Amherst NH Democrats

This past week’s key NH Legislative activity:

  • 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.”

Specifically, in Education:

  • The House passed HB 1792 to ban “leftist indoctrination” and LGBTQ+ teaching in public schools. (However, the national DEI ban was invalidated on February 18.)
  • HB 1268 passed the House. This bill clears the way for no oversight for non-EFA homeschooling.
  • The Senate passed a Book Ban (SB 434) that establishes a uniform process for superintendents to determine if a school library book is appropriate.
  • A Parent Notification Bill (SB 430), given the “go” by Senate Republicans, mandates that parents must receive requested information about their child within 10 days (among other stipulations).
  • HB 1799-FN (relative to state funding for providing an opportunity for an adequate education). This bill was added to adjust the base adequacy aid to $7,379.56 per pupil, as was determined by a judge to be the base cost. Unfortunately, Republicans opposed it, and it was determined to be “inexpedient to legislate.” Apparently, Republican legislators do not want to uphold the ConVal and Rand decisions to deliver an adequate education and help taxpayers by reducing the amount the local towns need to raise for an adequate education.

Coming this week or soon:

  • Your input needed by Monday, Feb. 23, at 11:59 p.m. HB 1358 sets up a commission to study changing public schools to public Charter Schools, similar to private institutions — with little local input and non-elected board members — and enables municipalities to complete the transition. For more information and the link to legislative input: www.facebook.com/HillsboroughCountyNHDemocraticCommittee
  • Also needing input by Monday, Feb. 23, at 11:59 p.m. HB 1804-FN consolidates all school administration units in a county into one superintendent’s office with the exception of Nashua and Manchester. Chief school administrator jobs would be an elected position. For more information and the link to legislative input: www.facebook.com/HillsboroughCountyNHDemocraticCommittee
  • HB 1815/SB 659. In July 2025 (after years of litigation), the NH Supreme Court ruled that the state is not adequately funding public education, according to the state’s constitution. Republican lawmakers labeled this judgment “judicial over-reach” and an inaccurate assessment of the state’s support. With these two bills, Republicans are asserting that it is the role of the legislature, not the court, to determine funding.