Right-to-work hearing scheduled for Feb. 17
On Tuesday, Feb. 17, legislators will hold a public hearing in Representatives Hall at 1 p.m. on HB 402, Rep. Bill O’Brien’s (R-Mont Vernon) proposed right-to-work legislation. The bill prohibits union contracts from requiring employees who aren’t part of the union to pay a fee, usually equivalent to the cost of union dues. There are 24 states with right-to-work laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. This is the third time right-to-work legislation has appeared before N.H. lawmakers. A similar bill passed the Republican-controlled legislature in 2011 but was vetoed by then-Gov. John Lynch. During the 2013 session, a similar bill was killed by the Democratic-controlled House.
Also this week in Concord, a hearing is scheduled on HB 609, which would ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for natural gas and oil production in the state. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Timothy Horrigan (D-Durham). “It’s kind of a symbolic gesture,” Horrigan said, adding that no fracking operations are planned for the state.
Lawmakers will also look at HB 475, a bill sponsored by Rep. Dick Marple (R-Hooksett) that would prohibit civil forfeiture, a legal process in which police can take assets from people suspected of criminal activity without filing charges, and HB 432, which would designate the bobcat as the state’s official wildcat. For a full schedule of hearings and roster of bills up for consideration, visit gencourt.state.nh.us.