What Just Happened? Feb. 22 House Session Recap—Early Labor Day Edition
A few more wins along the way would have been great, but passing a cannibis legalization bill while defeating yet another attempt by out-of-state oligarchs to pass a poison pill that would have decimated organized labor in our state were two of the highlights in a long and challenging Thursday session.
With over 40 bills on the regular calendar to vote on, legislators were warned in advance to expect a long day. Here’s what happened as the day unfolded.
The Good
Another Attempt to Pass So-called “Right to Work” Legislation Fails. The latest chapter in the multi-decade battle by well-funded, out-of-state anti-union groups to use our state legislature as a battering ram to attack workers’ rights once again ended in failure with the 212-168 vote to kill HB1377. Right to Work laws—and the phrase “right to work” itself—are intended to deceive and confuse. In a unified show of support for organized labor, every Democrat present voted against the bill, while 23 Republicans also jumped ship to kill it. The misleadingly-named policy is designed to make it more difficult for workers to form and sustain unions and negotiate collectively for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. While supporters of the legislation promise higher wages and more job growth, the reality is wages in Right to Work states are lower and there is no appreciable difference in job creation.
Bipartisan Cannabis Legalization Bill Passes. HB1633 was approved 263-116. It would legalize and regulate adult-use marijuana. In its current form, it would allow adults 21 and older to buy marijuana from one of up to 15 licensed stores across the state. Possession of up to four ounces of cannabis, 10 grams of concentrate or 2,000 milligrams of THC in other forms would be allowed under the proposal. However, the bill differs in several key ways from the state-run model outlined by Gov. Sununu and faces an uncertain future in the Senate.
Cutting PFAS At the Source. As New Hampshire and other states across the country prepare to spend billions to remediate PFAS contamination of drinking water supplies, a bill that aims to ban the sale of consumer products containing PFAS starting in 2028 was passed by a loud and overwhelming voice voice. HB1649 targets items like food packaging, cosmetics, carpets, and furniture.
Education Funding Finally Gets a Little Love. The House approved two bills, HB1583 and HB1656 , that would increase education funding by about $130 million over two years by increasing targeted aid to property poor communities, to districts with low poverty rates, fiscal capacity disparities, and additional money for special education costs. The bills now go to the House Finance for more public hearings and additional review.
The Bad
Another Attempt at Gerrymandering Reform Fails. HB1426 , which would have established an advisory redistricting commission to make the process of redrawing district maps more transparent and impartial was killed 192-186. The vote fell largely along party lines, with every Democrat opposing the effort to kill it and all but two Republicans voting to kill it. It was one of several close votes won by Republicans on a day when attendance once again played a key role. On this day, 10 more Republican legislators were present than Democrats, who start every session day with a 6 vote disadvantage
Organic Farming Takes a Hit. HB1184, a bill with strong support from New Hampshire organic farmers that would have funded a position needed to ensure our organic farms can be certified under the National Organic Program, that would have, was killed by voice vote after an effort to pass it failed 185-187.
Minimum Wage Bill Dies. HB1322, which would have raised New Hampshire minimum wage to $17/hr over a 6 year period ending in 2029, was killed by a close 193-187 margin. In a state where the minimum wage was eliminated in 2011 and the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hr) hasn’t been raised since 2009, lack of progress on this issue makes our state less competitive when it comes to attracting and retaining the lower-wage workers who fuel a large part of our state’s economy.
The Ugly
Suicide Prevention Measure Fails. In most parts of the country—including New Hampshire—there’s no way for people at risk for suicide to voluntarily add themselves to the federal background check system so they can’t purchase a firearm. HB1050 would have established a voluntary firearms do-not-sell list for people who wish to voluntarily suspend their firearms rights of their own free will. I became the prime sponsor of the bill after learning of similar legislative efforts in other states from a New Hampshire mom whose son died tragically in a gun suicide in 2021. The bill drew the vehement opposition of gun groups, who framed a completely voluntary measure as “red flag lite.” The 205-175 vote to kill it was helped along by 12 Democrats. You can learn who they were by selecting the roll call links on this page.