The following is a RECAP of the General Session of the NH House of Representatives on January 7, 2016 as published by the Speaker’s Office. ~ Melanie
ENVIRONMENT AND AGRICULTURE
HB 372, relative to certain private employers under workers’ compensation. MAJORITY: OUGHT TO PASS. MINORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. (Rep. Hinch moved to table the bill and the motion passed on a voice vote)
HB 499, permitting New Hampshire farmers to sell certain farm raised animals directly to the public. OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. (the amendment and committee report were adopted on a voice vote)
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
HB 488, relative to an abusive work environment and the health and safety of public employees. INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. (the committee report was adopted on a voice vote)
HB 602-FN, relative to the use of drones. OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. (the committee report of OTP/A was adopted on a roll call vote, 246-66)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY (special ordered from Wed.)
HB 240, prohibiting law enforcement agencies from using a drone to collect evidence. OUGHT TO PASS. (Rep. Tholl moved that the bill be laid on the table.(The motion passed on a voice vote)
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
HB 661-FN, relative to record keeping for sold or transferred animals. MAJORITY: OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. MAJORITY: OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. (The committee report of OTP/A was adopted on a division vote, 158-151)
SB 58, relative to the United States flag worn as a patch. MAJORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. MINORITY: OUGHT TO PASS. (the committee report of ITL was adopted on a voice vote)
FINANCE
HB 376-FN-A, appropriating funds to the department of environmental services for the purpose of funding eligible and completed drinking water, wastewater, and landfill closure projects under the state aid grant program. INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. (The committee report of ITL was adopted,184-132)
FISH AND GAME AND MARINE RESOURCES
HB 500, repealing the prohibition on the use of silencing devices for taking wildlife. MAJORITY: OUGHT TO PASS. MINORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. (the committee report of OTP was adopted on a roll call, 184-124)
HB 505, relative to baiting for game birds and game animals by persons with a disability. MAJORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. MINORITY: OUGHT TO PASS.(The committee report of ITL was adopted on a voice vote)
HB 518, relative to authority to establish fees for licenses issued by the fish and game department. INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. (The committee report of ITL was adopted on a voice vote)
Presidential candidate Carly Fiorina addressed the House.
WAYS AND MEANS (special ordered ahead in the calendar)
HB 634-FN-A, relative to applying the interest and dividends tax to trusts, increasing exemptions, and extending the tax to capital gains; and relative to homeowners property tax relief. MAJORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. MINORITY: OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. (The committee report of ITL was adopted on a roll call, 197-109)
JUDICIARY
CACR 5, relating to legal actions. Providing that taxpayers have standing to bring actions against the government. MAJORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. MINORITY: OUGHT TO PASS. (Rep. Hinch moves that CACR5 be laid on the table. (The motion to lay on the table passes on a voice vote)
HB 636-FN, relative to forfeiture of property. MAJORITY: OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. MINORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. (The committee amendment was adopted on a voice vote. Rep. Horrigan introduces floor amendment 20153050; the amendment failed on a division vote, 153-156; the committee report, as amended, was adopted on a voice vote) The bill is now referred to House Finance.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
HB 475, prohibiting the state from engaging in acts of civil forfeiture. OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. (Rep. A. Christie earlier moved that the bill be special ordered until after HB636. The motion passed on a voice vote)
Rep. Christie moved that HB 475 be layed on the table. (the motion to lay on the table passed on a voice vote)
LABOR, INDUSTRIAL AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
SB 203-FN, relative to review of eligibility for workers’ compensation. OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. (The committee report was adopted on a voice vote)
SB 238-FN, relative to the workers’ compensation appeals board. OUGHT TO PASS. (The committee report is adopted on a voice vote.) The bill is referred to House Finance.
LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION
SB 136, (2nd New Title) establishing a committee to review constitutional amendments pending in Congress regarding the Citizens United decision and related cases that have been introduced in the United States Supreme Court. MAJORITY: REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY. MINORITY: OUGHT TO PASS. (The committee report failed on a roll call vote 152-154 Rep. Hinch moved to lay the bill on the table. That motion failed on a roll call vote, 152-157. Rep. Webber moves OTP with a floor amendment. (The Webber floor amendment is adopted on a division vote, 178-138/ The motion of OTP/A was adopted on a roll call vote, 156-152)Rep. Shurtlett moves for reconsideration. (The motion to reconsider is passes on a roll call vote, 160-149). Rep. Hinch and Rep. Shurtleff move to lay on the table until the voting machines are fixed. The bill is then removed from the table. The pending question now becomes OTP/A. The motion of OTP/A is defeated on a roll call vote, 144-159. Rep. Kurk moves ITL. (The motion of ITL is adopted on a roll call vote, 166-137) Rep. C. McGuire moves reconsideration on the previous vote. (The motion of reconsider fails on a voice vote).
MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT
HB 226, allowing municipalities to borrow from any fund controlled by such municipality under certain conditions. INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. (The committee report of ITL is adopted on a voice vote)
HB 430, relative to extending the veterans’ property tax credit to all honorably discharged veterans. OUGHT TO PASS. (The committee report of OTP is adopted on a voice vote)
SB 146, relative to accessory dwelling units. OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT. (The committee amendment is adopted on a voice vote/the committee report of OTP/A was adopted on a roll call vote, 188-93)
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY
HB 297, protecting individual customer data from disclosure by a public utility. MAJORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. MINORITY: OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT.(Rep. Introne moves to lay the bill on the table vote. The motion passes on a voice vote)
HB 334, relative to the sale of personally identifiable information by Internet service providers. OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT.(The committee report of OTP/A is adopted on a voice vote)
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSION PLANS
HB 369-FN-A-L, establishing a defined contribution retirement plan for public employees. MAJORITY: REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY. MINORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. (The committee report of Interim Study is adopted on a voice vote)
HB 556-FN-L, establishing a cash balance plan for public employees in the retirement system. REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY. Rep. Goley moved to lay the bill on the table. (The motion to lay on the table fails in a division vote, 130-139/The committee report of Interim Study is adopted on a division vote, 170-97)
