$100 Plus Mileage

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

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.