We had a few victories today, but mostly losses. Unfortunately, all five of the Democratic-sponsored energy-related bills out of the Science, Technology and Energy Committee were defeated.
| Bill | Motion | Type of vote | My vote | Result of vote | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB 479-FN | OTP | Roll call | Nay | OTP 178-173 | |
| HB 76 | OTP | Roll call | Yea | 168-193 | ITL by voice vote |
| HB 89 | OTPA | Division | Yea | OTPA 317-45 | |
| HB 328-FN | ITL | Roll call | Yea | ITL 290-76 | |
| HB 360-FN | ITL | Division | Yea | 160-210 | OTP by voice vote |
| HB 444-FN | ITL | Roll call | Nay | ITL 202-167 | |
| HB 596-FN | OTP | Roll call | Yea | OTP 186-185 | |
| HB 71 | OTP | Voice | Yea | OTP | |
| HB 104 | Table | Division | Yea | Table 345-28 | |
| HB 170 | OTPA | Division | Nay | OTPA 199-174 | |
| HB 394-LOCAL | ITL | Division | Yea | ITL 226-146 | |
| HB 399-FN | Table | Voice | Yea | Table | |
| HB 514 | Table | Roll call | Yea | Table 200-175 | |
| HB 590 | ITL | Voice | Yea | Table | |
| HB 231-FN | OTP | Division | Yea | OTP 225-147 | |
| HB 58-FN | OTPA | Roll call | Yea | 176-194 | ITL 192-182 on division vote |
| HB 125 | OTP | Roll call | Yea | 175-195 | ITL passes on voice vote |
| HB 208-FN | OTP | Roll call | Yea | 183-187 | ITL 192-181 on division vote |
| HB 263-FN | OTP | Division | Yea | 178-186 | ITL 187-180 on division vote |
| HB 523-FN | OTP | Roll call | Yea | 182-189 | ITL 189-182 on division vote |
| HB 524-FN | OTP | Roll call | Yea | 181-186 | ITL 187-180 on division vote |
| HB 605-FN | OTP | Division | Yea | 181-188 | ITL passes on voice vote |
| HCR 4 | OTP | Division | Nay | 145-224 | ITL passes on voice vote |
| HB 54-FN | OTPA | Voice | Yea | OTPA | |
| HB 93 | Table | Division | Nay | Table 205-162 | |
| HB 198-FN | OTP | Division | Nay | OTP 187-182 | |
| HB 222-FN | ITL | Roll call | Nay | ITL 206-162 |
Lots of interesting bills in this session.
HB 76 would have imposed a three-day waiting period between purchasing and receiving a firearm, with exceptions. It would have been particularly helpful in staving off suicides. HB 444-FN would have prohibited possessing a firearm at a polling place.
This bill would have legalized hallucinogens for people 21 and older.
This bill legalizes cannabis for people 21 and older. As I did on HB 639-FN-A, I voted against it, and for the same reasons.
This bill prohibits racial profiling in law enforcement. It passed, but only one vote. By just one vote.
Both of these school-related bills were tabled, fortunately. HB 104 is a bathroom bill, and HB 514 would prohibit obscene material in school and university libraries, based on the objection of just one parent.
This bill prohibits declawing cats. Although it’s not as important a bill as the others that I’m describing here, I include it because I am not a cat person, but I did vote for it. Declawing a cat is like cutting off your fingertips at the last knuckle.
This bill would have prohibited paying subminimum wages, so that employees who rely on tips would still receive their tips, but on top of minimum wage. To be clear: even with this bill being defeated, tipped employees are guaranteed minimum wage, but their tips count toward it.
These are the five bills sponsored by Democrats on the Science, Technology and Energy Committee. All five were defeated.
HB 208-FN would have established greenhouse gas reduction goals for the state and established a climate action plan. HB 263-FN would have required utilities to notify producers of renewable energy when their Renewable Energy Certificates are being “swept” (which is euphemism for “stolen”). HB 523-FN would have allowed the net metering limit for utility customers to increase from 1 megawatt to 5 megawatts. HB 524-FN would have invested half of the money from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) back into energy efficiency (NHSaves). We currently invest only $1 out of every $6 that we receive, and the rest is rebated to customers. Finally, HB 605-FN would have increased the amount of solar energy required to be produced in New Hampshire.
This resolution would have included New Hampshire in a constitutional convention to propose an amendment establishing congressional term limits. As you know, we already have congressional term limits. They are called “elections.”
This bill would have required all occupants of a motor vehicle to wear seat belts while the vehicle is in motion. We are the only state that does not, and we will continue to be the only state that does not. Live free and die!