State House
Courts deploy mediators as latest tool in effort to reduce the number of evictions
In the weeks since the abrupt end to the nationwide eviction moratorium, attorneys and judges have raced to dampen its effects. Eviction court judges have used the bench to promote federal rental relief. Legal assistance organizations have doubled down on their efforts to take on clients. Aid agencies have appeared in court to help tenants […]
Redistricting committees schedule Grafton County listening session for next week
New Hampshire’s legislative redistricting committees have added an additional public input session next week, the third out of 10, as House and Senate lawmakers tour the state before redrawing the state’s political lines. On Tuesday, Sept. 28, the House Special Committee on Redistricting and its Senate counterpart will meet in North Haverhill to hear suggestions […]
Sununu, councilors accused of abandoning ‘bipartisan history’ of protecting reproductive care
This story was updated on Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. to clarify that the delegation’s comments were made on Monday, Sept. 20. Members of the federal delegation called on Gov. Chris Sununu and the state’s leading Republicans Monday to step up efforts to protect state and federal funding for the family planning centers that provide […]
ACLU criticizes New Hampshire AG for signing letter threatening legal action over voting act
New Hampshire is one of 23 states, each with a Republican attorney general, that signed on to a letter threatening legal action if the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act becomes law. Devon Chaffee, executive director of the ACLU of New Hampshire, called the threat “unconscionable.” “Attorney General [John] Formella’s opposition to this critical legislation […]
Fiscal Committee tables request for $27 million in federal money to boost vaccination efforts
This story was updated Sept. 17, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. with a statement from the governor. Republican lawmakers’ anger over the Biden administration’s new vaccine mandate has put in jeopardy $27 million in federal pandemic relief to boost the state’s vaccination efforts. As the Executive Council did Wednesday, the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee on Friday […]
Sununu: Vaccine freedom law does not prohibit vaccination mandates for public employees
A “medical freedom law” passed into law this summer does not prevent vaccine requirements for public employees, Gov. Chris Sununu said at a press conference this week. Asked Wednesday about the new law, which states that “every person has the natural, essential, and inherent right to bodily integrity, free from any threat or compulsion by […]
Representative moves to repeal state’s ‘divisive concepts’ law
The Legislature will again be taking up the debate about critical race theory and discrimination in the upcoming session, after a proposal was filed this week to remove a contentious law regulating how racism is discussed in public classrooms and workplaces. Rep. Manny Espitia, a Nashua Democrat, filed a request for legislation this week to […]
Between 100 and 200 Afghan refugees to arrive in state following screening process
New Hampshire is poised to receive between 100 and 200 Afghan refugees in the coming weeks, Gov. Chris Sununu announced during a press conference on Wednesday. “We imagine the next few weeks potentially that we’ll be seeing some of the initial Afghan refugees arrive here in New Hampshire after what is clearly a pretty thorough […]
Crowd turns against Republican lawmakers during rally opposing vaccine mandates
This story was updated September 14, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. to the correct the spelling of Terese Grinnell’s name. Republican House members and a large crowd outside the State House Tuesday agreed in their opposition to the Biden administration’s new vaccine mandates. But the crowd made clear they think lawmakers and Gov. Chris Sununu are […]
Health and Human Services seeks $27 million for 13 new positions dedicated to vaccination effort
The state Department of Health and Human Services wants to use $27 million in federal pandemic aid to create 13 new positions aimed at increasing the state’s vaccination rate, which has been lagging at about 54 percent since at least July. The request, which goes before the Executive Council Wednesday and must clear the Joint […]
State receives four bids to market former Lakes Region Facility for redevelopment
The state received four bids by Friday’s deadline to market the 220-acre former Lakes Region Facility for redevelopment. A law change tucked into the state budget will allow Gov. Chris Sununu to bypass the usual internal review process and award a contract himself with just three Executive Council votes. The state Department of Administrative Services […]
Listening sessions on redistricting set to begin next week
New Hampshire’s House and Senate redistricting committees will hold their first joint listening session in Concord next week, part of a series of weekly meetings to hear resident input on how to draw the next decade’s political map. According to the two chambers’ digital calendars, the meeting will be held Sept. 14 at the Old […]