2022 Legislative Update, Week of February 21st

This past week saw some hopeful developments, as well as some difficult losses, as both the House and Senate met to cast floor votes on priority legislation.

Important progress was made on expanding access to healthcare. The Senate unanimously passed SB 422, expanding the state Medicaid program to cover preventative dental care. The House passed HB 1622 to ensure that mental health services are properly covered by insurance companies, as well as HB 1390, requiring that certain telemedicine services include interpreters for non-English language speakers, the deaf and hard of hearing.

Thank you everyone who called and emailed your legislators urging them to support these bills!

Unfortunately, the House also killed many good bills. These included:

• CACR 28, a constitutional amendment giving workers the right to a livable wage.
• HB 1403, creating a commission to periodically raise the minimum wage.
• HB 1392, a bill to lower penalties for nonviolent drug offenses.
• HB 1407, which would have allowed towns and cities to develop community based land trusts as a housing solution.

Additional bills were blocked when legislators tabled them without debate:

• HB 1536, which would have expanded Medicaid to cover post-partum healthcare services for new mothers (there is still an opportunity to expand postpartum care with SB 407).
• HB 1578, which would have expanded Medicaid to cover pregnant women and children who are legal residents of NH but not naturalized citizens.
• HB 1601, securing more funding for energy conservation programs.
• HB 1506, creating a fund for clean energy investments.
• HB 1419, to begin the creation of a NH civilian climate corps to work on restoring public lands and waters, improving community resilience and carbon sequestration.

As we face setbacks, it is critical that we continue to speak up, show up and bring grassroots power to the State House. See below for top actions you can take this week to support education justice and healthcare equity.

See Rights & Democracy New Hampshire legislative priorities for 2022.

As always, you can invite others to sign up here for these weekly updates.

Until next week, and in solidarity,

David Bates
Sebastian Fuentes
Asma Elhuni, Movement Politics Director, Rights & Democracy

Sign in to register your position on these RAD priority bills, and testify in writing and in person if you are able! See “Tips for Testifying” below. 

[highlight style=”gray”]EDUCATION JUSTICE[/highlight]

The Senate will meet on Thursday, February 24th, to vote on two bills to repeal the divisive concepts order that is stopping educators from teaching truth. Please reach out to your Senator and urge them to vote yes on:

• SB 304, to repeal last year’s “divisive concepts” law and replace it with a provision that nothing in New Hampshire law will prohibit schools and businesses from teaching about the historic or current experiences of any group protected from discrimination.
• SB 298, to repeal last year’s “divisive concepts” law.

Watch the Thursday Senate session remotely here, beginning at 10am.

[highlight style=”gray”]HEALTHCARE JUSTICE[/highlight]

Only one RAD priority bill has a hearing this week. We urge you to sign in and submit written testimony to oppose this harmful healthcare bill that is scheduled for a second hearing:

• HB 1271, requiring that immunization requirements established by the department of health and human services be ratified by a 2/3rds vote of the legislature.

When: February 22nd, 3pm
Where: Legislative Office Building

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