SSTATE HOUSE UPDATE NOVEMBER 2023
By Dick Thackston State Rep. Cheshire 12 – Troy & Fitzwillam
The House held a Special Session on October 26th to consider the Governor’s Vetoed bills. Each house, (Senate and House of Representatives), votes separately. Veto overrides must pass each house independently. No overrides were successful in both houses therefore all Governor Sununu’s Vetoes were sustained. It is my understanding that initially neither the Senate nor the House had scheduled sessions to consider Veto, but many members felt it important for overrides of Vetoes to be considered so both House and Senate Leadership schedule the Override day.
I voted to override two Vetoes: HB142 relative to the operation of the Burgess Biopower plant in Berlin and HB337 relative to requiring the Office of Professional Licensure to provide notice of Public Meetings and provide an opportunity for Public Comment.
I voted to sustain two Vetoes: HB 35 relative to requiring student ID cards to include the National Eating Disorders Hotline and HB 342 relative to mandatory lead testing in children entering daycare and public schools.
One of the observations I have made since beginning my term in the House is that it is very different from being a Selectman or School Board Representative. Particularly as a Selectman your job is to get things done and solve problems for your Town virtually on a daily basis. In the Legislature one of a Representatives main job to avoid dumb stuff becoming law. Understanding that none of us is perfect and that road to perdition is paved with good intentions I would use HB 35 as an example: HB 35, mentioned above, passed not one but both houses. I voted against it initially and I voted to sustain the Governor’s Veto on October 26th. The vote to sustain the Governor’s veto was 350 – 0, so not a single member, including the author of the bill, co-sponsors or Committee that advocated for it a few months prior thought it was an even remotely good idea in October. I know that certain things do need to be addressed but hope that I can remain both reasonable and prudent about those things I vote to bring into law.
I have agreed to co-sponsor four bills in the coming legislative session.
LSR 24-2054 This bill amends the procedures that Peace Officers may follow when encountering someone who is either intoxicated or incapacitated by drugs or alcohol.
LSR 24-2594.1 This bills requires that Public Comment be allowed at County Delegation Meetings, currently NH Law does not require that County Executives or delegations allow Public Comments.
LSR 24-2597 This bill addresses the Sale of Public property by Municipalities and Counties and requires an open bidding and sale process with adequate Public Notice that is not currently required.
LSR 24-2650.1 This bill is relative to strengthening income reporting by Lobbyists. (Interestingly, they really do stand around in the Lobbies.)
The House Bill that is working its way through the system on the legalization of Cannabis is HB 544-FN if you are interested in following.
I received correspondence, as a House Member, from the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, (CYBX) which is a fully funded scholarship from the US State Department and the German Bundestag for 250 American high school students to spend an academic year in Germany. No previous knowledge of the German language is required to apply. Applications for the 2024-2025 year have closed but if you know of a highly motivated high school student for whom a year abroad might be appropriate in 2025-2026 feel free to contact me and discuss. Proper planning prevents poor performance with these kinds of things.
The House will have its first Sessions in 2024 on January 3rd & 4th.
If you are interested in following bills, meetings or other current information in the NH Legislature just plug in the following address and it will take you to the General Court Home Page: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/
As always, thank-you for your support.