Legislative Updates by Rep. Maureen Mooney for May, 2022

Greetings!

This month’s Legislative Updates focuses on four Senate bills that recently went through the House Finance Committee. I thought you’d like to see (chosen at random) what the state may be spending:

- SB 401-FN (AN ACT making appropriations to the department of transportation for local highway aid and to the body-worn and dashboard camera fund, permitting the department of transportation to operate dash cameras in fleet vehicles, and relative to the duration of unemployment benefits). This Senate bill allocates state monies for bridges, municipal roads, body-worn and dashboard cameras, the Dixville-Colebrook Road Project, and limits unemployment to 16 weeks if the state’s average unemployment rate is at or below 3%.

Estimated cost: $67 million.

Status: SB 401 passed through the Senate and House.

- SB 366-FN (AN ACT requiring an audit of ballots cast in the 2022 primary and general election). The bill authorizes the Secretary of State to audit all AccuVote devices in at least 2 voting districts in the 2022 state primary election. Additionally, the Secretary of State can then randomly audit AccuVote devices in not less than 4 voting districts in the 2022 general election, unless foregone due to unresolved problems detected in the primary. To perform these audits, the purchase of a high-speed scanner is required.

Estimated cost: $50K-$100K.

Status: SB 366 passed through the Senate and House.

- SB 381-FN-A (AN ACT establishing an office of the advocate for special education). This Senate bill creates the office of the advocate for special education to serve as a resource for special education laws, advocacy and compliance.

Estimated cost: $500,000

Status: SB 366 passed through the Senate and House.

- SB 407-FN (AN ACT relative to expanding Medicaid to include certain postpartum health care services and making an appropriation therefor and relative to exemptions from vaccine mandates). This Senate bill extends Medicaid coverage to 12 months for pregnant women with incomes up to 196% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, the bill allows for employers and postsecondary educational institutions that receive federal or state funds to offer employees and students the opportunity to submit a request for a vaccination exemption.

Estimated cost: $200,000-$1,000,000 (matching federal funds, if available, under ARPA)

Status: SB 366 passed through the Senate and House.

- Full House Sessions:

The New Hampshire House has full sessions on May 12 and 26, 2022. Here is the calendar: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars\2022\No%2018%20May%2006%202022.PDF

- Community Happenings:

Congratulations to Ethan Matte upon attaining his Eagle Scout award!

Rep. Maureen Mooney is in her fourth term as a NH State Representative serving Merrimack. She serves on the House Finance Committee, is co-chair of the Speaker’s Advisory Group, and is an Assistant Majority Whip. Her website is: www.votemooney.com and Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/maureenmooneynh.