HOW TO TAKE ACTION
LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2021
Each year Cornerstone Action, identifies relevant legislation impacting the people of New Hampshire, faithful to our commitment to support religious freedom, protect families, and cherish life. Below are the bills we have identified to track or watch for further developments.
Your voice does make a difference!
We urge you to get informed and contact your elected officials to let them know where you stand on important legislative questions in New Hampshire. Our Legislative Update emails will continue to notify you of the bills coming up each week
Beginning this year, this page will be your go-to for specific action steps you can take on each bill, including how contact legislators, sign into hearings and live-stream committee votes. Please bookmark it!
KEY CHANGES THIS YEAR
Due to COVID restrictions, new online procedures have been implemented for members of the public who wish to testify to New Hampshire legislators on bills in the 2021 session.
While in-person testimony is not possible at this time, you will still be able to register your opinion remotely.
It is imperative that concerned folks like you continue to contact committee members and “show up.”
Signing in for hearings on these bills is essential to be counted and to have the opportunity to speak. More about the process here.
Click on a bill for detailed instructions on how you can act.
LIFE
We support public policy that affirms the value of human life.
TAKE ACTION SOON
About
BILL TEXT
HB625
Relative to the protection of fetal life
CORNERSTONE POSITION
SUPPORT
TALKING POINTS
HB 625 would protect unborn lives at the 24-week gestational age. It requires that a physician determine a child’s gestational age, and protects the child from an abortion at or after 24 weeks. The bill imposes a Class B Felony penalty for health care providers who violate it knowingly or intentionally.
READ MORE…
Update
Great News! The House voted on Feb 24 to overturn the committee recommendation of “Inexpedient to Legislate” and instead voted “Ought to Pass”!
The bill is now being referred to the NH Senate where it will be heard in committee before heading for a floor vote.
This is only the first hurdle to clear in a long legislative process. Our preborn, who can’t speak for themselves, need your voice and your prayers now more than ever.
Stay Tuned For Next Step
Once this bill is scheduled for the Senate then it will be time to act.
If passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor, HB 625-FN will finally put common-sense measures in place in our state by protecting preborn children after 24 weeks with an exception for the mother’s physical health.
Watch our Legislative Update Emails for Updates!
TAKE ACTION NOW
About
BILL TEXT
HB430
Repealing the prohibition on entering or remaining on a public way or sidewalk adjacent to a reproductive health care facility
CORNERSTONE POSITION
SUPPORT
TALKING POINTS
HB 430, The Sidewalk Free Speech Act, will repeal the current prohibition on gathering in a public area that is near a reproductive health care facility. HB 430 argues that the 2014 restrictions currently in NH law (RSA 132:37-40) have never been actively enforced, serve no public purpose, and most likely would be found unconstitutional if enforcement was attempted.
READ MORE…
Update
The Committee voted 11-10 against HB 430, it will now go to the House for a vote.
Next Step: Contact Your House Representative
HB 430 will move to a full House floor vote next week, which means that all state representatives, including yours, need to hear from you before they vote on these bills next Wednesday or Thursday!
In order for your request to have more impact, please email your representative with HB 430 in the subject line and ask them to support the passing of HB 430!
Remember to put your last name at the bottom of your email, as well as the town you reside in. Finally, remember to be charitable! Representatives are more likely to listen to reasoned arguments.
Watch our Legislative Update Emails for Vote Updates!
TAKE ACTION NOW
About
BILL TEXT
HB434
Prohibiting the use of public funds for abortions.
CORNERSTONE POSITION
SUPPORT
TALKING POINTS
HB 434 will simply align state law with what has been repeatedly affirmed in the NH State Budget, that abortion services in the state are not to be funded with our tax dollars. The bill makes an exception when the life of the mother is at stake.
READ MORE…
Update
The Judiciary Committee voted 11-10 against HB 434. It will now go to the House for a vote.
Next Step: Contact Your House Representative
HB 434 will move to a full House floor vote next week, which means that all state representatives, including yours, need to hear from you before they vote on these bills next Wednesday or Thursday!
In order for your request to have more impact, please email your representative with HB 434 in the subject line and ask them to support the passing of HB 434!
Remember to put your last name at the bottom of your email, as well as the town you reside in. Finally, remember to be charitable! Representatives are more likely to listen to reasoned arguments.
Watch our Legislative Update Emails for Vote Updates!
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
For the benefit of New Hampshire, we support and defend religious freedom.
TAKE ACTION NOW
About
BILL TEXT
HB440
Relative to the protection of religious liberty.
CORNERSTONE POSITION
SUPPORT
TALKING POINTS
HB 440 was introduced by Rep. Jim Kofalt to codify general protections for religious liberty in state law. However, after Rep. Kofalt introduced the bill, the New Hampshire Supreme Court held in its Mack decision that the New Hampshire Constitution now requires exactly the same protections.
Accordingly, Rep. Kofalt is seeking to amend 440 to replace it with the Civil Liberties Defense Act. This bill will protect all civil liberties from being “suspended” during a state of emergency—something Governor Sununu’s attorneys have claimed the power to do. Read more about the issue of civil liberties “suspension” here.
It is likely that people who oppose religious liberty will “sign in” in opposition to 440. Accordingly, by “signing in” in support, you can express your support for both religious liberty and civil liberties in general.
READ MORE…
Step One : Email Committee
As always, Legislators need to hear from you! Email the committee why you support this bill. See all members of the House Judiciary here.
Step Two : Sign in
VERY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR!
Once the hearing is scheduled you are able to sign in. Follow instructions below.
NOTE : The sign in list will be compiled for all bills being heard by the committee on a given day 30 minutes prior to the start of the first hearing. If you sign up after that time, the Chair will not have your name before them.
Instructions for sign in: Under the drop down menu . . .
SELECT DATE: Friday, February 26
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
BILL: HB440
POSITION: Cornerstone urges SUPPORT (see why to the left)
Step Three : Virtually Attend Hearing
At this time, we are not asking for testimony from the general public on 440, as the bill is focused on legal issues.
TAKE ACTION NOW
About
BILL TEXT
HB542
Relative to the applicability of a state of emergency declaration to a house of worship.
CORNERSTONE POSITION
SUPPORT
TALKING POINTS
In recent months we’ve seen around the country instances of governors using emergency powers to target the ability of churches to freely assemble. If passed, HB 542 would protect churches in New Hampshire from such abuses by essentially categorizing houses of worship as essential services during states of emergency.
Step One : Email Committee
As always, Legislators need to hear from you! Email the committee why you support this bill. See all members of the House Judiciary here.
Step Two : Sign in
VERY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR!
Once the hearing is scheduled you are able to sign in. Follow instructions below.
NOTE : The sign in list will be compiled for all bills being heard by the committee on a given day 30 minutes prior to the start of the first hearing. If you sign up after that time, the Chair will not have your name before them.
Instructions for sign in: Under the drop down menu . . .
SELECT DATE: MARCH 5 10:00AM
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
BILL: HB542
POSITION: Cornerstone urges SUPPORT (see why to the left)
Step Three : Virtually Attend Hearing
GENDER
For the benefit of New Hampshire, we recognize the dignity of each human being, created male or female. We defend the belief that there are two genders and oppose measures that would label that belief “discriminatory.”
TAKE ACTION NOW
About
BILL TEXT
HB295
Relative to initiating amendments and corrections to birth records
CORNERSTONE POSITION
OPPOSE
TALKING POINTS
Allowing individuals to alter their vital records, including birth certificates, based upon subjective feelings or experiences undermines the government’s interest in having accurate vital records. The purpose of vital records is not to affirm a person’s inner feelings or beliefs regarding their age, sex, or location of birth. As numerous courts have recognized, the purpose of vital records is to maintain an accurate database of factual information regarding births, deaths, and other vital events in a given jurisdiction. READ MORE
Step One : Email Committee
As always, Legislators need to hear from you! Email the committee why you support this bill. See all members of the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs here.
Step Two : Sign in
VERY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR!
Once the hearing is scheduled you are able to sign in. Follow instructions below.
NOTE : The sign in list will be compiled for all bills being heard by the committee on a given day 30 minutes prior to the start of the first hearing. If you sign up after that time, the Chair will not have your name before them.
Instructions for sign in: Under the drop down menu . . .
SELECT DATE: Tuesday, March 2
COMMITTEE: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
BILL: HB295
POSITION: Cornerstone urges you OPPOSE (see why to the left)
Step Three : Virtually Attend Hearing
TAKE ACTION NOW
About
BILL TEXT
HB136
Requiring schools to update documents and software to include the option of identifying a student as non-binary
CORNERSTONE POSITION
OPPOSE
TALKING POINTS
Coming Soon!
Step One : Email Committee
As always, Legislators need to hear from you! Email the committee why you support this bill. See all members of the House Education Committee here.
Step Two : Sign in
VERY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR!
Once the hearing is scheduled you are able to sign in. Follow instructions below.
NOTE : The sign in list will be compiled for all bills being heard by the committee on a given day 30 minutes prior to the start of the first hearing. If you sign up after that time, the Chair will not have your name before them.
Instructions for sign in: Under the drop down menu . . .
SELECT DATE: TBA
COMMITTEE: House Education
BILL: HB136
POSITION: Cornerstone urges you OPPOSE (see why to the left)
Step Three : Virtually Attend Hearing
EDUCATION
For the benefit of children in New Hampshire, we support educational choice and student privacy.
TAKE ACTION NOW
About
BILL TEXT
SB 130 -FN
Relative to education freedom accounts.
CORNERSTONE POSITION
SUPPORT
TALKING POINTS
SB 130-FN is the Senate equivalent of HB 20, establishing the Richard “Dick” Hinch Education Freedom Account program. HB 20 was retained by the House Education Committee. Education freedom accounts provide a child’s state education funding directly to parents via an education grant. These family-directed education grant accounts can be used to pay for courses, devices, tuition, classes, connectivity, tutoring and other forms of learning. With an education freedom account, a family will have more flexibility in finding the right course of study for their child. READ MORE…
Step One : Email Committee
As always, Legislators need to hear from you! Email the committee why you support this bill. See all members of the Senate Education Committee here.
Step Two : Sign in
VERY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR!
Once the hearing is scheduled you are able to sign in. Follow instructions below.
NOTE : The sign in list will be compiled for all bills being heard by the committee on a given day 30 minutes prior to the start of the first hearing. If you sign up after that time, the Chair will not have your name before them.
Instructions for sign in: Under the drop down menu . . .
SELECT DATE: TUESDAY MARCH 2ND
COMMITTEE: SENATE EDUCATION
BILL: SB 130
POSITION: Cornerstone urges SUPPORT (see why to the left)
Step Three : Virtually Attend Hearing
TAKE ACTION NOW
About
BILL TEXT
HB20 FN-A-L
Relative to establishing the Richard “Dick” Hinch education freedom account program.
CORNERSTONE POSITION
SUPPORT
TALKING POINTS
Education Freedom Accounts provide a child’s state education funding directly to parents, via an education grant. These family-directed education grant accounts pay for courses, devices, tuition, classes, connectivity, tutoring and other forms of learning. READ MORE…
Update
On Thursday, February 18, the House Education Committee voted to retain HB 20, establishing the Richard “Dick” Hinch education freedom account program. The decision was based on several factors, including an error in the amendment to the bill.
However, a Senate bill, SB 130, which is a duplicate of HB 20 is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, March 2. To sign in in support of this bill see bill listing on this page.
Subscribe to our Legislative Update Emails
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
For the benefit of society and strengthening of human dignity, we work to put an end to human trafficking and pornography.
TAKE ACTION NOW
About
BILL TEXT
HB 180
increasing the penalty for buyers under the law regarding trafficking in persons.
CORNERSTONE POSITION
SUPPORT
TALKING POINTS
Coming soon
READ MORE…
Update
The House committee voted 20-0 “Ought to Pass with Amendment”: The Amendment exempts buyers under age 20 who would presumably be treated by prosecutors with regard for their tender years.
Next Step
HB 180 will move to a full House floor soon. Contact your Representative to urge them to support the commmittee vote!
Remember to put your last name at the bottom of your email, as well as the town you reside in. Finally, remember to be charitable! Representatives are more likely to listen to reasoned arguments.
TAKE ACTION SOON
About
BILL TEXT
HB 576
relative to victims compensation fund eligibility.
CORNERSTONE POSITION
SUPPORT
TALKING POINTS
Coming soon
READ MORE…
Step One : Email Committee
As always, Legislators need to hear from you! Email the committee why you support this bill. See all members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety
EMAIL: HouseCriminalJusticeandPublicSafety@leg.state.nh.us
Step Two : Sign in
VERY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR!
Once the hearing is scheduled you are able to sign in. Follow instructions below.
NOTE : The sign in list will be compiled for all bills being heard by the committee on a given day 30 minutes prior to the start of the first hearing. If you sign up after that time, the Chair will not have your name before them.
Instructions for sign in: Under the drop down menu . . .
SELECT DATE: TBA
COMMITTEE: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety
BILL: HB 576
POSITION: Cornerstone urges SUPPORT (see why to the left)
Step Three : Virtually Attend Hearing
MARIJUANA
For the benefit of society and strengthening of families we oppose the legalization of recreational marijuana.
