New Hampshire Senate advances mix of education, public-safety and economic bills; key measures sent to finance

Confronting a lengthy calendar, the New Hampshire Senate on March 13 considered and voted on a range of measures including education freedom accounts (EFAs), minimum-wage legislation, school materials policies, gaming expansion, and public-safety bills. Lawmakers approved several committee-backed proposals and sent multiple bills to the finance committee for further review; others were defeated when the chamber adopted motions of "inexpedient to legislate."

The most contested items included a package of bills related to the Education Freedom Account program and a widely debated bill to expand video lottery terminal (slot-machine) gaming and set aside new state revenue. Supporters framed the EFA measures as increased parental choice and fiscal steps to phase in broader access; opponents raised concerns about impacts on school funding and taxpayer costs. Separately, senators debated but ultimately did not adopt legislation requiring courts to report certain mental-health adjudications to the FBI’s background-check system. Lawmakers also acted on smaller proclamations and administrative changes, including a resolution recognizing a statewide Service Dog Week.

Why it matters: several of the bills the Senate sent to finance affect state revenues or long-term program costs, and the EFAs and school-materials measures could alter how families access alternatives to neighborhood schools. Other votes touch on public-safety policy (a firearms-reporting proposal) and state regulatory structure (a proposal to authorize video lottery terminals and rename the lottery commission). Many measures will next move to the House, to conference, or to the finance committee for budgetary review.

Votes at a glance (key actions and outcomes) - Senate Bill 295 (Education Freedom Accounts expansion): Committee amendment adopted; Senate voted to send the bill to the Committee on Finance after a roll call. Motion passed; the Senate ordered the bill to finance (recorded roll call: aye 16, no 8). The committee amendment set an initial cap of 10,000 participants with mechanisms to expand and priority ordering if the cap is reached. Senator Murphy moved the committee recommendation; Senator Sullivan and others spoke in support of expanding choice.

- Senate Bill 203 (annual income verification for EFA participants): The Senate adopted the education committee's recommendation of "inexpedient to legislate" (ITL). The committee cited burdens on the Department of Education and possible disruption for students; the ITL motion passed on a roll call (aye 16, no 8). Senator Abbas moved the committee recommendation; Senator Altschuler opposed the ITL, urging annual verification to protect taxpayer funds.

- Senate Bill 207 (move EFA administration to Department of Education): The Senate adopted the committee recommendation of ITL on a roll call (ayes 16, noes 8). Senator Ward announced the committee recommendation; supporters of moving administration cited transparency and auditability, but the education committee concluded current structure provided efficiency and flexibility.

- Senate Bill 33 (school materials / curation policies): After debate and a roll-call attempt to re‑refer failed, the Senate advanced the bill to third reading. The measure would require local school districts to adopt and publicly post policies and complaint processes for contested materials. Senator Avard (bill sponsor on the floor) said the measure empowers parents to raise concerns and appeal to local school boards; Senator Altschuler and others urged further work and stronger guardrails to avoid unintended consequences.

- Senate Bill 176 (state minimum hourly rate): The Commerce Committee recommended the bill be declared "inexpedient to legislate," and the Senate adopted the ITL motion after extended debate. Opponents of increasing the state minimum wage, including Senator Innes, argued rapid increases could risk job losses and automation; proponents, including Senator Fenton and Senator Altschuler, urged higher wages to match regional labor markets and rising living costs. The roll call on the ITL motion resulted in a 16–8 vote in favor of ITL.

- Senate Bill 83 (authorize video lottery terminals, rename lottery commission, create municipal reimbursement fund and voluntary self‑exclusion database): The Senate committee amendment was adopted and the bill was ordered to the Committee on Finance after debate. Supporters said slot machines would lower operators' costs compared with historic-horse-racing machines and produce net new revenue for charities and the state; opponents raised addiction and public‑health concerns and urged safeguards such as speed limits and consumer protections. Senator Lang presented the committee report; Senator Rosenwald spoke in opposition, citing addiction risks.

- Senate Bill 144 (court reporting of certain mental-health adjudications to NICS and related firearms procedures): The Judiciary Committee recommended ITL, and the Senate adopted the ITL motion on a roll call (ayes 16, noes 8). Sponsor opponents cited constitutional and due‑process concerns including compelled self-incrimination and evidentiary standards; backers, including Senator Altschuler, said narrowly tailored reporting would close a gap that could pose public-safety risks.

- Senate Bill 130 (study commission on emergency medical services / ambulance reimbursement issues): The Health and Human Services Committee moved the bill with amendment; the Senate adopted the committee amendment and ordered the bill to third reading. The amendment establishes a commission to study EMS delivery models and identify possible state roles and solutions. Senator Rochefort moved the committee report.

- Senate Bill 249 (uncompensated care and Medicaid funding / DSH distribution): The Senate adopted the committee recommendation with amendment and ordered the bill to the Committee on Finance. The bill revises funding mechanisms for uncompensated-care costs and extends certain disproportionate‑share hospital payment arrangements while negotiations with hospitals continued. Senator Bridal moved the committee amendment and said the vote keeps the bill alive while negotiations proceed.

- Senate Bill 79 (allow automated self‑service systems for on‑premises liquor licensees): The Commerce Committee recommended passage with amendment and the Senate adopted the committee amendment by voice vote; the bill was ordered to third reading. Senator Murphy said the bill codifies practices already in rules and helps the hospitality industry amid staffing shortages.

- Senate Bill 162 (restrict certain foreign principals from acquiring property near protected facilities): The Commerce Committee recommended passage with amendment; the Senate adopted the amendment and ordered the bill to third reading. Supporters cited national-security concerns about foreign purchases of farmland and property near military installations; the committee amendment addressed realtor liability concerns. Senator Murphy moved the committee recommendation and Senator Birdsall spoke in support.

- Senate Bill 164 (prohibit certain long-term residential service agreements): The Senate adopted the committee amendment and ordered the bill to third reading. The bill would make certain unfair service agreements in residential real-estate transactions unenforceable (the committee modeled a 2‑year performance standard similar to Maine). Senator Richardi (committee sponsor) moved the committee recommendation.

- Senate Bill 97 (intra-district public school transfers): The Education Committee recommended passage with amendment; the Senate adopted the amendment and ordered the bill to the Committee on Finance. The amended bill allows parents to transfer students within a district when capacity permits and directs local school boards to adopt policies for oversubscription. Senator Sullivan moved the committee recommendation; a proposed floor opt‑in amendment failed.

- Senate Bill 203 & 207 (EFA program verification and administration)—both received the committee recommendation of ITL and were not advanced. Senate Bill 203 would have required annual income verification for EFA participants; opponents on the committee warned of potential disruption to students.

- Senate Bill 213 (absentee voting: clarifying standard and requiring proof for registration and absentee application): The election-law committee reported the bill ought to pass, and the motion was adopted by voice vote. The bill adds the phrase "it is more likely than not" to clarify absentee eligibility and requires proof of identity, citizenship, age and domicile when registering and applying for an absentee ballot, supporters said.

- Senate Bill 214 (enable no-excuse absentee voting): The election-law committee recommended ITL, and the Senate adopted the ITL motion on a roll call (ayes 16, noes 8). Supporters of no‑excuse absentee voting argued New Hampshire handled large absentee volumes in 2020 without major problems; opponents cited election-security and administrative concerns.

- Senate Bill 151 (accessible parking placard verification and fines): The Transportation Committee reported the bill ought to pass with amendment; the Senate adopted the committee and floor amendments and ordered the bill to third reading. The bill would require extra information on placards and increase penalties for illegal use of restricted parking spaces, while creating a reduced penalty for a verified placard holder who simply forgot to display the placard.

- CACR 8 (constitutional amendment to raise the maximum age to hold the office of county sheriff beyond 75): The Judiciary Committee recommended the constitutional amendment; the Senate approved it on a roll call (ayes 21, noes 3) and ordered it to third reading. Supporters said the change would let voters decide whether an experienced sheriff should continue serving.

What senators said (selected quotes) - On service dogs (Senate Bill 198 committee report and second reading): "It is an important opportunity for us to recognize the profound impact that service dogs have on the lives of individuals with disabilities, enhancing independence, mobility, and overall quality of life," Senator Waters said on the Senate floor.

- On the minimum wage debate (Senate Bill 176): "Raising the minimum wage would have potentially dire consequences that could impact workers and small businesses throughout our state, including fewer jobs being available, reduced hours for employees, a transition toward automation," Senator Innes said in supporting the committee's recommendation of ITL. Senator Fenton answered: raising the minimum wage is "about protecting workers in the Granite State, ensuring that they can make a livable wage to provide for themselves and their families."

- On EFA expansion (Senate Bill 295): "Every child in our state deserves the education that supports their needs and lifts them up," Senator Sullivan said in support of expanding the program and the committee amendment that sets an initial cap with prioritization rules.

- On firearms reporting (Senate Bill 144): "The safety gap in our laws... may have already cost the life of a man whose life was devoted to public safety," Senator Altschuler said in urging further action; opponents cited due-process and self-incrimination concerns.

What’s next Several revenue‑bearing bills and the widely debated EFA expansion now proceed to the Committee on Finance, where budget and fiscal impact will be examined in detail. Bills ordered to third reading may receive final votes in subsequent sessions. Measures that did not pass the Senate’s threshold are effectively stalled but could be revised and reintroduced in later sessions or be the subject of committee work.

Speakers cited in this summary include the following senators who spoke on the floor during debate: Senator Kevin Birdsell; Senator Matt McHugh; Senator Kelly Ayotte Waters; Senator Noah Murphy; Senator Joe Innes; Senator Birdsall; Senator Richardi (Rishardy/Rochardy appears in the hearing transcript); Senator Fenton; Senator Gannon; Senator Altschuler (full transcript reference: Senator Aultschuler/Altschuler); Senator Abbas; Senator Ward; Senator Sullivan; Senator Prentiss; Senator Lang; Senator Rochefort; Senator McConkie; Senator Rosenwald; Senator Reardon; Senator Murphy; Senator Pearl; Senator Avard; Senator Rochefort and additional members listed in the transcript.

Ending The Senate recessed to the call of the chair to allow committees and staff to prepare finance analyses and to process enrolled‑bill reports. Several of the items ordered to finance will return with fiscal notes and committee recommendations that could shape final votes later this legislative session.