Senate advances education, public‑health, licensing and finance bills; several measures tabled or sent back to committee

The New Hampshire Senate on multiple occasions during the session took votes on a range of bills covering education, licensing, public health rules, municipal authority and state investments. Several bills were approved to move forward (ordered to third reading or sent to finance), some were laid on the table, and others were re‑referred to committees for further work.

The actions included the Senate Education Committee’s recommendations on several school‑related bills — including measures to require the Department of Education to track special education complaints, to remove a state transportation mandate for half‑day kindergarten, and to require passing scores on professional educator assessments — as well as votes on bills affecting Department of Health and Human Services rulemaking, professional licensure, municipal public‑health ordinances, and a ways‑and‑means bill that would authorize limited investments in precious metals and certain digital assets by the state treasurer.

Taken together, the votes signaled the chamber’s willingness to move a number of bills to third reading or to finance with party and individual differences apparent on several items. Some bills that drew concern — including bills on drug‑checking equipment and certain criminal penalties for UAVs — were laid on the table. Others were sent back to committee for further work.

Votes at a glance (selected items discussed on the floor):

- House Bill 76 (FN) — Special education complaint tracking: The Senate adopted the education committee’s motion of “ought to pass” and ordered the bill to third reading. A floor amendment (1859s) that would have changed public posting language and removed law‑firm names was defeated. (Introduced on the floor by Senator Sullivan; amendment moved and explained by Senator Prentiss.)

- House Bill 319 (FN) — Local responsibility for half‑day kindergarten transportation: The…