MVDC Actions - Week of 05/04/2025
Award Winner!!!
Congratulations Jill!
Protest Opportunities
Fight For Our Future Rally
NH State House, Concord
May 6th - 12-6 PM
Tell your NH budget story at the hearing from 1-5
Hosted by 603 Forward and Kent Street Coalition
Kent Street shared some great resources on where the budget stands:
Moved Inside! Look for Kent Street Tents and Signs with Directions!
Upcoming Virtual Events:
Click for more Details
SAVE THE DATE
NEXT NATIONWIDE PROTESTS PLANNED June 14th
As plans develop we will decide where to go - another State House visit? Boston? The Seacoast?
This week’s sign in opportunities…
It’s Budget Week Again!!!
If you can do nothing else this week, please sign in below on MONDAY to oppose HB1 and HB2 before they are discussed in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday.
There are also a mix of bills on elections on Tuesday.
Sign in at the links below to weigh in on each of them.
NH HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
If you need further directions for the House Remote Testimony tool, click HERE.
FRIDAY - OPPOSE - NEW
OPPOSE SB54:
SB54 - relative to refusal of consent to testing to determine alcohol concentration and penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated NEW
From AFSC NH: ”This terrible amendment would require the Department of Education to adopt standardized firearms safety training for mandatory instruction in public schools.” Note also: this is another unfunded mandate; although the State will provide the curriculum, the school has to provide the instruction. The rationale is to “promote public safety and responsible citizenship”, so why doesn’t it require the same training at private schools?
1. Sign into the House Remote Testimony tool to voice your opposition.
2. Enter your personal information.
3. Select:
Friday, May 11th on the calendar
HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
11:01 AM - SB54
I am a member of the public.
I am representing myself.
4. Click: "I oppose this bill", AND check the box next the “Testimony is for non-germane amendment”, then hit the submit button at the bottom of the form. Adding remote testimony can help make your case, but just sharing your opinion is also useful.
NH SENATE
If you need further directions for the Senate Remote Testimony tool, click HERE.
TUESDAY - SUPPORT
SUPPORT THESE TWO
HB67 - relative to agreements with the secretary of state for the use of accessible voting systems.
Open Democracy - This is an essential step toward ensuring that every eligible voter, regardless of physical ability, can participate fully in our democratic process.
HB546 - (New Title) relative to financial disclosures and the public reporting of those disclosures by the secretary of state.
Open Democracy - This would enhance transparency and accountability and ensure timely and detailed reporting of significant financial contributions, enabling voters to make informed decisions and fostering trust in our democratic institutions.
1. Sign into the Senate Remote Testimony tool to voice your support.
2. Select:
Tuesday, May 6th on the calendar
SENATE ELECTION LAW AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
10:00 AM - HB67
I am a member of the public.
I am representing myself.
3. Click: "I support this bill", then click the continue at the bottom of the form.
4. Enter your personal information and click continue.
5. Review your info, check the checkbox and click continue.
Repeat steps 2 thru 5 for HB546 @ 10:15 AM
TUESDAY - OPPOSE NEW
OPPOSE THESE TWO:
HB280 - relative to wage payments. NEW
From AFSC NH: This seemingly innocent bill would allow employers to pay employees by any means of the employer’s choosing. It guts language about using US currency, direct deposit, etc.
HB60 - relative to the termination of tenancy at the expiration of the tenancy or lease term. NEW
From AFSC NH: This forced eviction bill would harm tenants and increase homelessness in a state already experiencing high housing costs and low housing availability.
1. Sign into (or stay signed into) the Senate Remote Testimony tool to voice your opposition.
2. Select:
Tuesday, May 6th on the calendar
SENATE COMMERCE
10:00 AM - HB280
I am a member of the public.
I am representing myself.
3. Click: "I oppose this bill", then click the continue at the bottom of the form.
4. Enter your personal information and click continue.
5. Review your info, check the checkbox and click continue.
Repeat steps 2 thru 5 for HB60 @ 10:40 AM
TUESDAY - OPPOSE NEW
OPPOSE THESE FOUR:
HB699 - relative to special education definitions. NEW
From Granite State Progress: “This bill drew sharp criticism from parents, students, disability advocates, and the public when it was heard in the House in February. The bill would eliminate key state definitions for special education and create a new definition for “special education environment.” The amendment passed by the House didn’t address many of the concerns with the original bill.”
HB446 - relative to parental notice for non-academic surveys in public schools. NEW
HB676 - relative to the composition and responsibilities of the parent and education service provider advisory commission, and establishing education freedom account impact and parent satisfaction surveys. NEW
HB768 - allowing public schools to contract with any approved private school. NEW
From Kent Street - Nevertheless, we oppose it, both because it violates the NH Constitution’s prohibition against using public funds for religious schools and because many religious schools discriminate against students based on religion, LGBTQ+ status, and disability and public schools shouldn’t be formally sending their students to schools that are not open to every student in the district.
1. Sign into (or stay signed into) the Senate Remote Testimony tool to voice your opposition.
2. Select:
Tuesday, May 6th on the calendar
SENATE EDUCATION
10:15 AM - HB699
I am a member of the public.
I am representing myself.
3. Click: "I oppose this bill", then click the continue at the bottom of the form.
4. Enter your personal information and click continue.
5. Review your info, check the checkbox and click continue.
Repeat steps 2 thru 5 for HB446 @ 10:45 AM., HB676 @ 11:00 AM, and HB768 @ 11:15 AM.
TUESDAY - OPPOSE
OPPOSE THESE TWO:
HB464 - (New Title) prohibiting certain candidates for political office from participating in counting ballots.
Open Democracy - First, we encourage you to oppose the non-germane amendment proposed for HB 464, prohibiting certain candidates for political office from participating in counting ballots. While the bill on its face seeks to improve election security, the amendment is not ready for prime time. NOT SHOWING IN THE TOOL WHEN I SIGNED IN BUT STILL ON THE SCHEDULE
HB367 - changing the method for adopting partisan town elections to be the same as rescinding partisan town elections.
Open Democracy - This opens the door to more partisan local elections at a time when our communities desperately need unity, not division.
1. Sign into (or stay signed into) the Senate Remote Testimony tool to voice your opposition.
2. Select:
Tuesday, May 6th on the calendar
SENATE ELECTION LAW AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
9:15 AM - HB464
I am a member of the public.
I am representing myself.
3. Click: "I oppose this bill", then click the continue at the bottom of the form.
4. Enter your personal information and click continue.
5. Review your info, check the checkbox and click continue.
Repeat steps 2 thru 5 for HB367 @ 9:30 AM.
TUESDAY - OPPOSE
OPPOSE THESE TWO:
HB1 - making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027..
Kent Street Coalition - We need to fight against the dystopian vision that this budget encapsulates. We need to join together now to fight for our future--and the future of children and our children's children. Now is the time to demand a better budget -- to demand a better New Hampshire..
HB2 - relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
Open Democracy - See HB1 above.
Kent Street shared some great resources on where the budget stands:
1. Sign into (or stay signed into) the Senate Remote Testimony tool to voice your opposition.
2. Select:
Tuesday, May 6th on the calendar
SENATE FINANCE
1:00 PM - HB1
I am a member of the public.
I am representing myself.
3. Click: "I oppose this bill", then click the continue at the bottom of the form.
4. Enter your personal information and click continue.
5. Review your info, check the checkbox and click continue.
Repeat steps 2 thru 5 for HB2 - also @ 1:00 PM.
TUESDAY - OPPOSE NEW
OPPOSE THESE THREE:
HB433 - making 17 the age of consent for marriage if either party is active duty military and removing language regarding age waivers for marriage registration records, since age waivers are no longer issued in New Hampshire. NEW
From Equality Now via AFSC NH:: “Supporters of New Hampshire’s new minimum age of marriage bill argue that a military exception ensures access to military benefits. However, a number of military benefits, including life insurance and death benefits, can be designated without marriage. Opponents of the bill highlight that access to military benefits such as health insurance and housing—which are only available through marriage—should not come at the expense of heightened risks accompanying child marriage. These include domestic violence, sexual abuse, health complications associated with early pregnancies, and loss of education and curtailed economic opportunities that lead to financial dependence and vulnerability.”
HB148 - permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain circumstances. NEW
From AFSC NH: This bill will eliminate protections from discrimination for transgender people by allowing “classification of individuals based on biological sex” in three circumstances, including the use of restrooms/locker rooms, participation in sports, and housing for jails/prisons. It will create confusion and will be an alarming step backwards in terms of basic rights for transgender people.
HB191 - (New Title) providing criminal and civil penalties for the transporting of an unemancipated minor in order to obtain a surgical procedure without parental permission.NEW
1. Sign into (or stay signed into) the Senate Remote Testimony tool to voice your opposition.
2. Select:
Tuesday, May 6th on the calendar
SENATE JUDICIARY
1:30 PM - HB433
I am a member of the public.
I am representing myself.
3. Click: "I oppose this bill", then click the continue at the bottom of the form.
4. Enter your personal information and click continue.
5. Review your info, check the checkbox and click continue.
Repeat steps 2 thru 5 for HB148 @ 1:50 PM and HB191 @ 2:00 PM
UPCOMING EVENTS
TOMORROW - An Evening with Steve Marchand in New Boston
Monday - May 5th at 6:00 PM
Steve Marchand will speak with us about what it means to be a Democrat in NH and how we can effect change in future elections. Steve is the former Mayor of Portsmouth, candidate for statewide office, and the author of the popular substack feed: The Politics of NH with Steve Marchand. Since it’s Cinco de Mayo, come early for social discussion over Mock Margaritas and snacks.
Doors at the Whipple Free Library in New Boston will open at 6:00. Steve’s talk starts at 7:15.
MVDC is co-sponsoring
Save the Date!
MVDC Spring Fling
Friday June 6th @ 6:00 - Details soon!
Help Replace Humanities Funding
Mellon Foundation is provided $15M in emergency funding for defunded Humanities Councils.
New Hampshire Humanities announced that the Mellon grant means an immediate $200,000 for NH - with an additional $50,000 in matching grants available.
All donations received by New Hampshire Humanities after April 29, 2025 count towards the match.
SUPPORT ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Molly Finnegan of PBS News reports’ “Hundreds of college presidents and other officials have signed a letter protesting the “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” that higher education is facing under the Trump administration.
IT’S WORKING!!!
Last Monday the letter had been countersigned by 523. Today it’s over 600.
ACTION:
Follow the link to review the letter to see if your college or university has signed onto it.
If Yes - call or email to thank them!
If No - call or email to urge them to take a stand for academic freedom and urge your alum networks to do the same.
If you asked last week and they still haven’t signed - Ask them why!