Senate Democrats Applaud Bipartisan Passage of HB 1609
April 21, 2022 Contact Name: Marina Altschiller Phone: (603) 271-3375 Email:marina.altschiller@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Today, in a vote of 19-5, the Senate voted Ought to Pass with Amendment on HB 1609. As amended, HB 1609 provides an exception in the Republican abortion ban for fatal fetal diagnoses and removes the requirement that all individuals seeking abortion care must undergo an ultrasound at every stage of pregnancy. Senators Hennessey, Bradley, Gray, French, Ward,
Republicans Reject Streamlining Enrollment for Free and Reduced Lunch
April 21, 2022 Contact Name: Marina Altschiller Phone: (603) 271-3375 Email:marina.altschiller@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Today, Senate Republicans passed a floor amendment to HB 1627 which stripped out the requirement of the department of education to seek participation in the Medicaid direct certification methodology for school meals program. After the vote, Senate Education Committee members Senator Jay Kahn (D-Keene) and Senator Sue Prentiss (D-West Lebanon) issued the fo
Senate Passes Medicaid Dental Benefit
April 21, 2022 Contact Name: Marina Altschiller Phone: (603) 271-3375 Email:marina.altschiller@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Today, the Senate unanimously voted Ought to Pass with Amendment on HB 103, establishing a dental benefit under the state Medicaid program. The bill will next be sent to Senate Finance for a public hearing. After the vote, Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) and Senator Tom Sherman (D-Rye) issued the following statements: Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua)
House Passes Study Committee on Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention Programs
April 21, 2022 Contact Name: Marina Altschiller Phone: (603) 271-3375 Email:marina.altschiller@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Today, the House passed SB 279 on consent. SB 279, prime sponsored by Senator David Watters (D-Dover) establishes a committee to study harm reduction and overdose prevention programs. After the vote, Senator David Watters (D-Dover) issued the following statement: “I’m grateful to my House colleagues for their bipartisan support of this simple but critical
House Committee Approves Legislation to Support Children’s Behavioral Health System of Care
April 19, 2022 Contact Name: Marina Altschiller Phone: (603) 271-3375 Email:marina.altschiller@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Today, the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee voted Ought to Pass on SB 416. SB 416, prime sponsored by Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton), requires children's behavioral health assessments to include evidenced-based functional behavioral analysis, or similar assessment, and a behavioral intervention plan prior to the placement deci
House Committee Supports Legislation to Reduce Food Insecurity
April 19, 2022 Contact Name: Marina Altschiller Phone: (603) 271-3375 Email:marina.altschiller@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Today, in a bipartisan vote of 17-4, the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee voted Ought to Pass on SB 404. SB 404, prime sponsored by Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) establishes a supplemental nutrition assistance program outreach program. The bill will next go before the full House for a vote. Prime sponsor Senator Becky Whitl
House Republicans Reject Office of Early Childhood
April 19, 2022 Contact Name: Marina Altschiller Phone: (603) 271-3375 Email:marina.altschiller@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Today, Republican members of the House Children and Family Law Committee led the effort to reject SB 326. SB 326, prime sponsored by Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) would have directed the commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, the commissioner of
House Republicans Block Access to Affordable Child Care
April 19, 2022 Contact Name: Marina Altschiller Phone: (603) 271-3375 Email:marina.altschiller@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Today, in a party line vote, Republican members of the House Children and Family Law Committee voted Inexpedient to Legislate on SB 144. SB 144, prime sponsored by Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) sought to implement a 3-month pilot program to provide enrollment-based reimbursement to child care providers who accept child care scholarships through the
Senate Republicans Continue Desperate Attempts to Claim Democratic Property Tax Relief Policy
April 13, 2022 Contact Name: Marina Altschiller Phone: (603) 271-3375 Email:marina.altschiller@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Today, Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) introduced an amendment to HB 1221 which lifts both the title and general policy from the late Representative Renny Cushing’s (D-Hampton) Property Tax Relief Act of 2022. However, the Bradley amendment, which never received a public hearing, sunsets after a year, leaving property taxpayers to foot a nearly $28 milli
Senate Judiciary Committee Unanimously Passes Critical Fixes to 24-Week Abortion Ban
April 14, 2022 Contact Name: Marina Altschiller Phone: (603) 271-3375 Email:marina.altschiller@leg.state.nh.us CONCORD – Today, in a unanimous vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee adopted HB 1609 which, as amended, adds a critical exception for fatal fetal diagnoses to the state’s 24-week abortion ban and removes the requirement that everyone seeking an abortion must first undergo an ultrasound, even when not determined to be medically necessary by a health care provider. Af