New Hampshire lobbyists received a letter from the General Court last week confirming they are covered by the Legislature’s sexual harassment policies and procedures and should report any harassment they experience.

According to the letter, the State House is not only a workplace for legislative staff, Senators, and Representatives, but also for lobbyists and there is a duty to protect all individuals working there.

The letter follows a story by New Hampshire Public Radio about routine sexual harassment and casual sexism at the State House.

State House staff and lobbyists can report harassment by following procedures established by the Legislative Ethics Committee.

Today, a new chapter of New Hampshire’s ethics laws came into effect.

Chapter 14-C of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes concerns gifts, honorariums, and expense reimbursements requirements for legislators and legislative employees. Legislators and legislative employees can receive gifts not having a value greater than $50 and not having an aggregate value greater than $250 from any single source during any calendar year. The law defines a legislative employee as any person employed by the legislative branch.

House Bill 458, which enacted the chapter, also amended portions of other sections of state law, including a provision requiring lobbyists to affirm having read the newly enacted chapter upon registration.

On November 8, Republican Christopher T. Sununu defeated Democratic candidate Colin Van Ostern to become the next governor of New Hampshire. With 97 percent of the precincts reporting, Sununu triumphed over Van Ostern with a vote of 49 to 47 percent.

Sununu is a son of former New Hampshire Gov. John H. Sununu and a brother of John E. Sununu, a past U.S. Senator from the state. The last Republican governor of New Hampshire was Craig Benson, who was last elected in 2002.

Photo of Christopher Sununu by Csununu on Wikimedia Commons.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a New Hampshire law banning “ballot selfies.” The 2014 law imposing fines of up to $1,000 for anyone who took a picture of their marked ballot was passed to combat vote buying or voter coercion.

The three-judge panel unanimously decided the ban was overbroad and a violation of voters’ right to free speech. In overturning the law, the court cited insufficient and uncorroborated evidence connecting ballot selfies and voter coercion.

The suit was filed by the ACLU on behalf of three voters including state Rep. Leon Rideout (R) and a man who wrote in his dog’s name on the ballot and posted the photo on Facebook, only to later have it censored.

California recently repealed a state law making ballot selfies a felony. However, more than 20 states still have laws against photographing marked ballots or using a camera inside a polling place.

On June 16, the New Hampshire Legislature held a special one-day session to address the efforts of state and local law enforcement to combat the state’s rising heroin and opioid problem. Lawmakers passed a bill providing more funding for initiatives to battle drug usage. The bill was signed on the same day.

Photo of the New Hampshire State House by Alexius Horatius on Wikimedia Commons.

On June 16, the New Hampshire Legislature will hold a special session to address state and local law enforcements’ efforts to combat the state’s rising heroin and opioid problem. Called by the legislative leadership, the special session is being applauded by Gov. Maggie Hassan. “I thank legislative leadership for working quickly to address this issue and committing to bring forward a clean bill … so that we can assist state and local law enforcement across the state in their efforts on the front lines to combat the heroin and opioid crisis,” Hassan said in a press release.

On June 1, the New Hampshire Legislature adjourned its final full day in session. Recessed until the next call of the chair by the House and Senate, the legislative body may meet again for a veto session in the fall. When lawmakers meet to organize in December for the 2017 legislative session, the 2016 session will then be adjourned sine die.

The New Hampshire Legislature begins the New Year addressing campaign finance issues stemming from the U.S. Supreme Court Citizens United decision. On Wednesday, January 6, the House will review Senate Bill 136, a bill first introduced in the 2015 legislative session. The bill, which passed the Senate last year, establishes a committee to review constitutional amendments pending in Congress regarding the Citizens United decision and related cases having been introduced in the United States Supreme Court.

Photo of the New Hampshire State House by AlexiusHoratius on Wikipedia.

On November 18, a special one-day session of the New Hampshire Legislature convened and adjourned after considering establishing funding for programs to battle the state’s rising use of heroin and other drugs. Lawmakers agreed to the creation of a joint Legislative task force to formulate legislation addressing drug abuse issues in the state.

According to the Union Leader, the task force will focus on several areas concerning illegal substance abuse, including “standardizing insurance company treatment authorization, enhancing the prescription drug monitoring program, [and] expanding drug courts.” The task force is expected to issue a final report on January 6, 2016.

Photo of the New Hampshire State House by AlexiusHoratius on Wikipedia.

On November 18, a special session of the New Hampshire Legislature will meet to consider establishing funding for programs to battle the state’s rising use of heroin and other drugs. Gov. Maggie Hassan asked the Executive Council to vote for the special session after failing to convince the House and Senate leaders to call a session. The Executive Council voted 4-1 in favor of calling a special session.

“This is the most important issue facing our state, and it deserves the full and swift attention that comes from a special session of the legislature,” Hassan said, according to the Union Leader.

Photo of the New Hampshire State House by AlexiusHoratius on Wikipedia.

On September 22, 2015, a special primary election will be held for New Hampshire state representative from Strafford County District No. 1 (Middleton and Milton). The special general election for the seat will be held on November 10, 2015. A precept for a special election was approved on July 22 by Gov. Margaret Hassan and the Executive Council.

A precept for a special election for New Hampshire state representative from Rockingham County District No. 20 was approved on May 6 by Governor Margaret Hassan.

The primary election will be held on July 7, 2015 followed by a special general election on August 25, 2015. If only one individual from each party files as a candidate there will not be a primary election and the special election will be held on July 7, 2015.

New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan’s State of the State speech, originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 5, has been postponed until Thursday afternoon due to the area’s frigid snowstorm. The House of Representatives will also not meet today because of the winter weather. According to NHPR, Senate committee hearings scheduled for Wednesday morning will proceed. Hassan’s speech has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 6.

The New Hampshire Legislature adjourned its special session on November 21, 2013.

Gov. Maggie Hassan had called for the extra legislative session to consider the Medicaid Expansion Study Commission’s report recommending the state accept $2.5 billion in federal funds to expand Medicaid. However, the Legislature did not follow her recommendation and did not pass any health care legislation.

In her press release Hassan expressed her disappointment and assigned blame, stating, “Today, members of the Senate Republican caucus let down the people of New Hampshire by refusing to compromise to develop a health care expansion plan that would actually work.”

Photo of the New Hampshire State House courtesy of Alexius Horatius on Wikimedia Commons.