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House adopts ethics guidelines after debate over timing and statutory language
Summary
After floor debate about procedure and whether members had time to review proposed changes, the New Hampshire House adopted ethics guidelines that members said mirror recently enacted statutory language.
CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampshire House on Dec. 4 adopted a package of ethics-guideline amendments after a lengthy floor debate over timing, committee authority and how the guidelines relate to recently enacted statute.
Representative Steven Smith and Representative Alexis Simpson offered the amendment to the rules package that included the ethics language. Representative Lynn said the ethics committee had voted unanimously to adopt guidelines "which track the language in the statute," and cautioned that the committee’s authority is constrained by that statutory text. "The ethics committee voted unanimously to adopt the guidelines which track the language in the statute," Lynn said.
Other members urged delay so legislators would have time to read and absorb the changes. Representative Perez said some members did not have a chance to review the packet after the holiday and asked that the body postpone action so members could "have an opportunity to read it." The House considered motions to special order the item to Jan. 8 and to table; a standing division was called during debate. After discussion and procedural votes, the House adopted the amendment by voice vote.
Floor exchange focused on whether the ethics committee — a newly constituted body whose membership and public appointees are set during organization — could propose further clarifying amendments before Jan. 8 and on whether the guidelines could lawfully contradict statute. The clerk explained the committee must present guidelines to each chamber and that the House has three days in which to adopt or reject them.
The House recorded no formal roll-call tally for the final voice vote in the transcript; members used a standing division during a motion to table, and the final adoption was announced by the chair.
The action places the new ethics guidelines before members as the session proceeds; members were told they may raise questions with the ethics committee for further clarification.
