The public’s business: New Hampshire Legislature’s agenda for Feb. 3-7

Solid waste, right to work, plastic bag among bills to be considered this week

In a very busy week, lawmakers will hear bills taxing solid waste tipping fees and adopting California clean air standards. There will be voting a right to work bill, banning free plastic bags, requiring utilities buy energy credits from biomass plants, increasing the tax on cigarettes and new taxes on ski lifts and electronic devices.

Tuesday, Feb. 4

The Senate Energy and National Resources Committee will hold hearings:

At 9 a.m. on Senate Bill 669, which would authorize higher educational institutions to contract with a third party to grow or process industrial hemp for research purposes

At 9:15 on SB 728, which would establish the coastal program, with no initial funding, administered by the department of environmental services, to help the seacoast prepare for or mitigate the effects of climate change.

At 9:30 a.m. on SB 591, which would shift the hard to measure current solid waste goal of 40 percent recycling and reduction, to the more quantifiable goal of 25% disposal reduction in weight compared to 2018 of 25 by 2030 and 45% by 2050.

At 9:45 a.m. on SB 629, which would establish a $1.50-a-ton solid waste disposal surcharge, used to help local governments reduce solid waste and recycle

At 10:10 a.m. on SB 668, which would appropriate $200,000 to establish an offshore wind commission, establishing and an office of offshore wind industry development in the department of business and economic affairs, to promote and guide the development of such projects off the state’s seacoast..

At 9:30 a.m. The Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• SB 514, which would require the state board of education to establish a process for the approval of vendors offering alternative, extended learning, and work-based programs which may be accepted for credit by a local school board..

At 10 a.m. The Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• House Bill 1398, which would allow restaurants with wine and beer licenses to sell liquor between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• HB 1410, which would ban some flavored vape products.
• HB 1624, which would establish a moratorium on the sale of e-cigarettes.
• HB 1662, which would increase the age for sales and possession of tobacco products and e-cigarette from 19 to 21, which would conform to a new federal law.
• HB 1233, which would cap the deductibles paid on early interventions services.
• HB 1280, which would require insurers to cap the total amount for insulin for covered persons at $100 a month
• HB 1281, which would require insurance coverage for EpiPens.
• HB 1287, which would require insurance coverage for long-term antibiotic therapy for tick-borne illness.
• HB 1436, which would increase the requirement autism spectrum disorder insurance coverage by $4000 a year with a cost of living increase for subsequent years .
• HB 1102, requiring the department of environmental services to maintain a public registry of where certain fire suppressants have been used
• HB 1662, which would require restaurants have a person in charge at all time trained in food allergies.
• HB 1194, which would allow merchants to charge a nickel per single use bag or cup.
• HB 1274, which would require bottled water to be tested for the presence of perfluorinated chemicals and labeled with certain results of such tests.
• HB 1696, increases the filing fees for banks and credit unions from $10,000 to $15,000 and allows the banking commissioner to charge more if there are lengthy examinations.

At 10 a.m. The House Transportation Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• HB 1383, which would prohibit commercial trucks from left lane travel on multi-lane highways.
• HB 1363, which would allow motorist service signs (for food, fuel, lodging) on all limited access highways in the state, not just north of Concord.

At 10 a.m. The House Environmental and Agricultural Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• HB 1557, which would set aside $100,000 to match U.S. Department of Agricultural grants to local farmers.
• HB 1692, would license wild mushroom harvesters and fine those who distributes them without a license.

The House Judiciary Committee will hold hearings:

At 10 a.m. on HB 1294, which would give immunity of pharmacists from personal injury suites if the complied with laws and the pharmacy board that were in place at that time.

At 10:30 a.m. on HB 1376, which would establish a civil penalty and a private right of action for unauthorized sharing of electronic location information.

At 11:15 a.m. on HB 1461, which would allow a private right of action for carnival or amusement ride operators who violate safety regulations.

The House Science, Technology and Energy Committee will hold hearings:

At 10 a.m. on HB 1370, which would require electric distribution companies to purchase baseload renewable generation credits from eligible biomass facilities.

At 11 a.m. on HB 1364, which would exclude biomass as a special class when it comes the renewable resource portfolio standards.

At 1 p.m. on HB 1478, which would repealing the law on preservation and use of renewable generation to provide fuel diversity.

At 10:30 a.m. The House Municipal and County Government Committee will hold a hearing on HB 1104, which would give the selectmen the right to demolish buildings

At 11 a.m. The House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee will hold a hearing on HB 1414, which require a person who files a notice of intent to cut timber with assessing officials to also notify property abutters of the intent to cut.

The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee will hold hearings:

At 1 p.m. on HB 1709, which would ease the zoning and fire codes home-based child day care providers, so it will be treated as a home and not a business..

At 2 p.m. on HB 1713, which would require child day care agency employee to obtain at least 6 hours of annual continuing education or professional development.

The House Environment and Agriculture Committee will hold hearings:

At 2:15 p.m. on HB 1291, which would raise the amount necessary for an exemption from the homestead food licensure requirement from $20,00 to $35,000

At 3 p.m. on HB 1592, would allow for the sale of products made with raw milk if it’s a direct sale from producer to consumer.

The Senate Commerce Committee will hold hearings:

At 1 p.m. on SB 415, which would regulate the sale of travel insurance.

At 1:30 p.m. on HB 1364, which would requires Medicaid cover telemedicine coverage.

At 2 p.m. on HB 1478, which would allow domestic insurance companies to use derivatives and other exotic investment tools.

At 2:30 p.m. on HB 1478, which would regulate wine coolers and alcoholic fruit juices and vinous liquors as second-tier beverages under the state’ liquor laws..

At 1 p.m. The House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• HB 1474, which attempts to establish an extra deduction from gross business profits under the business profits tax for income invested in federal Opportunity Zone.
• HB 1477, which would increase the state cigarette tax 12 cents to $1.90 a pack.
• HB 1492, which would impose a 4.3 percent sales tax on electric device to fund education
• HB 1579, which would cut in half the three percent of the rooms and meals tax retained by the owners of short term rentals like Airbnb (while leaving it for restaurants and hotels), with the money saved used for the affordable housing fund.
• HB 1652, which would tax ski lift sales to fund the governor’s scholarship program.
• HB 1699, which would increase the tax on e-cigarettes to 40 percent of the price.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will hold hearings:

At 1 p.m. on SB 715, which would remove language pertaining to cost controls on home- and community-based care services..

At 1:30 p.m. on SB 519, which would require various alternatives to hospitals such as ambulatory surgical centers seeking to operate near a regular hospital notify the hospital CEO.

At 1:30 p.m. The House Children and Family Law Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• HB 1712, which would give child care centers more rights in appealing license revocations and suspensions.

At 2:15 p.m. The Senate Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on SB 656, which would require the department of transportation to include business impacts in its engineering and design plans for certain projects.

Wednesday, Feb. 5

The House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee will hold hearings:

At 10:45 a.m. on HB 1456, which would require the department of environmental services to provide testing of PFAS levels to pregnant women and to provide pregnant women with elevated PFAS levels with drinking water that has low levels of PFAS in it.

At 2:30 p.m. on HB 1332, which would require electronic prescribing for controlled drugs with some exceptions

At 10 a.m. The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee will hold a hearing on HB 1587, which would licenses locksmith.

At 10 a.m. The House Science, Technology and Energy Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• HB 1146, which would require liquefied natural gas tanks to be subject to site evaluation committee criteria, and requires the committee consider economic interests when making decisions.
• HB 1396, which would require any utility (not just gas and electric) to give 14 days (as opposed to the current 10 days written notice by verify mail (as opposed to regular mail) before cutting off service.
• HB 1480, which would take away from the Public Utility Committee to increase the Systems Benefits Charge to benefit low income energy efficiency without legislative approval.

At 10 a.m. The Municipal and County Government Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• HB 1210, which would a property tax exemption for energy storage systems on residential property.
• HB 1406, which would only allow solar energy systems used to heat or cool an on-site building to be eligible for a solar energy property tax exemption.
• HB 1510, which would only allow solar energy systems used to heat or cool an on-site building to be eligible for a solar energy property tax exemption.

At 10:15 a.m. The Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on SB 458, which would prohibit zoning boards from excluding short-term rentals, but does allow municipalities to regulate disorderly houses.

At 11 a.m. The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on HB 1143, which would repeal limited liability for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition.

At 11 a.m. The Municipal and County Government Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• HB 1643, which would require business organizations and labor unions to make political contributions through segregated funds. This bill also requires political committees to identify their top 5 contributors in political advertising.

Also at 11 a.m. The Municipal and County Government Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• HB 1650, which would increase the registration fees for all vehicles based on weight, and adjust that fee by the miles traveled.

At 1 p.m. The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on an amendment to HB 1200, would possibly delay the enactment of the single sales factor under the business profits and business enterprise taxes.

At 1:30 p.m. The Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• HB 1543, which would prohibit an employer from using a failed drug test for cannabis use as grounds for terminating the employment of, or to deny promotion to, any employee.

Also at 1:30 p.m., The Executive Departments and Administration Committee is scheduled to vote on:

• HB 1574, which would expand the regenerative manufacturing workforce development and student relief program to other targeted industries.

The House Municipal and County Government Committee will hold hearings:

At 2:15 p.m. on HB 1444, which would require the adoption of vehicle emissions standards   based on the California clean car standards.

At 10:30 a.m. on HB 1310 which would authorizing the state to set higher environmental standards than those established in federal law.

Thursday, Feb. 6

The full House will meet starting at 10.

Here is the what the House will be voting on:

• HB 1505, which would allow college athletes to make money for commercial endorsements starting in July 2022.The Education Committee recommended passing it, 20
• HB 1649, which would increase registration fees as much as $124 on low-mileage vehicles. The Public Works and Highway Committee recommended passing it, 17-3

The full Senate will meet starting at 10.

Here is the what the Senate will be voting on:

• SB 449, which would allow liquor manufacturers to offer samples at farmers markets The Commerce Committee recommended passing it, The Commerce Committee recommended passing it, 3-2.
• SB 420, which would allow patients and providers to grow cannabis for medical purposes. The Health and Human Services Committee recommended passing it, 3-2.

• SB 646, which would prevent Medicare supplemental insurance companies from charging disabled individuals more than elderly individuals. The Health and Human Services Committee recommended passing it, 4-0
• SB 466, which would mend the patient’s bill of rights, ending gender identity, sexual orientation, profession and financial considerations to the list of items where a patient cannot be denied appropriate care. The Health and Human Services Committee recommended passing it, 5-0.
• SB 651, or the right to work bill which would prohibit collective bargaining agreements that require employees to join or contribute to a labor union. The Judicial Committee recommended killing it, 4-1.
• SB 663, provides for a credit against business taxes for participating employers in the graduate retention incentive partnership (GRIP) program and reduces the amount of credit available under the education tax credit. The Ways and Means Committee recommended killing it, 4-1.