Education Funding Hits the Legislature

There will be continued discussions in the NH House and Senate about the unsustainable school voucher program and how New Hampshire has chosen to manage our Education Freedom Accounts (EFA’s). Here are updates on how we are faring so far.

Both of these issues are major concerns for how NH manages its education funding situation. There will be more legislation forthcoming and serious discussion in a closely divided NH House and a Senate that will likely go along with the decisions coming out of the House regarding this matter.

A Stronger New Hampshire

New Hampshire Democrats have a blueprint that includes supporting public education, health care, protecting long-held rights and freedoms, growing the economy and lowering the cost to live here in New Hampshire. These five priorities chart a course based upon our core principals and a committment to making New Hampshire stronger. Voters throughout the state validated this plan by growing our numbers in the NH House. These voters expect results and a committment to making NH stronger.

The 2023 New Hampshire Democrats Blueprint for a Stronger New Hampshire

The 2023 Property Tax Relief Act

NH House Democrats are bringing back a bill that directly affects property tax payers. For years Republicans have prioritized cutting the Business Profits and Business Enterprise taxes, while paying no attention to the needs of property tax payers and creating a housing crisis and a labor shortage. While businesses have enjoyed paying a few less dollars in business taxes, these same businesses are punished by the same increase in property taxes that homeowners face.

House Bill 50 is just one part of providing some property tax relief. It’s designed to restore the state’s contribution toward municipal retirement benefits. It was instituted last year, but was amended to make it a one-time relief package. The 2023 version makes that a permanent contribution.

With state revenues coming in at $200 million over budget, the state can afford to get started on helping homeowners get a break on their property taxes.

New Hampshire Democrats Have a Plan

House Democrats unveiled their Blueprint For a Stronger New Hampshire, a plan detailing the caucus’s legislative priorities for the 2023-2024 biennium.

After thousands of conversations on our neighbors’ doorsteps last fall, we’ve heard the call from our communities, and stand ready to address their concerns. Across the state, our neighbors are struggling to afford the high cost of energy, rent, and childcare, with many working multiple jobs to make ends meet.

All the while, we know that Republicans have vowed to limit the reproductive freedom of Granite Staters, give big corporations a tax cut for the 10th time in less than a decade, continue to siphon tax dollars for private schools, and oppose real property tax relief for our municipalities.

With our Democratic blueprint as a guide for our legislative work, we know that we can lower costs for Granite State households, grow our economy, protect individual rights and freedoms, maintain healthy and safe communities, and properly fund our public schools for a stronger New Hampshire.”

NH Voter Rights Under Seige

SB418 WHICH JEOPARDIZES VOTERS’ RIGHTS SIGNED INTO LAW

The governor never should have signed this bill without first seeking a Supreme Court opinion on its constitutionality as the Secretary of State proposed.

Our military leaders and local election officials repeatedly explained how SB 418 would complicate elections and jeopardize the rights of overseas voters, particularly those serving in our armed forces. The obsession with finding new ways to suppress voters has real, harmful effects on our democracy, and House Democrats will be working to modify this law before it takes effect.