This week, a RAD-supported healthcare access bill PASSED in the House! See Highlights from Last Week below for more information.
In the coming week, two priority healthcare bills will be heard, in the House Health and House Finance Committees. The House Health Committee will hear a third priority bill the following week.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear a bill to alter the mandatory ultrasound requirement that was included in the third trimester abortion ban passed by Republicans last year. The same committee will also be hearing a bill to increase transparency in policing.
Finally, we have two bills related to housing justice – one good, one bad – that will be heard in the House Judiciary and House Commerce and Consumer Affairs committees.
See Top Actions this Week below to learn how you can voice your support!
See Rights & Democracy’s 2022 NH legislative priorities
In case you missed it, Rights & Democracy’s New Hampshire team is hiring! We have two exciting openings for a NH HEAL Together Organizer and a bi-state Overdose Crisis Organizer, who will advance our fights for education and healthcare justice. Application deadlines are quickly approaching; apply today!
Invite others to sign up here for these weekly updates.
Until next week, and in solidarity,
David Bates
Sebastian Fuentes
Ed Taylor, NH State Director, Rights & Democracy
Sign in to register your support or opposition on RAD priority bills, contact your legislators, and/or testify in writing and in person!
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Support HB 1673: On Thursday April 7th, the the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1673, which would alter the mandatory ultrasound requirement included in the third trimester abortion ban passed by Republicans last year. HB 1673 narrows the situations within which an ultrasound to establish gestational age would be mandatory to those within which the health provider knows or has substantial reason to believe the gestational age of the fetus is 24 weeks or more.
Sign in to support the bill here, and/or testify in person in Room 100 of the State House at 10am.
HEALTHCARE ACCESS
Support SB 422: On Tuesday, April 5th, the House Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 422, which will expand NH Medicaid to cover preventative dental care such as cleanings for low income adults, rather than only emergency room care such as tooth extractions.
Sign in to support the bill here, and/or testify in person in Room 210-211 of the Legislative Office Building at 1:30pm.
Support SB 279: On Tuesday, April 5th, the House Health Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 279, which establishes a study committee on harm reduction and overdose prevention programs.
Sign in to support the bill here, and/or testify in person in Room 205-207 of the Legislative Office Building at 2:45pm.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
Support HB 1296: On Tuesday, April 5th, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1296, which establishes more guidelines, transparency and accountability around money and property confiscated by the police in connection with the war on drugs.
Sign in to support the bill here, and/or testify in person in Room 100 of the State House at 2:30pm.
HOUSING JUSTICE
Oppose SB 210: On Thursday, April 7th, the House Commerce & Consumer Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 210. This bill would make it harder for tenants to convert their parks into Resident Owned Communities (abolishing the need for a landlord) and would benefit corporate trailer park landlords.
Sign in to support the bill here, and/ or testify in person in Room 302-304 of the Legislative Office Building at 2pm.
Support SB 217: On Thursday, April 6th, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 217. This bill requires landlords to provide more advance notice when planning to evict a tenant for construction purposes.
Sign in to support the bill here, and/ or testify in person in Room 206-208 of the Legislative Office Building at 3pm.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK
Support SB 407: On Tuesday, April 12th, the House Health Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 407, which expands post-partum coverage for low-income women so that they have continuous health coverage for a full year after giving birth, including for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Sign in to support the bill here, and/or testify in person in Room 205-207 of the Legislative Office Building at 3:15pm.
VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Support HB 1263: On Tuesday, April 5th, the Senate Education Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1263, which updates New Hampshire public schools’ physical education requirements to include the prevention of sexual violence.
Sign in to support the bill here, and/or testify in person in Room 101 of the Legislative Office Building at 9:30am.
The good: On Thursday, March 31st, the House voted to pass RAD-supported bill HB 1622, requiring insurers to maintain adequate access to mental healthcare services in their network.
The bad: On Thursday, March 31st, the House voted to kill RAD-supported bill HB 1463, relative to drivers’ licenses issued in accordance with the Real ID Act of 2005 which, among other things, would have simplified the process of obtaining a driver’s license for non-citizens with a legal immigration status.
Beginning April 7th, 8 sessions
WFP x RAD New England Candidate Training Series
Beginning Sunday, April 10th, 1 – 3pm
Race Class Academy Series
Tips for Testifying
In person: Go early to the room assigned for the committee hearing early. There will be a form for you to sign your name and who you are representing. You may sign in as yourself if you are not representing an organization. The higher your name is on the list, the earlier you get to speak. You will be called on when they open the hearing to the public.
Online: If you cannot attend a hearing in person, you can register your position online up to a week out. (Registration is cut off 30 minutes before a hearing.) After signing in support of a bill, the confirmation page will list the email address where you can submit written testimony. Email committee members to let them know why you support or oppose a bill.
Helpful Links
Senate
- Register your position and/or submit testimony on a Senate bill here.
- Find the Senate Calendar here (meeting links are in the Calendar Notice pdf).
- Find your Senator here.
House
- Register your position and/or submit testimony on a House bill here.
- Find the House Calendar here.
- Find your Representative(s) here.
Don’t know your district? Use this map.