This bill establishes a right-to-work law in New Hampshire that prohibits employers and labor unions from requiring employees to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment. It directly affects all workers in the state, including those employed by government agencies and private companies, by making any collective bargaining agreement that mandates union membership or financial support null and void. The legislation ensures that employees can freely choose whether to participate in a union without fear of penalty, while also protecting voluntary deductions only if employees provide written authorization that can be revoked with 30 days' notice. Additionally, the bill bans strikes or other actions taken solely to force an employer to agree to these prohibited requirements and mandates that employers post notices informing workers of their new freedom of choice.
This bill allocates $250,000 from the state's general fund to the Department of Business and Economic Affairs to hire and train small business development counselors specifically for rural areas of New Hampshire. The funds are designated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and are authorized to remain available until June 30, 2026, allowing the department to draw on the money over that period. The department will use these resources to support existing small business development centers by expanding their staff with counselors trained to assist rural entrepreneurs.
This bill, known as "Bradley's Law," authorizes New Hampshire courts and the Department of Safety to report specific mental health records to the federal background check system when individuals are involuntarily committed or found not guilty by reason of insanity. The legislation mandates that law enforcement confiscate firearms owned by these individuals within 48 hours of a qualifying court order and allows them to petition the court for relief from this disability after a set waiting period. It explicitly excludes information about people seeking voluntary treatment or those hospitalized only for assessment, ensuring that only specific legal dispositions trigger firearm prohibitions. By creating a new process for reporting these records and establishing a timeline for challenging the loss of firearm rights, the bill aims to align state procedures with federal requirements while providing a path for individuals to regain those rights.
This bill requires defendants charged with serious crimes, including those punishable by life in prison or 15 years or more, to be present for every stage of their trial and sentencing. It allows judges to excuse a defendant's presence for good cause but also permits proceedings to continue without the defendant if they voluntarily absent themselves or act disruptively. The legislation mandates that law enforcement transport incarcerated defendants to court and authorizes the use of reasonable force if a defendant refuses to comply with a transport order. Additionally, it creates a new felony charge for knowingly failing to appear or refusing transport without a valid court excuse, with the new sentence running consecutively to any other prison term.
This bill would restrict how alcohol is packaged and marketed in New Hampshire to prevent products from appealing to minors or confusing consumers with non-alcohol items. It prohibits using cartoons, toys, or other child-friendly imagery on alcohol packaging and bans designs that mimic trademarked non-alcohol products like logos or brand sounds. Additionally, the bill requires that coupons for alcohol products clearly state they are only for adults of legal drinking age. The state liquor commission would be responsible for creating rules to enforce these new restrictions, and a specific appeal process has been established for disputes regarding these decisions.
This bill proposes to add eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, to the list of qualifying conditions for the state's therapeutic cannabis program. If enacted, it would allow individuals diagnosed with these specific conditions to legally access medical cannabis under the existing framework. The legislation includes a provision to include other specified feeding and eating disorders alongside the named examples. The bill was ultimately not passed and died on the table before the legislative session concluded.
HB 1087 proposes creating a temporary commission to study how public schools in New Hampshire teach information literacy and media literacy. The commission would be made up of legislators, educators, and representatives from youth media organizations to review current curriculum standards and identify barriers to effective instruction. Its main tasks include evaluating available resources for teachers, comparing the state's efforts with those of other states, and gathering input from students, parents, and experts. The group is required to submit a final report with its findings and recommendations by November 1, 2024, though the bill was not enacted during the 2024 legislative session.
This bill, known as the Modern Economy Act, would require most group health insurance plans to cover up to six rounds of intrauterine insemination for certificate holders each year, even without a formal infertility diagnosis. It also expands legal protections against sex discrimination to explicitly include pregnancy-related conditions and fertility treatments, mandating that employers allow time off for IVF follow-ups and postpartum care. However, the legislation excludes insurance plans available through the Small Business Health Options Program and those in transition to Affordable Care Act compliance. The measure was ultimately not passed, as it was laid on the table by the House in May 2024 and died when the legislative session ended later that year.
HB 1005 proposes creating a new Judicial Training Coordinator position to oversee professional development for judges and court staff. The bill mandates that all new judges and non-judicial employees hired after July 1, 2025, complete an initial orientation covering court procedures, legal skills, and specific topics like ethics and implicit bias. It also establishes annual continuing education requirements, such as 24 hours for supreme and superior court justices and 12 to 16 hours for various clerks and administrative roles. Although the legislation outlines these specific training hours and responsibilities, the bill was ultimately laid on the table and did not become law.
This bill allows registered voters to examine digital images of ballots created by electronic counting devices to verify the accuracy and integrity of election equipment. Under the new rules, the Secretary of State would manage a supervised viewing process where observers can inspect stored images on state computers without downloading or copying the data. Access to these images would be permitted only after all recounts and appeals are finished, and any discrepancies found by observers could trigger an investigation by the Attorney General. The legislation also gives the Secretary of State authority to disqualify specific voting machines or vendors if issues are discovered during these reviews.
This bill would allow the state's fish and game commission to establish a special season for hunting coyotes at night, specifying rules on how, when, and where such hunting can occur. It also adds a protection period from April 1 through July 31 to prevent hunting during the time coyote pups are being raised. The legislation does not change existing laws regarding hunting coyotes during the day or in baited areas. Although the bill was introduced, it was ultimately set aside and did not become law.
HB 1633 would have legalized and regulated the sale of cannabis in New Hampshire by creating a new state framework similar to the existing alcohol industry. The bill proposed establishing a licensing system for various businesses, including growers, manufacturers, distributors, and retail stores, while mandating age verification and prohibiting marketing directed at minors. It also included provisions to fund education and treatment programs using tax revenue from legal sales and to ensure all products are tested for safety and contaminants. Although the bill passed a conference committee, it ultimately failed to become law after being removed from the table and the legislative session ended.
