HB 1704, known as a Right to Work bill for public employees, was voted Indefinitely Postponed (IP), 177-159. This is a major legislative win because the bill cannot be resurrected again this term and nothing substantially similar can come before the House for the rest of the year, even a bill amended in the Senate and sent back to the House. Sponsored by Republicans, this legislation would have required municipalities and towns to balance multiple labor contracts for the same position and could have meant management complexity and cost for those communities, possible lawsuits, and, thus, possible tax increases – in addition to weakened workers’ rights.
HB 1793, passed in February in the House and pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee, forbids public colleges and universities from regulating the possession or carrying of firearms and non-lethal weapons on campus, forcing UNH and other schools to allow guns on campus with no restrictions. This bill overrides the policies of the schools that have determined what their families want for campus safety. House Republicans also proposed and passed three similar firearms-related bills, HB 1108, HB 1240 and HB 1279.
HB 1084 was sponsored by Democrats, but the bill died without a vote taken. This would have required that any person served with a domestic violence protective order must turn over their firearms. According to Everytown Research & Policy, “The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely the woman will be killed.”
HB 1062 authorizes the Secretary of State to audit randomly the “citizenship qualification of registered voters.” Republican-sponsored, it passed in the House 181-152.
HB 1706. This bill, passed in the House, would cancel funding for the refugee resettlement program in the New Hampshire’s department of health and human services and prohibits spending state funds on refugee resettlement.
The House rejected a proposed constitutional amendment CACR 10 which would ban an income tax. See more details at InDepthNH.org
The house passed two Republican-sponsored bills regarding gender identity. House Bill 1217 would permit classifying an individual based on biological sex for bathrooms, locker rooms and intimate spaces; and HB 1442 would limit the use of certain public and private facilities based on sexual identity. The Senate passed SB 552 which, in some cases, allows classification of individuals based on biological sex. Again, a Republican-sponsored bill.
SB 483 was passed by the Senate and then tabled due to fiscal concerns. With the bill, $15 million in state general funds could be applied to a childcare workforce grant program.
SB 551, a Democratic-proposed law that supports every person’s right to reproductive healthcare and shields medical professionals providing reproductive services, was voted down by the Republican-led Senate, 16-8.
The Senate laid on the table[1] HB 186-FN-A, which covers legalization, regulation, and taxation of cannabis for adults 21 and older.
On the Education Front:
The NH House and Senate both passed HB 323 which requires that college and high school students registering to vote must show a “government-issued photographic means” of identification. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.
House Bill 1885, passed by the Republican majority, asserts that the cost of an adequate public education is the responsibility of the state and school districts, and does not set a minimum for the state’s financial contribution. In July, 2025, (after years of litigation) the NH Supreme Court had ruled that the state is not adequately funding public education, according to the state’s constitution. Republican lawmakers have labeled this judgment “judicial over-reach” and an inaccurate assessment of the state’s support. For more on this proposal and SB 659, see FairFundingnh.org.
As part of HB 266 signed by Governor Ayotte, schools are now exempt from obtaining written parental permission to record students for public activities such as sporting events, concerts, and plays.
Upcoming Legislation:
HB1704 – known as a Right to Work bill for public employees – will be heard on the floor on Wednesday. Sponsored by Republicans, this legislation would require municipalities and towns to balance multiple labor contracts for the same position and could mean management complexity and cost for those communities, possible lawsuits, and, thus, possible tax increases – in addition to weakened workers’ rights.
Please take action by Tuesday evening, March 10. Contact your State Reps to oppose 4 anti-vaxxer bills. Details in the link:
[1] “[L]aid on the table” means that the legislating group votes to put a bill aside without any action, pausing for changes or more deliberation. The putting aside may also signify intent to stop progress or kill the bill. If the group does not vote to take the bill “off the table” before the end of the session, the bill dies.read more
Key NH Legislative activity for the week of February 23-27:
HB 1214, which would allow a municipality’s governing body to take control of the public library, was voted inexpedient to legislate.
HB 1512, which would have allowed municipalities to hold a vote to prevent their residents from receiving education freedom account vouchers, was determined inexpedient to legislate.
HB 1564, which would have removed all references to gender identity in state statutes, was determined inexpedient to legislate.
Open Enrollment is being fast-tracked through the House. To protect their budgets from unexpected increases this coming fiscal year, school districts are trying to place limits on the numbers of students leaving and non-district students from coming. For further information, see the March edition of The Amherst Bear, “Open Enrollment Articles Aim to Protect Budget amid Big Changes,” and a
Feb. 27 discussion on New Hampshire PBS. read more
The House rejected a bill reinstating the death penalty (HB 1413) and other bills that would have expanded its use.
Senate Republicans turned down Democratic legislators’ efforts (SB 484) to reduce the Medicaid premium.
HB 1705 is a bill to establish and fund an employee assistance program for small towns and volunteer first responders. Although Republicans on the Labor Committee voted against it, the House passed the bill as amended, 194-154.
HB 1811, which would have ended vaccine mandates, was defeated.
Senate Republicans voted down SB 419, known as the Afford Your Home Act, intended to provide an additional $5 million to the existing Housing Champions Program.
Protestors argued against an array of bills targeting the transgender community. According to InDepthNH.org, the protesters “opposed House Bills 1217 and 1299, which permit classification of individuals based on biological sex in certain circumstances, and specify that biological sex distinctions would not qualify as discrimination. Protesters also opposed House Bills 1442 and 1447, which limit the use of certain public and private facilities on the basis of sex, as well as House Bill 1564, which would remove all references to gender identity in New Hampshire statutes.”
Engage with local leaders. Be heard. Make a difference.
DateFebruary 14, 2026
Time10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
LocationBuck Meadow Club House, 30 Route 101A
Everyone is welcome. This forum is nonpartisan and open to all—regardless of political affiliation.
Join us for a Candidates Forum where municipal and school board candidates will introduce
themselves, share their views, and answer questions from residents.
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