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Remote learning debate continues at state level as schools weigh closures
To Megan Tuttle, president of New Hampshire’s largest teachers union, the question of whether a school should return to remote learning is not a matter of preference but necessity. “Almost no educator in the state would be eager to revert to the remote instructional model,” said Tuttle, who heads the National Education Association of New […]
Democratic lawmakers push to include consent awareness in school health education
The problem is rarely addressed by teachers. But sexual assault among students is endemic, says Rep. Debra Altschiller. “We think that schools are the best place to reach the most children to talk about personal body safety,” said Altschiller, a Stratham Democrat. “And that is their right. They have the right to be safe.” This […]
Sununu petitions Treasury to allow rental relief funds to go toward affordable housing
Gov. Chris Sununu is continuing to push for flexibility in how New Hampshire uses federal rental relief funds, arguing that the U.S. Department of the Treasury should allow the state to apply the funds to affordable housing. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last week, Sununu requested that the federal agency grant a […]
Republican senators propose bill to void ballots of voters who don’t prove domicile
Since 2020, the effort to tighten voting procedures has swept statehouses nationwide. Now, New Hampshire Senate Republicans are seeking a new target to overhaul: same-day voter registration. A bill unveiled last week would require voters who register to vote on Election Day without sufficient documents to mail copies of those documents to the Secretary of […]
GOP proposes in-state college tuition for out-of-staters who register to vote
Four years after the Legislature made voting an act of declaring New Hampshire residency for the state’s college students, some lawmakers are seeking to extend a new perk: in-state tuition. A bill advanced by a group of House Republicans would bar public colleges and universities from charging out-of-state tuition for any students voting in the […]
Republicans open new front in ‘divisive concepts’ legislative debate: colleges
Midway through a House Education Committee hearing Tuesday, a member of the committee posed a weighty question to the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire. “There are academic people out there in New Hampshire and everywhere, who advocate in classes … for ideologies, for movements, and for people who favor […]
State to apply for new federal batch of tests as schools say they’re running short
New Hampshire will apply to a federal program intended to boost the number of COVID-19 tests available to schools, Gov. Chris Sununu said Wednesday, a week after school superintendents said testing quantities continue to be a challenge. Responding to a question at his weekly press conference, Sununu said the state would “absolutely” be applying for […]
Expansion of career program for students with disabilities proposed
New Hampshire’s Executive Council is poised this week to expand a program to help students with disabilities transition into employment, continuing the growth of an effort that launched in 2016. A new contract before the council would expand the state’s IMPACCT program – the “Inspiring the Mastery of Postsecondary Achievement in College, Career, and Training” […]
A new venue for the House – but fight over remote participation remains the same
As the New Hampshire House met in Manchester Thursday, lawmakers struck an urgent pace. Hoping to avoid a snowstorm that blanketed much of the state Friday, they rushed through bills, tabling where they could and limiting debate to avoid coming in the next day. Rep. Katherine Rogers had a more pressing reason to hurry. The […]
Pair of House lawmakers test positive for COVID-19
Two New Hampshire House representatives tested positive for COVID-19 after a two-day meeting at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Manchester last week, House leadership announced in an email to members Sunday. The members, who were not identified, reported their positive test results to House leadership, the email stated. The Speaker’s Office then carried out […]
Senate passes bill blocking local firearms restrictions
The New Hampshire Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would preempt town and city officials from approving certain firearms regulations or restrictions – and would allow citizens and the governor to help enforce the law. In a 14-10 vote, the Senate passed House Bill 307, which would nullify all local laws that attempt to regulate […]
It’s been a busy week for state lawmakers: Here’s what was passed and what was tabled
In vote after vote Thursday, the message was clear: House lawmakers wanted to get out of there. Over a series of tabling motions, the New Hampshire House pushed off final votes on a number of bills, with House leadership citing a predicted snowstorm Friday and the need to shrink the planned three-day voting session to […]