AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin - Stop Right to Work

Stop Right to Work (HB 238)

The legislature is back in session and have begun to hear bills including, right off the bat, a bill that would remove the income cap from the school voucher scheme, which would cost the state over $100 million a year according to an estimate from the nonpartisan policy analysis group Reaching Higher New Hampshire. Most of this would be new spending of limited state tax dollars at a time when the state is woefully failing to provide public school districts with the resources they need to support students and their learning.

A big thank you to all of you who made your voices heard during the committee hearing and by submitting your opposition to HB 115 online. During the hearing it was referenced that 3,414 people signed in opposed to the unlimited voucher scheme with only 791 supporting it.  We need to address the poor state funding for our local neighborhood public schools, this bill does not do that and makes it harder for the state to finally live up to its obligations.  You can read the AFT-NH testimony at AFT-NH Opposition to Universal Vouchers.

Next week continues to be another busy week with dozens of bills being heard (you can see the position of AFT-NH below on our bill tracker). We wanted to highlight just a couple: 

1. HB 238-FN, so-called Right to Work is back. What can we say about this bill that hasn’t been said over the last 40 years. So-called Right to Work hurts workers, lowers wages and does nothing to help hardworking Granite Staters. We need your voice to once again prove New Hampshire is not and never will be a so called Right to Work state which will negatively impact all working families. Please take the action below.
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3. The part time teacher bill HB 90 from last year is back—though it is different than it was last year. This years’ version restricts unlicensed part time teachers to 20 hours a week, instead of 30 and you need to be an adjunct or full time professor at University or Community College in New Hampshire. While it is positive that this bill has a narrower scope than in previous years, we still firmly believe that educators should be trained and licensed because they must work with all students in the public schools regardless of specialized learning needs or language background. We want to ensure that all Granite State students have access to the quality education they deserve. 

Thank you again for making your voices heard this week. We cannot relent during this legislative session. 

Please take action to OPPOSE Right to Work, HB 238.

House Bill 238-FN, this year’s version of “Right-to-Work” is scheduled for a public hearing in less than one week! (January 22^nd, at 10:00 AM). We are urging you to organize members, allies, and all relevant networks to come and testify at the public hearing on Wednesday, January 22nd, and if they are unable, please make sure that they use this link, and the directions below to sign in in opposition/submit testimony opposing the bill. Attached to this email you will find message guidance and talking points on “Right-to-Work.”

Prior to the public hearing, we will be holding a sign-holding/rally. The details for the event are below:

“Right-to-Work” is Wrong for New Hampshire Visibility

• WHAT: Visibility/Sign Holding for Senate “Right-to-Work” Public Hearing (HB 238-FN)
•  WHEN: Wednesday, January 22^nd from 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM (when we will all go to the hearing)
•  WHERE: In Front of New Hampshire Legislative Office Building (33 N State Street, Concord, NH 03301)

Register Your Opposition to Right to Work

Follow the below directions to register your opposition to “Right-to-Work”

• To register to opposition, follow this link: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx
• 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!). HB 238-FN = 1/22
• In the dropbox below "Select the Committee," select committee. House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
• In the dropbox below "Choose the Bill," select the appropriate time and bill number. 10:00 AM – HB 238-FN
• 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”
• 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 January 20, 2025