Senate approves budget package, parental bill of rights and other measures after marathon session

The New Hampshire Senate adjourned a marathon day of legislative work Wednesday after approving the state’s spending package and a slate of bills dealing with education, public safety and local governance.

Senators voted to advance both the major operating-bill framework and the companion budget bill, approved a parental bill of rights and cleared a capital budget and other measures, after lengthy committee reports, floor amendments and several roll-call votes.

The Senate Finance Committee’s changes to the budget restored several items that had been cut by the House and redirected resources to programs committee members said senators and public testimony identified as priorities. “The most common requests were for Medicaid rates, developmental disabilities, [and] community mental health,” Finance Chair Senator Jeb Gray said while presenting the committee amendment. “In response to the overwhelming testimony, the finance committee began amending the budget.”

Gray told colleagues the committee had restored cuts to Medicaid and funding to address developmental-services wait lists and community mental-health programs.…