Home » Bill Hearings for Week of January 16, 2023

Bill Hearings for Week of January 16, 2023

  • These are the most liberty-critical hearings for the week
  • Click on the bill number to read the bill.
  • Click on the committee name to email the committee your thoughts.

Of the 119 hearings in the House, we are recommending support of 18 and opposition of 24 with 13 being of interest.
Of the 32 hearings in the Senate, we are recommending support of 2 and opposition of 2 with 2 being of interest.

Position Bill Title Committee Day Time Room State Analysis
Support HB108 relative to the confidentiality of reports made to the division of children, youth, and families and requiring guardians ad litem be appointed in certain instances. Children and Family Law Tue 1/17 11:00 AM LOB Room 206-208 This bill provides that reports of suspected abuse and neglect may include the name of the person making the report and provides that the person’s identity shall be fully confidential unless such a person makes such a report in bad faith or maliciously and with intent to cause harm, in which case the person may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
Oppose HB115 relative to changing the date of the state primary election. Election Law Tue 1/17 10:00 AM LOB Room 306-308 This bill changes the date of the state primary election to the second Tuesday in June.
Oppose HB333 relative to changing the date of the state primary election and adding a run-off election if necessary. Election Law Tue 1/17 10:45 AM LOB Room 306-308 This bill changes the date of the state primary election to the second Tuesday in March. This bill also creates a run-off election in the event no state primary election candidate reaches 50 percent of the total vote.
Of Interest HB345 enabling ranked-choice voting for state party primary elections and municipal elections. Election Law Tue 1/17 1:00 PM LOB Room 306-308 This bill establishes procedures for ranked-choice voting and allows state parties and municipalities to opt into such procedures.
Of Interest HB350 relative to ranked-choice voting. Election Law Tue 1/17 2:00 PM LOB Room 306-308 This bill establishes procedures for ranked-choice voting for federal and state offices.
Oppose HB402 relative to prohibiting false statements against candidates. Election Law Tue 1/17 3:00 PM LOB Room 306-308 This bill prohibits the publication of false statements by any candidate, political committee, or political party regarding another candidate’s positions on issues.
Of Interest SB12 relative to the leasing of seasonal camp lots by the fish and game department. Energy and Natural Resources Tue 1/17 9:00 AM SH Room 103 This bill allows the executive director of fish and game to lease certain seasonal camp lots on fish and game lands, and changes the requirements for approval of short-term leases and contracts of the department.
Of Interest SB54 relative to purchased power agreements for electric distribution utilities. Energy and Natural Resources Tue 1/17 9:30 AM SH Room 103 This bill requires electric distribution utilities to issue requests for proposals to provide more diverse and longer term options for providing default energy service to customers in purchased power agreements as directed by the public utilities commission.
Support HB252 exempting agricultural operations from certain municipal noise ordinances. Environment and Agriculture Tue 1/17 1:30 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill exempts farming and agricultural operations from municipal noise ordinances.
Support SB48 relative to the definition of “way” for the purposes of driving after revocation or suspension. Judiciary Tue 1/17 1:15 PM SH Room 100 This bill clarifies laws related to driving after revocation or suspension by prohibiting persons with revoked or suspended licenses from driving a motor vehicle upon a way, removing the prohibition on operating motor vehicles while not on a way.
Oppose SB58 relative to arrests without a warrant while in the care of a medical professional on the premises of a residential care or health care facility. Judiciary Tue 1/17 1:45 PM SH Room 100 This bill authorizes a law enforcement officer to arrest a person without a warrant for interfering with the provision of medically-necessary health care services.
Oppose HB260 prohibiting the operation of motor vehicles by drivers with animals on their laps. Transportation Tue 1/17 3:00 PM LOB Room 201-203 This bill prohibits operation of a motor vehicle while the driver has an animal on his or her person.
Of Interest HB121 relative to worldwide combined reporting for unitary businesses under the business profits tax. Ways and Means Tue 1/17 10:30 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill repeals the water’s edge combined group provisions of the business profits tax.
Oppose HB303 relative to insurance coverage for pain management services. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Wed 1/18 2:15 PM LOB Room 302-304 This bill requires insurance coverage for pain management services.
Of Interest HB97 establishing an additional penalty for a violation of privacy. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Wed 1/18 10:45 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill increases the penalty for certain offenses that constitute a violation of privacy.
Oppose HB107 relative to employment restrictions for registered sex offenders. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Wed 1/18 11:45 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill prohibits a person convicted of certain sexual assault offenses from hiring or otherwise engaging in any employment or volunteer service which provides direct services to a minor, or supervision or oversight of a minor.
Oppose HB420 relative to the availability and funding for the dual and concurrent enrollment program by the community college system and making an appropriation therefor. Education Wed 1/18 10:10 AM LOB Room 205-207 This bill amends the purpose and course eligibility for the dual and concurrent enrollment program withing the regional career and technical education program and makes an appropriation therefor.
Oppose HB429 requiring the offering of breakfast and lunch in all public and chartered public schools. Education Wed 1/18 2:00 PM LOB Room 205-207 This bill requires school districts and chartered public schools to offer both breakfast and lunch programs to students.
Oppose HB327 prohibiting the state from requiring the public use proprietary software when visiting state websites. Executive Departments and Administration Wed 1/18 1:15 PM LOB Room 306-308 This bill prohibits the state from requiring the public use proprietary software when visiting state websites.
Support SB35 relative to RSV vaccine administration. Health and Human Services Wed 1/18 9:15 AM LOB Room 101 This bill authorizes pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and licensed advanced pharmacy technicians to administer an RSV vaccine to adults.
Support HB164 relative to prohibiting towns from criminalizing the right to peacefully and orderly assemble. Judiciary Wed 1/18 11:00 AM LOB Room 206-208 This bill creates an exemption from the criminal code for orderly and peaceful assembly.
Of Interest HB169 relative to termination of guardianship. Judiciary Wed 1/18 11:30 AM LOB Room 206-208 This bill changes the burden of proof for termination of guardianship proceedings.
Of Interest HB63 relative to religious use of land and structures. Judiciary Wed 1/18 3:00 PM LOB Room 206-208 This bill prohibits zoning ordinances and local land use regulations from burdening religious land and structures in their use as residential housing.
Support HB256 prohibiting cities and towns from discriminating in the use of public facilities. Judiciary Wed 1/18 3:30 PM LOB Room 206-208 This bill prohibits a municipality from unlawfully discriminating against any individual or group based on their speech or purpose.
Oppose HB95 enabling municipalities to adopt rental practice regulations. Municipal and County Government Wed 1/18 10:00 AM LOB Room 301-303 This bill enables municipalities to adopt bylaws to regulate the period of notice required prior to a rent increase on residential property and the permissible amount of such rent increases.
Oppose HB422 to create a public county registry of the monthly rent charged by landlords for each owned unit. Municipal and County Government Wed 1/18 10:45 AM LOB Room 301-303 This bill creates a public registry of rents.
Oppose HB295 relative to requiring all selectboard and school board meetings to be recorded and broadcast live online. Municipal and County Government Wed 1/18 2:00 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill requires public sessions of the boards of selectmen and school boards to be video recorded and live-streamed.
Of Interest HB416 relative to membership on certain local land use boards. Municipal and County Government Wed 1/18 2:30 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill prohibits certain persons from being elected or appointed or sitting on any zoning board of adjustment, planning board, or board of selectmen of the town in which they reside.
Support HB434 relative to flying drones in state parks. Resources, Recreation and Development Wed 1/18 11:15 AM LOB Room 305-307 This bill allows for the commercial and recreational use of drones or small unmanned aircraft in state parks subject to exceptions and limitations. The bill also establishes fees and authorizes fines to be assessed for violations.
Oppose HB143 relative to wiretapping to record conversations related to domestic violence. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Thu 1/19 10:00 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill allows a person to make an audio or video recording, or both, without the consent of the person being recorded for the purpose of obtaining evidence of domestic violence. Such recording shall be admissible as evidence.
Support HB201 relative to changing the penalties for driving without a license. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Thu 1/19 11:30 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill changes the penalties for driving without a license to a violation, unless the individualis convicted for second time in a 12-month period.
Support HB464 relative to eligible students in the education freedom account program. Education Thu 1/19 9:30 AM LOB Room 205-207 This bill expands the definition of who is an eligible student qualifying under the education freedom accounts program.
Support HB367 relative to eligibility of students in the education freedom account program. Education Thu 1/19 11:00 AM LOB Room 205-207 This bill increases the household income level based on the federal poverty guidelines for the eligibility of students to participate in the education freedom account program.
Oppose HB380 relative to non-academic surveys administered by a public school or a chartered public school to its students. Education Thu 1/19 1:00 PM LOB Room 205-207 This bill makes changes to the requirements for school district or chartered public school policies governing the administration of non-academic surveys or questionnaires.
Of Interest HB399 allowing for a testing exception for graduation from high school. Education Thu 1/19 1:45 PM LOB Room 205-207 This bill requires the department of education to design and administer a high school diploma equivalency test which would except students age 13 or older who pass the test from school attendance requirements. The bill also provides a private right of action to enforce the provisions of the bill.
Oppose HB45 establishing a committee to study student loan forgiveness in New Hampshire. Education Thu 1/19 2:30 PM LOB Room 205-207 This bill establishes a committee to study student loan forgiveness in New Hampshire.
Oppose HB258 establishing a certification for animal chiropractors. Executive Departments and Administration Thu 1/19 1:30 PM LOB Room 306-308 This bill establishes a certification for animal chiropractors.
Support HB409 relative to nonresident licensure by the board of barbering, cosmetology, and esthetics. Executive Departments and Administration Thu 1/19 2:15 PM LOB Room 306-308 This bill modifies the requirements for nonresident licensure by the board of barbering, cosmetology, and esthetics.
Oppose HB320 relative to free speech in interactive computer services. Judiciary Thu 1/19 9:00 AM LOB Room 206-208 This bill prohibits, with limited exception, censorship of speech on interactive computer services social media platforms. The bill establishes a civil right of action for violation of the statute.
Support HB314 relative to the expectation of privacy in the collection and use of personal information. Judiciary Thu 1/19 10:00 AM LOB Room 206-208 This bill regulates the collection, retention, and use of personal information and establishes a cause of action for violations of an individual’s expectation of privacy in personal information.
Support HB149 relative to the handling of requests made under the right-to-know law. Judiciary Thu 1/19 10:30 AM LOB Room 206-208 This bill requires periodic updates to the requestor when a request is made under the right-to-know law.
Of Interest HB254 relative to remote participation in public meetings under the right to know law. Judiciary Thu 1/19 11:00 AM LOB Room 206-208 This bill modifies the requirements for remote participation in public meetings under the right to know law.
Support HB289 relative to consultation with legal counsel under the right to know law. Judiciary Thu 1/19 11:30 AM LOB Room 206-208 This bill prohibits a public official from retaining legal counsel for the purpose of evading compliance with the right to know law and makes violation of the requirement a misdemeanor.
Support HB307 relative to attorney’s fees in actions under the right to know law. Judiciary Thu 1/19 1:00 PM LOB Room 206-208 This bill requires the court to issue a final judgment in favor of the requester before attorney’s fees are awarded under the right to know law.
Oppose HB308 relative to a quorum for meetings open to the public to include remote presence. Judiciary Thu 1/19 1:30 PM LOB Room 206-208 This bill removes the emergency exception requirement for remote presence of members to constitute a quorum for meetings open to the public.
Of Interest HB321 relative to minutes from nonpublic sessions under the right to know law. Judiciary Thu 1/19 2:00 PM LOB Room 206-208 This bill requires public bodies to review meeting minutes withheld from public disclosure at least every 10 years to determine whether they should continue to be withheld. Minutes not reviewed after 10 years shall be made public.
Of Interest HB347 establishing a superior court land use review docket. Judiciary Thu 1/19 2:30 PM LOB Room 206-208 This bill establishes the land use review docket in the superior court.
Oppose HB57 relative to the state minimum hourly rate. Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Thu 1/19 10:00 AM LOB Room 305-307 This bill increases the minimum hourly rate, increases the base rate for tipped employees, and adjusts both rates annually based on the most recent 12-month average of the consumer price index. The bill also requires a youth minimum wage for employees under 18 years of age.
Oppose HB48 relative to employee protections from COVID-19 in the workplace. Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Thu 1/19 1:00 PM LOB Room 305-307 This bill establishes COVID-19 related workplace rights for employees.
Oppose HB74 relative to an employee’s unused earned time. Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Thu 1/19 1:30 PM LOB Room 305-307 This bill requires an employer to pay an employee for unused earned time.
Oppose HB82 relative to employment protection for participants in the therapeutic cannabis program. Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Thu 1/19 2:30 PM LOB Room 305-307 This bill prohibits an employer from refusing to hire, or terminating the employment of a qualified patient of the New Hampshire therapeutic cannabis program solely on the basis of a positive drug test.
Oppose HB118 prohibiting employers from engaging in certain anti-union activities. Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Thu 1/19 3:00 PM LOB Room 305-307 This bill prohibits employers from requiring employees to attend or participate in anti-union training.
Support HB44 relative to permissible residential units in a residential zone. Municipal and County Government Thu 1/19 1:30 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill requires that local legislative bodies permit by right certain single-family lots in residential districts to be used for up to 4 residential units.
Oppose HB90 relative to the municipal planning master plan. Municipal and County Government Thu 1/19 2:15 PM LOB Room 301-303 This bill adds the authority for local planning master plans to contain sections on transition to renewable energy and other relevant topics.
Of Interest HB292 establishing a criminal penalty for theft by a public servant. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Fri 1/20 10:00 AM LOB Room 202-204 This bill establishes a criminal penalty for theft by a public servant who authorizes payment for legal actions against the municipality, and creates a right of action against such public servants.
Support HB216 exempting dimethyltryptamine from the controlled drug act. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Fri 1/20 1:30 PM LOB Room 202-204 This bill exempts dimethyltryptamine from the controlled drug act.
Support HB144 restoring firearm ownership rights to ex-felons. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Fri 1/20 2:15 PM LOB Room 202-204 This bill provides that a non-violent felon who has completed the term of incarceration, and all other conditions of the sentence, shall have the right to possess and use a firearm.
Support HB31 repealing the prohibition on the possession or sale of blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles. Criminal Justice and Public Safety Fri 1/20 2:45 PM LOB Room 202-204 This bill repeals the prohibition, penalty, and exceptions relating to the carrying and possessing with intent to sell a black jack, slung shot, or metallic knuckles.
Support HB229 relative to requiring an official declaration of war for the activation of the New Hampshire national guard. State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Fri 1/20 10:00 AM LOB Room 206-208 This bill limits the activation of the New Hampshire national guard to only those times where the United States Congress has passed an official action pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.
Of Interest HB269 relative to limiting the authority of New Hampshire delegates to policymaking conventions. State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Fri 1/20 10:30 AM LOB Room 206-208 This bill: I. Establishes a procedure for the selection of delegates to an inter/intrastate policy-making convention. II. Limits the authority of delegates to policymaking conventions to only those granted by the New Hampshire legislature. III. Creates a procedure for recalling and replacing delegates to policymaking conventions who act outside of the scope of the authority granted to them by the New Hampshire legislature.