In NH, every bill filed must get a hearing, a committee vote and a floor vote. If it passes in one chamber, the cycle must be repeated in the other. Where a bill is in this process informs how we advocate for or against a bill.

The schedule below provides guidelines. However, remember that your legislators are there to represent YOU. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out to them with questions, concerns or viewpoints about issues and bills.

Committee Hearings. Hearings are the only time when public sign-ins and testimony are taken; thus, a critical advocacy point is to reach legislators who serve on that committee before they have made a final determination and help them to gauge the public opinion. All hearings must be publicly announced ahead of time so the public can participate. Individuals can sign in remotely (or same day in-person) to register support or opposition to a bill. They can also testify either in-person or by submitting written testimony.

If a bill passes in one legislative body, it is then sent to the other, and another hearing will be held. At that time, the public will once again have an opportunity to weigh in with sign-ins and testimony. 

Executive Sessions. After a hearing, every bill gets a vote in committee during an executive session. These sessions may or may not be publicly noticed ahead of time. A vote can take place at any time once a hearing has been held. Some House committees give advance notice; most Senate committees do not. A committee can recommend OTP (ought to pass, sometimes with amendment); ITL (inexpedient to legislate); or that the bill be retained for further study (usually a subtle way to kill a bill). The best way to influence executive session votes is by contacting committee members ahead of time. This is especially helpful if your own representative or senator sits on the committee.

Session Floor Votes.  Once a committee makes its recommendation, a bill gets scheduled for a full floor vote during a House or Senate Session. This is the time to contact YOUR representatives or Senator urging them to support or oppose a bill.

Contact Information

Whether contacting our Congressional delegation, state senators and/or representatives or Governor Ayotte, remember to give your name and home town and stress that you are:

• A constituent;
• A voter who votes in every election;
• Someone who pays attention to your legislators’ voting record; and
• Someone who cares deeply about the issues.
  

STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES
Find your State Senators contact information here. 
Find your State Representatives contact information here.

GOVERNOR
Gov. Kelly Ayotte
Office of the Governor, State House
107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-2121
https://www.governor.nh.gov/contact-governor-ayotte

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/contact
Washington, DC  20510  (202) 224-2841

Sen. Maggie Hassan https://www.hassan.senate.gov/contact
Washington, DC  20510  (202) 224-3324

Rep. Chris Pappas https://pappas.house.gov/contact
Washington, DC  20510  (202) 225-5456

Rep. Maggie Goodlander https://goodlander.house.gov/contact
Washington, DC  20510  (202) 225-5206