News
Sununu announces end to state of emergency
Gov. Chris Sununu announced an end to New Hampshire’s state of emergency Thursday, 16 months after invoking executive powers at the onset of a deadly pandemic. During a weekly press conference addressing the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sununu said that the state of emergency would sunset Friday evening. “The state of emergency is […]
Unable to reach agreement with Senate, House kills a handful of bills
There’s a long road between introducing a bill and that bill being signed into law. In a Thursday session, the House killed several pieces of legislation, unable to reach agreement with the Senate as final deadlines approach to either agree on bills that will be sent to the governor or hash out the differences in […]
Attorney general denies request for emergency meeting on ‘divisive concepts’
As the New Hampshire budget enters its final stage of negotiation, one member of the state’s Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community, and Transparency has asked for a meeting to discuss one of its more contentious items: the “divisive concepts” language. But Attorney General John Formella denied that request this week, arguing it falls out […]
Legislature poised to act on large environmental policy bills
This story was updated on June 10, 2021 at 12:11 p.m. with new information. It was also corrected to clarify that SB 91 addresses small in-state energy generators, not out-of-state generators as was previously stated. Several large environmental bills have made their way through the House, including two omnibus environmental bills approved following floor amendments […]
Frustrated local leaders urge Congress to move faster on regulating PFAS
WASHINGTON—Local officials and community leaders on Wednesday pushed Congress to designate toxic chemicals that are contaminating drinking water as hazardous materials, which would trigger federal cleanup standards. In addition, two Democratic senators from Michigan, Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, introduced legislation that would put additional obligations on the Pentagon to initiate cleanup at military bases. […]
Governor seeks sole authority to sell former Laconia State School property
This story was updated on June 9, 2021, at 4 p.m. with new information. For five years, the Lakeshore Redevelopment Planning Commission has pursued its legislative charge to prepare and sell the state’s 220 acres overlooking Lake Winnisquam in Laconia to someone committed to creating jobs and promoting economic development. Now, the Legislature is poised […]
Here’s what’s next for the state budget
The speeches are wrapped and the amendments are finalized. As of last week, New Hampshire’s two sprawling budget bills – House Bill 1 and House Bill 2 – had cleared the Senate on party-line votes after passing the House in April. But that isn’t the end of the journey. Here’s what’s next for the state […]
Dalton passes temporary emergency zoning by small margin
At Dalton’s town meeting day, a measure to extend temporary emergency zoning for another year passed in a narrow vote, 135-130. Those in support of the measure hope it will help prevent a proposed landfill from being sited next to Forest Lake State Park. This issue, which has divided the town, has also become a […]
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 […]
House, Senate debate making FAFSA college aid applications a high school graduation requirement
Lawmakers in the House and Senate are at odds over an obscure education debate: whether to require high school students to fill out federal college aid applications in order to graduate. Members of the Senate have voted to introduce the requirement. Voting 24-0 in March, the chamber passed Senate Bill 147, part of which would […]
In landfill fight’s latest chapter, Dalton voters to decide on emergency zoning extension
This story was updated on June 10, 2021. 154,000 gallons of leachate were spilled, not tons. It was also updated to clarify that the House vote on SB 103 was 333 to 33 to pass the bill. During Tuesday’s annual town meeting, Dalton residents will vote on extending emergency zoning for another year, one of […]
Senate committee unanimously rejects ‘medical protective custody’ proposal
A state proposal to give hospitals their own power to detain people in emergency rooms while deciding their mental health needs was rejected, 4-0, by a Senate committee Tuesday following a two-hour public hearing where no one voiced support. “While the issues identified in this are important and need a resolution, we’ve run out of […]