State House Watch: February 7, 2025

“The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”  — Howard Zinn

Greetings, State House Watchers,

We hope you are finding ways to be grounded in a community of accomplices for the daily labor of building a world that is peaceful, loving, just, resilient, and tender. And refusing to accept that authoritarianism is inevitable.

Amidst the ransacking that continues at the highest levels, and a horrifying announcement of plans for ethnic cleansing, there were many signs of resistance this past week, from filibusters, to noncompliance, to advocacy actions, to protest, what Rebecca Solnit called “Week Three: The Pushback.” 

As we move more energetically into grassroots protest, we want to share these resources from AFSC, the Albert Einstein Institution, and the Center for Applied Nonviolence to support the planning of effective and peaceful actions that are inclusive and strategic, and that build power for lasting and positive change.

This week had some bright spots! HB 476, a bill that would have enacted a 15-week abortion ban, was withdrawn by a vote in the full House, a huge win for the many thousands of people who took action to defend reproductive rights and access to healthcare. And HB 69, a bill that would have required all NH businesses to use E-Verify, a program that has harmed immigrant workers, was defeated by a voice vote.

We’re disappointed that the full House voted to approve HB 60, a bill that would make the end of the lease period a valid reason for termination of tenancy, making thousands of renters vulnerable to eviction without what is currently referred to as “just cause.” 

The full House passed HB 511, a bill that, in its amended form, will require law enforcement agents to comply with detainers for immigrants who are incarcerated. It is clear that the amended version of HB 511 significantly reduces the harmful impacts of a bill that, in its original form, would turn local police into ICE agents, erode community safety, and contribute to the persecution of immigrants in New Hampshire. We are grateful for legislators who committed to this strategy of harm reduction, and we appreciate that for many of them it was a painful decision to go this route rather than to oppose the bill in all forms. Obviously, the current majorities in the House and Senate and the dominance of a hideous anti-immigrant narrative make it likely that bad legislation will move forward this year, at great cost not only to immigrants but to all who benefit from the opportunity to live and work alongside them. We hope and expect that conscientious legislators will continue to use the power they have to protect people from the worst proposals.

That said, we have to acknowledge that if HB 511 is signed into law, it will be a setback for civil and human rights. Similar to the federal Laken Riley Act, the denial of due process rights of people who have been arrested undercuts our expressed commitment to a core principle of our judicial system - innocent until proven guilty.

We suffered through public hearings this week for a bill that would punish nonprofits that serve immigrants, and one that would eliminate the NH Office of Health Equity. Read the testimony of the NH Immigrant Rights Network in opposition to HB 635, and HB 392.

Next week on Thursday, Governor Ayotte will deliver her budget to a joint convention of the House and Senate, officially launching state budget season at the legislature. The House Finance Committee will take it from there and produce their own version for consideration in the full House in a couple of weeks. Voices of Faith will be at the State House on Thursday with messages that urge lawmakers to invest in workers, access to health care, clean water, renewable energy, public education, higher education, roads and bridges, and other good things.

Thursday will also be a big day for supporters of unions and workers as we work to convince House members to defeat this year’s Right to Work (for less) bill. Join the NH AFL-CIO at a rally outside the State House starting at 8 AM!

Read on for opportunities to make your voices heard next week in defense of public education, transgender rights, and other important issues.

ACTION ALERTS
Please take action to support/oppose these key bills that are coming up soon. 

A note about contacting committees: The Senate committee pages provide a link to “contact entire committee,” which will open your email app and populate it with the email addresses of all committee members. House committees don’t have that handy feature, but thanks to Katy Cutshall, here’s a list of members for each House committee, which makes it easy to cut and paste!

Mark your calendars! Join Voices of Faith for a visibility action at the State House on Thursday, February 13 ahead of the Governor’s budget address. We will gather in the Hall of Flags (lobby of the State House) at 8:45 AM and then move to the second floor to greet our legislators with messages about our budget priorities. All are welcome! We’ll also be urging House members to defeat the anti-worker, anti-union so-called “Right to Work” bill, HB 238, which is on the calendar for a vote that day.

Monday, February 10
Oppose HB 768, allowing public schools to contract with any approved private school. This misguided bill would divert public funds towards religious schools and away from public school districts. It has a public hearing in House Education Policy & Administration, LOB Room 205-207, on Monday, February 10 at 2 PM. Please contact committee members, and sign in to oppose and share testimony. You can use this link to copy and paste the committee emails.

Oppose HB 283, relative to the list of subjects that comprise an adequate education. From our friends at the NH School Funding Fairness Project: “HB 283 aims to gut the definition of an adequate education by removing arts, world languages, computer science, personal finance, engineering and technology, and even Holocaust and genocide education from the required subjects in law.” This bill has a hearing in the House Education Policy and Administration Committee on Monday, February at 1: 30 PM in Room 205-207, LOB. Use this advocacy tool to communication your opposition to committee members.

Tuesday, February 11
Oppose HB 735, relative to elections in collective bargaining. This bill would require public sector unions to hold an election to recertify their right to represent a workplace anytime the composition of the covered workforce has 50% or more people in it that did not have the opportunity to vote in the original vote to form the union. It is scheduled for an executive session in House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee, LOB Room 307, on Tuesday, February 11 at 10 AM. Note that the online sign-in period has passed, but please contact committee members to urge them to recommend defeat for this bill. You can use this link to copy and paste their emails.

OPPOSE HB 461, relative to department of safety and department of motor vehicle training and testing materials. This ridiculous bill would mandate that the DMV offer all information and materials only in English. It is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Transportation committee, Room 203, LOB on Tuesday, February 11 at 11 AM. Please contact the committee, sign in to oppose and share testimony. You can use this link to copy and paste the committee members’ emails.

Wednesday, February 12
Oppose HB 415-FN, removing requirements that schools provide menstrual products in restrooms. Access to menstrual products for students is one simple way to create a healthy and successful learning environment. The bill is scheduled for an executive session in House Education Policy & Administration, LOB Room 205-207, on Wednesday February 12 at 9:30 AM. Note that the online sign-in period has passed, but please contact committee members to urge them to recommend defeat for this bill. 

Oppose SB 295, expanding the number of students eligible for education freedom accounts. This bill would eliminate all income eligibility guidelines for the school voucher program. This bill has a public hearing in the Senate Education Funding Committee, Room 100 SH, on Wednesday, February 12 at 3:20 PM. Please contact the committee, sign in to oppose and share testimony. You can use this link to copy and paste the committee emails.

Thursday, February 13
Oppose SB 71-FN, relative to cooperation with federal immigration authorities. This so-called anti-sanctuary cities bills would target immigrant communities and undermine law enforcement’s efforts to build community trust. This bill is scheduled to be voted on in the full Senate on Thursday, February 13 at 10 AM. Please urge your Senator to oppose this bill.

Oppose HB 238-N, prohibiting collective bargaining agreements from requiring that employees join or contribute to a labor union. This year’s “Right-to-Work” (for less) bill is scheduled to be voted on in the full House on Thursday, February 13 at 10 AM. Please urge your Representatives to oppose this bill.

Oppose SB 268, permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances. This bill would allow for discrimination against transgender people in lavatory facilities and locker rooms, sporting competitions, and detention facilities. It has a public hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, February 13 at 2:30 PM in Room 100, SH. Please sign in to oppose this harmful bill, and contact the committee to urge them to defeat it. 

Oppose SB 38-FN, relative to state recognition of biological sex. This bill tries to say that discrimination isn’t discrimination. It has a public hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, February 13 at 2:45 PM in Room 100, SH. Please sign in to oppose this harmful bill, and contact the committee to urge them to defeat it.

Next Week at the State House
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. 
Retain – When a House committee wishes to hold onto a bill for further consideration. The committee makes this decision for themselves; approval in the full House is not needed. The committee has until the end of the calendar year to make a recommendation for further action.
RC – Roll call vote. Each legislator’s vote is recorded and attributed to them.
VV – Voice vote
DV – Division vote

Last week in the House 
The House met in session on February 6. Here are the outcomes of bills we’re tracking.

On the Consent Calendar

LABOR, INDUSTRIAL AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
HB 69, requiring businesses to use the federal E-Verify system of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. ITL by VV.

TRANSPORTATION
HB 105-FN, creating a new conservation license plate and directing the additional fee to the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund. OTP by VV.
HB 258, establishing a study commission to determine the readiness of the New Hampshire Seacoast Emergency Evacuation Plan. ITL by VV.

On the Regular Calendar 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
HB 511-FN, relative to cooperation with federal immigration authorities. This bill was amended to do the following: require law enforcement agencies to comply with immigration detainers of inmates if safe to do so and prohibit state and local government entities from adopting sanctuary policies to prohibit or impede the enforcement of federal immigration law; prohibit New Hampshire law enforcement agencies from investigating an inmate's citizenship status unless subsequent to an alleged violation of New Hampshire law or pursuant to an authorization by law; prohibit blanket policies against compliance with immigration detainers for inmates and prohibits any government entity or law enforcement agency from restricting the use and transmission of inmate immigration information used in compliance with the chapter; provides exceptions for certain witnesses to or victims of crime. OTP/A by RC, 351-6.

EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
HB 71-FN, prohibiting the use of the facilities of a public elementary school, a public secondary school, or an institution of higher education to provide shelter for aliens [sic] who have not been admitted into the United States. OTP by RC, 211-146.
HB 129-FN, relative to the definition of the term “evidence-based” within public education. OTP by DV, 203-155.

ELECTION LAW
HB 340-FN, relative to electioneering by public employees.  OTP by VV.

HOUSING
HB 60, relative to the termination of tenancy at the expiration of the tenancy or lease term. OTP by RC, 217-139.
HB 444, relative to a tenant’s right to notification prior to the sale of a multi-family home. ITL by RC, 213-144.
HB 623-FN, relative to prohibiting corporations from purchasing single-family homes for a certain amount of time. ITL by RC, 216-141.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY
HB 106, establishing a commission to determine the monetary costs of climate damage to the state of New Hampshire and the best means of recouping such costs. ITL by RC, 207-149.
HB 189, defining “clean energy” and the department of energy’s 10-year state energy strategy to include new technology small-scale nuclear energy, renewable energy, and fuel diversity; and, removing references to the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board. OTP/A by RC, 206-148. 
HB 306, establishing a commission to study the short and long-term impacts of pending national and regional carbon pricing mechanisms on New Hampshire’s citizens, businesses, institutions, and environment. Tabled by VV.

Next Week in the House
The House will meet in session on February 13 at 10 AM, first in joint convention with the Senate for the Governor’s budget address, and then to deliberate and vote, including on the following bills which we’re tracking. You can watch the session here.

On the Consent Calendar

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
HB 57, relative to a person’s release from prison for the purpose of participating in certain post-secondary education programs in the community. Committee recommends OTP.

ELECTION LAW
CACR 3, relating to recall elections. Providing that the general court may authorize recall elections. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 261, relative to election audits. This bill moves the time of election audits to after the completion of recounts. Committee recommends OTP.
HB 336, relative to the placement of political advertisements on public right-of-ways. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 448, establishing a committee to study violations found by the April 25, 2023 ballot law commission. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 626, directing the secretary of state to implement a vulnerability disclosure program for certain election systems. Committee recommends OTP/A.

HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND ELDERLY AFFAIRS
HB 58, establishing a committee to study legislative protections and accommodations for individuals with long COVID. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 370, reestablishing the commission to study the delivery of behavioral crisis services to individuals with mental illness with an impairment primarily due to intellectual disability. Committee recommends OTP.

JUDICIARY
HB 480, relative to restoration of competency to stand trial for criminal defendants. This bill directs the committee to study restoration of competency to submit any additional proposals on or before July 1, 2025 and requires, once adequate funding is received, the department of health and human services to establish a 2-year pilot program to create the position of one or more forensic liaisons, who will assist in competency proceedings of criminal defendants. Committee recommends OTP/A.

MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT
HB 139-L, relative to the official designation of holidays by municipalities and educational institutions. This bill removes the requirement that municipalities, schools, colleges, and universities use official holiday designations. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 165-FN, relative to the maximum amount of disaster relief funding provided to municipalities after a natural disaster. Committee recommends OTP.

TRANSPORTATION 
HB 182,  prohibiting electric vehicles in commercial parking garages. Committee recommends ITL.

On the Regular Calendar

LABOR, INDUSTRIAL AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
HB 238, prohibiting collective bargaining agreements from requiring employees join or contribute to a labor union. Rep. Mark MacKenzie for the minority: “This legislation undermines unions’ strength and security by allowing workers to get all of the benefits of union membership and not pay anything, in spite of the law which requires the union to represent all people in the bargaining unit. This legislation is part of a national strategy driven by out-of-state interests aimed at undermining and weakening unions.” Committee recommends OTP (10-9).

RESOURCES, RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT
HB 332, allowing for the establishment of a village district to protect and remediate surface waters. This bill allows for consistent environmental policies for towns that share a body of water. Committee recommends ITL (9-7).
HB 334,  relative to the comprehensive state development plan. This bill adds provisions to the comprehensive state development plan concerning protecting natural resources and identifying environmental threats. Committee recommends ITL (9-7).
HB 422,  increasing penalties for violations of the shoreland and water quality protection act. Committee recommends ITL (9-7).

STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
HB 55, repealing the Selective Service Compliance Act. This bill removes the state university's requirement to enforce selective service registration. Committee recommends OTP/A.

Coming Up in House Committees 
You can watch the House hearings here. You can sign in for House bills here. And you can contact House committee members here.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10

EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 205-207, LOB
9:30 AM HB 671-FN-A, establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program.
10:15 AM HB 781-FN, requiring school districts to adopt policies establishing a cell phone-free education, and making an appropriation therefor.
10:45 AM HB 765-FN-L, consolidating school administrative units and making school superintendents jobs an elected position.
1:00 PM HR 9, urging the department of education to emphasize STEM education in public schools.
1:30 PM HB 283, relative to the list of subjects that comprise an adequate education.
2:00 PM HB 768, allowing public schools to contract with any approved private school.
2:30 PM HB 431, establishing a commission to review draft rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards developed by the department of education.

MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, Room 301-303, LOB
10:35 AM HB 125, relative to electing Strafford county commissioners at-large.
1:00 PM HB 123, enabling municipalities to tax standing wood and timber on land used for carbon sequestration.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY, Room 302-304, LOB
2:30 PM HB 672-FN, to allow for off-grid electricity providers in New Hampshire.
3:00 PM HB 690-FN, directing the department of energy to investigate the state’s withdrawal from ISO New England and other strategy decisions that impact ratepayers in relation to New England’s environmental policy.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11

EDUCATION FUNDING, Room 205-207, LOB
11:00 AM HB 739-FN, relative to excess funds paid to municipalities for the use of school districts. This bill requires municipalities to remit any excess statewide education property tax to the state for deposit in the general fund.
11:20 AM HB 729-FN-A, making an appropriation to the department of education for an attorney to recodify education laws.

ELECTION LAW, Room 306-308, LOB
10:00 AM HB 684, preventing the use of student identification cards as a means to obtain a ballot. This bill prevents student identification cards from being used to obtain a ballot, and changes the period for which expired identification can be used to obtain a ballot.
10:30 AM HB 323, requiring the presentation of a government-issued photographic means of identification in order to vote.
10:50 AM HB 289, regarding domicile qualifications for voting. This bill prevents a person from claiming domicile if that person is a legal dependent of a person who does not live in New Hampshire, and clarifies that obtaining a driver's license or registering a motor vehicle is intent of maintaining continuous presence within New Hampshire.
11:20 AM HB 385-FN, reestablishing voter identification exceptions.
11:40 AM HB 618-FN, enables election officials to verify the single use of an out-of-state driver’s license presented when a person votes by using the centralized voter registration database.
1:00 PM HB 365-FN, relative to proof of United States citizenship for indigent voters. This bill provides a procedure for local election officials and the secretary of state to verify the citizenship of a voter who does not have documentary proof of citizenship. This bill also creates a voucher program for local election officials to give to indigent voters who cannot afford the cost of obtaining a birth certificate, requires the secretary of state to reimburse the municipality for the issuance of such vouchers, and makes an appropriation therefor.
1:20 PM HB 472, requiring voters to prove domicile.
1:40 PM HB 172, restricting undeclared voters from same-day voting in a presidential or state primary. This bill restricts undeclared voters from registering with a party on the same day of a primary in order to vote in a presidential or state primary election.
2:00 PM HB 141, relative to campaign disclosures for limited liability companies.
2:20 PM HB 175, relative to defined coordinated expenditures.
2:40 PM HB 311-FN, relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions.
3:00 PM HB 364, relative to ballots delivered to elder care facilities.

FINANCE, Room 210-211, LOB
1:00 PM HB 619-FN-A, making an appropriation to the solid waste management fund.

LABOR, INDUSTRIAL AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Room 307, LOB
10:00 AM Executive session on HB 442, relative to prohibiting payment of subminimum wages; HB 735-FN, relative to elections in collective bargaining.
1:45 PM HB 280, relative to wage payments. This bill repeals the weekly or biweekly payment of wage methods and authorizes employers to choose the payment method of their employees.
2:30 PM HB 487, relative to providing employees with advance notice of the work schedule.
3:15 PM HB 379, relative to youth employment during the school year and at night.
4:00 p.m. HB 757, relative to tip pooling and sharing and automatic service charges. This bill provides that employers administering a tip pooling or sharing arrangement must include an example of the arrangement in its documentation. It further provides that the employer must provide a written notice to the employee, and specifies the content of that notice. It also requires certain employers using a service charge to disclose the allocation of that charge on an itemized receipt given to the customer.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY, Room 302-304, LOB
9:00 AM HB 696-FN, exempting electricity generators from the utility property tax and including them under the statewide education property tax, and relative to communications services tax revenues.
10:00 AM HCR 2, declaring the development of advanced nuclear energy technology to be in the best interest of the state of New Hampshire and the United States.
1:00 PM HB 710-FN, enabling electric utilities to own, operate, and offer advanced nuclear resources.
1:30 PM HB 764-FN, prohibiting the intentional release of polluting emissions, including cloud seeding, weather modification, excessive electromagnetic radio frequency, and microwave radiation and making penalties for violation of such prohibition.

TRANSPORTATION, Room 203, LOB
11:00 AM HB 461, relative to department of safety and department of motor vehicle training and testing materials. This bill requires all printed and digitally available driver's license examination-related materials, including the examination itself, be available and administered in the English language only.

WAYS AND MEANS, Room 202-204, LOB
2:00 PM Executive session on HB 635-FN, relative to taxing non-profit entities who settle illegal immigrants as for-profit entities. This bill allows taxing non-profit entities who settle illegal [sic] immigrants as for-profit entities, and allows the department of revenue administration to award bounties to persons who report instances of non-profits settling illegal immigrants to the department.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, Room 202-204, LOB
10:00 AM HB 597, establishing a designated behavioral health access point within the enhanced 911 system.
10:45 AM HB 602, requiring certain offenders to participate in a victim impact program.
3:00 PM HB 473-FN, criminalizing multiple forms of exposing children to controlled substances and allowing law enforcement to take a child into protective custody for screening and testing in an instance of suspected or actual criminal exposure to controlled substances.
3:30 PM HB 528-FN, legalizing the possession and use of psilocybin for persons 21 years of age or older.

EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 205-207, LOB
1:00 PM HB 676, relative to the composition and responsibilities of the parent and education service provider advisory commission, and establishing education freedom account impact and parent satisfaction surveys.

HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND ELDERLY AFFAIRS, Room 301-303, LOB
9:30 AM HB 704-FN-A, relative to caregiver respite and senior volunteer programs and making an appropriation therefor.
10:00 AM HB 743-FN, relative to patient access to health care prices and billing practices.
10:30 AM HB 524-FN, repealing the New Hampshire vaccine association.

JUDICIARY, Room 206-208, LOB
10:15 AM HB 615-FN, relative to drug forfeiture proceedings.
11:00 AM HB 509-FN, relative to the contents of the attorney general’s annual report detailing state forfeiture information for the preceding fiscal year.
2:30 PM HB 462-FN, establishing a cause of action for unwarranted video imaging of residential premises.
3:15 PM HB 614-FN, relative to litigation alleging constitutional rights violations.

RESOURCES, RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Room 305, LOB
1:30 PM HB 691-FN, prohibiting the addition of fluoridation chemicals to public water systems.

WAYS AND MEANS, Room 203, LOB
10:00 AM HB 402, relative to liability as taxable income of education freedom account payments.
10:30 AM HB 483-FN, relative to the definition of a scholarship organization for purposes of the education tax credit. This bill provides that, for purposes of the education tax credit, a qualifying scholarship organization shall be incorporated in this state.
11:00 AM HB 503-FN, amending how revenues from taxes are allocated to the education trust fund.
1:00 PM HB 669-FN-A, relative to requiring all revenue raised under the statewide education property tax to be deposited in the education trust fund, and setting an equalized statewide tax rate.

Coming Up in the Senate
The full Senate will be in session on February 13, starting at 10 AM, first in joint convention with the House for the Governor’s budget address and then for deliberation and votes. You can watch here. Here are the bills we’re tracking which will be considered.

On the Consent Calendar

CHILD AND FAMILY LAW
SB 23, expanding the crime of endangering the welfare of a child. Committee recommends OTP.

ELECTION LAW 
SB 11,  relative to the allocation of electoral college votes.
SB 16 ​​, requiring municipalities to post a copy of election return forms on their websites and in public locations. Committee recommends OTP/A.
SB 43, removing articles of clothing from the definition of electioneering. Committee recommends OTP/A.
SB 104, requiring the performance of a machine count at the request of 10 residents who have cast a ballot in the election. Committee recommends ITL.

ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
SB 106, relative to the participation of customer generators in net energy metering. Committee recommends OTP/A.

TRANSPORTATION
SB 39, relative to establishing an alternative driver education program. Committee recommends re-referral to committee.

WAYS AND MEANS
SB 158, raising the funding cap for the New Hampshire community development finance authority. Committee recommends OTP.

On the Regular Calendar

CHILD AND FAMILY LAW
SB 76, relative to the office of the child advocate. This bill is a request from the Office of the Child Advocate. Committee recommends ITL.

FINANCE
SB 71, relative to cooperation with federal immigration authorities. This bill provides that unless expressly prohibited by state or federal law, local governmental entities may not prohibit or impede any state or federal law enforcement agency from complying with federal immigration laws, and provides for remedies for violations. Committee recommends OTP.
SB 240, making an appropriation to the department of environmental services for eligible water projects. Committee recommends OTP.

Coming Up in Senate Committees 
You can watch the Senate hearings here. You can sign in for Senate bills here. And you can contact Senate committee members here.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Room 100, SH
10:45 AM SB 128-FN, relative to children’s mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger. This bill establishes the New Hampshire children's behavioral health association.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11

COMMERCE, Room 100, SH
10:00 AM SB 86-FN, relative to the housing finance authority’s affordable housing guarantee program. This bill establishes an affordable housing guarantee program within the housing finance authority to promote affordable housing for low- and moderate-income persons.
10:15 AM SB 279-FN, establishing the housing champion business loan program and making appropriations to the department of business and economic affairs and the business finance authority.

EDUCATION, Room 101, LOB
9:00 AM SB 203-FN, relative to administration of the education freedom accounts program.
9:15 AM SB 207-FN, requiring the department of education to administer the education freedom account program.
9:30 AM SB 204-FN-A, relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost, and making an appropriation therefor.
9:45 AM SB 205-FN, requiring schools to offer free or reduced cost breakfast and lunch to children who meet federal income eligibility guidelines.

ELECTION LAW AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, Room 103, LOB
9:15 AM SB 219-FN, requiring the secretary of state to enter into a membership agreement with the Electronic Registration Information Center.
10:00 AM SB 223-FN, relative to using college or university student identification cards to obtain a ballot. This bill provides for in-state tuition at any institution in the university system of New Hampshire or the community college system for any person who is registered to vote in this state. The bill also removes college or university identification cards from valid photo identification for obtaining a ballot.

FINANCE, Room 103, SH
1:25 PM SB 238-FN, extending funding for the adverse childhood experiences prevention and treatment pilot program.
1:55 PM SB 242-FN, relative to the cost of living adjustments for certain group II retirees in the New Hampshire retirement system.

TRANSPORTATION, Room 101, LOB
2:00 PM SB 274-FN, establishing a 4-year pilot program with potential for statewide expansion to improve rail trails in New Hampshire through federal, state, and private funding and making a bonded appropriation therefor.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12

EDUCATION FINANCE, Room 100, SH
3:00 PM SB 293-FN, relative to using enrollment in Medicaid as a measure of eligibility for school lunches.
3:20 PM SB 295-FN, expanding the number of students eligible for education freedom accounts. This bill increases the number of students eligible for education freedom accounts by removing household income thresholds.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Room 101, LOB
10:00 AM SB 130-FN, relative to insurance reimbursement for ambulance services. 
10:15 AM SB 245-FN, prohibiting surprise ambulance billing and regulating ground ambulance reimbursement.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13

JUDICIARY, Room 100, SH 
2:30 PM SB 268, permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances. This bill permits classification of individuals based on biological sex in lavatory facilities and locker rooms, sporting competitions, and detention facilities.
2:45 PM SB 38-FN, relative to state recognition of biological sex. This bill provides a definition for "biological sex" and provides that certain designations by biological sex do not constitute unlawful discrimination.

Upcoming Events 

Every Third Tuesday
Protect, Resist and Build with AFSC– 8 PM to 9:30 PM. Hosted by AFSC. Monthly webinar series that brings together AFSC constituents to learn about how to protect, resist, and build just peace, just migration, and just economies.

Every Wednesday
Solemn Vigils for Ceasefire Now - 2 PM in Dover at the district offices of Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Chris Pappas. The February 12 vigil will be at Pappas’ office, 660 Central Avenue, Dover. The February 19 vigil will be at Shaheen's office, 340 Central Avenue, Dover. We gather at the entrance to Henry Law Park.

Every Thursday 
Meeting for Worship with Attention to Peace in Palestine & Israel - 5:30 PM. Hosted by AFSC.

Solemn Vigils for Ceasefire Now – 12 noon at City Hall Plaza, in front of the State House, Concord.

Every Friday 
AFSC Action Hour for a Ceasefire – 12 noon. Join AFSC staff every Friday at 12 PM ET / 9 AM 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. 

Saturday, February 8 
Maternal Health Conference - 9 AM to 2 PM. Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester. Hosted by BLM NH. Maternal health is a vital and evolving area of focus, as communities across the country work to improve the care and support available to women and birthing people. This conference will be a unique opportunity to bring everyone together to exchange ideas, share research, and learn from diverse experiences in maternal health.

Justice Fair – 12 PM to 3 PM. 211 N. Main St. Concord. Hosted by Concordia Lutheran Church. Come and learn about the great organizations that are doing justice work in Concord and throughout New Hampshire!

Monday, February 10
Peace & Justice Conversations: Dynamic Community Resistance in West Africa - 7 PM. Hosted by NH Peace Action. In West African cities, urban poor families and communities must struggle every day to survive -- not just to live on meager day-to-day incomes, but to tenaciously resist and mitigate the dynamics that threaten their very shelter and livelihoods. This conversation looks broadly at over a decade of work supporting multi-pronged community resistance to mass forced evictions, and dives deep into the struggle of the Otodo Gbame community in Lagos, Nigeria. 

Wednesday, February 12
Defending LGBTQ+ Rights Call - 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Hosted by 603 Equality, ACLU NH, NHYM, and Outright NH. Join us to prepare for the upcoming legislative attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. We’ll go over the upcoming bills and discuss options to take action this legislative session and beyond. Nobody should feel alone in the heavy task of defending their humanity. We’re all in this together and we aren’t going anywhere.

High School Voter Registration Workshop - 6 PM. Hosted by Open Democracy & The Civics Center. Across the country, The Civics Center consistently finds that when young people are registered to vote, they turn out at high rates. A 2022 report by The Civics Center showed that 83% of New Hampshire 18-year-olds who were registered turned out to vote in the 2022 midterms. Join us to learn how to encourage and empower students and educators to organize voter registration events for their schools.

New Hampshire Momnibus 2.0 Grassroots Meeting – 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Hosted by Moms Rising, New Futures, Reproductive Equity Now and the New Hampshire Women's Foundation. NH's maternal health crisis demands action, and Momnibus 2.0 (SB 246) is a critical step forward. Join us for this virtual advocacy training to get a clear breakdown of what’s in MOMnibus 2.0, why it matters, and all the ways you can take action to make Momnibus 2.0 a reality.

Bystander Training – 7 PM to 9 PM. Hosted by No Coal, No Gas. This workshop reviews best practice for interactions with Law Enforcement, ICE, and Border Patrol.

Thursday, February 13
Love from Beyond the Walls: #FreeThemAll Valentine's Visibility  - 3 PM. Hosted by AFSC NH. Dear friends, we believe that love transcends walls, bars and cages. Please join us for “Love from Beyond The Walls” a community gathering visibility on Thursday, February 13 at 3 PM at Valley Street Jail (aka Hillsborough County Department of Corrections) in Manchester. We’ll celebrate Valentine's Day and those behind the walls as part of our Free Them All campaign, calling for a future without incarceration, a future supported by systems that promote healing, not punitive, justice. Learn more at: www.AFSC.org/FreeThemAll

Tuesday, February 18 
Conoce tus derechos/Know your rights -  Immigration 101 – 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Hosted by Eva Castillo & Jason Bonilla. Whether you’re a U.S. citizen, a green card holder, a student on a visa, or undocumented, you have legal rights. This presentation will give resources for advocates, service providers and allies who want to help ensure that immigrants know their rights in different contexts.

Know Your Rights Training– 7 PM to 8:30 PM. Hosted by No Coal, No Gas. 

Community In Conversation Monthly Series - 7 PM. Hosted by BLM NH. Join us for a dynamic and empowering series of virtual conversations! Our organization is hosting monthly Zoom events every 3rd Tuesday from January through May, featuring a rotating panel of expert speakers addressing critical issues affecting the Black & POC communities.

Wednesday, February 19
Active Bystander Training - 5 PM to 7 PM. First Church Nashua Congregational UCC, 1 Concord St, Nashua. Hosted by Granite State Organizing Project. Join us for an interactive training session, led by experienced trainers from GSOP. This training is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to become proactive and effective bystanders in various situations. The goal is to foster a culture of safety, respect, and support within communities by empowering individuals to intervene and prevent harmful behaviors.

Thursday, February 20 
Community Conversations with CSH 2025 - 1 PM. Hosted by Community Sponsorship Hub. Join us to learn from resettlement professionals, and private sponsors, hear firsthand accounts of community impact, and become part of a growing movement that's creating welcoming communities through private sponsorship.

Collective Courage Book Study Watch Party #2 - Intentional Communities  - 6 PM to 8 PM. Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St. Nashua. Hosted by the Black Womxn in NH Social Club. Join us for a series of gatherings centered around Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice by Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard. This groundbreaking book explores the rich history of Black American cooperatives and their role in fostering community solidarity and economic resilience.

Know Your Rights – Immigration 101 – Free Community Training – 6 PM to 9 PM. The Loading Dock - 35 Mill Street #Suite D Littleton. Hosted by NH Alliance for Immigrants and, Refugees & ACLU NH. Our goal is to empower you with the tools and knowledge to navigate interactions with law enforcement, immigration officers, and other authorities. We'll discuss your rights regardless of your immigration status, what to do if you're approached by ICE, and how to prepare in case of an emergency.

Tuesday, February 25
Deep Canvass Institute 101: How to Have a Deep Canvass Conversation - 6 PM. Hosted by People’s Action. The Deep Canvass Institute is offering this 101 training where you will be trained in the core skills needed to have deep canvass conversations. Deep canvassing is about working to create mutual understanding grounded in stories and lived experience, instead of in debate or talking points.

Sunday, March 9-16
2025 Witness Response - Hosted by Witness at the Border. Join us for our second Workshop for Justice and a short ‘Journey’ to be held March 9-16, 2025. The Journey will begin in San Antonio on March 9th, we will travel to Eagle Pass (2 nights), El Paso (2 nights) and to Ajo. The Workshop will be held in Ajo, AZ, on March 14-16. We are still forming the agenda specifics and leaving ourselves flexible to respond to anticipated changes in immigration policy.

Sunday, March 16
Countering Christian Nationalism – 4 PM to 6 PM. This hybrid event, the first in a three-part series, seeks to explain the origins, tenets, and impacts of Christian nationalism, particularly in the context of New Hampshire. Co-hosted by the NH Council of Churches, Manchester-NAACP, NH Outright, Engage, NH Peace Action, 603 Equality, and American Friends Service Committee. To attend via Zoom, one must register here. 

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. Kathleen Wooten is AFSC’s State House Watch researcher and database manager.

"State House Watch" is made possible in part by a grant from the Anne Slade Frey Charitable Trust. 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!