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Should law enforcement be prohibited from disseminating post-arrest photos except in limited circumstances?

Whether it’s on the TV news or your local police department’s Facebook page, we all know what a “mug shot” looks like; it’s the photo that’s taken of someone after they are arrested. But just because someone has been arrested doesn’t mean they have been convicted of a crime, so some feel it is unfair to release these embarrassing post-arrest photos where potential employers and others can see them. HB 125, a bill being considered by the New Hampshire Legislature, would prohibit law enforcement officers from publicly disseminating these post-arrest photos with limited exceptions.

Should NH add de-escalation and implicit bias training for police to state law?

Earlier this year the New Hampshire Senate unanimously passed SB 114, a bill to require law enforcement officers to complete training on de-escalation, ethics, implicit bias, and cultural diversity.  The bill mirrors action from the Police Standards and Training Council to voluntarily add this training.  Now that SB 114 is in the House of Representatives, some legislators argue a state law is unnecessary.  

Should New Hampshire allow patients to grow their own medical marijuana?

Medical marijuana is legal in New Hampshire, but patients have to buy their therapeutic cannabis at one of a handful of Alternative Treatment Centers. Now, legislators are considering allowing patients to grow their own marijuana at home. 

Should NH update its Fair Housing Law for federal funding?

While many Granite State homebuyers and renters are being priced out of the market, some face a more surreptitious barrier to housing: discrimination.  

In March the New Hampshire Senate voted unanimously to revise the state Fair Housing Law through SB 126. The bill is intended to win federal funding for housing discrimination investigations.  However, SB 126 could meet resistance in the state House of Representatives, where some legislators look suspiciously on federal government ties.

Should NH freeze the tipped minimum wage if Congress raises the federal minimum wage?

If the federal government raises the minimum wage, New Hampshire employers will have to match that minimum.  Tipped employees, however, are treated differently under state and federal law.  Now lawmakers in Concord are considering a bill to insulate the tipped wage from federal increases.

Should NH ban landfills within 2 miles of state parks?

A landfill proposal in northern New Hampshire is kicking up dust in the state Legislature, with some lawmakers supporting a bill to ban landfills near state parks.  Nobody likes to imagine a pile of trash next to scenic lake, but lawmakers are also concerned about shrinking landfill capacity and state interference in local zoning laws.

Should NH legalize historic horse racing?

There’s been a lot of talk about gambling in New Hampshire in recent years, from sports betting to Keno and proposed casinos. Recently, historic horse racing has gained traction, and this year there are several proposals to legalize this form of gambling. 

 

Should NH add legal protections for “displaying” a firearm?

While the national debate over gun control heats up, one New Hampshire bill examines the legal area before any shots are fired.  HB 195 would shield “displaying a firearm” from the state’s reckless conduct law.  Bill supporters argue this will protect gunowners who show a firearm to stop a crime before it happens. Opponents worry HB 195 will empower gunowners to terrorize people during conflicts.

Do NH students need protection from school lunch debt policies?

Being a kid can be hard enough as it is—add on top of that being made to feel stigmatized for having unpaid school lunch debt and it can be even harder. That’s the motivation behind HB 202, a bill up for debate in the NH Legislature this year. 

Should private hunting preserves pay more taxes if they keep invasive species?

The state House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill that could increase property taxes for private hunting preserves in the Granite State. The bill has not received a lot of attention, but it ties together the diverse challenges of invasive species, property tax rates, open space preservation, funding for the Fish and Game Department, and even the Laurie List of cops with credibility issues. 

Elk Bugling CREDIT: NPS/Jennifer Jerrett https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=11F0225E-155D-451F-678E6266AD8326F7