Legislative Update for week of February 4th- 9th
During the Legislative Session, watch your inbox every Saturday for our Legislative Update for the upcoming week, including new bills introduced, updates to legislation in commitee and how you can act!
NEW BILLS THIS WEEK: HB632, HB481
UPDATE ON BILLS: HB201, HB383, HB289 HB189
BILL: HB 632-FN Education Tax Credit Repeal
WHEN: Public Hearing Tuesday, February 5 11:00 a.m; Legislative Office Building Rooms 202-204
CORNERSTONE POSITION: OPPOSE
WHY: New Hampshire’s education tax credit law allows businesses to take a credit against state taxes when they donate to a nonprofit scholarship organization that benefits New Hampshire students in grades K-12. This is a school choice measure that helps families who choose to homeschool or educate their children in a school other than their local public school. This year alone, more than 400 New Hampshire children are benefiting from these scholarships!
HB 632-FN would repeal the education tax credit law. The bill would gut this important program that has made school choice a practical option for many New Hampshire families. Legislators need to hear from parents and students alike!
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Email committee members
Come to the public hearing! Legislators need to hear from students and parents alike who want real school choice. Even if you do not wish to testify, signing in against the bill on the “blue sheet” provided by the committee and showing up at the hearing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other families will send a message that the House Ways and Means committee will not be able to ignore. News media will be watching as well. You may give the committee written testimony even if you don’t testify aloud.
BILL: HB 481, Legalizing and Regulating Recreational Cannabis (Marijuana)
WHEN: Public Hearing Tuesday, February 5, 1:00 p.m. at the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee; Legislative Office Building Rm 204.
CORNERSTONE POSITION: OPPOSE
WHY: Enabling widespread use of recreational marijuana brings social, economic, and health costs that far outweigh any benefit the state might derive from taxing the drug.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Email committee members
Come to the public hearing. Sign in against the bill on the “blue sheet,” or testify against the bill by signing a pink card (both available in the committee’s hearing room). You may offer written testimony without oral testimony. Your presence will make an impression on the committee as well.
| Update on Recent Legislative Action Bills we have been following, that are now on to the next steps. Your voice still needed and still matters! |
BILL: HB 201-FN Anti-Trafficking Measure WHAT YOU CAN DO: The committee vote is open to the public, although no testimony will be taken. If you have not already done so, please send a message to the committee (or individually here) and urge them to protect children by supporting HB 201-FN as introduced. |
| BILL: HB 383 Relative to gender “discrimination” in public and private schools STATUS: Hearing last week, will be voted on this week. WHEN: House Education Committee on Tuesday, February 5 at 10:00am, Legislative Office Building, Room 207. CORNERSTONE POSITION: OPPOSE. The bill lacks clarity; for example, would it be “discrimination” to teach that there are two sexes, male and female? WHAT YOU CAN DO: The committee vote is open to the public, although no testimony will be taken. If you have not already done so, please send a message to the committee and ask them to vote No on 383. |
| BILL: HB 289 Recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in public schools STATUS: Hearing last week, will be voted on this week. WHEN: House Education Committee on Tuesday, February 5 at 10:00am, Legislative Office Building, Room 207. CORNERSTONE POSITION: SUPPORT but with amendment only (read our attorney’s op-ed here) WHAT YOU CAN DO: The committee vote is open to the public, although no testimony will be taken. If you have not already done so, please send a message to the committee and ask them to vote Yes on 289. |
| BILL: HB 158 Abortion Statistics STATUS: Hearing last week, now will be voted on this week. WHEN: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee on Tuesday, February 5 at 1:00 p.m. Legislative Office Building, Room 205. CORNERSTONE POSITION: SUPPORT (For more info click here) WHAT YOU CAN DO: The committee vote is open to the public, although no testimony will be taken. If you have not already done so, please send a message to the committee and ask them to vote “ought to pass” on HB 158. |
