Thomas Jefferson once said, “I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” I suggest reading and rereading this quote and thinking about what it says and means. It has much meaning, and in my opinion pertains to some of what is happening in our country today.
Before I ever became a candidate in the election of 2020, I asked myself many times, why do we have so many laws? Why do we keep passing more and more laws? Being in the Legislature I am asking myself that same question more and more, as it is my belief that every time a law is passed, the law takes away someone’s rights.
I realize we have to have basic laws to protect our general safety. Whether it’s Federal, State, or Local governments it seems like we cannot stop ourselves from making new laws. New Hampshire is known for it being a “Live Free or Die” state. Are we losing “Live Free or Die?”
There have been many bills passed by the Senate and sent to the House for public hearings, committee work sessions, and executive sessions. The following is just a small sampling of the bills going through the Legislative process:
Finance Committee
SB 85-FN, establishing a broadband matching grant initiative and fund
Municipal and County Government
SB 52, relative to municipal charter provisions for tax caps
SB 87, adopting omnibus legislation relative to municipal finance
SB 102, adopting omnibus legislation on property taxation
Education Committee
SB 44, establishing the New Hampshire workforce pathway program
SB 147-FN, adopting omnibus legislation relative to student aid, the central registry, transportation of students, and special education costs
SB 148-FN, adopting omnibus legislation relative to vocational and career education, environmental education, and emergency plans for sports injuries
SB 135-FN-L, calculation of the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education
Election Law Committee
SB 83, adopting omnibus legislation relative to elections
SB 89, adopting omnibus legislation relative to election procedures and registers of probate
Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
SB 141-FN, relative to the procedure for conducting firearm background checks
SB 154, prohibiting the state from enforcing a Presidential Executive Order that restricts or regulates the right of the people to keep and bear arms
SB 40, relative to informed consent to search a motor vehicle and amending the statutory requirements for a search warrant
SB 110, relative to animals in motor vehicles
Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee
SB 129, relative to minimizing environmental impacts on the habitats of endangered or threatened species
Judiciary Committee
SB 95-FN, adopting omnibus legislation relative to access to remote meetings, penalties for violation of privacy, and establishing a committee to study remote meetings
SB 126-FN, adopting omnibus legislation on landlord tenant proceedings
Science, Technology, and Energy
SB 78-FN relative to continually appropriating the renewable energy fund to the public utilities commission
SB 91, adopting omnibus legislation on renewable energy utilities
The next House Sessions will be held on June 3 and 4 at the Sportsplex in Bedford, the same location as the last Session. It is hard to believe that about five months have passed since I took my oath of office to become a House Representative member. I enjoy every minute of representing the people of Andover, Danbury and Salisbury. I encourage and promote citizens becoming more involved in the bills going through the Legislature. This is your government! Become a part of it!
Have a great June.