expense of all others in the state.
* The urban centers already have the financial wherewithal to grow their advanced and expensive housing infrastructure.
* This bill is unethical as it will also reduce the opportunities for rural communities to expand low-cost housing in their towns with their own money as their money is taxed away by the state.
* The non-coercive way to incentivize the thriving New Hampshire economy to build more workforce housing is to reduce state interference such that private investment costs and delays are significantly decreased.
* Once begun, this program will likely grow and become more expensive. Additionally, it will be quite difficult to end as the tyranny of the majority will likely overwhelm the smaller representation of the rural areas.
This bill creates a new, expansive state government program to redistribute taxpayer dollars in an attempt to pick winners in the housing development market.
* This bill grows government by spending more than $28 million in taxpayer money in the next two years so that the state can pick housing development winners, which will likely be in the urban centers around the Seacoast, Manchester, and Nashua at the expense of all others in the state.
* The urban centers already have the financial wherewithal to grow their advanced and expansive housing infrastructure.
* This bill is unethical as it will also reduce the opportunities for rural communities to expand low-cost housing in their towns with their own money as their money is taxed away by the state.
* The non-coercive way to incentivize the thriving New Hampshire economy to build more workforce housing is to reduce state interference such that private investment costs and delays are significantly decreased.
* Once begun, this program will likely grow and become more expensive. Additionally, it will be quite difficult to end as the tyranny of the majority will likely overwhelm the smaller representation of the rural areas.
This bill places state-imposed limits on the interactions between businesses and potential employees, resulting in nurses being less aware of employment opportunities which may be superior to their current employment.
* This bill mandates the use of taxpayer funds by involving the OPLC to enforce terms that Health Care Facilities could otherwise establish through voluntary contracts with Nurse Agencies.
* Additionally, the bill hinders a nursing agency's potential to offer higher wages to nurses willing to work under conditions they may consider high-risk. This restriction infringes upon individual choice, and like all price controls, will ultimately lead to service shortages.
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish a marine trades pathway at a regional career technology center, establishes a career and technical education workforce development and innovation fund, and establishes an offshore wind industry workforce training center committee in the Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
* While government-sponsored job training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
* The state should not have a role in determining the training that businesses will require, nor should taxpayers be forced to subsidize the training programs of specific industries.
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish a marine trades pathway at a regional career technology center, establishes a career and technical education workforce development and innovation fund, and establishes an offshore wind industry workforce training center committee in the Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
* While government-sponsored job training programs are effective at spending taxpayer money, there is little evidence that they have any lasting impacts. Taxpayers have been funding jobs programs since the 1960s, yet federal auditors can find little evidence that they are effective: Government Accountability Office, "Multiple Employment and Training Programs," GAO-11-92, January 2011, p. 11 (www.gao.gov/new.items/d1192.pdf).
* The state should not have a role in determining the training that businesses will require.
This bill prohibits the use of Off Highway Recreational Vehicles (OHRVs) on designated trails, and requires a permit to operate certain OHRVs from before sunrise to after sunset.
* Granite state taxpayers who own and enjoy OHRVs should not be arbitrarily restricted from using them recreationally.
* There is a long history of freely and responsibly using OHRVs for purposeful travel and recreation in New Hampshire, which should not be abrogated.
*Utilizing OHRVs is vital to many Granite Staters being able to reach their destinations, especially up north where it can snow a lot and the plowing is not as rigorous as the southern part of the state.
*OHRVs are also vital to tourism and recreation and should not be restricted on those grounds alone.
*Granite Staters should not be denied means of transportation that are vital in being able to travel in challenging weather conditions or for recreation.
*Sunset and sunrise occur fairly quickly during the winter and people must use OHRVs to reach their destinations and should not be impeded from doing so by regulations that are disconnected from life in the north.
This bill defines biodiversity and requires its inclusion in certain land use regulations, and creates a formal contract to preserve the rights of domestic animals and wild animals.
* This bill inserts a new requirement to protect "biodiversity" into numerous land use regulations throughout the NH RSAs.
* This bill fundamentally infringes upon private property rights, increases costs and regulations to private property owners, and restricts their rights to their own land.
* Much of this bill could be construed as a regulatory taking of private property.
* These infringements upon private property are a violation of Part I, Arts. 2 and 12 of the NH Constitution.
* This bill additionally attempts to extend the concept of human rights to animals.
This bill significantly expands Medicaid costs.
* In 2019, New Hampshire spent $2.16 billion on Medicaid for its 1.361 million residents, of which 72,901 were Medicaid recipients. New Hampshire taxpayers delivered an incredibly generous $29,629 per Medicaid recipient (https://www.medicaid.gov/state-overviews/scorecard/annual-medicaid-chip-expenditures/index.html , https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt476/files/documents/2021-11/adultmedicaidenrollment100119.pdf).
* In 2023 and going forward, this bill would vastly increase the number of Medicaid recipients, the amount of money taken from taxpayers, and the amount spent per recipient.
* The amount spent on Medicaid should be restructured to include these services without increasing the total spent.
* In addition to supporting this handout, 94.6% of all residents in New Hampshire do not get Medicaid support for their own health care costs. This expenditure is grossly unfair to those who manage their health and expenses without this state handout.
This bill significantly expands Medicaid costs.
* In 2019, New Hampshire spent $2.16 billion on Medicaid for its 1.361 million residents, of which 72,901 were Medicaid recipients. New Hampshire taxpayers delivered an incredibly generous $29,629 per Medicaid recipient (https://www.medicaid.gov/state-overviews/scorecard/annual-medicaid-chip-expenditures/index.html , https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt476/files/documents/2021-11/adultmedicaidenrollment100119.pdf).
* In 2023 and going forward, this bill would vastly increase the number of Medicaid recipients, the amount of money taken from taxpayers, and the amount spent per recipient.
* The amount spent on Medicaid should be restructured to include these services without increasing the total spent.
* In addition to supporting this handout, 94.6% of all residents in New Hampshire do not get Medicaid support for their own health care costs. This expenditure is grossly unfair to those who manage their health and expenses without this state handout.
This bill creates an electric bicycle incentive and rebate program and fund for low-income workers and makes an appropriation to the fund.
* This bill potentially harms good health outcomes for low-income residents as it encourages them to spurn traditional, exercise-powered bicycles for expensive electrically-powered versions.
* This introduces an artificial factor into the market that will increase costs and decrease quality of products to the consumer as electric bikes will respond accordingly to this rebate.
* Electric bikes are impractical for NH unless someone lives in Manchester, Nashua, or Portsmouth, so this legislation forces people that live outside of the cities to subsidize the lifestyles of city dwellers.
* Even for city dwellers this is impractical for almost half of the year given that it is too snowy and cold to use them during the winter.
* This is a misallocation of resources that will harm consumers that value electric bikes and Granite Staters who do not purchase electric bikes.
This bill allows Lucky 7 tickets sold in conjunction with bingo games to be sold starting at 8 a.m. instead of noon.
* Charitable organizations should be free to run fundraising events at any time they choose. This bill slightly relaxes state-imposed restrictions.
* The NH lottery allows for online gambling 24 hours a day. The state should not use its monopoly to restrict the actions of charitable organizations further than restrictions that it imposes on itself.
This bill allocates $5 million of taxpayer money to a fund that will be used for grants and loans where state bureaucrats will attempt to pick the next winning technology that will contribute to lowering housing costs.
* The state and its political subdivisions have created a 'housing crisis' through aggressive land use restrictions and incremental increases in regulations on housing. It now tries to mitigate this by attempting to replace market forces with the wisdom of govermment bureaucrats, who will redirect taxpayer money to poltiically-connected crony capitalists. While there is little evidence that such programs provide the values that they promise, they certainly do provide opportunities for photo opportunities for politicians and help to support the politically-connected class.
This bill requires licensure and inspection of massage establishments.
* Currently, massage therapists need to be licensed to work legally in New Hampshire. This bill will now require massage establishments to also obtain a license.
* This will increase costs to small independent businesses both to obtain the new license as well as to allocate time to work with state inspectors. This will be a disproportionate burden on owner/operator establishments in that not only will they have to pay a new license fee but they also may have to cancel client appointments to work with the inspector if they accept any walk-in clients.
* This bill allows license revocation or suspension if the licensee "has engaged in illegal activity" (proposed RSA 328-B:8 VI.) which is subjective, overly broad, and may not require conviction before punishment.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, would allocate $55 million for taxpayer-subsidized housing projects.
* The projects that are funded by these programs needlessly encourage the creation of high density low-income housing, which crowds out other affordable housing options and raises artificial barriers that families must cross in order to distinguish themselves from those who do not strive for improved wages and living conditions.
* Concentrating poor or low-income people in a small area, whether in the projects or due to the fact that only certain housing providers are willing and able to accept payment through welfare programs, creates unintended negative side effects such as crime, lack of social cohesion, and poor examples for children, affecting their future income potential (https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa773.pdf pages 9 & 10).
* The market will be better able to provide housing opportunities if New Hampshire's exclusionary zoning and ever-growing building codes are relaxed instead of distorting the marketplace and neighborhoods with government grants.
This bill re-establishes the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
* This bill seeks to further cripple the taxpayer by instituting another social program that will increase taxes, incentivize poverty, and expand the power of the government, all the while reducing the quality of life of Granite Staters in the process.
* This also replaces private charitable work with government aid, which will always inevitably result in a decrease in the amount and care given to those that are genuinely disadvantaged.
* There is already a government safety net program available for this very purpose: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program
This bill allocates $500,000 of taxpayer money to fund a campaign to educate health care providers and the public on the importance of early detection and timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment including Alzheimer's disease.
* While the amount of money is small compared to the entire state budget, this is still not a wise way to spend taxpayer funds. We live in an information age in which nearly any topic can be researched from a computer or cell phone but now, nearly 250 years after the founding of the state of NH, supporters of this legislation believe that it is imperative to 'raise awareness' through state action and spending.
This bill increases state control of the private childcare industry.
* This bill will increase and accelerate the costs of daycare and create a vicious cycle of enhanced government supplementation and accelerating child-care costs in precisely the same way as college tuition has skyrocketed over the last forty years due to government support.
* The non-coercive manner for incentivizing child care is to allow the free market to arrive at the solution — businesses that desire enhanced access to employees who feel constrained by their choice to have children may offer their own benefits to supplement or provide daycare. This is already being done by some: https://www.brighthorizons.com/benefits/JPMCFullService, https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/flexible-companies-offering-childcare-assistance/
This bill increases state control of the private childcare industry.
* This bill will increase and accelerate the costs of daycare and create a viscious cycle of enhanced government supplementation and accelerating child-care costs in precisely the same way as college tuition has skyrocketed over the last forty years due to government support.
* The non-coercive manner for incentivizing child care is to allow the free market to arrive at the solution — businesses that desire enhanced access to employees who feel constrained by their choice to have children may offer their own benefits to supplement or provide daycare. This is already being done by some:
https://www.brighthorizons.com/benefits/JPMCFullService, https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/flexible-companies-offering-childcare-assistance/
This bill permits doctors and APRNs to use telemedicine to prescribe medication to treat mental health conditions.
* This bill makes a modest improvement to New Hampshire's restrictive drug laws by allowing doctors and nurse practitioners who are working with a patient via telemedicine to prescribe controlled drugs classified in schedule II through IV for mental health conditions in addition to the existing permission granted for treating substance use disorder.
* Individuals should be free to decide on a course of treatment without interference from the state.
This bill permits doctors and APRNs to use telemedicine to prescribe medication to treat mental health conditions.
* This bill makes a modest improvement to New Hampshire's restrictive drug laws by allowing doctors and nurse practitioners who are working with a patient via telemedicine to prescribe controlled drugs classified in schedule II through IV for mental health conditions in addition to the existing permission granted for treating substance use disorder.
* Individuals should be free to decide on a course of treatment without interference from the state.
This bill permits doctors and APRNs to use telemedicine to prescribe medication to treat mental health conditions.
* This bill makes a modest improvement to New Hampshire's restrictive drug laws by allowing doctors and nurse practitioners who are working with a patient via telemedicine to prescribe controlled drugs classified in schedule II through IV for mental health conditions in addition to the existing permission granted for treating substance use disorder.
* Individuals should be free to decide on a course of treatment without interference from the state.
This bill repeals limited liability for firearm and ammunition sellers and manufacturers.
* Firearms dealers and manufacturers are already required to meet numerous federal, state, and local regulations, regulations that exceed other industries. There is no need to have these regulations if the consumer can then sue them even if they are not party to the sale.
* Thie liability shield does not protect these companies from issues arrising from defects in their products or by actions taken by the company, but only provides a shield from damages caused by criminal or unlawful use of a qualified product by a third party.
* New Hampshire has a significant number firearms manufacturers (http://www3.nssf.org/share/PDF/EconomicImpact/2018data/newhampshire.pdf) and this bill would put those firms at financial risk or force them to consider moving those jobs elsewhere.
* According the CNBC, the medical industry is the 3rd leading cause of death (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html) yet has a similar protection: 508:18 Liability Limited; Health Care Facilities and Personnel.
This bill allows local government officials to officiate a meeting from out of town and out of state.
* A local official should be present in the community while officiating under oath. This would open the door for out of state influence into our local governments.
* This bill would also allow local officials to hide behind technology and not face their constituents face to face.
Only one public official would need to be physically present in many towns with small boards, allowing the majority of the board to hide from their constituents.
This bill creates the illusion of safety by creating an online safety certificate program for the operation of OHRVs.
* There is no evidence that a one-time online training program would have any measurable impact on safety; however, it is likely to push would-be visitors to other states that do not have such burdensome requirements to ride OHRVs.
This bill allows the Department of Transportation to sell real estate at below-market value to their friends or whoever they deem is best for the "public benefit" and intervenes in a free marketplace.
* The sale of public land should be put on the open market and available to all to bid on and purchase.
* This bill steals from the taxpayers who deserve to get the most money possible from any sale of public land.
* This bill promotes cronyism and rewards backroom deals and unethical political practices by allowing government officials to sell land without considering the market value, but rather the benefit to themselves or what they claim is the benefit to others.
This bill repeals the elimination of the New Hampshire tax on interest and dividend income.
* Taxes on interest and dividends tend to discourage investment and savings, penalizing economic activity that would otherwise spur economic growth and improve productivity.
This bill enables increasing taxes by creating the option for a municipal room occupancy tax.
* This bill increases taxes by creating an additional municipal room occupancy tax.
* This bill will erode the New Hampshire Advantage by increasing taxes and disincentivizing tourism in our state.
* Tourists may choose to overnight in Maine or Vermont instead of New Hampshire as this additional tax may be the deciding factor on where they choose to patron.
This bill enables increasing taxes by creating the option for a municipal room occupancy tax.
* This bill increases taxes by creating an additional municipal room occupancy tax.
* This bill will erode the New Hampshire advantage by increasing taxes and disincentivizing tourism in our state.
* Tourists may choose to overnight in Maine or Vermont instead of New Hampshire as this additional tax may be the deciding factor on where they choose to patron.
This proposed constitutional amendment updates the definition of the word 'cherish' in the New Hampshire Constitution with the 2024 definition of the word 'cherish'.
* This bill is intended to address an error made by the New Hampshire Supreme Court that discovered a requirement for education to be funded by state-level taxes instead of local taxes or parents.
* For more than 200 years, ordinary people and the state did not interpret the NH Constitution as requring state-level funding for public schools. Then in the first Claremont decision, the NH Supreme Court "found" a requirement that none had ever previously seen — including the public that originally adopted the Constitution.
This proposed constitutional amendment modifies the New Hampshire Constitution to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude.
* The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude in all states but not under all conditions; specifically, slavery is still allowed "as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted". This amendment would create a similar right within the New Hampshire Constitution without an explicit exclusion.
* Enumeration of this right in the NH Constitution ensures that even as a sovereign entity, New Hampshire would continue to reject the forced extraction of value from those within our boundaries.
This proposed constitutional amendment requires the state to fund ambiguous environmental interests without constraint.
* This ambiguous CACR prioritizes an 'improvement of a clean and healthful environment' without actually specifying what that is or how to get there.
* The opportunity to destroy human liberty with this CACR is bounded only by the imagination of those state agents who can interpret this bill to do literally anything.
* The NH Department of Environmental Services' mission statement already clearly specifies that: 'The protection and wise management of the state’s environment are the main goals of the agency.'
This proposed constitutional amendment provides that a 2/3 vote of the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be required to pass a new tax or license fee or to increase any tax or license fee that has been levied, or to authorize the issuance of state bonds.
* This CACR is highly pro-liberty by increasing the threshold to tax or indebt the citizens of New Hampshire to a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate.
* Preserving the New Hampshire advantage of no income tax and low government spending is fundamental to protecting the future growth and liberty of the state.
This proposed constitutional amendment provides that a 2/3 vote of the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be required to pass a new tax or license fee or to increase any tax or license fee that has been levied, or to authorize the issuance of state bonds.
* This CACR is highly pro-liberty by increasing the threshold to tax or indebt the citizens of New Hampshire to a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate.
* Preserving the New Hampshire advantage of no income tax and low government spending is fundamental to protecting the future growth and liberty of the state.
This bill raises the bar for the execution of no-knock warrants.
* "No-knock" warrants allow law enforcement to use force to gain entry into a residence without giving any prior notice or announcing their entry. This is dangerous both for the police and the potentially-innocent occupants of the household, as the resulting confusion dramatically increases the probability of inadvertent injury or death.
* Originally conceived as a means to prevent the destruction of evidence, no-knock raids have been misused by law enforcement, executed at incorrect addresses, and resulted in fatalities, both to law enforcement personnel and to civilians. Between 2010 and 2016, 81 civilians and 13 officers have died during no-knock raids (www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/18/us/forced-entry-warrant-drug-raid.html).
* Per the New Hampshire Law Enforcement Manual (www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/documents/law-enforcement-manual.pdf) the purpose of 'knock and announce' is to protect people's rights to privacy in their homes and to prevent unnecessary violence that could result from unannounced entries.
* While rare, there are instances across the country of no-knock warrants being executed at the wrong address due to typographical or other errors that have at times lead to disastrous consequences. As such, a complete prohibition on the ability to execute a no-knock warrant would be preferable. However, this bill is a small step in the right direction.
* When individuals are not aware of who is trying to break down their door, they can, will, and should use deadly force to defend their property. This bill is a small step to reduce the risks to the public and police of no-knock raids.
This bill raises the bar for the execution of no-knock warrants.
* "No-knock" warrants allow law enforcement to use force to gain entry into a residence without giving any prior notice or announcing their entry. This is dangerous both for the police and the potentially-innocent occupants of the household, as the resulting confusion dramatically increases the probability of inadvertent injury or death.
* Originally conceived as a means to prevent the destruction of evidence, no-knock raids have been misused by law enforcement, executed at incorrect addresses, and resulted in fatalities, both to law enforcement personnel and to civilians. Between 2010 and 2016, 81 civilians and 13 officers have died during no-knock raids (www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/18/us/forced-entry-warrant-drug-raid.html).
* Per the New Hampshire Law Enforcement Manual (www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/documents/law-enforcement-manual.pdf) the purpose of 'knock and announce' is to protect people's rights to privacy in their homes and to prevent unnecessary violence that could result from unannounced entries.
* While rare, there are instances across the country of no-knock warrants being executed at the wrong address due to typographical or other errors that have at times lead to disastrous consequences. As such, a complete prohibition on the ability to execute a no-knock warrant would be preferable. However, this bill is a small step in the right direction.
* When individuals are not aware of who is trying to break down their door, they can, will, and should use deadly force to defend their property. This bill is a small step to reduce the risks to the public and police of no-knock raids.
This bill raises the bar for the execution of no-knock warrants.
* "No-knock" warrants allow law enforcement to use force to gain entry into a residence without giving any prior notice or announcing their entry. This is dangerous both for the police and the potentially-innocent occupants of the household, as the resulting confusion dramatically increases the probability of inadvertent injury or death.
* Originally conceived as a means to prevent the destruction of evidence, no-knock raids have been misused by law enforcement, executed at incorrect addresses, and resulted in fatalities, both to law enforcement personnel and to civilians. Between 2010 and 2016, 81 civilians and 13 officers have died during no-knock raids (www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/18/us/forced-entry-warrant-drug-raid.html).
* Per the New Hampshire Law Enforcement Manual (www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/documents/law-enforcement-manual.pdf) the purpose of 'knock and announce' is to protect people's rights to privacy in their homes and to prevent unnecessary violence that could result from unannounced entries.
* While rare, there are instances across the country of no-knock warrants being executed at the wrong address due to typographical or other errors that have at times lead to disastrous consequences. As such, a complete prohibition on the ability to execute a no-knock warrant would be preferable. However, this bill is a small step in the right direction.
* When individuals are not aware of who is trying to break down their door, they can, will, and should use deadly force to defend their property. This bill is a small step to reduce the risks to the public and police of no-knock raids.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, raises the bar for the execution of no-knock warrants.
* "No-knock" warrants allow law enforcement to use force to gain entry into a residence without giving any prior notice or announcing their entry. This is dangerous both for the police and the potentially-innocent occupants of the household, as the resulting confusion dramatically increases the probability of inadvertent injury or death.
* When individuals are not aware of who is trying to break down their door, they can, will, and should use deadly force to defend their property.
* Originally conceived as a means to prevent the destruction of evidence, no-knock raids have been misused by law enforcement, executed at incorrect addresses, and resulted in fatalities, both to law enforcement personnel and to civilians. Between 2010 and 2016, 81 civilians and 13 officers have died during no-knock raids (www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/18/us/forced-entry-warrant-drug-raid.html).
* Per the New Hampshire Law Enforcement Manual (www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/documents/law-enforcement-manual.pdf) the purpose of 'knock and announce' is to protect people's rights to privacy in their homes and to prevent unnecessary violence that could result from unannounced entries.
* While rare, there are instances across the country of no-knock warrants being executed at the wrong address due to typographical or other errors that have at times lead to disastrous consequences. As such, a complete prohibition on the ability to execute a no-knock warrant would be preferable. However, this bill, even with the proposed amendment, is a small step in the right direction.
* While voting for the unamended bill is preferable, the bill should be supported with or without the amendment as a small step in the right direction.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, raises the bar for the execution of no-knock warrants.
* "No-knock" warrants allow law enforcement to use force to gain entry into a residence without giving any prior notice or announcing their entry. This is dangerous both for the police and the potentially-innocent occupants of the household as the resulting confusion dramatically increases the probability of inadvertent injury or death.
* When individuals are not aware of who is trying to break down their door, they can, will, and should use deadly force to defend their property.
* Originally conceived as a means to prevent the destruction of evidence, no-knock raids have been misused by law enforcement, executed at incorrect addresses, and resulted in fatalities, both to law enforcement personnel and to civilians. Between 2010 and 2016, 81 civilians and 13 officers have died during no-knock raids (www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/18/us/forced-entry-warrant-drug-raid.html).
* Per the New Hampshire Law Enforcement Manual (www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/documents/law-enforcement-manual.pdf) the purpose of 'knock and announce' is to protect people's rights to privacy in their homes and to prevent unnecessary violence that could result from unannounced entries.
* While rare, there are instances across the country of no-knock warrants being executed at the wrong address due to typographical or other errors that have at times lead to disastrous consequences. As such, a complete prohibition on the ability to execute a no-knock warrant would be preferable. However, this bill, even with the proposed amendment, is a small step in the right direction.
* While voting for the unamended bill is preferable, the bill should be supported with or without the amendment as a small step in the right direction.
This bill changes when regulations relating to public health made by town health officers take effect.
* This bill returns transparency to this crucial power and for the people where it will now require the majority of a legislative body at an annual or special meeting to approve before becoming legally binding.
* Currently, a town's selectmen need only "approve" a public health ordinance and await a small notice period in order for such an ordinance to take effect.
This bill provides that it is a state policy to support approximately equal parenting time between a child and parent when courts are determining a permanent order concerning parental rights and responsibilities, unless such an arrangement is clearly detrimental to the child.
* While the bill as amended is only a small change compared to the existing RSA which only suggested "frequent and continuing contact", the change to approximately equal time ensures that both parents start on an equal footing in court when it comes to parental rights.
* According to a report from the US Census bureau, in 2018 about 4 of every 5 (79.9%) of the 12.9 million custodial parents were mothers (www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-269.pdf), and while not every instance is the result of a court proceeding, this bill would set a presumption for courts that equal parenting time for each parent is in the best interest of the child.
* Kentucky passed a similar measure in 2017 (www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2019/08/30/kentuckys-joint-custody-law-leads-decline-family-court-cases/2158216001) and found that a drop in family court disputes followed. In addition, according to a meta analysis, kids who share time between both parents’ homes approximately equally have better outcomes related to academic achievement and physical and mental health (momsforsharedparenting.org/shared-parenting-research).
* While only a modest step in the right direction, the result is consistent with better outcomes for children and their parents as well as taxpayers who may be less likely to carry the costs of an expanding family court system.
This bill requires the director of the Division of Historical Resources to periodically compile and publish a survey of all monuments in the state.
* While this is a seemingly innocuous bill, it does provide the pretext for growing spending in the state to perform an activity that is better served by private individuals and hobbyists.
* To the extent that such a list provides some value, it is well within the reasonable purview of the director of the Division of Historical Resources to consider creating such a list without a time interval mandated by law.
This bill limits the activation of the New Hampshire National Guard for active duty combat to only those times where the United States Congress has passed an official action pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.
* This bill helps to ensure that the state upholds the U.S. Constitution by requiring Congress to formally declare war before deploying National Guard units for overseas combat missions. This measure reinforces the separation of powers and prevents the executive branch from bypassing Congress in matters of war.
* By keeping National Guard units within NH, the bill helps ensure that these resources are available for state emergencies, such as natural disasters. This allows New Hampshire to better protect our residents and respond to local crises more effectively.
* This bill is particularly relevant with rapidly deteriorating world events and should have broad bipartisan support. For example, NH Democratic State Senator Lou D'Allesandro was quoted by CNN 'Nearly 3,500 U.S. troops have been killed in in Iraq, and the war is now widely unpopular. New Hampshire state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, a Manchester Democrat, said the war has hit close to home in New Hampshire "because of the number of National Guard people there." ... "You are witnessing your friends and neighbors passing away or being killed," said D'Allesandro, who has not yet endorsed a candidate' - www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/04/nh.debate.main
* The recent NH GOP convention adopted a platform plank in support of Defend the Guard - "Demand that Congress exercise their sole authority over war declarations and protect the New Hampshire National Guard by requiring a Congressional declaration of war prior to any National Guardsman deployment to overseas combat zones. " - nh.gop/platform
This bill limits the activation of the New Hampshire National Guard for active duty combat to only those times where the United States Congress has passed an official action pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.
* This bill helps to ensure that the state upholds the U.S. Constitution by requiring Congress to formally declare war before deploying National Guard units for overseas combat missions. This measure reinforces the separation of powers and prevents the executive branch from bypassing Congress in matters of war.
* By keeping National Guard units within NH, the bill helps ensure that these resources are available for state emergencies, such as natural disasters. This allows New Hampshire to better protect our residents and respond to local crises more effectively.
This bill increases the amount of the state retirement annuity payable upon the accidental death of a group II member to 100% of earnable compensation (up from 50%) at the member's death.
* Under current law, government employees who are eligible for the current benefit receive a value equal to 50% of earnable compensation at the date of the member's death. As a result, the existing benefit already rises as wages rise. This bill would increase the benefit to 100% of earnable compensation.
* Employees eligible for this increased benefit are generally covered by collective bargaining agreement. There is little evidence that expanding the total compensation/benefit package outside of the bargaining process does anything other than setting a new baseline expectation prior to the start of negotiations. If these employees would find this expanded benefit to be valuable, it should be sought through their collective bargaining process.
* Per the fiscal note, this bill would require increased expenditures by local governments without full funding from the state and as such is a violation of Article 28-a of the New Hampshire Constitution.
* While ITL is the preferred motion, IS is acceptable.
This bill increases the amount of the state retirement annuity payable upon the accidental death of a group II member to 100% of earnable compensation (up from 50%) at the member's death.
* Under current law, government employees who are eligible for the current benefit receive a value equal to 50% of earnable compensation at the date of the member's death. As a result, the existing benefit already rises as wages rise. This bill would increase the benefit to 100% of earnable compensation.
* Employees eligible for this increased benefit are generally covered by collective bargaining agreement. There is little evidence that expanding the total compensation/benefit package outside of the bargaining process does anything other than setting a new baseline expectation prior to the start of negotiations. If these employees would find this expanded benefit to be valuable, it should be sought through their collective bargaining process.
* Per the fiscal note, this bill would require increased expenditures by local governments without full funding from the state and as such is a violation of Article 28-a of the New Hampshire Constitution.
This bill increases the amount of the state retirement annuity payable upon the accidental death of a group II member to 100% of earnable compensation (up from 50%) at the member's death.
* Under current law, government employees who are eligible for the current benefit receive a value equal to 50% of earnable compensation at the date of the member's death. As a result, the existing benefit already rises as wages rise. This bill would dramatically increase the benefit to 100% of earnable compensation.
* Employees eligible for this increased benefit are generally covered by collective bargaining agreement. There is little evidence that expanding the total compensation/benefit package outside of the bargaining process does anything other than setting a new baseline expectation prior to the start of negotiations. If these employees would find this expanded benefit to be valuable, it should be sought through their collective bargaining process.
* Per the fiscal note, this bill would require increased expenditures by local governments without full funding from the state and as such are a violation of Article 28-a of the New Hampshire Constitution.
This bill permits residential tenants to terminate their lease in instances of domestic violence or following a disabling illness or accident, and describes the written documentation required.
* This bill does not define 'disabling accident or illness' and as such becomes an ad liberum legal loophole allowing for any tenant to exit any lease agreement at any time.
* This bill essentially nullifies all lease agreements and will decimate the incentive for anyone to become a landlord in New Hampshire.
* Without those willing to take on the risk of property ownership and renting to others, the availability of housing to renters will deteriorate, which will greatly increase rent throughout the state.
* While NAY OTP is preferable, rereferal is OK; however, on rereferal we recommend that this bill be tabled.
This bill permits residential tenants to terminate their lease in instances of domestic violence or following a disabling illness or accident, and describes the written documentation required.
* This bill does not define 'disabling accident or illness' and as such becomes an ad liberum legal loophole allowing for any tenant to exit any lease agreement at any time.
* This bill essentially nullifies all lease agreements and will decimate the incentive for anyone to become a landlord in New Hampshire.
* Without those willing to take on the risk of property ownership and renting to others, the housing availability to renters will deteriorate, which will greatly increase rent throughout the state.
This bill permits nonresident aliens living in New Hampshire on a temporary basis to obtain a driver's license upon completion of an application for asylum status to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
* The state should not be placing barriers on the right to travel.
* Denying individuals who are living legally in the state the right to a driver's license makes it more difficult for them to positively contribute to whatever household they are a member of and increases the need for public services.
* This bill clarifies and provides for rational cases where a minor may need to have access to a hypodermic syringe.
* Without this bill, an elder minor attempting to help a young sibling with an insulin injection would be in violation of the law.
This bill clarifies the circumstances under which a minor may be in possession of a hypodermic needle or syringe.
* This bill clarifies and provides for rational cases where a minor may need to have access to a hypodermic syringe.
* Without this bill, an elder minor attempting to help a young sibling with an insulin injection would be in violation of the law.
This bill expands taxpayer costs to cover more college classes for high school students while eliminating STEM as a requirement for the two courses already allowed.
* This bill adds cost for low to no-impact benefit by removing the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math requirement for the two concurrent college classes already offered at taxpayer expense to high school students.
* Pressure in high-school is at an all-time high. By further prematurely over-burdening our young people with college stress, we are not allowing for healthy development that would offer them the best chance to be successful in their future endeavors.
* This bill unfairly forces all New Hampshire citizens to pay for the choices a few parents make before their students go to college.
This bill expands the retirement benefits paid in the retirement system.
* This bill grows the bill to New Hampshire taxpayers by $25 million per year to fatten the state retirement plan.
* The New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) reported an unfunded liability of $5.69 billion as of December 2022. This bill further piles on the debt to NH citizens.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, legalizes test strips and drug checking equipment used to inform individuals of whether a substance contains another another synthetic opioid, a different controlled substance, or an undisclosed chemical compound or contaminant.
* This bill as written allows individuals and harm reduction agencies to possess test strips provided by the market without having to have the legislature act for each new test, as long as the tests are not intended for use with the manufacture or sale of controlled substances for illegal sales.
* While it's true that no test can be 100% accurate, it should not be the role of the state to prohibit individuals from possessing test equipment.
* The bill also allows people testing their drugs to possess and transport a “nominal amount" of a controlled substance for the purposes of drug checking activity.
This bill establishes two additional aid grants for schools.
* In 2021 alone, the state spent $649,510,185.66 in education grants. Instead of inflating this budget, it should be reduced (www.education.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt326/files/inline-documents/2020-04/ad_ed_aid_fy2021.pdf).
* In the United States, 60% of households do not have children under 18 living at home. They have no present, or potentially ever had, a need for public education services and should not be forcefully taxed to pay for them. www.statista.com/statistics/242074/percentages-of-us-family-households-with-children-by-type
This bill would increase the amount of state aid for building of schools by $30 million per year and mandate a minimum of $50 million per year in state aid.
* The NH public school student population has been shrinking for many years and is down more than 10,000 students since 2018 as parents find better options for educating their children and demographic shifts occur in the state. Unchecked spending will increase already high property taxes and will further burden the NH economy. Schools should be more, not less, accountable in order to rein in spending.
* With state building aid, local districts will fund more extravagant schools than they would if they had to pay the full cost themselves.
This bill, with the associated amendment, creates a new Group III within the NH Retirement System comprised of newly-hired state employees in Group I, changing the plan from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan.
* Defined benefit plans have largely been replaced in the private sector by defined contribution plans, meaning that under the current system, employees of the state are being provided with a benefit that is unavailable to those who are paying for the plan.
* Defined contribution plans are more honest, as defined benefit plans are a long-term promise to provide a benefit that the state may be unable to meet given the fiscal and demographic changes in the economy. Further, a majority of state employees do not work for the state long enough to qualify for the existing benefit, meaning that these workers are subsidizing the benefits for the employees who remain.
This bill provides a substantial cost of living adjustment to certain group II retireees in the New Hampshire Retirement System.
* New Hampshire State retirees do not receive automatic cost of living adjustments — such adjustments must be approved by the legislature. While there is no doubt that government policies have resulted in high inflation, New Hampshire taxpayers are not seeing their own wages increase at the rate provided for in this bill.
* New Hampshire tax payers should not be forced to pay for an increase to an already generous defined benefit program.
This bill increases the eligibility for free school meals to household incomes up to 300% of federal poverty guidelines.
* The median income in 2023 in New Hampshire is $88,235, while in the United States it is $67,521. The poverty index for a family of four increased by 300% is $90,000. This bill would charge taxpayers for low-quality food to be provided to middle-class families.
* The free school lunch program's intent was to make sure children from impoverished homes could have the energy to pay attention, learn, and perform in their education. This bill turns this into an entitlement for families who are doing well enough to feed their children.
This bill increases the eligibility for free school meals to household incomes up to 300 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
* The median income in 2023 in New Hampshire is $88,235 while in the United States it is $67,521. The poverty index for a family of four increased by 300% is $90,000. This bill would charge taxpayers for low-quality food to be provided to middle-class families.
* The free school lunch program's intent was to make sure children from impoverished homes could have the energy to pay attention, learn, and perform in their education. This bill turns this into an entitlement for families who are doing well enough to feed their children.
This bill dictates the focus for the police and courts should be on racial sensitivity instead of law enforcement and crime prevention.
* Racial profiling is already illegal under federal law. Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
* This law includes a requirement to make available on request a report on statistics of arrests and incarcerations broken out by 'white' and 'non-white'.
* As a consequence of this law, police are encouraged to implement quotas for arrests based on race, sexual orientation, or ethnicity — which is racist and sexist.
This bill establishes an executive branch department of early childhood education and creates a new taxpayer-funded pre-kindergarten program.
* Though this bill only seeks to create a pilot program, the intended outcome is to establish a constituency for a new taxpayer-funded program that will grow in scope and costs in the coming years.
* While the statement of findings makes a claim of the long-term benefits of such programs, randomized studies of similar programs demonstrate that any of the perceived benefits are inconsistent and/or short-lived and vanish by first grade: "However, the benefits of access to Head Start at age four are largely absent by 1st grade for the program population as a whole." (files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED507847.pdf).
This bill establishes an executive branch department of early childhood education and creates a new taxpayer-funded pre-kindergarten program.
* Though this bill only seeks to create a pilot program, the intended outcome is to establish a constituency for a new taxpayer-funded program that will grow in scope and costs in the coming years.
* While the statement of findings makes a claim of the long-term benefits of such programs, randomized studies of similar programs demonstrate that any of the perceived benefits are inconsistent and/or short-lived and vanish by first grade (www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/head-start-impact-study-final-report-executive-summary).
This bill imposes state-mandated background checks on private businesses.
* Parents who opt to participate in various education choice programs already have the option to select providers who perform background checks. There is no need to mandate such checks in state law.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, would make it legal to offer "blow-dry styling, makeup application, and eyebrow threading" without having to have a New Hampshire cosmetology license.
* Occupational licenses, particularly for low-risk activities such as blow-dry styling, are not meant to protect consumers. They do however entrench established players in the industry by burdening those trying to create new small businesses. They also unnecessarily grow government and thereby discourage competition and innovation.
* Relaxed occupational licensing laws will enhance entrepreneurial enterprise creation, spur growth, and strengthen the free market's ability to judge value.
This bill allows for the service of a current or former member of the general court to be deemed by the state to qualify as full-time public service for the purposes of federal public service student loan forgiveness programs.
* This bill is an unethical attempt to enrich the political class by taking advantage of a corrupt program that is canceling the publicly-funded debt of a chosen few at the expense of those who have paid their loans or never indebted themselves in the first place.
* This bill further exacerbates the tax burden to all because of the choices of a few.
* The school loans incurred by those attending college were offered by the people with the understanding that the people would be repaid in a reasonable time frame. This bill would deny those individuals who accepted the taxpayers' generous offer the opportunity to fulfill their responsibility by repaying their loans in full.
This bill allows a public body to charge fees for records made available under RSA 91-A.
* We oppose the bill as well as the minority amendment (2024-0930h) printed in the calendar.
* People have a right to know how their money is being spent and what policies are being enacted in their name. Pragmatically, transparency is required in order to keep corruption and waste in check. While it is always challenging for the public to hold officials accountable, without reliable information it is nearly impossible.
* Public bodies already have a very strong upper hand in denying unreasonable records requests: they can simply deny the request and force the party seeking records to sue. If a request is indeed unreasonable the court will easily affirm.
* This bill will have a chilling effect on transparency by enabling public bodies to provide high estimates for access to public data, or worse, to take explicit actions that would indeed result in actually higher labor costs to recover the data. For example, the city of Nashua delayed the processing of a 91-A request long enough that relevant emails had been purged from the system and were only available on backup tape (www.unionleader.com/news/courts/nh-supreme-court-sides-with-nashua-resident-in-right-to-know-case/article_7f1f10ab-3519-52f3-b982-8366fe4b1d73.html), requiring the NH Supreme Court to take action directing the city to recover the records.
* The bill will have unintended consequences of growing the cost of government in an attempt to mitigate costs. Under current law, public bodies have some incentive to optimize data storage and retrieval systems and make data easily available to constituents. With this bill, even with the proposed amendment 2024-0930h, public bodies are incentivized to retain antiquated and labor-intensive systems.
* Floor amendment 2024-1173h makes a good faith effort to address the concerns listed above by enabling automation to allow for lower cost transparency and allows for broad access to communications with no fee in many cases. While the protection for requests in the public interest could be clearer to explicitly cover citizen journalism, floor amendment 2024-1173h or language substantially similar to it is acceptable.
This bill allows a public body to charge fees for records made available under RSA 91-A.
* Support the motion for reconsideration and oppose this bill.
* People have a right to know how their money is being spent and what policies are being enacted in their name. Pragmatically, transparency is required in order to keep corruption and waste in check. While it is always challenging for the public to hold officials accountable, without reliable information it is nearly impossible.
* Public bodies already have a very strong upper hand in denying unreasonable records requests: they can simply deny the request and force the party seeking records to sue. If a request is indeed unreasonable the court will easily affirm.
* This bill will have a chilling effect on transparency by enabling public bodies to provide high estimates for access to public data, or worse, to take explicit actions that would indeed result in actually higher labor costs to recover the data. For example, the city of Nashua delayed the processing of a 91-A request long enough that relevant emails had been purged from the system and were only available on backup tape (www.unionleader.com/news/courts/nh-supreme-court-sides-with-nashua-resident-in-right-to-know-case/article_7f1f10ab-3519-52f3-b982-8366fe4b1d73.html), requiring the supreme court to take action directing the city to recover the records.
* The bill will have unintended consequences of growing the cost of government in an attempt to mitigate costs. Under current law, public bodies have some incentive to optimize data storage and retrieval systems and make data easily available to constituents. With this bill, even with the proposed amendment, public bodies are incentivized to retain antiquated and labor-intensive systems.
This bill allows a public body to charge fees for records made available under RSA 91-A.
* People have a right to know how their money is being spent and what policies are being enacted in their name. Pragmatically, transparency is required in order to keep corruption and waste in check. While it is always challenging for the public to hold officials accountable, without reliable information it is nearly impossible.
* This bill would have a chilling effect on transparency by enabling public bodies to provide high estimates for access to public data, or worse, to take explicit actions that would indeed result in actually higher labor costs to recover the data. For example, the city of Nashua delayed the processing of a 91-A request long enough that relevant emails had been purged from the system and were only available on backup tape (www.unionleader.com/news/courts/nh-supreme-court-sides-with-nashua-resident-in-right-to-know-case/article_7f1f10ab-3519-52f3-b982-8366fe4b1d73.html), requiring the supreme court to take action directing the city to recover the records.
* The bill would have unintended consequences of growing the cost of government in an attempt to mitigate costs. Under current law, public bodies have some incentive to optimize data storage and retrieval systems and make data easily available to constituents. With this bill, even with the proposed amendment, public bodies are incentivized to retain antiquated and labor intensive systems.
* Public bodies currently have a very strong upper hand in denying unreasonable records requests: they can simply deny the request and force the party seeking records to sue. If a request is indeed unreasonable the court will easily affirm.
This bill exempts certain persons from being required to have a New Hampshire landing license if such persons are not landing for the purpose of the sale of the lobster or crab they have caught.
* This bill exempts New Hampshire residents from being required to have a landing license if they are not landing for the purpose of selling lobster or crab.
* This bill improves liberty by reducing regulation and simplifying access to the state by its residents.
* We recommend this bill be passed as amended by 2024-0519h.
This bill repeals the statute that provides limited liability to manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition.
* This bill is a backdoor tactic to chip away at a citizen's rights to protect themselves by providing a mechanism to financially destroy the firearms industry at every level by allowing them to be subject to lawsuits from individuals and government agencies alike.
* This would unjustly make public and private businesses liable for the actions of individuals who commit crimes with firearms or unlawfully acquire firearms, ammunition, or related accessories.
* This will ultimately destroy competition in the firearm industry, as it will disproportionately negatively impact small and mid-sized businesses, as they will not have the financial means to fight the onslaught of litigation.
* This could drive more firearm and related businesses to move out of the state, costing the state jobs and tax revenue.
* The cost of defending against frivolous lawsuits will ultimately be passed on to consumers, which will negatively impact the ability of those of lower socioeconomic groups to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms.
This bill establishes a gun registry in New Hampshire, which would prevent those people on it from legally owning firearms.
* This bill attempts to create an end run around the Second Amendment by establishing a gun registry and establishing the bureaucracy to do so in New Hampshire, ostensibly to reduce suicide risk.
* The testimony in committee revealed that the potential consequence of this bill is that, in order to get healthcare, health insurance, or a variety of products required to function in society, citizens can be forced to renounce their Second Amendment rights by providers requiring them to be on this firearm registry.
* Humans are generally smart and resourceful, and although firearms are one common means that is used, reducing access to firearms does not nessesarily result in lower suicide rates. South Africa's rate of suicide is 23.5 per 100,000 while the US rate is 16.1. (worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/suicide-rate-by-country). South Africa has significantly more strict controls on private firearm access.
* Once someone is placed on this registry, there is no legal recourse to have their name removed. Though the bill contains provisions that would appear to allow for removal, there is no way to require that the federal NICS system act upon a request for removal.
This bill establishes a blood lead level testing requirement for children entering day care and public schools.
* This bill adds an unnecessary expense and barrier for families trying to educate and care for their children.
* This bill intrudes on the privacy and autonomy of parents and their children.
* There is no communicable condition related to someone with high lead levels in their system; therefore there is no reason for the state to be forcing the drawing of blood from small children.
This bill virtually mandates that the commissioner and deputy commissioner of the Department of Education be hired from the public sector rather than the private sector, by requiring that the positions be filled by those who hold an advanced degree from an accredited college or university, are certified as a teacher or school administrator, and have at least 5 years experience in teaching or administration in a government school.
* Current law allows flexibility to determine who can best be accountable to taxpayers for producing tangible academic improvements; restricting the qualifications as required in this bill virtually guarantees a static, unresponsive system. Simply possessing a certificate or a diploma should not be the identifying marker or requirement for New Hampshire’s educational leader.
* Educating children is still a business just like any other profession, so it makes sense to allow qualified people from every field to help fix the current problems with our government schools.
This bill, with the proposed amendment, prohibits school boards and other public education agencies from adopting, enforcing, or implementing a policy that requires students or members of the public to wear a facial covering.
* This bill prevents public schools from adopting broad mandatory masking policies, leaving the choice to parents and students.
* With or without masks and with or without the current risks of COVID-19, there will always be risks involved in interacting in public ways with our own species. It is unreasonable to use the power of the state to dictate masking for normal human interaction. One person's wise cautious behavior is another person's 'germophobe', and inserting the state into these personal decisions within the confines of services provided through taxation will always result in one side or the other being unhappy with the outcome.
* Expansion of school choice programs that enhance the ability of individuals to associate in the manner in which they desire is likely the only long-term solution. Until we achieve that goal, the state should leave as much choice to the individual as possible.
This bill adds the sale of animals with certain characteristics to the definition of animal cruelty.
* This bill broadly labels dogs with brachycephaly as being deformed despite the fact that many such dogs do not have breathing problems or pain.
* This bill limits the availability of some dog breeds with short noses in New Hampshire, based on a faulty presumption that such an easily observable trait would make the dog undesirable by those seeking to adhere to this law.
* An obvious consequence is that this bill enhances animal cruelty, because if such dogs were surrendered to an animal shelter, the ban on sales could force the shelter to have them euthanized.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, provides that reports of suspected abuse and neglect may include the name of the person making the report and that a report made maliciously or with the intent to cause harm may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
* This bill enhances liberty by providing a measure of safeguarding against knowingly false accusations of child abuse from unidentified individuals. Additionally, the claimant may be informed of their liability in the case that the claim was made maliciously or with the intent to harm.
* The bill retains liability protections for those who make reports in good faith.
* In committee, DCYF reported that an average of 10,000 calls are received annually regarding child abuse and/or neglect, 50% of which are weeded out. The Parents Rights Foundation's national statistics show that of 20,000 calls annually, 10,000 are weeded out, and that 83% of reports of child abuse are false reports, which increases to 96% when there is no penalty against false reports.
This bill adds the expiration of the term of a lease or tenancy that is over 6 months as grounds for an eviction.
* Common sense would lead a person to believe that at the end of a lease, with proper notice, a landlord would be able to reclaim their property, and if necessary, evict the tenant; however, courts have found that given current New Hampshire law, the end of a lease that is not renewed is not sufficient grounds for eviction.
* A lease agreement is a contract between two parties to provide safe access to a property for a pre-determined period of time. Absent this bill, the time provisions of a lease are not meaningful.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, removes the existing requirement that the firearm be lever action.
* The action of the rifle is largely unreleated to the ballistics or power of the pistol round fired and thus its suitability for the purpose of hunting.
* Removing an arbitrary restriction allows hunters to select the tool that is available to them that is best suited to the task.
This bill prohibits new solid waste landfill permits in the state for facilities owned by any person other than the state of New Hampshire or a political subdivision thereof.
* This bill opens the New Hampshire taxpayer up to significant liabilities in the event of a serious landfill contamination or environmental problem that would possibly have been borne by a private owner of the landfill.
* This bill eliminates competition and creates a state monopoly in the landfill business.
* This bill disincentivizes the investment in landfills by private owners. Instead this bill would likely create a scenario in which the taxpayer will have to foot the bill for all the equipment and landfill infrastructure in order to entice a private contractor to manage the landfill.
This bill, with amendment #2024-0582h, provides that the World Health Organization shall have no jurisdiction in New Hampshire.
* This bill, with the proposed amendment, removes any presumed authority of the World Health Organization within the State of New Hampshire.
* Whereas the WHO is an international organization and not part of New Hampshire, it should have no authority assumed or recognized.
This bill provides that the World Health Organization shall have no jurisdiction in New Hampshire.
* This bill, with the proposed amendment, removes any presumed authority by the World Health Organization within the State of New Hampshire.
* Whereas the WHO is an international organization and not part of New Hampshire, it should have no authority assumed or recognized.
This bill repeals provisions of the law relating to preventing discrimination in public workplaces and education.
* This bill enables publicly-funded institutions to teach that certain groups are inferior to others, that certain groups are inherently evil, and that certain groups should be discriminated against because of their race or other identity characteristics.
* This bill further risks turning schools funded by coerced taxpayer dollars into propaganda training centers, potentially antagonizing those who supply the productivity to fund their existence.
This bill requires an employer to pay an employee for unused earned time.
* Individuals should be free to make whatever arrangements they see fit with a potential employer. They are more than capable of deciding if what an employer is offering is acceptable and choose to accept, negotiate, or turn down arrangements as they freely choose.
* This bill is an unforced error that will drive up the cost of employment in New Hampshire and cost potential jobs to people who are happy to accept the terms of employment with employers who don't conform to the mandates required in this bill.
* While a motion of ITL would be preferable, IS is acceptable.
This bill requires an employer to pay an employee for unused earned time.
* Individuals should be free to make whatever legal arrangements they see fit with a potential employer. The people are more than capable of deciding if what an employer is offering is acceptable and choose to accept, negotiate, or turn down arrangements as they freely choose.
* This bill is an unforced error that will drive up the cost of employment in New Hampshire and cost potential jobs to people who are happy to accept the terms of employment with employers who don't conform to the mandates required in this bill.
This bill prohibits the assigning of a specific merchant code to the sale of firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories, and provides a civil penalty for violations of this prohibition. This bill further provides a mechanism for enforcement of this prohibition.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, protects the privacy of New Hampshire citizens by prohibiting payment processors from assigning a merchant category code that would denote that a firearm or accessory was purchased.
* This bill serves to stop the creation of a gun registry by banks who could then choose to defy the Second Amendment by denying the purchase of firearms and firearm implements, closing bank accounts, or preventing people on the registry from being banked.
This bill establishes certain deadlines for issuance of permits for the alteration of driveways exiting onto public ways.
* This bill prevents permit requests for driveways from being soft-killed by the state by virtue of ignoring the request.
* This bill improves cost-effectiveness of projects enhancing access to dwellings by giving the project manager a known date for when they can proceed with a project regardless of whether or not the state has managed to approve it.
This bill establishes requirements for when a government agent may enter a secured premises without a warrant.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, promotes personal privacy by prohibiting government agents (presumably including police, building inspectors, fire marshals, etc.) from entering upon premises posted according to law unless they have the owner's permission, have a search warrant, or believe exigent circumstances exist warranting immediate entry.
* Personal property seized in violation of this bill would be inadmissible in any criminal, civil, or administrative proceedings.
* The bill exempts Fish and Game officers from these restrictions under certain circumstances.
* The bill extends privacy protections beyond a structure or dwelling to now include a defined curtilage under the definition of "secured premises".
This bill requires that persons or entities conducting timber harvesting operations in wetlands verify compliance with and maintain in their records all permitting documents required for the work being done.
* This bill assigns liability to a contractor instead of simply a landowner for getting appropriate permits and keeping records before harvesting timber.
* This bill creates confusion around enforcement and does not define which organization would be responsible for that enforcement.
* This bill is an unnecessary complication of law. The landowner is presently responsible for getting the permits and keeping records as such.
This bill expands education spending by $50 million annually to provide food for households making up to 3.5 times the federal poverty limit.
* This bill significantly increases the cost burden of the public education system by over $50,000,000 per year to the state of New Hampshire taxpayers.
* A parent's fundamental responsibility is to feed their children. This bill further and unnecessarily drives the state between the child and their families by inducing dependence.
* Lowering taxes by reducing the cost of the public school system and returning that money to the taxpayers is a far more effective way to allow parents to supply high-quality foods to their children. If the state would stop interfering in the private lives of families, families wouldn't need or want food from the state.
This bill increases the eligibility for free school meals to household incomes up to 350% of federal poverty guidelines.
* This bill significantly increases the cost burden of the public education system by over $50,000,000 per year to the state of New Hampshire taxpayers.
* A parent's fundamental responsiblility is to feed their children. This bill further and unnecessarily drives the state between the child and their families by inducing dependence.
* Lowering taxes by reducing the cost of the public school system and returning that money to the taxpayers is a far more effective way to allow parents to supply high-quality foods to their children. If the state would stop interfering in the private lives of families, families wouldn't need or want food from the state.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, removes the immunization requirements for child care agencies.
* This bill removes requirements for child care agencies to require and maintain records of immunizations.
* This bill strengthens liberty by freeing these private institutions from arduous and unnecessary records maintenance, which provides opportunity to reduce child care costs.
* With this bill, parents are free to choose whether or not to use child care facilities that choose not to impose immunization requirements. Parents are also free to immunize their children as they see fit.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, abolishes the collection of data regarding race, ancestry, and education for use in a marital application worksheet.
* This bill abolishes the collection of unnecessary data when a couple is applying for a marriage license in New Hampshire.
* This bill helps to protect the privacy of citizens by ending the needless practice of collecting race, ancestry, and education information when getting married in the state.
This bill eliminates the requirement for a collaboration agreement for physician assistants.
* This bill provides similar treatment for physician assistants as is already given to licensed practical nurses.
* This bill corrects the indentured servitude that PAs have been suffering under physicians who have never met, didn't actually mentor or advise, and have charged PAs exorbitant rates for their ability to practice medicine.
* This bill improves the availability of qualified medical personnel in New Hampshire, as PAs will no longer be disincentivized to practice here by arduous collaboration requirements imposed by law.
This bill permits qualifying patients and designated caregivers to cultivate cannabis for therapeutic use.
* Qualified patients and caregivers in all three neighboring states are protected from arrest if they cultivate a limited supply of cannabis. In Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and sixteen additional states, all adults 21 years of age and older may already legally cultivate more cannabis plants than would be allowed under this bill. Currently, patients in New Hampshire are limited to purchasing cannabis at one of four dispensaries, and personal cultivation of cannabis is a felony offense.
* The House has voted five times since 2009 to grant patients this freedom, and there is no reason the House should change its position now.
This bill exempts individuals who have completed a nationally recognized animal chiropractic program, as determined by the executive director of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, from veterinary licensure requirements.
* This bill allows those trained in animal chiropractic therapy to practice in New Hampshire without being required to become a licensed veterinarian.
* This bill will keep the cost of treatment low and availability high for animal chiropractic as the provider's costs will not be heavily inflated by excessive training requirements.
This bill adds eating disorders as a qualifying medical condition for the use of therapeutic cannabis.
* This bill enhances New Hampshire citizens' access to potentially life-saving medicine to treat eating disorders.
* This bill strengthens the right to personal bodily autonomy by allowing those suffering from eating disorders to work with their doctors to consider medical cannabis in their treatment regimen.
This bill prohibits smoking and e-cigarettes in motor vehicles when a passenger under the age of 16 is in the vehicle.
* This bill prohibits a person from smoking within their own private property if a child under 16 is present.
* This bill is an invasive interference in the personal lives of New Hampshire citizens by a nanny state. People should be free to decide when and where they choose to consume tobacco products with respect to their own vehicles.
This bill prohibits smoking and e-cigarettes in motor vehicles when a passenger under the age of 16 is in the vehicle.
* This bill prohibits a person from smoking within their own private property if a child under 16 is present.
* This bill is an invasive interference in the personal lives of New Hampshire citizens by a nanny state. People should be free to decide when and where they choose to consume tobacco products with respect to their own vehicles.
This bill, with the proposed minority amendment, allows for wages to be paid in gold or silver provided that both the employee and employer have agreed to such payment in writing.
* Under current NH law, employers do not have the option of paying employees in gold or silver even if it is the preferred method of the employee for receiving compensation. This is an unnecessary restriction on the ability of two parties to come to mutually-acceptable terms for engaging in commerce, which this bill would address.
* While it is unlikely that a significant number of employers/employees would choose this option at the current time, there is little reason to retain the existing prohibition on such arrangements.
* RSA 275:43 I (a) already allows for wages to be paid in "lawful money of the United States" (i.e. cash) and therefore any additional concerns that gold and silver specifically would not have electronic evidence of transfers of value are unfounded.
* When debt-based U.S. dollars are used, employees find it impossible to know exactly how many good and services they will be able to purchase with the dollars. The value of the dollar drops continuously, sometimes dramatically. Employees might find that the salary they negotiated at the start of the year is worth substantially less by the time they go to pay their increasing property taxes.
This bill enables a municipality to collect an additional tax on hotel occupancies for the purpose of subsidizing town infrastructure costs associated with the increase in tourism and transient traffic.
* Local property taxes are already based on the value of the property, and in assessing the value it is already standard practice to take into account highest and best use of the site, and typically the present use is assumed to be the highest and best use (www.revenue.nh.gov/mun-prop/property/documents/asb-manual.pdf).
* Properties that are used as hotels are already assessed at the highest value for the site and therefore are already deriving the maximum revenue for the municipality.
* New Hampshire also already has a Rooms and Meals tax, which is shared with municipalities and which supplies funding to the state.
This bill enables a municipality to collect an additional tax on hotel occupancies for the purpose of subsidizing town infrastructure costs associated with the increase in tourism and transient traffic.
* Local property taxes are already based on the value of the property, and in assessing the value it is already standard practice to take into account highest and best use of the site, and typically the present use is assumed to be the highest and best use (www.revenue.nh.gov/mun-prop/property/documents/asb-manual.pdf).
* Properties that are used as hotels are already assessed at the highest value for the site and therefore are already deriving the maximum revenue for the municipality.
* New Hampshire also already has a Rooms and Meals tax, which is shared with municipalities and which provides a direct benefit to the the state.
This bill authorizes parties to make their own audio and/or visual recording of proceedings in the family division of the circuit court under certain circumstances.
* This bill makes it legal for people to make their own audio-visual recordings in public family court proceedings.
* This is an excellent bill for improving government transparency that will provide an opportunity for greater trust of the family court system.
This bill converts several boards into advisory boards at the request of the office of professional licensure and certification.
* Vote NAY IS on the bill and then vote YEA OTP.
* This bill creates several government efficiencies within multiple professional licensure and certification boards in New Hampshire.
* Presently there are several boards for certification formed from a significant percentage of all those certified, which is a clear conflict of interest. Additionally, the federal government has an active task force examining this very practice. This bill will reduce New Hampshire's exposure to federal anti-trust lawsuits.
This bill repeals the prohibition, penalty, and exceptions relating to the carrying and possessing with intent to sell a blackjack, slung shot, or metallic knuckles for adults.
* Blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles are illegal in NH. This bill will make them legal for adults and place them on an equal footing with other tools — wrongful use of these tools would still be a felony.
* The right to self-defense and to bear arms is fundamental to the citizens of New Hampshire and the United States. Both entities' Constitutions make clear that those rights shall not be infringed.
* Mere possession of these items harms no one; using them harmfully is illegal and would remain so even with passage of this bill.
This bill adds another increase to the teacher retirement fund.
* This bill creates an unnecessary and unfunded liability in the state budget of $27.15 million in 2025, increasing annually to inflate the public school employee retirement fund.
* This bill moves the responsibility to cover public school employee retirements from the locality that hired them to all taxpayers in New Hampshire, thereby removing the incentive of localities to make good hiring and firing decisions.
This bill protects private property rights by preventing local governments from restricting the number of occupants in a residential rental property to fewer than two occupants per bedroom.
* Some jurisdictions try to force college students or working young adults out of certain neighborhoods with aggressive regulations on the number of unrelated people who may live together.
* The bill safeguards private property rights in land use and makes rental housing more accessible.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, establishes a procedure for an individual with terminal illness to receive medical assistance in dying through the self-administration of medication. The bill establishes criteria for the prescription of such medication and establishes reporting requirements and penalties for misuse or noncompliance.
* This bill ends the state's coercion and interference that currently prohibits physicians from prescribing medication for a competent, terminal, fully-informed adult who voluntarily requests the medication to self-ingest that will allow them to die with dignity, peacefully and without pain.
* To protect the terminally-ill patient, this bill allows two unassociated, voluntarily-participating health care providers to assess and agree that the individual met the stringent guidelines, and to then prescribe medication that the individual may later choose to take.
* This bill protects and emphasizes the freedom of bodily autonomy. It essentially legalizes a group of drugs under stringent requirements to be used to provide an option of relief from the terminally chronic pain a dying person may experience.
This bill establishes certain due process rights for students, student organizations, and faculty members facing disciplinary actions by state institutions of higher learning.
* This bill establishes a minimum floor for due process to be administered by the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) and University System of NH (USNH) regarding students, organizations, and faculty accused of wrongdoing.
* This bill enhances liberty by providing a floor of due process that may help alleviate abuse by some universities that in recent years have assigned guilt to students, whereas adhering to basic due process would have revealed the truth of their innocence.
This bill, with the proposed amendment, establishes certain due process rights for students, student organizations, and faculty members facing disciplinary actions by state institutions of higher learning.
* This bill establishes a minimum floor for due process to be administered by the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) and University System of NH (USNH) regarding students, organizations, and faculty accused of wrongdoing.
* This bill enhances liberty by providing a floor of due process that may help alleviate abuse by some universities that in recent years have assigned guilt to students, whereas adhering to basic due process would have revealed the truth of their innocence.
This bill increases the number of accessory dwelling units allowed by right from one to two, adds definitions, and increases the maximum square footage.
* This bill prohibits municipalities from violating property owners' rights. It allows homeowners to build a first Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) by right, and limits parking minimums to no more than one space per ADU.
* By freeing homeowners to build more of these small rental units, this bill leverages proven market mechanisms to boost housing supply and bring down housing costs.
* This bill encourages development and housing investment, which goes toward solving the worsening housing crisis in NH, and does so by lessening, not increasing, government intervention in the market.
This bill forces insurance companies to charge their network members more to make care for a select few free.
* This bill seeks to make certain types of care for a privileged group free at the expense of everyone else who is in the insurance network.
* Other groups have health issues specific to their genetic background that this bill inequitably ignores to elevate the privilege of an already highly privileged group.
* The current system for payment of services is far more fair as those seeking the service are held accountable for the cost.
* There is no evidence that additional screening will save lives, and in fact there is evidence that excessive screening can result in harms to the individual as well as unnecessary costs to the premium payers. A 2021 paper (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8633447) indicates: "However, the detection of greater numbers of early stage breast cancers can also lead to overdiagnosis, which refers to the detection of cancers that pose no threat to life and would never have been detected in the absence of screening. Indeed, the detection of greater numbers of early stage cancers in the absence of a subsequent decline in rates of metastatic cancers and cancer deaths is the hallmark of overdiagnosis.... The overtreatment of breast cancer, as a consequence of overdiagnosis, is costly and undoubtedly contributes to this waste. Moreover, for each patient who is overdiagnosed with breast cancer, there are substantial adverse consequences: unnecessary anxiety, financial hardships, and a small risk of morbidity and mortality from unnecessary treatments."
This bill allows the Department of Safety to restrict or prohibit wake surfing on a public body of water pursuant to a petition and hearing process.
* This bill allows 25 residents of a town to form a petition to the commissioner to limit or eliminate wake surfing on public waters regardless of whether or not they live adjacent to or in close proximity to the body of water.
* Public lands and waters are for the free use of everyone in the state. This bill allows for the creation of tyrranical and impromptu HOA-like organizations that may strangle interest in state tourism.
This bill establishes procedures governing freedom of speech and association at public institutions of higher education.
* This bill seeks to protect freedom of speech and association on public campuses and provides a path for remediation in the event these freedoms are infringed.
* This bill reasserts the supremacy of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution at our public universities: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
This bill provides a parent or legal guardian with access to their minor child's library records.
* If a library has records of a minor's borrowing history, this bill requires the library to provide those records to the minor's legal parent or guardian when asked.
* Parents are the primary protector of and hold the responsibility for their children. This bill prevents libraries from interfering with that, by requiring them to provide access to their children's records.
This bill, with the proposed amendment, expands notice requirements by school districts to parents for certain curriculum course material, and prohibits school districts from adopting policies that prohibit employees from answering questions from parents about their student's well-being.
* This bill expands on the expectation that publicly-funded schools work with parents to educate their children in a manner that does not contravene the families' values.
* Parents are completely responsible for their children. This bill seeks to reinforce the tools parents need to meet that responsibility with respect to publicly-funded schools.
This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce. The well-meaning carve out for younger employees adds a further barrier to older unskilled staff entering the workforce, potentially putting a path to employment forever out of their reach.
* Securing higher wages for everyone is better accomplished through job creation — having more jobs available means more competition among businesses to hire workers, thereby driving up wages.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill prohibits the parking of electric vehicles in parking garages.
* This bill is poorly crafted and fails to define "electric vehicles" — if one refers to RSA 236:132, the definition excludes many hybrid vehicles, which are the vehicle type most likely to catch fire, followed by internal combustion engine vehicles. Electric vehicles are by far the least likely to catch fire (www.autoinsuranceez.com/gas-vs-electric-car-fires). It would actually be safest to allow only electric vehicles to park in parking garages.
* There is no vehicle type that is entirely safe. The fire at the UK Luton airport that caused a partial collapse of the structure and damaged hundreds of vehicles is believed to have been started by an internal combustion engine 2014 diesel Range Rover Sport (www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12619137/Range-Rover-fire-sparked-Luton-airport-car-park-collapse-comes-six-years-Land-Rover-destroyed-Liverpools-Echo-Arena-car-park-six-months-4x4-recalls.html).
* Public participation in state house hearings and session days will be dramatically impacted for the owners of over 12,000 electric vehicle as on-street parking options are extremely limited, and because of that it is common to park in nearby parking garages. Individuals have been forced to pay for these taxpayer-funded structures, but would be denied the use of the structures.
* Several municipalities have installed EV charging stations within garages. This would make the infrastructure investment obsolete and drive further theft to address the increased cost driven by this legislation.
This bill prohibits the parking of electric vehicles in parking garages.
* Electric vehicles are not shown to be any more likely to catch on fire than internal combustion vehicles.
* This bill would be responsible for impinging upon over 12,000 electric vehicle owners in New Hampshire who would have their liberty constricted by the unfounded fears of a few.
This bill infringes upon private property rights.
* This bill infringes on private property rights by telling property owners that they do not have the right to set the terms and conditions under which firearms may be brought onto and stored on their property. During testimony, supporters of the bill admitted that this was an infringement on property rights but one that was "small" and therefore the state was justified in this taking. This is a subjective argument that diminishes all of our property rights.
* Historically, limits of property rights were only considered when a use encroaches on the property rights of others, as in the classic law of nuisance and risk. While we strongly support the individual's right to self-defense, there is no right to a particular job and thus this well-intentioned bill has no place in a free society.
* In cases when the employer is itself the state, this prohibition is justified; however, this bill makes no attempt to limit application to public employers.
This bill prohibits state or local enforcement of the Military Selective Service Act except in times of foreign military invasion or declared war. This bill further repeals the state penalty provisions for lack of compliance with the Military Selective Service Act, and allows for the marking of "conscientious objector" when registering with the division of motor vehicles.
* This bill is a strong statement for liberty as it seeks to protect New Hampshire citizens from being conscripted by the federal government as slaves by denying state resources to the federal government.
* This bill would remove selective service registration as a requirement to attend state schools.
* This bill allows for conscientious objector status to be registered alongside of selective service.
* The legislation strengthens the New Hampshire Constitution's existing Art. 13 protections: "No person, who is conscientiously scrupulous about the lawfulness of bearing arms, shall be compelled thereto."
* We recommend this bill pass in its original form without amendment by 2024-0214h.
This bill provides a procedure for conducting a discretionary background check prior to the return of firearms and/or ammunition in a court proceeding.
* This bill provides for a reasonable path for those whose firearms were seized by authorities to have them returned after passing a standard NICS background check.
* This bill reinforces the rights of the innocent by safeguarding their Second Amendment rights once the court finds that their case is resolved and can return confiscated property.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, provides a procedure for conducting a discretionary background check prior to the return of firearms and/or ammunition in a court proceeding.
* This bill provides for a reasonable path for those whose firearms were seized by authorities to have them returned after passing a standard NICS background check.
* This bill reinforces the rights of the innocent by safeguarding their Second Amendment rights once the court finds that their case is resolved and can return confiscated property.
This bill adds to the definition of "abutter" and includes abutters in appeals to the Board of Adjustment.
* This bill correctly expands who can appeal to the Board of Adjustment with respect to zoning considerations.
* This bill improves liberty by giving access to the mechanism for seeking redress of grievance from appropriate stakeholders before a zoning change is made by the Board of Adjustment.
This bill establishes a criminal prohibition against torture at the New Hampshire state level.
* With respect to federal torture law, this bill strengthens and specifies crimes identified as torture at the level of the state of New Hampshire.
* Cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited by the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Part I, Article 33 of the New Hampshire Constitution.
* While assault statutes exist in New Hampshire, they don't adequately cover the elevated egregiousness of actual torture by a government official operating under the color of law.
* This statute would punish actions defined as torture as a Class A felony.
This bill prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union and prohibits coercion and intimidation intended to compel an employee to join, affiliate with, or financially support a labor organization or to refrain from doing so.
* The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9a, which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces.
* Right-to-work is the only way currently permitted under federal law to restore some of the freedom of dissenting workers and their employers to withhold support from unions with whom they disagree. While this bill interferes with freedom of contract, it does so in a way intended to remedy current, more egregious constraints on freedom of contract.
* Public sector collective bargaining is often more harmful than private sector collective bargaining because taxpayers are not directly represented in negotiations. “It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, who opposed public sector unions. Public sector right-to-work reduces union density in government and reduces government spending and taxes (Ichniowski & Zax 1991).
* "...when it came to earning more than nonunion workers, union members in right-to-work states actually out-performed those in non-right-to-work states." (news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-law-analysis/analysis-are-unions-really-weaker-in-right-to-work-states). This is potentially due to the incentive for unions to be more responsive to their members' needs when they are not compelled to join.
* Federal employees already have the option of joining or not joining the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). It is time to grant New Hampshire workers the same options that federal workers have had for decades. "The only federal employees who pay union dues are those who choose to do so. Each federal employee in a work unit that has voted for union representation chooses whether to join the union or not." (www.afge.org/take-action/lpc-dashboard/lobbying-tips/crippling-the-union-fast-facts/)
This bill establishes prohibitions and limitations on the operation of wakeboats and their use in wakesports on public waters of the state.
* This bill creates a significant unfunded liability for the Department of Safety as they do not have the resources to enforce these laws.
* This bill singles out wakeboats and associated wakesports. These activities are very popular in New Hampshire. By limiting access to some of the state waters, this bill will create dangerous crowding and congestion on the remaining lakes.
* This bill will have a chilling effect on tourist income from wakesport enthusiasts who come to New Hampshire.
This bill allows new vehicles purchased in the model year or before to be inspected in the second year after purchase.
* This is a common sense bill that recognizes that a brand new car doesn't need to be inspected for safety as soon as it is purchased.
* This bill reduces unnecessary expense in time and money for New Hampshire citizens.
This bill allows new vehicles purchased in the model year or before to be inspected in the second year after purchase.
* This is a common sense bill that recognizes that a brand new car doesn't need to be inspected for safety as soon as it is purchased.
* This bill reduces unnecessary expense in time and money for New Hampshire citizens.
This bill allows new vehicles purchased in the model year or before to be inspected in the second year after purchase.
* This bill is a common sense bill that recognizes that a brand new car doesn't need to be inspected for safety as soon as it is purchased.
* This bill reduces unnecessary expense in time and money for New Hampshire citizens.
This bill expands occupational licensing in New Hampshire.
* Occupational licenses are permission slips from the government that routinely stand in the way of honest employment, and are designed to exclude entry into the marketplace. This bill creates a new license and prohibits individuals who do not have the license from the practice of music therapy.
* Consumers and employers, not the state, should decide who is qualified for which jobs.
* Music therapists already work in New Hampshire.
This bill expands occupational licensing in New Hampshire.
* Occupational licenses are permission slips from the government that routinely stand in the way of honest employment, and are designed to exclude entry into the marketplace. This bill creates a new license and prohibits individuals who do not have the license from the practice of music therapy.
* Consumers and employers, not the state, should decide who is qualified for which jobs.
* Music therapists already work in New Hampshire.
This bill prohibits municipal inspections of owner-occupied units within residential structures of four units or less.
* The NH Constitution enshrines the right to privacy; having municipalities conduct inspections of owner-occupied units in buildings of four units or less greatly infringes on that constitutionally-protected right.
* This bill prevents the government from violating the sanctity of one’s home by conducting inspections without the owner’s consent.
* Most NH homeowners would view it as ridiculous if their homes were inspected by the municipality. Just because a small-building owner chooses to occupy one of the units in the building doesn't mean they shouldn't have the same privacy protections as any other homeowner; there is no reason why multi-family homeowners should be treated as second-class citizens in terms of their protections from municipal inspections.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, allows the expansion of a single family residence within a residential zone to no more than two residential units without discretionary review or a hearing, if the proposed development meets certain requirements.
* This bill expands the freedom of property owners to convert single-family homes into two dwelling units.
* Municipalities would retain ample health, safety, and environmental powers over such developments and can block them for up to 10 years if sewer capacity is not adequate. This bill deals with past objections to more ambitious legislation.
* This bill encourages development and housing investment, which goes toward solving the worsening housing crisis, and does so by lessening, not increasing, government intervention in the market.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, extends the repair period for vehicles that fail the OBD II test to 120 days.
* This bill enhances liberty by giving people whose vehicles fail to pass their On-Board Diagnostics II emissions test an extension to 120 days to make repairs.
* This bill gives people a better opportunity to shop for the most economical and efficient services, repairs, or even a new vehicle if they believe it's warranted.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, extends the repair period for vehicles that fail the OBD II test to 120 days.
* This bill enhances liberty by giving people whose vehicles fail to pass their On-Board Diagnostics II emissions test an extension to 120 days to make repairs.
* This bill gives people a better opportunity to shop for the most economical and efficient services, repairs, or even a new vehicle if they believe it's warranted.
This bill repeals the requirements for licensure and regulation of court reporters.
* This bill repeals the requirements for licensure and regulation of court reporters first instituted in 2007.
* The bill repeals the voluminous, detailed, burdensome, and costly statutes and regulations relating to court reporters.
* It is believed there are under 200 court reporters in New Hampshire (active reporters may be fewer).
* Court reporters must currently pay $300 for an initial license application, and $200 for renewals.
* Court reporters are already certified at different levels of competency by the National Court Reporters Association.
* Court reporters should be free to advance their profession without government restrictions. The free market will weed out incompetent or unethical reporters, who will not be hired by attorneys or courts.
This bill would require taxpayer resources to be used to survey 1.5 million acres of mature and old growth forestland that is under public management.
* The fiscal note indicates that this would require seven new Environmentalist III positions for three years. In practice, it's likely that there would be a call to continue to find work for these new positions long beyond that. This is a labor-intensive and likely error-prone method of data gathering.
* Given the rapid pace of development of AI, it is likely that an airborne survey or analysis of existing imagery could provide the same data in the time frame envisioned by this bill and may provide other data which would be of value for the purposes envisioned by the minority.
This bill establishes required credentials for school superintendents and school business officers.
* This bill creates a cumbersome list of requirements for positions that is unlikely, perhaps almost impossible, to be met by any single candidate in each and every school district, making hiring for the position an improbable and highly overpriced adventure.
* This bill is a consequence of an out-of-control spending spree on a failing public education system. The clear centralization mandate implicit in this bill is unachievable due to the unrealism of actually finding candidates in each school district who fit all of the qualifications that are being demanded.
This bill seeks to eliminate for-profit schools that grant degrees.
* This bill attacks freedom of choice at the stunning expense of excellent educational outcomes by eliminating for-profit (private) educational institutions that grant degrees.
* This bill eliminates the principle last vestiges of a quality education in New Hampshire by removing free-market competition and replacing it with the corrupt, bloated public education system.
* For-profit schools provide improved and more diverse opportunities in education, including significantly higher quality instruction in the trades, medicine, and engineering.
This bill, with the proposed amendment, allocates $1.5 million from proceeds from the energy efficiency fund to create a point-of-sale subsidy to manufacturers of electric vehicles.
* Although the mechanism for providing subsidies to EV manufacturers is accomplished by reducing the cost paid by a purchaser of the vehicle, the bill is nonetheless a subsidy to manufacturers, as it increases the base cost of a vehicle that a consumer can afford on the margins.
* When combined with other actions of the state legislature in recent years, this bill is a shell game that is designed to make citizens believe their government is helping them, when in fact it is only distorting market forces that are already driving down the costs of EVs. In 2023, as part of HB2, the legislature passed a new $100 annual registration fee for EVs to offset the loss of fuel taxes for vehicles of this class. We now are considering a pre-purchase refund, paid for by NH utility ratepayers, and pretend to be "helping" as we shuffle dollars through a variety of state-controlled accounts.
* Reduced spending on RGGI ratepayer rebates, which will be offset by this bill, would increase the cost of electricity by $1.5 million statewide.
This bill, with the proposed amendment, regulates the use of public funds for lobbying activities and establishes certain additional enforcement mechanisms.
* This bill protects the political process by preventing politicians with access to public monies from manipulating those monies into supporting their campaigns.
* This bill protects citizens from funding (via taxes and fees paid to the state) political campaigns to which they are opposed.
* This bill requires lobbying entities to offer independent lobbying and non-lobbying services, to secure fund segregation disclosures from certain clients and affirm those disclosures, and to report different statement information where a contract provides for only non-lobbying services. It also specifically exempts clients with non-lobbying service contracts from having to segregate funds.
This bill limits the funding for the Education Freedom Accounts program, potentially hindering educational opportunities for students in need.
* This bill seeks to limit funding for parents' choices on how their children are educated.
* This bill seeks to constrain funding to Education Freedom Accounts to $19.8 million per year while the total expenditures for the 2022-2023 school year were $3.8 billion. In attempting to "save" money, this bill simply shifts spending to a specific government school instead of allowing the funding to follow the student.
* New Hampshire ranks ninth highest of all states for the amount of money coerced from state residents.
* This bill reduces positive student outcomes by preventing students from getting support from Education Freedom Accounts, which would allow them to seek a better education outside of their failing local schools.
This bill annually reduces the state education property tax by the amount of revenue paid to the state through games of chance in excess of the estimated amount paid in the 2023 fiscal year.
* This bill will reduce the statewide property tax, while offsetting the reductions with gambling tax funding. This will reduce people's taxes while not reducing education funding.
* This bill implements the intent of the finances collected from games of chance to supplement education funding with the revenue.
This bill creates a taxpayer-funded program to gift vehicles to those in poverty to enable businesses to pay below-market wages and increase the cycle of poverty.
* Government programs create dependency and perverse incentives that often do far more harm than good. Effective social assistance is based on sincere care for a person, and most often occurs in the context of a genuine personal relationship.
* This bill will come at a cost to the taxpayers and will only exacerbate the problem that it seeks to resolve. The increased spending and ultimately higher taxes will push more individuals who are living on the margins to become dependent on programs like this.
* The state could reduce the barriers to accessing affordable transportation by joining other states, including many other cold weather states, in eliminating annual vehicle inspections.
This bill increases the amount of the section 179 expense deduction permitted against the business profits tax starting in 2025.
* The 2023 IRS limit for section 179 expenses is $1,160,000. While this bill would fall short of setting New Hampshire's deduction to the same level offered by the federal government, it would substantially close the gap and reduce one area in which New Hampshire business taxes are less competitive than other states.
* Every state with a corporate income tax allows for some form of section 179 expense deduction but only 14 states (inclusive of NH) and the District of Columbia utilize more restrictive limits than the IRS, ranging from $25,000 to $1,040,000 (us-kb.sage.com/portal/app/portlets/results/viewsolution.jsp?solutionid=225924450086997).
This bill increases the amount of the section 179 expense deduction permitted against the business profits tax starting in 2025.
* The 2023 IRS limit for section 179 expenses is $1,160,000. While this bill would fall short of setting New Hampshire's deduction to the same level offered by the federal government, it would substantially close the gap and reduce one area in which New Hampshire business taxes are less competitive than other states.
* Every state with a corporate income tax allows for some form of section 179 expense deduction but only 14 states (inclusive of NH) and the District of Columbia utilize more restrictive limits than the IRS, ranging from $25,000 to $1,040,000 (us-kb.sage.com/portal/app/portlets/results/viewsolution.jsp?solutionid=225924450086997).
This bill allows for additional annulments, resentencings, or discontinuations of prosecutions for certain cannabis offenses when no minor individual is invoved in the actions leading to the conviction.
* Under current NH law, an individual seeking an annulment for these crimes must pay a fee, and in most cases they must pay for a lawyer. This bill puts the burden on the state to support annulments for activities which should never have been crimes in the first place.
This bill permits the state to transfer money to nonprofit entites of their choice without being checked by the fiscal approval process.
* This bill allows the state to sell property under market value when they so choose. This significantly disadvantages the New Hampshire taxpayer as their hard-earned money is being thrown away instead of managed responsibly.
This bill requires that any surplus in the education trust fund be transferred to the general fund at the end of each fiscal year.
* By moving surplus education funding annually to the general fund, this bill creates the opportunity to lower taxes, as the surplus is revealed in the general fund to be unnecessary to collect from taxpayers.
* If realized, this future tax cut opportunity would drive more efficiency in state spending, therefore improving the availability of funding in the hands of our productive citizens so that they may choose to enhance their investment in New Hampshire.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, allows independent audits of ballot images.
* In the democratic process, it is important for people to be able to verify that the ballots cast actually match what the election results claim.
* Independent audits are common in many industries to ensure the quality of products and services. Open and honest elections should not run from audits, but welcome more transparency to provide voters confidence in NH elections.
This bill, with the proposed amendment, allows independent audits of ballot images.
* In the democratic process, it is important for people to be able to verify that the ballots cast actually match what the election results claim.
* Independent audits are common in many industries to ensure the quality of products and services. Open and honest elections should not run from audits, but welcome more transparency to provide voters confidence in NH elections.
This bill expands education spending by $130 million per year.
* This bill significantly increases multiple funding mechanisms to government-run schools, including base aid and differentiated aid. The total estimated new spending responsibility assigned to the taxpayer from this bill is approximately $130 million per year.
* The amount of money requested in this bill can be more readily sourced by harvesting efficiencies from reducing administrative costs, overhead, and waste and reducing the actual scope to that mandated in RSA 193-E:2.
* New Hampshire taxpayers already shoulder an incredibly high $3.8 billion fiscal burden to educate children. There is no reasonable need to further increase this amount.
This bill increases the base annual cost of providing an opportunity for an adequate education. It also establishes relief aid funding and fiscal disparity aid.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, would significantly increase multiple funding mechanisms to government-run schools, including base aid and differentiated aid. The total estimated new spending responsibility assigned to the taxpayer from this bill is approximately $130 million year.
* The amount of money requested in this bill can be more readily sourced by harvesting efficiencies from reducing administrative costs, overhead, and waste and reducing the actual scope to that mandated in RSA 193-E:2.
* New Hampshire taxpayers already shoulder an incredibly high $3.8 billion fiscal burden to educate children. There is no reasonable need to further increase this amount.
This bill will help ease the demand on the decreasing supply of licensed childcare providers by providing a low-cost alternative for many NH families.
* This bill promotes more affordable and accessible childcare options for families, as it allows for one additional child to be cared for in a private home without the need for a daycare license, which can be costly and time-consuming to obtain.
* The bill respects the autonomy of parents in choosing the best childcare arrangements for their children without unnecessary government interference.
* The bill may encourage the growth of small, home-based childcare businesses, which can provide more personalized and flexible care options for families.
* The increased capacity for children in private homes may also help alleviate the shortage of childcare options in some areas, making it easier for parents to find suitable care arrangements for their children.
This bill seeks to eliminate Education Freedom Accounts by revoking participants' protections and freedom to operate.
* This bill seeks to specifically repeal RSAs that define and protect participants' rights to freely educate children in the manner parents choose in order to provide the best educational outcome for their children.
* The purpose of the Education Freedom Accounts program is to specifically fund the students so that they can be saved from their failed public education institutions.
* This bill cynically attempts to prevent Muslim, Jewish, and Christian (among other) families from using Education Freedom Accounts to find excellent educational outcomes for their children, despite overwhelming Supreme Court precedent on this issue.
This bill requires annual determination of eligibility for awarding of Education Freedom Account funds.
* This bill will result in the abrupt end of successful educational paths for students whose household income has changed since they began participation in the Education Freedom Accounts program — the NH Department of Education has stated the same. The current cap already prevented 250 families from using the program this year, as food stamps, Social Security, etc., are counted as income.
* 44% of those with Education Freedom Accounts are already on the free lunch program. Further annual limitations will impact those who can least afford school choice and punish any upward financial mobility of poorer families, who often live in poorly-performing school districts.
* Public schools require no income verification for being educated. The purpose of the Education Freedom Accounts program is for taxpayer money to follow the student, ensuring they have the best possible educational choices available to them for their individual needs. This should not be impacted by arbitrary income requirements, as every taxpayer and business pays into the system whether they have children or not.
This bill places the full cost of raising children in state custody on New Hampshire citizens. It also takes the money the state collects from the federal government for this pupose and holds it in trust as a payout for when the child leaves state care.
* This bill is a misappropriation of funds. It takes money from the federal government intended for the support of children and decides to save it as a payout to the child for when he or she is released from state care. It presumes instead to charge New Hampshire citizens again for the support of children in state care.
* An unintended consequence is that impoverished parents may decide to surrender their children to state care so those children can get cash payouts on the backs of New Hampshire citizens.
This bill enables employers to pay below-market wages by creating subsided childcare programs in the state which, while receiving no explicit taxpayer funds in this bill, is designed to enable taxpayer subsidy in the next budget.
* This bill enables taxpayer subsidies in an attempt to increase the supply of childcare workers by providing taxpayer funds to provide benefits to childcare workers.
* As designed, the program would provide subsidies in a manner that could result in the upper middle class effectively receiving subsidized childcare at the expense of renters who can't even afford to start a family due to the total tax burden they face from state and local governments.
* The bill has perverse incentives that, on the margin, may require more families to choose to be dual income in order to pay taxes when they would otherwise have chosen to have one parent stay at home. While this program falls short of universal taxpayer-funded daycare, it is reasonable to assume that the marginal impacts will be similar. A study on the effects of universal low-cost daycare in the province of Quebec found that the participants were more anxious as children and committed more crimes as teenagers (www.mcgill.ca/epi-biostat-occh/files/epi-biostat-occh/baker_et_al_nber_wp-long_run_impact_of_quebecs_childcare_program.pdf).
This bill enables employers to pay below-market wages by creating taxpayer-subsidized childcare programs in the state.
* This bill would provide taxpayer subsidies in an attempt to increase the supply of daycare workers by providing taxpayer funds to provide benefits to childcare workers.
* As designed, the program would provide subsidies in a manner that could result in the upper middle class effectively receiving subsidized childcare at the expense of renters who can't even afford to start a family due to the total tax burden they face from state and local governments.
* The bill has perverse incentives that, on the margin, may require more families to choose to be dual income in order to pay taxes when they would otherwise have chosen to have one parent stay home. While this program falls short of universal taxpayer-funded daycare, it is reasonable to assume that the marginal impacts will be similar. A study on the effects of universal low-cost day care in the province of Quebec found that the participants were more anxious as children and committed more crimes as teenagers (www.mcgill.ca/epi-biostat-occh/files/epi-biostat-occh/baker_et_al_nber_wp-long_run_impact_of_quebecs_childcare_program.pdf).
This bill creates a new program requiring funding to enact extended producer responsibility for packaging.
* This bill assigns new bureaucracy and requirements to producers of most packaged goods.
* The great cost incurred by this program on producers and the creation of new state bureaucracy is a direct increase in costs and/or taxes to the New Hampshire resident. These programs aren't free, and it is only the people who pay.
* Most recycled plastic goods are not actually recycled in the US. Most are shipped to Canada, Mexico, and India where they can "recycle" the materials outside the domestic regulatory performance theater.
This bill legalizes cannabis in New Hampshire.
* This bill would increase personal freedom by allowing adults 21 and older to purchase, possess, transport, and give away (but not sell) up to four ounces of cannabis, ten grams of concentrated cannabis, and infused products with up to 2000 milligrams of THC.
* Legalization would not only prevent innocent people from having their lives significantly impacted by minor possession arrests, but would also reduce the expense of the criminal justice system, allowing police and prosecutors to focus on serious crimes where innocent people have been victimized.
* Polls have consistently shown that a substantial majority of Granite Staters support legalizing cannabis (scholars.unh.edu/survey_center_polls/689).
* A federal judge has recently ruled that prohibitions on firearms ownership simply for the use of cannabis is unconstitutional. While it is likely that further court battles on the topic remain, concerns expressed over the potential impact to gun rights are paternalistic.
This bill enables universal access to the Education Freedom Accounts program.
* This bill would allow all Granite Staters to opt out of public school and choose a program that will cost the taxpayer generally half as much as the public option while providing the opportunity for superior education outcomes.
* This also allows for greater innovation in the field of education in the state as the public schools are now having to compete for students as well as the private programs needing to innovate to be successful.
* Education Freedom Accounts provide Granite Staters with greater access to private, home, charter, or other alternative schooling options for their children with an ultimately lower tax burden for taxpayers, as only funds considered required by the state for an adequate education are allocated to the account, and not additional optional funding that often is added at the municipal level.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, restricts the use of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances in certain consumer products sold in New Hampshire.
* Identified areas of groundwater PFAS contamination within New Hampshire are primarily the result of contamination linked primarily to industrial discharge from manufacturing facilities, fire stations, and military bases rather than the consumer products targeted for a ban under this legislation.
* This bill will lead to an unnecessary increase in the cost and lack of availability of common goods in New Hampshire as manufacturers will have to engage with the bureaucracy, decide whether or not to continue to provide the product, or update the product and generate custom processes to support this new law — all costs that will be passed on to the consumer.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, restricts the use of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances in certain consumer products sold in New Hampshire.
* Identified areas of groundwater PFAS contamination within New Hampshire are primarily the result of contamination primarily linked to industrial discharge from manufacturing facilities, fire stations, and military bases rather than the consumer products targeted for a ban under this legislation.
* This bill will lead to an unnecessary increase in the cost and lack of availability of common goods in New Hampshire as manufacturers will have to engage with the bureaucracy, decide whether or not to continue to provide the product, or update the product and generate custom processes to support this new law — all costs which will be passed on to the consumer.
This bill requires all alternative learning programs for granting credit leading to graduation to comply with state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and establishes a committee to evaluate applications for alternative programs.
* This bill incorrectly assigns power to the Department of Education on a matter it is not intended to or capable of solving. Private institutions and businesses are already required to comply with state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
* This bill creates an unnecessary annual cost to the state budget to support a committee of public school employees to perform a function for which they are neither educated nor competent.
* This bill is trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist in order to assign even more authority to a failed public education system that is dominated by incompetence, particularly in matters of responsibly managing finances.
This bill allows school districts to adopt a program for local Education Freedom Accounts for a parent of an eligible student to receive a grant from a scholarship organization for qualifying educational expenses at a public school, chartered public school, nonpublic school, or program approved by the Department of Education.
* This bill increases the availability of the Education Freedom Accounts to all school districts who choose to enact it at their level.
* This bill enhances liberty by moving access to superior forms of education down to the local level and is available to all who are interested.
* Education Freedom Accounts provide an alternative for parents who are not interested in exposing their children to undesirable cultural programming or insufficient and inefficient "academics" at public education institutions.
* EFAs ultimately create an opportunity to reduce property taxes as EFAs cost taxpayers far less to educate a student than the current public school bureaucracy.
This bill requires the State Board of Education to annually review Education Freedom Account service providers for continued compliance with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
* Education Freedom Accounts are for families who strive for excellent educational outcomes for their children. Parents use Education Freedom Accounts because the public school system has failed their families. Public education employees are not qualified, objective toward, or competent with respect to understanding and appropriately treating Education Freedom Accounts.
* Private institutions, businesses, and schools are already required to comply with state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
* Given the extra and unnecessary red-tape this bill generates, it will likely drive away outstanding private education services from New Hampshire, an outcome which would indeed satisfy those who care about the government institutions over children's education.
This bill provides that the state Medicaid plan shall not include gender reassignment treatment for minors.
* This bill prevents gender reassignment treatments from being covered by Medicaid.
* This bill improves liberty by reducing potential costs to taxpayers for a safety-net entitlement by eliminating an elective treatment.
This bill raises the household income criteria for eligibility to receive funding for the Education Freedom Accounts program.
* This bill would allow more Granite Staters to opt out of public school and choose a program that will cost the taxpayer generally half as much as the public option while providing the opportunity for superior education outcomes.
* This also allows for greater innovation in the field of education in the state as the public schools are now having to compete for students as well as the private programs needing to innovate to be successful.
* Education Freedom Accounts provide Granite Staters with greater access to private, home, charter, or other alternative schooling options for their children with an ultimately lower tax burden for taxpayers, as only funds considered required by the state for an adequate education are allocated to the account, and not additional optional funding that often is added at the municipal level.
This bill replaces civil action proceedings with Department of Education rules.
* This bill seeks to change the trial venue for teachers who are accused of malfeasance from the civil court of law to hearings by public school administrators and officials.
* This bill creates a significant unfunded liability by creating a de facto court within the Department of Education so that it may police itself or seek advantage in charges made against it.
* This bill also strikes the portion of law that protects families from teachers who discriminate against them.
This bill designates specie legal tender as legal tender in the state of New Hampshire.
* This bill, with the proposed amendment 2024-0373h, states that specie legal tender (specie coin issued by the United States or gold/silver as authorized by the New Hampshire state treasurer) is legal tender in New Hampshire.
* This bill enhances liberty by allowing a path for those who seek to exchange gold/silver instead of dollars to do so without risk of violating federal law. 18 U.S. Code § 486 states, "Whoever, except as authorized by law, makes or utters or passes, or attempts to utter or pass, any coins of gold or silver or other metal, or alloys of metals, intended for use as current money, whether in the resemblance of coins of the United States or of foreign countries, or of original design, shall be fined under this title [1] or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."
* Vote NAY IS and then support YEA OTP/A.
This bill extends eligibility for the Education Freedom Accounts program to students who participated in the program in the preceeding year, students whose enrollment transfer requests were denied, and students in school districts that performed at 49% or below in statewide assessments.
* This bill improves the Education Freedom Accounts program to fulfill one of its cornerstone paradigms, which is to allow parents whose children are suffering in poor-performing schools to get a better education elsewhere.
* This will improve educational outcomes for all children in an area, as it will drive efficiencies in the public education system while permitting those parents who would prefer to educate their children elsewhere to do so without shouldering the extra burden of paying to educate their children twice.
* This bill is an excellent example of enhancing liberty through increasing opportunites for people to freely choose what they want without state coercion.
This bill prohibits the sale of dogs and cats by retail shops in New Hampshire.
* While the intent of the bill is likely to reduce support for breeders that utilize inhumane approaches to breeding and keeping dogs, it ultimately is likely to have the opposite effect. As written, the bill would prohibit the sale of cats and dogs in retail shops in the state of New Hampshire by prohibiting new shops and eliminating others through attrition. Ultimately, this will result in more cats and dogs being purchased from shelters that import pets from out of state. Rather than having pets be obtained from a mix of local and out-of-state breeders, this will ultimately increase the demand for out-of-state breeders where both the consumer and the state have less visibility into the conditions under which the pets were reared.
* Pet ownership is one of the joys of life that certain people have difficulty realizing with some species or breeds of pets. By outlawing pet stores' ability to sell dogs and cats, potential owners may be deprived of finding an appropriate pet to suit their needs.
This bill provides that the state Medicaid plan shall not include circumcision unless the child has a specific diagnosis for which the procedure is determined to be medically necessary.
* Support the motion to remove the bill from table and support OTP/A.
* The rights of bodily autonomy, personal choice, and consent are subverted when babies, who are the most vulnerable and innocent among us and unable to give consent, are subjected to and indeed permanently harmed by this nearly universally unnecessary medical procedure.
* Medically necessary circumcisions are still covered under this bill.
* This bill reduces spending by protecting the Medicaid program from medically unnecessary circumcisions.
This bill provides that the state Medicaid plan shall not include circumcision unless the child has a specific diagnosis for which the procedure is determined to be medically necessary.
* This bill reduces spending by protecting the Medicaid program from medically unnecessary circumcisions.
* The rights of bodily autonomy, personal choice, and consent are subverted when babies who are unable to give consent are subjected to and, unless medically necessary, indeed permanently harmed by this unnecessary medical procedure.
This bill clarifies the law regarding how identifiable information contained within vital records is collected and reported to other state agencies.
* The bill limits state agencies' access to personal identifiers in vital records, ensuring individuals' privacy is protected against unnecessary government intrusion. This restriction underscores a commitment to safeguarding citizens' rights to privacy by minimizing the collection and use of sensitive personal information.
* This bill minimizes the risk of personal data misuse by ensuring that state agencies only access non-identifiable data for statistical purposes, thereby balancing public health research needs with individual privacy rights.
* With cyber attacks and data breaches becoming more common, the disclosure of personally identifiable information should be avoided at all costs.
* The bill's provisions empower individuals by ensuring that their personal information remains confidential and is not unnecessarily exposed to state scrutiny. By setting clear boundaries on the access and use of personal data, it reinforces the principle of personal liberty, emphasizing that individuals retain control over their own information in interactions with the state.
* Vote NAY IS and then YEA OTP.
This bill prohibits the transfer of students' personally identifiable information to third parties without written consent of the parents of the student.
* This bill, with the proposed amendment, prohibits releasing personally identifiable student information to third parties without written consent of the student's parents.
* This bill strengthens the ability of parents to protect their children's privacy.
This bill clarifies a public body or agency's ability to accept record requests by electronic means and to provide such records electronically.
* This bill enhances the capacity for transparency in local government by providing for Right-to-Know requests to be satisfied by utiliziing document databases accessed via the Internet.
* This is a common sense bill that seeks to modernize government records retention and access through digitizing documents and making them readily accessible on the Internet.
* This accessiblity of information would reduce the number of Right-to-Know requests the government sees, as requesters can readily find the information openly available to them online.
This bill creates a Red Flag law to allow for the confiscation of firearms from people based on their mental health status.
* This bill brings the notorious "Red Flag" laws to New Hampshire, allowing the State to confiscate people's guns and prohibit them from owning them based on mental health status.
* This bill confiscates people's property and prohibits them from exercising a constitutional right without having been found guilty of any crime.
* This bill is unconstitutional under Part 1, Art. 2-a of the NH Constitution, and in light of the Heller and Bruen Supreme Court rulings, is also clearly unconstitutional under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
* Laws like these have been misused and abused in every jurisdiction where they have been passed. This is a slippery slope to more expansive gun control regulation.
* These kinds of "guilty until proven innocent" laws, such as the similar ability for the State to confiscate firearms upon a domestic violence no-contact order (the so-called "Lautenberg Amendment"), are being challenged around the country, and one case is currently at the Supreme Court. Based on recent rulings and the makeup of the court, it is likely that law will be struck down. Passing this law will therefore be a waste of everyone's time and money.
This bill forces a defendant under certain conditions to appear in court for all stages of trial or be guilty of a class A felony.
* This bill violates the presumption of innocence, and hubristically concludes that it is in the defendant's interest to be personally present at all stages of a trial.
* No innocent person should be coerced by state violence while executing their chosen defensive strategy.
* This bill is a reprehensible violation of liberty, ethics, and morality as it blatantly calls to protect the state and accusers against inconvenience while threatenting violence on an innocent person.
Amendment 2023-2430s limits the powers of municipalities to adopt public health ordinances to be only for conditions that are unique to the town.
* If SB 63 is removed from table to adopt the amendment relative to the adoption of public health ordinances by municipalities, the motion and amendment should be supported.
* This would limit the ability of towns to create public health restrictions on the public for conditions that are not unique to the town. Such restrictions only serve to limit the liberty of those in the town and can result in a confusing patchwork of restrictions that have both unindended consequences and negative impacts to liberty.
This bill changes the date of the state primary election to the second Tuesday in May (from September).
* This bill will substantially restrict the ability of third parties to secure enough petitions in time to qualify. It further expands the use of taxpayer resources to enable entrenched private political parties to make use of election apparatus for free while reducing the time and thus increasing the costs for third party candidates to qualify to be on the ballot.
* This bill can be made at least neutral if it is amended to include a change to RSA 655:41 to untether the dates of independent filing from the primary to prevent inadvertently dramatically raising the bar for ballot access for these candidates.
This bill changes the date of the state primary election to the second Tuesday in May (from September).
* This bill will substantially restrict the ability of third parties to secure enough petitions in time to qualify. It further expands the use of taxpayer resources to enable entrenched private political parties to make use of election apparatus for free while reducing the time and thus increasing the costs for 3rd party candidates to qualify to be on the ballot.
* This bill can be made at least neutral if it is amended to include a change to RSA 655:41 to untether the dates of independent filing from the primary to prevent inadvertently dramatically raising the bar for ballot access for these candidates.
This bill changes the date of the state primary election to the second Tuesday in May (from September).
* This bill will substantially restrict the ability of third parties to secure enough petitions in time to qualify. It further expands the use of taxpayer resources to enable entrenched private political parties to make use of election apparatus for free while reducing the time and thus increasing the costs for 3rd party candidates to qualify to be on the ballot.
* This can be made at least neutral if its amended to include an amendment to RSA 655:41 to untether the dates of independent filing with the primary to prevent inadvertently dramatically raising the bar for ballot access for these candidates.
This bill further expands the retirement system expense.
* The NHRS reported an unfunded liability of $5.69 billion as of December 2022.
* This bill would further add to that unfunded debt by no less than $2 million per year and up to an unlimited and unreported amount.
This bill improves brewery licensing by creating cheaper tiers for lower volume brewers.
* This bill changes the price of a beverage manufacturer's licence from $1200 for under 15,000 barrels of domestic sales or less to a more graduated, multi-tiered system that is significantly less costly to the brewer.
* Reducing the cost of doing business in New Hampshire improves liberty and increases the likelihood for successful businesses.
This bill allows students under age 21 to taste wine for instructional purposes at accredited educational institutions.
* This bill allows students studying enology or brewing, who may be under 21, to fully participate in the class.
* This bill increases access to education by creating a small and reasonable exception to the alcohol age limit.
Allowing students under age 21 to taste wine for instructional purposes at accredited educational institutions.
* This bill allows students studying enology or brewing, who may be under 21, to fully participate in the class.
* This bill increases access to education by creating a small and reasonable exception to the alcohol age limit.
This bill establishes a set minimum amount of coverage required for vehicles operating as part of a transportation network company in New Hampshire.
* This bill will increase the cost of doing business by companies such as Uber and Lyft within New Hampshire, as they will likely pass the cost of their insurance premium increase onto the customer.
* There is no benefit to a citizen operating a vehicle to be required to maintain insurance against the possibility that another motorist is underinsured or unable to financially cover their responsibility in the event of an accident.
* This is a nanny-state bill ostensibly presuming that the responsible, capable citizens of New Hampshire can't freely manage on their own while commuting in their state.
This bill establishes an executive branch department of early childhood education and establishes the authority for the department to design, create, and administer a public pre-kindergarten program.
* Subsidized child care by the government will eventually push small/individualized private childcare providers out of business. Many parents prefer home-based childcare to formal institutionalized daycare centers, and while the pilot allows for such home-based childcare, the program's reliance on subsidizing licensed childcare will result in the destruction of purely private programs.
* Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the care of others' children while struggling to pay to raise their own children.
While NAY OTP is preferable, IS is acceptable.
This bill establishes an executive branch department of early childhood education and establishes the authority for the department to design, create, and administer a public pre-kindergarten program.
* Subsidized childcare by the government will eventually push small/individualized private childcare providers out of business . Many parents prefer home-based childcare to formal institutionalized daycare centers, and while the pilot allows for such home-based childcare, the program's reliance on subsidizing licensed childcare will result in the destruction of purely private programs.
* Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the care of others' children while struggling to pay to raise their own children.
This bill establishes the rural and underserved area educator incentive program and makes an appropriation therefor.
* This bill is unnecessary, as no part of New Hampshire is educationally underserved due to the universal geographic access of the Education Freedom Accounts.
* Increasing the unnecessary bloat of the already-overfunded public education department creates an unjust burden on everyone forced to pay taxes.
* There is very limited actual incentive created by this bill as the federal government is already forgiving billions in college education loans.
This bill establishes the rural and underserved area educator incentive program and makes an appropriation therefor.
* This bill is unnecessary, as no part of New Hampshire is educationally underserved due to the universal access of the Education Freedom Accounts.
* Increasing the unnecessary bloat of the already overfunded public education department creates an unjust burden on everyone forced to pay taxes.
* There is very limited actual incentive created by this bill as the federal government is already forgiving billions in college education loans.
This bill requires school districts to post mandatory reports of school expenses, including average cost per pupil, average teacher salaries, and top administrator salaries. It also creates a civil remedy for the enforcement of this requirement.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, enhances public awareness of the cost incurred by public school administrators through requiring the posting of administrator salaries before any meeting in a school district where a budget is under consideration.
* Enhanced transparency in government increases public trust and awareness.
This bill requires school districts to post mandatory reports of school expenses, including average cost per pupil, average teacher salaries, and top administrator salaries. It also creates a civil remedy for the enforcement of this requirement.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, will enhance public awareness of the cost incurred by public school administrators through requiring the posting of administrator salaries before any meeting in a school district where a budget is under consideration.
* Enhanced transparency in government increases public trust and awareness.
This bill requires school districts to post mandatory reports of school expenses, including average cost per pupil, average teacher salaries, and top administrator salaries. It also creates a civil remedy for the enforcement of this requirement.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, will enhance public awareness of the cost incurred by public school administrators through requiring the posting of administrator salaries before any meeting in a school district where a budget is under consideration.
* Enhanced transparency in government increases public trust and awareness.
This bill requires school districts to post mandatory reports of school expenses, including average cost per pupil, average teacher salaries, and top administrator salaries. It also creates a civil remedy for the enforcement of this requirement.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, will enhance public awareness of the cost incurred by public school administrators through requiring the posting of administrator salaries before any meeting in a school district where a budget is under consideration.
* Enhanced transparency in government increases public trust and awareness.
This bill creates a floor to teacher pay in districts where there is more than one assistant superintendent or one or more diversity professionals.
* This bill at once seeks to decry the bloat of the inflated number and salaries of administrators while also claiming teacher compensation should have a floor based on said bloat.
* The ratio of teacher pay to cost per pupil this bill seeks would be effectively and responsibly achieved by simply reducing the number of administrators and eliminating all diversity positions.
* The cost per pupil of Education Freedom Accounts is $4,700, compared to $21,534 for those children trapped in the public education system. If we closed the public education department and doubled the allowance of the EFAs the citizens of New Hampshire would still save over half the cost to educate their children.
This bill presumes guilt of someone charged with a crime and allows the state to punish the accused before trial.
* "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." — 14th Amendment, Section 1 of the United States Constitution
* "That it is better 100 guilty persons should escape than that one innocent person should suffer, is a maxim that has been long and generally approved." — Benjamin Franklin
* This bill would deny persons charged with a range of specific crimes the chance to make bail. It would provide that, for those crimes, the accused would need to be held in custody for 36 hours on the presumption that the person is dangerous to society. Due process requires the accused be presented immediately before a judge for a determination of bail.
* This change in existing law and procedure would incur large additional, although presently undetermined, costs to the judicial and corrections systems.
* This bill deprives an accused of his or her right to be released on bail pending arraignment.
* It presumes people accused of certain crimes are automatically a danger to society and should be held for 36 hours after arrest.
This bill presumes guilt of someone charged with a crime and allows the state to punish the accused before trial.
* "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." — 14th Amendment, Section 1 of the United States Constitution
* "That it is better 100 guilty persons should escape than that one innocent person should suffer, is a maxim that has been long and generally approved." — Benjamin Franklin
* This bill would deny persons charged with a range of specific crimes the chance to make bail. It would provide that, for those crimes, the accused would need to be held in custody for 36 hours on the presumption that the person is dangerous to society. Due process requires the accused be presented immediately before a judge for a determination of bail.
* This change in existing law and procedure would incur large additional, although presently undetermined, costs to the judicial and corrections systems.
* This bill deprives an accused of his or her right to be released on bail pending arraignment.
* It presumes people accused of certain crimes are automatically a danger to society and should be held for 36 hours after arrest.
This bill presumes guilt of someone charged with a crime and allows the state to punish the accused before trial.
* "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." — 14th Amendment, Section 1 of the United States Constitution
* "That it is better 100 guilty persons should escape than that one innocent person should suffer, is a maxim that has been long and generally approved." — Benjamin Franklin
* This bill would deny persons charged with a range of specific crimes the chance to make bail. It would provide that, for those crimes, the accused would need to be held in custody for 36 hours, on the presumption that the person is dangerous to society. Due process requires the accused be presented immediately before a judge for a determination of bail.
* This change in existing law and procedure would incur large additional, although presently undetermined, costs to the judicial and corrections systems.
* This bill deprives an accused of his or her right to be released on bail pending arraignment.
* It presumes people accused of certain crimes are automatically a danger to society and should be held for 36 hours after arrest.
This bill would eliminate the sunset provision on NH Medicaid Expansion.
* This bill makes Medicaid Expansion permanent. Medicaid Expansion provides able-bodied, childless adults in NH who are above the poverty line with free healthcare.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached, and it is not free. The national debt, which is nearly $34 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
* The federal government will not keep its promises. Federal money will dry up and the financial transfer mechanism will break because hospitals and insurance companies will be unable to transfer the entire cost onto paying customers. This will place the costs squarely on the state’s General Fund, which will only be able to support it through a new broad-based tax, such as a sales or income tax, thereby destroying what remains of the New Hampshire Advantage. While there are protections in the existing law, one only need to look at the public hearing, where stakeholders showed up in support of this bill to recognize that the longer we run this 'temporary' program, the greater the constituency will be to keep it running even as it eventually grows to consume additional state funding.
* A free market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
* This bill preserves Medicaid Expansion, which is currently set to sunset at the end of 2023. Medicaid Expansion provides able-bodied, childless adults in NH who are above the poverty line with free healthcare.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached, and it is not free. The national debt, which is more than $31 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
* The federal government will not keep its promises. Federal money will dry up and the financial transfer mechanism will break because hospitals and insurance companies will be unable to transfer the entire cost onto paying customers. This will place the costs squarely on the state’s General Fund, which will only be able to support it through a new broad-based tax, such as a sales or income tax, thereby destroying what remains of the New Hampshire Advantage. While there are protections in the existing law, one only need to look at the public hearing, where stakeholders showed up in support of this bill to recognize that the longer we run this 'temporary' program, the greater the constituency will be to keep it running even as it eventually grows to consume additional state funding.
* A free market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill makes the temporary Medicaid Expansion program permanent.
* This bill preserves Medicaid Expansion, which is currently set to sunset at the end of 2023. Medicaid Expansion provides able-bodied, childless adults in NH who are above the poverty line with free healthcare.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached, and it is not free. The national debt, which is more than $31 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
* The federal government will not keep its promises. Federal money will dry up and the financial transfer mechanism will break because hospitals and insurance companies will be unable to transfer the entire cost onto paying customers. This will place the costs squarely on the state’s General Fund, which will only be able to support it through a new broad-based tax, such as a sales or income tax, thereby destroying what remains of the New Hampshire Advantage. While there are protections in the existing law, one only need to look at the public hearing, where stakeholders showed up in support of this bill to recognize that the longer we run this 'temporary' program, the greater the constituency will be to keep it running even as it eventually grows to consume additional state funding.
* A free market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill makes the temporary Medicaid Expansion program permanent.
* This bill preserves Medicaid Expansion, which is currently set to sunset at the end of 2023. Medicaid Expansion provides able-bodied, childless adults in NH who are above the poverty line with free healthcare.
* Federal money always comes with strings attached, and it is not free. The national debt, which is more than $31 trillion, is arguably the largest threat to national security.
* The federal government will not keep its promises. Federal money will dry up and the financial transfer mechanism will break because hospitals and insurance companies will be unable to transfer the entire cost onto paying customers. This will place the costs squarely on the state’s General Fund, which will only be able to support it through a new broad-based tax, such as a sales or income tax, thereby destroying what remains of the New Hampshire Advantage. While there are protections in the existing law, one only need to look at the public hearing, where stakeholders showed up in support of this bill to recognize that the longer we run this 'temporary' program, the greater the constituency will be to keep it running even as it eventually grows to consume additional state funding.
* A free market approach to health care should be the main priority of the legislature. This is the only way to sustainably lower costs and increase access for the majority of Granite Staters.
This bill provides for physicians and surgeons from out-of-state to perform medical examinations in New Hampshire under certain circumstances.
* This bill allows for a physician from out-of-state who has an established relationship with a patient to continue to treat and examine that patient in New Hampshire without limitation of operation.
* This is a common sense bill to allow for ease of access to the wealth of highly qualified medical doctors throughout the country that allows them to operate unimpeded by law on patients with whom they have an established relationship.
This bill sets a state minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage.
* Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
* Securing higher wages for everyone is better accomplished through job creation — having more jobs available means more competition among businesses to hire workers, thereby driving up wages.
* Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
* Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
* The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.
This bill adds a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years for individuals transporting fentanyl into NH with an intent to distribute and adds a new clause allowing for asset forfeiture of vehicles that were involved.
* The War on Drugs has clearly failed; heroin was first federally regulated more than 100 years ago, yet is still beyond the control of governance even today. While it is tempting to look at the lists of arrests week after week in the paper and think we are just one more arrest from a solution, it is clear that the enforcement-centric approach is a failure.
* During the public hearing, testimony was provided that indicated that there is no evidence that mandatory minimum drug sentences reduce use of drugs, drug sales, or overdose deaths.
* WIth or without this bill, fentanyl remains illegal in the state.
This bill requires the public utilities commission to develop a performance incentive mechanism for the approval of electric and gas utility rates.
* This bill adds a significant amount of cost, oversight, and bureaucratic red tape to the already cumbersome process that private utilities have to contend with to do business in New Hampshire.
* It is far more likely that any perceived "efficiencies" this bill hopes to force out of utility companies will in fact be overcome by the cost of its implementation, oversight, and enforcement, while also adding to the cost the utility companies will be forced to pass on to New Hampshire residents.
* While a motion of ITL would be preferrable, IS is acceptable.
This bill amends the definition of "salon" to provide an exception.
* This bill improves liberty for barbers and stylists by eliminating their personal homes from the definition of salons.
* This will improve access to the barber and cosmetology professions by allowing New Hampshire citizens to use space in their home to practice without the administrative burden of labeling their home a salon.
This bill restricts the use of certain images and phrasing in alcohol packaging that are subjectively assigned to be attractive to minors.
* While the preferred motion for this bill is ITL, a motion of IS is acceptable.
* This bill creates an ill-defined and highly subjective bar that alcohol manufacturers will need to work closely with government officials to satisfy. This will increase the costs of these products to New Hampshire residents.
* Children and others under the age of 21 are already prohibited from purchasing or consuming alcohol regardless of how attractive the person finds the package.
* Alcohol manufacturers should be free to focus on the quality and palatability of their products without additional overhead foisted upon them by an engorged state only seeking a reason to grow even larger.
This bill removes the requirement that students file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form or a waiver for such form prior to graduation.
* Parents and children who are often at or near the age of majority are in the best position to determine if filling out onerous federal forms is in their interest. This new mandate for graduation was passed in 2021 and presumes to insert the preferences of the state over those of parents and young adults.
* There are those who have characterized the existing student loan system as being a predatory lending system whereby students are pressured into taking out loans that may not be discharged through bankruptcy and then use the funds to get degrees that do not offer sufficient value to repay the loan. Whether or not a contract that is entered into voluntarily is reasonable to deem as predatory may be a matter of discussion; however, for those who hold such a position, it is clear that the state of New Hampshire should not mandate that individuals begin the process of engaging with such a system.
This bill establishes a new school district building aid funding program using state funds allocated to each district and makes an appropriation therefor.
* This bill will drive up the cost of public education by establishing a new school building fund and commits the state to adding $80 million every year to said fund from the general fund.
* This form of funding incentivizes the 'spend it or lose it' mentality at a very expensive rate, which will drive up taxation in New Hampshire.
* To control costs and reduce taxes, the New Hampshire taxpayer is better served when school districts compile specific needs and submit those specific needs to the state Department of Education to be decided upon on a case-by-case basis.
* Spending on education has ballooned out of control to the tune of $3.8 billion per year (2022-2023 school year).
This bill establishes a new school district building aid funding program using state funds allocated to each district and makes an appropriation therefor.
* This bill will drive up the cost of public education by establishing a new school building fund and commits the state to adding $80 million every year to said fund from the general fund.
* This form of funding incentivizes the 'spend it or lose it' mentality at a very expensive rate, which will drive up taxation in New Hampshire.
* To control costs and reduce taxes, the New Hampshire taxpayer is better served when school districts compile specific needs and submit those specific needs to the state department of education to be decided upon on a case-by-case basis.
* Spending on education has ballooned out of control to the tune of $3.8 billion per year (2022-2023 school year).
This bill prohibits the use of dogs while hunting coyotes.
* Coyotes are typically hunted to reduce their population as they are often a threat to livestock and pets and can be a threat to children. Making it harder to hunt coyotes by prohibiting the use of dogs means coyotes which have become a threat are more likely to evade hunters and continue to predate.
* This bill may disincentive those who enjoy hunting coyotes with dogs when the community needs them to help eliminate the threat.
This bill makes an appropriation of $3,000,000 to the Department of Administrative Services for reimbursement to the city of Laconia for expenditures related to the public water, sewer, and road infrastructure improvements needed for the development of the former Laconia state school campus property.
* The overtaxed citizens of New Hampshire do not need to absorb the cost of private development in Laconia.
* The state would be fairly served to offer an interest-free loan to Laconia to be paid off at a rate of 50% of the initial property taxes collected for the developed property.
This bill establishes an early detection cancer screening pilot program in the Department of Safety, Division of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services, for retired and full-time active firefighters in New Hampshire.
* New Hampshire already heavily subsidizes the healthcare insurance of first responders in New Hampshire.
* This bill is the $5 million start of a large, new program whose ongoing price tag is to be assumed by the New Hampshire taxpayer.
* First responders who believe they are at an increased risk of cancer can consult with their professional medical doctors and decide on an appropriate course of action to be covered by the health insurance they currently have.
This bill establishes an early detection cancer screening pilot program in the Department of Safety, Division of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services, for retired and full-time active firefighters in New Hampshire.
* New Hampshire already heavily subsidizes the healthcare insurance of first responders in New Hampshire.
* This bill is the $5 million start of a large, new program whose ongoing price tag is to be assumed by the New Hampshire taxpayer.
* First responders who believe they are at an increased cancer risk can consult with their professional medical doctors and decide on an appropriate course of action to be covered by the health insurance they currently have.
This bill expands the definition of provider under the therapeutic cannabis program to include a provider licensed to prescribe medication and who is primarily responsible for the patient's care related to his or her qualifying medical condition. The bill also requires, for issuance of a registry identification card to a minor, certification from two providers, one of whom shall provide pediatric care.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, is a commonsense expansion to reduce the restriction on the qualified medical staff who are trained to dispense medications as licensed by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
* This bill provides that any medical professional who is licensed to dispense prescription medications can prescribe cannabis to their patient so long as their patient suffers from one of the allowed ailments for such treatment.
This bill creates a 'red flag' firearm confiscation process defined as an extreme risk protection order.
* This bill violates the Fourth Amendment protections under the US Bill of Rights and Article 19 of the NH Bill of Rights: "[Art.] 19. [Searches and Seizures Regulated.] Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions."
* The language in the bill allows for hearsay "evidence" to be admitted into the trial violating Article 15: "[Art.] 15. [Right of Accused.] No subject shall be held to answer for any crime, or offense, until the same is fully and plainly, substantially and formally, described to him;"
* The respondent will be stripped of personal property and will need to spend time and money via the court system for return of the property without having committed a crime.
* Under this bill, courts are not bound by the traditional rules of evidence typically given to the defendant (159-F:3 IX).
This bill requires businesses with a principal place of business located within China to create U.S.-based shell corporations prior to purchasing real property within 10 miles of automated teller machines, car insurance agents, or cell phone towers.
* This bill infringes upon private property rights by limiting the individuals to whom a property owner may sell their property.
* While the intent is to reduce the risk of a communist-controlled entity owning property that would put critical infrastructure at risk, ultimately restrictions like this are easier to work around than they are to enforce and have negative impacts on individuals who were never intended to be impacted by the restrictions. Further, nearly all urban property would be considered within 10 miles of critical infrastructure given the broad definitions in the bill.
This bill requires businesses with a principal place of business located within China to create U.S.-based shell corporations prior to purchasing real property within 10 miles of automated teller machines, car insurance agents, or cell phone towers.
* This bill infringes upon private property rights by limiting the individuals to whom a property owner may sell their property.
* While the intent is to reduce the risk of a communist-controlled entity owning property that would put critical infrastructure at risk, ultimately restrictions like this are easier to work around than they are to enforce and will have negative impacts on individuals who were never intended to be impacted by the restrictions. Further, nearly all urban property would be considered within 10 miles of critical infrastructure given the broad definitions in the bill.
This bill requires rules to allow a licensed plumber to employ two apprentices. Under current law, administrative rules may limit the number of apprentices per licensee to only one apprentice.
* While it would be best to allow a master artisan to decide how many apprentices they can mentor, an increase from one to two is an improvement.
* This bill increases the opportunity for more licensed plumbers in the future, which will increase competition and potentially lower prices.
This bill changes the date of the state primary election to the second Tuesday in June (from September).
* This bill will substantially restrict the ability of third parties to secure enough petitions in time to qualify as a legitimate party. It further expends taxpayer resources to enable entrenched private political parties to make use of election apparatus for free while reducing the time and thus increasing the costs for third party candidates to qualify to be on the ballot.
*This can be easily made at least neutral if it is amended to include an amendment to RSA 655:43 to untether the dates of independent filing from the primary to prevent inadvertently dramatically raising the bar for ballot access for these candidates.
This bill creates a recurring $10 million hole in the state budget, creating an entitlement to establish a median income rental housing program.
* While the preferred motion for this bill is ITL, a motion of IS is acceptable.
* This bill appropriates $10 million in a nonlapsing fashion annually to an undefined entitlement program.
* This bill takes money and doesn't define regular, measurable, and reportable outcomes, which would help protect the taxpayer from fraud, waste, and abuse.
* This bill is a vain attempt to address the impact on the local housing market of inflation caused by federal overspending and overregulation.
This bill would require a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for cases where a death results from sharing a controlled drug.
* As written, this bill would remove discretion from a judge when sentencing individuals involved in tragic situations. If a couple, unwisely but voluntarily, regularly purchases and shares controlled substances and then one member dies as a result of the use, the judge would now be required to sentence the surviving member to 10 years in prison.
* The bill may have unintended consequences of increasing deaths, as a friend may flee when there is still a chance to save an individual, for fear of this prosecution that leaves no room for understanding the totality of circumstances.
This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, would dramatically increase penalties for refusing a blood alcohol test to one year (from 180 days).
* The state can seek and achieve a conviction for driving under the influence without a blood test and is already able to introduce into evidence the fact that an individual has refused a test into evidence during trial.
* The existing RSA 265-A:14 and this enhanced penalty without conviction update allow police to request a blood test and institute the penalty upon refusal to take the test that is "offered" under duress. In Mitchell v. Wisconsin, the US Supreme Court found that implied consent laws that included blood tests (but not breathalyzer tests) are an unconstitutional violation of the 4th Amendment, as a blood test is more invasive and reveals more information than a breathalyzer and accordingly requires a warrant.
This bill requires insurers to disclose the liability coverage limits of an insurance policy upon request by a claimant or the claimant's attorney.
* This bill forces an insurer to reveal to a claimant the maximum they intend to cover for the claim on the insured. This allows for and incentivizes exorbitant claims to be pursued by those with far more modest real damages.
* This bill may facilitate an increase in insurance costs for all, as insurers will potentially be commonly exposed to maximum coverage settlements and will naturally amortize the increased costs.
This bill requires insurers to disclose the liability coverage limits of an insurance policy upon request by a claimant or the claimant's attorney.
* This bill forces an insurer to reveal to a claimant the maximum they intend to cover for the claim on the insured. This allows for and incentivizes exorbitant claims to be pursured by those with far more modest real damages.
* This bill may facilitate an increase in insurance costs for all, as insurers will potentially be commonly exposed to maximum coverage settlements and will naturally amortize the increased costs.
This bill expands the definition of "eligible student" for the Education Freedom Accounts program to include students whose enrollment transfer request was denied.
* This bill improves liberty by including transfer students who were denied participation in the Education Freedom Accounts program because their parents tried to improve their child's educational outcome within the public school system but had these attempts rejected by the public education administration.
* This bill expands access to Education Freedom Accounts, a popular and successful program that saves taxpayer money.
This bill establishes taxpayer-funded campaign financing for eligible candidates for executive council.
* Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the campaign activities of any candidate, particularly those with whom they vigorously disagree.
* While the bill initially appropriates only $1 to the newly created fund, this is a placeholder which will eventually be funded with taxpayer dollars.
This bill would allow voters to show support for multiple candidates in a given race.
* With this simple ballot change voters will be able to easily express their opinion on every candidate.
* This eliminates the "wasted vote" problem in which voters believe that votes for a less popular candidate will be wasted because the candidate has little chance of winning.
* Approval voting enabled by this bill requires no complex method for tallying votes to determine the winner(s) of a race, as vote tallying works the same as with the current system — that is to say, the vote total for a candidate is the sum of all votes cast for the candidate.
This bill doubles the cost of the affordable housing fund.
* This bill doubles the cost to the general fund of New Hampshire for the Affordable Housing Fund from $5 million to $10 million annually.
* It is more efficient, ethical, and rational to reduce the cost of housing by reducing the high property taxes associated with housing than to incur the cost of taxing citizens and returning a small portion of that to a few select people.
This bill creates a loan forgiveness plan for nurses that is estimated to create a recurring budget cost of $17,890,064 annually.
* This bill unjustly steals money from working people who did not choose to get an overpriced education in order to support the choices of those who did.
* Nurses are more than capable of meeting their obligation to pay off their loans. Presently, nurses with only a few years of experience can earn $100,000 or more annually.
* The motivation to pay off the loans nurses incurred to enter their profession is an ethical motivator for them to work more and provide a greater quantity of nursing services.
This bill reduces the standards for substantiating claims of abuse against parents and also reduces the threshold of activities that would be defined as abusive.
* This bill weakens parental rights by reducing the threshold of what qualifies as abuse so low as to make it probable that several typical childhood activities such as falling while playing, getting in altercations with other children, and suffering from a stomach ache after eating too much candy can be construed as abusive.
* Additionally, this bill shifts the burden of proof from a malicious accuser to an innocent parent or guardian.
* This bill violates the presumption of innocence with respect to parents and makes families vulnerable to capricious dissolution.
* While it is important to be able to prevent and protect children from abuse, the general court has a responsibility to prevent the creation of legal tools that are easily weaponized to destroy New Hampshire families, which are the very bedrock of our state.
This bill establishes the farmer assistance for natural disasters fund and makes a continuing appropriation of up to $5 million annually therefor.
* This bill creates a $5 million hole in the state budget that the New Hampshire taxpayer must cover every year.
* All business owners are expected to accept responsibility for the risks of their endeavors, as they are anticipating to reap the rewards. The possibility of experiencing poor and/or failed crops is the acceptable risk that any farmer is expected to take. Creating a dependence on the state will incentivize a degradation of the farmer's skill and create pressure on the state to increase the burden on the taxpayer to rescue more farmers who were previously able to manage occasional loss on their own.
* While a motion of ITL would be preferrable, IS is acceptable.
This bill creates a new certification bureaucracy targeting substance abuse treatment programs.
* This bill establishes a new bureaucratic office and certification authority that inhibits the availability of substance abuse treatment programs.
* This bill increases the hurdles private substance abuse clinics need to go through and maintain, which will limit their availability and increase their costs. This will have the profound effect of providing less help to communities beset by those suffering from addiction.
* In 2022, there were 486 reported deaths due to drug overdose. This number has been increasing annually since 2019. This bill reduces the likelihood that those with drug addiction will be able to get help before they become another morbidity statistic (https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt476/files/documents2/dmi-oct2023.pdf).
* The free market is the best certifier of product quality. Allowing the market to decide the effectiveness, affordability, and desirability of drug treatment centers instead of the government provides a more direct and potent solution with the best chance of saving lives.
This bill permits non-profit corporations to conduct charity auctions using auctioneers.
* This bill enhances liberty by allowing non-profit organizations to conduct charity auctions with contracted auctioneers, whereas previously this was prohibited.
* With the passing of this bill, non-profits will have an opportunity to freely choose an additional tool to garner support for their respective causes.
This bill prohibits collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join a labor union.
* The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9(a), which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces.
* Right-to-work is the only way currently permitted under federal law to restore some of the freedom of dissenting workers and their employers to withhold support from unions with whom they disagree. While this bill interferes with freedom of contract, it does so in a way intended to remedy current, more egregious constraints on freedom of contract.
* Public sector collective bargaining is often more harmful than private sector collective bargaining because taxpayers are not directly represented in negotiations. “It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, who opposed public sector unions. Public sector right-to-work reduces union density in government and reduces government spending and taxes (Ichniowski & Zax 1991).
* "...when it came to earning more than nonunion workers, union members in right-to-work states actually out-performed those in non-right-to-work states." (news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-law-analysis/analysis-are-unions-really-weaker-in-right-to-work-states). This is potentially due to the incentive for unions to be more responsive to their members' needs when they are not compelled to join.
* Federal employees already have the option of joining or not joining the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). It is time to grant New Hampshire workers the same options that federal workers have had for decades. "The only federal employees who pay union dues are those who choose to do so. Each federal employee in a work unit that has voted for union representation chooses whether to join the union or not." (www.afge.org/take-action/lpc-dashboard/lobbying-tips/crippling-the-union-fast-facts/)
This bill further reduces a property owner's rights by increasing the requirements to evict a tenant, delaying a potential sale from 30 days up to 6 months once these new evidentiary requirements are met.
* This bill violates a property owner's rights by forcing them to fight to reacquire their property from a tenant whom they need to evict to perform renovations.
* This bill will have the consequence of significantly delaying the sale of properties that are being prepared for sale and therefore causing opportunities in the market to be missed.
* Tenants are already required to receive a 30-day notice of eviction.
This bill creates a new tax burden on New Hampshire residents to fund preschool services.
* This bill creates another massive cost to the state budget of an estimated $23.5 million growing from fiscal year 2025 and beyond.
* Parents are the primary caregivers and responsible parties for their children. Parents should be allowed to make individual choices about how and where their children are cared for without being taxed into submitting to another failed public school system.
* This bill expands DHHS authority into early childhood education, not just childcare.
This bill creates a new tax burden on New Hampshire residents to fund preschool services.
* This bill creates another massive cost to the state budget of an estimated $23.5 million growing from fiscal year 2025 and beyond.
* Parents are the primary caregivers and responsible parties for their children. Parents should be allowed to make individual choices about how and where their children are cared for without being taxed into submitting to another failed public school system.
* This bill expands DHHS authority into early childhood education, not just childcare.
This bill requires local school districts to adopt and publicly post policies describing materials authorized for use by students in the district and outlining procedures to address complaints alleging that material is harmful or age-inappropriate for use in the district's schools.
* This bill enhances public school transparency and accountability by implementing a process that allows parents to object to materials being presented to children.
* The people who are coerced into paying for these public schools should control what, how, and when material is made available to their children based on their choices.
* This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, also provides for a significant accountability component, as elected members of the school board are ultimately required to make publicly available their final decision on the material in the event the local principal isn't able to resolve the challenge.
This bill creates perverse incentives for families to limit their income to prevent their child from being forced back into a specific government school after having acclimated to a learning environment that better suits their needs.
* Under this bill a family is required to have their finances re-evaluated each year to see if the taxpayer dollars that are allocated for their children's education are allowed to be used to continue to support attendance at the school of their choice. On the margin, this forces families to choose between increased economic output that benefits themselves and the community and the educational options available to the child.
* Parents often seek alternate education environments after bullying or other adverse encounters with staff or students in a particular school, and this may force a child back into an environment where they do not feel safe.
* Public schools require no income verification for being educated. The purpose of the Education Freedom Accounts program is for taxpayer money to follow the student, ensuring they have the best possible educational choices available to them for their individual needs. This should not be impacted by arbitrary income requirements, as every taxpayer and business pays into the system whether they have children or not.
This bill creates perverse incentives for families to limit their income to prevent their child from being forced back into a specific government school after having acclimated to a learning environment that better suits their needs.
* Under this bill a family is required to have their finances re-evaluated each year to see if the taxpayer dollars that are allocated for their children's education are allowed to be used to continue to support attendance at the school of their choice. On the margin, this will force families to choose between increased economic output that benefits themselves and the community and the educational options available to the child.
* Parents often seek alternate education environments after bullying or other adverse encounters with staff or students in a particular school, and this may force a child back into an environment where they do not feel safe.
* Public schools require no income verification for being educated. The purpose of the Education Freedom Accounts program is for taxpayer money to follow the student, ensuring they have the best possible educational choices available to them for their individual needs. This should not be impacted by arbitrary income requirements, as every taxpayer and business pays into the system whether they have children or not.
This bill would create perverse incentives for families to limit their income to prevent their child from being forced back into a specific government school after having acclimated to a learning environment that better suits their needs.
* Under this bill a family would be required to have their finances re-evaluated each year to see if the taxpayer dollars that are allocated for their children's education are allowed to be used to continue to support attendance at the school of their choice. On the margin, this will force families to choose between increased economic output that benefits themselves and the community and the educational options available to the child.
* Parents often seek alternate education environments after bullying or other adverse encounters with staff or students in a particular school, and this may force a child back into an environment where they do not feel safe.
This bill enables a majority of the members of a public body to participate in a meeting via electronic means.
* Under current law, while a small number of members of a public body may participate and vote in a public meeting remotely, a quorum is still required to be physically present. This physical presence allows members of the public who would like to be heard to have physical access to officials who are spending our money and controlling aspects of our public and private lives.
* This bill places the members of the public body in a special category as compared to the public, as it allows members to participate remotely but only requires that the public body must listen to the members of the public who are physically present.
* It allows for public officials to have the ability to dodge public accountability and not allow for in-person confrontation and debate to take place. It also sets a dangerous precedent moving forward that will continue to hinder the ability of citizens to engage with their government in a public way.
* RSA 91-A:1 states that "Openness in the conduct of public business is essential to a democratic society. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure both the greatest possible public access to the actions, discussions and records of all public bodies, and their accountability to the people." — while this bill would leave this provision in place, it eliminates the reference to the paragraph which previously held that "Any meeting held pursuant to the terms of this paragraph shall comply with all of the requirements of this chapter relating to public meetings, and shall not circumvent the spirit and purpose of this chapter as expressed in RSA 91-A:1".
This bill authorizes mandatory inclusionary zoning, i.e., prohibitions on building certain housing developments without deed-restricted units renting at below-market rates.
* This bill creates more mandatory inclusionary zoning, which raises housing costs and therefore limits the overall access to housing in New Hampshire.
* To make such a project economically viable, a developer has to raise rents on other tenants living in the exact same types of units. This is unfair and does nothing for average housing costs.
This bill prohibits the sale of dogs and cats by retail pet shops.
* Pet ownership is one of the joys of life that certain people have difficulty realizing with some species or breeds of pets. By outlawing pet stores' ability to sell dogs and cats, potential owners may be deprived of finding an appropriate pet to suit their needs.
* While a motion of ITL would be preferrable, IS is acceptable.
This bill requires that any amount exceeding $175 million in the education trust fund at the close of a fiscal year shall be transferred to a dedicated fund to be expended on teacher shortage and teacher retention programs. It also creates a legislative advisory group to provide advice and consent for the use of such funds.
* This bill would eliminate an opportunity to reduce taxes and instead would inflate spending on education in New Hampshire even further.
* The average spending per pupil is currently $20,383 and the total spending on education alone in New Hampshire during the 2022-2023 school year was over $3.8 billion. This bill further exacerbates the over-spending.
* Given the stunning size of the current education spending, teacher retention funding could be easily achieved by harvesting efficiencies from reducing administrative costs, overhead, and waste.
* While a motion of ITL would be preferrable, IS is acceptable.
This bill revises the definition of vaccine for purposes of the New Hampshire Vaccine Association.
* Under existing RSA 126-Q, the New Hampshire Vaccine Association extracts fees from HMOs, insurance companies, health service corporations, and other entities based on the number of individuals under 19 years of age being provided services by the organization. These fees are extracted regardless of whether or not the children or adults make use of vaccines provided by the program. In that sense, it is an indirect tax that all families that make use of the healthcare system must pay regardless of whether they actually use the service.
* With the proposed new definition of vaccines, this tax will now not only be used to pay for products that provide some level of immunity to life-threatening and disabling diseases, but will also apply to all products that protect against diseases caused by infectious pathogens. As a result, this would cover products that would protect against diseases such as athletes foot, impetigo, or any number of relatively minor diseases. While parents may ultimately decide that the risk benefit of such products makes sense for their children, expanding the program to cover generally trivial infectious diseases that everyone will now be forced to pay for is an overstep of the intent of the vaccine association program.
This bill revises the definition of vaccine for purposes of the New Hampshire Vaccine Association.
* Under existing RSA 126-Q, the New Hampshire Vaccine Association extracts fees from HMOs, insurance companies, health service corporations, and other entities based on the number of individuals under 19 years of age being provided services by the organization. These fees are extracted regardless of whether or not the children or adults make use of vaccines provided by the program. In that sense, it is an indirect tax that all families that make use of the healthcare system must pay regardless of whether they use the service.
* With the proposed new definition of vaccines, this tax will now not only be used to pay for products that provide some level of immunity to life-threatening and disabling diseases, but will also apply to all products that protect against diseases caused by infectious pathogens. As a result, this would cover products that would protect against diseases such as athletes foot, impetigo, or any number of relatively minor diseases. While parents may ultimately decide that the risk benefit of such products makes sense for their children, expanding the program to cover generally trivial infectious diseases that everyone will now be forced to pay for is an overstep of the intent of the vaccine association program.
This bill requires cities and towns to comply with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detainer requests that hold individuals for whom there is no criminal warrant reviewed by a judge.
* An ICE detainer request is not a warrant. They are issued by an official from the executive branch without any judicial review to determine if probable cause exists to hold the individual named in the request. As events in the last several years have revealed, unfettered power in the hands of federal agencies can and will be abused if not held at least partially in check by a moderately independent judicial branch.
* The lack of oversight in ICE detainers increases the risk of errors. U.S. Army veteran and U.S. citizen Rennison Castillo was held for seven months by ICE before they realized their error (www.foxnews.com/world/rennison-castillo-gets-apology-and-400000-after-government-wrongly-tries-to-deport-him).
* The Frequently Asked Questions published by ICE (www.ice.gov/identify-and-arrest/detainers/ice-detainers-frequently-asked-questions) state that if a local law enforcement agency believes the individual to be a U.S. citizen, that they should notify the ICE Law Enforcement Support Center by phone. At this point, local law enforcement has kidnapped a U.S. citizen who has no criminal warrant, and the remedy is to make a phone call?
This bill grants the attorney general expanded subpoena powers, allowing for pre-suit investigations and enables abuse of power under the guise of regulatory enforcement.
* The expanded subpoena power granted to the attorney general in this bill may lead to potential overreach and abuse of power, infringing on individual rights and privacy. During the hearing, the senior assistant attorney general testified that searches could be performed without probable cause, which would then require a defendant to challenge introduction of the evidence in a future criminal proceeding.
* The bill may result in increased bureaucracy and administrative costs, as it adds a new layer of regulation and enforcement to civil rights laws.
* The potential for increased litigation and legal costs may disproportionately affect individuals and smaller businesses, limiting their ability to defend themselves against civil rights complaints.
* The bill may create a chilling effect on free speech and expression, as individuals and organizations may self-censor out of fear of facing lawfare from a executive branch that is seeking to punish its political enemies.
This bill amends the penalty for obtaining, purchasing, transporting, possessing, or having under a person's control a controlled drug to a class A misdemeanor, and amends the penalty for a subsequent offense to a class B felony.
* Whether harsh drug laws for first time offenses are actually effective, this much is certain — that they have either contributed to the drug problem that we have, or they have been powerless to prevent it. In either case these harsh penalties should not exist.
This bill seeks to add a requirement for a criminal background check to all private and public firearm transfers.
* This bill is a direct infringement on the right to bear arms and therefore a direct violation of Article 2-a of the New Hampshire Constitution and the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.
* This bill makes it illegal for private citizens to sell or gift their firearms without submitting to a third party and having the sale registered by the state — another direct violation of Article 2-a and the Second Amendment.
* Currently New Hampshire is regarded as the safest state in the nation due in no small part to its hands-off approach to firearms ownership. This bill would destroy that and invite empowered and armed criminals to prey on a population disarmed by a malicious state leveraging a bevy of red-tape procedures to hinder the free ownership and trade of firearms.
* This bill creates a de facto gun registry, which is a serious violation of privacy and makes it very easy for the state to later choose to confiscate all firearms.
This bill establishes a waiting period for the delivery of a firearm, subject to certain exceptions.
* This bill is a direct infringement on the right to bear arms and therefore a direct violation of Article 2-a of the New Hampshire Constitution and the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.
* This bill seeks to establish an arbitrary and capricious three-day waiting period after purchasing a firearm for the lesser people, while permitting those in law enforcement to circumvent this wait.
* This bill serves no positive purpose other than to infringe on the process of law-abiding citizens to freely obtain, own, and enjoy their firearms.
This bill infringes upon the natural rights of New Hampshire citizens.
* The right to defense of one's self and property is paramount in a free society. This bill not only places a substantial burden on those who do not wish to compromise their safety in public areas, it also inhibits their right to vote in federal and state elections, which are often held in schools. No one should have to compromise their safety or liberty to take part in the civic process of voting.
* The absence of armed civilians puts everyone at risk. 94-97% of all mass shootings happen in gun free zones (crimeresearch.org/2018/06/more-misleading-information-from-bloombergs-everytown-for-gun-safety-on-guns-analysis-of-recent-mass-shootings/).
* People who intend harm are clearly not deterred by gun-free zones. Law-abiding citizens, who these types of laws do influence, are the very individuals we would want to be carrying firearms in order to help defend everyone against those who intend to do harm.
* The New Hampshire Constitution Article 2-a. states: "[The Bearing of Arms.] All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state."