LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ~ DOWN TO THE FINAL FEW WEEKS
The House and Senate will meet 2 more times, May 21 and June 4, before concluding the work of the regular legislative session.*
Our friends at AFSC NH have summarized what to expect: “the legislature’s remaining business will be to deal with any bills that have passed both bodies—but with differences due to amendments. You can see lists of these bills here: House bills amended by the Senate; and Senate bills amended by the House.
The legislators in the body where the bill originated have three choices: (1) to concur with the other body’s changes, in which case the bill passes and goes on to the governor; (2) to non-concur, in which case the dies, or (3) to form a Committee of conference (CoC) tasked with crafting a compromise bill to be sent for a both to both bodies.
This Thursday, May 21, the House and Senate will take up those bills that do not have CoC’s. CoC’s can be requested anytime up until Thursday, so it is impossible to know exactly what will be on the calendar and up for a vote.
CoC’s reports must be signed off on (meaning there is an agreed compromise) by May 28th. Those reports will then go to the House and Senate for a vote up or down on Thursday, June 4th. Any that pass both chambers will then go to the Governor’s desk.
You can see a current list of all Committees of Conference here; it will be updated regularly over the coming weeks.” **
Since it is unclear exactly what will be voted on this week or on June 4th, we are asking you to contact your NH Senator and Representative(s) to urge them to vote against the radical Free State Agenda. Pick the issue(s) most close to your heart and ask them to vote against any bills that would, for example.
- Dismantle our public schools and disrupt the ability for local school districts to plan (open enrollment, mandated school budget caps);
- Further impose on the fundamental right to vote;
- Drive up local property taxes;
- Target the LGBTQ+ community, especially those bills that target transgender youth;
- Allow “campus carry” at our colleges and university;
- Impose reading bans and deprive our educators and students of the freedom to learn;
- Threaten our public health system;
- Any other issue important to you.
Keep it simple; make clear that you are a constituent and that you vote.
We should have more information about CoC votes on June 4th —which we will share as that day approaches.
After June 4th, Kent Street’s focus will turn to accountability—and to the November midterms. It will be up to all of us to let our friends and neighbors know how the actions of our legislators at the State House impact our families, our communities and our state.
* The House and Senate will meet in September to consider whether to override any of the vetoes issued by the Governor. To do so, both chambers need 2/3 of the members present to vote for the override.
** We thank our friends at AFSC NH State House Watch for always helping to guide us through the complicated labyrinth of NH State House politics and procedures.
Kent Street Coalition 