Last week, we introduced David Meuse, a state representative from the Seacoast, who posts frequent legislative updates. You can read the latest his update here, but I’ve pulled out a few highlights if you are pressed for time:

Democrats lack the votes to end GOP overreach or to pass many of their own priorities. But there were several surprises this week.

Gov. Ayotte signed 23 bills into law earlier in the month. Last week she added the following bills:

• Harmful Anti-Immigrant Bills That Empower a Rogue Federal Agency and Disempower Communities. HB 511 and SB 62, both, billed as “anti-sanctuary cities”policies,, are now on the books. Fun fact: New Hampshire doesn’t have a single “sanctuary city.” More.

• A Big Wet Kiss for Gun Manufacturers. Almost immediately after I unsuccessfully argued against HB 551 on the House Floor, Gov. Ayotte signed the bill. The bill includes an amendment made in the Senate at the request of gun maker Sig Sauer, which has been fighting hundreds of liability lawsuits across the country filed by owners of its P320 pistol. What the amendment does is create an exemption in state liability laws for gun makers who don’t include certain safety features in their firearms. More.

On the Way to The Governor for Signature

• Anti-Transgender Bathroom Bill. HB 148, which would eliminate certain transgender protections established by a 2018 anti-discrimination law in New Hampshire. Gov. Sununu vetoed a similar bill in the 2024 session. More.

• Book Banning Bill. HB 324 would require all New Hampshire school boards to adopt a complaint process that parents could use to object to what they believe are inappropriate or obscene materials—and potentially remove them. Currently, school districts can choose their own policies for how to allow parents to object to materials. More.

• Anti-Teacher/Anti-Public Education/Anti-Local Control Education Bills.

  • HB 520: This unnecessary legislation would allow the New Hampshire Department of Education to go on culture war fishing expeditions by requesting a subpoena when investigating possible violations of the Educator Code of Conduct.

  • HB 235: Expanding the Educator Code of Conduct to include an unknown set of responsibilities to parents, not just students, as it does under current law.

  • HB 90: Permitting unlicensed part-time teachers in classrooms and undermining the quality of public education

  • HB 235: Expanding the Educator Code of Conduct to include an unknown set of responsibilities to parents, not just students, as it does under current law.

Other Actions

• The Senate Finance Committee voted not to restore funding for the NH Council on the Arts during a work session last week. The Republican-controlled committee adopted the old ruse of appropriating $1 for arts funding.

• Horse Dewormer Will Soon Be Available to Everyone! Rather than simply allowing SB 119, a money-saving bipartisan bill that would allow dispensing pharmacies in the Medicaid program to dispense brand name medications if they are cheaper than their generic equivalent, House Republicans tacked on an amendment allowing anyone to self-medicate themselves or their kids with ivermectin. More.

• The House tabled SB 243 , which would have established a pilot program to streamline the application process for the state’s childcare scholarship program.

• Criminalizing the Act of Driving for Immigrants. SB 13 will go back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. It invalidates licenses issued to undocumented immigrants by other states and criminalizes the act of them driving in New Hampshire.

• The House killed SB 272 , which would have allowed voters in NH communities to decide if they want to establish a revolving fund for building EV charging stations.

• The House rescheduled debate on SB 72 to June 6. Proposed amendments undermine the Education Department’s One Trusted Adult program and strips teens of access to birth control without parental permission. Meanwhile, the House version of a parental rights bill, HB 10, is scheduled to come up for a Senate vote on June 5.

• Momentum Slows for Housing Changes. On Thursday, the House voted to table SB 170 and SB 174 - two bills that had major implications on local planning and zoning. With the deadline for action on Senate bills less than two weeks out, the clock is ticking on any efforts to amend the bills and remove them from the table for votes on passage.

• House committee voted to retain SB 84 , another statewide zoning mandate. The House won’t act on the bill in 2025, but this allows committee members time to refine the bill for a final vote that will come early in 2026.

• Two housing bills passed -

  • SB 188 , which would authorize licensed or certified third parties to certify documents and inspect buildings in compliance with applicable building and other codes, passed 276-82.

  • SB 291, which adds a series of tax exemptions for property other than churches owned by religious organizations, passed by voice vote.