Community Corner
Legislative Updates by Rep. Maureen Mooney for April, 2024
Legislative updates of interest to the Town of Merrimack, NH
Greetings!
The New Hampshire House and Senate continue to work through 800+ bills in the second year of the session. A two-year elected term flies by quickly and brings a general election each November of the second year (that is, every even-numbered year). Here is an update of some bills of interest:
ACTION ITEM - Time Sensitive - HB 2024 (AN ACT relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement plan).
Find out what's happening in Merrimackfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Last session, an attempt was made in the “10 Year Highway Plan” to give Merrimack the responsibility of maintaining Continental Blvd from the state. The attempt was defeated then, but now the proposal is back again this year. Merrimack cannot bear the financial burden of maintaining a state road. Please contact members of the Senate Transportation Committee to tell them to REMOVE the provision of transferring ownership of Continental Blvd to the Town of Merrimack in the “10 Year Highway Plan.” Members of the Senate Transportation Committee are:
Sen. Denise Ricciardi (Chairman): Denise.Ricciardi@leg.state.nh.us
Find out what's happening in Merrimackfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Sen. David Watters (Vice Chairman): david.watters@leg.state.nh.us
Sen. Ruth Ward: Ruth.Ward@leg.state.nh.us
Sen. Carrie Gendreau: Carrie.Gendreau@leg.state.nh.us
Sen. Donovan Fenton: Donovan.Fenton@leg.state.nh.us
HB 1102-FN (AN ACT relative to the definition of animal cruelty).
I’ve heard from several constituents on this bill. This bill would prohibit further breeding of dogs with brachycephaly (common breeds include the Bulldog, Pug, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, Boxer). The bill was tabled in the House with a roll call vote of 232-140 on March 28, 2024.
HB 1583-FN-A (AN ACT relative to the per pupil cost of an opportunity for an adequate education).
This bill is currently in the House Finance Committee after it passed in the full House on a 228-150 division vote on February 22, 2024. The bill is intended to address the recent NH Superior Court decision that the state’s adequacy aid for public education is not enough. HB 1583 is at the work session phase. Last week, proposed amendment #2024-1005h was introduced for consideration which would bring the amount of adequacy aid to $7,356.01 per pupil (from $4,100 per pupil), impose a cap on school spending increases that would take a 2/3 majority of voters to lift (see section 7 of the amendment), and requires excess statewide education property tax payments to be paid to the department of revenue administration for deposit in the education trust fund. More to come on this bill.
See you around town!
Rep. Maureen Mooney is in her fifth term as a NH State Representative serving Merrimack. She serves on the House Finance Committee (Vice Chairman of Division III), the Fiscal Committee (alternate), and is co-chair of the Speaker’s Advisory Group. Her website is: www.votemooney.com and Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/maureenmooneynh.
