Protect Churches from Discrimination and Unjust Taxation
Last week, the Senate Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on SB 291, a much-needed bill to protect churches from discrimination and ensure that they can operate without being burdened by unjust taxation measures.
Additionally, the bill strengthens New Hampshire’s zoning protections for churches, ensuring that those providing rental housing on their property are protected from unfair zoning discrimination.
In her gubernatorial campaign platform, Gov. Kelly Ayotte stated a key way to solve the housing crisis in New Hampshire is by empowering churches and religious organizations to provide more housing.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
⛪️ Organize your churches to support the bill and contact the committee. Please ask your pastor or priest specifically to contact the committee and ask them to vote OTP (Ought to Pass) on SB 291.
📣 Check out powerful testimony from Pastor Shawn Foster on how this bill could empower churches and benefit communities.
Support Expanded Remedies for Constitutional Rights Violations
Last week, the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 614, an important piece of legislation that addresses past constitutional rights violations in New Hampshire.
Currently under New Hampshire case law, you can receive a remedy in court if your constitutional rights are going to be violated in the future or are currently being violated in an ongoing way. However, if any of your constitutional rights were violated in the past, and the violation is over, you cannot receive a remedy.
HB 614 seeks to rectify this discrepancy by asserting that if your constitutional rights were violated in the past, you still have recourse to a remedy.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
📩 Please contact the House Judiciary Committee and ask them to vote OTP (Ought to Pass) on the bill. You can email the committee here.
🔗 Watch Cornerstone Attorney Ian Huyett’s testimony in support of HB 614 here.
New Hampshire 40 Days for Life Campaigns Begin Soon
Take part in an upcoming 40 Days for Life campaign to protect mothers and children by joining this worldwide mobilization to pray and fast for an end to abortion!
🗓️ The 40 Days for Life campaign begins March 3rd and ends April 13th.
📍There are four New Hampshire locations linked below for the 40 Days for Life Campaign that will be sponsoring various events, rallies, and vigils.
For any questions, please email the appropriate campaign leader using the links above.
Two Bills Before Senate Committees
SB 100 is currently before the Senate Education Committee. The committee held a public hearing for the bill on February 4.
We wish to preserve the existing law and its protections against teaching discrimination, while also working with the Education Committee in crafting an amendment to restore and strengthen the law.
Additionally, SB 72, a parental bill of rights, is being considered by the Senate Children and Family Law Committee. The committee held a public hearing for the bill on February 3rd.
Cornerstone had strongly supported the Senate and parental rights groups’ work in advancing the previous Parents’ Bill of Rights — SB 272 — in the 2023 term. We encourage the Senate to amend SB 72 to include the language of the previous bill regarding secret social transitioning.
We will continue to update on these bill as needed as they move through the legislature.
