AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin (January 23, 2026) Urgent Action Needed

Red Alert – Stop the Attack on Public Employees’ Collective Bargaining

Defeat House Bill 1704

Attack on Public Employees – Action Needed

HB 1704, a bill which would erode public employees’ bargaining rights (except police, fire, and corrections officers) and effectively bust most public sector unions is scheduled for hearing this Tuesday, January 27^th at 3:15 pm before the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee. 

The bill would allow individual employees to bargain individually even when a union contract is in place. This is intended to weaken the union and the rights of the members it represents. Employees doing the same jobs will fall under different work conditions and pay structure. Employers will need more HR personnel, legal advice, and expose the employers and taxpayers to litigation. In short, it will create chaos in public sector workplaces across the state. AFT-NH opposes this bill

Please take these two actions:

Click No to HB 1704  to send your opposition to the House Labor Committee

and

Register your formal opposition on the remote sign-in option:

1.    To register your OPPOSITION to HB 1704 (or any House Bill), click here          https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx

2.    Fill in your Personal Information

3.    Select Tuesday January 27 on the Meeting Schedule Calendar

4.    In the dropbox below, "Select the Committee," select House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

5.    In the dropbox below, "Choose the Bill," select 3:15 pm – HB1704

6.    Select the appropriate option for the "I am" dropbox (likely "Member of the Public").

7.    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."

8.    Under the “Indicate Your Position on this Bill,” check “I oppose this bill”

9.    After filling in all of the appropriate dropboxes and adding or attaching any testimony you may wish to submit   (optional), click “Submit.”

10.  After clicking submit, you will be brought to the next page where you can review your submission. Then click “Submit” again to complete the record of your OPPOSITION to HB 1704.

Look Ahead to Next Week

Legislative hearings continue next week as they tackle the over 1000 bills filed this session. The pace is fast and furious. Our complete tracker is once again provided at the end of this update with the AFT-NH position for each bill and the time and date of hearing.

HB 1816, a bill that allows the Department of Education take over a school district AND allows them to re-negotiate your contracts and reallocate resources. AFT-NH opposes this bill.

School Safety

HB 1034, prohibits the possession of a firearm in school -important for the safety of our school employees and our local police. AFT-NH supports this bill.

Expanded Vouchers and Weakening of the University System

HB 1774, directs New Hampshire to be enrolled in the new federal school voucher program while also prohibiting the University system from spending state funds determined to have low earing outcomes. AFT-NH opposes this bill.

Restoring Retirement System Funding

SB 601, restores the cuts to the pension system the state made over a decade ago, forcing the state to pay its share of retirement and delivering actual property tax relief without cuts in services. Let’s remember the state used to pay 35% of this cost but then pushed the entire expense back to local communities. AFT-NH supports this bill.

Firearms and Schools Recap

There were a number of bills heard last week regarding firearms and hunter and gun safety training in schools. You can read the testimony submitted by AFT-NH here: https://nh.aft.org/sites/state-house-news

SB 463  Prohibits carrying a firearm in a safe school zone. AFT-NH supports this bill.

HB 1122   Requires all high school students to learn about hunting, wildlife management, and responsible firearms usage. AFT-NH opposes this bill.

HB 1830 Requiring firearm safety education in all public schools. AFT-NH opposes this bill.

Please see the AFT-NH list of bills we are following and that are scheduled for hearings next week.

Staying Informed and Taking Action.

1. Please share our legislative bulletins with others.
2. Please visit our website at https://nh.aft.org/ and sign up for the bulletins if you have not done so.
3. Do the one-click actions when an alert is sent out.
4. You can register your position on a bill directly to the House or Senate Committee hearing the bill. For instructions and the links, please see below.
5. For breaking news and other legislative information, please be sure to like us on Facebook at AFT New Hampshire or follow us on Bluesky at aftnh.bsky.social.

Remember, when we fight, we win. It will be a long legislative session but we will not let the anti-public education and anti-worker forces prevail.

Thank you.

Submitting Your Position and Testimony

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.

• 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 drop boxes, 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).

AFT-NH Legislative Hearings

Week of January 26, 2026