May 2 was our first Session during “Crossover,” when the House votes on the approved Senate Bills. 55 bills went through consent, and 39 made it to the floor for amendments or discussions. The Senate had a great day, with over 80% getting approval.
Floor bills that were discussed on May 2:
SB359, which raised the minimum age for marriage from 16 to 18, was passed after two failed amendments 192-174. Cyril and I supported this bill if emancipated 16-year-olds were exempt.
SB417 related to out-of-home placements for children to improve safety and preference based on placement with siblings and proximity to the child’s community and passed 191-174.
SB376 established a mandatory minimum 5 year sentence for transporting into NH with the intent to distribute fentanyl class drugs failed 229-137. Most representatives felt that more needed to be done!
SB414 established a mandatory minimum sentence for the distribution of controlled drugs with death to 10 years, which was tabled 340-24. This law definitely needs more work, and the vote agreed!
SB563 prohibited state and local government entities from adopting sanctuary policies to prohibit or impede the enforcement of the federal immigration law and was tabled 188-177.
SB219 required school districts to post mandatory reports of school expenses, including average cost per pupil, average teacher salaries, and top administrator salaries, which failed 178-172. The mandatory report filling is very confusing. To their credit, the Pittsfield School Board has requested a very standard breakdown from the superintendent that lists complete salaries for all school personnel.
SB341 required mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents failed 182-179.
SB380 moved the state primary date from September to June failed 190-176.
SB403 addressed the healthcare workforce in order to improve communication and make directives more accommodating for employees passes 188-178. This was an attempt to make these jobs more appealing to the workforce.
SB496, which directed the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a climate and health protection program, passed 186-182.
SB538 established a tax relief program for office conversion to residences and provided changes to local government to adopt zoning changes related to parking requirements and lot size to sewer infrastructure failed 188-173. Cyril and I agreed that this bill just went too far interfering with local land control!
And our favorite! SB603 provided funds to speed up the release of unused 603 exchange phone numbers by adding $100,000 /yr to the effort already in progress. “603” is an amazing brand that NH needs to preserve for as long as possible. Opponents say that we are only putting off the inevitable. We agree, but we feel that it is worth it to keep the brand. A seven-digit number not leading with a 1 or 0 will give you 8,000,000 possibilities. With a population of 1,400,000, you do the math! The legislature did and passed the bill 257-120.
It is a pleasure to serve the citizens of Pittsfield and Chichester. If you have any questions, please contact Cyril and Clayton at info@ClaytonCyril4House.com.
Respectively, your Representatives Cyril Aures and Clayton Wood.