Legislative alert week of Jan. 30-Feb. 3
You can read the actual text of any bill by going to this webpage and typing in the bill number, such as sb109. When the bill comes up, click on Bill Text PDF.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.
In the Senate, the following committees will meet to hear testimony on bills: Tuesday, Jan. 31:
ELECTION LAW AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS, Room 102, LOB
9:00 a.m. SB 109, authorizing a moderator to conduct a verification count of machine-countedballots.
9:40 a.m. SB 114, prohibiting a candidate from receiving the nomination of more than one party.
10:00 a.m. SB 115, relative to political contributions made by limited liability companies (League supports this increased transparency in campaign financing)
JUDICIARY, Room 100, SH (The Judiciary committee has grouped several bills involving sexual assault issues)
9:00 a.m. SB 98-FN, eliminating the statute of limitations on sexual assault.
9:20 a.m. SB 164-FN, removing the limitations on actions for sexual assaults on victims under 18 years of age.
9:40 a.m. SB 166, relative to termination of the parent-child relationship in cases of sexual assault.
10:00 a.m. SB 167, relative to the burden of proof in termination of parental rights cases
In the House: The House will meet in full session on Thursday Feb. 2. On the Consent calendar (these bills are voted on generally without debate on the floor, because the committee recommendation is unanimous or nearly so) are some bills on charter schools and reduced assessment testing in grades 3-8.
Also to be voted on (Regular Calendar) are the following bills, where the committee recommendations were split. If you care about these bills, contacting your representative before Thursday to make your views known could make a difference in the vote:
HB 103, relative to school district policies regarding objectionable course material
HB 129-FN and HB 297-FN , repealing the education tax credit (funds from corporations taking advantage of this have been used for scholarships for students at mostly religious schools)
HB 148, relative to chartered public school teacher qualifications [increasing the percent of chartered school teachers that must meet teacher qualification].
HB 276, relative to student exemption from the statewide assessment [allowing parents to opt out of testing for their children]
In the House, committees will hold hearings for the following bills on Tuesday, Jan. 31:
RESOURCES, RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Room 305, LOB
10:45 a.m. HB 463-FN, regulating groundwater pollution caused by polluting emissions in the air .
Bill text: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.
[We know that many League members are concerned about the environment. Is anyone interested in attending this hearing to observe and report back to League?]
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY will meet in Representatives Hall in the State House to hearing testimony on several important bills; expected to draw a crowd:
10:00 a.m. SB 12-FN, repealing the licensing requirement for carrying a concealed pistol or revolver. (This bill passed the Senate, has had two amendments since it’s Jan. 10 hearing in the Senate.)
1:00 p.m. HB 640-FN, relative to the penalties for possession of marijuana.
2:00 p.m. HB 656-FN-A-L, relative to the legalization and regulation of marijuana.
Wednesday Feb. 1, ELECTION LAW committee will hear testimony and then move into executive session, Room 308, LOB
10:00 a.m. HB 231, relative to allocation of electoral votes. (League opposes—this would create proportional allocation, such as Maine uses. Could, if used by many other states, lead to no victor in the electoral college and throw the presidential election into the House of Representatives)
10:30 a.m. HB 320, relative to procedures for apportioning electoral districts [This is a redistricting plan relying on an outside expert to use mathematical algorithms to determine districts. League wants to learn more.] Bill text: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.
11:30 a.m. Executive session on pending legislation may be held throughout the day, time permitting, from the time the committee is initially convened.
HB 240, relative to state party conventions;
HB 497, relative to delegates to national party conventions;
HB 379, relative to political advertising in rights-of-way;
HB 453, relative to vacancies in the office of supervisor of the checklist;
HB 203-FN-A, establishing an independent redistricting commission; (League supports; testified last week in favor)
HB 389, relative to voters with physical disabilities;
HB 390, relative to parties on certain election forms and ballots and relative to the voter registration form used on the day of the general election.