2025 Gold Standard

• Pro-libertyHB 60relative to the termination of tenancy at the expiration of the tenancy or lease term.Support C of C
  Why

  This bill allows a landlord to evict a tenant at the end of a lease without cause. The landlord is required to give 60 days notice.

  * A party to a contract should not need cause to end it at the conclusion of the contract term.
  * A property owner should be able to do whatever they like with their property without government intervention.

• Pro-libertySB 213(New Title) relative to electioneering by public employees.Support C of C
  Why

  This bill forbids electioneering by public employees. It also requires proof of identity, citizenship, age, and domicile when applying for an absentee ballot.

  * This bill protects voters from improper influence by public employees.
  * Absentee voting can lead to manipulation of election outcomes through the use of ballot harvesting. Great care should be taken to ensure that absentee voting is used properly.

• Pro-libertySB 218(New Title) relative to absentee ballots.Support C of C
  Why

  This bill requires an applicant for an absentee ballot to provide documentation proving citizenship, age, domicile, and identity.

  * In order to ensure the integrity of our state's elections, the use of absentee ballots should be restricted to only those who absolutely must vote by absentee.
  * Lax rules for absentee voting in other states have led to the rise of ballot harvesting. Ballot harvesting takes the power away from voters and gives it to special interests who will work to obtain the most absentee ballots, rather than convince voters of the value of their ideas:<br />– <a href=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ballot-harvesting-collection-absentee-voting-explained-rules>cbsnews.com/news/ballot-harvesting-collection-absentee-voting-explained-rules</a>

• Pro-libertySB 221(New Title) relative to the verification of voter rolls annually.Support C of C
  Why

  This bill requires annual verification of voter rolls. It purges voters who have not participated in an election in more than 5 years.

  * Ensuring that an accurate list of eligible voters is maintained is an important safeguard for the integrity of elections.
  * Verifying the voter rolls allows for greater government transparency for those who have concerns about how the government is handling local elections.

• Pro-libertySB 287requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.Support C of C
  Why

  This bill requires applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.

  * The security of elections is of vital importance to democracy.
  * Reasonable safeguards, like proving one's identity when applying for an absentee ballot, helps ensure the integrity of elections.

8 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Anti-libertyHB 123(Second New Title) defining pre-sequestration timber tax revenue, establishing a moratorium on carbon sequestration and establishing a commission to study the effects of carbon sequestration in New Hampshire forests upon state and local tax revenue, effective forest management, and the health of New Hampshire’s logging industry.NAY Concur
  Why

  This bill taxes income earned from selling carbon sequestration rights on uncut timber. The bill was amended to also create a study committee relevant to the issue.

  * Earning money by selling carbon credits is a form of income. Taxing a person earning money this way is an income tax. We oppose any tax on personal income, in any form.
  * New Hampshire already has the Business Profits Tax, for the case of a business earning money this way. There is no need for an additional tax above and beyond the BPT.
  * We are neutral on the amendment, as we are with most bills that establish study committees.

• Anti-libertyHB 468(New Title) establishing the crime of and penalties for unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems and changing the reckless driving minimum penalties.NAY Concur
  Why

  This bill creates new crimes for the unlawful use of drones, particularly during police or firefighting activities. The bill has a non-germane amendment that increases the fine for speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour or reckless driving.

  * Our objection to this bill is concerning the amendment that increases the penalties for driving in excess of 100 miles per hour.
  * Speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour is already a crime. Increasing this fine will not change behavior, but it will take more money away from Granite Staters.

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NHLA took no position on the 1 bill up for a vote.

• Anti-libertySB 14relative to the penalty for certain fentanyl-related offenses; relative to establishing a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting; and relative to amending the penalties for the possession and use of a quantity of psilocybin for persons 18 years of age or older.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill adds mandatory minimum sentences for certain fentanyl-related offenses. The amendment creates strict conditions to avoid the mandatory minimum sentence. The amendment also reduces the penalty for the use and possession of psilocybin (mushrooms).

  *Mandatory minimum sentences do not allow judicial discretion, which may be warranted on a case-by-case basis.

• Pro-libertySB 163repealing the temporary moratoria and limitation on residential building permits and the approval of subdivisions and site plans and permitting in all residentially zoned areas by right the construction of manufactured housing.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill prevents local governments from banning new building permits for residential development. The amendment allows for manufactured homes in any type of residential zoning.

  * Local opposition is a common roadblock to the construction of new homes. With New Hampshire in a housing shortage, municipal governments should be looking for ways to streamline the development process, rather than ways to impede it.
  * Local governments can still plan their communities through zoning, master plans, and capital improvement plans. They just cannot say no to all new residential development.
  * The amendment is pro-liberty, as it allows manufactured homes in all residential zoning. Property owners should be able to do what they want with their land, including putting manufactured homes on it.

• Pro-libertySB 213relative to electioneering by public employees.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, forbids electioneering by public employees and adds an additional clarification about what is and is not electioneering.

  * This bill protects voters from improper influence by public employees.
  * It also prohibits the usage of public time, facilities, and equipment to promote particular candidates and issues.
  * The bill does not prohibit personal and private behavior or expressions of free speech when not acting in a public capacity.

• Pro-libertySB 218relative to absentee ballots.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires an applicant for an absentee ballot to provide documentation proving citizenship, age, domicile, and identity.

  * In order to ensure the integrity of our state's elections, the use of absentee ballots should be restricted to only those who absolutely must vote by absentee.
  * Lax rules for absentee voting in other states have led to the rise of ballot harvesting. Ballot harvesting takes the power away from voters and gives it to special interests who will work to obtain the most absentee ballots, rather than convince voters of the value of their ideas:<br />– <a href=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ballot-harvesting-collection-absentee-voting-explained-rules>cbsnews.com/news/ballot-harvesting-collection-absentee-voting-explained-rules</a>

• Pro-libertySB 221relative to the verification of voter rolls annually.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires annual verification of voter rolls. It purges voters who have not participated in an election in more than 5 years.

  * Ensuring that an accurate list of eligible voters is maintained is an important safeguard for the integrity of elections.
  * Verifying the voter rolls allows for greater government transparency for those who have concerns about how the government is handling local elections.

• Pro-libertySB 287requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.

  * The security of elections is of vital importance to democracy.
  * Reasonable safeguards, like proving one's identity when applying for an absentee ballot, helps ensure the integrity of elections.

• Pro-libertySB 295relative to education freedom accounts.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill removes the income eligibility requirements for Education Freedom Accounts; however, the amendment caps the number of EFA recipents to 10,000 children in 2025-2026.

  * Education Freedom Accounts allow parents to have a say in how their children are educated by directing tax dollars to the education of the parents' choosing.
  * NHLA supports universal Education Freedom Accounts. However, we will consider any vote to expand EFAs, including supporting SB 295, to be pro-liberty.

• Anti-libertySB 54relative to refusal of consent to testing to determine alcohol concentration and penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated, and mandatory firearms safety training in public schools.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill increases the penalty for refusing to submit to an alcohol concentration test during a traffic stop. The amendment requires age appropriate firearms training in schools.

  * Police officers should be required to have probable cause prior to testing a person's alcohol level. Merely being in violation of a minor traffic law should not constitute justification for what normally amounts to an illegal search.
  * This bill goes in the wrong direction. Instead of rolling back this illegal search, it increases the penalty for non-compliance.
  * Regarding the amendment, we take a neutral position on this issue, and generally allow schools to determine their own curriculum. The original bill is anti-liberty and it is preferable to have this entire bill be defeated than to pass a bad bill to move forward the amendment.

• Pro-libertySB 87relative to one day liquor license requirements and making salons and barber shops eligible for on-premise licenses.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill expands who is allowed to obtain a one-day license to sell alcohol. It also allows salons and barber shops to offer one free drink per customer.

  * One-day liquor licenses should not be limited to only nonprofit organizations.
  * These days it is customary to enjoy a drink while one is getting a haircut. This provision allows the law to catch up to the custom.

14 bills with no position.

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• Pro-libertyHB 115relative to universal eligibility for the education freedom account program.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, removes the income requirement for Education Freedom Accounts and instead caps the number of participants in the program.

  * Universal EFAs allow parents to choose how their children are educated and backs up that decision with state tax dollars.
  * This bill expands the number of families who are afforded the freedom to choose the education they want for their children. Education freedom should not have an income requirement.
  * NHLA supports a universal EFA bill without a means test or an enrollment cap; however, any bill to increase access to EFAs, including this bill with the proposed committee amendment, will be considered pro-liberty.

• Pro-libertyHB 361prohibiting mandatory mask policies in schools.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill prohibits school boards and other public education agencies from having a mask mandate.

  *This bill puts the power of choice back into the hands of the parents, where it belongs.
  *It prevents government schools from instituting tyrannical mask measures on students and faculty who do not consent.
  * This only applies to public schools, and does not apply to private schools.

• Pro-libertyHB 377relative to health care professionals administering hormone treatments and puberty blockers.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill prevents healthcare professionals from providing medical treatment or prescribing a medication to a minor for the purpose of altering their gender.

  * Consenting adults should have the right to do whatever they want to their bodies, including elective hormone therapy.
  * This bill addresses minors, who are not fully capable of understanding the impact of big decisions they might make. It is an appropriate safeguard to require that they are a legal adult before allowing this type of elective procedure.

• Pro-libertyHB 506relative to background checks during motions to return firearms and ammunition.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill codifies the process for when the court returns firearms to a person after the conclusion of a matter before the court that required their seizure.

  * This bill makes it clear that a background check is not required for someone to have their firearms returned.
  * It puts a 10 business day time limit on the conducting of the background check. If the check takes too long or is inconclusive, the default decision is to consider the person as passing the background check.

• Anti-libertyHB 528(New Title) amending the penalties for the possession and use of psilocybin for persons 18 years of age or older.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, as introduced, reduces the penalty for the personal possession and use of psilocybin (mushrooms). The amendment adds mandatory minimum sentences for certain fentanyl-related offenses.

  * The bill as introduced to the Senate is pro-liberty, and thus the NHLA supports it. Adults should be able to do whatever they want with their own bodies.
  * However, the amendment is anti-liberty. Mandatory minimum sentences do not allow judicial discretion, which may be warranted on a case-by-case basis.
  * Vote NAY on the amendment and then vote YEA on a motion to OTP.

• Pro-libertyHB 560relative to parental access to a minor child’s medical records.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill codifies the right of a parent to see the medical records for their child except for: procedures that do not require parental consent, if the child is under a protective order, or if there are signs of neglect.

  * Parents are responsible for the health and well-being of their children. Providing them access to all medical records related to their child should be allowed with limited reasonable exceptions.

• Pro-libertyHB 60relative to the termination of tenancy at the expiration of the tenancy or lease term.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill, as introduced, allows a landlord to evict a tenant at the end of a lease without cause. The Senate amendment waters down the bill by extending the required term of a lease from 6 to 12 months and requiring unrelated reporting from the Department of Health and Human Services about vacancy rates.

  * We support the original bill without the amendment. An OTP vote will be considered pro-liberty.
  * The amendment introduces additional unrelated and unnecessary reporting by the Department of Health and Human Services. It also requires a 60 day notice to have a tenant move out and a minimum of 12 months before exercising this option.
  * We do not like the amendment, but even with the unnecessary regulations, the bill still allows a landlord to regain control of their property without cause, which is better than existing law.

• Pro-libertyHB 701relative to a health care patient's right to try certain emergency health care treatment options.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill expands on existing "Right To Try" legislation by allowing allopathic or osteopathic treatments for those diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The amendment provides legal protections for medical providers who administer this treatment.

  * Adults should be able to do whatever they want with their own bodies, even if what they want to do ends up causing themselves harm.
  * People with terminal diagnoses should have the opportunity to save their own life without the government getting in the way. This bill increases their treatment options.
  * A healthcare provider or doctor should be able to help a terminally-ill patient without the risk of liability for that patient's death.

• Pro-libertyHB 712limiting breast surgeries for minors.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill places limitations on permissible breast surgeries on people under the age of 18 to only those procedures needed to treat malignancy, injury, infection, or malformation and those needed to reconstruct the breasts after such procedures.

  * Consenting adults should have the right to do whatever they want to their bodies, including elective breast surgery.
  * This bill addresses minors, who are not fully capable of understanding the impact of big decisions they might make. It is an appropriate safeguard to require that they are a legal adult before allowing this type of elective procedure.

9 bills with no position.

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• Pro-libertyHB 685permitting in all residentially zoned areas by right the construction of manufactured housing.YEA Concur
  Why

  This bill prevents local governments from restricting the placement of manufactured homes in certain types of zoning.

  * This bill is pro-liberty because it expands the allowable uses for private property.
  * A property owner, not the local or state government, should determine if a manufactured home is suitable for their property.

• Pro-libertySB 119relative to Medicaid pharmaceutical services.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill saves the state several million dollars per year by taking advantage of rebates offered on brand name drugs purchased by the state through the administration of Medicaid. Additionally, an amendment to the bill allows for pharmacists to dispense ivermectin.

  * This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, addresses two separate issues. NHLA is in support of both issues.
  * It would seem that the preference for brand name prescriptions would cost more money, but the The Department of Health and Human Services indicates in their analysis that rebates offered by the drug manufacturers will amount to millions of dollars each year in savings.
  * The amendment to dispense ivermectin is pro-liberty. Adults should be allowed to do what they want with their own body, even if there is the potential to cause themselves harm.
  * While there are risks with allowing individuals choice, freedom is not without risk.

• Pro-libertySB 170(New Title) relative to development and related requirements in cities, towns, and municipalities.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill implements various changes to prevent local governments from limiting the development of housing. The amendment to the bill prevents limiting occupancy to only those related by blood or marriage.

  * The changes required by this bill prevent local governments from mandating excessively burdensome regulations for the development of new homes. All of the regulations addressed are tactics used by local governments to prevent the development of housing. This bill will make developing housing easier.
  * The amendment to this bill specifically addresses towns with a requirement that occupants of a home be related by marriage or blood. No government, whether local, state or national government should be regulating who adults choose to live with.

• Pro-libertySB 174prohibiting planning boards from considering the number of bedrooms a given unit or development has during the hearing and approval process.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill prevents local planning boards from denying a housing development based upon the number of bedrooms per unit.

  * Developers should be able to construct the homes they think are most likely to sell. It should not be up to the local government to specifically dictate the design of the homes, so long as they are built to code.
  * Local governments already have the ability to influence development through zoning decisions, master plans, and capital improvement plans.

• Anti-libertySB 267relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill creates a $500 fine for being a patron of a prostitute.

  * The sale of sex acts between consenting adults should be legal.

• Anti-libertySB 272relative to electric-vehicle charging station funding.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill authorizes towns to establish a revolving fund for EV charging stations. It also makes it illegal for anyone to park in a charging station space unless they are actively charging their vehicle.

  * The establishment of revolving funds for the purpose of developing electric vehicle charging stations encourages local towns to spend public funds to build private infrastructure.
  * If a town were to build or fund an electric vehicle charging station, that would be no different than a town building or funding a gas station. Neither one is appropriate for a town to do, because both are the purview of private businesses.

• Anti-libertySB 37relative to residential care and health facility licensing.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill creates new mandates for medical providers. It also broadens the scope of impacted providers by changing 'hospital' to 'facility'.

  * Medical care is already highly regulated, competitive, and expensive. Even without these new mandates there are huge incentives for facilities to provide excellent care for the best price.
  * This bill merely adds another report that needs to be completed by the hospital's compliance department, but probably will not improve care.

• Pro-libertySB 97relative to intra-district public school transfers.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill allows parents to transfer their children to another public school, public academy, or an approved private school within their resident district as long as such school has the capacity to accommodate the student. It also allows the transfer of students to a school outside of the district when it's in the best interest of the student.

  * School choice is paramount to the success of public education. If parents have the ability to change schools, teachers and administrators are effectively in competition with other schools for their students. Competition will yield a better result for the student.
  * This bill makes capacity at a transfer school within the district the only criteria; administrators do not have the discretion to deny a request except for being out of space for new students at a school.
  * Transfers to another district require that there is a benefit for the student's academic, physical, personal, or social needs.

9 bills with no position.

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• Pro-libertyHB 148permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain circumstances.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows for certain shared facilities to classify based upon biological sex in order to protect the privacy rights and physical safety of such persons and others.

  * A core pillar of liberty is the ability to do whatever you want, so long as what you are doing does not have an impact upon anyone else's liberty.
  * The right to privacy and safety for those who present as their biological sex outweighs the interest of others who present differently from their biological sex to access the shared public spaces of their preference. As a result, it is a reasonable protection of liberty to allow for the use of shared public spaces to be separated on the basis of biological sex.

• Pro-libertyHB 296relative to issuing building permits along private roads.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill allows for the issuing of building permits without review by a local town's planning board.

  * This bill streamlines the process to get a building permit when the property is on a private road, as long as the road complies with the municipality's adopted policy.
  * The amendment improves upon the bill by clarifying the conditions under which an appeal may be heard by the zoning board of adjustment.

• Pro-libertyHB 301relative to cultivation locations for alternative treatment centers.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill allows alternative treatment centers to have additional cultivation locations, subject to local zoning laws.

  * The private, personal use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * Cultivating cannabis locally prevents patients from having to resort to purchasing it on the black market from criminals or crossing state lines to make their purchases.

• Pro-libertyHB 446relative to parental notice for non-academic surveys in public schools.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill requires school districts to email parents copies of non-academic surveys in public schools. They must be emailed at least 10 days before the school conducts the survey.

  * This bill provides fair notice to parents of what the schools are requesting, and gives parents the opportunity to question, comment, or opt out of the survey.
  * This prevents schools from collecting a student's (and perhaps their family's) private information in secret.
  * Under this bill, parents' rights to care for and protect their children are enhanced.

• Pro-libertyHB 506relative to background checks during motions to return firearms and ammunition.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill codifies the process for when the court returns firearms to a person after the conclusion of a matter before the court that required their seizure.

  * This bill makes it clear that a background check is not required for someone to have their firearms returned.
  * It puts a 10 business day time limit on the conducting of the background check. If the check takes too long or is inconclusive, the default decision is to consider that person as passing the background check.

• Pro-libertyHB 560relative to parental access to a minor child’s medical records.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill codifies the right of a parent to see the medical records for their child except for: procedures that do not require parental consent, if the child is under a protective order, or if there are signs of neglect.

  * Parents are responsible for the health and wellbeing of their children. Providing them access to all medical records related to their child should be allowed with limited reasonable exceptions.

9 bills with no position.

• Pro-libertyHB 217relative to absentee ballots.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill requires absentee ballot voters to submit information demonstrating citizenship, age, domicile, and identity in order to qualify to vote.

  * This bill improves election integrity by requiring proof of citizenship and residence to vote in New Hampshire state and local elections by absentee ballot.
  * This bill provides a responsible and objective means of protecting the quality of an election by requiring additional verification from the applicant for the privilege of voting in absentia.

• Pro-libertyHB 557relative to the information that appears on the school budget ballot.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires that school district election ballots include specific information about the school district's financial and academic status, specifically the cost per pupil and proficiency in English, math, and science.

  * The intent of this bill is to facilitate voters making informed decisions.
  * School budget expenditures have continued to rise as enrollment has gone down and student performance has leveled off.
  * It is unclear if voters know that they are wasting their money on schools that spend more than they ever have, on fewer students, while still achieving lackluster results.

• Pro-libertyHB 577relative to modifying the definition of ADUs.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill adds detached accessory dwelling units to the definition of "by right" ADUs and allows for increased square footage for ADUs.

  * This bill allows more flexibility for what a private property owner may do with their property.
  * Allowing ADUs by right provides legislative clarity for property owners who seek a permit to build an ADU.
  * We recommend OTP on the original unamended version of this bill.

• Pro-libertyHB 613relative to enabling local political subdivisions to vote and set a reduced default budget option.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows for the choice of a reduced default budget on a ballot referendum for a local political subdivision.

  * This bill allows more choices for the voters during the referendum for a budget.
  * During a time when local budgets are ballooning significantly and as a result local property taxes are seeing massive increases, it is reasonable to think that an option for a reduced default budget might be the preferred choice in some communities.

• Pro-libertyHB 639relative to the use of and disputes over blockchain and digital currencies.Support
  Why

  This bill seeks to encourage the growth of the digital asset industry in New Hampshire. It codifies the legal use of blockchain technology for commerce. It also codifies rules for digital currency mining.

  * Most of the practices being written into law by this bill are already legal; this bill though protects blockchain businesses from being banned by local governments.
  * The bill protects the privacy of private keys, a central tenet to allowing the free use of digital assets.

• Pro-libertyHB 649removing the requirement for physical safety inspections and on-board diagnostic tests for passenger vehicles and eliminating funding for the motor vehicle air pollution abatement fund.Support
  Why

  This bill removes the requirement for annual state inspections for passenger vehicles.

  * We support HB 649 as presented to eliminate vehicle inspections completely. We recommend approval of an OTP motion without amendment.
  * Amendments that reduce the impact of car inspections will be considered pro-liberty and we will consider them a pro-liberty vote.
  * Amendments to delay implementation of the bill are considered anti-liberty and will be considered an anti-liberty vote.

• Pro-libertyHB 701relative to a health care patient’s right to try certain emergency health care treatment options.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill expands on existing "Right To Try" legislation by allowing allopathic or osteopathic treatments for those diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

  * Adults should be able to do whatever they want with their own bodies, even if what they want to do ends up causing themselves harm.
  * People with terminal diagnoses should have the opportunity to save their own life without the government getting in the way. This bill increases their treatment options.
  * A healthcare provider or doctor should be able to help a terminally-ill patient without the risk of liability for that patient's death.

• Pro-libertyHB 712limiting breast surgeries for minors.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill places limitations on permissible breast surgeries on people under the age of 18 to only those procedures needed to treat malignancy, injury, infection, or malformation and those needed to reconstruct the breasts after such procedures.

  * Consenting adults should have the right to do whatever they want to their bodies, including elective breast surgery.
  * This bill addresses minors, who are not fully capable of understanding the impact of big decisions they might make. It is an appropriate safeguard to require that they are a legal adult for allowing this type of elective procedure.

• Pro-libertyHB 768allowing public schools to contract with any approved private school.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill adds religious schools to types of private schools that a school district may contract with.

  * This bill expands the range of options a school district has if they cannot offer specific grade levels from within their district.
  * If proper schools do not exist in their district, a student should be able to tuition to another school, public or private, to fulfill their needs.

• Pro-libertyHB 771relative to funding for open enrollment schools.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires school districts that lose students to an open enrollment school to have a line item in their budget to pay the open enrollment school for that student's tuition.

  * If a student chooses to go to a different school than the one they are assigned, their education dollars should follow them to that school.

• Pro-libertyHB 90relative to the definition of part-time teachers.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, allows a part-time teacher who works up to 20 hours per week to teach without a Board of Education certificate if they are a full-time or adjunct faculty member at the University of NH or at a NH community college.

  * By allowing part-time teachers to bypass traditional credentialing requirements, this bill fosters educational innovation and choice, aligning with the principle that families should control their educational options.
  * This legislation reduces the regulatory burden on schools, enabling them to hire based on expertise rather than bureaucratic credentials, which is a step toward more market-driven educational solutions.
  * The requirement for criminal history checks and adherence to a code of conduct ensures accountability while still promoting liberty by expanding opportunities for qualified individuals to teach.

16 bills with no position.

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• Pro-libertySB 105enabling towns to adopt budget caps.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill allows towns to enact a budget cap by a 3/5 vote at a town's annual meeting. The cap is equivalent to the previous year's per capita spending adjusted for inflation.

  * Spending by local governments and schools has exploded in recent years.
  * Such reckless budget increases also compel increases in local property taxes.
  * Lower property taxes are the result of lower spending by local governments.

• Pro-libertySB 141extending the time to petition for a new trial in certain cases.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows for new exceptions to the time limit for new trials. The amendment also allows extensions, but places additional restrictions to qualify for an extension.

  * The proposed amendment adds significant restrictions upon the intent of the original bill.
  * NHLA prefers the original bill without any amendment, but we will consider both OTP and OTP/A to be pro-liberty votes.
  * If new evidence exists or an error occurred during the administration of justice in a civil or criminal matter, a citizen should have the right to a new trial.

• Pro-libertySB 153(New Title) relative to expedited driveway permitting of major entrances for residential use of 20 units or greater.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with proposed amendment 2025-1876h, requires that permits for entrances to developments with 20 or more units be approved or denied within 60 days from the acceptance of a completed application.

  * This bill, with the proposed amendment, should be a model for future housing bills. Development applications should be deemed approved unless expressly denied by a permit issuer within a set timeframe.
  * One of the biggest challenges facing property developers is the time to takes to get a decision on an application for a development permit.
  * This bill, with the proposed amendment, will provide certainty to permit applicants for major developments. Whether their permit application for a major entrance driveway is approved or denied, they will have an answer within 60 days and can plan from there.
  * NHLA recommends OTP/A when amended by amendment 2025-1876h. OTP will also be considered a pro-liberty vote.

• Pro-libertySB 295(New Title) relative to education freedom accounts.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill removes the income eligibility requirements for Education Freedom Accounts; however, the amendment caps the number of EFA recipents to 10,000 children in 2025-2026.

  * Education Freedom Accounts allow parents to have a say in how their children are educated by directing tax dollars to the education of the parents' choosing.
  * NHLA supports universal Education Freedom Accounts. However, we will consider any vote to expand EFAs, including supporting SB 295, to be pro-liberty.

7 bills with no position.

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• Pro-libertyHB 190relative to therapeutic cannabis possession limits.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill increases the amount of therapeutic cannabis that may be in a person's possession from 2 ounces to 4 ounces.

  * The private, personal use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * By increasing the amount of cannabis a person may possess for therapeutic purposes this bill further decriminalizes cannabis in the state.

• Pro-libertyHB 207relative to repealing the prohibition on the possession or sale of blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles except by or to minors.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill allows adults to possess and sell blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles.

  * These types of weapons are also covered by the protections of Article 2-a of the NH Constitution and the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.
  * Adults should have the freedom to access tools like these for self-defense, if they so choose.

• Pro-libertyHB 380relative to penalties for criminal violations of the therapeutic use of cannabis.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill removes the enhancement in the law for those who illegally sell therapeutic cannabis.

  * The private, personal use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * This bill fixes a problem in the law, whereby a user of therapeutic cannabis who sells their cannabis to another person who is not a qualifying patient or caregiver is subject to additional penalties beyond the illegal sale of cannabis. All people who illegally sell cannabis should be subject to the same penalties, whether or not they sell black-market cannabis or regulated therapeutic cannabis.

• Anti-libertyHB 381exempting firearms and firearm accessories manufactured for in-state use only from the National Firearm Act.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill, in its original form, allows for guns completely manufactured and used within the state to avoid national firearms laws. The amendment waters down the bill, removing the original bill's language and making the intent to protect firearm manufacturers from tort claims.

  * NHLA is opposed to the amended form of this bill and recommends that the Senate oppose the OTP/A recommendation and pass the original bill by an OTP vote.
  * A vote to pass the amendment is a vote to kill the original bill and will be considered anti-liberty.
  * Prior to being amended, the original bill is carefully written to prevent the commerce clause in the United States Constitution from giving the federal government the authority to regulate firearms.
  * The amendment removes this language completely, and replaces it with a bill to protect firearm manufacturers from tort lawsuits.

• Pro-libertyHB 551repealing the license to sell pistols and revolvers.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill removes the requirement to have a license to sell a pistol or revolver.

  * A license should not be required to sell your own property in the United States of America.
  * This bill removes an infringement on a person's gun ownership rights, which are protected under Article 2-a of the NH Constitution and the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.

• Pro-libertyHB 631(New Title) permitting residential building in commercial zoning.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill requires local governments to allow multi-family residential development on commercially-zoned land.

  * This bill is pro-liberty because it expands the allowable uses for private property.
  * Local governments can still require retail or similar uses on the entire first floor of a development, making projects vertical mixed-use versus all-residential.
  * Appropriate development guardrails are in place. Adequate infrastructure, including roads, water, and sewage systems must be in place to allow for the expanded use.

• Pro-libertyHB 685permitting in all residentially zoned areas by right the construction of manufactured housing.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill prevents local governments from restricting the placement of manufactured homes in certain types of zoning.

  * This bill is pro-liberty because it expands the allowable uses for private property.
  * A property owner, not the local or state government, should determine if a manufactured home is suitable for their property.

3 bills with no position.

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• Anti-libertySB 169requiring employers to provide certain information regarding cost sharing to employees receiving workers' compensation benefits.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires employers who are making supplemental payments to employees collecting workers compensation benefits to provide them a detailed breakdown of the payments and adjustments.

  * This bill is yet another mandate that employers must follow to be in compliance with labor laws.
  * While a small request on its face, when added to all of the compliance requirements for employers it collectively makes it harder to do business in New Hampshire.
  * The businesses impacted the most under additional requirements are small businesses who are less likely to have compliance employees to handle these requests.

• Pro-libertySB 171relative to required pay for remote work.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill removes the 2-hour minimum an employee must be paid per shift.

  * While the original bill was great, the amended bill is even better.
  * Payment terms should be negotiated between an employer and employee.
  * In effect, this eliminates a type of minimum wage, by eliminating minimum hours.

• Pro-libertySB 284relative to the required maximum number of residential parking spaces.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill prevents a local legislative body from requiring more than 1 parking space per unit, or 1.5 spaces per unit for multifamily developments of at least 10 units and for workforce housing.

  * Excessive parking requirements are often a challenge in the development of housing, especially workforce housing.
  * Lowering this requirement makes starter homes more economical to build.

• Pro-libertySB 60relative to advanced deposit account wagering and the department of health and human services' rulemaking authority regarding immunization requirements.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill increases tax revenue from bets on horse racing by allowing advanced deposit account wagering. Also, this bill was amended to include limits to the state's required vaccinations for children.

  * This bill contains a non-germane amendment, but since NHLA has rated both SB60 and the original bill that contained the text of the amendment (HB357) as pro-liberty, we consider a vote of OTP/A to be pro-liberty as well.
  * SB 60 will increase tax revenue via a tax only charged to those participating in the activity of horse race betting. It is in essence a user fee.
  * The amendment limits what vaccinations must be given to children by state mandate. This takes the power to make health decisions for children away from the state and gives it to parents, who are the proper people to make these decisions.

• Anti-libertySB 63relative to funding for the division of travel and tourism.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill changes the funding formula for the use of meals and rooms tax to allocate $4 million in additional funding to the Division of Travel and Tourism.

  * This bill does not change the tax rate, but instead gives a larger share of tax revenue to marketing efforts for tourism to New Hampshire.
  * Marketing efforts like these are not an effective use of government funds and should be eliminated, and certainly should not be expanded as this bill proposes to do.
  * Hotels, restaurants, and attractions can self-assess regarding joint marketing efforts privately, without wasting taxpayer dollars or compelling participation from all tourism-related business.

8 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Pro-libertyHB 190relative to therapeutic cannabis possession limits.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill increases the amount of therapeutic cannabis that may be in a person's possession from 2 ounces to 4 ounces.

  * The private, personal use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * By increasing the amount of cannabis a person may possess for therapeutic purposes this bill further decriminalizes cannabis in the state.

• Pro-libertyHB 198relative to legalizing certain quantities of cannabis and establishing penalties for the smoking or vaping of cannabis in public.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill increases the cannabis possession limit to 2 ounces and decriminalizes activities associated with a person 21 years or older who possesses cannabis under the limit. Additionally, violations of several cannabis laws have their severity reduced and remove incarceration requirements.

  * This bill reduces the risk for non-violent offenders of cannabis laws to have lifelong detrimental impacts to their lives.
  * This bill will reduce the consumption of police resources for inconsequential violations, allowing police to focus on more impactful criminals who threaten lives and property.
  * This bill will reduce costs on the taxpayer, as fewer judicial and incarceration resources are consumed for meaningless law violations.
  * The bill would be improved by simply removing <i>any</i> limits with respect to cannabis for persons 21 years of age or older.

• Pro-libertyHB 207relative to repealing the prohibition on the possession or sale of blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles except by or to minors.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill allows adults to possess and sell blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles.

  * These types of weapons are also covered by the protections of the Second Amendment and Article 2-a.
  * Adults should have the freedom to access tools like these for self-defense, if they so choose.

• Pro-libertyHB 226relative to the use of drug checking equipment.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill excludes drug checking equipment from being considered as drug paraphernalia.

  * This bill prioritizes reducing the adverse consequences of substance use through education and tools like drug checking, rather than relying solely on punitive measures.
  *By potentially reducing criminal prosecutions (as noted in the fiscal note), the bill could decrease the burden on the judicial and correctional systems, allowing resources to be redirected away from penalizing non-violent behavior.
  * Drug checking equipment is not only used by drug sellers and drug users. With this bill, friends, families, and charitable organizations who have an interest in helping addicts can possess and distribute drug checking equipment without fear of seizure or legal repercussions, reinforcing the right to use property for personal or community benefit.

• Pro-libertyHB 319(New Title) relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide transportation for pupils in kindergarten.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill eliminates the requirement to provide meals and transportation for half-day kindergarten.

  * To provide transportation home for students who are only attending half of the day, buses would have to transport children home twice: once for the half-day kids and again for the full-day kids. This is unnecessary and expensive.
  * School districts could still offer this if they choose to, but it would no longer be a mandate.
  * Parents should be providing meals for their children, not the government.

• Pro-libertyHB 380relative to penalties for criminal violations of the therapeutic use of cannabis.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill removes the enhancement in the law for those who illegally sell therapeutic cannabis.

  * The private, personal use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * This bill fixes a problem in the law, whereby a user of therapeutic cannabis who sells their cannabis to another person who is not a qualifying patient or caregiver is subject to additional penalties beyond the illegal sale of cannabis. All people who illegally sell cannabis should be subject to the same penalties, whether or not they sell black-market cannabis or regulated therapeutic cannabis.

• Pro-libertyHB 551repealing the license to sell pistols and revolvers.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill removes the requirement to have a license to sell a pistol or revolver.

  * A license should not be required to sell your own property in the United States of America.
  * This bill removes an infringement on a person's gun ownership rights, which are protected under Article 2-a of the NH Constitution and the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.

• Pro-libertyHB 90relative to the definition of part-time teachers.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, allows a part-time teacher who works up to 20 hours per week to teach without a Board of Education certificate if they are a full-time or adjunct faculty member at the University of NH or at a NH community college.

  * By allowing part-time teachers to bypass traditional credentialing requirements, this bill fosters educational innovation and choice, aligning with the principle that families should control their educational options.
  * This legislation reduces the regulatory burden on schools, enabling them to hire based on expertise rather than bureaucratic credentials, which is a step toward more market-driven educational solutions.
  * The requirement for criminal history checks and adherence to a code of conduct ensures accountability while still promoting liberty by expanding opportunities for qualified individuals to teach.

9 bills with no position.

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• Anti-libertyHB 162relative to informed consent for law enforcement searches of houses or other property.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill allows for warrantless searches and makes homes and property searchable under "informed consent".

  *This bill will substantially increase the amount of warrantless searches conducted on individuals as long as the officer receives "consent", which is unconstitutional.
  *While this is being portrayed as an expansion of when informed consent should be obtained, it, in effect, just makes it easier for law enforcement to conduct searches without obtaining warrants.
  *This will result in far more litigation against the state and many state and federal rights violations.

• Pro-libertyHB 51relative to hemp-derived cannabinoids and the definition of cannabis in therapeutic cannabis.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill eliminates 'seeds' from the definition of cannabis concerning therapeutic cannabis. It also permits alternative treatment centers to purchase non-intoxicating hemp cannabinoids from out of state for use in products.

  * The personal, private use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * This bill does not make any changes in the legal use of therapeutic cannabis. It merely makes therapeutic cannabis easier to produce by using out-of-state suppliers to source non-intoxicating hemp cannabinoids.

• Pro-libertyHB 53permitting qualifying patients and designated caregivers to cultivate cannabis for therapeutic use.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill allows patients and caregivers to grow therapeutic cannabis at home.

  * The personal, private use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * This bill allows for restricted home cultivation, which is a step in the right direction toward legalization.

• Pro-libertyHB 75legalizing cannabis for persons 21 years of age or older.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill allows adults the freedom to use cannabis.

  * The personal, private use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * Continuing to criminalize the use of cannabis perpetuates an unsafe black market, thus providing profit to criminals.

1 bill with no position.

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• Pro-libertyHB 115relative to universal eligibility for the education freedom account program.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill increases the income requirement for Education Freedom Accounts from 350% to 400% of the poverty line and later eliminates it.

  * Universal EFAs allow parents to choose how their children are educated and backs that decision up with state tax dollars.
  * This bill expands the number of families who are afforded the freedom to choose the education they want for their children. Education freedom should not have an income requirement.
  * NHLA supports the original version of HB 115 without adding back in the means test; however, any bill to increase access to EFAs, including this bill as amended, will be considered pro-liberty.

• Anti-libertyHB 282increasing the maximum benefits for first responders critically injured in the line of duty.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill increases the maximum workers' compensation benefit for first responders from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per biennium.

  * This bill increases the state's liability in paying out workers' compensation benefits for first responders, which come from the General Fund.
  * The highest recent payout was $350,000, well below the existing cap. This bill is unnecessary.

• Pro-libertyHB 302relative to enabling the state treasury to invest in precious metals and digital assets.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows the state treasurer to invest state funds into precious metals and digital assets. The investment is limited to 5% of the funds and must be in an asset with a market capitalization of more than $500 billion.

  * Inflation not only diminishes the wealth of individuals, but of states as well. New Hampshire should diversify its holding to protect its assets.
  * Having more options on the table allows the state to further diversify.
  * Appropriate guardrails are in place to ensure that the state limits its investment to 5 percent of assets and only to established digital assets.

• Anti-libertyHB 493requiring education on child abuse and neglect for certain healthcare providers as a condition for licensure.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires healthcare providers to take one hour of training on child abuse and neglect before they are licensed, and every two years after that.

  * While well intentioned, this is yet another hour of continuing education that medical providers will be required to take. This takes time away from their job duties and adds additional compliance costs to their operations.

• Pro-libertyHB 639relative to the use of and disputes over blockchain and digital currencies.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill seeks to encourage the growth of the digital asset industry in New Hampshire. It codifies the legal use of blockchain technology for commerce. It also codifies rules for digital currency mining.

  * Most of the practices being written into law by this bill are already legal; this bill though protects blockchain businesses from being banned by local governments.
  * The bill protects the privacy of private keys, a central tenet to allowing the free use of digital assets.

• Pro-libertyHB 66relative to material subject to disclosure under the right to know law.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, expands the "Right-To-Know" law.

  * Increasing access to public documents is a great step forward for transparency.
  * This bill includes appropriate guardrails to mostly limit requests to New Hampshire residents, taxpayers, and the media.
  * This bill allows for electronic requests for documents.
  * Note: While we support the bill, we suggest an amendment to more narrowly define 'media'. As written, any self-described member of the media worldwide can make a Right-To-Know request electronically. This may prove to be a burden for some government bodies.

• Pro-libertyHB 723repealing the multi-use energy data platform.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill repeals a 2019 law requiring the creation of the state energy data platform.

  * The law to create this platform was passed in 2019. In the past 6 years, the Public Utilities Commission has not built it.
  * Most, if not all energy providers already offer some or all of this information to their customers.

9 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Pro-libertyHB 53permitting qualifying patients and designated caregivers to cultivate cannabis for therapeutic use.
  Why

  This bill allows patients and caregiviers to grow therapeutic cannibis at home.

  * The personal, private use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * This bill allows for restricted home cultivation, which is a step in the right direction toward legalization.

• Pro-libertyHB 75legalizing cannabis for persons 21 years of age or older.
  Why

  This bill allows adults the freedom to use cannabis.

  * The personal, private use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * Continuing to criminalize the use of cannabis perpetuates an unsafe black market providing profit to criminals.

2 bills with no position.

• Pro-libertyHB 115(New Title) making temporary appropriations for the expenses and encumbrances of the state of New Hampshire.
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, removes the income requirement for Education Freedom Accounts and instead caps the number of participants in the program.

  * Universal EFAs allow parents to choose how their children are educated and backs up that decision with state tax dollars.
  * This bill expands the number of families who are afforded the freedom to choose the education they want for their children. Education freedom should not have an income requirement.
  * NHLA supports a universal EFA bill without a means test or an enrollment cap; however, any bill to increase access to EFAs, including this bill with the proposed committee amendment, will be considered pro-liberty.

• Pro-libertyHB 148permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain circumstances.
  Why

  This bill allows for certain shared facilities to classify based upon biological sex in order to protect the privacy rights and physical safety of such persons and others.

  * A core pillar of liberty is the ability to do whatever you want, so long as what you are doing does not have an impact upon anyone else's liberty.
  * The right to privacy and safety for those who present as their biological sex outweighs the interest of others who present differently from their biological sex to access the shared public spaces of their preference. As a result, it is a reasonable protection of liberty to allow for the use of shared public spaces to be separated on the basis of biological sex.

• Pro-libertyHB 164relative to local records retention.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill funds and equips the local government record manager with online storage of records that are available for public access.

  * This bill increases local government transparency by increasing online accessibility of records.
  * Taxpayer funding is justified to expand transparency and accountability.
  * Certain towns struggle with doing this, and having state assistance can ensure it actually happens.

• Pro-libertyHB 319(New Title) relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide transportation for pupils in kindergarten.
  Why

  This bill eliminates the requirement to provide meals and transportation for half-day kindergarten.

  * To provide transportation home for students who are only attending half of the day, buses would have to transport children home twice: once for the half-day kids and again for the full-day kids. This is unnecessary and expensive.
  * School districts could still offer this if they choose to, but it would no longer be a mandate.
  * Parents should be providing meals for their children, not the government.

• Pro-libertyHB 365relative to proof of United States citizenship for indigent voters.
  Why

  This bill provides vouchers for indigent voters who cannot prove that they are United States citizens for the purpose of registering to vote.

  * Ensuring free and fair elections is important to our democracy. To that end, all voters should be able to prove that they are United States citizens in order to register to vote.
  * This bill allows the poorest among us to get state assistance, including financial assistance, to obtain the documents necessary to prove they are legally allowed to vote.

• Pro-libertyHB 446relative to parental notice for non-academic surveys in public schools.
  Why

  This bill requires school districts to email parents copies of non-academic surveys in public schools. They must be emailed at least 10 days before the school conducts the survey.

  * This bill provides fair notice to parents of what the schools are requesting, and gives parents the opportunity to question, comment, or opt out of the survey.
  * This prevents schools from collecting a student's (and perhaps their family's) private information in secret.
  * Under this bill, parents' rights to care for and protect their children are enhanced.

• Anti-libertyHB 518requiring the commissioner of the department of health and human services to provide a detailed annual report of all costs incurred by the division for children, youth and families.YEA ITL
• Anti-libertyHB 572(New Title) establishing the "partners in housing" program, an initiative under the housing champions fund to assist municipalities, counties, and developers in building workforce housing, and making an appropriation therefor.
  Why

  This bill creates a special program to build workforce housing on publicly-owned land.

  * Instead of this bill, local governments could simply sell their excess land to developers and let them develop it. The government does not need to be a stakeholder in workforce housing, and in fact could benefit financially from the sale of land.

• Pro-libertyHB 675(New Title) limiting the authority of school districts to make certain appropriations.
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, establishes a spending cap for school districts.

  * School spending, and as a result local property taxes, have exploded in the last several years. Putting a cap on school spending will rein in this spending problem and require districts to live within their means.
  * The bill includes the ability to override the cap with a 2/3 vote.

• Anti-libertyHB 751(New Title) requiring licensure of outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities and relative to complaint investigation of treatment facilities by the department of health and human services office of the ombudsman and making an appropriation therefor.
  Why

  This bill creates a new certification program for alcohol and substance abuse treatment facilities. It comes with new fees for operators.

  * This is an expansion of government to provide oversight over a previously independent industry. More government is not the solution.
  * In order to fund this new bureaucracy, the facilities will be charged a fee to pay for the administration that certifies them.

• Anti-libertySB 15relative to establishing a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  Sets a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting.

  *Mandatory minimum sentences do not allow judicial discretion which may be warranted on a case-by-case basis.

• Pro-libertySB 268permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances.
  Why

  This bill permits classification of individuals based on biological sex in lavatory facilities and locker rooms, sporting competitions, and detention facilities. It is an exact copy of HB 148, which passed the House last week by a large margin.

  * A core pillar of liberty is the ability to do whatever you want, so long as what you are doing does not have an impact upon anyone else's liberty.
  * The right to privacy and safety for those who present as their biological sex outweighs the interest of others who present differently from their biological sex to access the shared public spaces of their preference. As a result, it is a reasonable protection of liberty to allow for the use of shared public spaces to be separated on the basis of biological sex.

• Pro-libertySB 34relative to parental consent for student participation in Medicaid to schools program.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires parental consent before a student in a school may receive medical or dental treatment from Medicaid.

  * Parents should make healthcare decisions for their children, not educators or administrators.

62 bills with no position.

• Anti-libertySB 127(New Title) relative to public guardianship and the office of the public guardian and making appropriations to the department of health and human services.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill expands the practice of using contract public guardians for elderly or disabled patients who discharge from hospitals and are in need of them. The bill allocates $550,000 to add 50 contract guardian slots in the first biennium and $3,884,000 for an undetermined additional number of guardian slots going forward.

  * This bill allocates more than $4 million outside of the budget process for contract public guardians. That is a significant amount of money to spend via a single piecemeal bill.
  * The intent of this bill could also be achieved by increasing the budget of the Office of the Public Guardian during the state budget process. That being said, we would oppose the additional spending either way.

• Pro-libertySB 211relative to biological sex in student athletics.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill requires school sports teams to be expressly designated as male, female, or coed, prohibits biologically male students from participating in female-designated sports or entering female locker rooms, and creates a cause of action for athletes harmed as a result of violations of these requirements.

  * A core pillar of liberty is the ability to do whatever you want, so long as what you are doing does not have an impact upon anyone else's liberty.
  * The right to privacy and safety for those who present as their biological sex outweighs the interest of others who present differently from their biological sex to access the team or facility of their preference. As a result, it is a reasonable protection of liberty to allow for the use of shared spaces and access to teams to be separated on the basis of biological sex.

• Anti-libertySB 244(New Title) relative to expanding access to primary health care services, increasing the size of the health care workforce, and making appropriations therefor.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill expands the Department of Health and Human Services' contract with the Bi-State Primary Care Association's Recruitment Center in order to expand health care workforce recruitment and retention efforts. The financial impact of this bill will be $30 million per year in additional state expenditures in the short term and possibly increased expenditures in later years.

  * It is reckless to spend at least $60 million outside of the state's budget process.

• Anti-libertySB 249relative to the uncompensated care and Medicaid fund.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill increases the payment rate for uncompensated care to Medicaid payments to 91 percent of the Medicaid Enhancement Tax (MET). This is in direct conflict with the governor's budget recommendation of 80 percent of the Medicaid Enhancement Tax (MET).

  * This year, New Hampshire tax revenues are lower than previous years and the governor is asking agency heads to find at least 4% savings within their budgets in order to downsize the state budget by at least $150 million.
  * This bill does the exact opposite, by increasing payments to hospitals by 13% more than what the governor requested and the Department of Health and Human Services presented.
  * The solution to the state's budget woes is to live within our means, and is to not increase spending.

• Anti-libertySB 255establishing and developing crisis stabilization services.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill creates a new tax, the crisis services telecommunications surcharge, to pay for the 988 suicide hotline. This new tax will be charged on each residence and business telephone exchange line, including PBX trunks and Centrex lines, each individual commercial mobile radio service number and each VoIP service number with a place of primary use within New Hampshire, and each semi-public and public coin and public access line.

  * New Hampshire residents are tired of paying unnecesary taxes like this one. That is why the State recently eliminated the Interest & Dividends Tax and why New Hampshire has no income or sales tax.
  * The appropriate place to fund the 988 suicide hotline is from the General Fund, not via a dedicated tax on all telecommunication service.

• Anti-libertySB 265repealing the provision related to religious use of land and structures.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill repeals RSA 674:76. In effect, this RSA prevents local zoning or land use regulation from banning any property from being used for religious purposes.

  * This bill is anti-liberty because it authorizes local governments to impose regulations on religious land uses that are not "objective and definite" and generally applicable.
  * Current law already provides room for local governments to regulate the size and shape of structures and yards; there is no need to allow them to ban or restrict religious uses specifically.

• Pro-libertySB 268permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill permits classification of individuals based on biological sex in lavatory facilities and locker rooms, sporting competitions, and detention facilities. It is an exact copy of HB 148, which passed the House last week by a large margin.

  * A core pillar of liberty is the ability to do whatever you want, so long as what you are doing does not have an impact upon anyone else's liberty.
  * The right to privacy and safety for those who present as their biological sex outweighs the interest of others who present differently from their biological sex to access the shared public spaces of their preference. As a result, it is a reasonable protection of liberty to allow for the use of shared public spaces to be separated on the basis of biological sex.

• Anti-libertySB 277relative to the application of utility property taxes and statewide education property taxes to electric generating facilities.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill sunsets an existing tax break by 2032. Certain energy generating facilites make a payment in leiu of taxes (PILOT) and also are exempt from the Statewide Education Property Tax (SWEPT). This bill would put an end to this tax break by not allowing PILOT agreements to be exempt from SWEPT taxes at the end of their agreement or July 1, 2032, whichever occurs first.

  * Ending an existing tax break is a indirect way to increase taxes. In this case, Statewide Education Property Tax (SWEPT) payments will be required by energy generation facilities where they are currenty not required.
  * Education funding has increased dramatically in the last decade. Of all things for which to consider increasing taxes, public education funding is among the least needy purposes.

• Anti-libertySB 279establishing the housing champion business loan program and making appropriations to the department of business and economic affairs and the business finance authority.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill creates a new loan and grant program for municipalities with the 'Housing Champion' designation. It further allocates $6 million in loan and grant funds to be distributed to qualifying businesses.

  * This is corporate welfare. If housing developers wish to build housing on the free market, they should go to a bank and apply for a loan like everyone else.
  * Competitive grants create a system of winners and losers, and those with the best relationships to the government will be the winners.
  * The price tag of $6 million is a significant amount of money, and it should be allocated via the General Fund during the budget process.

• Pro-libertySB 287requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill requires applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.

  * The security of elections is of vital importance to democracy.
  * Reasonable safeguards, like proving one's identity when applying for an absentee ballot, helps ensure the integrity of elections.

• Anti-libertySB 291relative to the religious use of land property tax exemption.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill expands the property tax exemption for land used for religous purposes to also include land owned by a religious organization but used for housing.

  * Tax carve-outs are not the proper strategy to lower taxes. It creates a system of winners and losers based upon the preference of the people in power. In this case it is an expansion of tax exemption specifically for religious housing; however, it doesn't matter for what group or purpose it is, carve-outs are bad tax policy.
  * Lawmakers should instead focus on broad-based decreases in taxes so everyone benefits, not just a select few.

• Pro-libertySB 295(New Title) relative to education freedom accounts.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill removes the income eligibility requirements for Education Freedom Accounts; however, the amendment caps the number of EFA recipents to 10,000 children in 2025-2026.

  * Education Freedom Accounts allow parents to have a say in how their children are educated by directing tax dollars to the education of the parents' choosing.
  * With a substancial majority in the Senate, it is unclear why a compromise from the original bill was needed to pass this legislation. It is our recommendation that EFAs should be universal and not have the cap that had been added in by amendment 2025-0793s.

• Pro-libertySB 38relative to state recognition of biological sex.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill defines 'biological sex' and clarifies specific cases where the use of biological sex would not be considered unlawful disctrimination. Those cases include bathrooms, locker rooms, sport teams or competitions, and public facilities used for prisons, detention centers, treatment centers, or other places of involuntary housing.

  * A core pillar of liberty is the ability to do whatever you want, so long as what you are doing does not have an impact upon anyone else's liberty.
  * The right to privacy and safety for those who present as their biological sex outweighs the interest of others who present differently from their biological sex to access the team or facility of their preference. As a result, it is a reasonable protection of liberty to allow for the use of shared spaces and access to teams to be separated on the basis of biological sex.

• Pro-libertySB 83establishing an elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf property tax exemption reimbursement fund, authorizing video lottery terminals, renaming the lottery commission, and creating a voluntary statewide self-exclusion database.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, legalizes video lottery terminals. The revenue generated goes to local governments for property tax relief through the elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf exemption reimbursement fund and to the General Fund.

  * We support the legalization of video lottery terminals. Gambling should be legal for all adults.
  * We support the amended version that allocates the funds generated from video lottery terminals to local governments (via the elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf property tax exemption reimbursement fund) and to the state General Fund. This provides the most flexibility to lawmakers in how those funds shall be used.

11 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Pro-libertyHB 132repealing liability for familial support under chapter 165, aid to assisted persons.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill removes the crime of refusing to help an indigent relative. Current law makes it a crime punishable by 60-90 days of imprisonment to not help an indigent relative.

  * While it would be the best case scenario, all else being equal, that relatives would be willing to help one of their own who had fallen on hard times, viewing this issue on a purely financial basis is short-sighted. Families and financial situations are complicated, and relatives might have bonafide reasons to refuse to help their relative. Furthermore, being blood- or legally-related to someone doesn't mean they even have a relationship with that person.
  * This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, allows local municipalities to provide assistance to indigent persons, and then collect a reimbursement for the cost of the aid from the relative.

• Anti-libertyHB 137relative to allocating excess statewide education property tax funds for local school and municipal purposes.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill allocates excess statewide education property tax funds to the local municipality for other school and municipal purposes.

  * This bill further wastes taxpayer dollars by encouraging school districts to spend without constraint if they are awarded more money than they could spend.
  * Public education spending in New Hampshire is excessive. Any money not spent by schools should be returned to taxpayers.

• Pro-libertyHB 138relative to tax impact notation on warrant articles with multi-year tax impacts.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill requires all special warrant articles with a multi-year tax impact to disclose that tax impact. This would only apply to towns that have voted to require the tax impact of warrant articles to be disclosed.

  * This bill promotes transparency for special warrant articles.
  * Such warrant articles will no longer be able to omit hidden costs or lease agreements which will carry over to subsequent years.
  * Anticipated tax increases will be disclosed to the public prior to adopting the articles. This prevents tax increase surprises in subsequent years.

• Anti-libertyHB 145relative to background checks for licensed dietitians and adopting the dietitian licensure compact.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires background checks, including fingerprinting, for licensure of dietitians. It further requires New Hampshire to join the Dietitian Licensing Compact. This compact is an interstate licensing authority with the power to set its own taxes and whose rules have the force of law.

  * There are privacy concerns associated with the background check that would be required for dieticians. They would be required to submit their fingerprints to the State Police, even if they do not have a criminal background.
  * The Dietitian Licensing Compact is an interstate agency that New Hampshire would be compelled to comply with. The Commerce Clause in the Bill of Rights has time and again been determined to provide the federal government the authority to regulate interstate commerce. It would be more appropriate for the Dietitian Licensing Compact to be formed by an act of Congress, not by the states.

• Anti-libertyHB 152prohibiting the sale and use of adhesive-based rodent traps.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill bans the sale, distribution, and use of adhesive-based rodent traps in New Hampshire. It introduces penalties for violations reaching up to $500 per day.

  * This bill infringes on the rights of individuals and businesses to choose their preferred methods of pest control, which is a clear overreach by the government into personal and commercial decision-making.
  * By banning adhesive-based rodent traps, the state is limiting the tools available to property owners for managing their own property, which is a direct assault on property rights.
  * The introduction of penalties for using a previously legal method of pest control is an example of government overreach, punishing individuals for exercising their personal responsibility in managing pests.

• Anti-libertyHB 175relative to defined coordinated expenditures.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill expands the definitions of coordinated and independent expenditures. It also imposes a spending cap on political advocacy committees.

  * Restrictions on the spending of money in elections is a restriction of free speech, protected by Art. 22 of the New Hampshire Constitution and the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
  * PACs are entities formed for the purpose of spending money for political purposes. Political speech is the speech that requires the most protection.
  * This bill makes it impossible for a PAC to agree with the platform of a political party without the appearance of a violation of the law for coordinating communications.

• Pro-libertyHB 198relative to legalizing certain quantities of cannabis and establishing penalties for the smoking or vaping of cannabis in public.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill increases the cannabis possession limit to 2 ounces and decriminalizes activities associated with a person 21 years or older who possesses cannabis under the limit. Additionally, violations of several cannabis laws have their severity reduced and remove incarceration requirements.

  * This bill reduces the risk for non-violent offenders of cannabis laws to have lifelong detrimental impacts to their lives.
  * This bill will reduce the consumption of police resources for inconsequential violations, allowing police to focus on more impactful criminals who threaten lives and property.
  * This bill will reduce cost on the taxpayer, as fewer judicial and incarceration resources are consumed for meaningless law violations.
  * The bill would be improved by simply removing <i>any</i> limits with respect to cannabis for persons 21 years of age or older.

• Pro-libertyHB 200relative to the procedure for overriding a local tax cap.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires either a supermajority vote or a 3/5 vote on a local ballot, depending on the type of charter the town holds. This makes the vote threshold the same for the implementation of tax cap and the override of the tax cap.

  * Current law requires a 3/5 vote in order to establish a tax cap, but only a simple majority to override the cap. This bill will fix this disparity by requiring the same voter threshold to create the cap and to override the cap.

• Pro-libertyHB 217relative to absentee ballots.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill requires absentee ballot voters to submit information demonstrating citizenship, age, domicile, and identity in order to qualify to vote.

  * This bill improves election integrity by requiring proof of citizenship and residence to vote in New Hampshire state and local elections by absentee ballot.
  * This bill provides a responsible and objective means of protecting the quality of an election by requiring additional verification from the applicant for the privilege of voting in absentia.

• Pro-libertyHB 226relative to the use of drug checking equipment.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill excludes drug checking equipment from being considered as drug paraphernalia.

  * This bill prioritizes reducing the adverse consequences of substance use through education and tools like drug checking, rather than relying solely on punitive measures.
  *By potentially reducing criminal prosecutions (as noted in the fiscal note), the bill could decrease the burden on the judicial and correctional systems, allowing resources to be redirected away from penalizing non-violent behavior.
  * Drug checking equipment is not only used by drug sellers and drug users. With this bill, friends, families, and charitable organization who have an interest in helping addicts can possess and distribute drug checking equipment without fear of seizure or legal repercussions, reinforcing the right to use property for personal or community benefit.

• Pro-libertyHB 274relative to the verification of voter rolls annually.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill requires annual verification of voter rolls. It purges voters who have not participated in an election in more than 5 years, have moved away, or died.

  * Ensuring that an accurate list of eligible voters is maintained is an important safeguard for the integrity of elections.
  * Verifying the voter rolls allows for greater government transparency for those who have concerns about how the government is handling local elections.

• Pro-libertyHB 284requiring tax impact statements on municipal warrant articles.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires that municipalities require tax impact statements on budgets and warrant articles and a total tax summary statement.

  * Disclosing the financial impact on the ballot as warrant articles are considered will provide voters with important information that is relevant to their decision.

• Anti-libertyHB 347relative to protection of employment for members of the general court.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires employers to provide time off to members of the the General Court.

  * While we appreciate the voluntary efforts of the members of the General Court who choose to run for office and sacrifice their time, employers have made no such voluntary decision. This bill places a burden on employers by mandating that they allow an employee who is a member of the General Court to leave work to attend up to 168 hours of General Court voting.
  * The bill may have unintended consequences of employers making decisions on the margins not to hire an individual who they believe is politically active.
  * Even a single individual in a modestly-sized organization can have a significant impact on the ability of the business to operate. While many employers may have a flexible business that can support allowing for flexible work schedules and/or time off, this bill's approach of a broad mandate fails to consider the unique circumstances of each business

• Pro-libertyHB 357relative to the department of health and human services' rulemaking authority regarding immunization requirements.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill removes the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services to write rules requiring certain vaccines for children. The statute lists the specific vaccinations that are required: diphtheria, mumps, pertussis, poliomyelitis, rubella, rubeola, and tetanus.

  * Parents are ultimately responsible for the healthcare decisions affecting their children. The government should not be mandating any form of treatment without parental consent.
  * Education about healthcare options, not mandates, is the proper way to encourage childhood vaccination.

• Pro-libertyHB 361prohibiting mandatory mask policies in schools.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill prohibits school boards and other public education agencies from having a mask mandate.

  *This bill puts the power of choice back into the hands of the parents, where it belongs.
  *It prevents government schools from instituting tyrannical mask measures on students and faculty that do not consent.
  * This only applies to public schools, and does not apply to private schools.

• Anti-libertyHB 363establishing redistricting criteria.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill removes the consideration of political groups from the redistricting process and instead encourages the maintenance of "communities of interest". It is identity politics applied to redistricting.

  * Creating districts for the purpose of preserving "communities of interest", defined by their racial, ethnic, economic, social, cultural, geographic, or historic identities is a form of identity politics.
  * This type of redistricting makes the invalid assumption that voters select their candidate based upon the color of their skin, instead of the candidate's position on the issues most important to those voters.

• Pro-libertyHB 380relative to penalties for criminal violations of the therapeutic use of cannabis.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill removes the enhancement in the law for those who illegally sell therapeutic cannabis.

  * The private, personal use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * This bill fixes a problem in the law, whereby a user of therapeutic cannabis who sells their cannabis to another person who is not a qualifying patient or caregiver is subject to additional penalties beyond the illegal sale of cannabis. All people who illegally sell cannabis should be subject to the same penalties, whether or not they sell black market cannabis or regulated therapeutic cannabis.

• Anti-libertyHB 385reestablishing voter identification exceptions.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill reopens a loophole that allows people to vote without proving they are a qualified voter. This loophole was just closed in 2024.

  * Reestablishing exceptions to legitimate identification requirements for voters widens the window for unqualified voters to be able to vote in the state.
  * Without valid, standard identification, people could vote when they are not qualified.
  * Voter fraud negates the votes of legal New Hampshire residents and undermines the integrity of elections.

• Anti-libertyHB 402relative to liability as taxable income of education freedom account payments.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill makes payments for Education Freedom Accounts taxable income.

  * This bill introduces a stealth income tax on EFA recipients in New Hampshire, which has no income tax provisions.
  * EFA funds are products of taxation; therefore, making families pay taxes for receiving already-taxed state money is double-taxation.
  * This tax targets families using state EFA funds to take advantage of alternative education options.
  * Forcing the EFA scholarship entity to report grants as income places these families in the crosshairs of the IRS for no good reason.
  * This is the latest effort to discourage families' participation in the EFA program and to attempt to ensure all education is provided via tightly-controlled public schools.

• Pro-libertyHB 413relative to subdivision regulations on the completion of improvements and the regulation of building permits.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill extends the amount of time a developer has to build a project once it is approved from 5 to 7 years. After 7 years, they will need to take into account zoning changes and local amendments to the building code. They also have up to 3 years to achieve active and substantial development.

  * This bill gives more flexibility to developers, which is pro-liberty.
  * Government does not build houses, developers do. By creating rules that make it easier for developers to build, New Hampshire will see more housing faster and at a better price.

• Pro-libertyHB 428prohibiting municipal amendments to the state building code.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, prevents all amendments to the state building code, except for local codes that are less stringent than the state building code. Administrative issues, like where to pay fees, are still allowed to be amended locally.

  * This bill creates consistency and certainty for builders across the state. They will no longer have to learn a new set of building codes for each new town in which they do business.
  * This streamlining of building codes statewide should lead to faster and cheaper construction projects through a reduction in compliance efforts.

• Pro-libertyHB 446relative to parental notice for non-academic surveys in public schools.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires school districts to email parents copies of non-academic surveys in public schools. They must be emailed at least 10 days before the school conducts the survey.

  * This bill provides fair notice to parents of what the schools are requesting, and gives parents the opportunity to question, comment, or opt out of the survey.
  * This prevents schools from collecting a student's (and perhaps their family's) private information in secret.
  * Under this bill, parents' rights to care for and protect their children are enhanced.

• Pro-libertyHB 456relative to testimony of agency employees in general court hearings.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, prevents the use of taxpayer funds by local governments to pay for lobbying the state government or to participate in political activity.

  * The use of public funds should be non-political and non-partisan.
  * The government has the obligation to avoid even the appearance of a bias toward candidates for public office.

• Anti-libertyHB 466relative to refusal of consent to testing to determine alcohol concentration and penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill increases the penalty for refusing to consent to a test of blood, urine, or breath by a law enforcement officer.

  *Extending license suspensions for refusal presumes guilt before a conviction, undermining the principle of "innocent until proven guilty." Refusal to test is not proof of intoxication, yet the state imposes severe consequences, effectively punishing individuals for not participating in their own incrimination.
  *This bill directly threatens the livelihoods of working people who rely on driving to get to their jobs. For many, losing a license means losing employment, especially in a rural state like New Hampshire where public transportation is limited. This pushes otherwise self-sufficient individuals onto state unemployment or welfare, turning productive citizens into dependents of an overburdened system.

• Pro-libertyHB 467defining "social districts" and enabling municipalities to create social districts.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill allows a town to create a "social district". This would be a zone where one can buy alcohol and then leave the place of purchase to drink in a designated public space. The bill requires that towns have a vote on a warrant article to authorize the districts.

  * The idea of a social district is pro-liberty, as it allows more choices in land use.
  * We believe it is unnecessarily burdensome for the town to vote on a ballot to authorize the districts. These are the exact type of legislative decisions that we elect selectmen to make. This legislation would be better if it allowed the establishment of these districts without all of the extra burden of newspaper notices, public hearings, town meetings, and local elections.

• Anti-libertyHB 483relative to the definition of a scholarship organization for purposes of the education tax credit.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires that for purposes of the education tax credit, a qualifying scholarship organization shall be incorporated in this state.

  * This bill would result in substantial disruption to the existing education scholarship tax credit program by disqualifying the only organization that is currently qualified to administer the program. The Children's Scholarship Fund - NH (<a href=https://nh.scholarshipfund.org/>nh.scholarshipfund.org</a>) administered 1,224 scholarships in the 2023/2024 school year, and this bill would risk substantial disruption to these students — potentially increasing local expenditures as children return to failing public schools.

• Anti-libertyHB 487relative to providing employees with advance notice of the work schedule.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires that employers with 15 or more employees post the work schedules for employees at least 7 days in advance of any pay period.

  * Businesses have a right to conduct business as they see fit. This bill is a "one-size-fits-all" mandate upon all businesses in the state, who all have very different priorities, needs, and ways of operating.
  * This bill acts almost like a collective bargaining agreement provision, but instead it is imposed by the state upon all businesses with at least 15 employees.
  * If working hours and notice become an issue in a particular workplace, they should be negotiated and agreed upon between employees and management within that workplace.

• Pro-libertyHB 509relative to the contents of the attorney general's annual report detailing state forfeiture information for the preceding fiscal year.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill requires the Attorney General to collect more specific information about asset forfeitures in their annual report.

  * More disclosure of asset forfeitures is pro-liberty, as asset forfeiture is a way that governments often take the property of a person without that person being convicted of a crime. This is a violation of the "innocent until proven guilty" tenet of our legal system and a government overreach.

• Pro-libertyHB 548relative to licensing requirements for health care facilities that operate on a membership-based business model.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill creates an exception to the licensing requirements for healthcare facilities that operate on a member-based direct pay model.

  * "Direct Pay Healthcare is an alternative healthcare system and an umbrella term for all healthcare professionals that offer direct pay services. Some desired benefits that direct pay healthcare practices offer include the removal of surprise billing, full price transparency, and improved quality of care." &ndash <a href=https://directpayhealthcare.org/about-direct-pay-healthcare>directpayhealthcare.org/about-direct-pay-healthcare</a>
  * The whole point of direct pay care is to allow patients to pay cash for services that are cheaper and more transparent. By not taking any forms of insurance, the service provider has none of the overhead associated with insurance billing or compliance and they can pass the savings on to their patients.

• Anti-libertyHB 549relative to the use of education freedom account funds in religious schools and institutions of higher education.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill prohibits the use of Education Freedom Account funds at religious schools or for religious education or training, and repeals provisions relating to independence of and legal proceedings concerning Education Freedom Account providers.

  * The funds for Education Freedom Accounts are directed by the parents of the students, not the government. This bill prohibits some parents from choosing the school of their choice.
  * EFAs should be open to all schools: schools of any religion, or no religion at all. To deny that is to limit education freedom, and is a violation of Art. 5 of the New Hampshire Constitution and of the First Amendment.
  * This bill also adds a state accreditation requirement, adding an additional state regulatory burden to all EFA eligible schools, not just the religious ones.

• Anti-libertyHB 553relative to the definition of abuse and neglect and conditions triggering a rebuttable presumption of harm in abuse and neglect cases.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill dramatically expands the conditions under which a child can be removed from a household.

  * Family law is always a complicated area that requires careful wording in order to protect children from egregious harms while also protecting a child's ability to remain with the caregivers that presumably have their best interest at heart. This bill fails on the careful wording test on multiple levels and increases the risk of needlessly removing children and placing them in state-directed care which itself comes with great risk of harm.
  * By moving the goalposts from physical safety to emotional and mental well being, the seemingly well-intentioned language dramatically increases the risk of the already-present conditions that have lead to attempts to remove children from parents for political reasons. Refusal to use the pronouns demanded by a 10-year-old child would clearly be emotional harm as defined by the American Psychiatric Association:<br />– <a href=https://psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/diversity/education/transgender-and-gender-nonconforming-patients/gender-affirming-therapy>psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/diversity/education/transgender-and-gender-nonconforming-patients/gender-affirming-therapy</a>
  * Proposed "169-C:12-f Rebuttable Presumption of Harm" in paragraph I states: "Evidence of a parent's, guardian's, or custodian's substance misuse or <i>sale, manufacturing</i>, or trafficking of <i>legal</i> or illegal substances, shall create a rebuttable presumption that the child's physical, emotional, or psychological well-being has suffered or is very likely to suffer serious impairment. The presumption may be rebutted by evidence of the parent's compliance with treatment for such use or dependence." &mdash under this language, a grower under the existing NH Therapeutic Cannabis Program would be at constant risk for removal of their children.

• Pro-libertyHB 557relative to the information that appears on the school budget ballot.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires that school district election ballots include specific information about the school district's financial and academic status, specifically, the cost per pupil and proficiency in English, math, and science.

  * The intent of this bill is to help voters make an informed decision.
  * School budget expenditures have continued to rise as enrollment has gone down and student performance has leveled off.
  * It is unclear if voters know that they are wasting their money on schools that spend more than they ever have, on fewer students, achieving lackluster results.

• Pro-libertyHB 559relative to staffing requirements in emergency medical transport vehicles.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill removes the power of the commissioner to dictate that more than one EMT is required on an ambulance.

  * One emergency medical technician (EMT) and a qualified non-EMT driver who is capable of rendering basic logistical and first-aid assistance is quite sufficient.
  * It is appropriately a policy decision for the ambulance service provider as to how they choose to specify their minimum staffing levels.

• Anti-libertyHB 568allowing subdivision regulations concerning water supply.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill allows the adoption of subdivision regulations that require water supply studies, determination of adequate water quantity for reasonably anticipated future water uses, and minimum on-lot private well testing requirements. This bill also clarifies the applicant's duty to pay associated costs.

  * Adding additional sudivision regulations relating to water supply only increases the cost in time and funds to develop property in New Hampshire.
  * Our state is in a housing crisis. Lawmakers should be looking for ways to streamline the development process, not to find ways to make it more difficult.

• Anti-libertyHB 582relative to safety requirements for operation of personal water crafts.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill creates a new type of aquatic craft called a personal water craft and creates rules specific to their operation.

  * Personal water crafts are not so different from boats that they require their own rules regarding personal floatation devices, operating restrictions, and criminal penalties.

• Anti-libertyHB 587allowing admission of one-party audio and video recordings in certain circumstances.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill allows for the recording of private conversations when the recorder has reason to believe that the other party is committing a crime.

  * The language of this bill is overly broad. It allows any private party to make a 1-party recording without consent as long as they "reasonably anticipate or believe" a crime is being committed. That standard opens to door to pretty much any 1-party recording.

• Anti-libertyHB 600enabling ranked-choice voting for municipal elections.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill allows for ranked-choice voting for municipal elections and for parties voting in caucus. The local legislative body or the party would determine whether to adopt a ranked-choice system for voting.

  * Ranked-choice voting adds unnecessary complexity to voting.
  * It creates the scenario where a "dark horse" candidate who was nobody's preferred candidate could win an election.
  * 11 states have banned the use of ranked-choice voting:<br />– <a href=https://ballotpedia.org/Ranked-choice_voting_(RCV)>ballotpedia.org/Ranked-choice_voting_(RCV)</a>

• Pro-libertyHB 614relative to litigation alleging constitutional rights violations.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill declares that a New Hampshire resident who wins a judgment finding that their rights in the New Hampshire Constitution were violated is entitled to monetary or nonmonetary relief.

  * Existing law and court precedent provides no relief of any kind for an individual whose rights were violated under the New Hampshire Constitution.
  * The alternative is to seek relief in the federal court system, which would be more difficult and expensive without a reasonable expectation of a favorable judgment.

• Pro-libertyHB 620relative to the exercise of the freedom of religion.Support
  Why

  This act adopts the compelling interest test from the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, applying it to state and local government actions. It prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion unless it can demonstrate that the burden is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest.

  * This bill enhances the freedom of individuals to practice their religion without undue government interference, which aligns with the principle that the primary role of government is to protect rights, not to restrict them.
  * By adopting the compelling interest test, the bill ensures that any government action that burdens religious practices must be justified, promoting a higher standard of government accountability.
  * The Religious Freedom Restoration Act respects the NH Liberty Alliance's view that government should not interfere with personal choices, including those related to religious exercise.

• Anti-libertyHB 641establishing a private right of action for civil rights violations.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill allows private people to sue each other or the government, if their civil rights were violated.

  * Civil rights violations are currently prosecuted by the Attorney General's office, and that is the appropriate place for this type of action.
  * Private lawsuits for what should be enforcement actions unnecessarily clog the court system and mostly benefit the attorneys who represent the plaintiffs, rather than the plaintiffs themselves.

• Pro-libertyHB 679relative to immunization requirements.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill provides that no childhood immunization requirement shall require a vaccine that has not been shown in clinical trials to prevent transmission of any disease.

  * Nothing in the language of this bill prevents parents who want to vaccinate their children from doing so.
  * What it does do is make sure there is evidence to substantiate creating a mandate that a particular vaccine be required for all children.

• Pro-libertyHB 712limiting breast surgeries for minors.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill places limitations on permissible breast surgeries on people under the age of 18 to only those procedures needed to treat malignancy, injury, infection, or malformation and those needed to reconstruct the breasts after such procedures.

  * Consenting adults should have the right to do whatever they want to their bodies, including elective breast surgery.
  * This bill addresses minors, who are not fully capable of understanding the full impact of big decisions they might make. It is an appropriate safeguard to require that they are a legal adult for allowing this type of elective procedure.

• Pro-libertyHB 741allowing parents to send their children to any school district they choose.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill allows parents to send their children to public schools outside of their resident district.

  * This bill is a commonsense school choice bill. Parents should be able to send their student to the school of their choice.
  * When parents have school choice, schools are in competition with each other to retain and attract students. Competition leads to a higher quality product for the consumer.

• Pro-libertyHB 760relative to utility default service.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill safeguards consumers by removing the mandate to financially support companies they do not engage with.

  *This bill strengthens free market competition and increases fairness to energy markets.
  *Public Utility Companies (PUC) should be responsible for their own risky behaviors rather than passing the cost of their bad decisions onto the customers of other energy suppliers.

• Pro-libertyHB 90relative to the definition of part-time teachers.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, allows a part-time teacher who works up to 20 hours per week to teach without a Board of Education certificate if they are a full-time or adjunct faculty member at the University of NH or at a NH community college.

  * By allowing part-time teachers to bypass traditional credentialing requirements, this bill fosters educational innovation and choice, aligning with the principle that families should control their educational options.
  * This legislation reduces the regulatory burden on schools, enabling them to hire based on expertise rather than bureaucratic credentials, which is a step toward more market-driven educational solutions.
  * The requirement for criminal history checks and adherence to a code of conduct ensures accountability while still promoting liberty by expanding opportunities for qualified individuals to teach.

• Anti-libertyHB 96requiring New Hampshire builders to use the 2021 Energy Building codes or a similar code that achieves equivalent or greater energy savings.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill mandates the use of the 2021 energy code, which increases the cost of construction significantly while claiming to promise long-run energy savings. This is a trade off individuals should make for themselves.

  * Individuals can choose to use this code now, if it's worth it to them.
  * The state building code should be a floor, not a stretch code.
  * This bill's sponsor admits this bill will increase the cost to build a home in New Hampshire. In a time where much effort is going into lowering the cost to own a home, this bill aims to do the opposite and will allow only the wealthy to own a new home.

55 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Anti-libertyCACR 5relating to absentee ballots. Providing that no excuse shall be needed by the voter to receive an absentee ballot.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill allows for absentee voting for any reason.

  * Absentee voting should not be the norm. It is an accomodation that should be made for those whom voting in person is not possible.
  * Widespread absentee voting in other states has led to the rise of ballot harvesting, which takes the power away from the voters and into the hands of special interests who want to influence the outcome of elections:<br />– <a href=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ballot-harvesting-collection-absentee-voting-explained-rules>cbsnews.com/news/ballot-harvesting-collection-absentee-voting-explained-rules</a>

• Pro-libertyHB 148permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain circumstances.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows for certain shared facilities to classify based upon biological sex in order to protect the privacy rights and physical safety of such persons and others.

  * A core pillar of liberty is the ability to do whatever you want, so long as what you are doing does not have an impact upon anyone else's liberty.
  * The right to privacy and safety for those who present as their biological sex outweighs the interest of others who present differently from their biological sex to access the shared public spaces of their preference. As a result, it is a reasonable protection of liberty to allow for the use of shared public spaces to be separated on the basis of biological sex.

• Pro-libertyHB 218relative to providing victims of crime with a free police report of the investigation.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill,with the proposed committee amendment, allows victims of a crime to request a free copy of their police report.

  * Victims of crime have a right to know what is in the report that was filed in the crime of which they are the victim.
  * This is already the law for victims of domestic abuse, and merely expands this right to all crime victims.
  * Some New Hampshire police departments already provide this service. This bill will require it of all departments.

• Pro-libertyHB 221relative to assessment of cost effectiveness of the systems benefit charge.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to consider modifications to the Granite State Test in order to evaluate the cost effectiveness of the systems benefit charge (SBC). This charge is paid by all ratepayers and is used by the PUC to invest in energy efficiency programs.

  * The purpose of the systems benefit charge is to save money for ratepayers in the long run. The Public Utilities Commission should have the flexibility to use what they believe is the best test to accurately measure the effectiveness of the systems benefits charge.
  * If the systems benefits charge is not producing the desired outcome of financial savings for ratepayers, then the SBC should be modified or eliminated.

• Pro-libertyHB 233requiring meetings of the New Hampshire vaccine association to be audio and video recorded and published on its website within 48 hours, and requiring that questions put to it in writing or at a meeting be answered and posted on its website within 14 days.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires meetings of the New Hampshire Vaccine Association be recorded and published online.

  * Public disclosure of New Hampshire Vaccine Association meetings will lead to increased transparency and accountability.

• Pro-libertyHB 235relative to amending the educator code of ethics and code of conduct to include responsibility to parents.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill adds parents to the parties to whom educators are responsible in their code of ethics. Current law includes the education profession and educational professionals, students, the school community, and the ethical use of technology, but not parents.

  * If anything, parents are the top stakeholder to whom educators should be responsible — more than the children they teach, and certainly more than the other educators, their profession, or the community.

• Pro-libertyHB 254relative to options for end of life care.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows for health care providers to offer life-ending medication to patients who have a terminal illness and a prognosis of no more than 6 months to live. It requires they are of sound mind and can privately self-administer the medication.

  * All adults of sound mind have the right to do whatever they want with their own body, including to end or prevent their own suffering.
  * This bill has sufficient guardrails to ensure that the patient has considered the decision fully and is of sound mind to make the decision.
  * The patient must self-administer the medication, so no one else may end their life for them. They must also end their life in private with a witness.
  * This bill does not encourage suicide. There are many avenues for a person to end their life without this bill. What this bill does is provide an ethical, dignified way for a patient to end their own life when they believe that is their best option.

• Pro-libertyHB 273relative to a parent's access to their minor child's library records.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows for a parent with the same home address as a child to have access to all materials they have viewed from a public library.

  * It is reasonable for parents to have access to the information their child views at a public library. It is the parent's decision whether or not the information they access is appropriate for their child.

• Anti-libertyHB 278relative to proxy carbon pricing in state procurement.YEA ITL
  Why

  The bill requires that the "proxy carbon pricing" of transportation and heating and cooling services purchased by the Department of Administrative Services be considered when reviewing bids.

  * "Proxy carbon pricing" is the adding of the cost of carbon used to create a good or service to the price. It is a tool used by climate change activists to punish polluters:<br />– <a href=https://www.americanprogress.org/article/proxy-carbon-pricing>americanprogress.org/article/proxy-carbon-pricing</a>
  * The Department of Administrative Services should be using the real cost (in dollars) of services, and not inject an environmental agenda into their purchasing decisions.

• Pro-libertyHB 280relative to wage payments.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, removes state interference in the ability of employees to work with employers to determine acceptable methods of payment.

  * Existing RSA 275:43, I requires specific timing of wage payments as well as enumerating a limited list of state-accepted methods for payment. This bill retains the timing requirements but removes state-mandated payment methods and replaces them with a means of exchange that is agreed upon by both the employer and employee.
  * The bill increases economic freedom and reduces friction by allowing parties to agree upon alternate payment methods such as cryptocurrency, gold, silver, legacy debt-backed currency like the U.S. dollar, or other medium of exchange agreed to by both parties.

• Anti-libertyHB 290increasing the taxes on cigarettes and electronic cigarettes and establishing a committee to study taxes on tobacco and other nicotine products.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill dramatically increases taxes on certain products.

  * The New Hampshire Advantage exists in part due to our low taxes and as such, people from all over the Northeast and the country patronize New Hampshire.
  * The present tax rate on tobacco products is already uncharacteristically punitive of New Hampshire.

• Anti-libertyHB 344enables the processing of absentee ballots before election day.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill allows the counting of absentee ballots to begin up to one week before election day.

  * While this sounds like a good idea in order to increase the speed and accuracy of election results, having some ballots processed before election day could increase the risk of election interference.
  * In the unlikely event that information about the election results via absentee ballots leaks, it might affect election day turnout or unfairly sway the decision making of election day voters. By waiting until election day to count ballots, the chance of intentional or unintentional election interference is avoided.

• Anti-libertyHB 351requiring landlords to give tenants of at-will tenancies at least 60-days notice to evict.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill increases the number of days of notice a landlord is required to give their tenant before evicting them without cause. The current law is 30 days and this would extend that to 60 days.

  * Current law requires 30 days notice to end a rental agreement. That is a length of time that is fair to both parties. It balances the need of the tenant to find a new place to live with the right of a property owner to regain control of their property.

• Anti-libertyHB 386prohibiting nursing agencies from including non-compete clauses in contracts with health care entities.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill bans the use of non-compete agreements between health care providers and nurses.

  * Non-compete clauses are a normal practice in business negotiations for many industries, including healthcare. Businesses will often provide a contractor a better price when they know they are the only client they work for in their area or industry. Contractors have protection by knowing they are the only provider of that service for that client for the length of the agreement. This is an agreement willingly entered into by both parties; no one is being coerced to accept a non-compete agreement.

• Anti-libertyHB 442relative to prohibiting payment of subminimum wages.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill prohibits payment of a base wage different than standard minimum wage for tipped workers earning more than $30 per month.

  * When wages earned through tips are included, the workers receiving them often get paid much more than they would if they worked without tips at a minimum wage job. No worker is being denied their $7.25 hourly wage.
  * Tipped workers enter into these employment agreements voluntarily, fully knowing that a larger portion of their income comes from tips.
  * An unintended consequence of this bill could be that, because the employer would have to pay tipped workers a higher base wage, they might institute a "tip sharing" program where one hadn't previously existed. The result could be that the tipped worker would end up making <i>less</i> than they did before this misguided bill was implemented.

• Pro-libertyHB 474requiring a second witness at the counting of write-in votes.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, requires a second witness, who must be a sworn-in elected official, to be present as the votes for write-in ballots are counted.

  * The review and counting of write-in ballots is a much more subjective process than simply seeing which bubble a voter filled in. Having a witness present who is a sworn-in elected official adds additional accountability to this process and reduces the appearance of bias in the count.

• Anti-libertyHB 558creating a public county registry of the monthly rent charged by landlords for each owned unit and prohibiting landlords from using algorithms or software to determine rental rates.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires all landlords to report the rent currently paid by their tenants to their county. It also prohibits the use of software to determine rental rates.

  * The rental rate for a unit is a private contract between a landlord and their tenant and neither party should be required to give their county that private information.
  * The use of software to inform rental prices only serves to automate the pricing process. Landlords will still find this information if automation software is banned. They will just have to do it manually. That doesn't solve the problem of high rent.
  * Many people want to live in New Hampshire, but not enough units are being built to keep up with the growth in demand, forcing increases in rent. The problem is that many municipalities have planning and zoning regulations that limit where and how landowners can build homes.
  * If the Legislature wants to lower rental rates, it should pass laws that have the effect of significantly reducing those local planning and zoning regulations that limit where and how landowners can build homes, in order to facilitate the contruction of more market rate rental units.

• Anti-libertyHB 628prohibiting landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants holding certain vouchers under the housing choice voucher program.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill prevents landlords from preferring renters who are not paying with a housing voucher.

  * Section 8 housing vouchers require an additional regulatory burden when compared to a tenant paying their own rent in cash.
  * Landlords should not be forced into this type of more complicated rental arrangement if they do not prefer it.

• Pro-libertyHB 631permitting residential building in commercial zoning.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires local governments to allow multi-family residential development on commercially-zoned land.

  * This bill is pro-liberty because it expands the allowable uses for private property.
  * Local governments can still require retail or similar uses on the entire first floor of a development, making projects vertical mixed-use versus all-residential.
  * Appropriate development guardrails are in place. Adequate infrastructure, including roads, water, and sewage systems must be in place to allow for the expanded use.

• Pro-libertyHB 672to allow for off-grid electricity providers in New Hampshire.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  The bills allows for off-grid retail electricity generation within New Hampshire.

  * This legislation allows the creation of energy generation facilities that are not connected to the power grid. These facilities do not qualify as a public utility and are not under the oversight of the Public Utilities Commission.
  * Such operators would still be subject to rules governing proper construction, and local and state roadway laws.
  * Providing more opportunities for electricity generation will lead to new innovation in the energy industry.

• Pro-libertyHB 68making best interest placements within the same school district mandatory in the absence of a valid reason to deny the placement.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires that a superindendent place a student in another school when requested by their parent unless they can find it is not in the best interest of the student. It also requires the superintendent to notify the parent in writing within 10 days why their request was denied.

  * Giving parents more choice in their children's education is pro-liberty. This bill makes a presumption that a child should be placed in a new school unless the district has cause not to do it.
  * If the district does deny a request, having to justify that denial in writing is a common sense step to increase transparency and accountability.

• Anti-libertyHB 726relative to the state minimum hourly rate.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill establishes a state-dictated minimum wage that automatically elevates each year through January 2028.

  * Minimum wage laws decrease the number of entry-level jobs and make it harder for people of low skill to get their start in the workforce.
  * Higher wages for everyone are better accomplished through job creation — more jobs mean more competition to hire all workers.
  * Employers and employees should be free to negotiate the terms of employment without interference.
  * Economic conditions and cost of living vary dramatically across the state. A "one-size-fits-all" approach to a minimum wage will put unreasonable pressure on areas of the state with limited employment opportunities and lower costs of living.
  * The very idea of a minimum wage is patronizing and demeaning as it implies that individuals don't know how much they're worth and are incapable of negotiating with an employer.

• Pro-libertyHB 732to enhance informed consent and accountability in psychotropic drug prescriptions for children under Medicaid.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires medical care providers to review FDA medication guides with the parent or guardian before prescribing a psychotropic drug for a minor under Medicaid. The amendment better defines a parent or "state-designated caregiver" and what types of drugs are included.

  * Children should not be receiving medication without the approval of their parent or guardian.
  * This bill is a common sense solution to ensure children can get the medication they need, and that parents understand and approve of the care being given to their child.

24 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Anti-libertySB 122relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill removes the resource eligibility requirements and increases the income requirements to qualify for the Medicare Savings Program. No resources would be considered at all. Income for a qualified Medicare beneficiary (QMB) would increase from 100% to 185% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG). Income to qualify as a qualified individual increases from a maximum of 135% to 250% of FPG for partial Medicare benefits.

  * This bill completely removes the consideration of "resources" (cash savings accounts, investment accounts, second homes) from consideration when qualifying for the Medicare Savings Program. Even if someone has no income, these resources could provide financial support to a retired person and should be considered. This is true even if the person does not, or cannot work any longer.

• Anti-libertySB 128relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill creates a new agency, called the New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Association, and requires all health insurance companies to become assessed members and pay an assessment to the assocation to pay for in-home and out-of home behavioral health services.

  * The methodology in the bill describes this as a replacement for funds that are already being spent on behavioral health services through Medicaid. In essence, this shifts the financial burden from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to insurance companies to provide these services. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Insurance companies will be forced to pay for this mandate with higher insurance premiums for their ratepayers.

• Pro-libertySB 163prohibiting local moratoria and limitations on building permits.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill prevents local governments from banning new building permits.

  * Local opposition is a common roadblock to the construction of new homes. With New Hampshire in a housing shortage, municipal governments should be looking for ways to streamline the development process, rather than ways to impede it.
  * Local governments can still plan their communities through zoning, master plans, and capital improvement plans. They just cannot say no to all new development.

• Pro-libertySB 174prohibiting planning boards from considering the number of bedrooms a given unit or development has during the hearing and approval process.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill prevents local planning boards from denying a housing development based upon the number of bedrooms per unit.

  * Developers should be able to construct the homes they think are most likely to sell. It should not be up to the local government to specifically dictate the design of the homes, so long as they are built to code.
  * Local governments already have the ability to influence development through zoning decisions, master plans, and capital improvement plans.

• Anti-libertySB 274(New Title) establishing a 4-year pilot program to improve rail trails in New Hampshire, including the establishment of 2 funds, the rail trails program fund and the emergency trail repair fund, and making appropriations therefor.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill transfers ownership of 4 trails from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. It also issues 20-year state general obligation bonds for $7.2 million to pay for upgrades to the trails.

  * Our main objection to this bill is the funding mechanism, borrowing money via a 20-year bond. Rather than take on debt, if the State wishes to prioritize this project, they should fully fund the $7.2 million from the General Fund. If lawmakers are unwilling to allocate the funds through the budget, then they should not move forward with the trail improvements.
  * Funding aside, we have no issue with the transfer of the land.

• Pro-libertySB 276relative to raising the research and development tax credit.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill increases the cap on the Research and Development Tax Credit from $7 million to $10 million each year. The maximum any taxpayer may receive will increase from $50,000 to $100,000 per year.

  * Increasing this tax credit will increase new investment in research and development in New Hampshire.

• Pro-libertySB 284relative to the required maximum number of residential parking spaces.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill prevents a local legislative body from requiring more than 1 parking space per unit, or 1.5 spaces per unit for multifamily developments of at least 10 units and for workforce housing.

  * Excessive parking requirements are often a challenge in the development of housing, especially workforce housing.
  * Lowering this requirement makes starter homes more economical to build.

• Anti-libertySB 286creating the New Hampshire office of film and creative media.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill increases bureaucracy by creating a new Office of Film and Creative Media and three full-time positions that will increase state expenditures by at least $1 million.

  * The state government should not be in the business of solitciting the movie industry. By creating an attractive tax environment and maintaining the natural scenery, businesses of all industries, including film and creative media, will be attracted to New Hampshire.
  * Government subsidies and incentives for specific industries distort the market and undermine the efficiency of the free market, which should be the primary mechanism for economic growth.
  * The appropriation of public funds to promote a particular industry goes against the principles that government should not provide resources that should be handled by the private sector, nor pick sides and use taxpayer dollars to benefit particular industries, in spite of any (unproven) claims that the program "will benefit everyone".
  * At least 13 states have similar programs that do not bring in enough revenue to offset the cost to administer the program. NY brings in 31 cents for every dollar spent, Georgia brings in 19 cents per dollar spent, and Maryland only brings in 10 cents for every dollar spent: <br /><a href=https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/research/economic-impact-of-tax-incentive-programs.pdf>– tax.ny.gov/pdf/research/economic-impact-of-tax-incentive-programs.pdf</a><br /><a href=https://www.audits2.ga.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Film-Tax-Credit-Summary.pdf>– audits2.ga.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Film-Tax-Credit-Summary.pdf</a><br /><a href=https://dls.maryland.gov/pubs/prod/TaxFiscalPlan/Evaluation-of-the-Maryland-Film-Production-Activity-Tax-Credit.pdf>– dls.maryland.gov/pubs/prod/TaxFiscalPlan/Evaluation-of-the-Maryland-Film-Production-Activity-Tax-Credit.pdf</a>

• Pro-libertySB 84relative to zoning procedures concerning residential housing.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill prevents towns from requiring large lot size minimums for single family homes.

  * Property owners should be able to build homes at whatever density they believe the housing market will support.
  * This bill moves existing law in a pro-liberty direction by allowing a builder to construct more homes on their land.

11 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Pro-libertyHB 115relative to universal eligibility for the education freedom account program.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill eliminates the income requirement for Education Freedom Accounts. The proposed committee amendment reinstates the income requirement, but increases it from 350% to 400% of the poverty line.

  * This bill as introduced is pro-liberty. The amendment (2025-0651h), while a compromise from the original intent, is also pro-liberty. We prefer the original bill and ask the House to vote down the amendment and approve the bill as presented. This will be considered a pro-liberty vote even if approved as amended by the proposed committee amendment.
  * This bill expands the number of families who are afforded the freedom to choose the education they want for their children. Education freedom should not have an income requirement.

• Anti-libertyHB 123enabling municipalities to tax standing wood and timber on land used for carbon sequestration.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill taxes income earned from selling carbon sequestration rights on uncut timber.

  * Earning money by selling carbon credits is a form of income. Taxing a person earning money this way is an income tax. We oppose any tax on personal income, in any form.
  * New Hampshire already has the Business Profits Tax, for the case of a business earning money this way. There is no need for an additional tax above and beyond the BPT.

• Pro-libertyHB 149relative to warrant article approvals at ballot referenda form of town meeting.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill allows more options for voters approving warrant articles put on the ballot after a town meeting. Specifically, it puts the original and amended articles on the ballot, so voters can choose which they prefer.

  * Direct democracy is paramount in New Hampshire and as such, we have the deliberative session and local election process to operate our local government. This is a process unique to New Hampshire. While it is not the most efficient, it allows voters the greatest say in local decisions.
  * This bill affords voters an even greater say, by putting the original and amended version of warrant articles on the ballot. The end result will be better decisions.

• Anti-libertyHB 159authorizing the state to report mental health data for firearms background check purposes and providing for processes for confiscation of firearms following certain mental health-related court proceedings and for relief from mental health-related firearms disabilities.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill is a 'red flag law'. It compels the state to report mental health information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, for the purpose of denying an individual the right to bear arms.

  * A red flag law is any law that allows the government to take away the right to possess a firearm from a citizen who has committed no crime.
  * Mental health is hard to diagnose and is often subjective. The taking of a person's rights should not be based upon what might be subjective criteria.
  * Once a person is on this list and no longer able to bear arms, it is next to impossible to be removed from the list.
  * Often, mental health issues are acute (short term, temporary). Giving someone a lifetime ban on their right to bear arms based upon what might be a temporary issue is a violation of their civil rights.
  * An unintended consequence of this legislation is that those having firearms will not seek mental health treatment due to fear of their firearms being confiscated.
  * No state psychiatrist is going to risk their license for someone that they do not know and therefore the relief section is a mirage.
  * Rights are not applied for, therefore the individual's rights should be restored as soon as someone has been released from an involuntary commitment.

• Pro-libertyHB 319relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide transportation and meals for pupils in kindergarten.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill eliminates the requirement to provide meals and transportation for half-day kindergarten.

  * To provide transportation home for students who are only attending half of the day, buses would have to transport children home twice — once for the half-day kids and again for the full-day kids. This is unnecessary and expensive.
  * School districts could still offer this if they choose to, but it would no longer be a mandate.
  * Parents should be providing meals for their children, not the government.

• Pro-libertyHB 365relative to proof of United States citizenship for indigent voters.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill provides vouchers for indigent voters who cannot prove that they are United States citizens for the purpose of registering to vote.

  * Ensuring free and fair elections is important to our democracy. To that end, all voters should be able to prove that they are United States citizens in order to register to vote.
  * This bill allows the poorest among us to get state assistance, including financial assistance, to obtain the documents necessary to prove they are legally allowed to vote.

• Anti-libertyHB 521authorizing online voter registration.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill allows for residents to register to vote online.

  * Online voter registration has the potential to be abused. New Hampshire citizens should be required to register in person to reduce the chances of someone manipulating our elections.

• Anti-libertyHB 536relative to a cost of living adjustment in the state retirement system.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill provides a pay increase of 1.5% to all retirees who have been retired for 5 years, up to $750.

  * Cost of living adjustments have traditionally been granted when funds are available. To avoid that limit, this bill funds the COLA by taking out a 20 year mortgage and charging the employer, overwhelmingly local school districts.

• Anti-libertyHB 572establishing the "partners in housing" program, a low-interest loan and grant program under the housing champions fund to assist municipalities, counties, and developers in building workforce housing.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill creates a special program to build workforce housing on publicly-owned land.

  * Instead of this bill, local governments could simply sell their excess land to developers and let them develop it. The government does not need to be a stakeholder in workforce housing, and in fact could benefit financially from the sale of land.

• Pro-libertyHB 581establishing a state retirement plan group for new state employee members of the retirement system.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill creates a new group of state employees for those who start working for the state after July 1, 2025. Those employees would have a defined contribution retirement. The amendment pushes back the implementation date by 6 months to January 1, 2026.

  * We support the original bill, as introduced, without the amendment.
  * The amendment to the bill (2025-0502h) is also pro-liberty, but is a less desirable outcome. While we prefer that the House approve the bill as introduced, without the amendment, we will consider Yea OTP/A as a pro-liberty vote.
  * A defined contribution retirement (similar to a 401k or an IRA) aligns public employee retirement with what is typically offered by the private sector.
  * This bill reduces the potential future liability the state would have to pay for public employee retirement.

• Anti-libertyHB 59relative to the assault of a firefighter, emergency medical care provider, or law enforcement officer.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill establishes new crimes of assault against a first responder. It allows for the revocation of bail using a "probable cause" standard.

  * We would remove our objection if the standard for bail was changed from "probable cause" to "preponderance of evidence". The probable cause standard is fine for certain types of searches through the course of normal police work, but when a person will be held against their will without being found guilty of a crime, there should be more evidence than not, to indicate that they are a danger to the community.

• Anti-libertyHB 592relative to magistrates and the standards applicable to and the administration of bail.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill rolls back due process protections for citizens accused, but not convicted, of a crime.

  * This bill does many things that are bad for civil liberties.
  * The bill and the majority amendment eliminate the newly established magistrate system. These magistrates work on weekends to ensure that citizens arrested but presumed innocent of crimes can get a decision on bail within 24 hours in most cases. By eliminating the magistrates, citizens who are arrested on a Friday and presumed innocent must spend the weekend in jail (probably 3 nights).
  * The bill and majority amendment lower the threshold required to keep a citizen in jail pending trial. The current standard is "preponderance of the evidence" (more likely than not) that they are a danger to the community. This bill proposes "probable cause" (it's possible) that they are dangerous. This will result in more citizens, who are presumed innocent, being in jail while they are tried for their crime.
  * The majority amendment seeks to use mental health diagnoses as a consideration when keeping a citizen in jail without bail. Being depressed would not be uncommon after getting arrested. It should not be a reason that people are held without bail.

• Pro-libertyHB 639relative to the use of and disputes over blockchain and digital currencies.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill seeks to encourage the growth of the digital asset industry in New Hampshire. It codifies the legal use of blockchain technology for commerce. It also codifies rules for digital currency mining.

  * Most of the practices being written into law by this bill are already legal; this bill protects blockchain businesses from being banned by local governments.
  * The bill protects the privacy of private keys, a central tenet to allowing the free use of digital assets.

• Anti-libertyHB 646requiring school districts to establish an online application for participation in the free and reduced price meal program.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill mandates school districts to have online applications for free or reduced meals.

  * The implementation of this bill is very expensive. It allocates $1 million to provide just the software to school districts to implement it.
  * Many school districts already have online applications.
  * Parents should be providing meals for their children, not the government.

• Anti-libertyHB 669relative to requiring all revenue raised under the statewide education property tax to be deposited in the education trust fund, and setting an equalized statewide tax rate.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires that funds earmarked for education that are collected by a local government be transmitted to the state.

  * Current law allows so-called SWEPT (Statewide Education Property Tax) funds to be held by a local government to be used for local education expenses and the state just takes note of how much. No money is transferred to the state and then subsequently transferred back to the local government.
  * This bill requires that money to be transferred to the state, in essence relinquishing control over those funds to the state.

• Pro-libertyHB 675increasing the total revenue raised under the statewide education property tax, requiring municipalities to remit excess statewide education property tax payments to the department of revenue administration, limiting the authority of school districts to make certain appropriations, and increasing base adequacy costs per pupil.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, establishes a spending cap for school districts.

  * School spending, and as a result local property taxes, have exploded in the last several years. Putting a cap on school spending will rein in this spending problem and require districts to live within their means.
  * The bill includes the ability to override the cap with a 2/3 vote.

• Anti-libertyHB 703relative to prohibiting school districts from denying meals to students with unpaid meal balances, and making an appropriation therefor.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill prohibits denying a student a meal because of unpaid school meal debt.

  * This bill puts the New Hampshire taxpayers on the hook for the debt associated with children whose families do not pay the debt for the meals that they eat.
  * Parents should be providing meals for their children, not the government.

• Anti-libertyHB 714creating a single primary ballot.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill creates a "blanket primary" where all candidates regardless of their political party are listed on a single ballot.

  * Political parties are private associations and have a right to choose their own candidates for election. It should be their decision to open their process to non-party members.
  * On a more practical note, policies like this one are pitched as a way to elect more moderate candidates. In reality, implementing the blanket primary (like in California) has led to little change in the political makeup of the state delegations.

• Pro-libertyHB 87prohibiting the posting of land not owned by the poster.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill makes it a crime to post on someone else's land without permission.

  * Private property is private. No one should be able to use that land for any purpose without the consent of the property owner.
  * While this bill addresses posting more generally, it would include political signs posted without permission on another person's property.

21 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Anti-libertySB 144authorizing the state to report mental health data for firearms background check purposes and providing for processes for confiscation of firearms following certain mental health-related court proceedings and for relief from mental health-related firearms disabilities.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill is a 'red flag law'. It compels the state to report mental health information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, for the purpose of denying an individual the right to bear arms.

  * A red flag law is any law that allows the government to take away the right to possess a firearm from a citizen who has committed no crime.
  * Mental health is hard to diagnose and is often subjective. The taking of a person's rights should not be based upon what might be subjective criteria.
  * Once a person is on this list and no longer able to bear arms, it is next to impossible to be removed from the list.
  * Often, mental health issues are acute (short term, temporary). Giving someone a lifetime ban on their right to bear arms based upon what might be a temporary issue is a violation of their civil rights.
  * An unintended consequence of this legislation is that gun owners with mental health issues will not seek help due to fear of their firearms being confiscated.

• Anti-libertySB 176relative to the state minimum hourly rate.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

  * This bill violates the liberty of workers and employers to set the terms of employment by more than doubling the minimum wage rate.
  * The result of recent minimum wage increases, like the 2024 increase in California to $20 for fast food workers, has led to job loss and cutting of hours for employees (<a href=https://hoover.org/research/high-minimum-wage-laws-hurt-many-workers>hoover.org/research/high-minimum-wage-laws-hurt-many-workers</a>).

• Anti-libertySB 203relative to administration of the education freedom accounts program.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires that households who participate in the Education Freedom Accounts program meet income qualifications each year.

  * Current law states that once a student is approved for an Education Freedom Account, they do not need to qualify again. This bill rolls that back and requires families to meet the financial requirements each year.
  * This bill encourages families not to increase their income beyond 350% of the poverty line. It effectively incentivizes them not to accept promotions, not to re-enter the workforce, and not to work more hours if they so desire, exclusively in order to maintain their EFA eligibility.

• Anti-libertySB 205requiring schools to offer free or reduced cost breakfast and lunch to children who meet federal income eligibility guidelines.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires schools to provide 2 meals per day (breakfast and lunch) to low-income students.

  * Current law requires that only 1 meal per day be provided. This bill requires lunch and also breakfast if school is not delayed. This is a doubling of the existing free-and-reduced-meal mandate.
  * Schools should not provide lunches at all. Parents should be responsible for feeding their children, not the government.

• Anti-libertySB 207requiring the department of education to administer the education freedom account program.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill moves management of Education Freedom Accounts from a private contractor (the Children’s Scholarship Fund NH) to the Department of Education.

  * There have been no issues with the management of Education Freedom Accounts. This is an attempt to gain control of the program and increase government bureaucracy.
  * This is a solution in search of the problem. The current system works fine and is more cost-effective than having the government run it.

• Anti-libertySB 214enabling no-excuse absentee registration and voting.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill removes the requirement of having a reason to request an absentee ballot, paving the way for ballot harvesting.

  * Ballot harvesting is the process of collecting and delivering absentee ballots. It is dominated by special interests and is enabled by weak absentee voting laws.
  * Efforts to weaken absentee requirements put less power into the hands of voters and more power into the hands of special interests who seek to influence the outcome of free and fair elections.

• Anti-libertySB 293relative to using enrollment in Medicaid as a measure of eligibility for school lunches.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill increases school funding by defining more students as economically disadvantaged.

  * Between 2001-2019, public schools in New Hampshire increased their total expenditures per student on an inflation-adjusted basis by 66.8 percent, from $11,336 in 2001 to $18,905 in 2019. This means that New Hampshire public school students had 66.8 percent more in inflation-adjusted taxpayer funding devoted to their education in 2019 than in 2001 (<a href=https://jbartlett.org/2025/01/higher-spending-lower-results-why-more-money-doesnt-equal-better-schools/>jbartlett.org/2025/01/higher-spending-lower-results-why-more-money-doesnt-equal-better-schools</a>).
  * Despite massive increases to the amount of funding for public education, some lawmakers continue to advocate for throwing more money at the problem.
  * Rather than increasing funding, lawmakers and state agencies should be finding ways to live within their means.

• Pro-libertySB 295expanding the number of students eligible for education freedom accounts.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill removes the income eligibility requirements for Education Freedom Accounts; however, the amendment caps the number of EFA recipents to 10,000 children in 2025-2026.

  * Education Freedom Accounts allow parents to have a say in how their children are educated by directing tax dollars to the education of the parents' choosing.
  * The amendment caps the number of children who get education freedom at 10,000 in school year 2025-2026. It's not really education freedom if you have to win a lottery to get it.
  * We recommend that the Senate vote down the amendment and pass SB295 as introduced.
  * While we prefer the bill as introduced, the amended bill is also considered pro-liberty.

• Anti-libertySB 83establishing an elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf property tax exemption reimbursement fund, authorizing video lottery terminals, renaming the lottery commission, and creating a voluntary statewide self-exclusion database.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill legalizes video lottery terminals, but gives most of the revenue generated to the pension fund for Police and Firefighters.

  * We support the legalization of video lottery terminals.
  * We oppose the majority of the state's revenue from them being earmarked for the Group II pension fund. This eliminates the discretion of lawmakers to make the best use of those funds.
  * The funds should go to local governments (via the elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf property tax exemption reimbursement fund) or to the state General Fund.

• Pro-libertySB 84relative to zoning procedures concerning residential housing.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill prevents towns from requiring large lot size minimums for single family homes.

  * Property owners should be able to build homes at whatever density they believe the housing market will support.
  * This bill moves existing law in a pro-liberty direction by allowing a builder to construct more homes on their land.

• Pro-libertySB 97relative to intra-district public school transfers.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill allows parents to transfer their children to another public school, public academy, or an approved private school within their resident district as long as such school has the capacity to accommodate the student. It also allows the transfer of students to a school outside of the district when it's in the best interest of the student.

  * School choice is paramount to the success of public education. If parents have the ability to change schools, teachers and administrators are effectively in competition with other schools for their students. Competition will yield a better result for the student.
  * This bill makes capacity at a transfer school within the district the only criteria; administrators do not have the discretion to deny a request except for being out of space for new students at a school.
  * Transfers to another district require that there is a benefit for the student's academic, physical, personal, or social needs.

9 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Pro-libertyHB 208relative to certification requirements for school nurses. YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, refines the requirements for school nurses, allowing superintendents and school boards to select candidates from a broader pool of qualified candidates.

  * With the proposed committee amendment, the only state mandate remaining to allow a school board to consider a nurse is that they are a registered professional nurse currently licensed by the Board of Nursing in New Hampshire. While this is also a requirement under current law, the existing RSA places significant additional hurdles that must be cleared, creating an artificial scarcity in the pool of qualified candidates.
  * There is no evidence that the existing additional barriers to entry increase the safety of students; further, with these barriers being currently in place, we may be excluding candidates who ultimately are more qualified in areas that matter, such as ability to demonstrate healthy life choices.

• Pro-libertyHB 224relative to rebates to ratepayers from the renewable energy fund.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill rebates excess funds from the renewable energy fund back to ratepayers.

  * If the fund is not using all of the money allocated to it, then the remainder should be refunded.

• Anti-libertyHB 245establishing the speed enforcement and awareness fund and providing for grants to municipal law enforcement for speed enforcement and speed awareness traffic equipment.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill creates a dedicated fund for the purchase of speed enforcement equipment, funded by speeding tickets.

  * Nothing prevents the Department of Safety from making investments today from the General Fund to increase speeding enforcement.
  * The creation of a new fund and the associated bureaucracy increase the size and scope of government. We should instead be working on reducing government bureaucracy.

• Anti-libertyHB 305relative to speed and red-light cameras for traffic enforcement.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill allows for the installation of speed and traffic monitoring cameras.

  * Drivers of New Hampshire should be able to use public roads without being recorded.
  * In some cases, like traveling to one's employment or home, there may be only one route to get there. Installing a camera on that route gives people the uncomfortable choice of giving up their privacy or quitting their job and moving. No one should be required to make that choice.

• Anti-libertyHB 378relative to an employee's unused earned time.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires employers to compensate employees who are involuntarily terminated for their unused vacation time.

  * This bill is government injecting itself into the private contract between an employer and their employee.
  * Vacation time is not a wage. It is the opportunity to collect one's normal wage while not working and on vacation. It should not be required to have any cash value.

• Anti-libertyHB 419requiring vehicle headlights to be on when windshield wipers are also on.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires that a driver's headlights must be on when their windshield wipers are on.

  * The use of headlights and the use of wipers are required for different reasons. Headlights are needed to see in the dark and windshield wipers are needed to clean your windshield. One does not necessarily require the other.
  * This is just another reason for a police officer to pull someone over.

• Pro-libertyHB 484relative to reallocation or repurposing of career and technical education classroom space by local school districts.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill allows for reallocation or repurposing of career and technical education classroom space by local school districts.

  * Making better use of existing resources is a preferable alternative to requesting new resources.
  * Spending on education has already increased signficantly in the last decade. As the state looks for areas to do more with less, this is a great example of how to do that.

• Anti-libertyHB 503amending how revenues from taxes are allocated to the education trust fund.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill increases several taxes to increase funding for public education.

  * Between 2001-2019, public schools in New Hampshire increased their total expenditures per student on an inflation-adjusted basis by 66.8 percent, from $11,336 in 2001 to $18,905 in 2019. This means that New Hampshire public school students had 66.8 percent more in inflation-adjusted taxpayer funding devoted to their education in 2019 than in 2001 (<a href=https://jbartlett.org/2025/01/higher-spending-lower-results-why-more-money-doesnt-equal-better-schools/>jbartlett.org/2025/01/higher-spending-lower-results-why-more-money-doesnt-equal-better-schools</a>).
  * Despite massive increases to the amount of funding for public education, some lawmakers continue to advocate for throwing more money at the problem.
  * Rather than increasing taxes, lawmakers and state agencies should be finding ways to live within their means.

• Anti-libertyHB 515repealing the chartered public school eligibility for state school building aid.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill removes charter schools from eligibility for state school building aid funding.

  * This bill is a clear attack on charter schools, which have the exact same need for building aid funding as district schools.
  * Charter schools are public schools and should not be treated differently than district schools.

• Pro-libertyHB 524repealing the New Hampshire vaccine association.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill eliminates the state program that requires health insurance companies to prepay for vaccines for children.

  * There is no reason for the state to be involved in vaccine distribution.
  * The present statute exacts taxes from businesses to fund the non-state portion of the vaccine purchasing program; this bill would eliminate those taxes.
  * While the state would lose $24 million in revenue by canceling this program, the bill would reduce a large bureaucracy. The loss of the $24 million is offset by not having to expend the same amount managing a drug purchasing program for private clinics and hospitals.
  * Vaccines are already covered in full by every insurance provider, and children without insurance have free vaccines available from the CDC. The Vaccine Association does nothing to increase the availability of vaccines.

• Pro-libertyHB 54allowing alternative treatment centers to operate for-profit.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows alternative medical cannabis centers to operate as for-profit entities.

  * This bill creates more opportunity for the private, personal use of medical cannabis.

• Anti-libertyHB 542relative to weekly benefit amounts for unemployment compensation.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill increases the amount paid in unemployment benefits.

  * Unemployment benefits are a type of insurance paid by employers. If more money is being drawn from the fund, then the rate charged to employers will go up.
  * Unemployment disincentivizes individuals from working. Increasing the benefit worsens the problem.

• Anti-libertyHB 583relative to state participation in the Medicaid direct certification program for free and reduced price school meals.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill allows school administrators to sign up families for free or reduced meals instead of the family doing it themselves.

  * The bill expands government intervention, increases reliance on state assistance, and raises privacy concerns due to increased data-sharing between agencies.
  * It is extremely hubristic and entirely inappropriate for school administrators to sign up families without permission.
  * Schools should not even be providing lunches for students at all. That is the job of their parents.

• Pro-libertyHB 591expanding hours for keno gaming on weekends.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows Keno to be played in the morning on weekends.

  * Adults should be allowed to gamble.
  * Assuming there is demand for Keno in the mornings, expansion of the hours of play is pro-liberty.

• Anti-libertyHB 596relative to reporting requirements for entities that collect meals and rooms taxes.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires businesses to report their collections of Meals and Rooms Tax on a per town basis.

  * This bill creates an unnecessary new compliance requirement for businesses, towns, and the Department of Revenue Administration.

• Pro-libertyHB 649removing the requirement for physical safety inspections and on-board diagnostic tests for passenger vehicles and eliminating funding for the motor vehicle air pollution abatement fund.Support
  Why

  This bill removes the requirement for annual state inspections for passenger vehicles.

  * Vehicle safety inspections are unnecessary and do not lead to safer roads. What they do create is the opportunity for auto mechanics to generate revenue by recommending repairs that may or may not be needed.
  * At least 34 states have no requirement for periodic safety inspections, including states with harsh winters including Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Illinois, and California. (<a href=https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/vehicle-inspections-by-state/>www.kbb.com/car-advice/vehicle-inspections-by-state</a>)
  * Concerns about loss of federal funding are baseless as there is no federal requirement for safety inspections, and emissions inspection guidance is limited to metropolitan areas that do not exist in New Hampshire. Even California does not require annual emissions testings in all parts of the state and limits it only to regions that have systemic issues meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
  * Others have raised concerns that garages and mechanics may go out of business as a result of this; however, it is not the role of the state to mandate that people buy services thay they don't otherwise need simply to act as a jobs program.

• Pro-libertyHB 723repealing the multi-use energy data platform.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill repeals a 2019 law requiring the creation of the state energy data platform.

  * The law to create this platform was passed in 2019. In the past 6 years, the Public Utilities Commission has not built it.
  * Most, if not all energy providers already offer some or all of this information to their customers.

• Anti-libertyHB 724relative to lead paint poisoning prevention and remediation.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill creates new, costly regulations for lead abatement in older homes.

  * Even the best lead mitigations cannot guarantee that future lead exposure will not happen.
  * Homeowners will be required to incur large expenses for lead mitigation without necessarily fixing the problem of lead exposure.

• Anti-libertyHB 744relative to workers' compensation indemnity benefits percentage.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill increases the payout for workers' compensation benefits.

  * The increase in cost for workers' compensation will be at least $29 million, and will be paid for in higher premiums for employers.

• Anti-libertyHB 751relative to certification of alcohol and other substance misuse treatment facilities.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill creates a new certification program for alcohol and substance abuse treatment facilities. It comes with new fees for operators.

  * This is an expansion of government to provide oversight over a previously independent industry. More government is not the solution.
  * In order to fund this new bureaucracy, the facilities will be charged a fee to pay for the administration that certifies them.

• Anti-libertyHB 756relative to establishing a blood lead level testing requirement for children entering daycare and public schools.Oppose
  Why

  This bill requires that children entering daycare and public school be tested for lead exposure. It also requires that schools keep records about the tests.

  * Lead paint has been banned since 1978 and has not been used in residential construction since then.
  * Children are already required to be tested at age 1 and age 2 for lead exposure. This legislation is unnecessary.

• Anti-libertyHB 770relative to establishing a program to earn tuition credits for state of New Hampshire higher education institutions through community service.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill establishes a new program to allow students to earn college credits for volunteering while in high school.

  * It's unclear how volunteering in high school contributes to completing a college degree.
  * The program will create new recurring costs at a time when agencies should be looking to do more with less, not create new expenses.

• Pro-libertyHB 771relative to funding for open enrollment schools.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill requires school districts that lose students to an open enrollment school to have a line item in their budget to pay the open enrollment school for that student's tuition.

  * If a student chooses to go to a different school than the one they are assigned, their education dollars should follow them to that school.

• Pro-libertyHB 94relative to coverage of circumcision under the state Medicaid plan.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill removes coverage under Medicaid for circumcision unless it's medically necessary.

  * Tax dollars should not be spent on procedures that are elective. Circumcision is almost never medically necessary, and would still be covered in the rare cases that it happens to be.

17 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Pro-libertySB 141extending the time to petition for a new trial in certain cases.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows for new exceptions to the time limit for new trials.

  * If new evidence exists in a criminal conviction, there should always be the option to request a new trial.

• Anti-libertySB 158raising the funding cap for the New Hampshire community development finance authority.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill increases the annual funding of grants for the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) from $5 million to $10 million.

  * During a budget crisis, the substantial amount being given to the CDFA is fiscally irresponsible.
  * Many of the CDFA projects fall into 3 categories: low income housing, downtown revitalization, or nonprofit program support.
  * The solution to the New Hampshire housing crisis is to significantly reduce local planning and zoning regulations that limit where and how landowners can build homes in order to facilitate the construction of more market rate housing, not to subsidize low-income housing.
  * Downtown revitalization projects should be funded by the local town, not the state.
  * Nonprofits should be able to operate their programs through private donations or user fees, not through government subsidies.

• Pro-libertySB 168regulating online gambling and directing net proceeds to the education trust fund, the general fund, and to reimburse municipalities for elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf tax exemptions.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill legalizes online gambling.

  * Adults should be allowed to gamble online.

• Pro-libertySB 188allowing independent permitting and inspections, and allowing local governments to authorize licensed engineers and architects to perform building code inspections.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill allows cities to use private inspectors for building code inspections.

  * This bill should significantly reduce the time spent waiting for an inspection to be completed on developments.
  * It requires that towns pass on the cost savings to the fee payers of the inspections, saving money in the development process.

• Anti-libertySB 219requiring the secretary of state to enter into a membership agreement with the Electronic Registration Information Center.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill shares a large amount of information about private citizens with agencies in other states.

  * This bill collects and shares a treasure trove of information about New Hampshire voters with out-of-state entities and presents a privacy risk.

• Anti-libertySB 239requiring the general fund to cover the costs of the fish and game department retirement contributions and technology services.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill bails out the Fish and Game Department because they went over their budget, specifically for healthcare for retirees and for technology.

  * The solution to a state agency going over budget is not to bail them out with additional state spending.
  * The solution is to ask the agency to fix their budget and live within their means.

• Anti-libertySB 242relative to the cost of living adjustments for certain group II retirees in the New Hampshire retirement system.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill provides a cost of living adjustment of $100 million to certain retired state employees.

  * The governor has proposed a budget that cuts $150 million dollars in this biennium. It is fiscally irresponsible for the Senate to simultaneously propose a spending bill for $100 million.

• Anti-libertySB 267relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill creates a $500 fine for being a patron of a prostitute.

  * The sale of sex acts between consenting adults should be legal.

• Pro-libertySB 34relative to parental consent for student participation in Medicaid to schools program.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill requires parental consent before a student in a school may receive medical or dental treatment from Medicaid.

  * Parents should make healthcare decisions for their children, not educators or administrators.

• Anti-libertySB 54relative to refusal of consent to testing to determine alcohol concentration and penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill increases the penalty for refusing to submit to an alcohol concentration test during a traffic stop.

  * Police officers should be required to have probable cause prior to testing a person's alcohol level. Merely being in violation of a minor traffic law should not constitute justification for what normally amounts to an illegal search.
  * This bill goes in the wrong direction. Instead of rolling back this illegal search, it increases the penalty for non-compliance.

• Pro-libertySB 84relative to zoning procedures concerning residential housing.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill prevents towns from requiring large lot size minimums for single family homes.

  * Property owners should be able to build homes at whatever density they believe the housing market will support.
  * This bill moves existing law in a pro-liberty direction by allowing a builder to construct more homes on their land.

17 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard

• Pro-libertyHB 107relative to political advertising printed in newspapers, periodicals, or billboards.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill no longer requires political advertising in newspapers, magazines, and billboards to be marked as political advertising.

  * Voters are smart and can determine on their own that an advertisement is political.
  * In practice, the compliance burden has fallen on publishers, not candidates, to mark advertisements as political.

• Anti-libertyHB 169relative to a quorum of the public utilities commission.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill creates a 2/3 majority requirement for the Public Utilities Commission. According to the fiscal note, to meet the requirements of the bill, a "special commissioner" would likely need to be hired, who would be paid up to $150,000 to be on call for meetings during business hours. The bill also defines the Public Utilities Commission as a regulator.

  * This bill would create an unnecessary paid position on the Public Utilities Commission.
  * Increasing the quorum requirements might hinder the regular functioning of the committee by making it more difficult to have meetings.

• Pro-libertyHB 207relative to repealing the prohibition on the possession or sale of blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles except by or to minors.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows adults to possess and sell blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles.

  * These types of weapons are also covered by the protections of the Second Amendment and Article 2-a.
  * Adults should have the freedom to access tools like these for self-defense, if they so choose.

• Anti-libertyHB 255increasing the percentage of revenue deposited in the education trust fund from the business profits tax.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill increases the amount of business profits tax allocated to the Education Trust Fund, thereby reducing the amount allocated to the General Fund. It locks in additional spending for education.

  * Guaranteeing more money for education through this bill funnels money away from the General Fund and prioritizes education at the expense of the other state agencies receiving money from the General Fund.
  * Questions about the level of funding for education are best handled through the budget process, and not through the change proposed in this bill.

• Anti-libertyHB 282increasing the maximum benefits for first responders critically injured in the line of duty.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill increases the maximum workers' compensation benefit for first responders from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per biennium.

  * This bill increases the state's liability in paying out workers' compensation benefits for first responders, which come from the General Fund.
  * The highest recent payout was $350,000, well below the existing cap.

• Anti-libertyHB 287requiring police departments to provide fire departments with certain motorist personal and insurance information following a motor vehicle incident.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill compels police departments to share private information about motorists with fire departments.

  * All citizens have a right to privacy, including privacy for their personal information. Sharing information with other government agencies without a clear bonafide government purpose is a violation of that privacy.

• Anti-libertyHB 299relative to the award of attorneys' fees and costs in workers' compensation claims.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bills allows for the payment of attoneys fees for workers' compensation claims.

  * Adding additional cost to workers' compensation claims will lead to higher insurance rates. Workers' compensation premiums are paid by business owners, so this will lead to additional cost for businesses.
  * Attorneys can already get paid for their fees when representing an appeal.

• Anti-libertyHB 318relative to the percentage of revenue from the business enterprise tax deposited in the education trust fund.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill increases the amount of business enterprise tax allocated to the Education Trust Fund, thereby reducing the amount allocated to the General Fund. It locks in additional spending for education.

  * Guaranteeing more money for education through this bill funnels money away from the General Fund and prioritizes education at the expense of the other state agencies receiving money from the General Fund.
  * Questions about the level of funding for education are best handled through the budget process, and not through the change proposed in this bill.

• Anti-libertyHB 352prohibiting possession of a firearm at a polling place.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill bans firearms at polling places.

  * This bill restricts a citizen from legally exercising their right to bear arms while simultaneously exercising their right to vote.

• Anti-libertyHB 368prohibiting smoking and e-cigarettes in motor vehicles when a passenger is under 16 years of age.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill would not allow adults to smoke in their own car when someone under 16 is present.

  * Parents are in charge of the safety of their own children. The state should not supplant their role as the parent.
  * This is a slippery slope leading to banning a multitude of other behaviors deemed inappropriate in front of children.

• Pro-libertyHB 381exempting firearms and firearm accessories manufactured for in-state use only from the National Firearm Act.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows for guns completely manufactured and used within the state to avoid national firearms laws.

  * This bill is carefully written to prevent the commerce clause in the United States Constitution from giving the federal government the authority to regulate firearms.

• Anti-libertyHB 502relative to complete corporate reporting for unitary businesses under the business profits tax and revenues from the state education property tax.YEA ITL
  Why

  The bills penalizes international businesses with a presence in New Hampshire who take advantage of variations in tax rules offered by other countries. It does this by eliminating the existing "water's edge" method of taxing international corporations and replacing it with the complete corporate reporting method.

  * Any smart business takes the appropriate steps to lower their expenses, including tax liability. Sometimes they do this by having a presence in other towns, states, or countries. It's smart business to do that.
  * Rather than penalize these businesses for acting in their best interest, governments should seek to emulate the preferred jurisdictions to bring that economic activity back to New Hampshire.

• Pro-libertyHB 504relative to the state energy policy.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill updates the mission of New Hampshire energy policy. It adds additional language supporting free market principles and streamlining regulations to produce low cost energy.

  * The bill promotes energy independence by removing regulatory barriers and allowing market forces to drive innovation and efficiency, which is in line with the principles of free market solutions.
  * By focusing on reliable and affordable energy without favoring specific technologies, the bill supports a competitive energy market, enhancing economic freedom.
  * The policy's emphasis on market principles for energy conservation and efficiency aligns with the belief that voluntary market-driven solutions are superior to government mandates.

• Pro-libertyHB 508relative to decreasing assessment rates for entities providing VoIP and IP-enabled services, as well as certain local exchange carriers and their affiliates.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill lowers a fee charged to sellers of landline phones from 33% to 10%.

  * The Public Utilities Commission recently reduced the amount of oversight and compliance required for landline phones. As a result the need for this fee has significantly reduced.

• Pro-libertyHB 53permitting qualifying patients and designated caregivers to cultivate cannabis for therapeutic use.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill allows patients and caregiviers to grow therapeutic cannibis at home.

  * The personal, private use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * This bill allows for restricted home cultivation, which is a step in the right direction toward legalization.

• Anti-libertyHB 56requiring a background check and mandatory waiting period during certain firearm transfers.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill infringes on the Second Amendment and Article 2-a by adding a 72 hour waiting period in the private party sale of a firearm.

  * This is a major infringement against the Second Amendment, Article 2-a, property rights, and the ability to defend oneself.

• Anti-libertyHB 586establishing an employee assistance program for small town first responders and making an appropriation therefor.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill expands access to the State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) including the hiring of additional staff.

  * In the midst of a tight budget environment, the state should be looking for budget efficiencies.
  * Some aspects of what this bill intends to achieve are already covered by workers' compensation benefits.

• Pro-libertyHB 66relative to material subject to disclosure under the right to know law.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill, with the proposed committee amendment, expands the "Right-To-Know" law.

  * Increasing access to public documents is a great step forward for transparency.
  * This bill includes appropriate guardrails to mostly limit requests to New Hampshire residents, taxpayers, and the media.
  * This bill allows for electronic requests for documents.
  * Note: While we support the bill, we suggest an amendment to more narrowly define media. As written, any self-described member of the media worldwide can make a Right-To-Know request electronically. This may prove to be a burden for some government bodies.

• Pro-libertyHB 682relative to the office of offshore wind industry, the offshore and port development commission, and the office of energy innovation.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill repeals the offshore wind industry workforce training center committee and the offshore and port development commission.

  * If offshore wind is a viable energy source, it should not require govenment intervention to sustain it.

• Pro-libertyHB 75legalizing cannabis for persons 21 years of age or older.NAY ITL
  Why

  This bill allows adults the freedom to use cannabis.

  * The personal, private use of cannabis should be legal for all adults.
  * Continuing to criminalize the use of cannabis perpetuates an unsafe black market providing profit to criminals.

11 bills with no position.

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• Anti-libertyHB 201prohibiting the removal of claws from cats.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill creates a substantial fines for declawing a cat.

  * Interferes with a cat owner's ability to make choices appropriate for their cats and their particular familial situation.

• Anti-libertyHB 203relative to coast guard approved personal flotation devices while on New Hampshire state waters.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires people to wear a life vest when using state waters.

  * Adults should make their own decision about whether a life vest is needed when they are using state waters.
  * Parents can make this decision for their children without the state mandating it.

• Pro-libertyHB 238prohibiting collective bargaining agreements from requiring employees join or contribute to a labor union.YEA OTP
  Why

  his bill allows employees to opt out of paying union dues, also known as
  'Right-To-Work' legislation.

  * The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) contains several coercive mechanisms that infringe upon the rights of workers and business owners. Among these are section 9(a), which mandates exclusive representation by a single union and mandates that the union representative is given opportunity to be present at grievance adjustment between employers and employees even if the employee does not wish that the representative is present. In addition, it forces employers to recognize and bargain collectively with unions following a majority vote of their workforces.
  * Right-to-work is the only way currently permitted under federal law to restore some of the freedom of dissenting workers and their employers to withhold support from unions with whom they disagree. While this bill interferes with freedom of contract, it does so in a way intended to remedy current, more egregious constraints on freedom of contract.
  * "...when it came to earning more than nonunion workers, union members in right-to-work states actually out-performed those in non-right-to-work states." (news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-la
  w-analysis/analysis-are-unions-really-weaker-in-right-to-work-states). This is potentially due to the incentive for unions to be more responsive to their members' needs when they are not compelled to join.

• Anti-libertyHB 332allowing for the establishment of a village district to protect and remediate surface waters.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill establishes a new local district for protection and remediation of surface water quality.

  * Creates a new, unnecessary layer of local government.
  * The purpose of this new layer of local government would likely mean the taking of rights from private landowners whose property touches the body of water.

• Anti-libertyHB 334relative to the comprehensive state development plan.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill adds provisions to the comprehensive state development plan concerning protecting natural resources and identifying environmental threats.

  * Existing regulatory authority is more than adequate to protect our state's natural resources.
  * The state already has the capacity to identify environmental threats.
  * The inclusion of vague objectives such as, "to anticipate possible future threats", promotes wasteful expenditures and further unnecessary regulatory expansion.

• Anti-libertyHB 422increasing penalties for violations of the shoreland and water quality protection act.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill triples the base penalty for violations from $5,000 to $15,000.

  * The existing statute already contains a provision for multiplying the penalty "by a factor of 2 for every previous violation committed by the person or entity".

• Pro-libertyHB 55repealing the Selective Service Compliance Act.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill removes the state university's requirement to enforce selective service registration.

  * The State University is a state agency. It should not be required to enforce a federal law unrelated to education.

• Anti-libertyHB 64relative to extending hiring preferences for military members and their spouses to the state and private businesses, and establishing purchase preferences for disabled veterans and military spouses regarding state supply purchases.NAY OTP
  Why

  This bill expands hiring and purchasing preferences to include military spouses and disabled veterans.

  * This bill imposes hiring and purchasing preferences. The government should choose the best business from which to source a product or service without any intervention based on the business owner's membership in a specific group or class.
  * By mandating that the state give preference to veterans and military spouses, the bill undermines the principle of free market competition.

8 bills with no position.

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• Anti-libertySB 159establishing a marine habitat fee.YEA ITL
  Why

  The proposed legislation introduces a new marine habitat fee for individuals 16 years and older engaging in marine activities in New Hampshire's waters.

  * The marine habitat fee represents yet another instance of government overreach by imposing additional costs on individuals who wish to engage in marine activities. This fee, even if voluntary, expands the state's regulatory power over personal choices.
  * The requirement for annual reporting on the use of the marine habitat account, while promoting transparency, also signifies an increase in bureaucratic oversight and control over how funds are used.

• Anti-libertySB 37relative to residential care and health facility licensing.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  This bill creates new mandates for medical providers. It also broadens the scope of impacted providers by changing "hospital" to "facility".

  * Medical care is already highly regulated, competitive and expensive. Even without these new mandates there are huge incentives for facilities to provide excellent care for the best price.
  * This bill merely adds another report that needs to be completed by the hospital's compliance department, but probably will not improve care.

• Anti-libertySB 76relative to the office of the child advocate.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill redefines a child as up to age 21, among other changes.

  * An 18 year-old person is an adult, not a child. They should no longer be getting benefits offered to "children" or "youth".

2 bills with no position.

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• Pro-libertyHB 164relative to local records retention.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill funds and equips the local government record manager with online storage of records that are available for public access.

  * This bill increases local government transparency by increasing online accessibility of records.
  * Taxpayer funding is justified to expand transparency and accountability.
  * Certain towns struggle with doing this, and having state assistance can ensure it actually happens.

• Pro-libertyHB 189defining "clean energy" and the department of energy's 10-year state energy strategy to include new technology small-scale nuclear energy, renewable energy, and fuel diversity; and, removing references to the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill realigns the Department of Energy 10-year energy strategy to include latest-generation nuclear fission.

  * New Hampshire needs to embrace all forms of clean energy in order to meet the energy needs of our future.
  * The state should allow the market to determine what best meets our energy needs, allowing for the development of new energy technologies.

• Pro-libertyHB 340relative to electioneering by public employees.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill forbids electioneering by public employees and adds an additional clarification about what is and is not electioneering.

  * This bill protects voters from improper influence by public employees.
  * It also prohibits the usage of public time, facilities, and equipment to promote particular candidates and issues.
  * The bill does not prohibit personal and private behavior or expressions of free speech when not acting in a public capacity.

• Anti-libertyHB 444relative to a tenant's right to notification prior to the sale of a multi-family home.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill prevents a property owner from selling their property before first offering to sell it to their tenant.

  * This is an additional regulation that will prevent a property owner from doing what they see fit with their private property.
  * Property owners have no duty to sell their property to their tenants.
  * With this bill, once an owner decides they want to sell, they would have to wait two months before it can be sold.
  * Additional regulations on the sale of property will only further tighten the residential real estate market.

• Anti-libertyHB 526establishing a climate change and damage division in the department of environmental services.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill establishes a Climate Change and Damage Division within the Department of Environmental Services.

  * Government intervention in the economy is not an effective or efficient way to address climate change. The free market should determine if individuals or business adopt programs to address climate change, not the government.
  * The state has a budget deficit. Lawmakers should be proposing cuts to existing programs, not establishing brand new divisions within agencies.

• Pro-libertyHB 60relative to the termination of tenancy at the expiration of the tenancy or lease term.YEA OTP
  Why

  This bill allows a landlord to evict a tenant at the end of a lease without cause.

  * Rental properties are private property owned by a landlord. They should be able to use the property how they see fit.
  * A lease agreement is a contract, and once that contract expires, a landlord should not be compelled to renew it.

• Anti-libertyHB 623relative to prohibiting corporations from purchasing single-family homes for a certain amount of time.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill bans corporations from buying housing for the first 90 days on the market.

  * This bill interferes in the free market by banning corporations from buying housing. It also prevents a seller of a home from choosing to sell their house to the entity that might make the most attractive offer.
  * Nonprofits, housing trusts, and mom-and-pop landlords are all types of entities who are likely incorporated, and could not buy a house on the market under these rules.

• Pro-libertyHB 78requiring a person to have a domicile in the district from which they serve as county commissioner.YEA OTP/A
  Why

  This bill requires that a county commissioner live in the county that they represent.

  * With the proposed committee amendment, this bill strengthens the language to prevent someone from merely owning a home in the county.

• Anti-libertyHB 83increasing the minimum age for sports betting.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill raises the gambling age from 18 to 21.

  * An 18 year old is an adult and can make their own choice about whether or not to gamble.

• Anti-libertyHB 95requiring the New Hampshire electric co-op regularly file a certificate of deregulation with the public utilities commission.YEA ITL
  Why

  This bill requires the New Hampshire electric co-op to regularly file a certificate of deregulation with the public utilities commission every 3 years.

  * The New Hampshire electric co-op already maintains a certificate of deregulation.
  * This requirement to regularly refile a certificate of deregulation places an unnecessary mandate on the New Hampshire electric co-op, which already operates in good faith with the public utilities commission.
  * This bill would erode the independence intended by RSA 301:57 (Associations for Rural Electrification).

12 bills with no position.

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• Anti-libertySB 113making appropriations to the department of health and human services for homeless services and homeless prevention.NAY OTP
  Why

  Appropriates $30 million to the department of health and human services for homeless services and homeless prevention.

  * As a general rule, expenditures of state funds should be made as part of the development of the state budget, not via piecemeal bills.
  * The bill proposes spending the funds in fiscal years 2026-2027, so there is no rush. This appropriation should go through the normal budget process.

• Anti-libertySB 14relative to the penalty for certain fentanyl-related offenses.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  Adds mandatory minimum sentences for certain fentanyl-related offenses.

  *Mandatory minimum sentences do not allow judicial discretion which may be warranted on a case-by-case basis.

• Anti-libertySB 15relative to establishing a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting.NAY OTP/A
  Why

  Sets a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting.

  *Mandatory minimum sentences do not allow judicial discretion which may be warranted on a case-by-case basis.

• Pro-libertySB 19relative to hotel and motel operations.YEA OTP
  Why

  Eliminates a requirement forcing hotel and motel operators to display their room rates.

  * If a hotel wishes to advertise their prices, then it is their prerogative.
  * Compelled speech is an affront to the First Amendment and the principle of freedom of speech.

• Anti-libertySB 20relative to payment by the state of a portion of retirement system contributions of political subdivision employers.NAY OTP
  Why

  Puts the state on the hook for towns that want to offer lush retirement benefits to their employees.

  * This bill requires state taxpayers to fund a portion of the retirement system for city/town teachers, police, and fire department members. These costs are currently paid locally. While net government spending by the state and its political subdivisions under a static evaluation of the bill is neutral, funding is best managed locally to avoid increases in spending that naturally result when politicians are spending "other people's money". There is little evidence that sending additional funding to municipalities will result in net reduction in property taxes as the new money is often spent on expanded spending. In 2021, the state increased meals and rooms tax transfers to municipalities by 45% and yet local taxes continued to increase. <a href=https://www.governor.sununu.nh.gov/news-and-media/governor-sununu-statement-regarding-revenue-increase-municipalities-meals-and-rental>www.governor.sununu.nh.gov/news-and-media/governor-sununu-statement-regarding-revenue-increase-municipalities-meals-and-rental</a>
  * Towns have the authority to choose how many employees to hire. That authority must be balanced by the responsibility for paying the costs of hiring those employees, including retirement benefits.
  * If towns cannot afford to pay these benefits to their employees, they should cut costs, rather than ask the state for a bailout.

• Pro-libertySB 25allowing credit union members to pay members of the board of directors for their services as a board member.YEA OTP
  Why

  Allows credit unions to compensate their board members.

  * If any business entity, even a not for profit one, wants to compensate their board members, they should have the discretion to do so.
  * The members of the credit union will vote on the compensation of their board members. They should make this decision, not the government.

• Anti-libertySB 35making an appropriation for rail trail project matching funds.NAY OTP
  Why

  "Pork Barrel" spending on a pet project in the town of Warner, NH.

  * As a general rule, expenditures of state funds should be made as part of the development of the state budget, not via piecemeal bills.
  * This looks like a pet project for the town of Warner. There don't appear to be any exigent circumstances that would require this to not go through the normal budget process.

• Anti-libertySB 64relative to an appropriation to the department of justice for the purpose of funding the New Hampshire child advocacy centers.NAY OTP
  Why

  Appropriates $3 million to the department of justice for the purpose of funding the New Hampshire child advocacy centers.

  * As a general rule, expenditures of state funds should be made as part of the development of the state budget, not via piecemeal bills.
  * The bill proposes spending the funds in fiscal years 2026-2027, so there is no rush. This appropriation should go through the normal budget process.

6 bills with no position.

Read the full Gold Standard