Eight bills moved to active status in the New Hampshire legislature on May 19, touching criminal records, school interrogations, elections, and the environment. No bills were signed into law or killed today, but several measures with direct public impact cleared procedural hurdles.
On the Move
Criminal records: SB 512 would eliminate fees charged to people seeking to annul criminal records for charges that never resulted in a conviction. Under current law, individuals found not guilty or whose charges were dropped can still face costs to clear those records.
Student questioning: HB 1267 is in a Senate Education committee hearing. The bill would require a parent or guardian to be present when school district attorneys or non-school personnel question students.
Voter checklists: HB 1325 would allow supervisors of the checklist to make corrections to voter rolls on any day of the week, rather than on designated days only. A companion measure, HB 1309, modifies the requirements for town meeting warrants — the formal notices that specify what voters will consider at town meetings.
Algae blooms: HB 1148 would add cyanobacteria and algae blooms to the scope of the state’s exotic aquatic weeds and species committee. Toxic algae blooms have closed beaches and threatened drinking water supplies at lakes across New Hampshire in recent summers.
Municipal electricity rates: SB 590 addresses electric aggregation plans, which allow municipalities to negotiate electricity contracts collectively on behalf of residents.
Child care staffing: HB 1771 passed its Senate committee 3-0. It would make permanent the child care staffing ratio rules and an associated waiver system that were set to expire, giving providers continued flexibility in staff-to-child ratios.
Needle exchanges: SB 549 would require syringe service programs to offer disposal options for used needles and submit operational reports. The bill addresses concerns about discarded syringes while preserving existing harm reduction services.
To see how your state senator or representative voted on any of these bills, visit nhpolitics.org/find-your-rep to look up your district and contact your legislators directly.