AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin (February 14, 2025)

HUGE VICTORY FOR NH WORKERS!

So-called Right to Work Defeated (again)

Action Needed - Red Alert

What a week! We had two big victories. The union-busting so called Right to Work bill was killed by a bipartisan vote in the full house this week. The bill was indefinitely postponed meaning that no bill that even broaches the subject of so-called right to work can be even considered for the next two years. We are thrilled with the outcome. If you want to see how your legislator voted on this bill, click Roll Call on HB 238.

This and the other big victory this week, HB 283, would not have been possible without you making your voices heard by reaching out through sign-ins, emails to committees and contacting your legislators. Thank you to every one of you who has spoken up.

HB 283 would have eliminated many of the required subjects taught in schools like music, art, civics, financial literacy, among many others was voted inexpedient to legislate by the House Education Policy Committee this week. It will still have to be defeated by the full House but this in an important step towards that goal. Over 30,000 Granite Staters opposed this bill—a record for sign ins and it was clear the committee heard your voices.

Red Alert - Urgent Action Still Needed  The House Labor Committee did not vote last week on the anti-public employee union recertification bill  HB 735-FN. The committee is waiting for an amendment from the sponsor and the vote could be taken as early as Tuesday. Let’s be clear no amendment can make this bill work. The bill is set up to defeat unions. Contact the House Labor Committee NOW by taking this quick, one-click action,  NO TO HB 735-FN.

Governor’s Budget Address   This week also featured Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s first budget address. She highlighted increasing special education aid to school districts to reimburse them for helping students with complex special needs have access to their public education. However, the increase only brings the state up to what local districts spent on such costs last year as the costs and needs keep rising. In her next breath, Ayotte also stated she wants to see universal school vouchers available for any student, regardless of the family’s income level, leaving a public school to go into private school or home schooling.

Next week we are right back at it defending public education along with advocating for or against other many other bills. 

Here are the high priority bills for us on the calendar. You can review the legislative schedule at the end of this bulletin to see what’s happening next week with other priority bills and those we are monitoring.

HB 10 is another so-called parental bill of rights bill. In the Senate, we did not testify against their version of the parental bill of rights as we are not opposed to parents understanding what their rights are. We are opposed to language in these bills that are vague, meant to intimidate educators, or put a teacher in the middle of the parent-child relationship. Unfortunately, some of the language in HB 10 would do just that. The bill will be heard on Tuesday, February 18 at 1:00 pm before the House Children and Family Law Committee. Please oppose this bill.

HB 520  authorizes subpoenas to be issued by the Department of Education. This bill is improved from previous versions, but we are still concerned that the subpoena is requested by the Commissioner of Education, especially when the Commissioner is as open adversarial to educators as Commissioner Edelblut. As long as the power to request the subpoenas rests in his hands we oppose this bill. This bill will be heard on Wednesday, February 19 at 9:45 am before the House Judiciary Committee.  Please oppose this bill.

SB 33 is yet another version of a book ban. New Hampshire has a long history of local control. We also firmly believe that if you do not wish for your kids to read a book or watch a movie, that is your right! You should talk to your kids and make sure they understand why they should not look at that material, but you should not make that decision for all parents. It is why book bans don’t work and why they are wrong for New Hampshire. This bill will be heard on Tuesday, February 18 at 10:30 am before the Senate Education Committee. Please oppose this bill.

Here is easy access to submit your position on bills before House and Senate Committees.

Remember, if a bill is already scheduled for an Executive Session, you will not be able to submit your position.

To submit your position, click SUBMIT YOUR POSITION TO A HOUSE COMMITTEE HERE.

To submit your position, click SUBMIT YOUR POSITION TO A SENATE COMMITTEE HERE.

Instructions for registering your position on a bill.

• Fill in your Personal Information
• Select the relevant date and committee for the hearing by clicking on it in the Meeting Schedule Calendar (make sure you are on the right week!). [Select Bill # and select the date].
• In the dropbox below "Select the Committee," select committee.
• In the dropbox below "Choose the Bill," select the appropriate time and bill number.
• Select the appropriate option for the "I am" dropbox (likely "Member of the Public").
• Fill in the content box under "I'm Representing" with the business, organization, or group you are representing. If you are representing yourself only, write "myself."
• Under the “Indicate Your Position on this Bill,” check the circle stating your position on the bill. “I Oppose this Bill” or “I Support this Bill”
• After filling in all of the appropriate dropboxes, click “Submit.”
• After clicking submit, you will be brought to the next page, where you will fill in the content boxes with your first and last name, as well as your town, state, and email address.
• Press “Continue.”
• If you wish to speak during the hearing to present your testimony, you will need to attend in person at the State House, but you upload your testimony if you cannot attend.
• If you wish to submit testimony on the bill, email the relevant committee and upload the testimony file from your computer (if you need assistance in this, we are happy to help).

Thank you for taking action. Please do share our bulletin with others.

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Upcoming Legislative Hearings

Week of February 17, 2025