“More than just an end to war, we want an end to the beginnings of all wars.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“The life of peace is both an inner journey toward a disarmed heart and a public journey toward a disarmed world. This difficult but beautiful journey gives infinite meaning and fulfillment to life itself because our lives become a gift for the whole human race. With peace as the beginning, middle, and end of life, life makes sense.” – John Dear (faith leader, activist, author, 1959 – present)
Memorial Day greetings, State House Watchers,
Our thoughts turn to peace this weekend, as we remember the human cost of war and militarism, not only our past wars but those that rage on now, against the people of Gaza, Ukraine, Congo, Sudan, and, closer to home, against immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and BIPOC communities. Five years after the murder of George Floyd, the struggle to move from violence to peace, from destruction to creativity, from brutality to humanity, is as urgent as ever.
We’re alarmed and saddened that Governor Ayotte has signed into law two bills – SB 62 and HB 511 – that will involve NH law enforcement in the mass deportation efforts of the Trump administration. As she did so, she amplified her misguided perspective that immigrants are criminals and that welcoming communities are somehow less safe. Read more here.
Also last week, the full House approved SB 13, a ridiculous bill that purports to invalidate out of state driver licenses that have been issued to undocumented immigrants in other states. Making it even worse, the House approved, along party lines, an amendment that denies driver licenses to asylum applicants. Please urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to ‘non-concur’ with this terrible amendment to an already bad bill.
And the Senate approved HB 148, which allows for discrimination against transgender people in bathrooms, athletics, and detention centers. Now that both bodies have passed this harmful bill, it heads to the governor’s desk for a final decision. Please let her know that this proposal would be a tragic step backward for our state.
It's heartbreaking to see such decisive steps in the wrong direction.
It’s worth noting some good news – the Rye public library, which had postponed a program about allyship with LGBTQ+ youth in response to pressure from the town’s Republican committee, reversed its decision following a strong show of support for the event by town residents and others. Read more here.
It’s another big week for the state budget, with multiple executive sessions scheduled for the Senate Finance Committee during which the committee members will make final decisions about their proposal before sharing it with the full Senate on June 3, for a vote on June 5.
Speaking of budgets, the U.S. House of Representatives just passed a budget reconciliation bill that would slash Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital programs and use that money to fund tax cuts for the rich, mass deportations, and more war. Read more here, and then take action: Tell Congress - Reject health care cuts and tax breaks for the rich!
ACTION ALERTS
Note that the following Action Alerts are not all the same. Please read each one carefully as the instructions are different depending on where the bill is in the process.
When a public hearing is scheduled, members of the public have the opportunity sign in online to register their opposition or support for a bill. After a public hearing has taken place and the committee is ready to vote on a bill, they will hold an executive session. There is no sign-in or public testimony at executive sessions, but you can still contact members of that committee by email or phone to let them know how you’d like them to vote.
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.
PROTECT IMMIGRANT DRIVERS
OPPOSE SB 13-FN, invalidating out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants and prohibiting driver's license issuance and renewal to individuals with pending asylum claims, regardless of a grant of temporary work authorization. This harmful bill would promote racial profiling and misuse our public dollars to target NH residents with legal status and out of state immigrant drivers driving with valid licenses. It has unfortunately passed the House and is headed back to the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee will decide whether to concur with the House changes, or non-concur (in which case the bill is defeated), or non-concur and request a Committee of Conference. Please contact the Senate Judiciary Committee to urge them to non-concur with the House changes to SB 13.
EXPAND ACCESS TO MEDICARE
SUPPORT SB 122, relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program. This positive bill directs the department of health and human services to remove asset limits and increase income thresholds for the Medicare savings program. Contact members of the Senate Finance Committee to urge them to include enhanced eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs in their state budget proposal. You can contact them here or use this handy action form from New Futures.
TUESDAY, MAY 27 – EXECUTIVE SESSION
OPPOSE SB 100, relative to violations of the prohibition on teaching discrimination. This harmful bill would prevent the teaching of true history and is a thinly veiled attempt to codify the “divisive concepts” law (which NH courts have already ruled as unconstitutional). This bill is scheduled for an executive session in the House Education Policy & Administration Committee, Room 205-207 LOB on Tuesday, May 27 at 1:30 PM. 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 287, requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application. This burdensome bill requires that voters show photo ID before election day or submit their application with a notarized signature if they wish for their ballot be mailed to a different address other than that appearing on the official checklist, adding significant financial and logistical barriers. It creates two classes of voters: verified and unverified, with little substantive justification for doing so. It is scheduled for an executive session in House Election Law Committee, Room 306-308, LOB on Tuesday, May 27 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. For additional talking points, use this action form from Open Democracy.
OPPOSE SB 213, relative to absentee voting. This burdensome bill requires voters provide proof of identity, U.S. citizenship, age, and domicile again when applying for an absentee ballot. It also requires a witness affirmation signed by a Notary Public or Justice of the Peace to confirm the voter's identity, imposing undue burdens that are likely to suppress turnout. It is scheduled for an executive session in House Election Law Committee, Room 306-308, LOB on Tuesday, May 27 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. For additional talking points, use this action form from Open Democracy.
THURSDAY, JUNE 5 – SENATE VOTE
OPPOSE HB 60, relative to the termination of tenancy at the expiration of the tenancy or lease term. This pro-eviction bill would harm tenants and increase homelessness in a state already experiencing high housing costs and low housing availability. Although it has been amended to be less harmful, we agree with housing advocates that enabling state law to make it easier in any way for tenants to be evicted without just cause is unconscionable. It is headed to the Senate floor on Thursday, June 5 at 10 AM with a committee recommendation of OTP-A. Please contact your own senators and urge them to defeat this harmful bill. You can find their phone number, address and email here.
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 Thursday, May 22 at 10 AM. Here are the results for the bills we’re tracking.
On the Consent Calendar
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
SB 61-FN, relative to prescriptions for state prisoners paid for by the department of corrections. OTP by VV.
HOUSING
SB 166, relative to notice required prior to sale of a manufactured housing unit located in a resident-owned community. OTP by VV.
SB 170, (New Title) relative to development and related requirements in cities, towns, and municipalities. Laid on table.
SB 174, prohibiting planning boards from considering the number of bedrooms a given unit or development has during the hearing and approval process. Laid on table.
SB 188-FN, allowing independent permitting and inspections, and allowing local governments to authorize licensed engineers and architects to perform building code inspections. OTP-A by DV, 276-82.
WAYS AND MEANS
SB 291, relative to the religious use of land property tax exemption. OTP-A by VV.
On the Regular Calendar
CHILDREN AND FAMILY LAW
SB 72-FN, establishing a parents’ bill of rights in education. Majority committee recommends OTP-A. Minority committee recommends ITL. Special ordered to June 5, 2025.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
SB 267-FN, relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron. This bill establishes a mandatory $500 fine for engaging in prostitution as a patron, in addition to any other penalty, and directs that the funds are to be forwarded to the department of justice for the purposes of funding the New Hampshire human trafficking collaborative task force. This bill also enhances the penalty for paying, agreeing to pay, or offering to pay another person to engage in sexual contact or penetration with the payor or another person from a misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor. OTP-A by RC, 292-72.
EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
SB 97-FN, relative to intra-district public school transfers. This bill authorizes parents to transfer their children to other schools within their resident district as long as such school has the capacity to accommodate the student. OTP-A by DV, 199-165.
HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND ELDERLY AFFAIRS
SB 37, relative to residential care and health facility licensing. ITL by DV, 195-164.
SB 119-FN, relative to Medicaid pharmaceutical services. OTP-A by VV.
SB 130-FN, (New Title) establishing a commission to study delivery models for emergency medical services in the state of New Hampshire. ITL by DV, 184-178.
SB 243-FN, relative to the child care scholarship program. Laid on table.
SB 257, establishing a committee to study state guidelines for Medicaid eligibility determinations. ITL by DV, 199-164.
TRANSPORTATION
SB 13-FN, (New Title) invalidating out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants and prohibiting driver's license issuance and renewal to individuals with pending asylum claims, regardless of a grant of temporary work authorization. OTP-A by RC, 192-164.
Last week in the Senate
The full Senate met in session on Thursday, May 22 at 10 AM. Here are the results for the bills we’re tracking.
On the Consent Calendar
COMMERCE
HB 60, relative to the termination of tenancy at the expiration of the tenancy or lease term. Committee recommends OTP-A. Special ordered to June 5, 2025.
HB 342, relative to the approval process for new construction. OTP-A by VV.
HB 457, relative to the occupancy of housing units. OTP-A by VV.
EDUCATION
HB 532, relative to alternative dispute resolution and individualized education plan team meeting facilitation. OTP-A by VV.
ELECTION LAW AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
HB 367, changing the method for adopting partisan town elections to be the same as rescinding partisan town elections. OTP by VV.
HB 464, prohibiting certain candidates for political office from participating in counting ballots. OTP-A by VV.
JUDICIARY
HB 196-FN, relative to annulling certain cannabis possession offenses. ITL by VV.
HB 343, relative to reporting regarding the northern border alliance program. ITL by VV.
HB 369-FN, relative to misdemeanor sexual assault prosecutions. OTP-A by VV.
On the Regular Calendar
CHILDREN AND FAMILY LAW
HB 560, relative to parental access to a minor child’s medical records. Committee recommends OTP. Special ordered to June 5, 2025.
EDUCATION
HB 446, relative to parental notice for non-academic surveys in public schools. OTP by RC, 16Y-8N.
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
HB 566-FN, requiring permit applications for new landfills to contain a detailed plan for leachate management. OTP-A by VV.
HB 710-FN, enabling electric utilities to own, operate, and offer advanced nuclear resources. OTP-A by VV.
JUDICIARY
HB 148, permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain circumstances. OTP by RC, 16Y-8N.
HB 191-FN, providing criminal and civil penalties for the transporting of an unemancipated minor in order to obtain a surgical procedure without parental permission. Re-referred to committee.
HB 480, relative to restoration of competency to stand trial for criminal defendants. Re-refered to committee.
HB 506-FN, relative to background checks during motions to return firearms and ammunition. Committee recommends OTP-A.
HB 528-FN, amending the penalties for the possession and use of psilocybin for persons 18 years of age or older. Committee recommends OTP-A.
Coming Up in the House
The House will not meet in session this week.
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 and use this committee email list here.
TUESDAY, MAY 27
COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, Room 302-304, LOB
1:15 PM Executive session on SB 47, requiring certain health insurance policies of a birth mother to provide coverage for a newly born child from the moment of birth.
EDUCATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 205-207, LOB
9:30 AM Public hearing on proposed non-germane Amendment #2025-2239h to SB 69-LOCAL, relative to acceptance of or rejection of charitable contributions, gifts, or donations by local school boards. This amendment requires local school boards to publicly discuss and vote before accepting or rejecting any charitable gifts, grants, or donations, and establishes a statewide virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program.
10:00 AM Public hearing on proposed Amendment #2025-2318h to SB 210, establishing a study committee to study the issue of school bullying. This amendment: 1) Amends the meaning of “negligence” as it applies to bullying and cyberbullying. 2) Requires the department of education to report the number of waivers granted for parental notification, number of waivers granted for investigation extensions, and the number of out-of-state cyberbullying cases reported and investigated. 3) Requires antibullying procedure to be included in the student handbook and that alleged victims get a written copy of their rights, protections, and support services available to them.
10:30 AM Public hearing on proposed non-germane Amendment #2025-2234h to SB 57, establishing a study committee to analyze reducing the number of school administrative units. This amendment repeals the home education advisory council.
11:30 AM Public hearing on proposed non-germane Amendment #2025-2332h to SB 100-FN, relative to violations of the prohibition on teaching discrimination. This amendment revises the construction of and the mental state applicable to the prohibition on teaching discrimination in public schools.
1:30 PM Continued executive session on SB 69-L, relative to acceptance of or rejection of charitable contributions, gifts, or donations by local school boards; SB 210, establishing a study committee to study the issue of school bullying; SB 57, establishing a study committee to analyze reducing the number of school administrative units; SB 100-FN, relative to violations of the prohibition on teaching discrimination.
ELECTION LAW, Room 306-308, LOB
10:10 AM Executive session on SB 44, relative to hand counts of ballots in elections; SB 45, clarifying the placement of advertising signs on state-owned property; SB 103-FN-L, relative to the number of polling stations that are available for certain towns.
WAYS AND MEANS, Room 202-204, LOB
10:00 AM Executive session on SB 249-FN, relative to the uncompensated care and Medicaid fund.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28
FINANCE, Room 210-211, LOB
10:00 AM Executive session on SB 295-FN, relative to education freedom accounts; SB 118-FN, relative to the personal needs allowance of residents of nursing homes; making an appropriation to the department of health and human services for Hampstead hospital and residential treatment facility staff; and establishing the Hampstead hospital and residential treatment facility capital investment fund.
Coming Up in the Senate
The Senate will not meet in session this week.
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, MAY 27
FINANCE, Room 103, SH
1:30 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28
FINANCE, Room 103, SH
1:30 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION
THURSDAY, MAY 29
FINANCE, Room 103, SH
1:30 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION
FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025
FINANCE, Room 103, SH
1:30 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION
Recommendations
The YOCOP (Youth Organizing Community of Practice) 2025 Mutual Aid Fund is open and accepting applications. Find more information here: YOCOP Mutual Aid Fund Application and the YOCOP Mutual Aid Fund Policy.
Are you finding it hard to keep up with all of the harms being enacted by the current administration? Here’s a helpful but daunting report: Documenting the Damage - 100 Harmful Policies from the First 100 Days of the Second Trump Administration. And you can track all Trump executive orders and actions here.
Do you live, work, attend school, or do business in Concord? The City of Concord’s Diversity, Inclusion, Justice and Belonging (DEIJB) Committee is seeking to understand the lived experiences of Concord’s diverse community groups regarding access to city services, programs, and opportunities, and feelings of belonging and inclusion. Sign up now for a focus group interview here.
Job Postings
The Resource Organizing Project (ROP) is hiring two positions to focus on donor and funder organizing across New England. The first position is a Donor Organizer who will be working to recruit and engage cross-class individual movement donors. The second position is an Associate Director for Resource Mobilization who will co-lead our overall strategy for expanding the pie of movement resources through collective fundraising projects. Learn more about both positions and apply here.
The NH School Funding Fairness Project is seeking a Communications Director. This is a full-time, hybrid position with a starting salary range of $60,000-$75,000. This person will play a key role in broadening our reach, enhancing our digital strategies, and driving the conversation around school funding and equity statewide. Apply here.
Upcoming Events
Many thanks to Mike Franklin for creating this list of weekly vigils for peace and justice across the state. Find it here.
Much gratitude to Occupy Seacoast for this comprehensive calendar of actions across the state. Find it here.
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 May 28 vigil will be at Shaheen’s office, 340 Central Avenue, Dover; we gather at the entrance to Henry Law Park. The June 4 vigil will be at Pappas' new district office location, 15 Third Street, Dover.
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 ceasefire and humanitarian access to Gaza. Our elected officials need to keep hearing from us.
Stronger Together: Protect Our Neighbors Weekly Visibility – 4 PM to 5 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!
Wednesday, May 28
Know Your Rights: Religious Discrimination in Housing – 6 PM to 7 PM. Hosted by NH Legal Assistance. Join us to learn more about your legal rights regarding religious discrimination in housing. Presentation provided by Sofia Hyatt, Esq., staff attorney at New Hampshire Legal Assistance.
Utility Justice 101 with the 350 Network Council and Third Act - 8 PM. Hosted by 350 NH & Third Act. Join this call with 350 Network Affiliates from across the country and Third Act, including founder Bill McKibben, to learn about Utility Justice!
Thursday, May 29
Medicaid: Federal Updates & NH Impacts - 12:30 PM. Hosted by New Futures & NH Medicaid Matters. Upcoming federal decisions have the potential to impact health care access for the over 187,000 NH residents who rely on Medicaid – including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and working families. In this webinar, you’ll hear from policy experts Gidget Benitez of AARP and Deborah Fournier of UNH Institute for Health Policy and Practice, who will break down the proposed federal policies and provide next steps in the federal budget process.
350 New Hampshire Welcome Call – 7 PM. Hosted by 350 NH. If you are new to 350 New Hampshire or even brand new to grassroots organizing, please join this welcome call to connect with organizers fighting for climate justice. We will give you an overview of 350 New Hampshire, the campaigns we are working on, and talk about the different ways you could plug into our work moving forward.
Overcoming Digital Barriers in Greater Nashua Summit - 10 AM to 3 PM. Nashua Community College - 505 Amherst Street, Nashua. Hosted by United Way of Greater Nashua. Join us for the Overcoming Digital Barriers in Greater Nashua Summit, a focused event for nonprofit and small business staff working to ensure the adoption of technology for all. Connect with peers, learn from experts, and collaborate on solutions to help clients overcome challenges in adopting devices, internet, and digital skills. Together, we’ll build a more inclusive, connected community.
Saturday, May 31
Indie Lens Pop-Up - "Free for All: The Public Library" - 11 AM. Redi River Theaters – 11 S Main St. Concord. Join us for a free screening of “Free for All: The Public Library,” followed by an engaging and interactive post-film discussion with Susan Drisko Zago, Law Library Director and Professor of Law at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law. Free for All: The Public Library tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. From the pioneering women behind the Free Library Movement to today's librarians who serve the public despite working in a contentious age of closures and book bans, meet those who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all. Click here to watch the trailer. This special community event is free and open to the public. Register now to save your seat!
Tuesday, June 3
Poetry Reading with Martín Espada – 5 PM to 6 PM. Hosted by Witness at the Border. Martín Espada will meet with the Witness at the Border community for a reading and discussion about his recently released book “Jailbreak of Sparrows.”
Wednesday, June 11
Paint Me a Road Out of Here Film Screening & Panel Discussion - 6 PM. Colonial Theater – 20 Commercial Street, Keene. Featuring artists Faith Ringgold and Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, Paint Me a Road Out of Here uncovers the whitewashed history of Ringgold’s masterpiece, “For the Women’s House,” following its 50-year journey from Rikers Island jail to the Brooklyn Museum in a poignant, funny, and true parable of a world without mass incarceration. The screening will be followed by a talk back with Joseph Lascaze from The Sentencing Project, and AFSC’s Ophelia Burnett, founder of O So Beautiful: The Women’s Reentry Initiative.
Thursday, June 12
Supporting Our LGBTQIA+ Community - 6 PM. Hosted by Unitarian Universalist Action NH.
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!