Presidential Tax Returns
Tuesday, January 30th, 11:15AM / Election Law / Room 308, Legislative Office Building
HOUSE – Election Law – HB 1433, requiring Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates to release their tax returns
Why this matters: This Democrat-sponsored bill would require all candidates for President and Vice President to release their federal income taxes. As the First in the Nation State, Granite Staters have always taken the election of presidential candidates seriously. With this bill, New Hampshire would continue this tradition by requiring candidates to be transparent and to allow voters to see and understand the financial ties and obligations of anyone running for President.
The RESCUE Act
Tuesday, January 30th, 1:15PM / Finance / Room 103, State House
SENATE – Finance – HB 542, allocating monies from the Rainy Day Fund to the opioid epidemic
Why this matters: Senate Democrats introduced this legislation that would allocate 10% of the $100 million Rainy Day Fund to fight the opioid crisis. In the face of President Trump and Governor Sununu’s failure to deliver on their promises, this legislation would help those suffering from Substance Use Disorder by providing additional funding for treatment and recovery centers, hospitals, and our first responders.
Fully Fund the Alcohol Fund
Tuesday, January 30th, 1:00PM / Judiciary / Room 103, State House
SENATE – Judiciary – CACR 21, constitutionally require a 5% fully funded alcohol fund
Why this matters: New Hampshire has the third highest overdose death rate in the entire country, and yet Governor Sununu failed to fully fund the alcohol fund in last year’s budget. This bill would make it a constitutional requirement to provide full funding for the alcohol fund, ensuring that our government devotes its full capacity towards combatting this crisis.
Abortion Viability Ban
Wednesday, January 31st, 10:00AM / Judiciary / Room 208, Legislative Office Building
HOUSE – Judiciary – HB 1680-FN, relative to prohibiting abortions after viability
Why this matters: This bill would prohibit abortions after “viability,” an unscientific and baseless term that would effectively limit women’s access to abortions. This restriction is not only unconstitutional but dangerous. The vast majority of abortions take place before a woman is 20 weeks pregnant. When women have abortions after this period, it is often because their lives are in danger or the fetus’ life is in danger. This bill is life-threatening for women and is perfectly in line with a Republican-controlled legislature that has worked to restrict women’s rights and access to care.
Commuter Rail
Wednesday, January 31st, 1:00PM / Public Works and Highways / Room 201, Legislative Office Building
HOUSE – Public Works and Highways – HB 2018, relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement program
Why this matters: In a failed attempt to woo Amazon, Governor Sununu reversed his prior opposition to commuter rail by including a study for the train system in New Hampshire’s 10-year transportation improvement program. This plan will be debated at this meeting where the Committee will ultimately decide whether to include the rail study in the final proposal.
Transgender Civil Rights
Wednesday, January 31st, 1:00PM / Judiciary / Room 208, Legislative Office Building
HOUSE – Judiciary – HB 1319, prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity
Why this matters: This is the second bill in two years that seeks to preventing transgender discrimination. Last year, Republicans forcibly tabled this bill, keeping it from even coming up for a vote. Governor Sununu’s sole response was that he had “no personal opinion” on the matter. Now, this Democrat-supported legislation has another chance to pass, which would secure transgender civil rights under the law.
