2019-2020 BILL SUMMARIES

New Hampshire legislators will likely consider around 1,800 bills in 2019 and 2020. Our analysts read every single one of them and summarize them in plain language so you can easily discover what's really up for debate.

Browse the list of all available bills below, organized by category. We're adding new bill summaries as soon as the text of the bills is available for us to read.

Our issue pages also show summaries of all bills related to each issue, along with their current status in the Legislature. Browse our issue list.

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
Gun laws, marijuana decriminalization, and the death penalty are some of the many issues included in this category.

CACR 15 (2020)

Constitutional amendment that adds "information provided as a part of a legally enforceable contract that is to be used only for a limited purpose and otherwise kept confidential" to the right against unreasonable search and seizure.

HB 101 (2019)

Allows a school district, school administrative unit (SAU), or charter school to ban or limit firearms and other weapons on school grounds.

HB 109 (2019)

Requires commercial sales and transfers of firearms to take place through licensed dealers. Those dealers are required to perform background checks. Also requires private sales or transfers to go through a licensed firearm dealer, if it’s not absolutely clear that both the owner and the recipient are allowed to own guns.

HB 1101 (2020)

Establishes a three day waiting period for the delivery of a firearm. There are some exceptions for rifle or shotgun purchases by hunters, law enforcement officers, and members of the armed forces. The House amended the bill to also waive the waiting period for a person who fears for their personal safety and contacts law enforcement or obtains a restraining order.

HB 1112 (2020)

Requires the Administrator of Women Offenders and Family Services within the Department of Corrections to implement rehabilitation, training, counseling, and education programs for women offenders who are on parole. The House amended the bill to instead establish a committee to study programs for female parolees.

HB 1113 (2020)

Repeals the length of time the presumption of heart or lung disease is occupationally related for firefighters. At the time of this bill's submission, the presumption only lasts until one month after the firefighter's sixty-fifth birthday.

HB 1115 (2020)

Under current state law, it is a violation to discharge a firearm within the "compact" part of a town, which includes any six or more residences within 300 feet of each other, non-residential buildings, and outdoor public gathering spaces, plus a 300 foot perimeter around any buildings. This bill amends the definition of compact to include other property designated "for public recreational use." The bill also expands the perimeter around non-residential buildings from 300 to 900 feet.

HB 1117 (2020)

Revises the law against stealing or poisoning a dog so that the crime is a felony if the dog has a market value greater than $1,000. At the time of this bill's submission, theft or poisoning of a dog is a misdemeanor. The House amended the bill to remove the reference to market value. This bill also makes it a misdemeanor to remove a microchip or other electronic tracking device from a dog.

HB 1130 (2020)

Makes it a felony offense to cause serious bodily injury to a person 60 years of age or older.

HB 1141 (2020)

Makes it a misdemeanor to send an unsolicited intimate image with explicit sexual content to another person with the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm the person. The House amended the bill to make the first offense a violation and the second offense a misdemeanor.

HB 1143 (2020)

Repeals limited liability for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition.

HB 1149 (2020)

Makes it a crime to produce, display, possess, or distribute "any material containing or depicting a child under 13 years of age who is partially clothed, where the material is unrelated to the sale of a commercially available legal product and is used for purely prurient purposes."

HB 115 (2019)

Revises the licensure and regulation of private investigators, security guards, and bail recovery agents.

HB 1157 (2020)

Requires a news media outlet to update, retract, or correct an Internet published article about a criminal proceeding following an acquittal, dismissal, or finding of not guilty. If a news media outlet fails to do this, they could be liable for damages.

HB 1159 (2020)

Makes cyberbullying, cyberstalking, or doxxing of a public servant a misdemeanor.

HB 1174 (2020)

Requires screening for all law enforcement officers for substance use disorders prior to assuming their duties as certified officers. The bill also allows the Police Standards and Training Council to reimburse local governments for the costs of testing for psychological and substance use disorders. The House amended the bill to instead establish a fund for psychological stability screening for candidates for certification as law enforcement officers, using money from the drug forfeiture fund.

HB 1175 (2020)

Increases the penalty for a privacy violation from a misdemeanor to a felony if it involves capturing images of a person's private body parts. The House amended the bill to make the first offense a class A misdemeanor and the second or subsequent offense a class B felony.

HB 1192 (2020)

Limits the ability of a state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency to transfer personal property to a federal agency for federal criminal asset forfeiture proceedings. The bill also requires a person to be charged or convicted of an underlying criminal offense before asset forfeiture proceedings cannot go forward. The House amended the bill to also prohibit transfer of assets for forfeiture to the federal government unless it involves $100,000 or more in cash.

HB 1198 (2020)

Amends the law related to the justified use of force by persons with special responsibilities, such as a hospital security guard. In particular, this bill adds various requirements for security personnel at campaign events. For example, the bill requires private security to write a report on any use of non-deadly force for law enforcement.

HB 1199 (2020)

Requires that the fee charged by a county department of corrections for prisoners' use of the telephone service not exceed the county's cost to provide the service.

HB 1203 (2020)

Amends the definition of neglected child to include a child who experiences sibling violence.

HB 1212 (2020)

Prohibits a person convicted of homicide from inheriting the estate of his or her victim.

HB 1217 (2020)

Requires law enforcement officers to report misconduct by other law enforcement officers in writing to the chief law enforcement officer in his or her department. The chief law enforcement officer would be required to report this to the Police Standards and Training Council. Violating this new law would be a misdemeanor. The bill defines misconduct as "assault, sexual assault, bribery, fraud, theft, tampering with evidence, or tampering with a witness."

HB 123 (2019)

Requires each school's emergency response plan to include at least one drill to test emergency response to an armed assailant.

HB 1254 (2020)

Amends various provisions of the adult parole process including the definition of violent crime, parole board per diem pay, and recommittal of prisoners who violate parole.

HB 1256 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study the effectiveness of the Granite Hammer/Granite Shield Programs.

HB 1257 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study the opportunities for citizen involvement in attorney general investigations of officer involved shootings.

HB 1263 (2020)

Amends the law governing the victims' compensation fund. In particular, this bill allows claims for victims of human trafficking, eliminates the time limit to file claims based on sexual abuse or human trafficking, and eliminates the consideration of contributory negligence in claims based on sexual abuse or human trafficking.

HB 1269 (2020)

Allows the legislature to grant a posthumous exoneration and annulment in a case where "the manifest injustice of the law or policy for which the person was convicted becomes evident." The bill then grants a posthumous exoneration and annulment of the convictions of Willard Uphaus and Eunice "Goody" Cole.

HB 1271 (2020)

Provides immunity from criminal charges for drug possession for a person who reports a violent crime to law enforcement.

HB 1272 (2020)

Prohibits New Hampshire and its counties from contracting with private prisons, unless the governor declares a corrections emergency. The House amended the bill to also allow county commissioners to declare a corrections emergency.

HB 1283 (2020)

Adds the release of someone's personally identifiable information to the definition of criminal harassment.

HB 1318 (2020)

Includes security detail for political candidates in the definition of 'security guard.' This would require them to get licensed.

HB 1338 (2020)

Decreases the penalty for wiretapping and eavesdropping offenses, from a felony to a misdemeanor.

HB 134 (2019)

Reduces the penalty for most first offense drug possession charges from a class B felony to an unspecified misdemeanor.

HB 1343 (2020)

Prohibits courts from releasing defendants before trial if the defendant has an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a previous charge, has an outstanding warrant charging the defendant with a felony offense, or has been charged with possession or possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I drug.

HB 1349 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study firearms incidents involving children with access to unsecured firearms.

HB 1350 (2020)

Requires all firearms sold in New Hampshire to be accompanied by an approved safety device, such as a trigger lock or lockbox.

HB 1351 (2020)

Provides immunity from arrest or prosecution for underage drinking when a person under 21 years of age contacts emergency services for alcohol poisoning.

HB 1374 (2020)

Repeals the state law that prohibits any state program that destroys voluntarily surrendered firearms.

HB 1378 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study oversight authority and timelines for processing and retaining sexual assault evidence collection kits.

HB 1379 (2020)

Requires commercial sales and transfers of firearms to take place through licensed dealers. Those dealers are required to perform background checks. Also requires private sales or transfers to go through a licensed firearm dealer, if it's not absolutely clear that both the owner and the recipient are allowed to own guns.

HB 1381 (2020)

Allows a person to rescue a child or confined animal endangered by extreme temperatures if law enforcement has been contacted, a witness is present, and the individual reasonably believes that assistance will not arrive in time to prevent serious injury or death.

HB 1384 (2020)

Amends the law governing pre-trial release of a defendant on bail. In particular, this bill adds a presumption that a person will not be released on bail if the person has violated bail. The bill also gives the courts more power to set bail for a defendant who "would constitute a danger to himself, herself, or the general public and that the defendant is unlikely to appear for court."

HB 1420 (2020)

Clarifies the use of force at New Hampshire national guard facilities as requested by the New Hampshire Adjutant General.

HB 1461 (2020)

Allows a person to sue a carnival ride operator who does not register or follow state rules.

HB 1462 (2020)

Revises the law prohibiting sex offenders from working with children. In particular, this bill changes the phrase "employment or volunteer service involving the care, instruction or guidance of minor children" to "any employment or volunteer service which purpose involves the direct care, instruction, guidance, or repeat interaction with a minor." The House amended the bill to also requires employers to notify applicants if a position may involve prohibited contact with minors.

HB 1468 (2020)

Adds a definition of public property into the criminal mischief statute.

HB 1482 (2020)

Provides that following the initial notice of a security breach, further information regarding the breach may be withheld pending a criminal investigation. According to the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, "This bill requires immediate disclosure of a security breach to anyone affected. Under current law, disclosure can be delayed while an investigation takes place. The committee felt time is of the essence for consumers and others to change or cancel credit cards, reset passwords, or take other action after their information has been compromised. After notice has been given, additional details can be withheld to protect an investigation."

HB 1485 (2020)

Requires video surveillance cameras in common living areas, dining areas, hallways, classrooms, and time-out rooms in all group homes, residential and day schools, and buildings where services are provided for children and adults with disabilities.

ECONOMY, BUDGET & TAXES
From this year's property taxes to next year's budget, this category includes issues related to taxpayer issues.

CACR 1 (2019)

Constitutional amendment that requires 5% of liquor commission profits to go to alcohol and other drug abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

CACR 10 (2019)

Constitutional amendment requiring any income tax revenue be used to provide local property tax relief.

CACR 11 (2019)

Constitutional amendment prohibiting a broad-based sales tax.

CACR 12 (2019)

Constitutional amendment prohibiting a tax on earned personal income.

CACR 17 (2020)

Constitutional amendment stating, "Any broad-based tax enacted by the State shall only be for the purpose of reducing property taxes by the same amount of revenue as raised by such tax."

HB 1 (2019)

2020-2021 state budget bill.

HB 104 (2019)

Establishes a housing appeals board in the attorney general's office to hear appeals of final decisions of municipal boards, committees and commissions regarding questions of housing and housing development.

HB 108 (2019)

Increases the number of days a charitable organization may offer bingo, from 10 to 16 a month.

HB 110 (2019)

Requires that the cost of the fiscal analysis of proposed legislation done by the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) be reimbursed from general funds. The NHRS says costs for analyzing legislation vary from about $20,000 to $50,000.

HB 1110 (2020)

Clarifies the application of the meals and rooms tax for the rental of cabins owned by Dartmouth College in the Second Dartmouth College Grant and operated by Dartmouth College, the Dartmouth outing club, or the Office of Outdoor programs.

HB 1119 (2020)

Allows municipal and county treasurers to deposit funds in out-of-state banks that have a physical branch and presence in this state.

HB 112 (2019)

Clarifies the definitions of persons licensed by the mechanical licensing board and requires business entities to show proof of good standing and insurance.

HB 1125 (2020)

Allows towns and cities to adopt a property tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency medical personnel.

HB 1132 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study the establishment of a multi-state agreement to phase out corporate giveaways.

HB 1139 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study eligibility for property tax credits, exemptions, and deferrals available to persons with limited income and the effect on municipalities.

HB 114 (2019)

Prohibits the state of New Hampshire from entering into or enforcing agreements with other states concerning sales tax collection by those other states.

HB 1144 (2020)

Requires employers to report statistics on the difference between male and female wages.

HB 1147 (2020)

Prohibits a city, town, or village district from licensing or regulating a lemonade stand operated by a person under the age of 18.

HB 1151 (2020)

Requires insurers to use home replacement basis of the municipality's assessed value of the building and cost of debris removal when setting rates for homeowners insurance.

HB 1154 (2020)

Allows towns and cities to exclude the principle of retirement savings accounts and pension plans from the calculation of net assets when determining eligibility for property tax exemptions.

HB 1155 (2020)

Exempts the first 10,000 board feet of logs cut from residential or other non-commercial property from the timber tax, provided that the timber cut is not made for sale purposes.

HB 116 (2019)

Changes the method for determining the classification of an existing or newly created state or local position in the New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS).

HB 1160 (2020)

Allows municipalities to collect an occupancy fee from room rentals, up to $2 per room per day, for the purpose of establishing a municipal capital fund, revolving fund, or tourism support fund.

HB 1161 (2020)

Allows the Department of Revenue Administration to set a window of time, up to 30 days after notice of the original tax assessment or any reissued assessment, during which, if any amount of the tax is paid, no interest shall be imposed on that amount. The bill also removes the telefile option for filing Meals and Rooms tax returns.

HB 117 (2019)

Increases the filing threshold and income exemption for the Interest and Dividends Tax from $2,400 to $3,500. The bill also decreases the research and development tax credit against business taxes from $7 million to $2 million.

HB 1171 (2020)

Requires public employers to provide employees with at least the level of protection provided under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, and establishes an occupational safety and health advisory board.

HB 1178 (2020)

Requires a mortgagee in possession of a foreclosed residential property unoccupied for 60 or more days to secure a pool, spa, or other water feature greater than 20 square with a cover or net.

HB 1179 (2020)

Prohibits a condominium unit owners' association from contracting with a business where a unit owner is the owner or director of the business.

HB 1181 (2020)

Allows the Public Employees Labor Relations Board (PELRB) to award pain and suffering damages.

HB 1184 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study state and local requirements for new locally-owned businesses in this state.

HB 1185 (2020)

Establishes a committee to gather information and propose a plan for a New Hampshire apprenticeship program. The House amended the bill to instead form a committee to study "forms of apprenticeship programs, including those currently in place in New Hampshire."

HB 119 (2019)

Requires the state to regulate the training of electrologists using intense pulsed light for hair removal.

HB 120 (2019)

Requires licensure and inspection of establishments for tattooing, body piercing, or branding.

HB 1200 (2020)

Removes the consideration of weighted apportionment factors under the business profits tax from inclusion in the tax expenditure report and includes the regional career and technical education center tax credit. The House amended the bill to also delay the enactment of the single sales factor for determining apportionment under the business profits tax and the business enterprise tax and amend the legislative committee on apportionment.

HB 1204 (2020)

Excludes emergency response and training by retirees working for municipal fire departments from the limitations on part-time employment for employees receiving pensions from the state retirement system.

HB 1205 (2020)

Eliminates the automatic reduction provision for state retirement annuities at age 65 and replaces it with a reduction based on the member's full retirement age for Social Security. At the time of this bill's submission, the normal Social Security retirement age varies from 65 to 67.

HB 1209 (2020)

Requires condominiums to have blanket fidelity insurance coverage against the dishonest acts of persons responsible for handling organizational funds.

HB 121 (2019)

Requires licensure and inspection of massage establishments.

HB 1221 (2020)

Prohibits employers from using credit history in employment decisions. There are some exceptions, for example for banks.

HB 1224 (2020)

Sends $1.7 million to the Lakeshore redevelopment planning commission over the next two years. The House amended the bill to set aside just $500,000 for the commission.

HB 1230 (2020)

Revises the credit for reinsurance statute to reflect recent NAIC revisions, as requested by the Insurance Department.

HB 1234 (2020)

Sets aside $2,016,343 to the Department of Administrative Services to replace heating systems in state-owned facilities located in downtown Concord that were obtaining steam from the former Concord Steam Corporation.

HB 1235 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study ensuring workforce maintenance through enhancement of the retirement system. This includes, for example, looking into whether the current limitation on base pension amounts hurts workforce recruitment.

HB 1247 (2020)

Requires landlords to provide at least 90 days notice before a rent increase over 5%. The House amended the bill to require 60 days notice for an increase over 5% and 90 days notice for an increase over 8%.

HB 1248 (2020)

Enables cities and town to offer community revitalization tax incentives for the construction of additional housing in a "housing opportunity zone," in which at least one third of the housing units constructed are for households with an income of 80% or less of the area median income.

HB 1260 (2020)

Generally reduces or eliminates the penalties for violating various occupational license laws.

HB 1267 (2020)

Modifies the liability of directors and officers of New Hampshire nonprofit corporations.

HB 128 (2019)

Allows municipalities to adopt a property tax exemption for veterans who have been determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to have a 100 percent, service-connected, total and permanent disability. The House amended the bill to instead establish a committee to study the use of property tax credits and exemptions to recognize the service of New Hampshire veterans.

HB 129 (2019)

Allows municipalities to establish a cap on the education property tax for residents aged 65 and older, if the property has been the taxpayer's primary residence for at least 5 years and no school aged child has resided with the taxpayer for the last 5 years.

HB 1290 (2020)

Allows an employee organization (such as a union) to conduct an election by mail ballot.

EDUCATION
Curious about Common Core or school funding? Browse these issues related to education in the Granite State.

HB 1118 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study environmental and air quality in school buildings.

HB 1127 (2020)

Prohibits schools from various activities that would stigmatize a student whose family has school lunch debt. For example, this bill prohibits public identification or stigmatization of a student who cannot pay for a meal or who owes a meal debt.

HB 1136 (2020)

Permits a specified designee of the superintendent to perform the duties of the superintendent regarding criminal history records checks.

HB 1145 (2020)

Permits Franklin Pierce University to issue decals for multi-use plates.

HB 1148 (2020)

Permits school boards to provide copies of the national motto "In God We Trust" for display in each school building in the district. The bill states, "In the event the display of the national motto is challenged in court, the office of the attorney general shall defend the display. The school and the school board shall be held harmless for complying with this section."

HB 1163 (2020)

Requires schools to update documents and software to include the option of identifying a student as non-binary.

HB 1206 (2020)

Adds two student, non-voting members to the state board of education.

HB 123 (2019)

Requires each school's emergency response plan to include at least one drill to test emergency response to an armed assailant.

HB 1231 (2020)

Establishes a commission to study approaches to allowing parents or guardians of school children to be educated on non-core topics that are periodically discussed.

HB 1232 (2020)

Provides that the burden of proving the appropriateness of a child's special education placement or program is on the school district or other public agency.

HB 1243 (2020)

Requires a recommendation from the Higher Education Commission for an educational institution to grant degrees, in addition to the pre-existing requirement of legislative approval.

HB 1268 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study student loan forgiveness on the basis of volunteer work, including service in the legislature.

HB 1282 (2020)

Modifies the process for a parent/guardian to petition a superintendent to have a child transferred to another school due to "manifest educational hardship." In particular, this bill adds a definition for "manifest educational hardship" rather than leaving that definition to state Board of Education rules.

HB 131 (2019)

Establishes a commission to develop and promote mental health curriculum and education programs in kindergarten through grade 12.

HB 1321 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study the reporting criteria of chartered public schools. The House amended the bill to establish a broader "chartered public school joint legislative committee" to generally oversee laws related to charter schools.

HB 1323 (2020)

Requires schools to produce and provide to parents, teachers, and principals an annual student assessment report, including individual student results.

HB 1327 (2020)

Extends the authority of the Department of Education to "matters associated with kindergarten through grade 12." At the time of this bill's submission, the department's authority is limited to "the problems associated with kindergarten and grades one through grade 12."

HB 1328 (2020)

Modifies the procedure to transfer a child to another school due to "manifest educational hardship." For example, this bill adds a definition for manifest educational hardship, which is undefined in the law. The definition in this bill is: "a student has a documented hardship in his or her current educational placement; and that such hardship has a detrimental or negative impact on the student's academic achievement or growth, physical safety, or social and emotional well-being. Such hardship must be so severe, pervasive, or persistent that it interferes with or limits the ability of the student to receive an education."

HB 1329 (2020)

Allows school records to be transferred from paper to digital format.

HB 1334 (2020)

Authorizes a moment of silence each day in school. This bill also sets out various religious rights in school, such as the right of teachers to share religious materials with other employees.

HB 1335 (2020)

Creates the right to sue a school district or charter school for violating the state law regulating how schools address bullying.

HB 1336 (2020)

Changes references to the SAT and ACT in the laws governing statewide assessment tests, instead referencing "a national college readiness assessment."

HB 1344 (2020)

Amends the definition of "sending district" to allow reimbursement for the cost of a student attending a career and technical education program in the school district in which the student resides.

HB 1362 (2020)

Removes the one-semester limit to courses on "the cultural heritage and ethnic history of New Hampshire's people."

HB 1369 (2020)

Requires high school principals to grant course credit classes completed in other New Hampshire educational facilities, such as another high school or the New Hampshire virtual learning academy charter school.

HB 1371 (2020)

Proclaims March 2 as Reading in New Hampshire Day.

HB 1412 (2020)

Requires secondary schools to grant credit for coursework or programs completed at other public schools in New Hampshire.

HB 1423 (2020)

Expands the reporting requirements for organizations granting scholarships under the education tax credit scholarship program. For example, this bill states, "All reports of home educated students receiving an educational scholarship shall include specific categories of expenditures including but not be limited to books and materials, trips, computer hardware and software, tuition or fees for other programs."

HB 1432 (2020)

Requires high schools to develop competency assessments for each course offered and to submit copies of each assessment to the department of education.

HB 1435 (2020)

Repeals the powers of the state board of education to "Americanize immigrants."

HB 1454 (2020)

Gives local school boards the power to determine whether to grant academic credit for alternative extended learning and work-based programs. At the time of this bill's submission, that power lies with the state board of education.

HB 1459 (2020)

Repeals the requirement that schools get parental permission for students to participate in non-academic surveys, and instead requires schools to offer an opt-out option for parents. This bill also adds charter schools to the law regulating non-academic surveys in school.

HB 1470 (2020)

Allows elementary, middle, and high schools to produce and sell maple syrup exempt from labeling requirements.

HB 1473 (2020)

Requires each school administrative unit to establish a special education parent advisory council.

HB 149 (2019)

Allows the apportionment formula for a cooperative school district to be subject to review 5 years after an article to continue the current formula was passed.

HB 1499 (2020)

Requires the New Hampshire university and community college systems to waive the application for current members and alumni of civilian national service organizations, such as the Peace Corps.

HB 1500 (2020)

Requires the Banking Department to designate a student loan ombudsman and establishes a student loan servicer license.

HB 1527 (2020)

Requires principals of all public schools in the state to have their buildings tested annually for radon.

HB 1549 (2020)

Establishes the Office of School Counseling and Psychology within the Department of Education, and establishes the position of School Counselor Coordinator within that office.

HB 1582 (2020)

Establishes a tuition waiver for the state university system and community college system for the children of totally and permanently disabled New Hampshire veterans.

HB 1636 (2020)

Requires the resident district to fund a "free and appropriate education" to a child with disabilities attending a chartered public school. This bill also requires the resident district of a child with a disability to obtain written consent of the child's parent before changing the nature of the child's services. Lastly, this bill makes a child's parents "full participants on the individualized education program (IEP) team," beyond just having the "right to participate."

HB 164 (2019)

Requires school principals to report the following student behavior to the school board: theft, destruction, or violence in a safe school zone, and any case of bullying or pornographic use of social media. These reports must be included in the school board minutes.

HB 1681 (2020)

Requires schools to offer breakfast and lunch during school hours, and adds reimbursement for breakfasts and lunches served to students.

HB 1682 (2020)

Requires every school in which a student with a life-threatening food allergy is enrolled to maintain a food allergy management and prevention plan.

HB 1686 (2020)

Adds medical services to the services eligible for the Medicaid to schools program. That program provides reimbursement to schools for services provided to students with disabilities, such as occupational and physical therapy.

HB 1687 (2020)

Requires video surveillance cameras to be installed and operated on all school buses provided through services related to a student's IEP.

HB 169 (2019)

Requires all public schools to submit annual reports to the Department of Education detailing the policies and procedures that are in place to identify and accommodate the needs of gifted students.

HB 1691 (2020)

Provides one-time funding for school districts relative to new full-day kindergarten programs. At the time of this bill's submission, state school funding is distributed based on previous year student counts, which would mean a district operating a new full-day kindergarten program would not receive full-day adequate education grant for kindergarten pupils until the following year.

HB 1698 (2020)

Requires the Department of Education to review the consolidated state plan biennially to ensure that school districts establish unified co-curricular activities. The bill also sends $50,000 annually to the Department of Education to fund the initial expenses of establishing unified co-curricular activities.

HB 170 (2019)

Requires high school students to pass the U.S. citizenship test, with a score of at least 70 percent.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
This issue category starts with eminent domain and ends with wind farms. Click here to see issues related to your next electricity bill.

HB 102 (2019)

Allows towns to regulate single-use plastics, such as plastic straws. The House amended the bill to specifically allow towns to regulate plastic and paper bags.

HB 107 (2019)

Appropriates $10 million over two years to manage invasive aquatic species in state waters.

HB 1111 (2020)

Requires a distribution company, electric company, or telephone company replacing an existing pole to complete the work within 90 days of installing the new pole. The deadline is extended to six months for commercial or industrial construction projects expected to take longer than a year. This bill also requires the owner of the pole to notify all other users at least 48 hours prior to removal.

HB 1116 (2020)

Removes municipal solid waste facilities from the 2018 law that requires electric distribution companies to buy electricity from biomass sources in New Hampshire before non-renewable sources for the default energy supply.

HB 1124 (2020)

Adds some detail to the definition of prime wetland as it relates to fill and dredge permitting. For example, this bill would allow some narrower points.

HB 1126 (2020)

Prohibits the state from clear cutting trees within 75 feet of the developed land of a private abutter. This bill also requires the state to clear out debris after selective tree cutting near developed private property.

HB 1146 (2020)

Requires liquefied natural gas tanks to follow Site Evaluation Committee criteria. This bill also requires the energy siting process to include consideration of the economic impacts on residents.

HB 1172 (2020)

States that "No state agency managing land shall allow the use of pesticides to control mosquitoes before dusk."

HB 1190 (2020)

Bans the sale and use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos.

HB 1194 (2020)

States that "In order to encourage the use of reusable cups and bags instead of single-use plastic cups and bags, a merchant may charge $0.05 per single-use plastic cup and single-use plastic bag. The merchant shall keep the collected surcharge."

HB 1210 (2020)

Establishes a property tax exemption for residential property equipped with an energy storage system.

HB 1215 (2020)

Prohibits condominium and homeowners association rules which require greater than a simple majority vote to install solar panels.

HB 1218 (2020)

Increases the electric generating capacity of customer generators who may participate in net energy metering, generally from 1 megawatt to 5 megawatts. The House amended the bill to include two other 2020 bills supported by Gov. Sununu, HB 1262 and HB 1402. The amended bill also requires the PUC to monitor the effect of an increase in the size limit for large customer-generators on electricity rates.

HB 1225 (2020)

Increases the electric generating capacity of municipal hydroelectric facilities which may participate in net energy metering to 5 megawatts.

HB 1228 (2020)

Directs the governor to proclaim October 1 as Climate Change Awareness Day.

HB 1229 (2020)

Requires any proposed natural gas facility to include decommissioning costs in its application to the Site Evaluation Committee. If approved, the facility would have to keep 25% of the decommissioning costs in a separate fund in case it needs to shut down.

HB 1252 (2020)

Adds to the requirements for an application for an exemption for large groundwater withdrawals from replacement wells. In particular, this bill requires an application to consider the potential impact on other drinking water supply wells.

HB 1261 (2020)

Changes New Hampshire's energy consumption reduction goal from reducing fossil fuel consumption by 25% by 2025 to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25%.

HB 1262 (2020)

Expands the authority of limited producers of electrical energy, such as owners of residential solar panels, to sell energy in the private sector.

HB 1301 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study the applications of microgrids in New Hampshire.

HB 1310 (2020)

Authorizes the state to set higher environmental standards than those established in federal law.

HB 1317 (2020)

Modifies the distribution of auction proceeds under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Program. In particular, this bill ends all residential electric ratepayer rebates, reduces commercial and industrial ratepayer rebates, and instead sends the funds to energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for private commercial, public, and residential customers.

HB 1319 (2020)

Prohibits the siting of a new or expanded public or private landfill within one mile of any state or national park or within 5 miles of any land managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

HB 1342 (2020)

Establishes a program for installation of high-performance air source heat pumps as the primary heating system in low-income multi-family residential housing. The program would be funded from the Energy Efficiency Fund.

HB 1347 (2020)

Requires the Department of Environmental Services to adopt rules to ensure a groundwater withdrawal less than 57,600 gallons over any 24-hour period from a new source of water for a community water system does not cause an unmitigated impact to an existing private water supply well.

HB 1355 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study energy efficiency programs in New Hampshire.

HB 1364 (2020)

Removes the requirement for electricity providers to purchase biomass energy as part of the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

HB 1365 (2020)

Repeals the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy Board.

HB 1366 (2020)

For the purpose of the Renewable Portfolio Standard, this bill revises how the public utilities commission estimates renewable energy credits for net metering sources.

HB 1370 (2020)

Requires electric distribution companies to purchase electricity from eligible biomass facilities under a new section of the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

HB 138 (2019)

Exempts fish and game rules governing marine species managed under the Magnusson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act from rulemaking requirements.

HB 1402 (2020)

Establishes an exemption under net energy metering for group net metered facilities that are owned or operated by a municipality to offset municipal electricity requirements.

HB 1405 (2020)

Broadens the definition of "smart meter gateway device" to "remotely read meter device," and states that a utility may not charge a customer a fee or a higher rate for refusing to allow a remotely read meter device.

HB 1406 (2020)

Provides that to be eligible for a solar energy property tax exemption, the solar energy system must be used to heat or cool an on-site building in particular, not just any building. The House amended the bill to instead allow municipalities that adopt a property tax exemption for solar or wind energy systems to adopt exemption limits for off grid, net metered, group net metered, and direct retail arrangements.

HB 1414 (2020)

Requires a person who files a notice of intent to cut timber with assessing officials to also notify property abutters of the intent to cut.

HB 1418 (2020)

Authorizes funds from the Agricultural Nutrient Management Program to be used for increasing farm energy efficiency.

HB 1422 (2020)

Establishes a two year moratorium on the issuance of permits for new landfills or expansion of existing landfills in order to study creating municipal waste districts.

HB 1429 (2020)

Revises the requirements for, and the submission and evaluation of, integrated distribution plans established by energy utilities under the state's energy policy.

HB 1430 (2020)

Establishes a commission to study ways to achieve a clean energy electric grid by 2030.

HB 1478 (2020)

Repeals the 2018 law that would have required electric distribution companies to buy electricity from biomass sources in New Hampshire before non-renewable sources for the default energy supply. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ruled against that law.

HB 1479 (2020)

Requires an energy commission established by a municipality to report annually to the office of strategic initiatives.

HB 1480 (2020)

Removes the authority for a portion of system benefits charges collected for energy efficiency to be expended on low-income energy efficiency programs with the approval of the fiscal committee of the Legislature.

HB 1481 (2020)

Allows an electric utility customer-generator with a generating capacity of over one megawatt to net meter generation of 125 percent of its average monthly electric demand. According to the bill text, the intention of the bill is to allow commercial and industrial customers to participate in net metering when their own electrical needs exceed the one megawatt limit.

HB 1496 (2020)

This bill ends residential rebates under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, instead sending those proceeds to the Energy Efficiency Fund. The bill also prohibits the government from using money from the Energy Efficiency Fund for anything other than its intended purpose. This bill also requires the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy Board to provide recommendations to the PUC on the energy efficiency and renewable energy funds. Lastly, this bill removes the future repeal of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

HB 1497 (2020)

Changes the name of the Air Pollution Advisory Committee to the Energy and Climate Advisory Committee, and modifies the membership and duties of the committee. For example, this bill requires the committee to also report on the state of housing in New Hampshire, identifying opportunities for improvement in delivering energy efficiency and emissions reduction.

HB 1507 (2020)

Requires the Department of Environmental Services to use electronic postings (e.g. on the state website) for notice of receipt of solid waste management permit applications and intent to issue solid waste management draft permits.

HB 1515 (2020)

Expands the payment adjustment to group host net energy metering systems to apply to systems over 25 kilowatts, rather than systems over 15 kilowatts. This bill also allows the payment adjustment to apply to non-residential systems.

HB 1518 (2020)

Changes the alternative compliance payment rate (ACP) for all Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) classes to $55.00. The current ACP rates for calendar year 2019 are $57.15 for Class I (new renewables), $25.97 for Class I Thermal (new thermal), $57.18 for Class II (solar), $55 for Class III (biomass/methane), and $28.60 for Class IV (small hydroelectric).

HB 1519 (2020)

Establishes a study committee to study Class IV (small hydroelectric) resources under the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

HB 1532 (2020)

Establishes a commission to review and propose initiatives to implement the recommendations of the 2020 forest resources plan.

HEALTH CARE
Do you support the Affordable Care Act in NH? What about the medical marijuana or physician-assisted suicide? This category covers all of those issues and more.

CACR 1 (2019)

Constitutional amendment that requires 5% of liquor commission profits to go to alcohol and other drug abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

CACR 14 (2020)

Constitutional amendment stating, "The right to make personal reproductive medical decisions is inviolate and fundamental to the human condition. Neither the State nor any political subdivision shall infringe upon or unduly inconvenience this right."

H R 986 (2019)

Blocks a Trump administration policy that would give states greater flexibility to allow short-term and association health care plans. Those plans would not have to meet the same requirements as originally laid out under the Affordable Care Act.

HB 1106 (2020)

Prohibits noncompete agreements for pastoral psychotherapists, clinical social workers, clinical mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists.

HB 1120 (2020)

Requires landlords to annually test water quality and provide the test results to tenants. If the property has a well and the water does not meet water quality standards established by the Department of Environmental Services, the landlord must install a water treatment system. The House amended the bill to instead establish a committee to study the establishment of water testing requirements for residential rental property.

HB 1121 (2020)

Proclaims October 9 as pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome awareness (PANS) day.

HB 1122 (2020)

Includes suicide under the definition of "killed in the line of duty" when considering eligibility for the $100,000 death benefit for first responders.

HB 1128 (2020)

Adds deaf or hard of hearing to the medical conditions that may be indicated on a driver's license or nondriver's identification card.

HB 113 (2019)

Allows experience as a master licensed alcohol and drug counselor to qualify as experience for licensure as a clinical social worker or clinical mental health counselor.

HB 1134 (2020)

Changes the name of the New Hampshire Commission on Deafness and Hearing Loss to the New Hampshire Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

HB 1140 (2020)

Establishes a commission to monitor the merger of hospitals.

HB 1150 (2020)

Permits out-of-state patients qualified to use marijuana in their home state to purchase medical marijuana in New Hampshire.

HB 1166 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study the demographics of the uninsured population in New Hampshire, the barriers to obtaining healthcare coverage, and possible solutions to extend health insurance coverage.

HB 1167 (2020)

Prohibits state agencies and the courts from requiring individuals to participate in counseling not recognized by the American Psychological Association or the American Psychiatric Association. The House amended the bill to clarify that any mandated counseling must have a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) medical code, making it eligible for insurance reimbursement.

HB 118 (2019)

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to notify a child's primary health care provider of a report of suspected abuse or neglect regarding the child. The bill also permits a child's primary health care provider to access the child's case record.

HB 1188 (2020)

Repeals the law allowing some applicants for licensure as allied health professionals to practice on a conditional basis pending the results of a criminal history record check.

HB 1189 (2020)

Repeals the prohibition on compensation for members of the genetic counselor's governing board so that members could receive per diem and mileage payments.

HB 1219 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study the possibilities for a single statewide health care plan for educators.

HB 1233 (2020)

Prohibits insurers from applying deductibles, copays and coinsurance to coverage for children's early intervention services. Early intervention services are services of licensed and credentialed occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and clinical social workers working with children from birth to 36 months of age with an identified developmental disability and/or delay.

HB 1246 (2020)

Removes the requirement for hospitals to report "adherence rates of central line insertion practices" and "surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis."

HB 1253 (2020)

Establishes an advisory council to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification for the regulation of opticians and the dispensing of ophthalmic devices and contact lenses.

HB 1265 (2020)

Modifies the definition of "qualifying medical condition" under the medical marijuana law to remove the phrase "diagnosed by a provider for which cannabis is prescribed for such condition."

HB 127 (2019)

Clarifies the role of various members of the Board of Medicine. The Senate amended the bill to also require health care professionals to complete a survey or an opt-out form for collecting data on the primary care workforce.

HB 1275 (2020)

Authorizes a person to self-order laboratory testing without a health care provider's request. The testing would not be covered by insurance.

HB 1278 (2020)

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a program to oversee treatment planning and medication monitoring for children in foster care and to adopt rules relative to the administration of psychotropic medications for such children.

HB 1280 (2020)

Caps how much health insurers can charge consumers for insulin at $100 for a 30-day supply.

HB 1281 (2020)

Requires health insurers to cover epipens.

HB 1286 (2020)

Establishes the license and regulation of music therapists.

HB 1287 (2020)

Requires health insurers to cover long-term antibiotic therapy for tick-borne illness.

HB 1289 (2020)

Establishes a commission to study the current delivery of services to the deaf and hard of hearing in New Hampshire nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and how such services could be improved.

HB 1294 (2020)

Provides pharmacists with limited immunity from liability in class action lawsuits.

HB 1304 (2020)

Expands the definition of "critical exposure" for the purpose of the workers' compensation law. For example, this bill removes an exception for contact with "tears, saliva, or perspiration."

HB 131 (2019)

Establishes a commission to develop and promote mental health curriculum and education programs in kindergarten through grade 12.

HB 1314 (2020)

Allows a licensed acupuncturist to refer to himself or herself as a doctor of acupuncture if he or she has earned a doctoral degree in the practice of acupuncture from an ACAOM or board-approved program.

HB 1315 (2020)

Changes the renewal procedure for 2-year licenses issued to allied health professionals from December 31 to the month of issuance of the applicant's original license.

HB 1331 (2020)

Clarifies that a person's decision to donate his or her own body, organ, or tissue upon death is not subject to amendment or revocation after the person dies.

HB 1332 (2020)

Requires prescribers of controlled drugs to do so electronically in most circumstances.

HB 1345 (2020)

Allows medical marijuana alternative treatment centers to organize as business corporations and limited liability companies rather than only not-for-profits.

HB 1346 (2020)

Requires the Insurance Department to make a report on the impact of insurance coverage for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders.

HB 1356 (2020)

Repeals the therapeutic cannabis advisory council responsible for overseeing New Hampshire's medical marijuana program.

HB 1404 (2020)

Authorizes physicians and advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe drugs to prevent or treat HIV or AIDS to a minor without parental consent if the health care provider determines that notifying the parents will prevent treatment. This bill also authorizes pharmacists to administer up to a 60-day supply of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV.

HB 1410 (2020)

Prohibits flavored e-cigarettes and other vaping products, except for menthol flavor. The House amended the bill to also ban all flavors for anyone under age 21.

HB 1424 (2020)

Authorizes medical marijuana treatment centers to sell hemp CBD oil products and use hemp oil in cannabis-infused products.

HB 1434 (2020)

Repeals the requirements for retired state employees and judicial retirees who are medicare-eligible to pay premium contributions for the state retiree health plan.

HB 1436 (2020)

Increases the annual health insurance coverage limit for autism spectrum disorder and requires annually for cost of living increases for that limit.

HB 1440 (2020)

Adds one member from a community mental health center and one member from a community health center to the board of psychologists and the board of licensing for alcohol and other drug use professionals. A House amendment removed that part of the bill. The bill also adds out-of-state applicants for licensure as licensed alcohol and drug counselors, licensed clinical supervisors, or master licensed alcohol and drug counselors to insurance credentialing verification requirements.

HB 1464 (2020)

Requires insurance coverage for yoga therapy as an alternative or substitute for opioids.

HB 1475 (2020)

Prohibits abortions after detection of a fetal heartbeat.

HB 1484 (2020)

Clarifies the law regarding retroactive denials of previously paid claims under accident and health insurance. For example, this bill removes the right to retroactively deny a claim more than 12 months after the date of payment because the claim payment is the subject of legal action.

HB 1491 (2020)

Adds athletic trainers and genetic counselors to the list of licensed professionals who can get a temporary license in New Hampshire if they are licensed in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, or Vermont.

POLITICS/POLITICAL PROCESS
Learn about campaigns and voting rights, from SB2 elections at the town level all the way up to the Electoral College in Presidential elections.

CACR 13 (2020)

Constitutional amendment giving legislators mileage compensation for travel on veto days and when voting on a budget following a continuing resolution.

CACR 16 (2020)

Constitutional amendment empowering the state legislature to authorize a recall election.

CACR 2 (2019)

Constitutional amendment that allows the Legislature to change their compensation with approval of the Executive Council (current pay is $200 per session).

CACR 20 (2020)

Constitutional amendment raising the retirement age for judges and sheriffs to 75.

CACR 4 (2019)

Constitutional amendment that creates a right to local, community self-government. The language of this amendment differs slightly from the language in a similar 2019 constitutional amendment, CACR 8. This amendment states, in part, the right "to enact local laws that protect health, safety, and welfare by recognizing or establishing rights of natural persons, their local communities, and nature."

CACR 5 (2019)

Constitutional amendment allowing 17 year-olds to vote in primary elections, provided they turn 18 by the time of the general election.

CACR 6 (2019)

Constitutional amendment that allows any voter to vote by absentee ballot, even if he or she will be present on election day.

CACR 7 (2019)

Constitutional amendment that decreases the size of the state House of Representatives from 400 to 200.

CACR 8 (2019)

Constitutional amendment that creates a right to local, community self-government. The language of this amendment differs slightly from the language in a similar 2019 constitutional amendment, CACR 4. This amendment states, in part, the right "to enact local laws that recognize, secure, and protect the economic, social, and environmental well-being of people, their communities, and natural environments."

CACR 9 (2019)

Constitutional amendment that creates a seven member independent redistricting commission, appointed by legislative leaders and a public application process.

HB 103 (2019)

Establishes a right-to-know ombdusman, responsible for responding to complaints under the right-to-know law. There would be a $300 fee for a complaint to the ombudsman.

HB 105 (2019)

Generally repeals the voter registration changes passed in SB 3. For example, this bill removes the stricter requirements for voters who register within 30 days of an election. This bill also removes much of the new language on voter registration forms about domicile. This bill also removes the authority of the secretary of state to conduct post-election voter registration investigations, leaving that to the attorney general.

HB 106 (2019)

Repeals the changes in HB 1264, which removed the unique definition of domicile for voting purposes. HB 1264 required all voters domiciled in New Hampshire to follow residency laws, such as the requirement to register any car in New Hampshire.

HB 1105 (2020)

States, "If a warrant article is amended at the first session, then the original article shall also be placed on the official ballot preceding the amended article. In the event both articles are adopted, the amended article shall supersede the original article." This applies to towns that have adopted SB2 town meeting procedures.

HB 1129 (2020)

Changes the notice requirements for municipal planning and zoning public hearings, allowing notices to be posted on the municipal website instead of in the newspaper.

HB 1133 (2020)

Prohibits persons from interfering with a person's rights under the New Hampshire Constitution. The bill contains penalties of up to $100,000 or imprisonment of up to 10 years. There is no designation of violation, misdemeanor or felony.

HB 1158 (2020)

Requires all local bylaws and ordinances to list the state law that enables the local law.

HB 1169 (2020)

Eliminates the requirement that when a member of a public body is participating in a meeting by electronic or other means of communication, all votes must be by roll call vote.

HB 1170 (2020)

Adds a definition of "reasonably described" for purposes of retrieval of public records under the right-to-know law. The right-to-know law already states that a requested government document must be "reasonably described," but does not clarify exactly what that means.

HB 1176 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study the attorney general's authority over democratically elected county attorneys and regional, city-employed prosecutors.

HB 1177 (2020)

Requires referees, marital referees, or marital masters serving on the superior courts and the circuit courts who are not former or retired judges to be commissioned as justices of the peace.

HB 1183 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study the registration of lobbyists.

HB 1186 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study the filing of for-profit and non-profit advocacy and lobbyist organizations' income reports with the Secretary of State.

HB 1191 (2020)

Prohibits the use of campaign contributions for certain personal uses, such as rent, household food, personal debts, etc.

HB 1202 (2020)

Revises the right-to-know law when a meeting is nonpublic because the matters up for discussion could adversely affect a person's reputation. In particular, this bill requires the person to be notified prior to the meeting and gives the person the right to attend the meeting, speak, and record.

HB 1211 (2020)

Permits a town or school district to establish a capital reserve fund which may only be spent after a 2/3 vote of the budget committee.

HB 1214 (2020)

If at least 500 voters throughout the state declared affiliation with a political organization at the state primary, this bill permits the political organization to appear on a general election ballot after holding a nominating convention for candidates.

HB 122 (2019)

States that legislators and legislative staff may gather gifts, grants, or donations for a meeting by a national legislative association, such as the National Conference of State Legislatures.

HB 1245 (2020)

Establishes a legislative committee to review all non-regulatory boards, commissions, councils, advisory committees, and task forces established by law.

HB 125 (2019)

Allows the county convention and the county commissioners to choose their officers by secret ballot.

HB 1266 (2020)

Allows someone to apply for an absentee ballot if they "may" be absent on election day, rather than "will" be absent, and makes related modifications to the absentee ballot request forms.

HB 1276 (2020)

Prohibits ex officio members of municipal budget committees and land use boards from voting on board matters.

HB 1279 (2020)

HB 1288 (2020)

Specifies the form that a candidate's name may take on a nonpartisan town election ballot, for example to exclude nicknames such as "Doc" or "Coach."

HB 1296 (2020)

Requires candidates for municipal office to follow state campaign finance laws.

HB 1297 (2020)

Requires the audit division of the legislative budget assistant to conduct a financial audit of the Department of State and the office of the Secretary of State.

HB 1299 (2020)

Requires at least one selectman to be present in the polling place at all times during an election.

HB 1303 (2020)

Establishes a commission to study expanding public testimony opportunities to remote locations statewide.

HB 1307 (2020)

Requires any public agency to charge a requester under the Right-to-Know Law for personnel costs associated with a records request when the production of records for any one requester in a calendar month exceeds 5 person hours.

HB 1309 (2020)

States that "Unless restricted by any other provision of law, the vote on a petitioned warrant article shall be binding upon the town [or school district]."

HB 1325 (2020)

When minutes of a nonpublic session are not subject to public disclosure (kept private), this bill requires some information about the minutes to be public, such as the date of the meeting, the legal reason the meeting was nonpublic, etc.

HB 1333 (2020)

Requires a per diem travel payment to legislators for travel for legislative business on non-session days. The payment would be 75% of the meals and incidentals expense standard from the U.S. Government Services Administration (USGSA) for Concord, NH. At the time of this bill's submission, that would be 75% of $66, or $49.50.

HB 1353 (2020)

Gives the superior courts jurisdiction in quo warranto proceedings. The courts would have to allow petitioners to represent themselves, and could not charge a fee for filing quo warranto proceedings. According to the bill, a quo warranto proceeding "is intended to prevent the exercise of powers that are not conferred by law, and is not ordinarily available to regulate the manner of exercising such powers."

HB 1357 (2020)

Clarifies that the prohibitions on electioneering in the polling place extend inside the polling place, not just near the entrance.

HB 1358 (2020)

Requires lobbyists and volunteers acting on behalf of lobbyists, to identify themselves as lobbyists when contacting members of the Legislature, legislative staff, or members of the executive branch. This is in addition to the preexisting requirement to wear an orange name badge.

HB 1359 (2020)

Prohibits legislators, executive councilors, and governors from becoming lobbyists for a period of time equal to twice the total length of their current term of office. This bill also prohibits legislators from negotiating employment with a lobbyist, or a lobbyist's client, while in office.

HB 1368 (2020)

Requires the moderator to appoint at-large members of cooperative school boards and budget committee members when there is a vacancy.

HB 1372 (2020)

Changes the election of the Carroll county commissioners to be elected by the voters in each county commissioner district, rather than by voters across the county.

HB 1385 (2020)

Gives the Joint Legislative Historical Committee the power to direct the placement of portraits, flags, busts, statues, or other memorial objects in the state house, legislative office building, or Upham Walker house.

HB 1390 (2020)

Makes various changes to ensure the secrecy and accuracy of voting. For example, this bill allows citizens to request a verification count of machine-counted ballots.

TRANSPORTATION/RECREATION
NH doesn't require seat belts or motorcycle helmets, but there are boat speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee. Click here to learn about laws affecting travel, infrastructure, and recreation.

CACR 3 (2019)

Constitutional amendment that creates a right to hunt and fish, subject to laws promoting sound wildlife conservation and management.

HB 1107 (2020)

Sets aside $890,000 to the Gunstock area commission to reconstruct the main parking area at Gunstock mountain resort.

HB 1108 (2020)

Requires the Fish and Game Department to adopt rules to allow the use of a .410 gauge shotgun to take wild turkey during the youth turkey hunt weekend.

HB 1109 (2020)

If a motor vehicle manufacturer maintains proprietary repair information for a vehicle, this bill requires the manufacturer to disclose that in writing to the dealer and ultimate purchaser, and to include that fact on the vehicle data sheet or window sticker.

HB 1114 (2020)

Eliminates annual state safety inspection requirements for non-commercial vehicles. Annual emissions test requirements would stay in place.

HB 1123 (2020)

Requires a driver to report a collision with a cat to the cat's owner or the police. At the time of this bill's submission, drivers must only report collisions with dogs. This bill also increases the penalty for failing to report a collision with an animal from a violation to a misdemeanor.

HB 1135 (2020)

Names a portion of Route 49 in Campton, Thornton, and Waterville Valley in honor of Specialist Marc P. Decoteau.

HB 1137 (2020)

Lowers the speed that qualifies as "excessive speeding," from 15 mph over the speed limit to 10 mph over the speed limit, or 5 mph over the speed limit where the speed limit is 70 mph.

HB 1142 (2020)

Permits the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons in New Hampshire to issue decals for multi-use plates.

HB 1152 (2020)

Allows drivers to cross unbroken painted center lines while driving in some additional circumstances, such as to pass a pedestrian.

HB 1156 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study minimizing the use of public roads in the OHRV trail system known as Ride the Wilds in Coos County.

HB 1165 (2020)

Prohibits OHRV operation on the rail trail in the town of Gorham.

HB 1182 (2020)

Establishes a commission to study the on road usage of non-traditional motor vehicles, such as all terrain vehicles and golf carts.

HB 1213 (2020)

Repeals the prohibition on hunting while in the possession, custody, or control of a ferret.

HB 1220 (2020)

Entitles a veteran who is at least 60% disabled to a lifetime free hunting, fishing, bow and arrow, or combination license.

HB 1222 (2020)

Adds a representative of the unmanned aircraft systems industry to the aviation users advisory board.

HB 1255 (2020)

Prohibits roadside memorials on primary and secondary highways. This bill requires the Department of Tansportation to remove any roadside memorials 90 days after the memorialized event.

HB 1273 (2020)

Waives the admission fee to state parks for military dependents.

HB 1284 (2020)

Adds the New Hampshire State Council of the Knights of Columbus to the list of organizations approved to issue decals for multi-use plates.

HB 1298 (2020)

Adds a representative of the New Hampshire Motorcyclists' Rights Organization to the Traffic Safety Commission.

HB 1316 (2020)

Lists various OHRV trails, which are on state-owned property, to be used by OHRVs to reduce public road use in the area known as Ride the Wilds in Coos County.

HB 135 (2019)

Requires the Department of Transportation to notify the municipality in which state-owned rail property is located of any lease of such property. This bill also requires the lessee of state-owned rail property to meet the same municipal regulatory and safety requirements as private property owners.

HB 1363 (2020)

Deletes a limitation on the placement of motorist service signs on limited access highways. At the time of this bill's submission, north of Concord motorist service signs are only allowed on I-93 and I-89.

HB 137 (2019)

Establishes a commission to examine the effects of wake boats in the state of New Hampshire.

HB 1380 (2020)

Prohibits the operation of personal water craft within 300 feet of any marsh land or flat of the Rye estuary and the New Castle back channel.

HB 1383 (2020)

Prohibits commercial trucks with three or more axles from traveling in the left lane of a three-lane highway during rush hour.

HB 139 (2019)

Bans smoking on state park property. The House amended the bill to instead give the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources the option to restrict smoking at state parks.

HB 1394 (2020)

Allows campers who checkout and vacate their state park campsite to continue using the day-use facilities at no charge, until the park closes, without having to physically vacate the park grounds. At the time of this bill's submission, campers have access to day-use facilities for their entire stay from check-in at 11:00 a.m. to checkout at 1:00 p.m.

HB 140 (2019)

Establishes a commission to study the licensing of drivers from foreign countries.

HB 1401 (2020)

Makes it a violation to use tobacco products or e-cigarettes in a motor vehicle when a child under the age of 16 is in the vehicle. The violation carries a $100 fine.

HB 1408 (2020)

Makes it a violation to use a license plate cover that is not completely transparent.

HB 1409 (2020)

Clarifies that there is no restriction on the total number of vehicles to which official cover plates may be attached. Official cover plates are generally available to elected officials at the state and federal level.

HB 1427 (2020)

Removes the authorization for OHRV use on the following sections of state highway: Back Lake Road in Pittsburg, from the town dump to Route 3; Route 3 in Pittsburg from the intersection of Back Lake Road to Route 145; Route 145 in Pittsburg and Clarksville from the intersection of Route 3 to Cedar Stream Road; Diamond Pond Road in Stewartstown from the town-owned section south to Charles Heath Road; Jericho Lake Road in Berlin from Route 110 to Jericho Mountain State Park; the reduced speed section of Route 3 in North Stratford village as needed to reach services.

HB 1431 (2020)

Exempts motorcycles from the requirement to have auxiliary lamps.

HB 1438 (2020)

Allows OHRVs on "any non-divided public way of the state" as opposed to "the highways of the state." This bill also requires anyone operating an OHRV on non-divided public ways to have a driver's license.

HB 1442 (2020)

Modifies the appointing authority for the members of Gunstock area commission and the distribution of revenues. For example, this bill prohibits a member from serving more than two consecutive terms. The bill also removes a limit on bonding for the commission and a limitation on water withdrawals at the ski resort.

HB 1453 (2020)

Establishes a commission to study the implementation of enhanced automation of traffic lights.

HB 1455 (2020)

Makes it an unfair insurance practice for an insurance company, agent, or adjuster to knowingly fail to pay a claim to the claimant or repairer to the extent the claimant's vehicle is repaired in conformance with applicable manufacturers procedures.

HB 1458 (2020)

Allows driver's license suspension notices to be mailed by first class mail, rather than by certified mail.

HB 1466 (2020)

Establishes an exemption to the prohibition against scanning, recording, retaining, or storing information collected from drivers' licenses. The exemption would apply to businesses who take the information with the driver's consent "for legitimate business purposes."

HB 1476 (2020)

Prohibits motor vehicle dealers from requiring the purchase of automobile insurance from the dealer as part of the sales contract.

HB 148 (2019)

Defines and regulates electric bicycles. An electric bicycle is generally defined as a pedaled bicycle with a small engine that assists the rider up to 28 miles per hour.

HB 1502 (2020)

States that vehicle equipment not required by state law shall not be required to be in working order to pass inspection.

HB 1504 (2020)

Establishes a committee to study prohibiting recreational trapping.

HB 1517 (2020)

Defines and establishes inspection requirements for roadable aircraft. Roadable aircraft would have to follow all traffic laws. They could only take off and land on airstrips.

HB 1523 (2020)

Authorizes the American Radio Relay League to issue decals for multi-use license plates.

HB 1526 (2020)

Requires that the division of ports and harbors of the Pease Development Authority disclose whether a mooring on the mooring wait list has public access or, if not, whether there is access through a private club.

HB 1552 (2020)

Requires any person learning to drive from age 15 1/2 to age 18 obtain a learner's permit prior to obtaining a driver's license. A person would have to pass a driving knowledge exam to get a permit.

HB 1553 (2020)

Prohibits state agencies from posting state property as a no trespassing or no hunting area unless the property is used for equipment storage or a safety issue exists.

HB 1556 (2020)

Amends the definition of "commercial motor vehicle," increasing the actual weight of a towed unit from 10,000 lbs. to 11,000 lbs. According to the Department of Safety, this would put New Hampshire out of compliance with federal regulations.