AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin (May 2, 2025) ACTION NEEDED

It’s Time to Advocate for a Better State Budget

Another week just concluded where the actions under the State House dome are increasingly isolated from what people in Granite State cities and towns actually want. It makes you wonder, who does the extremist majority in this legislature think they are representing?

This week House Republicans passed the Senate version of universal school vouchers, with an amendment, and it will go to the full House next week. A reminder that the legislature is poised to expand vouchers for the ultra-wealthy all while the budget the House just passed makes cuts to programs and healthcare for hardworking Granite Staters across New Hampshire.

Hearing on the State Budget on May 6^th.  The Senate Finance Committee will be holding their only public hearing on the budget starting at 1PM on Tuesday, May 6^th. The hearing should go into the evening so if you are working during the day and want to make your voice heard at the State House you should have an opportunity to do so. This budget is crucial and there is a lot at stake. From a public education perspective this budget once again fails to have the state fulfill its constitutional duty to Granite State students to adequately fund public education in New Hampshire. And while they did not give a major increase to our local neighborhood public schools, they included an infinite increase to the unaccountable, unproven and wasteful school voucher program.

But there is so much more at stake in this budget for hardworking Granite Staters as well. Cuts to Medicaid which will lead to higher healthcare costs for all of us, and worse health outcomes across the state for everyone including children, especially with the increased costs for CHIP. Speaking of children, this budget also cuts the Office of the Child Advocate which is responsible for protecting children across this state in an effort to make sure we never have another tragedy like the one we saw with Harmony Montgomery.

And lastly this budget makes devasting cuts to the University System of New Hampshire, which already receives the least funding of any in the country. If we want the next generation to want to stay in New Hampshire we need a strong University System. They are important not just to the communities they are but to the whole state.

From top to bottom this budget is a failure. Tell the Senate Finance Committee they must act to fund our public schools, protect kids and fund our universities! Tell them to oppose the budget as drafted by the House. Let’s make sure they know, through submitted opposition, that this budget hurts New Hampshire families and they must do better.

Action Needed

Oppose the State Budget. Please submit your opposition  to the budget. You will need to go to Tuesday, May 6^th, Senate Finance Committee and register your opposition to HB 2. This is a crucial time in the budget approval process and the Finance Committee needs to hear from thousands of Granite State voters.

Thank you for taking action at this very important time.

If you wish to submit your position on any other bills, you can use the links below.

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 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).

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.  Please share this with friends so they can sign up for this bulletin at http://nh.aft.org/.

Upcoming Legislative Hearings

Week of May 5, 2025