Image credit: AFSC
“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
January 26, 2026
Happy snow day, State House Watchers.
We hope you’re warm, and that you have power, and that you shovel with care. And of course, that you have some time to enjoy today’s special beauty.
One thing you don’t have to do today is attend state legislative hearings. The NH House canceled today’s hearings and moved them to other days this week and early next week. The calendar of hearings below reflects the updated schedule.
We hope you’ll find some time today to take the many online actions described below. From rental housing, to public education, access to food, immigration and the death penalty, it will be another busy week for issues that matter a great deal to us all.
We’ll keep the commentary brief so that we can get this newsletter to you at last. We’ll simply say that the lives of Keith Porter, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti mattered, as did the lives of Geraldo Lunas Campos, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, Luis Beltran Yanez–Cruz, Parady La, Victor Manuel Diaz, and Heber Sanchez Dominguez who also died this year (2026) while in the custody if ICE. The cost of state violence is horror and heartache, and the loss of their unique Light. For these siblings, and for all who have died because of racism and cruelty, may we find ways to stay in the struggle for a just, peaceful, and more compassionate world.
ACTION ALERTS!
Many thanks for all of the actions you are taking to support good policies and oppose harmful ones. In addition to giving testimony in person, we have an opportunity to register our positions and share testimony online. You’ll need the date of the hearing, the committee name and the bill number. You’ll enter your name and contact information as well whether you represent an organization and/or are a lobbyist. You can sign-in on a bill until midnight the day of the hearing. Sign in for House bills here. Sign in for Senate bills here. You can also email the committee members: House committees here. Senate committees here.
Remember that if you’re planning to attend House committee hearings in person, they are located at Granite Place this year while renovations are being made at the LOB. Senate committee hearings continue to be held at the State House and in nearby state buildings, including the state library.
Here are the action alerts we’ve received from partners for this coming week.
Today - Protect transgender rights.
OPPOSE SB 268, permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances. This bill was a retained bill from 2025. The House passed it on January 8, and now it heads to Governor Ayotte. This bill is nearly identical to the so-called “bathroom bill” she vetoed last spring. Please call the governor and urge her to VETO it (603-271-2121).
Tuesday, January 27 - PRIORITY BILL - Protect worker rights.
OPPOSE HB 1704, permitting public employees to bargain individually with public employers without any intervention. The NH AFL-CIO shares that this bill “undermines exclusive representation – the core of collective bargaining; it creates administrative chaos because employers would have to negotiate hundreds or thousands of individual contracts while trying to manage the legal risk from inconsistent agreements; exposes cities and towns to lawsuits and turns normal labor activity into criminal conduct; and will increase property taxes that you pay because of the increased costs to cities and towns, because of more HR staff, more lawyers, more lawsuits, and more turnover.” NEA-NH has additional information here. This anti-worker, anti-union bill has a public hearing in the House Labor Committee on Tuesday, January 27 at 3:15 PM at Granite Place, room 159. Please sign in to oppose and share testimony, contact the committee, and show up at the hearing.
Tuesday, January 27 – PRIORITY BILLS - Protect tenant rights and immigrant families.
OPPOSE HB 1336, allowing exceptions to the cap on residential security deposits for applicants not meeting standard approval criteria. From NH Legal Assistance: “By allowing landlords to double the security deposit charged, we are making housing less affordable. Not only do renters have to come up with twice the money up front, but it leaves them with fewer resources for continuing to pay the rent, moving costs, regular expenses like childcare and utilities…not to mention emergencies.” It has a hearing in the House Housing Committee on Tuesday, January 27 at 10:30 AM in Room 231 at Granite Place. Please sign in to oppose and share testimony, contact the committee, and show up for the hearing.
OPPOSE HB 1709, relative to prohibiting the rental of residential property to individuals unlawfully present in the United States. From the NH Immigrant Rights Network: “Enacting such a law would place housing providers in the legally precarious position of screening people based on nationality and immigration status – practices that are definitively prohibited under federal and state housing discrimination laws. Landlords cannot and should not screen tenants to establish citizenship or immigration status. They may not treat tenants differently based on citizenship, nationality or ethnicity. They are certainly not in the position to determine whether a prospective tenant is lawfully present, whether they had an obligation to report their status, and whether they reported their status accurately.” This reckless and discriminatory bill has a public hearing in the House Housing Committee on Tuesday, January 27 at 2 PM in Room 231 at Granite Place. Please sign in to oppose and share testimony, contact the committee, and show up for the hearing.
SUPPORTSB 623, relative to requirements for law enforcement officers assisting in immigration enforcement. This bill is called the "Granite State No Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement Act,” and would require that each officer shall clearly display either their name or their badge number; no officer shall wear any facial covering or mask; and no officer shall disable or disengage their body-worn camera.” This positive bill has a public hearing in Senate Judiciary on Tuesday, January 27 at 1:40 PM in SH, Room 100. Please sign in to support this bill and contact the committee.
Tuesday, January 27 – Ensure that hungry children are fed.
SUPPORT SB 517, 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. This bill would increase the income eligibility for free school meals to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, giving more kids access to the food they need to learn and helping working families succeed. It has a public hearing in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, January 27 at 10 AM in the Map Room at the State Library. Please sign in to support and contact the committee.
Wednesday, January 28 – Oppose the death penalty.
OPPOSE HB 1047, relative to the offense of capital murder. This bill makes it a capital murder offense to knowingly cause the death of the governor or governor-elect of New Hampshire, a member or member-elect of the executive council, or any member or member-elect of the New Hampshire senate or New Hampshire house of representatives, or any candidate for any such offices after such candidate has been nominated at his or her party's primary, when such killing is motivated by knowledge of the foregoing capacity of the victim. It has a public hearing in the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, January 28 at 11 AM in Room 159, Granite Place. Please sign in to oppose and share testimony, and contact the committee.
Wednesday, January 28 – No masks for law enforcement cooperating with ICE.
SUPPORTHB 1142, relative to requirements for law enforcement officers assisting in immigration enforcement. This bill mandates that these officers must identify themselves by name, badge number, and agency while stating that they are operating under the authority of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Additionally, the bill requires that these officers remain unmasked during their operations under the 287(g) agreement. It has a public hearing in the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, January 28 at 3:30 PM in Room 159, Granite Place. Please sign in to support and share testimony, and contact the committee.
Thursday, January 29 – Protect public education.
OPPOSE SB 101, authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state. From NEA-NH: “This bill, with some amendments, will go to the Senate on Thursday, January 29 for a floor vote. Passage of this bill would upend the current open enrollment law that many school districts are currently trying to grapple with at their annual meetings. As amended, SB 101 would require all school districts to adopt an application and transfer process to allow non-resident students from other New Hampshire school districts to enroll in their schools. The bill only gives a limited number of exceptions as reason for denial of such a transfer and spells out more specifically what the resident district would owe the receiving district in tuition. This all will need to be in place by July 1st of this year! This is too much, too fast, and the fiscal, logistical and educational impacts of such a law have not been thought through thoroughly. Before the New Hampshire Senate votes on mandatory open enrollment, contact your state senator and urge them to hit the pause button on SB 101!
Friday, January 30 – Require transparency for immigration enforcement.
SUPPORTHB 1364, requiring quarterly reports from counties, municipalities, or any other political subdivisions of the state that enter into certain agreements with the federal government concerning assistance with federal immigration enforcement. This positive bill has a public hearing in the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Friday, January 30 at 11:30 AM in Room 159, Granite Place. Please sign in to support and share testimony, and contact the committee.
Monday, February 2 – Protect food assistance.
SUPPORT HB 1750, making a supplemental appropriation to the department of health and human services for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This positive bill would make sure that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has the dollars to keep SNAP running. Without this bill, over 76,000 New Hampshire residents will lose access to SNAP - and to food. We must make the necessary state investment to ensure that SNAP remains fully operational. This bill has a public hearing on Monday, February 2 at 11 AM in Granite Place, room 230. Please sign in to support and contact the committee.
Key:
GP – Granite Place. More information here.
SH – State House (107 N. Main St. Concord)
SL – State Library
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 full House did not meet in session last week.
Last week in the Senate
The full Senate did not meet in session last week.
Coming Up in the House
The full House will not meet in session next week. The full House will meet for legislative business following the Governor’s State of the State address on Thursday, February 5 at 10 AM.
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 committees here.
MONDAY, JANUARY, 26
Note that the House of Representatives has cancelled all hearings for Monday, January 26 due to the snow storm. Monday’s hearings have been rescheduled for other days this week and next week.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27
EDUCATION FUNDING, Room 232, GP
9:30 AM HB 1672-FN, requiring schools to present line-item expenses as part of the school budget process.
11:00 AM HB 1816-FN, relative to the intervention of the department of education into a school or school district during a financial emergency.
11:30 AM HB 1824-FN, relative to school district financial distress.
ELECTION LAW, Room 158, GP
10:00 AM HB 1627-FN, creating a single primary ballot.
10:20 AM HB 1520-FN, defining citizenship for the purposes of voting.
10:40 AM HB 1382, relative to proof of citizenship for overseas voters voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
11:00 AM CACR 14, relating to qualifications for office. Providing that candidates of the office of governor, state senator, and state representative shall be citizens of the United States.
11:20 AM CACR 21, relating to voting eligibility. Providing that only legal residents who are at least 18 years of age or older who reside in the place they claim as domicile shall be eligible voters.
11:40 AM HB 1106, requiring the public disclosure of the citizenship of a candidate for public office.
1:00 PM HB 1396, relative to vacancies in state offices.
1:20 PM HB 1255-FN, removing the requirement of more evidence than a campaign contribution to demonstrate that a vote, appointment or nomination was a corrupt practice.
1:40 PM HB 1462, relative to election law complaints.
2:00 PM HB 1306, relative to the counting of absentee ballots.
2:20 PM HB 1429-FN, relative to the hand-counting of ballots at large polling places.
2:40 PM HB 1695, requiring the secretary of state to include a voter’s guide to the proposed constitutional amendment to voters on the ballot.
3:00 PM HB 1821-FN, exempting certain information collected from electronic ballot counting devices from right-to-know law restrictions.
HOUSING, Room 231, GP
9:00 AM HB 1112, relative to snow removal responsibilities in residential lease agreements.
9:30 AM HB 1143, relative to the remediation of mold in rental housing.
10:00 AM HB 1171, relative to eviction safeguards for tenants whose Social Security payments are disrupted.
10:30 AM HB 1336-FN, allowing exceptions to the cap on residential security deposits for applicants not meeting standard approval criteria.
11:00 AM HB 1371, prohibiting application fees for residential rental agreements.
11:30 AM HB 1375, prohibiting landlords from charging more than one application fee per tenant every 12 months.
1:30 PM HB 1553, relative to pet-related fees and rent in residential tenancies.
2:00 PM HB 1709-FN, relative to prohibiting the rental of residential property to individuals unlawfully present in the United States.
LABOR, INDUSTRIAL AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Room 159, GP
2:30 PM HB 1451, relative to protecting workers from extreme temperature-related injuries and fatalities in the workplace.
3:15 PM HB 1704-FN, permitting public employees to bargain individually with public employers without any intervention.
MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, Room 154, GP
9:30 AM HB 1677, requiring a recommendation by a local budget committee or governing body when including warrant articles with a tax impact in an estimate for raising taxes under a local tax cap.
9:55 AM HB 1184-FN, relative to the issuance of no trespass orders on municipal or school district property.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY, Room 229, GP
1:00 PM HB 1738-FN, relative to ratepayer benefits from the regional greenhouse gas initiative.
2:00 PM HB 1739-FN, relative to energy infrastructure, economic development, and workforce training for large-scale data facilities.
TRANSPORTATION, Room 234, GP
10:40 AM HB 1560-FN, relative to annual motor vehicle inspection standards and reinstatement.
11:00 AM HB 1703-FN, relative to establishing a registration fee for bicycles and electric bicycles using state or municipally funded bike paths, trails, or roadways.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, Room 159, GP
10:00 AM CACR 19, relative to the personal possession of cannabis. Providing that adults 21 years of age or older shall have the right to possess a modest amount of cannabis intended for their personal consumption.
10:30 AM HB 1034-FN, relative to possession of firearms on school property.
11:00 AM HB 1047-FN, relative to the offense of capital murder.
1:30 PM HB 1061, establishing a commission to study alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders who are primary caregivers.
2:00 PM HB 1084-FN, relative to the relinquishment of deadly weapons by those subject to a domestic violence protective order.
3:30 PM HB 1142, relative to requirements for law enforcement officers assisting in immigration enforcement.
EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 232, GP
2:00 PM HB 1132, prohibiting the display of certain flags in public schools and public charter schools and establishing penalties for the display of prohibited flags.
JUDICIARY, Room 230, GP
11:00 AM HB 1509-FN, relative to judicial immunity and permitting civil actions against judicial officers for certain criminal bail decisions.
WAYS AND MEANS, Room 154, GP
10:00 AM CACR 10, relating to the adoption of tax laws. Providing that no law shall establish or increase a state imposed tax unless adopted by not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
10:30 AM CACR 18, relating to tax rates. Providing that the rate of taxes in the state shall not exceed certain annual percentages.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, Room 159, GP
10:30 AM HB 1173, relative to post-secondary education opportunities for inmates.
11:30 AM HB 1216, relative to informed consent for law enforcement searches of houses or other property.
12:00 PM HB 1235-FN, legalizing certain quantities of cannabis.
EDUCATION FUNDING, Room 232, GP
10:45 AM HB 1288, relative to enabling school administrative units to adopt budget caps.
1:45 PM HB 1578, adds definitions and reporting requirements relative to education freedom accounts.
2:30 PM HB 1579, establishing a committee to study methods for increasing revenues to enable additional spending on education.
EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 230, GP
10:00 AM HB 1571-FN-A, requiring the department of education to review statewide academic standards and curriculum and making an appropriation therefor.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY, Room 229, GP
2:00 PM HB 1718-FN, relative to authorizing energy storage in connection with net metering.
3:00 PM HB 1455, relative to the criteria for reliable energy sources.
WAYS AND MEANS, Room 159, GP
11:00 AM HB 1708-FN, relative to statewide education property taxes and other tax revenues.
11:30 AM HB 1293, taxing certain properties owned by charitable or non-profit organizations.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, Room 159, GP
10:30 AM HB 1302, relative to post-arrest photograph distribution by law enforcement officers.
11:30 AM HB 1364-FN, requiring quarterly reports from counties, municipalities, or any other political subdivisions of the state that enter into certain agreements with the federal government concerning assistance with federal immigration enforcement.
EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 232, GP
10:00 AM HB 1334, removing the authority of the education freedom accounts scholarship organization to make decisions about certain educational expenses.
10:45 AM HB 1513, relative to reporting and transparency reports for the education freedom account program.
1:00 PM HB 1256, removing the authority of the state librarian to award scholarships to students attending graduate library schools.
MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, Room 154, GP
11:45 AM HB 1076, relative to authorizing or rescinding the use of electronic ballot counting devices.
STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, Room 228, GP
9:20 AM HR 26, supporting peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
9:45 AM HCR 12, calling upon the federal delegation from New Hampshire to support Medicare for All, a universal health insurance program that guarantees all people the health care they need.
10:15 AM HR 37, recognizing the United Nations universal declaration of human rights and urging the responsible and moral oversight of and accountability for military equipment used by international allies especially in Gaza.
1:30 PM HR 21, urging New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to support the repeal of the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2
FINANCE, Room 230, GP
10:00 AM HB 1566-FN-A, making a contingent appropriation to the department of health and human services for the purpose of providing recruitment and benefit grants to child care employers.
11:00 AM HB 1750-FN, making a supplemental appropriation to the department of health and human services for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
11:30 AM HB 1399-FN, making an appropriation to the Claremont school district for costs associated with a building renovation project from the revenue stabilization reserve account.
1:00 PM HB 1411-FN, directing the state treasurer to withhold payments owed by the state to the federal government where the state has been deprived of federal aid as a result of presidential executive order.
Coming Up in the Senate
The full Senate will meet in session next week, on Thursday, January 29 at 10 AM. You can watch it here. Here are the bills we’re tracking which are coming up for a vote.
On the Consent Calendar
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
SB 450-FN, relative to a state parks pass pilot program for recovery centers and community mental health centers. Committee recommends OTP-A.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
SB 422, relative to membership of the governor’s commission on addiction, treatment, and prevention. Committee recommends OTP.
SB 490, establishing a task force to assess the development of housing at Great Bay community college and authorizing the college the right to use vacant property for the purpose of developing housing. Committee recommends OTP-A.
SB 566-FN, relative to recruiting incentive programs for the national guard. Committee recommends OTP.
SB 569, relative to the qualifications for hearings officers within the department of labor. Committee recommends OTP.
JUDICIARY
SB 521-FN, relative to unauthorized camping on private property. Committee recommends OTP.
On the Regular Calendar
FINANCE
SB 101-FN, authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state. Committee recommends OTP-A.
ELECTION LAW AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
SB 223-FN, relative to using college or university student identification cards to obtain a ballot. Committee recommends ITL.
FINANCE
SB 123-FN, requiring coverage of ear acupuncture as a treatment for substance misuse under the state Medicaid plan. Committee recommends ITL.
SB 481-FN-A, relative to the sale of the Sununu youth services center property and making an appropriation to the youth development center settlement fund. Committee recommends OTP-A.
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 committees here.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27
EDUCATION, Map Room, SL
10:00 AM SB 517-FN, 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.
ELECTION LAW AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, Room 122-123, SH
9:30 AM SB 643-FN, requiring cities and towns to hold a public hearing and conduct a roll call vote when seeking to override a tax or spending cap.
FINANCE, Room 103, SH
1:15 PM CACR 12, relating to voting on broad-based taxes. Providing that a supermajority vote of the general court shall be required to enact any broad-bases taxes.
JUDICIARY, Room 100, SH
1:40 PM SB 623-FN, relative to requirements for law enforcement officers assisting in immigration enforcement.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
COMMERCE, Room 100, SH
10:00 AM SB 416, relative to the pooling and sharing of tips among tipped employees.
EDUCATION, Map Room, SL
9:15 AM SB 434, relative to regulation of public school materials.
9:30 AM SB 430, relative to mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents.
Upcoming Events
Want us to list your peace and justice-related event? Contact us at afscnh@afsc.org.
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 January 28 vigil will be at Pappas' district office, 15 Third Street, Dover. The February 4 vigil will be at Shaheen’s office, 2 Washington Street, Dover; we gather at the entrance to Henry Law Park.
Every Third Wednesday
Countering Christian Nationalism conversation - 7:00 PM, hosted by the NH Council of Churches, every third Wednesday of the month. Zoom link here.
Every Thursday
Meeting for Worship with Attention to Peace in Palestine & Israel - 7:30 PM. Hosted by AFSC. Every week, AFSC's Quaker Engagement team hosts Meeting for Worship virtually for Friends from across the globe. Embracing the practice of Quaker unprogrammed worship, we gather to bring our attention to witnessing injustice in our world and bolstering our solidarity with people facing oppression. Join us to explore and experience the spiritual dimensions of activism and social justice.
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 to hear updates on what's happening in Gaza. Then, take action with us as we contact Congress and call for a permanent cease-fire, arms embargo on Israel, and humanitarian access for Gaza. Our elected officials need to keep hearing from us!
Stronger Together: Protect Our Neighbors Weekly Visibility – 3 PM to 4 PM. Hosted by the Stronger Together Coalition. Corner of North Main Street and Loudon Road, Concord. Join us for a weekly visibility to stand against the war being raged against our communities. Our immigrant loved ones and neighbors are being targeted and kidnapped off the streets. Our public dollars are being funneled into a violent, bloated deportation and detention machine while local police are being weaponized against the communities they are supposed to serve, and life-giving programs are being defunded. Stand with us to protect our communities. All are welcome!
Monday, January 26, 2026
Peace & Justice Conversations: State-Sponsored Violence In and By the US – 7 PM, on Zoom. NH Peace Action focuses on questioning and ending our country's violent foreign policy. We have always noted the ways in which this treatment of those outside our country is reflected in violence at home as well. We are currently seeing an upsurge in the use of militarized force against people within our borders through an increase in the purview, funding, and impunity given to ICE. There is also a strong and inspiring wave of resistance. Come learn more about the work in NH to disrupt ICE activities and how you can help. Presenters are Maggie Fogarty, AFSC-NH, and Megan Chapman, World Fellowship Center.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
NH Faith Leader press conference – 2 PM at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 102 Main Street, Manchester. Hosted by the Granite State Organizing Project, to address the brutality of ICE’s actions. Our faith traditions call us to work for justice and speak out against systems of
oppression.
Fed Up & Fired Up - 7 PM to 9 PM, at To Share Brewery, 720 Union Street, Manchester. Hosted by 603 Forward. Feeling fed up with politics but not sure what to do about it? Join us to learn how to use our My State Rep Checker tool to find out who represents you, how they’re voting, and how to hold them accountable. More details coming soon.
“A House of Dynamite” film discussion – 7 PM, on Zoom. Hosted by NH Peace Action and Back from the Brink. The current administration's plans to renew nuclear weapons testing is one alarming reminder that the threat of nuclear war is still a very real concern. “A House of Dynamite” is an apocalyptic political thriller that gives us a view of the devastating anticipation of a nuclear attack. Get drawn into the nerve-wracking decision rooms as this unsettling picture shows us what could become our future if the right choices are not made today. Watch the film (on Netflix) and then join us on zoom for a discussion about this film and what actions we can take now. Jeremy Love of Back from the Brink will lead the discussion to help us find a sense of purpose instead of hopelessness. Before watching the movie, we recommend you take a look at Back from the Brink's Beginner's Guide to Nuclear Weapons. Accessing the film: If you are not able to access this movie on your own, but would like to be a part of this discussion, let us know (info@nhpeaceaction.org). If there are enough people who need access to the movie, we will attempt to connect people to watch the movie together. As you watch the movie, think about how you feel about the threat of nuclear war, what you think is realistic considering the actions of current world leaders, and how you feel life would change after a nuclear attack.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Ice Out for Good- Noon to 2 PM, NH State House, Concord. Rally, hosted by NH 50501. Now more than ever, we cannot afford to be silent. Collecting donations for Concord Kind (coats, hats, etc) and NH Immigrant Aid Fund.
The Work That Reconnects – 1 PM to 5:30 PM at South Church, Portsmouth. In these challenging times we invite you into an afternoon of rejuvenation with The Work That Reconnects. This is a set of practices developed by Joanna Macy to support and re-energize folks who are working to create change in the world. There are four stages, beginning in gratitude, then moving through honoring our pain, seeing with new eyes, and going forth. The practices help make space for grief, anger and uncertainty while also cultivating possibility and joy. The workshop will be led by Kendra Ford and Amy Antonucci. If you can support the organizations who are offering this, you are welcome to make a sliding scale donation of $1-$50.
Saturday, February 7, 2026
The Super Protest – 12 noon to 4 PM, on the sidewalks in front of the State House, Concord. Hosted by NH 50501.
Monday, February 16, 2026
Not My President Day Rally – 12 noon to 5 PM , on the Main Street sidewalks in front of the State House, Concord. Bring your voices. Bring your signs. Bring your people. This is what democracy looks like. Hosted by NH 50501.
Saturday, February 21, 2026
NH Immigrant Mutual Aid Fund fundraiser – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Concordia Lutheran Church, 211 N. Main Street, Concord. The NH Immigrant Mutual Aid Fund was created to provide legal consults for immigrants, living expenses for families affected by detention or deportation and other funds needed to keep immigrants in NH safe. Join us for a great cause! Enjoy a full dinner, dessert and wine, music and a speaker. Sliding scale - $60-$100 per person. Take-out desserts and handmade items for sale at the event. Contact Glen at glenring52@gmail.com with questions.
With best wishes,
Maggie Fogarty, Maille & Kathleen Wooten, and April Richer
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 is the NH Director for AFSC which publishes this newsletter; April Richer is the NH Interfaith Organizer. Maille Wooten, in partnership with Kathleen Wooten, is AFSC’s State House Watch researcher and database manager.
"State House Watch" is made possible with your financial support. 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!