December 23, 2023
“To live a lifetime of audacity, dwelling in the place where joy meets justice, year after year, can only be sustained by being so in love with a vision of what’s possible that we no longer flirt with despair.” — Aurora Levins Morales
Warm greetings, State House Watchers,
Just like that, we’re back for another session! It’s our 14th year bringing you the State House Watch newsletter. If you’ve received this newsletter from a colleague, be sure to subscribe here so that you never miss an issue, and invite your friends to do so as well!
Our state legislators will return to Concord on Wednesday, January 3 for opening day. Their first order of business is to take up bills that were retained or re-referred in the House or Senate during the 2023 session. House members also plan to meet on January 4 and have been asked to hold January 11 in case they need the additional day.
After the remaining bills of 2023 have been acted upon, legislators will take up the new bills for 2024. There are more than 1,000 new bills, 344 of which are on our tracking list. It’s going to be another busy year!
Speaking of busy, check out our AFSC-NH slideshow and our 2023 highlights brochure to remember some of the work we did together over the past year.
Welcome, Kathleen Wooten!
We are thrilled to welcome Kathleen Wooten as our new State House Watch researcher and data manager. Kathleen Wooten (she/her) is a life-long New Englander, with a background in public education and community arts development. She currently lives with her husband and teen daughter in northern Massachusetts. Kathleen is a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) and travels regularly in service and fellowship among New England Quakers. She believes in naming and supporting all the varied gifts and talents that allow us to grow in healthy communities. Kathleen holds a B.Mus from UMass Amherst in clarinet/music education, and an MA in Critical and Creative Thinking with a focus on organizational change from UMass Boston. After a first career in music education in the public schools, Kathleen currently supports faith organizations and non-profits in their digital communication strategies. Kathleen also enjoys playing the clarinet, attending local hockey games, and fostering a rather large herd of guinea pigs for local rescue organizations.
Permanent Ceasefire Now!
In response to ongoing bombardment of Gaza, AFSC and Quakers join with human rights advocates throughout the world to call for a permanent ceasefire and a just peace in Israel and Palestine. Read our statement here: “Further military action will not bring peace. We know this as Quakers who are committed to peace and as students of history. That is why we are calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access, and action to address the underlying injustice of occupation and inequalities underlying this situation in the long term. Our conviction that peace will prevail on earth, as the scriptures of the great religions of the world have promised, struggles to find its footing amid such incredible violence and suffering. This is a time for strong moral resolve, spiritual fortitude, and immediate action. We call on international leaders of all countries to bear witness to this message and show the way of peace.”
Here in New Hampshire, a coalition of peace groups including NH Peace Action, AFSC, NH Council of Churches, Community Church of Durham, Dover Friends Meeting, Palestine Education Network and Veterans for Peace has been holding solemn vigils every week at the offices of our Members of Congress to implore them to support a ceasefire, humanitarian aid to Gaza, and an end to US military aid to Israel. Read more here and here. To join this ongoing effort, sign up for news alerts from NH Peace Action.
We recommend this recent report from AFSC: The Companies Profiting from Israel’s 2023 Attack on Gaza, and we ask for your generous support for AFSC’s humanitarian work in the region. Learn more and donate here.
Immigration News
The Biden Administration and Members of Congress are in ongoing negotiations regarding supplemental military funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The negotiations involve real (and bipartisan) threats to the rights of migrants including asylum seekers, and increased funding for border militarization, surveillance and enforcement. Read more here, here, and here.
Last week, Congress left for a holiday recess without reaching agreement on the supplemental funding bill. They will take up the matter again as soon as they return early in the new year. Please use this time to send a clear message to each of our Members of Congress. Urge our elected officials to oppose any deal that includes draconian changes to migration policy in exchange for military funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. Please call our US Senators using this number: 1-855-336-0788.
Here’s a sample script: “My name is ___ and I am from (city/zip). I am calling to raise concern with the extremely harmful and permanent immigration policies being considered in the ongoing supplemental funding negotiations. These policies include near-impossible barriers to apply for asylum, increases for funding immigration enforcement but not processing or sheltering, and erosions of humanitarian parole. Bargaining these permanent policy changes to fund military actions abroad would not only have devastating consequences for border communities, but across the world by jeopardizing the lives of vulnerable people and global peace. I am calling on you to firmly protect asylum and reject additional funding to ICE and CBP or for military action anywhere. Vote NO on the White House supplemental.”
Thank you for taking this action. It only takes a minute or two to leave a message, and it can make a difference.
New Hampshire News
Twelve New Hampshire communities hosted local vigils for Homeless Persons Memorial Day on Thursday, December 21, recognizing the terrible human cost of our collective failure to ensure that everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to call ‘home.’ There were 90 individuals named on the list of those who died in the past year. Read more here.
Mark your calendars for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 15, and join the celebrations that will be held throughout the state, including one hosted by the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Coalition from 1 PM to 4 PM at Memorial High School in Manchester. More information here. Scroll down to the events section for more opportunities. We’ll update the list over the coming weeks.
Coming up at the State House
The 2024 state legislative session will be gaveled in on Wednesday, January 3. The agenda in both the House and the Senate is consideration of bills that were held over from the 2023 session and received additional work in committees in recent months. There are items on the Consent Calendar which will be considered all together in one vote, and then items on the Regular Calendar which will be considered one by one. Read on for the list of votes in each body for the bills we’ve been tracking.
The Senate has also begun to schedule committee hearings to consider new bills.
Key:
LOB – Legislative Office Building (33 N. State St. Concord)
SH – State House (107 N. Main St. Concord)
OTP – “Ought to Pass,” the recommendation for approving a bill or an amendment
OTP/A – Ought to Pass with Amendment
ITL – “Inexpedient to Legislate,” the recommendation for defeating a bill or an amendment.
ITL” can also be used as a verb.
“Without Recommendation” - This indicates that the committee vote was a tie for both ITL and OTP. During the House session, these bills will be considered first as Ought to Pass.
Re-refer – When a Senate committee wishes to hold onto a bill for further consideration. The recommendation to re-refer must be approved in the full Senate. The committee will have until the end of the calendar year to meet about the bill and make a recommendation for further action.
Coming Up in the House
The full House will be in session on January 3 and 4 in Representatives Hall, starting at 9:00 AM. You can watch the proceedings here.
On the Consent Calendar
COMMERCE
HB 353-FN, establishing an interstate compact for universal healthcare. Recommended ITL by a vote of 18-1. The bill attempted to create a single-payer system for health care in the state of New Hampshire but did not identify a source of funding.
HB 544-FN, legalizing cannabis for retail sale. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 19-0. The committee opted to continue discussion on this bill with new legislation proposed for 2024 and a Cannabis Commission report pending.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
HB 38-FN, relative to the conditions for release of a defendant pending trial. OTP-A by a vote of 20-0. This bill makes changes to the burdens of proof, presumptions, and evidentiary standards regarding the release of a defendant pending trial.
HB 144-FN, restoring firearm ownership rights to ex-felons. ITL by a vote of 20-0. This bill provides that a person convicted of a non-violent felony who has completed the term of incarceration, and all other conditions of the sentence, shall have the right to possess and use a firearm.
HB 318-FN-A, eliminating bail commissioners, and relative to the release of a defendant pending trial and establishing new circuit court judge positions. OTP-A by a vote of 20-0. The committee heard testimony that bail commissioners often drive many miles to perform their duties due to the shortage of commissioners and they are not compensated for mileage. It would be labor intensive for the courts to implement a tracking and mileage reimbursement system. The committee felt that increasing their base pay, while ensuring that they were actually paid, would both entice more people to take the position, thus requiring fewer long trips and would help offset their mileage expenses. Finally, this bill requires law enforcement to notify a victim at least one hour prior to the release of an accused perpetrator on bail.
HB 593-FN, relative to the forfeiture of assets in connection with a drug offense. OTP-A by a vote of 20-0. As amended, this bill creates a committee to study the process for forfeiture of items used in connection with drug offenses.
HB 653-FN, prohibiting personal recognizance bail for violent crimes. OTP-A by a vote of 20-0. This bill as amended tasks the Interbranch Criminal and Juvenile Justice Council with investigating and making legislative recommendations on the following issue: updating the courts’ IT systems to ensure that all courts within the state are connected to a single system that tracks cases, bail, warrants, and any other things the council finds necessary and efficient. SB 252-FN, relative to release of a defendant pending trial. OTP-A by a vote of 20-0. This bill as amended makes changes to our existing bail statutes by identifying a list of thirteen serious felonies that the committee felt should not be admitted to bail by a bail commissioner and instead should be heard by a judge or a magistrate. These crimes are homicide, 1st degree assault, 2nd degree assault, felony domestic violence, aggravated sexual assault, felonious sexual assault, kidnapping, felonious stalking, trafficking in persons, robbery, manufacture, possession and distribution of child pornography and computer pornography and, child exploitation.
EDUCATION
HB 352, relative to excused absences due to a student’s mental or behavioral health. ITL by a vote of 17-3. This bill would have the effect of adding a new category of acceptable reasons for an excused absence from school for mental health reasons.
HB 623-FN, establishing a teacher candidate loan forgiveness program. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 18-2. The bill addressed the need to provide loan forgiveness for beginning teachers who work in rural and under-served schools. A similar bill is being considered by the Senate (SB 217). The committee determined that it would be best to deal with the Senate version and move this version to Interim Study.
ELECTION LAW
HB 243, requiring the tabulation of votes in elections to be done in public. OTP-A by a vote of 19-1. This bill, as amended, requires that the tabulation of votes be done in public, just as the hand counting of ballots is currently done in public for elections. It further requires that for towns which use ballot counting machines, the long report tape be posted within 60 minutes of the last ballot being run through the machine.
SB 156-FN, relative to voter registration and verification of voter identity. ITL by a vote of 20-0.
SB 158, relative to absentee ballot outer envelopes. ITL by a vote of 20-0.
PUBLIC WORKS
HB 110, prohibiting the use of state funds for new passenger rail projects. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 18-0. This bill prohibits the department of transportation from utilizing state funds for the planning, construction, operation, or management of new passenger rail projects.
HB 606-FN, requiring construction of state buildings or state-funded projects to contain electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 18-0.
RESOURCES, RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT
HB 398, relative to notice of PFAS and other groundwater contamination prior to the sale of real property. OTP-A by a vote of 20-0. This bill adds a notification for PFAS (Per and polyfluorinatedalkyl substances) to existing notifications for Radon, Arsenic and Lead on the Purchase and Sales Agreement for real estate transactions.
WAYS AND MEANS
HB 100-FN-A, to repeal the interest and dividends tax. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 20-0.
HB 133-FN, relative to repealing the communications services tax. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 20-0.
HB 569-FN, relative to the state education property tax and the low- and moderate-income homeowners property tax relief program. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 19-0. The core provisions of this bill would reform the statewide education property tax (SWEPT) by (1) substantially expanding upon its provision of relief from the tax for low- and moderate-income homeowners, (2) requiring remission by each municipality of all tax collected, net of 3% to cover local collections costs, to the state education trust fund for use in supporting the state’s public education local aid funding program.
On the Regular Calendar
COMMERCE
HB 227, relative to fair access to financial services. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 10-9. The purpose of this bill is to prohibit banks and financial institutions from engaging in discriminatory practices when providing financial services.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
HB 470-FN, relative to fentanyl test strips and other drug checking equipment. OTP-A by a vote of 12-8. As amended, this bill would legalize the use of other types of test strips and drug checking equipment used to inform individuals of whether a substance they are considering to ingest has been adulterated by the presence of another synthetic opioid, a different controlled substance, or by an undisclosed chemical compound or contaminant.
SB 249-FN, relative to the release of a defendant pending trial. OTP-A by a vote of 20-0. This bill, as amended, would establish magistrates that would assist with the bail hearings, issuing of warrants, and other functions of the court system.
EDUCATION
HB 267, relative to criminal records checks in school employment. MAJORITY: REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 13-7. The majority recognizes the need for school personnel to be thoroughly vetted in the interest of child safety. However, the majority disagrees on how to ensure all employees in the vicinity of children are checked.
HB 354, relative to chartered public school eligibility for state school building aid. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION.
439-FN, relative to the duty to provide an education and contracts with private schools. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION.
HB 505-FN, relative to comprehensive mental health education in schools. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION.
HB 577-FN-L, relative to state aid for special education pupils. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION.
SB 151-FN, relative to mental health education. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION.
ELECTION LAW
HB 115, relative to changing the date of the state primary election. OTP-A by a vote of 13-7. This bill, as amended, moves the state primary election to the 3rd Tuesday in August.
HB 345-FN, enabling ranked-choice voting for state party primary elections and municipal elections. ITL, by a vote of 12-8.
HB 350, relative to ranked-choice voting. ITL by a vote of 14-6.
HB 447-FN, relative to the purchase of election equipment. OTP-A by a vote of 19-1. This bill allocates federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds to towns for the purchase of new voting equipment.
HB 463-FN, relative to the establishment of an election information portal. OTP-A by a vote of 16-4. This bill, as amended, directs the Secretary of State to develop, in consultation with the city and town clerks and supervisors of the checklist, an online election law portal, which will make registration easier for citizens of New Hampshire, especially those with disabilities and active-duty members of the armed forces.
ENVIRONMENT
HB 602-FN, relative to landfill siting. OTP-A by a vote of 13-6. The bipartisan majority felt that this bill, as amended, addressed a critical piece that has been absent from the landfill application permitting process in NH. A two-step process for new landfill applications is a standard procedure throughout the country and is supported by the Department of Environmental Services (DES). This fixes the problem of the industry approaching DES with their “permitting ideas” in an off-the-record fashion before submitting an application, which puts the agency in a very uncomfortable position.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
HB 559-FN, establishing a state retirement plan group for new state employee members of the retirement system. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION.
FINANCE
HB 601-FN-L, relative to state participation in the Medicaid direct certification program for free and reduced price school meals. ITL by a vote of 13-2.
HB 620-FN, (New Title) establishing a division of early learning in the department of education and relative to a pre-kindergarten pilot program. ITL by a vote of 13-12.
SB 239-FN, (New Title) relative to the use of harm reduction services to treat alcohol and other substance misuse. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 13-12. This bill defines alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs under RSA 12-J to include harm reduction services; establishes the doorways program to provide drug and alcohol abuse information, referral, and treatment services; incorporates recommendations of the governor's commission on alcohol and other drugs in the use of opioid abatement fund expenditures; expands the syringe services program; and addresses license renewal criteria for physicians and physician assistants.
SB 263-FN, extending the New Hampshire granite advantage health care program and reestablishing the commission to evaluate the effectiveness and future of the New Hampshire granite advantage health care program. ITL by a vote of 13-12. This bill would now eliminate the seven-year sunset provision of the Granite Advantage Health Care Program (a/k/a Medicaid) and make it permanent in the state budget.
SB 267-FN, (New Title) requiring the commissioner of the department of environmental services to consider “cumulative impacts analysis” in rules and statutes. ITL by a vote of 13-12. This bill would require the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to hire a dedicated staffer to review and plan for the development of appropriate definitions and standards as it relates to cumulative impact and prepare a report to the legislature on this “cumulative impacts analysis.”
HB 264-FN, relative to amendments and corrections to birth records. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION. Statement in support of Ought to Pass: Currently, RSA 5-C:87, V allows transgender individuals to change the gender designation on their birth certificate by obtaining a court order. This is necessary because the birth certificate is the document needed for all other documentation. The current process is burdensome, and some NH judges are applying this statute inconsistently. This bill will simplify the process, by allowing the gender designation on the birth certificate to be changed upon receipt of a notarized statement from a licensed and qualified health care provider stating the gender of the individual going forward. Any subsequent changes to a birth certificate would require the current court order process.
HB 368-FN, relative to protections related to receiving gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION. Statement in support of Ought to Pass: This bill protects families who are seeking transgender medical care and services currently provided in New Hampshire by protecting the privacy and confidentiality of their medical records from subpoena if these records could be the basis for civil or criminal suits in another state. The bill also protects our medical professionals from civil or criminal prosecution by another state when the medical professional is providing, in New Hampshire, treatment which is currently lawful under the laws of New Hampshire.
HB 619-FN, prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors, relative to sex and gender in public schools, and relative to the definition of conversion therapy. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION.
JUDICIARY
HB 283, to limit application fees charged to prospective residential tenants. OTP-A by a vote of 16-4. This bill, as amended, requires landlords who collect a rental application fee to refund all but the landlord’s actual out-of-pocket costs, including for credit reports, criminal background checks, and reasonable administrative costs, to applicants whose applications have been denied.
HB 314-FN, relative to the expectation of privacy in the collection and use of personal information. OTP-A by a vote of 17-1. This bill applies to what the bill defines as “third-party providers of information and services.” The definition is limited to providers of telephone and other utility services, internet service providers, cable television, streaming services, social media services, email services, banks and financial institutions, insurance companies, and credit card companies. The bill provides that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in “personal information” (i.e., name, address, date of birth, social security number, telephone numbers, Internet addresses, location information, biographic identifiers, DNA/RNA data, and other unique personal identifiers); and it prohibits covered companies from disclosing such information to anyone, except in limited circumstances, greater of actual damages or $1,000 for each violation. The committee believes this bill reflects a balanced compromise of competing interests that will enhance the privacy rights of all New Hampshire citizens.
HB 396, relative to state recognition of biological sex. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION.
LABOR
HB 190-FN, relative to the duration of unemployment benefits. ITL by a vote of 19-1. This bill specifies the duration of unemployment benefits based on the state's average unemployment rate.
HB 232-FN, adopting section 1910 OSHA standards for public sector employees in New Hampshire. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION.
LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION
HB 301, relative to recusal by members of the general court for conflicts of interest. OTP-A by a vote of 13-0. A bill similar to this one, HB 1368, came to Legislative Administration in 2022 with the prime sponsor being the chairman of the Legislative Ethics Committee. At the time, this committee studied that bill and recommended the concept for future legislation, as it would raise the standard of integrity and the faith NH voters have in their elected officials.
STATE FEDERAL RELATIONS
HB 229-FN, relative to requiring an official declaration of war for the activation of the New Hampshire national guard. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION.
TRANSPORTATION
HB 375-FN, relative to the licensure of nonresident aliens temporarily residing in New Hampshire. ITL by a vote of 11-8.
HB 570, relative to Real ID compliant New Hampshire driver’s licenses. ITL by a vote of 11-8.
Coming Up in the Senate
The full Senate will be in session on Wednesday, January 3, starting at 9:30 AM to take up re-referred bills. You can watch the proceedings here.
On the Consent Calendar
JUDICIARY
HB 379-FN, requiring notice be provided to tenants during residential eviction proceedings regarding legal counsel. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 5-0.
HB 400-FN, relative to certain assault offenses, bail eligibility for commission of certain assault offenses, and making a false report to a law enforcement officer. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY, by a vote of 5-0.
On the Regular Calendar
COMMERCE
HB 261, authorizing residential tenants to terminate their lease in instances of domestic violence or following a disabling illness or accident. OTP-A by a vote of 4-0.
EDUCATION
SB 214-FN-A, establishing a department of early childhood education and relative to a pre-kindergarten pilot program. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 5-0.
SB 217-FN-A, establishing a rural and underserved area educator incentive program for higher education and making an appropriation therefor. OTP by a vote of 4-0.
SB 219-FN-L, relative to a salary floor for public school teachers. ITL by a vote of 4-0.
HB 572-FN, relative to eligibility for free school meals. OTP by a vote of 4-0.
ELECTION LAW
SB 133-FN, relative to changing the date of the state primary election and creates runoff election for federal primary election. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 4-0.
SB 224, relative to housing opportunity zones and inclusionary zoning. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 4-0.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SB 173-FN, relative to surprise medical bills. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY by a vote of 5-0.
SB 176-FN, relative to insurance coverage for pelvic floor therapy. OTP-A by a vote of 5-0.
JUDICIARY
SB 248-FN, relative to bail for a defendant. OTP by a vote of 4-1.
HB 135-FN, prohibiting no-knock warrants. OTP-A by a vote of 4-1.
HB 596-FN, prohibiting the use of racial profiling in law enforcement activities and in sentencing. OTP-A by a vote of 5-0.
Coming Up in Senate Committees
Wednesday, January 3
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Room 101, LOB
1:30 PM SB 499-FN, relative to reduction of hunger for children, older adults, and people with disabilities.
1:45 PM SB 399-FN, relative to insurance coverage for blood testing associated with elevated lead levels.
Thursday, January 4
COMMERCE, Room 100, SH
9:00 AM SB 331-A, relative to certain historic commemorations.
EDUCATION, Room 101, LOB
9:00 AM SB 341, relative to mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents.
9:20 AM SB 342-FN, relative to school building aid funding.
9:40 AM SB 442-FN, relative to student eligibility for education freedom accounts.
10:00 AM SB 522-FN-A, relative to establishing an early childhood education scholarship account and making an appropriation therefor.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW.
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Room 103, SH
9:00 AM SB 303-FN, relative to the use of renewable energy funds by the department of energy.
FINANCE, Room 103, SH
1:10 PM SB 453-FN-A, making an appropriation to the statewide voter registration system.
JUDICIARY, Room 100, SH
1:00 PM CACR 24, relating to reproductive freedom. Providing that all persons have the right to make their own reproductive decisions.
1:30 PM SB 575-FN, relative to legal protection for legal New Hampshire abortion and contraception care.
1:45 PM SB 461, relative to repealing a construction provision of the fetal life protection act.
2:00 PM SB 567-FN, relative to protecting and expanding access to abortion medications.
EXECUTIVE SESSION MAY FOLLOW.
Upcoming Events
Every Friday
AFSC Action Hour for a Cease-Fire – 12 PM. Hosted by AFSC. Join AFSC staff every Friday at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT to hear updates from Gaza. Then, take action with us as we contact our elected officials and call for an immediate cease-fire and humanitarian access to Gaza. Our elected officials need to keep hearing from us.
Thursday, January 11
Stop Cop City webinar series: The Dangers of Private Police Foundations – 8 PM. Hosted by AFSC. Across the country, for-profit corporations are funding private police foundations. With this dark money, these police foundations pour millions of dollars into militarized policing that harms Black and Brown communities. That includes the Atlanta Police Foundation (APF), the largest police foundation in the U.S. which is building Cop City. APF's funders include big corporate names like Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and Cox Enterprises. Join our webinar to learn about the history of police foundations and the threat they pose to democracy. We'll take a close look at the funding behind APF—and explore how people can organize to stop them through collective corporate divestment.
Monday, January 15 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
1 PM - 42nd Annual MLK Jr Community Celebration at Memorial High School, Manchester. Our annual MLK Jr Community Celebration returns for its 42nd year! This year, the theme is “Connect for Action, Act for Justice.” The program will include breakout groups to connect you with groups living MLK Jr's vision here in New Hampshire. You can learn how they embody his legacy and also join their work. Our celebration will include food, music and also recognize individuals with our annual awards presentation.
4 PM - At the Cook Memorial Library in Tamworth, a public reading of "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in its entirety, followed by a reflection/discussion. So often we experience the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s eloquence in truncated quotations. This is an opportunity, on his 94th birthday, to experience one of his masterpieces from start to finish, out loud, from many voices, and then briefly reflect on it together. The reading will take about an hour, and then we’ll allow half an hour for discussion. For more info, call Andy Davis at 603-452-4446.
Wednesday, January 31
Raising Culturally Competent, Anti-Racist Kids – 7 PM to 8:30 PM. Zoom. Hosted by Portsmouth Public Library. As parents and caregivers, we have both the opportunity and responsibility to foster the skills and compassion our children need to thrive in a diverse world. Many parents and caregivers are looking for ways to engage effectively around such topics as injustice, bias, prejudice, valuing difference, marginalization and more. While it may appear challenging, there are many wonderful ways to bring age-appropriate learning into the home and raise children who can be part of making this a more equitable, just world. In this three-part online program, we will establish a “safe/brave space” to: Identify what, where and how racism exists in our society; Consider our own “racial awareness journey” and how it informs our parenting; Explore best practices, provide resources and encourage “active, antiracist parenting.”
February - April
Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks 2024: A New Deal for a Great Society - Hosted by the Black Heritage Trail NH in Portsmouth, Keene, Nashua. Registration is open for the 2024 annual Elinor William Hooker Tea Talks. This year's program will explore how two federal programs geared toward building a more just society -- Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" and Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" -- played out in New Hampshire. We will ask what impact these programs had on our state and what happens now when changing demographics meet programs designed during the New Deal and Great Society. February talks will be held in Portsmouth, the March talk in Keene, and the April talk in Nashua.
Feb 4 - New Deal or Raw Deal: Why It Matters
Feb 11 - Home Sick: Attaining the American Dream
Feb 18 - A Question of Access and Quality: Health Care in NH
Feb 25 - Close to the Edge: Policing and Criminal Justice in NH
Mar 10 - Equity and Adequacy: Public Education in NH
Apr 21 - Envisioning the Future
We look forward to working alongside you in the new year!
With best wishes,
Maggie Fogarty, Grace Kindeke and Kathleen Wooten
AFSC’s New Hampshire “State House Watch" newsletter is published to bring you information about matters being discussed in Concord including housing, the death penalty, immigration, education, civil liberties, and labor rights. We also follow the state budget and tax system, voting rights, corrections policy, and more.
The AFSC is a Quaker organization supported by people of many faiths who care about peace, social justice, humanitarian service, and nonviolent change. Maggie Fogarty and Grace Kindeke staff the New Hampshire Program which publishes this newsletter. Read our 2023 highlights here. Kathleen Wooten is AFSC’s State House Watch researcher and database manager.
Your donations make our work possible. Click the DONATE NOW button on our web page to send a secure donation to support the work of the AFSC’s New Hampshire Program. Thank you!