Communications Volunteer, Author at Amherst NH Democrats

NH Legislative Update

03/04/2026

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

House Gives Thumbs Down to School Budget Cap Bill

01/16/2026

Communications Volunteer

Uncategorized

The NH House bill intended to require towns to cap their school district
spending was defeated on Wednesday, January 7, on the opening day of the
2026 session in a 346-9 vote. An amendment to the bill that limited the capping
to only administrative expenses led to the defeat of the bill, with 22 Republicans
joining the Democratic block.
Carried over from the 2025 session, HB 675 failed to pass this session again,
accompanied by a vote not to be considered again this year.
The bill that ties caps to the inflation rate and requires a supermajority (two-
thirds) of town voters to override a cap could lead to conditions such as school
overcrowding, reduced staffing, and the cutting of important services for
students.
Many taxpayers attribute out-of-control property taxes to school costs, yet a
key reason for the local tax increases is reduced state-level contributions to
school districts. In 2024, local taxes provided 63% of the funding while the state
provided only 28.8% of the funding, one of the lowest percentages in the nation,
according to a National Education Association report. Many also realize that
the bill is the state’s attempt to avoid the inevitable – its decades-old failure to
fund an adequate education. read more

Amherst Democrats Host Presentations on Food Insecurity and Supporting the Vulnerable in the Current Political Environment

11/30/2025

Communications Volunteer

Events, News, Uncategorized

The leaders of SHARE and End 68 Hours of Hunger, two local programs committed to reducing hunger and strengthening the community’s safety net, presented to a full room at the Amherst Democrats’ monthly meeting on November 19, 2025, at the Amherst Town Library. read more