Last Tuesday’s local elections were a major victory for strong public education as candidates from across the state whose platform includes strong support of public education win seats on school boards.
Rights & Democracy is proud to have endorsed and supported Whitney Skillen, who won her race for Claremont School Board as a write-in candidate. “I believe strong public education is in the bedrock of our democracy. It makes our communities stronger, and healthier. In order for communities to thrive it is a moral imperative to offer free, high quality education to everyone,” said Whitney. “When communities come together on values of honest, accurate and fully funded education, and we rally around these candidates with that voice, and organize to support them we win for everyone in our community.”
Whitney’s victory proves the widespread support for strong public education in New Hampshire. Whitney’s win and those of many other progressive candidates across New Hampshire is a great forecast of what’s to come in the upcoming state elections this November.
On another front, Lebanon voters voted to remove police officers from Lebanon schools. RAD has been organizing on this for more than a year now, and we’re proud to see voters agree that students should not be faced with the criminal justice system when they make mistakes. It is up to the school board now to listen to voters and finalize the removal of police from Lebanon schools.
This is a very important week in the legislature as most of our priority bills will be voted on this week. Please see bills below and write to your representatives so they know how to vote.
See Rights & Democracy’s 2022 NH legislative priorities
Find your representative here, and see below for the bill and hearing information you need to take action! Invite others to sign up here for these weekly updates.
Until next week, and in solidarity,
David Bates
Sebastian Fuentes
Asma Elhuni, NH Movement Politics Director, Rights & Democracy
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Sign in to register your support or opposition on RAD priority bills, contact your legislators, and/or testify in writing and in person!
[highlight style=”gray”]HEALTHCARE JUSTICE[/highlight]Senate Support HB 1390: On Wednesday, March 16th, the Senate Health Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1390, which requires language access services for limited-English proficient speakers and deaf or heard of hearing individuals when healthcare services are provided through telemedicine. You can sign in to support the bill here, and/or attend the hearing in Legislative Office Building Room 101 at 9:15 AM. House Support passage of HB 103 which would expand State Medicaid to cover preventative adult dental care, such as cleanings, for low income citizens, rather than just emergency room tooth extractions.
[highlight style=”gray”]REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE[/highlight]Support passage of HB 1673 with the majority amendment which modifies last year’s late-term abortion ban by limiting the instances in which ultrasounds will be required to verify gestational age, creating an exception for cases in for the health of the mother and fatal fetal anomalies, and removing criminal and civil penalties for medical providers.
[highlight style=”gray”]RACIAL JUSTICE[/highlight]Support passage of HB 1090 which repeals the prohibition on teaching about discrimination and replaces it with language that ensures that the instruction of both historical facts and current experiences of protected classes is permitted in NH classrooms, and that teachers may teach without fear of civil liability. Support passage of HB 1576 which repeals last year’s prohibition on the teaching of “divisive concepts.”. Oppose HB 1476 : HB 1476 would mandate the pretrial incarceration of an individual charged with any offense if they were on release for any offense at the time, including a Class B misdemeanor offense that carries no jail time if convicted. Talking points from the ACLU here
[highlight style=”gray”]HOUSING JUSTICE[/highlight]Support passage of HB 1200 which requires a landlord to give a tenant 45 days’ notice when they decide to increase rent at the expiration of a lease. Support passage of HB 1133 prohibiting the termination of a lease during the sale of rental properties. Support passage of HB 1291 prohibiting discrimination against tenants using housing assistance vouchers to help pay the cost of housing.
[highlight style=”gray”]IMMIGRATION JUSTICE[/highlight]Oppose HB 1266 which requires local police departments to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Support HB 1463 relative to drivers’ licenses issued in accordance with the Real ID Act of 2005.
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Oppose HB 1379 which restricts the authority of the NH Health Department to require immunizations for children. Oppose HB 1625 repealing the prohibition on harassing women entering or leaving a reproductive health care facility by protesting on the immediate nearby road or sidewalk. Support HB 1250 which requires the public utilities commission to consider climate change in making rate-setting decisions. Support HB 1177 which requires that towns allow 2-4 family homes in residential areas served by town water and sewer. Support HB 1251 which prohibits the payment of subminimum base wages for tipped workers. Support HB 1296 which restricts the use of asset forfeiture by the police and assigns a public defender to persons involved in an asset forfeiture case. Support HB 1638 which changes the entity dealing with complaints under last year’s “divisive concepts” law to the local school superintendent.
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Tips for Testifying
In person: Go early to the room assigned for the committee hearing early. 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).
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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.