2022 Legislative Update, Week of April 18th

  -  

Thanks to everyone who has been testifying and reaching out to legislators, we saw a number of positive outcomes last week in the NH Senate.

These included a Senate vote to pass RAD-supported bill HB 1673, which would alter the mandatory ultrasound requirement included in the third trimester abortion ban passed by Republicans last year.

See Highlights from Last Week below for a more in-depth look at last week’s movement on RAD priority bills.

This coming week, we have many RAD supported bills in committee! See Top Actions this Week below to learn how you can speak up on these bills.

See Rights & Democracy’s 2022 NH legislative priorities

Invite others to sign up here for these weekly updates.

Until next week, and in solidarity,

David Bates
Sebastian Fuentes
Ed Taylor, NH State Director, Rights & Democracy

[highlight style=”gray”]SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE[/highlight]

The Senate Judiciary Committee is meeting on Tuesday, April 19th in State House Room 100 to take testimony on three RAD priority bills. Click here to sign in online, in favor or in opposition.

  • Support HB 1493, which increases transparency and accountability when police seize property and assets for deposit in the drug forfeiture fund. The hearing begins at 1:30PM.
  • Oppose HB 1266, which prohibits state, county, municipal, or judicial officials from adopting or enforcing policies restricting enforcement of federal immigration laws. The hearing begins at 2PM.
  • Oppose HB 1625, repealing the prohibition on entering or remaining on a public way or sidewalk adjacent to a reproductive health care facility. The hearing begins at 2:30PM.

[highlight style=”gray”]SENATE FLOOR VOTES[/highlight]

On Thursday, April 21st, the Senate will hold floor votes on three RAD priority bills. Please contact your Senator and tell them that you:

  • Oppose HB 1379, which limits the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services to require that NH children be vaccinated against contagious diseases.
  • Support HB 1622, which tightens requirements for insurer networks to include mental health treatment providers.
  • Support HB 1454, which increases regulations for permitting municipal waste landfills in NH.

[highlight style=”gray”]HOUSE FLOOR VOTES[/highlight]

On Thursday, April 21st, the House will hold floor votes on two RAD priority bills. Please contact your Representative(s) to tell them that you:

  • Support SB 407, which expands post-partum coverage for low-income women so that they have continuous health coverage for a full year after giving birth, including for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
  • Support SB 279, establishing a study committee on harm reduction and overdose prevention programs.

[divider style=”solid” padding_top=”10px” color=”#cccccc” thickness=”1″ padding_bottom=”0px”][/divider]

In addition to the news about the modification to the mandatory ultrasound requirement mentioned above, there were several important wins last week:

  • The House Health Committee held a public hearing on RAD-supported bill SB 407, which expands post-partum coverage for low-income women to ensure continuous health coverage for a full year after giving birth, including for mental health and substance abuse treatment. The committee voted to recommend passage of the bill.
  • The Senate Health Committee held a public hearing on RAD-opposed bill HB 1379, which limits the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services to require that NH children be vaccinated against contagious diseases. The committee recommended that the bill not be passed this year, referring it instead to interim study.
  • The Senate Health Committee also held a public hearing on RAD-supported bill HB 1622, which tightens requirements for insurer networks to include mental health treatment providers. The committee unanimously voted to recommend passage.
  • The Senate Science Committee held a public hearing on RAD-supported bill HB 1066, which requires the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services to investigate and analyze the environmental and human and animal health impacts relating to cyanobacteria blooms in New Hampshire water bodies. The committee recommended the bill’s passage and amended it to fund the research needed for the report and create an advisory committee.

In a week of otherwise positive motion, the Senate did deliver a bitter pill, voting to kill RAD-supported bill HB 579 on a party line vote. The bill would have required notice to the public before immigration checkpoints are conducted.

Tips for Testifying

In person: Go early to the room assigned for the committee hearing. There will be a form for you to sign your name and who you are representing. You may sign in as yourself if you are not representing an organization. The higher your name is on the list,  the earlier you get to speak. You will be called on when they open the hearing to the public.

Online: If you cannot attend a hearing in person, you can register your position online up to a week out. (Registration is cut off 30 minutes before a hearing.) After signing in support of a bill, the confirmation page will list the email address where you can submit written testimony. Email committee members to let them know why you support or oppose a bill.

Helpful Links

Senate

  • Register your position and/or submit testimony on a Senate bill here.
  • Find the Senate Calendar here (meeting links are in the Calendar Notice pdf).
  • Find your Senator here.

House

  • Register your position and/or submit testimony on a House bill here.
  • Find the House Calendar here.
  • Find your Representative(s) here.

Don’t know your district? Use this map.