Do You Know What Your Rep Is Up To?

REPEALING THE NH RAIL TRANSIT AUTHORITY: On Thursday, March 31 at 11 a.m. the Senate Transportation Committee will hear HB 218, which would repeal the NH Rail Transit Authority.

LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE BOAT SPEED LIMITS: The Senate voted 13-11 to pass SB 27 with amendment. As amended, the bill would increase the daytime speed limit from 45 to 55 in a large section of Lake Winnipesaukee known as "the Broads." This follows the state having only recently lowered the speed limits. The bill now goes to the House.

ABOLISHING THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES: The House Finance Committee is recommending the abolishment of the NH Department of Cultural Resources as of July 1, 2011 and transfer of some of the department's current functions. An amendment to HB 2 would move libraries and cultural resources to the Department of State, and the film office to the Department of Resources & Economic Development. The Arts Council would be eliminated, and Commissioner Van McLeod's position would be eliminated. The full House will vote on the bill on Wednesday March 30 or Thursday, March 31.

SENATE COMMITTEE REJECTS HAPPY HOUR AND DRINK PRICE ADVERTISING: The Senate Commerce Committee was deadlocked at 2-2 on SB 120. The bill would remove the restrictions on advertising happy hours enacted only a few years ago. It is currently legal to have happy hours and reduced drink prices, but it is illegal to advertise them outside the walls of the business. SB 120 would allow establishments to advertise happy hours and reduced drink prices except through the use of billboards, sound trucks, or outdoor internally illuminated screen displays. The bill will go to the Senate floor next Wednesday, March 30.

ROOMS AND MEALS TAX 3% COMMISSION: State Representative Steve Vaillancourt of Manchester could not muster enough support for his bid to reduce the 3 percent rooms and meals tax commission the hospitality industry is provided for collecting the rooms and meals tax on behalf of the State. Representative Vaillancourt was expected to bring the issue to the House Finance Committee in an attempt to get it attached to the budget bill. Without the necessary support, he never brought it up.

REQUIRING DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO WARN EMPLOYERS FIRST: The Senate Commerce Committee has voted 3-0 to recommend passage of SB 86 with amendment. As amended, the bill will require the Department of Labor to issue one warning to employers for certain violations before a fine may be imposed. The Commissioner would not be required to issue a warning and could fine an employer if the violation involves any of the following: failure to pay an employee on time; payment of wages by checks not convenient to the place of employment; failure to pay final wages in full; failure to pay amounts withheld for court ordered child support; failure to pay amounts withheld for insurance benefits; illegal withholding of wages to compensate employer for employee actions resulting in damage or loss; employing illegal aliens; or requiring employees to perform any illegal activity under threat of job loss.

HEALTH INSURANCE: The Senate Commerce Committee voted 3-1 to recommend killing SB 119, which would allow groups like the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association to offer health insurance coverage to members through the formation of a health trust, similar to the association's workers compensation trust. Senator Ray White of Bedford led the opposition. He fears that it will cause adverse selection and harm small businesses that do not have access to a health trust. The full Senate will vote on the bill next Wednesday, March 30.

TOURISM PRMOTION BUDGET: The House Finance Committee put the final touches on the tourism promotion budget. A subcommittee of the Finance Committee had recommended tourism promotion be level funded over the next two years. This would have provided $1,860,000 in funding each year over the next two years, instead of the $2,050,000 proposed by the governor's budget in 2012 and $2,075,000 in 2013. The full committee went one step further and reduced funding another $500,000 each year. They also cut promotion to international tourists from $250,000 in 2012 to $125,000 and from $275,000 in 2013 to $135,000.

SCHOOL FUNDING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: The Senate Internal Affairs Committee is recommending passage of CACR 14, which would give the Legislature full authority over state education spending. CACR 14 would allow the State to target funding to only those communities in need. The House passed a similar constitutional amendment last week. The full Senate will vote on the bill Wednesday, March 30. A three-fifths vote in favor is required.