Government
Vaccine, environment, energy, and abortion will dominate legislative session
Lawmakers won’t have a budget to write, debate, and negotiate this session, but with at least 900 bills awaiting their return on Jan. 5, it will be another busy year. We told you about some of the under-the-radar bills last month. We’re back with a preview of the bills that will be front and center, […]
Bill would prohibit local gun restrictions
In Londonderry’s Musquash Conservation Area, shooters and hikers coexisted peacefully for years. Then in 2014, came the turning point. Residents appeared before the town council to voice concerns over gun owners in the space, a 1,000-acre wooded expanse dotted with ponds and walking trails. Hunting on the land was one thing, residents argued, but some […]
Amid COVID-19 exposures, State House contact tracing questioned
When Beverly Cotton got the call telling her of a potential COVID-19 exposure at a legislative committee session, it didn’t come from the New Hampshire House. It came from a fellow audience member. Cotton, of Weare, had joined a dozen other lobbyists, advocates, and reporters on Nov. 12 to watch the Friday morning proceedings of […]
How paid leave could get axed from Biden’s social policy bill
Congressional Democrats, including the New Hampshire’s delegation, cheered on the floor of the U.S. House after approving President Joe Biden’s massive social spending and climate bill. But a major struggle lies ahead in the coming month in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats cannot lose any votes within their party if they are to send the […]
Liberty Alliance faces backlash over choice of keynote speaker
The New Hampshire Liberty Alliance’s annual dinner Saturday will celebrate legislative victories, award an “activist of the year” – and be keynoted by a New Hampshire businessman who has tweeted racial slurs and that a minor who disagreed on an issue could perform a sexual act on him. That choice has some in the organization […]
Manchester appears alone with a plan for its $43.2 million new federal aid
The five New Hampshire cities awarded nearly $86 million in American Rescue Plan money have until late August to tell the federal government how they’ll use that money. So far, Manchester appears to be the only city with a detailed plan. Officials in Rochester, Nashua, and Portsmouth said they are still developing spending priorities for […]
Sununu signs two-year budget into law
It’s official. Gov. Chris Sununu signed the $13.5 billion two-year state budget Friday afternoon, about 24 hours after it reached his desk. The budget and trailer bill cuts taxes on businesses, gives parents expansive education vouchers, and contain two bans: one on abortion at 24 weeks and another on the teaching of systemic oppression and […]
State looks out of state for children’s mental health care
With approximately 30 children waiting each day in emergency rooms for psychiatric care, the state is talking with three out-of-state hospitals about providing 10 to 15 in-patient beds for their mental health needs. Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette has not named the hospitals but told the Senate Health and Human Services […]
Six states gain seats in U.S. House
WASHINGTON — After months of delays, the U.S. Census Bureau on Monday gave states part of the critical data needed to redraw their U.S. House boundaries: an updated tally of how many people live within their borders, and the number of House districts that each state will have for the next decade. For six states, the […]
Federal background checks on ammunition sales pushed by Democrats
WASHINGTON — Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut on Tuesday reintroduced legislation that would require instant background checks to prevent people with a criminal record from illegally purchasing ammunition. The measure backed by the Democrats, known as Jaime’s Law, is named in honor of Jaime Guttenberg, a student who […]
Sununu says state mask mandate will not be renewed
New Hampshire’s mask mandate will become a mask recommendation – “when appropriate” – on Saturday. Gov. Chris Sununu announced Thursday at his weekly COVID-19 update that the state will not renew the mask mandate when it expires Friday. Businesses, cities, towns, and schools can continue requiring masks. He also announced that on May 7, he […]
State’s mayors seek restoration of revenue sharing
New Hampshire’s 13 mayors are turning to the Senate for an ambitious ask: a boost in municipal aid in the budget. In a letter sent Wednesday to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Gary Daniels, mayors from Claremont to Rochester urged Senate budget writers to restore revenue sharing to cities and towns – a once-standard budgeting approach […]