NH House of Reps to Meet Again on June 11

For the first time since the Civil War, the New Hampshire House of Representatives will meet to vote on legislation in a location other than the State House in Concord.

Because of social distancing and health requirements necessary during the pandemic, the House will meet at 7,500 seat Whittemore Arena on the UNH campus in Durham. Upon entering the facility, representatives will have their temperature taken and will be issued surgical masks.

The House has been unable to meet because of COVID-19 health risks since mid-March.

Meanwhile the much smaller state Senate will also meet in a larger space. The 24-member Senate will take over Representatives Hall in the State House where the 400-member House of Representatives usually meets.

House Speaker Steve Shurtleff says safely finishing the work started this session will help Granite Staters during this crisis and better prepare NH for a potential second surge of the virus.

“New Hampshire should be proud of its representatives from both parties for stepping up during this crisis and should be proud of the House for adapting to a new challenge in its long-vaunted history.” Shurtleff adds, “ I am hoping for many, the House returning to session will help make life feel more normal again – if only for a few moments.”

Another sign of a return to normalcy was that immediately after Shurtleff made his announcement, Minority Leader Dick Hinch criticized Shurtleff’s plan to purchase electronic voting tablets using $200,000 from federal Cares Act funds. While Shurtleff says the tablets will speed the voting process and enhance security, Hinch says spending this amount on “any electronic voting gizmo” is blatantly wasteful considering CARES Act money could go somewhere where it is needed more.