The following are highlights from the upcoming week at the New Hampshire State House:
Tuesday, April 29
House Election Law- Legislative Office Building 10:00 a.m.
The House Election Law Committee is scheduled to vote on a dozen bills, including SB 222, which would move the state’s September primary to June.
Senate Education- Legislative Office Building 9:15 a.m.
The Senate Education Committee will hear several House-approved bills, including:
HB 431- a bipartisan study commission to look at ways to lower special education costs for local schools
HB 361- prohibiting local school boards from implementing mandatory masking policies
Senate Commerce- State House 10:00 a.m.
The Senate Commerce Committee hears several bills already approved by the House, including two that would loosen New Hampshire’s strict liquor laws.
HB 81- This would allow restaurant and bar patrons to take their drinks into the restroom, which sounds gross. The idea is to prevent women from having to leave their drinks unattended, and vulnerable to being “roofied” by strangers.
HB 276- This would create a new “Tavern License” to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages without having to sell food. Current law requires restaurants and bars to generate at least half of their revenue from food sales.
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs- Legislative Office Building 9:15 am
A week after the House heard the Senate’s plan to move the state primary from September to June, the Senate will hear the House’s plan to move the state primary from September to June.
Senate Judiciary- State House 1:00 p.m.
The Senate Judiciary Committee takes up two House-passed immigration bills, including:
HB 71- prohibiting the use of public schools to shelter illegal immigrants
HB 511- banning Sanctuary Cities in New Hampshire
Wednesday, April 30
Senate Ways and Means- State House 9:00 a.m.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee continues the process of forming its official Revenue Estimates, which will be incorporated into the Senate’s budget, hearing from the Department of Revenue Administration, the Lottery Commission, restaurants, and retailers. House budget writers came in nearly $800 million below Governor Kelly Ayotte’s revenue estimates, forcing large cuts in spending. A strong April and May could give the Senate a higher revenue base as Business Tax receipts have fallen well behind projections with just three months left in the Fiscal Year.
Thursday, May 1
House Session- State House 10:00 a.m.
Expect bipartisan vibes as the House addresses the “easy” bills early, deferring the more contentious issues for later in the session. One debate will center on establishing a fund to construct a pier at Hampton Beach, aiming to enhance accessibility. Another fight will be over the “two-hour rule,” which requires employers to pay an employee a minimum of two hours if they show up for work, but are not needed and sent home.
Senate Session- State House 10:00 a.m.
The Senate also has a relatively short calendar on Thursday, including several bills that would loosen state restrictions on marijuana. The Senate has long been far less receptive to these bills than the House. Also, expect a debate over whether local officials should have the authority to issue mask mandates and other health ordinances during a public health emergency.
Friday, May 2
House Education Funding- Legislative Office Building 9:30 a.m.
The House Education Funding Committee is expected to vote on the Senate’s version of universal school choice. The version approved by the House raises the means test for eligible families next year and eliminates it entirely the following year. The Senate plan would lift the income test immediately, but caps the program at 10,000 students, increasing by up to 25 percent per year.
House Meeting Schedule- The New Hampshire House of Representatives
Senate Meeting Schedule- The New Hampshire State Senate
