State House Watch: January 31, 2026

"Every day, we decide who we are in relation to this wickedness. And we recognize that the answer to that question is lived, rather than merely asserted." Kelly Hayes, The Muscle Memory of Care

Greetings, State House Watchers,

Thank you to all who were in the streets again today, calling for an end to ICE violence and lawlessness. It’s truly inspiring to see spirited demonstrations on a daily basis these days – including an action by faith leaders in Portland (ME) on Wednesday, and a walk-out by hundreds of Concord High School students on Thursday – and the large numbers of people who have been calling our Congressional offices, signing in on state legislation, and filling the hallways at committee hearings to demand commonsense protections for immigrants and all of us. 

There’s more! Last week, our Members of Congress, led by Congressman Pappas, called on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to respond to town leaders in Merrimack who are trying to stop construction of an ICE detention center. Read their letter here. And read more here.

And Senators Hassan and Shaheen joined their Democratic colleagues to slow down approval of funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in order to negotiate some reforms in response to recent killings by ICE agents and the ongoing chaos in Minneapolis, Portland, and other cities. (Read more here.) While we’re glad to see our elected officials respond to the campaign of terror against immigrant communities, we’re very worried that Democrats will squander the leverage they now have by settling for token ‘reforms’ that are already required by current law, rather than demanding real protections for immigrant communities. Read more here, and please keep up the phone calls.

The more we learn about the mass surveillance infrastructure, the treatment of protesters as domestic terrorists, and the arrests of journalists, the more we are confirmed in our belief that ICE cannot be reformed. It must be abolished. And as we call for abolition, we continue to work with our partners to build networks of rapid response, mutual aid, and accompaniment. This is how we care for each other in frightening times.

Next week at the State House will be a busy one, with many committee hearings on Tuesday, the governor’s State of the State address on Thursday, and voting days in the House and Senate. Read on for action alerts related to public education – including a fast-moving bill that would enact open enrollment – voting rights, tax cuts, minimum wage, and mandatory minimums.

ACTION ALERTS! 
We’ve got many opportunities for action this coming week, both in committee hearings and prior to House and Senate session days. 

For committee hearings, we can show up, and/or 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.

Not all action alerts are for committee hearings! Some correspond to bills being voted on during the House or Senate session days on Thursday, February 5. In these cases, we ask you to contact your own representatives or senator. You can find your representatives’ contact information here, and your senator’s contact information here.

Here are the action alerts we’ve received from partners for this coming week.

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 in House Finance on Monday, February 2 at 11 AM in Granite Place, Room 230. Please sign in to support and contact the committee.

Monday, February 2 – Defend diversity and inclusion.
OPPOSE HB 1778, relative to prohibiting the use of personal identity ideology in public school instruction and policies. ‘Personal identity’ is defined as one's race, color, biological sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, or gender identity. This harmful bill has a public hearing in the House Education Policy and Administration Committee on Monday, February 2 at 1:20 PM in Room 232, GP. Please sign in to oppose and share testimony online.

OPPOSE HB 1792, prohibiting school districts and personnel from the instruction of critical race theory and LGBTQ+ ideologies in schools as well as establishing a private right of action for violations. This terrible bill prohibits “the teaching of certain pedagogies in public schools, including but not limited to critical race theory, LGBTQ+ ideologies, identity-based ideologies, and Marxist analyses.” The bill also creates a private right of action for parents and students who are aggrieved by a school violating these provisions. It has a public hearing in the House Education Policy and Administration Committee on Monday, February 2 at 2 PM in Room 232, GP. Please sign in to oppose and share testimony online.

Tuesday, February 3 – Protect public education.
OPPOSE SB 434, relative to regulation of public school materials. This bill requires local school districts to adopt and publicly post policies describing materials authorized for use by students in the district and outlining procedures to address complaints alleging that material is harmful or age-inappropriate for use in the district's schools. Simply put, this bill will support a wave of challenges to all materials utilized by the school district, and will burden district staff with politically-motivated complaints when commonsense policies and practices are already in place. It has a hearing in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, February 3 at 9:15 AM in the Map Room at the State Library. Please sign in to oppose and share testimony with the committee.

OPPOSE SB 430, relative to mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents. This bill would require that teachers and school staff must answer any question a parent asks about a student on any topic “completely and honestly.” It also penalizes the teacher, not just the district, for any violation. It is another attempt to erode the safety that LGBTQ+ students experience in their school community. The bill has a public hearing in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, February 3 at 9:30 AM in the Map Room at the State Library. Please sign in to oppose and share testimony with the committee.

Tuesday, February 3 – Protect/increase workers’ pay.
OPPOSE SB 416, relative to the pooling and sharing of tips among tipped employees. This bill replaces the state restriction on tip pooling with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act rules governing the pooling and sharing of tips. From NH Faith & Labor: “This appears to be a bill designed to roll back the rights of tipped workers. Current NH law says that ‘tips shall be the property of the employee receiving the tip’ and that employers can institute a tip pooling program among workers only if employees ‘voluntarily and without coercion’ agree to such a process (279:26-b). SB 416 would repeal this tipped worker-protective statute in full. We are very concerned about the anti-worker intent behind this bill.” It has a public hearing in Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday, February 3 at 10 AM in Room 100, SH. Please sign in to oppose and share testimony.

SUPPORT HB 1484, establishing a state minimum wage and providing for incremental increases. This bill would raise the minimum wage incrementally, until it reaches $17/hour on January 1, 2029. It has a public hearing in the House Labor Committee on Tuesday, February 3 at 2:30 PM in Room 159, GP. Please sign in to support and share testimony, and join Voices of Faith in the lobby of Granite Place that day at 2 PM.

Tuesday, February 3 – Defend voting rights.
OPPOSE HB 1062, authorizing the secretary of state to conduct random audits of the citizenship qualification of registered voters. From our friends at Open Democracy: “This bill gives the Secretary of State broad authority to conduct random audits of voters’ citizenship status after they are already registered. New Hampshire does not have a voter fraud problem—this bill pretends we do, and that lie matters. HB 1062 casts suspicion on eligible voters and fuels conspiracy theories instead of strengthening trust in elections. Random ‘audits’ of citizenship don't improve security—they spread fear, confusion, and distrust. At a time when election laws are already changing rapidly, this bill pulls attention and resources away from what actually helps voters: education, clarity, and smooth elections. This is not about integrity. It’s about keeping fear alive.” The bill has a hearing in House Election Law Committee on Tuesday, February 3 at 1:40 PM in Room 158, GP. Please sign in to oppose and share testimony online.

Tuesday, February 3 – Oppose mandatory minimums for sentencing.
OPPOSE SB 467, relative to the penalty for certain fentanyl-related offenses and establishing a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting. For more information on the harms of mandatory minimum sentencing, we recommend this statement from the ACLU-NH about a similar bill from the 2025 session. The bill has a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, February 3 at 1:10 PM in Room 100, SH. Please sign in to oppose and contact the committee (or show up to the hearing) to share testimony.  

Wednesday, February 4 – No more tax cuts for the wealthy. 
OPPOSE HB 155, reducing the rate of the business enterprise tax. From 350NH: “The NH Fiscal Policy Institute just shared new research on the impact of the Business and Enterprise (BET) tax - and surprise, passing HB 155 would cost NH about $26 million a year, just to benefit the biggest corporations in NH. HB 155 does nothing to help stop rising costs for Granite State families. It will drain millions from NH public schools, housing and essential services—and push property taxes higher for families.” Read NHFPI’s report here. And sign the 350NH petition here: Put People before Profits – Vote NO on HB 155. The bill has a public hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, February 4 at 9:30 AM in Room 122-123, SH. Please sign in to oppose and contact the committee.

Wednesday, February 4 – Restrict autism data collection.
SUPPORT HB 1316, restricting collection and disclosure of autism-related data by state agencies. This bill directs state agencies to ensure they are not collecting or using data scraping technology to gather autism-related data, unless such data collection practices comply with state and federal law and are limited to the specific purpose for which the data is gathered. It has a public hearing in the House Health & Human Services Committee on Wednesday, February 4 at 2 PM in Room 158, GP. Please sign in to support and submit testimony. 

Thursday, February 5 – Oppose open enrollment; protect public education.
OPPOSE HB 751, which has been amended by the Senate to authorize parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state. Read more here. This bill would require that if any resident of a school district wants to send their child to a school in another district, the sending district would have to pay the per pupil cost to the receiving district. In addition to being a reckless and harmful policy proposal that would further strain already stretched school budgets, the amended version is moving forward without any public hearing in either body. The original bill – without the open enrollment amendment – had already passed the House, but the Senate amendment means it must go back to the House where members will be asked to ‘concur,’ ‘nonconcur,’ or request a committee of conference. Please call your representatives today and urge them to ‘nonconcur’ with the Senate version of HB 751. 

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 met in session last week, on Thursday, January 29. You can watch it here. Here are the bills we’re tracking which were voted on.

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. OTP-A by VV.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
SB 422, relative to membership of the governor’s commission on addiction, treatment, and prevention. OTP by VV.
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. OTP-A by VV.
​​SB 566-FN, relative to recruiting incentive programs for the national guard. OTP by VV.
SB 569, relative to the qualifications for hearings officers within the department of labor. OTP by VV.

JUDICIARY
SB 521-FN, relative to unauthorized camping on private property. OTP by VV.

On the Regular Calendar

FINANCE
SB 101-FN, authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state. OTP-A by RC, 14Y-10N.

ELECTION LAW AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
SB 223-FN, relative to using college or university student identification cards to obtain a ballot. OTP-A by VV.

FINANCE
SB 123-FN, requiring coverage of ear acupuncture as a treatment for substance misuse under the state Medicaid plan. Laid on table.
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. OTP-A by VV.

Coming Up in the House
The full House will meet for legislative business following the Governor’s State of the State address on Thursday, February 5 at 10 AM. You can watch it here. Here are the bills we’re tracking which will are coming up for votes:

On the Consent Calendar

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
HB 1446, providing that an individual’s use of therapeutic cannabis shall not disqualify the individual from the purchase, ownership, or possession of a firearm. Committee recommends ITL.

EDUCATION FUNDING 
HB 1202, relative to dual and concurrent enrollment requirements for courses at institutions within the community college system of New Hampshire. Committee recommends OTP.

EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
HB 1221, directing the commission to study costs of special education to consider establishing centralized locations throughout the state for certain special education-related services. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1507, requiring schools to provide a minimum amount of time for recess per day. Committee recommends ITL.

ELECTION LAW  
HB 1031, enabling candidates for state office to use campaign funds to pay for security measures. Committee recommends OTP-A.
HB 1382, relative to proof of citizenship for overseas voters voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Committee recommends ITL.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS & ADMINISTRATION
HB 1162, extending the commission on Holocaust and genocide studies. Committee recommends OTP.

HOUSING 
HB 1006, relative to on-site parking requirements for accessory dwelling units. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1009, relative to municipal parking requirements for residential units. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1011, repealing zoning restrictions on dwelling units. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1012, repealing accessory dwelling units and detached accessory dwelling units. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1016, eliminating the requirement that municipalities allow for manufactured housing development opportunities. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1625-FN, relative to annual reporting on accessory dwelling unit construction and use. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1662-FN, relative to providing loan guarantees for accessory dwelling unit financing. Committee recommends ITL.

JUDICIARY
HB 1333-FN, relative to nonconsensual provision of medication intended to terminate a pregnancy and the homicide of a fetus. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1436-FN, relative to the classification and protection of personal digital information and cloud-stored files. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1508-FN, permitting one-party consent for audio and video recordings in certain instances. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1615-FN, permitting consenting adults to enter into contract-based marriage agreements as an alternative to the requirement of a marriage license. Committee recommends ITL.

MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT
HB 1205, prohibiting state and county owned lands from participating in carbon sequestration projects. Committee recommends OTP.

RESOURCES, RECREATION AND DEVELOPMENT
HB 1440-FN, relative to properties enrolled in carbon sequestration programs. Committee recommends ITL.

TRANSPORTATION
HB 1445-FN, requiring the issuance of enhanced drivers licenses and Real ID compliant cards for border crossing and proof of citizenship. Committee recommends ITL.

WAYS AND MEANS
HB 1338, restricting abortion providers from the definition of charitable organization for the purposes of games of chance. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1546-FN, repealing the business profits tax. Committee recommends ITL.
HB 1629-FN, repealing the business enterprise tax. Committee recommends ITL.

On the Regular Calendar

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
HB 1697-FN, exempting certain firearms and firearm accessories manufactured and retained in New Hampshire from federal regulation. Majority committee recommends OTP. Minority committee recommends ITL.
HB 1793-FN, prohibiting public colleges and universities from regulating the possession or carrying of firearms and non-lethal weapons on campus. Majority committee recommends OTP. Minority committee recommends ITL.

EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
HB 1448, prohibiting the use of the World Economic Forum materials within state curriculum. Majority committee recommends OTP. Minority committee recommends ITL.
HB 1832-FN, adding students with parents on active military duty to the education freedom accounts priority guidelines. Majority committee recommends OTP-A. Minority committee recommends ITL.

ELECTION LAW
HB 1487-FN, creating an independent commission to propose redistricting maps for the legislature to consider. Majority committee recommends ITL. Minority committee recommends OTP.

HOUSING
HB 1196-FN, repealing the state housing champion designation and grant program. Majority committee recommends OTP. Minority committee recommends ITL. 
HB 1405-FN, relative to the housing finance authority’s affordable housing guarantee program. Majority committee recommends ITL. Minority committee recommends OTP.
HB 1612-FN, relative to the use of price-fixing websites, algorithms, or other software by landlords. Majority committee recommends ITL. Minority committee recommends OTP.
HB 1661-FN, relative to expanding the housing finance authority’s community heroes program and makes an appropriation therefor. Majority committee recommends ITL. Minority committee recommends OTP.

STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
HR 25, recognizing the Kingdom of Bhutan as responsible for the oppression and forced eviction of more than 100,000 Bhutanese citizens during the late 1980s and 1990s. Majority committee recommends OTP. Minority committee recommends ITL.

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, February 2

EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 232, GP 
10:00 AM HB 1183-FN, relative to the mathematics requirement for high school graduation.
10:40 AM HB 1829-FN, modifying the definition of persistently dangerous schools. 
11:00 AM HB 1370, relative to the reporting requirements for the identification and accommodation of gifted and talented students.
2:00 PM HB 1792-FN, prohibiting school districts and personnel from the instruction of critical race theory and LGBTQ+ ideologies in schools as well as establishing a private right of action for violations.

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).
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.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY, Room 229, GP 
9:00 AM HB 1745-FN, relative to the allocation of public utility costs to ratepayers. 
9:30 AM HB 1775-FN, relative to utility ownership of natural gas and nuclear power generation facilities. 
10:30 AM Subcommittee work session on HB 1723, requiring utilities and electric grid operators to assess and report the vulnerability of high-voltage transformers to geomagnetic and electromagnetic disturbances, and to recommend mitigation measures to protect the state electric infrastructure.
1:30 PM HB 1748-FN, establishing the New Hampshire energy efficiency and resource development authority.

WAYS AND MEANS, Room 159, GP 
10:00 AM HB 1433-FN, creating a child care tax credit for qualifying businesses.

Tuesday, February 3

EDUCATION FUNDING, Room 232, GP
10:45 AM Public hearing on proposed non-germane amendment #2026-0255h to HB 1827-FN-A, establishing a grant program to support school districts extraordinary needs and fiscal capacity disparities relative to providing an adequate education. This amendment requires the department of education to conduct a confidential criminal history record check on all prospective educational personnel.

ELECTION LAW, Room 158, GP
1:40 PM HB 1062, authorizing the secretary of state to conduct random audits of the citizenship qualification of registered voters.

HOUSING, Room 231, GP
10:00 AM Executive session on HB 1499-FN, relative to additional grounds for eviction under the landlord and tenant statute; HB 1598-FN, relative to notice for tenants and landlords engaged in eviction processes.

LABOR, INDUSTRIAL AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Room 159, GP
10:00 AM Executive session on HB 1704-FN, permitting public employees to bargain individually with public employers without any intervention.
2:30 PM HB 1484, establishing a state minimum wage and providing for incremental increases.

Wednesday, February 4

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, Room 159, GP 
10:00 AM Executive session on HB 1413-FN, reinstituting the death penalty in cases of capital murder; HB 1730-FN, making all offenses against minors involving sexual penetration or contact felony-level offenses punishable by death; HB 1737-FN, relative to reinstating the death penalty for certain offenses against minors under 13 years of age; HB 1749-FN, reinstating the death penalty for murder offenses.

EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 232, GP
1:00 PM CACR 28, relating to morality and piety. Providing that town, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies may elect and contract with teachers.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 231, GP
10:40 AM HB 1390, designating the apple cider doughnut the official doughnut of the state of New Hampshire.
2:30 PM HR 46, declaring the first Friday in June as a state day of remembrance for children killed by gun violence and urging the establishment of a national day of remembrance.

HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND ELDERLY AFFAIRS, Room 158, GP 
9:00 AM HB 1811-FN, repealing statutory immunization requirements for children. 
11:00 AM HB 1022, relative to religious exemption from immunization requirements. 
1:00 PM HB 1219, relative to immunization requirements in foster family homes. 
2:00 PM HB 1316, restricting the collection and disclosure of autism-related data by state agencies.

WAYS AND MEANS, Room 154, GP 
10:00 AM HB 1800-FN, relative to statewide education property taxes. 
10:45 AM HB 1787-FN, modifying the statewide education property tax.

Coming Up in the Senate 
The Senate will meet in session on Thursday, February 5. You can watch it here. At 10 AM, the Senate will meet in joint convention with the House of Representatives for the Governor’s State of the State address. Following the address, senators will move into deliberative session. Here are the bills we’re tracking which are coming up for a vote.

On the Consent Calendar

COMMERCE
SB 440, relative to the adoption of energy efficient and clean energy districts by municipalities. Committee recommends OTP-A.

EDUCATION FINANCE
SB 507, relative to the financial obligation of a school district concerning students expelled for committing assault against a school staff member. Committee recommends OTP-A.
SB 583-FN, directing the department of education to create an education funding transparency data and reporting system. Committee recommends OTP.

On the Regular Calendar

EDUCATION FINANCE
SB 491-FN, enabling students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding. Committee recommends OTP-A.
SB 582-FN, modifying the base cost of an adequate education. Committee recommends ITL.
SB 584-FN, increasing the amount of funding provided for students receiving special education services. Committee recommends ITL.

JUDICIARY
SB 463-FN, relative to possession of firearms in safe school zones. Committee recommends ITL.
SB 555-FN, relative to critical risk protection orders. Committee recommends ITL.
SB 651-FN-A, relative to the legalization and regulation of cannabis and making appropriations therefor. Committee recommends ITL.

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, 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.

ELECTION LAW AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, Room 122-123, SH
9:30 AM SB 587, creating criteria for redistricting of congressional districts, state senate districts, state house of representatives districts, and executive councilor districts.

ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Room 103, SH
9:20 AM SB 593, relative to landfills.

FINANCE, Room 103, SH
1:15 PM SB 407-FN-A, making an appropriation for each full-time student eligible for the in-state tuition rate enrolled in the university system of New Hampshire. 
1:35 PM SB 602-FN, relative to the withholding of state payments to the federal government in response to suspended federal aid. 
1:55 PM SB 604-FN-A, making an appropriation to the university system of New Hampshire.

JUDICIARY, Room 100, SH
1:00 PM SB 554, repealing the limitation of liability for certain design features of firearms. 
1:10 PM SB 467-FN, relative to the penalty for certain fentanyl-related offenses and establishing a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting. 
1:40 PM Hearing on proposed non-germane Amendment #, 2026-0268s relative to establishing certain due process rights for students, student organizations, and faculty members facing disciplinary actions by state institutions of higher learning, and relative to the effect of murder on a decedent’s estate, to HB 510-FN relative to establishing certain due process rights for students, student organizations, and faculty members facing disciplinary actions by state institutions of higher learning.

Wednesday, February 4

WAYS AND MEANS, Room 122-123, SH
9:30 AM HB 155-FN, reducing the rate of the business enterprise tax.
10:00 AM SB 654-FN, creating tax credits for businesses that have on-site child care services and for businesses that provide health care coverage for certain employees.

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 February 4 vigil will be at Shaheen’s office, 2 Washington Street, Dover; we gather at the entrance to Henry Law Park. The February 11 vigil will be at Pappas' district office, 15 Third Street, Dover.

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!

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Singing for Resistance & Resilience – 11:30 AM to 1 PM, 58 Lowell Street, Nashua. In this 90-minute workshop, Matt Meyer, an itinerant UU troubadour, will share contemporary songs for protests, rallies, and organizing. We’ll also learn songs that can be sung in the streets without accompaniment, songs for organizing meetings that bring the energy you need, and songs for community that ground us for the long haul. All are welcome! Childcare is available. We will have some extra hearty snacks during Fellowship Hour prior to the workshop. Use this link to RSVP. Hosted by UU Church of Nashua.

Say Their Names- 1 PM to 3 PM, Statewide Bridge Brigade, hosted by NH Bridge Brigade for Democracy.  This Sunday we’re protesting for Renee and Alex. Don’t forget them. Show their names on bridge banners. Don’t let anyone forget them (and the Epstein files).

Stand Up! Stand Against Fascism! – 3 PM to 4 PM, Market Square, Portsmouth. Weekly visibility hosted by Occupy New Hampshire Seacoast, Seacoast Overpass Light Brigade, NH Labor for Bernie, and Occupy New Hampshire.

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 
Voices of Faith Visibility for Minimum Wage– 2 PM, Temporary Legislative Office Building, 1 Granite Place, Concord.  We’ll meet in the lobby at 2 PM and proceed to the hearing room hallway at the doors of Room 159.

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Meet the Moment- 6:30 PM – 8 PM, Hosted by Kent Street Coalition on Zoom.  This is a two-part series, the second being Thursday, February 12. In Part 1, guest speakers Maggie Fogarty of the American Friends Service Committee, Bill Maddocks of New Hampshire Peace Action and The NH Peacekeeper Project, and Nancy Brennan and Louise Spencer from Kent Street Coalition will ground us in the principles of nonviolence as essential tools for effective protest. Drawing on examples from a variety of protest scenarios, they will teach us effective de-escalation tactics that can lower the temperature when emotions run high. Lastly Ed Taylor of the ACLU will review the rights and responsibilities of protestors. Suggestions for further in-person training opportunities will follow. 

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.

Witnessing For Justice: NH Clergy Share What's Happening in Minnesota – 1 PM to 3 PM, Concordia Lutheran Church, 211 N. Main Street, Concord.  NH Council of Churches is hosting an event to hear from Reverend Jonathan Hopkins of Concordia Lutheran Church and Revend Michael Leuchtenberger of Unitarian Universalist Church of Concord (NH) who were recently in Minnesota. They will share with us stories of what's truly happening on the ground in Minnesota and how we can faithfully support our immigrant siblings here in NH. Please register so we can plan for in-person attendance. This event will be live-streamed at the Concordia Lutheran Church's website on the day of the event.

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Nuclear Weapons Now: The Threat and the Opportunity – 1 PM, Community Church of Durham, UCC, 17 Main Street, Durham.  The international expert on nuclear weapons Dr. Ira Helfand will update all on the current situation. A US nuclear testing historian will also address the group. There will be discussion and a call to action for all.

Monday, February 9, 2026

Peace & Justice Conversations: National Peace Action Priorities – 7 PM, online. Hosted by NH Peace Action. Kevin Martin, President of Peace Action and the Peace Action Education Fund, joins us to discuss current national priorities and campaigns and how they connect to our work in New Hampshire. Expect conversation about Palestine, Venezuela, nuclear weapons, and more.  

Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Run A Drive with Open Democracy – 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM, on Zoom. Join us to learn how to encourage and empower students and educators to organize voter registration events for their schools.

The Settlers Movie – 7 PM, Red River Theatre, 11 South Main Street, Concord.  The film will be followed by a Q&A facilitated by Not in My Name NH. The event will include a marketplace of Palestinian art and crafts, olive oil from the West Bank, books and information.  Introductory remarks by Faisal Khan.

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Meet the Moment 2.0 – 6:30 PM to 8 PM, hosted by Kent Street Coalition, on Zoom. Part 2 of the program will offer an overview of the many forms that resistance is taking in New Hampshire, and help volunteers connect with training for Mutual Aid, Rapid Response Teams, Legal Observers, and Visibility Actions and continue the discussion about ways to engage the community while maximizing safety for all. More information will follow about Part 2 as the agenda is firmed up.

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Not My President Day Rally – 1 PM to 3 PM, at the State House, Concord. Bring your voice. 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.

Thursday, March 12, 2026
How to Have Courageous Conversations – 6 PM to 8 PM, 21 Centre Street, Concord. This hybrid event is co-facilitated by James McKim and Rev. Kate Harmon Sibirini. Join us for an interactive training that will equip participants with practical tools to host respectful, truth-seeking community conversations in a time of political division. The program helps neighbors create local public spaces where listening replaces labeling and common ground can emerge. Participants will leave more confident to convene conversations that foster belonging, clarity, and courageous civic engagement, and resist distortion of Jesus’ teachings. This program is part of the Countering Christian Nationalism project with examples drawn from how this ideology shows up in local communities and shapes public life. Childcare is available, please RSVP. Dinner will be served. Zoom attendees will only be able to watch, not engage in the training. Please plan to arrive by 5:50pm so we can begin promptly at 6:00pm. Registration is required.

Saturday, March 28, 2026

No Thrones, No Crowns, No Kings in New Hampshire – Noon to 4 PM, at the State House, 107 North Main Street, Concord. Join us as we support the Constitution and reject authoritarianism! Hosted by 50501 NH.

No Kings Seacoast –1 PM to 3 PM, Market Square, Portsmouth. Come out to say NO! No to the murder of US citizens, and anonymous "law enforcement" thugs. No to the attacks on Venezuela, and the threats to Iran and Greenland. Hosted by Occupy New Hampshire Seacoast, NH for Bernie Sanders, NH Labor for Bernie, Seacoast Overpass Light Brigade, and Occupy New Hampshire.

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!