House approves Medicaid to schools legislation
House supports bill requiring background checks on commercial firearms sales
House passes legislation guaranteeing coverage for epipens
House passes comprehensive net metering legislation
House backs suicide prevention mandatory waiting period legislation
Following are official press releases from the NH House with more detail on each of these items.
HOUSE APPROVES MEDICAID TO SCHOOLS LEGISLATION CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
The House of Representatives voted to pass SB 684, which fixes a problem created by the Sununu administration’s emergency rules for the Medicaid to Schools program, whereby the connection between federal reimbursement and school district funding for medically necessary services was severed. The bill will return to the Senate for concurrence on the House-adopted amendment. Representative Mary Jane Wallner, (D-Concord), released the following statement: “This bill is critical to the 173 school districts throughout New Hampshire which will not receive federal reimbursement for critical services to students until this legislation is passed. Expediting this bill through the legislative process aims to accelerate reimbursement requests to prevent school districts from taking an unexpected funding hit. I thank the House for its vote to move SB 684 along to the Governor’s desk.”
NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE SUPPORTS BILL REQUIRING BACKGROUND CHECKS ON COMMERCIAL FIREARMS SALES CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
The New Hampshire House voted 196-152 to pass HB 1379, requiring background checks on commercial firearms sales. Representative Katherine Rogers, (D-Concord) prime sponsor of the legislation, released the following statement: “Plain and simple, dangerous individuals should not have access to firearms. We know that there are loopholes in the law which allow for the sale of firearms without a background check, including transactions taking place at gun shows and arranged online. These transactions account for an estimated 22% of gun sales nationwide.” “This bill would ensure that commercial sales between private parties include a background check from a licensed firearms dealer. A 2019 survey concluded that 90% of Granite Staters and 85% of Granite State gun owners support background checks. Granite Staters deserve to be heard on this critical, common sense issue and it is time for Governor Sununu to stand with them.”
HOUSE PASSES LEGISLATION GUARENTEEING COVERAGE FOR EPIPENS CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
The House of Representatives passed House Bill 1281, requiring insurance coverage for epipens. Representative Garrett Muscatel released the following statement: “The cost of epinephrine auto-injectors has skyrocketed in recent years with a 400% increase in the price since 2007. This dramatic increase in price does not match an increase in the price of the raw products. Those with allergies who need epinephrine auto-injectors often need 3-4 at any given time, so this dramatic increase has become prohibitive and life-threatening. Our citizens who need to have epinephrine auto-injectors as a matter of safety should not be punished with higher costs. I’m excited that the House approved this bill and look forward to working with legislators and advocates throughout the rest of the process.”
HOUSE PASSES COMPREHENSIVE NET METERING LEGISLATION
The House of Representatives passed House Bill 1218, comprehensive legislation that will encourage the development of renewable energy in New Hampshire. The bill will be referred to the House Municipal and County Government committee next. Representative Howard Moffett (D-Canterbury), Vice Chair of the House Science, Technology and Energy released the following statement: “House Bill 1218 represents a monumental amount of work from legislators, municipalities, and businesses to create compromise legislation to finally expand net metering in New Hampshire. In response to Governor Sununu’s multiple vetoes of expanded net metering, we have included policy that he supports in this bill to meet him more than halfway.” “All parties involved recognize the importance of homegrown, small scale renewable energy in New Hampshire. This compromise bill will encourage municipalities, businesses and homeowners to invest in renewable energy. I hope the governor and legislators from both parties will continue to come together and make sure we deliver this long overdue policy to Granite Staters this year.”
HOUSE BACKS SUICIDE PREVENTION MANDATORY WAITING PERIOD LEGISLATION
The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 184-134 to pass HB 1101, legislation establishing a mandatory waiting period on gun sales in New Hampshire with a few exceptions. House Majority Leader Doug Ley, (D-Jaffrey), released the following statement: “The rate of suicide in New Hampshire, which has increased by nearly 10% since 2018, is a public health crisis and does not discriminate. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Granite Staters between the ages of 15 and 34, and across the country it affects our veterans at rates 1.5 times higher than non-veterans. Suicide impacts more than just the victim, but the victim’s friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors alike in tremendous and lasting ways.” “This legislation implements a 3-day waiting period for gun sales, a proven method to prevent acts of suicide and other impulsive acts of self-harm or violence. We cannot wait any longer to pass this critical legislation and I urge Governor Sununu to stand with Granite Staters impacted by the tragedy of suicide and sign this bill.”