$100 Plus Mileage

Retained in Committee: The NH Legislature decided these bills need a little more work

As another legislative session comes to a close, we’ve seen many bills passed by the New Hampshire Legislature and many more left by the wayside. Some of this year’s bills were “retained in committee,” which suggests the bills could be back next year. In this article, we’ll talk about what it means to be retained in committee and look at some bills from this session that could make a comeback. 

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

NH state representative races are not for sale…yet

New Hampshire is famous for our “Citizen Legislature,” where representatives are paid just $100 per year plus mileage for their service. Ideally this deters candidates from running for personal gain. However, state races are gaining more attention from interest groups, and some watchdogs are sounding the alarm over the influence of money in campaigns. Here at Citizens Count, we are dedicated to providing unbiased information about New Hampshire issues and candidates, so we’ve combed through state campaign finance reports to answer the question: can you “buy” a state representative race in New Hampshire? Our analysis shows that while there is a possibility of outside influence, most state representative races in 2024 didn’t flip based on spending.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

From FDR to COVID-19 to Trump: executive orders in context

President Trump began his second term in office by signing executive orders on stage at his inauguration rally inside the Capital One Arena in Washington. Trump has gotten plenty of use out of his executive pen in the months since, and executive orders have come to define his governing style. But he is hardly the first president to rely heavily on executive fiat. This article looks at how executive orders function within the constitutional framework and how presidents and New Hampshire governors throughout history have used them.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Should NH encourage new ways to serve alcohol?

New Hampshire is known for its high volume of alcohol sales, thanks in part to the low-tax liquor stores along our state borders. Being labeled as the number one state for booze may not be a point of pride for Granite Staters, but it’s an important part of our state’s economy: taxes on liquor and beer provide 5% of unrestricted revenue in the state budget. This year lawmakers are working on several bills that aim to boost alcohol sales – and hopefully boost our bottom line.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Should NH institute a new commemorative license plate to celebrate America’s 250th?

In 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This year, cities, states, and the federal government are hard at work planning how they will celebrate. Granite Staters deserve to be proud of their revolutionary history; New Hampshire was the first of the 13 colonies to declare independence from England, six months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. One proposal before the New Hampshire Legislature would give drivers the chance to participate in next year’s festivities by purchasing a special, commemorative license plate for America’s 250th. 

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Should NH change its law on roadside political signs?

Whether it’s a November election or a March town meeting, Granite Staters are used to roadside political signs popping up like an invasive species. State law allows signs along public rights-of-way with the landowner’s permission—but it’s not always obvious who owns the land, which leads to some heated debates. This year the New Hampshire House and Senate are considering legislation to clear up who decides where roadway signs are placed.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Should NH allow “off-grid electricity providers”?

Many of the innovations that have come to define the technological age we live in—from artificial intelligence to cryptocurrency mining—all have one thing in common: they demand large amounts of electricity. Tech companies and utilities are currently grappling with ways to meet this need. You’ve likely read headlines about proposals to power data centers using “small modular rectors” (SMRs) and even a push to restart Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. HB 672, a bill in the New Hampshire Legislature, is aimed at encouraging similar developments in New Hampshire by allowing off-grid electricity providers.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Should NH prohibit retailers from storing driver’s license data?

In 2018 New Hampshire voters approved a constitutional Right of Privacy, but that didn’t give the Legislature, executive branch, or the courts much detail on how to handle citizens’ data. Since then, the New Hampshire Legislature has debated dozens of bills to restrict how businesses and the government store, use, disclose, and delete our personal information. This year the Legislature is looking to limit how some retailers handle driver’s licenses.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Should NH prohibit defamation lawsuits against those who report sexual misconduct?

There are many reasons a victim of a crime like sexual assault or domestic abuse might be afraid to come forward. Among them is the fear that, if they do not have strong enough evidence to back up their story, their assailant might sue them for defamation. A bill before the New Hampshire Legislature this year seeks to address this by prohibiting such defamation lawsuits against accusers. The bill coincides with a national effort to get similar legislation passed in other states, but some worry the proposed law goes too far.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Unpacking New Hampshire’s next budget

On February 13, Gov. Kelly Ayotte provided her budget proposal to the state Legislature. She promised to prioritize funding for special education and law enforcement, but also promised roughly $150 million in budget cuts. Meanwhile, President Trump is overhauling federal funding, which makes up roughly one-third of New Hampshire’s budget. Now it’s up to the state Legislature to sort through competing priorities and uncertain revenue, and draft a final budget for the Granite State.

Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.