Also Blasts Speaker Norelli For Leading Organization That Supports It

Concord – New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Jennifer Horn called on New Hampshire Democrats to reject President Obama’s endorsement of a disastrous internet sales tax bill (AP, 4/22). The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has also endorsed the legislation. New Hampshire House Speaker Terie Norelli serves as the president of the NCSL.

“The internet sales tax bill endorsed by President Obama will hit consumers with higher prices and burden New Hampshire small business owners with onerous new regulations. It is a disastrous piece of legislation that would hurt the Granite State and empower states with a sales tax to grow government by taking more money out of the pockets of working families.”

“Governor Hassan, Senator Shaheen, Congresswoman Kuster and Congresswoman Shea-Porter have refused to stand up for their constituents and actively oppose this legislation. It is time for them to denounce President Obama’s endorsement of this sales tax bill and join Senator Ayotte in the fight to protect New Hampshire small business owners and middle class families.”

“Furthermore, it is a disgrace that the National Conference of State Legislatures has also endorsed this legislation given that this organization is led by NH House Speaker Terie Norelli. By supporting this bill, Speaker Norelli has turned her back on New Hampshire and sided with out of state politicians who are desperate to collect more sales tax revenue. The speaker’s actions are shameful and speak volumes about the priorities of the House Democrat leadership.”

###

—
Communications
New Hampshire Republican State Committee
(603) 225-9341 | press@nhgop.org

CONTACT
Tom Cronin
603.264.5659

GOP Members of Joint Health Care Oversight Committee Call Out Governor Hassan on Broken Promises and Lack of Transparency

Concord, NH – Republican members of the Joint Health Care Reform Oversight Committee today issued the following statements after disclosure from Governor Hassan’s office as well as the Department of Insurance that her administration would no longer be pursuing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the federal government with regards to the implementation of the Health Care Exchange Partnership as was originally promised to the committee last month. The Hassan Administration has instead indicated an intention to move forward with the proposed partnership without an agreed upon MOU.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Andy Sanborn (R-Bedford) said:

“The Governor’s suggestion that she can single-handedly implement ObamaCare in New Hampshire without a contract or MOU of how the federal government is going to take over providing insurance to New Hampshire citizens is astonishing. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will forever change how insurance is provided to the people of this state and the Governor’s office is now deliberately pulling back on a promise to be transparent and disrespecting the legislative process. This act of purposefully withholding details on ACA implementation only further suggests the Governor and Washington bureaucrats do not want the legislature, taxpayers, or small business owners to know the details or costs of this expansion. New Hampshire government does not operate under the cover of darkness, and the Governor needs to bring an MOU to the Oversight Committee, as promised, showing a complete, detailed plan of how she intends to implement this costly venture.”

Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) said:

“I am extremely disappointed that, after promising legislative oversight, Governor Hassan is seemingly reneging on that promise. I am concerned a Health Care Exchange partnership will not protect taxpayers, will increase consumer confusion, and subvert New Hampshire sovereignty. Those concerns are heightened when it appears the Governor’s office is choosing to not layout the next steps of this process in a MOU as they had earlier indicated they would.”

Representative John Hunt (R-Cheshire 11) said:

“After listening to the presentation from the Executive Branch, I conceded to considering the state enter into a partnership exchange to protect New Hampshire’s interests, specifically because the Governor’s office committed to providing an MOU to our committee which would provide complete details on how the ACA would be implemented. Now that the Governor has refused to share an MOU, the people of this state have no idea on the cost, timing, affects and options associated with how the exchange, partnership and plan management will be enacted and operated. It is exceptionally disturbing to see the Governor attempt to implement the ACA, void of real, honest transparency on this important issue and I do hope the Governor reconsiders such a reckless action knowing how much money, time and effort is at stake here.”

Note: The next meeting of the Joint Health Care Reform Oversight Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9th at 8:00AM.

House Republican Leaders Comment on Passage of Fiscally Irresponsible Budget

CONCORD – House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) and Ranking Republican on the House Finance Committee, Rep. Neal Kurk (R-Weare), offered the following comments in reaction to the passage of HB1 and HB2, the bills dealing with the State budget.

Rep. Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett), House Republican Leader

“When 40,000 people in our State are looking for work, this budget will squeeze an additional $39million out of our small businesses that they would have otherwise been able to reinvest to grow and create jobs. When incomes are stagnant, this budget raises the gas tax, tobacco taxes and down shifts costs that will raise property taxes. When our roads and bridges need attention, this budget diverts and additional $27million from the highway fund to other agencies. When our economy is struggling to grow at 2% per year, this budget grows government by more than 5% per year. It’s not a logical plan to grow our economy.”

“Republicans have fought for a more affordable, more efficient and more accountable state government, but being in the minority, we don’t always win. The majority party, unfortunately, has created and passed a budget that overspends, expands government and adds taxes and fees on our already over taxed families and businesses. This is not the right direction for New Hampshire. House Republicans will continue to bring attention to what we believe are better ways to help our citizens and our economy.”

“Today, Republicans offered several amendments to make reasonable changes to the budget, all of which were defeated. Unfortunately, the majority party does not seem interested in listening to New Hampshire citizens or observing what is happening in the real world outside of Concord.”

“Our amendments included provisions to avoid downshifting costs to county governments, which would avoid higher property taxes. It was rejected. We offered to restore school building aid, which was also rejected. Amendments that would have prevented the raiding of dedicated funds, such as LCHIP, State Parks and other funds were also defeated, giving the Governor carte blanche to turn these fee based funds into taxes by funding general government. Our amendments to keep school choice tax credits and continue funding for new charter schools were denied. Lastly, our efforts to lessen increases in the tobacco tax and keep in law business tax reforms set to take effect this year fell flat. These amendments failed not because they were unreasonable or egregious, but because the majority party doesn’t seem interested in creating jobs, a friendlier business climate, and lowering the tax burden on our citizens.”

Rep. Neal Kurk (R-Weare), Ranking Republican on House Finance

“This budget is balanced on unrealistic revenue estimates that simply put off the eventual day of reckoning. It includes millions in increased taxes on working families and businesses that will hurt the economy and job creation. It spends 10.2% more money than the previous state budget. This budget also increases the state’s exposure to massive future liabilities as a result of expanding Medicaid. It suspends new school building aid imposes a moratorium on charter schools. It shifts costs of nursing home services to county property tax payers. It purposefully underfunds line items that can be paid for later, outside of the more transparent budget process. We have a real concern about where this budget will lead our State. It’s unaffordable and sets us up for failure both in the short and long terms.”

House Republicans React to Committee Approval of Budget Bills

CONCORD – Today House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) and Republican Members of the House Finance Committee offered the following comments in reaction to the committee recommendations on HB1 and HB2, bills dealing with the State budget and appropriations. In separate votes, the committee voted 14-8 to send the amended versions of HB1 and HB2 to the full House.

Rep Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett), House Republican Leader

“I’d like to thank the Republican members of the House Finance Committee for their tireless efforts in looking out for the taxpayers of our State. Republicans have fought for a more affordable, more efficient and more accountable state government, but being in the minority, we don’t always win. The majority party, unfortunately, has created a budget that overspends, expands government and adds taxes and fees on our already over taxed families and businesses. This is not the right direction for New Hampshire. House Republicans will continue to bring attention to what we believe are better ways to help our citizens and our economy.”

Rep. Neal Kurk (R-Weare), House Finance Ranking Republican

“This budget is balanced on unrealistic revenue estimates and gimmicks that simply put off the eventual day of reckoning. It includes over $70million in increased taxes that will hurt the economy and job creation. It spends 10.2% more money than the previous state budget. When the economy is growing at 2% per year, at best, and the government is growing at 5% per year, we should have a real concern about where this budget will lead our State. It’s unaffordable and sets us up for failure both in the near future and in future biennia.”

Rep. Lynne Ober (R-Hudson), House Finance Member

“This budget cuts entirely the state’s aid for school construction for the next biennium. School building aid is vital to the safety and well being of students across the state by aiding local districts in building and renovating our aging or over crowded education facilities. The previous legislature saw the benefit of state aid for these projects. The Democrats on the committee apparently would prefer to grow our state government rather than aid localities in building 21st century facilities for our children.”

Rep. Ken Weyler (R-Kingston), House Finance Member

“This budget unfairly targets charter schools by issuing a moratorium on them and also ends the education opportunity scholarship program. By stifling charter school innovation and taking away school choice options from needy families, it’s clear that the Democrats are looking to protect failing public schools and continue their tradition of ceding to public union interests.”

Rep. Karen Umberger (R-Intervale), House Finance Member

“I find it unbelievable that the Democrats on House Finance would vote to cede nearly all legislative discretion and allow the Governor to sweep millions of dollars out of dedicated funds to cover a budget deficit. This could affect as many as 300 state programs or agencies that rely on dedicated funds including Fish & Game, State Parks, Enhanced 911 System or even unemployment compensation. Responsible budgeting starts with transparency. This is a terrible precedent to set. When people buy into these funds via a fee or license, they expect that those dollars be used for that purpose. Why have dedicated funds if the Governor can use them as an ATM?”
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Concord – New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Jennifer Horn released the following statement today in response to reports (NH Journal, 3/22/13) that Governor Hassan is considering nominating former casino lobbyist Lucy Hodder as Attorney General. Hodder currently serves as legal counsel in Hassan’s office and previously served as the personal lobbyist for Millenium Gaming president William Wortman:

“Under no circumstances should Governor Hassan even consider appointing a well-heeled casino lobbyist to be our next Attorney General. New Hampshire doesn’t want a top law enforcement official who is in the pocket of the gambling lobby and working with the special interests groups that are promoting Governor Hassan’s illegal revenue scheme.

“The Granite State has a long history of an independent justice department that has been free of political influence. It is disgraceful that Attorney General Delaney may have been denied another term because of his strong and principled rejection of Governor Hassan’s irresponsible gambling agenda. And it is extremely alarming that the governor is considering replacing Delaney with somebody who is bought and paid for by the gambling industry.

“In order to ensure that we don’t have one of the gambling lobby’s most loyal lackeys running our Justice Department, Governor Hassan needs to immediately remove Lucy Hodder’s name from consideration. The governor must also pledge that she will not appoint anybody who has lobbied for the gambling industry and vow to pick an attorney general who will not be swayed by political considerations.”

–
Communications
New Hampshire Republican State Committee
603.225.9341 | press@nhgop.org

Order Tickets TODAY: www.hillsboroughgop.org

Please join us for the 2013 Hillsborough County Lincoln-Reagan Gala! This years very exciting keynote speaker is Mr. John OSullivan, Editor-at-large of National Review, former Special Adviser to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, conservative author and columnist.

We will also be honoring our 2013 Lincoln Reagan Award Winners: Congressman Charlie Bass & Congressman Frank Guinta.

The event will be held on SATURDAY, March 23rd with an Hors doeuvres & Cocktail Reception beginning at 5:30 pm and Dinner to follow at 7:00. Tickets for the Reception are $35 per person. Tickets for the Dinner are $80 per person (note: Dinner tickets include admission to the Reception). Join us at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Somerset Parkway, Nashua, NH for an exciting event!

More About our Inspiring Speaker:

John O’Sullivan is the editor-at-large of National Review where he served as editor-in-chief for almost a decade until 1998. He has been a regular center-page columnist for the (London) Daily Telegraph, the (London) Times, the (London) Independent, the Toronto Sun, the (Canadian) National Post, the Toronto Globe and Mail, and The Australian. Mr. O’Sullivan is also the former Executive Editor of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty in Prague and a Vice-President of the RFERL Corporation.

His book, The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister, discusses the roles played by Pope John Paul II, President Reagan and Prime Minister Thatcher in the collapse of communism and the revival of Western market democracies. As a Special Adviser to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in Downing Street, he covered health and social security, defense procurement, and the Arts. He was the principal author of the 1987 Conservative election manifesto. Later he was one of the small team that assisted Lady Thatcher in the writing of her memoirs. For several years in the 1990s he served both as an informal advisor to Lady Thatcher and as a member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Thatcher Foundations.

Mr. OSullivan has held fellowships at the Hudson Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the Nixon Center, and Harvard’s Institute of Politics. In the 1991 New Year’s Honours List, he was made a Commander of the British Empire.

Follow John on Twitter: @JohnOSullivanNR

Address
Crowne Plaza Hotel
2 Somerset Parkway
Nashua, NH

Contact
Ray Chadwick
rfchadwick@juno.com
(160) 356-6912

A veteran New York State political operative and Saint Anselm College alumnus has been tapped to become the executive director of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee under new chairman Jennifer Horn.

The New Hampshire Sunday News and UnionLeader.com have learned that Matthew Slater, 26, will join the New Hampshire GOP on or about April 1.

Slater most recently directed the Mid-Hudson Regional Office of the Republican leader of the New York State Assembly.

The district encompasses nine counties with a population of about 6 million.

Horn, who has been state party chair since Jan. 26, has also named several New Hampshire operatives to key staff posts:

– David Chesley, a senior adviser to former Rep. Charlie Bass’s 2012 campaign and manager of Horn’s 2008 and 2010 congressional campaigns, will be party senior advisor and political director.

– Jacob Avery will remain with the state party as director of operations.

He was the party’s field representative before joining the 2012 Republican National Committee “Victory” campaign as deputy state director. He also managed state Sen. Andy Sanborn’s successful 2010 campaign.

– Meg Stone, who had been the party’s communications director under former chair Wayne MacDonald, will now be a part-time manager of special projects.

She is also working as a part-time legislative aide with the New Hampshire House Republican caucus.

The party is also formally adding veteran communications specialist Ryan Williams as a paid outside advisor on communications and strategy.

Williams, well-known to the national and New Hampshire, was the state party’s press secretary during former Gov. John H. Sununu’s tenure as chairman during 2009 and 2010. He was most recently national deputy press secretary for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and currently heads his own communications consulting practice.

The party said that Slater, in his New York legislative staff post, “helped elect, train and advise Republican candidates and assemblymen and assemblywomen.”

He previously managed Bob Cohen’s unsuccessful campaign for a New York state Senate seat in a hotly contested race, in which the Cohen campaign raised and spent about $900,000. He also was chief of staff to Assemblyman Steve Katz.

Slater also worked in the office of the Westchester County Board of Elections and volunteered on former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s 2008 New Hampshire primary campaign.

In addition to his degree from Saint Anselm, he holds a masters degree in Public Administration from Marist College.

Horn said the party staff comprises “seasoned and experienced professionals.”

The party, which has already become more aggressive in its messaging under Horn’s early leadership, “is committed to building a strong party structure that will help us elect conservative candidates who will fight to restore fiscal sanity in Concord and Washington,” she said.

–
Meg Stone
NH Republican State Committee
Office 603.225.9341 | meg@nhgop.org

Welcome to our first issue of the Republican Review. The Republican Review is a newsletter that will be sent out regularly depending on the volume of content each week.

Included in each issue will be a variety of important informational tidbits regarding all things having to do with the New Hampshire State House.

Among the items that will be covered are:
- Information on important upcoming legislation
- Upcoming Events
- Recaps of the week’s House session
- Important Tips and Talking Points
- Member Spotlights
- Press quotes from the week
- And much more!

We hope that this newsletter is informational for both elected officials and party activists around the state.

Download all issues starting with March 15, 2013 here: Republican Review

Concord – New Hampshire Republican State Committee sent the following Right to Know request to the New Hampshire Lottery Commission regarding Governor Hassan’s casino lobbying effort. The Huffington Post (3/14/13) and Concord Patch (3/13/13) reported that she refused to answer questions about allegations of “inappropriate lobbying” by her administration. (WATCH Video of Hassan Here)

Charles McIntyre
Executive Director, New Hampshire Lottery Commission
14 Integra Drive

Concord, NH 03301

Dear Director McIntyre,

This is a request under the New Hampshire Right To Know Law (RSA 91-A.)

On behalf of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, I formally request that you provide me with all records from the New Hampshire Lottery Commission regarding Governor Hassan’s ethically questionable, Executive Branch casino lobbying effort. This includes, but is not limited to, phone logs and any written or electronic correspondence that documents communication between the Lottery Commission, Governor Hassan’s office, and members of the legislature regarding gambling legislation. I am also interested in calendar information that documents your appointments with legislators and other efforts to lobby on behalf of Governor Hassan’s irresponsible casino revenue scheme.

Earlier this week the Concord Patch reported that Governor Hassan deliberately avoided inquiries about whether or not she instructed Executive Department officials to engage in ‘inappropriate lobbying’ efforts. In one of the more embarrassing press conferences conducted by a statewide elected official in recent memory, Hassan mumbled, stumbled and ducked basic “yes or no” questions from reporters about this topic. Her exchange with the media came after an email from House Ways and Means Committee Chairwoman Susan Almy surfaced that indicated you were proactively scheduling meetings with legislators to lobby for Hassan’s irresponsible budget proposal.

After receiving a similar Right to Know request from the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, a Hassan staffer admitted that the governor asked her official office to instruct Executive Branch officials to lobby the legislature. RSA 15:5 states that “no recipient of a grant or appropriation of state funds may use the state funds to lobby or attempt to influence legislation.” The governor’s actions raise serious questions about her compliance with New Hampshire law.

The casino lobby is already spending millions on highly paid lobbyists and public relations campaigns designed to promote her risky budget proposal. It is of great concern that she is enlisting government officials like you to join this effort, and lobby for legislation that is being backed by well funded, outside special interest groups.

I also ask that you preserve any and all records regarding your upcoming casino lobbying efforts as the State Committee is inclined to file additional Right to Know requests in the future. Representative Almy’s email indicated that you will be participating in meetings with legislators next week, and we will certainly be interested in obtaining records from these lobbying appointments.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Horn
Chairman
New Hampshire Republican State Committee

In November of 2010, the New Hampshire House of Representatives received a mandate from the voters of New Hampshire to promote economic development and create jobs; to cut state spending; to reduce taxes and fees; to return fiscal sanity to the state; to fix a state retirement system that was structurally deficient; to provide our children with an education based on excellence; to protect the personal rights and freedoms of its citizens; and to maintain transparency in state government. Those mandates reflected our promises toNew Hampshire. Listed here is a compilation of new laws the 2011-2012 New Hampshire House of Representatives passed keeping those promises.

Setting an example for our citizens by “living within our means”

*Passed a budget 11% smaller than the prior budget, reducing spending by over $1.2 billion and general fund spending by $536 million, or 18%. (HBs 1&2)
*Passed a state budget that includes no new or increased taxes or fees. (HBs 1&2)
*Reversed past two terms budgets’ accounting gimmicks by passing a budget that does not bond any operating costs or sell assets from one state agency to another to claim fictitious revenue, while using responsible revenue estimates. (HBs 1&2)
*The state returned $1 million in ObamaCare funds to the federal government with instructions to use the money for debt reduction. (HB 601)
*Passed an education funding formula that maintains existing levels of aid to communities and allows additional targeted aid to needy cities and towns. (HB 337)
*Requires for future state budgets that state agencies to submit budgets that actually reduce spending in addition to any request to expand state government. (SB 146)

Reducing and Reforming Taxes

*Eliminated the auto registration surcharge, which was costing our residents and small businesses between $30 and $75 every year for each vehicle they registered, putting $90 million back in our citizens’ pockets. (HB 1&2)
*To fulfill our commitment to reduce the highest business tax rate in the nation, new laws offer 10 forms of tax relief to employers to help them grow their business: including reforming the burden of proof for reasonable compensation, and doubling the carry-forward period for the BET. (SB 125)
*Two new statutes help our retailers, particularly those in border communities, become more competitive and grow: eliminating the gambling winnings tax and repealing the most recent of the four tobacco taxes in the past six years. (HB 229 & HB 2)
*The legislature also cut a number of fees on restaurants, hotels, motel, pet stores, fishing enthusiasts, those selling condominiums, and people getting married. (HBs 2 & 571)
*Cities and towns that are impacted by fire or other major acts of nature are now eligible for community revitalization tax relief to allow for the repair or rebuilding of damaged structures.
*Directed the Business Finance Authority to establish an innovation business job growth initiative to promote investment in New Hampshireemployers and to coordinate venture capital with startups statewide. (HB 605)
*Increased the net operating loss carryforward under the business profits tax (BPT) from $1 million to $10 million, which reduces the tax burden on our businesses and makes our state more competitive in attracting and retaining employers. (HB 242)
*Extended the research and development tax credit encouraging businesses to continue to innovate, expand and create new jobs. (HB 518)
*Expanded the business enterprise tax (BET) exemption 33% and indexed the exemption for inflation. The BET is a payroll tax and reducing it provides a strong incentive for employers to create good, new jobs here. With this change, one third of New Hampshirebusinesses will not pay BET, and most of these will no longer have to incur the expense of filing. (HB 1418)
*Allowed businesses to apply BET credits quarterly, instead of annually, against their BPT, which will allow faster growth investments by New Hampshire’s small businesses. (HB 1221)
*Increased the depreciation deduction for the business profits tax (BPT). (HB 1418)
*Eliminated the tax on internet services. (HB 1418)
*Established an education credit against the business profits tax for business organizations that contribute to scholarship organizations that award scholarships to be used by students to defray the educational expenses of attending an independent school. (SB 372)
*Eliminated the taxation of trusts under the interest and dividends tax to encourage more trust formation in New Hampshire. (SB 326)
*Put a constitutional amendment to ban any new taxes on personal income on the ballot in November, where, if it is supported by 2/3rd of the voters, a prohibition on income taxes will become part of the state constitution. (CACR 13)

Over 80 Bills Reducing Business & Consumer Regulatory Burdens & Putting Out the “Open for Business” Sign

*Reduced regulations on business and consumers allowing businesses to create more jobs for our neighbors. Specific bills passed lifted the government burden on the state’s pharmacy technicians, barbers, developers, farmers, truck and bus owners and operators, community living facilities, OHRV and snowmobile operators, junkyard owners, landlords, builders, ginseng producers, oil and gas distributors, nano brewers, specialty beer manufacturers, homestead food producers, telephone service providers, limited liability corporations (LLCs), health care sharing organizations, and municipal culvert installers. (HBs 26, 30, 95, 109, 117, 133, 137, 142, 143, 155, 171, 173, 222, 234, 247, 248, 262, 276, 289, 291, 322, 325, 333, 381, 404, 408, 420, 441, 488, 503, 570, 651, 1127, 1171, 1208, 1231, 1296, 1307, 1378, 1380, 1434, 1585, 1618. SBs 235, 247, 250, 340.)
*Repealed a number of outdated and unnecessary laws including: restrictions on the sale of oleomargarine, artificial flowers and miniature flags, a ban on the sale of stove polish, a number of unenforced election laws and the state minimum wage, which is made unnecessary by the federal minimum wage law. (HBs 333, 142, 143, & 133)
*Repealed New Hampshire’s “card check” law and restored the secret ballot to state workers to decide whether they want to form a labor union. (HB 589)
*The Department of Labor is now required to warn employers before assessing fines for violations, developing a consultative approach, rather than adversarial.
*A new commission will review business regulations in New Hampshireto identify further areas to reduce the burden and make compliance simpler and less costly to employers. (HB 248)
*Passed legislation to create an innovation business job growth function in the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority to promote venture capital throughout the state. (HB 605)
*Allowed employers to set their tax years with their federal tax year. (HB 1302)
*Allowed town health officers to voluntarily assist other municipalities. (HB 1349)
*Revised notification and rulemaking procedures for home-educated pupils by giving home education advisory council an opportunity to comment on proposed rules. (HB 545)
*Helped local brewers by allowing the sale of nano brews at farmers markets. (HB 1172)
*Expanded the definition of specialty beers in New Hampshireto allow for ingredients such as, but not limited to, molasses, maple syrup, honey, spices, herbs, fruits, nuts, chocolate, vanilla, or other nonbeverage ingredients to help businesses like Redhook Brewery, who were forced to move manufacturing operations to Massachusettsbecause of stringent laws in New Hampshire. (HB 1241)
*Exempted service animals from dog registration and licensing, and established an option for permanent registration and licensing of service animals. (HB 1362)
*Exempted from licensing such homestead items as jam, jellies and cookies for sale from homes, farm stands or farmers’ markets. (HB 1402)
*Allowed for shore land homeowners to repair, replace in kind, reconstruct in place, alter, or expand their homes or other structures on their property. (HB 1484)
*Lifted certain reporting mandates for home schooling programs and the authority of public school evaluations to terminate a homeschooling program. (HB 1571)
*Repealed the certificate of need law (CON) in three years to increase competition, reduce the cost of healthcare to individuals and businesses, and improve care. (HB 1617)
*Eliminated bureaucratic red tape individuals have to go through to get a permit to repair or shore up property that is regularly affected by storms and ice. Certain permits for repair will no longer expire and require renewal after five years. (HB 1636)
*Leveled the regulatory playing field for telephone service providers allowing the free market, not regulations, to dictate which companies gain or lose customers. (SB 48)
*Made the state’s Limited Liability Company (LLC) Act more user-friendly for the current and next generation of small businesses. (SB 203)
*Passed medical sharing legislation designed for private, non-profit organizations designed to monthly share medical costs by allowing members to financially assist fellow participants with certain medical expenses exempt from the jurisdiction of the insurance commissioner. (SB 245)
*Relaxed laws on floats towed by recreational boats. (SB 317)

Protecting Local and County Property Taxpayers

*A new law eliminates the “evergreen” requirement that all communities continue public employee contracts after they expire.(SB 1)
*The new education funding formula guarantees that all communities will have stability in education aid funding for the next two years by ensuring that they will maintain the same levels as last year. (HB 337)
*The legislature lifted a number of restrictions on communities and counties, including: making it easier to transfer funds, strengthen collective bargaining rights for cities and towns, allowing counties more investment opportunities, removing permit application waiting periods for town road work if it meets best practice standards, limiting local liability for dog bites, providing more flexibility for communities to appoint members to volunteer boards and giving communities a chance to adjust their school and municipal budgets based on education funding changes at the state level.
*Teachers will now wait five years, instead of three, before receiving tenure, giving schools more time to evaluate their performance to ensure that students get high quality instruction in classrooms. (SB 196)
*Removed the mandate that cities and towns have fences around public cemeteries. (HB 382)

Increasing Accountability

*Established a citizen’s commission to conduct performance reviews for judges. (HB 344)
*Increase communications between state agencies—including Banking and Insurance, as well as the Bureau of Security Regulations—to help head off any future investment and Ponzi schemes aimed at stealing people’s money and life savings like the Financial Resources Management (FRM) scandal. (HB 102)
*Required courts in criminal proceedings to allow the defense to inform juries of their right to judge the facts and the application of the law. (HB 146)
*Limited the rulemaking authority of the department of environmental services. (HB 222)
*Expanded citizens’ administrative appeals rights at the department of environmental services. (HB 256)
*Blocked the state from implementing ObamaCare exchanges. (HB 1297)
*Privatized the McAuliffe-Shepard Center. (HB 1274)
*Blocked the state’s participation in the low carbon fuel standards program (liquid RGGI) without prior legislative approval, which will save citizens on gas and oil costs. (HB 1487)
*Reformed the state’s participation in the Regional Green House Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap and trade program, returning money to ratepayers by lowering electric rates. (HB 1490)
*Restored the rights of individual taxpayers of a community to seek legal recourse against local government decisions. (HB 1510)
*Required police to provide the name of an arresting officer on arrest records. (HB 1535)
*Allowed state to garnish wages of those who received overpayment of unemployment. (HB 1579)
*Required welfare applicants to have their identity and financial information verified before receiving payments. (HB 1658)
*Reduced subsidies to renewable energy producers, saving ratepayers millions. (SB 218)
*Passed a voter photo ID bill to ensure integrity at the ballot box. (SB 289)
*Changed back law to require voter registration forms include state laws about responsibility. (SB 318)
*Passed law to allow early offers for medical injury claims. (SB 406)
*Passed a constitutional amendment, which will go on the November ballot, to provide legislative oversight of court rules. (CACR 26)
*Restored parental notification before abortions may be performed on minors. (HB 329)
*Established a ban on partial-birth abortion. (HB 1679)

Increasing Transparency and Open Government

*Passed a bill to open up records of annulments of crimes. (HB 82)
*Passed legislation to post agency spending information on state website. (HB 331)
*Passed a bill to allow access to accident reports involving publicly owned vehicles. (HB 347)
*Passed legislation to have state government use open source software. (HB 418)
*Persons petitioning the commissioner of Safety requesting a change of use or restriction of the use of any public waters must notify neighbors of the request. (HB 342)
*Required state agencies to consider open source software, promoted the use of open data formats by state agencies, and directed the commissioner of information technology to develop a statewide information policy based on principles of open government data. (HB 418)
*Increased transparency standards requirements for the state transparency website oversight committee. (HB 449)
*Allowed the negotiator for each party to talk directly, in a closed session, to the board of the public employer or to the employees, respectively, the collective bargaining process. The benefit to the negotiating parties is that legal costs may be reduced if this direct communication breaks impasses and enables the parties to reach agreement without having to go through mediation and fact-finding. (HB 582)
*Allowed parents access to unique pupil ID and date for their children. (HB 1139)
*Towns may include tax impact on special warrant articles. (HB 1170)
*Strengthened penalties under Right to Know law violations. (HB 1223)
*Required public access to any document and Internet content that is incorporated by reference in administrative rules. (HB 1448)
*Expanded reporting of dedicated fund balances. (HB 1552)
*Required the legislative ethics committee to make committee records, rules, and guidelines available on the website maintained by the committee. (HB 1623)
*Allowed communities to require tallies of school district warrant articles. (HB 1633)
*Passed a bill requiring the attorney general to submit regular reports on election complaints to the general court. (HB 1673)
*Required all contracts entered into by the state as a result of requests for proposals to be posted on the state transparency website. (HB 1686)
*Expanded salary information for state employees on the transparency website. (HB 1687)
*Extends the Right to Know law to libraries. (SB 214)
*Required Public Utilities Commission contracts to be approved by the governor and council. (SB 256)
*Passed a bill requiring notification of exposure to infectious diseases. (SB 281)

Strengthening Property Rights

*Established a commission to investigate procedural rights of landowners when a petition is presented to the public utilities commission by a utility seeking eminent domain, develop a framework for the state to provide use rights to transmission developers on state owned rights-of-way, develop policies to encourage burying such lines where practicable, and establish a structure for payment. (HB 648)
*Established a statute of limitations on wetlands filling and dredging. (HB 1233)
*Blocked conservation commissions from entering private land without permission. (HB 1541)
*Blocked taking of personal property during a state of emergency. (HB 574)
*Clarified rules for liability of timber tax. (HB 1207)
*Passed a bill allowing property owners to hire outside contractors for power line work on their property. (HB 1346)
*Passed a bill protecting landowners from lawsuits of those on their property for recreational purposes such hunting or snowmobiling. (HB 1551)
*Made property owners of small lots exempt from department of environmental services approval for replacing or modifying sewage systems. (HB 1721)
*Passed a bill requiring municipalities notify all property owners if the community wants to designate lands as “prime wetlands.” (SB 19)
*Extended terrain alteration permits. (SB 241)
*Passed a bill requiring a property owner’s consent to install smart meters on their property. (SB 266)
*Passed a bill to allow property owners to sue for legal fees when they survive frivolous accessibility lawsuits. (SB 359)
*Passed a bill allowing for pro-rating of abatement for buildings that are heavily damaged. (SB 382)

Increasing Personal Freedoms

*Passed a bill to ensure that students are not forced to attend schools teaching material that parents find objectionable. (HB 542)
*Passed a bill to outlaw preferences in hiring or promotion in state agencies based on race, sex, religion or sexual preferences, leveling the playing field for all individuals to succeed based on merit. (HB 623)
*Passed a bill protecting a student’s freedom of association. (HB 1417)
*Expanded the violations of privacy law. (HB 1537)
*Decriminalized firearm possession in Fish and Game refuges. (HB 1555)
*Passed a bill allowing sheriffs to issue permits in areas with no police chief. (HB 1246)
*Passed a bill that requires probably cause for Fish and Game officers to make an arrest. (HB 1332)
*Passed a bill protecting parental rights of deployed military personnel. (HB 1419)
*Blocked the state from sharing personal information with other states to deny rights because of not paying taxes. (HB 1701)