Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Today, New Hampshire honored Overdose Awareness Day through a virtual ceremony. Earlier this year, HB 1135, which contained text from SB 564 proclaiming August 31st Overdose Awareness Day, was signed into law. Prime sponsor of SB 564, Senator Melanie Levesque (D-Brookline) issued this statement following the ceremony: “In 2019 we lost 284 New Hampshire residents to drug overdoses. We hear all too often about the opioid crisis plaguing our state and as a Legislature we are doing everything in our power to protect Granite Staters and offer them support through recovery. I was honored to bring f
GOFERR Legislative Advisory Board Recommends Swift Implementation of Rapid Testing at Community Heal
Contact Name: Sara Persechino, Michael O’Brien Phone: (603) 271-3479, (603) 271-0515 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us, mike.b.obrien@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – In July, Senator Lou D’Allesandro and Representative Mary Jane Wallner asked the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan and cost estimate for ensuring New Hampshire schools have access to rapid COVID-19 testing. Today, the GOFERR Legislative Advisory Board recommended that plan, 8-0, which will establish rapid testing sites at community health centers across the state. House Finance Chair Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord) and Senate Finance Chair Lou D’Allesandro (D-Manchester), who both serve on the Governor’s Off
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Today, Senate President Donna Soucy released the following statement in remembrance of her former colleague, Senator Harold Janeway: “Senator Janeway was a soft-spoken, gentle, and generous man who will be greatly missed by all of us in the Senate - and indeed by all of New Hampshire. Harold was also a man who treasured the good things in life - swimming in his pond, sleeping on the porch, and a daily piece of pie with his lunch. Every day he came to the State House with his Wall Street Journal under his arm, covered in Post-its and handwritten notes in the margins. This thoughtful and carefu
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Today, the New Hampshire Senate Democratic Caucus released their 2020 Session Policy Synopsis. The document outlines legislation put forward by Senate Democrats in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, criminal justice reform, child protection, voting rights, and the promises made and kept through their Granite State Opportunity Plan which they campaigned on in 2018. Senate President Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) issued the following statement alongside the synopsis: “When Democrats took the Senate majority in 2018 we made a promise to our constituents. We promised to fight for New Hampshire worker
Governor Sununu and Secretary Gardner Continue to Issue Conflicting Absentee Voting Statements and C
Contact Name: Sara Persechino, Michael O’Brien Phone: (603) 271-3479, (603) 271-0515 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us, mike.b.obrien@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Yesterday, at his press conference, Governor Chris Sununu said anyone can take an absentee ballot, drop it off in dropboxes and that every town has them, which conflicts with Secretary Gardner saying that dropboxes must be individually staffed. In addition, in deflecting his responsibility to issue a public mask mandate for the entire state, Governor Sununu said “It’s on them” - stating any town or jurisdiction can mandate mask wearing in polling places, while Secretary Gardner’s office has said no town or city can require masks
Governor Sununu Blocks Progress, Hits Another Veto Record - Kills One-Third of All Bills Sent to His
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Today, Governor Sununu acted on the final four bills from the 2020 legislative session, vetoing all four and bringing his total vetoes this year to 22, or 36% of the total pieces of legislation sent to his desk. This marks another notch for Sununu in his refusal to work with the Legislature - a record for highest percentage of bills ever vetoed by a New Hampshire governor. This follows last year's Sununu record of the highest number of vetoes in a single year - 57. Senate President Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) issued the following statement in response: “It is incredibly disappointing that aft
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Today, Governor Sununu vetoed HB 687, a bill establishing a procedure for issuing extreme risk protection orders to protect against persons who pose an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. Senator Martha Hennessey (D-Hanover) issued the following statement in response: “Between 2013-2017, we lost nearly 1,200 New Hampshire residents to suicide. Nearly half of those suicides were done with a firearm. According to a report published by the CDC our suicide rates increased 48.3% between 1999-2016. This cannot continue. Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws are a public health and s
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Today, Governor Sununu vetoed HB 1494, a Senate omnibus bill to protect Granite State workers. As amended, HB 1494 covered a variety of workers’ protections, including health and safety standards and a state death benefit. Senate Commerce Chair Kevin Cavanaugh (D-Manchester), prime sponsor of the amendment, issued the following statement in response: “Throughout this pandemic our state employees have stepped up to keep New Hampshire running. They have taken our emergency calls and provided support, oftentimes at personal risk to themselves and their families. I am extremely disappointed that
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Today, Governor Sununu vetoed HB 1375, a bill to establish the elements of a claim for medical monitoring and the damages that may be awarded. Senator Shannon Chandley (D-Amherst) issued the following statement in response: “As a state, we have taken significant steps to address the public health consequences caused by the contamination of our drinking and waste water by PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances). However, while we continue our remediation efforts, we cannot forget that there are Granite Staters who have already been exposed to contamination and have developed the subsequent long-term
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Today, Governor Sununu vetoed HB 685, the Reproductive Health Parity Act of 2020, which would have ensured affordable access to safe, legal abortion by requiring insurance plans that cover maternity benefits to provide coverage for emergency or elective abortion services. Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) issued the following statement in response: “While Chris Sununu claims to be ‘pro-choice,’ his actions speak louder - and truer - than words. Five years ago this week, then Executive Councilor Sununu cast the deciding vote to defund Planned Parenthood health centers and jeopardize access to
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD — Today, Senator Dan Feltes, Chair of Senate Ways and Means, and Senator Lou D’Allesandro, Chair of Senate Finance, sent a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue regarding the potential tax increase for New Hampshire residents who traditionally commute to Massachusetts for work, but who have been working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, these individuals pay income tax for the days worked in Massachusetts and are exempt when working outside the state. However, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue recently issued an emergency order giving it the right to collect t
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Last week, HB 1245, was signed into law. The omnibus legislation consisted of several bills concerning state agencies including SB 668, establishing an offshore wind commission. Senator David Watters (D-Dover) issued the following statement in response: “The development of offshore wind as a source of renewable energy is extremely important to New Hampshire’s economic and energy future. New energy sources are essential to job development opportunities, education, economic expansion, and protecting and preserving our environment. This commission will bring stakeholders together to prepare nece
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Today, HB 685, a bill requiring insurance plans which cover maternity benefits to provide coverage for emergency or elective abortion services, was delivered to the Secretary of State. It next goes to the governor’s desk where he will have five business days to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without his signature. Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) issued the following statement in response: “Access to safe, legal abortion care is an essential component of reproductive health care. With the insurance market disrupted by COVID-19 and the Trump administration continuing to jeopardi
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Last week, HB 1245, was signed into law. The omnibus legislation consisted of several bills concerning state agencies including SB 248, Senator Watters’ (D-Dover) bill to increase the age for sales and possession of tobacco products to 21. Prime sponsor of SB 248, Senator David Watters (D-Dover), issued the following statement in response: “Tobacco remains the top preventable cause of death and disease in New Hampshire. By raising the age to purchase and possess tobacco to 21, we have the potential to save thousands of lives over our lifetime. I am happy to see this important legislation sign
Contact Name: Sara Persechino Phone: (603) 271-3479 Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD - Today, HB 687, a bill establishing a procedure for issuing extreme risk protection orders to protect against persons who pose an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others, was signed by the Senate President. It will next be delivered to the Secretary of State before heading to the governor’s desk where he will have five business days to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without his signature. Senator Martha Hennessey (D-Hanover) issued the following statement in response: “Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) laws are a public health and safety measure. In 2018, a CDC report i