July 11: Hassan vetoes constitutional carry, signs capital budget

Gov. Maggie Hassan this week was busy with her pen – both signing and vetoing legislation.

Among the legislation she vetoed was a measure to allow licensed gun owners to carry concealed weapons without the need for an additional permit, so-called constitutional carry. Among the legislation she signed was the $126 million capital budget for the next biennium, as well as legislation giving immunity to those persons who call 911 in the event of a drug overdose.

Here’s the rundown. She vetoed:

• SB 116, which would repeal existing law requiring a license to carry a concealed handgun. In her veto message she said she heard from law enforcement authorities who opposed the legislation. She added: “I support the Second Amendment and I believe that Americans have a right to responsibly own guns for personal safety, hunting, and recreation. However, I also recognize the need to balance the rights of gun owners with the rights of all New Hampshire citizens to be safe in their communities. With this consideration, I believe that New Hampshire’s current law is appropriate and responsible;”
• HB 449, which , would end child support orders for any child over the age of 18 under certain circumstances, such as dropping out of school or being incarcerated. Current law requires that child support continues until a child graduates from high school, even if the child is over age 18. “I believe this bill would create two different standards for youth and their families, elevating one path to completing education above another,” she said in her veto message.
• SB 179, which would require a 30-day residency before someone can vote in New Hampshire. The governor said the measure “places unreasonable restrictions upon all New Hampshire citizens’ right to vote in this state with an arbitrary timeline that will prevent lawful residents from taking part in the robust citizen democracy that we are so proud of in the Granite State;”
• SB 169, prohibits the use of cash received from electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards for the purpose of gambling and the purchase of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets, firearms, and adult entertainment. The governor said in her veto message that the measure is “unenforceable,” adding that retail clerks and sales associates would have no way of determining where an individual’s cash came from at the time of sale.  That is why I will sign the alternative – and workable – version of this legislation, House Bill 219.”

Gov. Hassan signed:

• SB 106, which restricts the sale and possession of synthetic drugs. See her statement here;
• SB 223, which, the governor said, eases the process for registering a business in the Granite State by clarifying the approval process for filing a business name and making it more reliable and consistent;
• SB 55, which allows private employers to establish a policy granting a veterans’ preference in employment decisions. See the governor’s statement here;
• HB 270, which grants immunity from arrest, prosecution, or conviction to a person who requests medical assistance to save the life of an overdose victim. “The rising rate of heroin and opioid overdoses is one of the most pressing public health and safety challenges facing our state, requiring a multi-pronged approach of prevention, treatment and recovery to address. While we work to strengthen our prevention and treatment efforts through measures like our bipartisan health care expansion plan, we must also do everything that we can to save lives when an overdose takes place,” the governor said;
• HB 614, regarding the implementing goals of the state 10-year energy strategy, modifying uses of the site evaluation committee fund, establishing fees for energy facility evaluation, and relative to public information sessions on proposed energy siting. See the governor’s statement here;
• SB 221, which allows Eversource to start selling its power plants. See the governor’s statement here.

The capital budget expenditures, usually big-ticket items that require long-term financing, is contained in HB 25. Among the items cited in the governor’s message are:

• Expansion of the Piscataqua River turning basin to allow larger vessels to navigate through Portsmouth Harbor;
• Affordable workforce housing, with priority for veterans;
• IT system for permitting, environmental monitoring, and flood forecasting at the Department of Environmental Services;
• Upgrades for career and technology education (CTE) centers in Dover and Somersworth;
• Consumer internet ordering site at the New Hampshire Liquor Commission;
• Continuation of the E-Court Initiative;
• Numerous projects at the Community College System of New Hampshire, including programs for HVAC Electrical Technology, Auto Tech Completion in the Lakes Region and an IT STEM lab in Claremont;
• Nearly $5 million for repairs and improvements at various State parks;
• $16.6 million to build a much-needed new Merrimack County Courthouse to replace an old, unsafe courthouse in Concord.

The capital budget did not, as Hassan proposed, contain money to study the extension of commuter rail into New Hampshire. See a Concord Monitor story on the capital budget here.

Also …

There wasn’t any perceptible movement on the state budget, as the Democratic governor and Republican-led Legislature hold out on their differences over the $11.3 billion biennium budget that Hassan vetoed. The state continues to operate thanks to a six-month continuing resolution that keeps spending at last fiscal year’s spending levels.

One interesting development was a charge by N.H. Democratic Party chair Raymond Buckley that Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte was interfering with the budgeting process. Said Ayotte: “It’s pretty absurd. I appreciate how much power (Buckley) thinks I have, even though obviously my job is here in Washington. Obviously the (New Hampshire) House and Senate, they do their job.” See a WMUR story here.

That’s about all the time we have for this week. Tune in to our Facebook page for continuing discussion on many topics.

Live Free or Die Alliance
www.livefreeordiealliance.org