Legislative Review
Shifting into high gear.
The House and Senate are in high gear with dozens of bills under consideration. Here are a few BIA is focused on this week:
Senate Ways and Means will be hearing a targeted, but important business tax bill, SB 189 FN. This bill would “de-couple” New Hampshire from section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code. Doing so would allow companies to once again deduct 100% of business interest rather than the new federal limit of 30%. Sixteen states have already de-coupled giving their businesses a competitive advantage over those doing business in New Hampshire. BIA is supporting this legislation.
Late last week, the House Science, Technology, & Energy Committee unanimously voted “inexpedient to legislate” on HB 633, relative to electric distribution company market share, prohibiting certain electric rate increases, and requiring enforcement against Eversource. The committee heard testimony earlier that day from a variety of stakeholders expressing constitutional concerns with the bill regarding protections under the 5th Amendment takings clause. BIA testified in opposition to the bill because it undermines the autonomy of the New Hampshire business community.
BIA will be opposing HB 298, when it goes before the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee this week. The bill would allow state and local authorities additional authority in the review of applications for personal wireless service facilities, creating overreaching and redundant permitting requirements and making it more difficult to site new wireless transmitters in New Hampshire.
Two privacy-related bills opposed by BIA have seemingly run aground. The House Judiciary Committee voted 19-0 to retain HB314-FN, which sought to regulate the collection, retention and use of personal information and establish a cause of action for violations of an individual's expectation of privacy in personal information. BIA fought the bill because of its vague and overly broad definition of personal information. The Judiciary Committee also voted 19-0 to recommend HB 320-FN as "inexpedient to legislate." The bill would have prohibited, with limited exceptions, censorship of speech on social media platforms and established a civil right of action for violation of the statute. BIA concerns included that the law would be difficult to enforce and was likely unconstitutional.
BIA's Legislative Review will be updated weekly and published every Monday of the 2023 legislative session. You can check the status of individual bills using the links below.
Relative to residential child care licensing of child care institutions and agencies. prime sponsor: Sharon Carson. Introduced in the Senate (1/05/2023) and referred to Executive Departments & Administration. Public hearing: 2/01/2023, SH 103, 9:45 a.m.
Establishing an emerging professional certificate for childcare programs. Prime sponsor: Donovan Fenton. Introduced in the Senate and referred to Executive Departments & Administration. Public hearing: 2/01/2023, SH 103, 10:00 a.m.
Relative to small group child day care centers. Prime sponsor: Rebecca Perkins Kwoka. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Health and Human Services. Public Hearing: 2/01/2023, LOB 101, 9:30 a.m.
Enabling municipalities to adopt a property tax credit for child day care agencies. Prime sponsor: Suzanne Prentiss. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs.
Relative to the Childcare Scholarship Program and making an appropriation. Prime sponsor: Rebecca Whitley. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Health and Human Services.
Relative to the state minimum hourly rate. Prime sponsor: Kristina Schultz. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to House Labor, Industrial & Rehabilitative Services. Public hearing: 1/19/2023, LOB 305-307, 10:00 a.m. Executive session: 2/07/2023, LOB 305-307, 1:00 p.m.
Relative to an employee’s unused earned time. Prime sponsor: Michael Cahill. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to House Labor Industrial & Rehabilitative Services. Public hearing: 1/19/2023, LOB 305-307, 1:30 p.m. Executive session: 2/07/2023, LOB 305-307, 1:00 p.m.
Relative to employment protection for participants in the therapeutic cannabis program. Prime sponsor: Suzanne Vail. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to Labor, Industrial & Rehabilitative Services. Public hearing: 1/19/2023, LOB 305-307, 2:30 p.m.
Prohibiting employers from engaging in certain anti-union activities. Prime sponsor: Joshua Adjutant. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services. Public hearing: 1/19/2023, LOB 305-307, 3:00 p.m. Executive session: 2/07/2023, LOB 305-307, 1:00 p.m.
Relative to youth employment during the school year and at night. Prime sponsor: Michael Cahill. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services. Public hearing: 1/26/2023, LOB 305-307, 3:00 p.m.
Relative to the duration of unemployment benefits. Prime sponsor: Leonard Turcotte. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services. Public hearing: 1/26/2023, LOB 305-307, 10:45 a.m.
Relative to complaint procedures in cases before the Commission for Human Rights. Prime sponsor: Mark McLean. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Judiciary. Public hearing: 1/26/2023, LOB 206-208, 11:00 a.m. Executive session: 2/08/2023, LOB 206-208, 11:oo a.m. Continued Executive session: 2/09/2023, LOB 206-208, 9:00 a.m.
Relative to Medicaid coverage for mothers (contains employer reasonable accommodations for nursing mothers language). Prime sponsor: Rebecca Whitley. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Health & Human Services. Public hearing: 2/08/2023, LOB 101, 9:45 a.m.
Relative to the operation of the Burgess Biopower plant. Prime: Michael Vose. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to Science, Technology & Energy.
Relative to the system benefits charge. Prime sponsor: Michael Harrington. Introduced in the House (01/05/2023) and referred to Science, Technology and Energy. Public hearing: 2/06/2023, LOB 302-304, 9:30 a.m. Executive session: 2/07/2023, LOB 302-304, 1:00 p.m.
Relative to reducing the rebates distributed by the energy efficiency fund. Prime sponsor: Rebecca McWilliams. Introduced in the House (01/05/2023) and referred to Science, Technology and Energy. Public hearing: 01/24/2023 LOB 302-304, 10:30 a.m. Executive session: 02/03/2023, LOB 302-304, 4:00 p.m.
Relative to net energy metering limits for individual and business customers. Prime sponsor: Lucious Parshall. Introduced in the House (01/05/2023) and referred to Science, Technology and Energy.
Relative to regional greenhouse gas initiative funds. Prime Sponsor: Katherine McGhee. Introduced in the House (01/05/2023) and referred to Science, Technology and Energy.
Relative to energy facility siting. Prime sponsor: Michael Vose. Introduced in the House (01/05/2023) and referred to Science, Technology and Energy.
Relative to prohibiting electric company monopolies and dividing Eversource. Prime sponsor: Tim Horrigan. Introduced in the House (01/05/2023) and referred to Science, Technology and Energy. Public hearing: 02/03/2023, LOB 302-304, 1:00 p.m. Executive session: 2/06/2023, LOB 302-304, 1:30 p.m.
Relative to purchased power agreements for electric distribution utilities. Prime sponsor: Kevin Avard. Introduced in the Senate 01/05/2023 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources. Public hearing: 01/17/2023, SH 103, 9:30 am.
Relative to permits for the siting of new landfills. Prime sponsor: Megan Murray. Introduced (1/04/2023) and referred to Environment & Agriculture.
Relative to banning PFAS in food packaging. Prime sponsor: Ron Dunn. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Commerce & Consumer Affairs. Public hearing: 2/08/2023, LOB 302-304, 1:15 p.m.
Restricting use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in certain consumer products. Prime sponsor: Karen Ebel. Introduced in the House (01/05/2023) and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Public hearing: 01/25/2023 LOB 302-304, 11:00 a.m. Work session: 2/01/2023, LOB 302-304, 10:00 a.m.
Relative to landfill siting. Prime sponsor: Mathew Simon. Introduced in the House, (01/05/2023) and referred to Environment and Agriculture.
Relative to surface water setbacks for landfills. Prime sponsor: Kevin Avard. Introduced in the Senate 01/05/2023 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources. Public hearing: 01/24/2023, SH 103, 9:30 am.
Relative to permits for the siting of new landfills. Prime sponsor: Donovan Fenton. Introduced in the Senate (01/19/2023) and referred to Energy and Natural Resources.
Relative to an assessment of solid waste facility setback requirements and making an appropriation. Prime sponsor: David Watters. Introduced in the Senate (01/19/2023) and referred to Energy and Natural Resources.
Relative to health care workforce development and making appropriations. Introduced in the Senate (1/05)2023) and referred to Health and Human Services. Public hearing: 2/01/2023, LOB 101, 9:00 a.m.
Extending the New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care Program and re-establishing the commission to evaluate the effectiveness and future of the New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care Program. Prime sponsor: Jeb Bradley. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Health & Human Services.
Relative to adjusting the road toll. Prime sponsor: Andrew Prout. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to Public Works & Highways. Public hearing: 2/03/2023, LOB 201-203, 9:00 a.m.
Prohibiting the use of state funds for new passenger rail projects. Prime sponsor: Aidan Ankarber. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to Public Works and Highways. Public hearing: 2/03/2023, LOB 201-203, 11:45 a.m.
Re-establishing a commission to study revenue alternatives to the road toll for the funding of improvements to the state’s highways and bridges and their resulting improvement. Prime sponsor: Mark McConkey. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Public Works & Highways. Public hearing: 1/25/2023, LOB 201-203, 1:00 p.m. Executive session: 1/25/2023, 201-203, 1:00 p.m. Committee report: Ought to Pass. Motion Approved by the full House, 2/02/2023
Relative to the regulation and operation of electric vehicle charging stations. Prime sponsor: Timothy Lang. Introduced in the Senate (1/05/2023) and referred to Transportation. Public hearing: 1/17/2023, LOB 101, 1:00 p.m.
Relative to road toll registration surcharges for electric vehicles. Prime sponsor: David Watters. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Ways and Means. Public hearing: 2/01/2023, SH 100, 9:45 a.m. Committee report: Ought to Pass with Amedment.
Relative to teaching on discrimination in the public schools and discrimination in public workplaces. Prime sponsor: Peter Petrigno. Introduce in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Education. Public hearing: 1/12/2023, SH Reps. Hall, 9:30 a.m.
Relative to fair access to financial services. Prime sponsor: JD Bernardy. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Public hearing: 2/01/2023, LOB 302-304, 2:15 p.m.
Relative to health insurance coverage for preventative PFAS care. Prime sponsor: Wendy Thomas. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Public hearing: 1/26/2023, LOB 302-304, 2:00 p.m. Subcommittee work session: 2/03/2023, LOB 302-304, 10:45 a.m.
Relative to state pension and insurance fund management. Prime sponsor: JD Bernardy. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Executive Departments and Administration.
Relative to transactions exempt from the regulation of business practices for consumer protection. Prime sponsor: Tony Caplan. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to commerce and Consumer Affairs. Public hearing: 1/25/2023, LOB 302-304, 10:30 a.m. Work session: 2/01/2023, LOB 302-304, 10:00 a.m. Executive session: 2/02/2023, LOB 302-304: 1:30 p.m.
Relative to asbestos actions. Prime sponsor: Bill Gannon. Introduced in the Senate (1/05/2023) and referred to Judiciary. Public Hearing: 1/10/2023, SH 100, 1:45 p.m.
Relative to the rate of the business enterprise tax. Prime sponsor: Jeanine Notter. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to Ways & Means. Public hearing: 1/24/2023, LOB 202-204, 10:00 a.m.
To repeal the interest and dividends tax. Prime sponsor: John Janigian. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to Ways & Means. Public hearing: 1/24/2023, LOB 202-204, 2:00 p.m.
Relative to worldwide combined reporting for unitary businesses under the business profits tax. Prime sponsor: Thomas Schamberg. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to Ways & Means. Public hearing: 1/17/2023, LOB 202-204, 10:30 a.m. Executive session: 1/31/2023, LOB 202-204, 11:30 a.m.
Repealing the communications services tax. Prime sponsor: Jason Osborne. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to Ways & Means. Public hearing: 1/24/2023, LOB 202-204, 11:00 a.m.
Relative to the collection of sales taxes of foreign jurisdictions by New Hampshire businesses. Prime sponsor: Michael Harrington. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to Ways & Means. Public hearing: 1/17/2023, LOB 202-204, 11:30 a.m. Executive session: 1/31/2023, LOB 202-204, 11:30 a.m.
Relative to the rate and exemptions of the Interest & Dividends tax. Prime sponsor: Susan Almy. Introduced in the House (1/04/2023) and referred to Ways & Means. Public hearing: 1/24/2023, LOB 202-204, 1:00 p.m.
Relative to taxation of sole proprietorship businesses. Prime sponsor: Travis Corcoran. Introduced in the House and referred to Ways & Means. Public hearing: 1/312023, LOB 202-204, 11:00 a.m.
Relative to removing the net operating loss deduction limit on taxable income under the Business Profits tax. Prime sponsor: Thomas Schamberg. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Ways & Means. Public hearing: 1/31/2023, LOB 202-204, 10:30 a.m.
Establishing a county tourism development fund administered by the Department of Business & Economic Affairs. Prime sponsor: Judy Aron. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Municipal & County Government. Public hearing: 2/01/2023, LOB 301-303, 10:00 a.m.
Relative to the definition of gross business profits in determining taxable business profits. Prime sponsor: Timothy Lang. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Ways & Means. Public hearing; 2/088/2023, SH 100, 9:00 a.m.
Relative to deductions under the business profits tax for compensation of members and owners. Prime sponsor: Timothy Lang. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Ways & Means. Public hearing; 2/088/2023, SH 100, 9:15 a.m.
Relative to paper billing fees. Prime sponsor: Suzanne Vail. Introduced in House (1/04/2023) and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Public hearing: 1/12/2023, LOB 302-304, 1:15 p.m. Work session: 2/01/2023, LOB 302-304, 10:00 a.m., Executive session: 2/02/2023, LOB 302-304, 1:30 p.m. Committee recommendation: "Inexpedient to Legislate," Consent Calendar.
Relative to telephone carrier of last resort obligations. Prime sponsor: Michael Vose. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Science, Technology and Energy. Public hearing: 2/6/2023, LOB 302, 2:30 p.m.
Relative to placement of personal wireless service facilities. Prime sponsor: Lucius Parshall. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Science, Technology and Energy. Public hearing: 2/7/2023, LOB 302, 9:30 a.m.
Relative to free speech in interactive computer services. Prime sponsor: Peter Schmidt. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Judiciary. Public hearing: 1/19/2023, LOB 206-208, 9:00 a.m. Executive session: 2/01/2023, LOB 206-208, 9:00 a.m. Committee recommendation: "Inexpedient to Legislate," Consent Calendar.
Relative to establishing a chief information security officer for the department of information technology. Introduced in House (1/05/2023) and referred to Executive Departments and Administration. Public hearing: 2/01/2023, LOB 306-308, 10:00 a.m.
Relative to the definition of broadband infrastructure as a revenue-producing facility eligible for municipal revenue bonds. Prime sponsor: Sen. Jeb Bradley. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs.
Relative to the expectation of privacy. Prime sponsor: Sharon Carson. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Judiciary.
Relative to Healthcare Workforce Development. Prime sponsor: Cindy Rosenwald. Introduced in the Senate (1/05/2023) and referred to Health & Human Services. Public Hearing: 2/01/2023, LOB 101, 9:00 a.m.
Relative to New Hampshire workforce training programs. Prime sponsor: David Watters. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Education. Public hearing: 1/31/2023, LOB 101, 9:45 a.m.
Establishing a superior court land use docket. Prime sponsor: Bob Lynn. Introduced in the House (1/05/2023) and referred to Judiciary. Public hearing: 1/19/2023, LOB 206-208, 2:30 p.m. Executive session: 2/01/2023, LOB 206-208, 9:00 a.m.
Establishing a commission to study barrios to increased density of residential development in New Hampshire. Prime sponsor: Rebecca Perkins Kwoka. Introduced in the Senate (1/05/2023) and referred to Election Laws and Municipal Affairs. Public hearing (01/17/2023), LOB 103, 10:00 a.m. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment (5-0). Motion approved. 1/26/2023. As Amended by the Senate.
Relative to New Hampshire housing champion designation for municipalities. Prime sponsor: Rebecca Perkins Kwoka. Introduced in the Senate and referred to Commerce. Public hearing: 2/14/2023, SH 100, 9:30 a.m.
Relative to housing opportunity zones. Prime sponsor: Rebecca Perkins Kwoka. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs.
Establishing a historic housing tax credit and making appropriations for workforce housing and affordable housing. Prime sponsor: Dan Innis. Introduced in the Senate (1/19/2023) and referred to Finance.
Relative to the payment of salaried employees. Prime sponsor: Keith Murphy. Introduced in the Senate (1/05/2023) and referred to Commerce. Public hearing: 1/24/2023, SH 100, 9:30 a.m. Committee report: Inexpedient to Legislate. Committee motion approved (1/26/2023). Bill Killed.
Relative to the expectation of privacy in the collection and use of personal information. Prime sponsor: Keith Erf. Introduced in House (1/05/2023) and referred to Judiciary. Public hearing: 1/19/2023, LOB 206-208, 10:00 a.m. Executive session: 2/01/2023, LOB 206-208, 9:00 a.m. Committee recommendation: Retain.