Senate Finance hears testimony on HB 517 amendment to cut marketing for New Hampshire paid family and medical leave

Representative Brian Seaworth, a House cosponsor, told the Senate Finance Committee that House Bill 517 was narrowed by the House to repeal only the marketing and outreach portion of the Granite State Paid Family Leave plan.

Seaworth said the House recommended the change as a budget saving and that a financial note had been added; he estimated a larger savings but acknowledged the committee packet contained a different figure. He asked senators to pass the amendment.

Public commenters urged the committee to retain outreach funding. Taylor Weiss of Sutton described learning about the program from a town flyer and said she and her family would use the benefit when her child is born. Mackenzie Nicholson, senior director of MomsRising in New Hampshire, said more than 23,000 Granite Staters have enrolled in the plan and warned that removing dedicated public outreach would reduce participation and harm families and…