CLEAN ENERGY PROPOSAL
Senate Bill 124, legislation that would have modestly increased New Hampshire’s goals for renewable energy under the Renewable Portfolio Standard is vetoed. Clean energy bills have enjoyed wide, bipartisan support and this bill would have increased our state’s renewable energy goals by increasing the goals for Class I (all new sources of renewables other than new solar) and Class II (new solar) by 0.9% per year. This would have increased non-polluting sources of electricity in our state while also providing jobs in the clean energy sector that cannot be outsourced.
COMMON SENSE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
Legislation that would have established a minimum wage for New Hampshire has been vetoed. As amended, House Bill 731 would raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour in 2021 and $12 per hour in 2023. Many people who have lost employment due to the virus have been just getting by thanks to state and federal unemployment benefits, but those cannot last forever. People working in lower wage jobs simply don’t have the financial reserves to survive, and that is in large part due to our state’s incredibly low minimum wage.
LEGISLATION TO EXPAND EXTENDED LEARNING FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE STUDENTS
HB 1454 would have established a process for the application, vetting, and approval of alternative learning credits. This bill would have expanded options for extended learning opportunities (ELO) for New Hampshire students. By engaging the NH Department of Education directly with ELO networks, this bill sought to assist local school boards with state vetting of ELO programs and expand the program to local school districts.