$100 Plus Mileage

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

Facial Recognition

The same technology that allows you to open your phone simply by looking at it can be used by governments to track people as they go about their lives in public. Pretty creepy. But there’s legislation in the NH House to do something about this. A New Hampshire bill up for debate this year—HB 499— would set limits on how this kind of technology can be used in the Granite State. There are some important caveats to that, though.  Citizens Count Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar will break it all down in this episode.

Should NH make “cyberflashing” a crime?

As the coronavirus pandemic has moved daily life into the virtual world, crime has followed. We now have words like “zoombombing” and “cyberflashing” to describe new forms of online harassment.  This year the New Hampshire Legislature is considering a bill that would criminalize some of these behaviors.

Should NH open the door for microblading at beauty salons?

Big brows are in, and unless you are blessed with Brooke Shields’ genes, you may have considered eyebrow microblading.  The procedure takes more than a trip to your local beauty salon in New Hampshire, however – only tattoo artists can legally microblade.  The New Hampshire Legislature is considering a bill to change that. 

Should NH require towns to allow tiny houses?

The New Hampshire House is considering a bill that would require towns to allow “tiny houses” alongside single-family homes.

Supporters envision a future where tiny house aficionados flock to New Hampshire, bolstering our workforce.  Opponents are concerned about the erosion of local control and property values.

Should NH allow hobby distilling of liquor?

Many Granite Staters have tried brewing their own beer or making wine at home. It’s fun, tasty, and less expensive than buying from a brewery or vineyard. A natural progression for these backyard brew masters might be to “graduate” to making hard liquor like whiskey or brandy, but this is where it gets more complicated. You can’t distill your own liquor at home the way you can with beer or wine—but there’s a bill before the Legislature, HB 416, to change that.

Should towns be allowed to process absentee ballots early?

In the midst of the debate over absentee voting, there is one detail that has not gotten as much attention: the timing of counting absentee ballots.  Timing may seem like a small administrative issue, but it can have a big impact on how people perceive the legitimacy of election results.  

This year two New Hampshire bills – HB 61 and SB 47 – would allow early processing of absentee ballots as part of larger plans to expand absentee voting.  Two other election-related bills, SB 83 and SB 89, would also allow early processing of absentee ballots.