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.

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.

A precept for a special election for Executive Councilor from Executive Council District No. 1 was approved on November 18 by New Hampshire Governor Margaret Hassan.

The primary election will be held on January 21, 2014 followed by a special general election on March 11, 2014.

A precept for a special election for New Hampshire State Representative in Strafford County District 6 (Durham and Madbury) was approved on October 16 by Governor Margaret Hassan and the Executive Council. The primary election will be held on December 17 followed by a special general election on February 4, 2014.

A precept for a special election for State Representative in Hillsborough County District 14 (Manchester Ward 7) was approved on May 1 by New Hampshire Governor Margaret Hassan and the Executive Council.

The primary election will be held on September 17 followed by a special general election on November 5. If there is only one candidate running from each party, there will be no primary election and the special election will be held on September 17.

Additionally, in the election for State Representative in Sullivan County District 4 (Claremont Ward 2), only one candidate from each party filed to participate in that election. The special election date has been changed from July 23 to June 4, the date previously scheduled for that special election’s primary.

A special election for the state representative for Sullivan County District 4 (Claremont Ward 2) will be held on July 23, 2013.

A special primary election for the office is scheduled for June 4, 2013. The elections are being held to fill the seat of Representative Tom Donovan, who resigned earlier this year.

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

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s office has advised the Secretary of State against restricting contributions to political committees that only make independent expenditures.

While New Hampshire’s statute R.S.A. §664:4 sets contribution limits for political committees, the law does not distinguish between political committees in general and committees making only independent expenditures.

The Attorney General made this recommendation, and reviewed the current status of law concerning independent expenditures, in a letter to the Secretary of State on August 1, 2012. The Attorney General also stated in the letter that enforcement of “contributions to any political committee is a fact-specific determination that can only be made on a case-by-case basis.”