Mandatory Board Training Bill Goes to Interim Study
Within the final weeks of activity, the full House sent SB177, the bill that would subject organizations that receive more than $250,000 in aggregate of governmental funding, to Interim Study on a voice vote.
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Right-to-Know Attempt Falls Short Again
April 26, 2012 - The Senate accepted the Public & Municipal Affairs Committee’s recommendation to find HB1308 Inexpedient to Legislate on a Voice Vote April 25, effectively ending this session’s initiative to add certain nonprofits to the current Right-to-Know NH statutes.
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Committee Recommends Right-to-Know Legislation Be Killed
April 18, 2012 - A bill, that if passed would subject certain nonprofits to the current right-to-know laws and would lead to multiple negative and costly challenges to the nonprofit sector, was recommended ITL (inexpedient to legislate) yesterday due in part to the effective advocacy implemented by nonprofit board and staff leaders from across the state.
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Call to Action! Time to Speak Out Against HB 1308
April 16, 2012 - Last week Senator Jack Barnes, Chair of the Public and Municipal Affairs Committee, (R-Raymond) recessed the hearing on the Right-To-Know legislation HB 1308 and it is now scheduled to be heard tomorrow, Tuesday, April 17 at 9:00am in room 101 of the LOB. Nonprofit leaders are urge to speak out against this legislation.
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Right-to-Know Bill Sails through the House
March 16, 2012 - A bill that many in the nonprofit sector oppose because it would require certain group of nonprofits (those founded by government and also receiving $250,000 or more in state grants) to come under the current Right-to-Know law received a vote of “Ought to Pass” by a 254-69 margin in the House this week.
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Mandatory Board Training Bill Heading to Sub-Committee
March 13, 2012 - SB177, the bill that would require certain nonprofits to adhere to mandatory board training is on pause after the House Executive Departments & Administration Committee sent it to a sub-committee for study. The Center’s Board Chairman, John Gilbert, led the testimonies given by nonprofit organizations and independent board members; all of whom opposed the bill. 
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Right to Know Bill Lives On
February 22, 2012 - The House Judiciary Committee voted HB1308 “Ought to Pass” on a vote of 10-3; it will now move on to the full House. The bill would bring “any nonprofit corporation created by and primarily funded by, any agency, authority, departments, or office of the state” under the current Right to Know laws: RSA 91-A:1-a.
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Board Training Bill Receives Public Hearing Date
February 22, 2012 - SB177, the mandatory board training bill, is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Executive Departments & Administration Committee on March 13 at 10:45 am in LOB306.
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Housing Action NH leads Charge on Workforce Housing Legislation
February 22, 2012 - The House Municipal & County Government Committee recommended HB 1282, the bill which would gut New Hampshire’s Workforce Housing law, “ Inexpedient to Legislate” (ITL) with a strong 15-2 vote to kill the bill. Housing Action NH is following this issue closely, and advises the sector that regardless of the committee vote, the work isn’t complete.
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Right to Know Bill Vote Scheduled for 2/16
February 13, 2012 - HB1308, the bill that would expand the state’s current Right-to-Know laws (RSA 91-A:1-a) to certain nonprofits will head for a vote in the House Judiciary Committee this Thursday, February 16 at 10:30am.

The bill title may say "quasi-governmental," but the text itself refers specifically to nonprofits. The Center is concerned about the re-appearance of this ongoing effort to add nonprofits to the current Right-to-Know laws and has consistently testified against this effort.. If you share that concern, we urge you to call members of the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee is expected to vote on this bill Thursday, February 16 at 10:30am.

To voice your opinions, contact members of the House Judiciary Committee
Talking Points on HB1308

Nonprofit Tax Exemption Threatened
February 13, 2012 - Two house bills that call into question tax exemption status were in front of the House Municipal and County Government Committee recently. As Pinkerton Academy, the original target of HB1201, appeared, they learned that they were not alone. The bill’s sponsor also proposed an amendment that would expand the bill to apply to all public academies.

There is concern that this could be even further expanded to all types of nonprofits. The Center testified against the passage of this bill and setting such a precedent.

The same committee had previously voted to have HB1482,  relative to the tax exemption for hospitals, moved out of committee on a vote of 17-0. The bill was returned to the House floor earlier this week due to "new information." One of the bill's sponsors, Phil Greazzo (R, Manchester) wanted to introduce new information to the committee for a work session. The bill will now be taken up in executive session on February 13.

To voice your concern about any movement toward the general court questioning tax exempt status for a particular organization, sub-sector, or the sector as a whole, contact the members of the House Municipal and County Government Committee. Both bills are expected to be voted on in the week ahead.

Grassroots Effort Pays Off
February 13, 2012 - Dozens of opponents attended and testified before of the House Ways and Means Committee last week, in opposition to HB1556, which called for drastic changes to the fee structure supporting the NH Charitable Trust Unit. Their concerns were heard and the bill was voted out of committee.

The bill would have reduced the fees that charitable organizations pay to register and annually file with the Charitable Trusts Unit. The reduction of these fees would have resulted in a 43% decrease in revenues for the Unit, therefore reducing the Unit's ability for outreach programs and the regular oversight, guidance and counsel the Unit offers the sector.

In its testimony, the Center stated that the Unit's oversight of the nonprofit sector in New Hampshire is 'healthy and appropriate’ and that many of the smaller organizations, approximately 6,700 of the 8,400 nonprofits registered, stood to lose the most since the Unit is a valuable resource to them specifically. The Committee found the bill inexpedient to legislate by a vote of 20-0.

Ten Year Plan for Legislative Districts Passed
February 3, 2012 - The state Senate passed a redistricting plan on a partisan vote of 19-5. The House is reportedly likely to follow the Senate’s plan, which may represent what the New Hampshire electoral districts will look like for the next decade. You can view this map at NHPR.

Put Away $26m for a Rainy Day
February 3, 2012 - In a continuing divergence of ideology, the House voted 269-81 to put away $26 Million for the Rainy Day Fund while the Governor argued that the money should be used to balance the current state budget. The funds are from a surplus from the 2011 state budget. The rainy-day conversation will continue as the bill now goes to the House Finance Committee for review; the bill also requires Senate approval.

Right-to-Know Bill Heads to Hearing
January 27, 2012 - A priority bill of concern for the nonprofit sector and one the NH Center for Nonprofits will oppose is HB1308 regarding changes in the right-to-know law. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in front of the House Judiciary Committee on February 2, 2012 at 3:00pm in LOB 208.
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Bills Regarding Charitable Trusts Unit to be Reviewed
January 27, 2012 - There was significant testimony at the legislative hearings this week on three bills, which - if passed - would deregulate and defund the Charitable Trusts Unit of the Attorney General’s office, which maintains oversight of the nonprofit sector.

HB1479, HB1624 and HB1625 are bills relative to the definition, capacity and reporting of fundraising efforts within our sector. The House Judiciary Committee members shared their concerns around the language and intent of the bills. The Committee also heard testimony stating that removing some of the current safeguards in place for fundraising and fiduciary accountability may lead to unintended consequences.

In his testimony, Charitable Trusts Unit Director Anthony Blenkinsop stated that nonprofits take the responsibility of raising funds from the public extremely serious and that the current measures in place support that sacred trust.

The Center feels that the current oversight of the Charitable Trusts Unit to be healthy and appropriate, and agrees that removal of the current safeguards may have far-reaching consequences.

The sponsor, Representative Cusson-Cail (R-Manchester), has committed to working directly with the Charitable Trust Unit on the language and intent of the bills indicating that the original language is likely to be adjusted.

SB177 Passes the Senate, and Goes to the House
SB177, the mandatory board training bill passed the Senate this week. There was a substantial amount of discussion on the bill on the Senate Floor, as Senator Sylvia Larsen spoke to concerns.  Senator Molly Kelly’s motion to table the bill was eventually defeated by 15-9.  The bill passed with amendment and is now heading to the House.

House Passes Its Vision for Redistricting
The House this week passed its version of the new legislative districting map for New Hampshire. Why is this important? Whatever eventual map of legislative districts is what we will be looking at for our electorate for the next ten years. In this format, already the shifts would be notable and surely would change the current political party landscape.
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Mandatory Training Bill Lives On
December 16, 2011 - The bill on mandatory training, SB 177, was voted out of the Senate Executive Departments & Administration Committee and now will move onto the Senate floor in January. While voting on the bill, the committee discussed a number of the concerns they heard from advocacy groups including the Center.
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Board Training Bill and Review of Nonprofit Laws Back on the Burner
September 13, 2011 - Last week the Senate’s Executive Department and Administration Committee took up SB 177 (the nonprofit executive and board training bill). The Committee voted to rework the legislation in the months ahead for a potential reintroduction of the legislation for the 2012 session.

Committee Chair Senator Sharon Carson ( R) said that she has a reinvigorated interest in the legislation, much due to the current challenges being faced by the Local Government Center (LGC) . The Senator voiced concerns around the LGC’s current legal challenges and news reports as an example of how training for boards is needed. Senator Carson indicated the LGC situation prompts the need for an overall review of all current laws about nonprofits. Senator Carson noted that she will be working with the state’s Charitable Trust Unit on the “daunting task”.

Senator Luther (R), Senator Groen ( R ) and Senator Larsen ( D) volunteered to work on the legislation. The Committee said that their intention is to establish a stakeholder group to work on the legislation; one that can provide insights.

Learn more about the Local Government Centers recent challenges...

We will keep you posted on further developments in the weeks ahead. SB 177 in its current form can be found at: www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2011/SB0177.html

Heading to the Governor’s Desk:
An Agreed Upon Budget from the House and Senate
June 20, 2011 - The finance committee of conference reached agreement on the budget bills, HB 1 and HB 2 on June 16. In this final budget recommendation, the state will spend $4.4 billion over the next two years, a reduction of 11% over current spending levels. The House and Senate will both hold sessions on Wednesday, June 22 at 10:00am to act on committee of conference reports and address any remaining business.

If necessary, one or both chambers may meet again on Thursday the 23rd, which is the deadline to act on all committee of conference reports. There is general confidence that the House and Senate will pass the conference committee reports when they meet on Wednesday. What remains to be seen is whether the Governor will veto the budget put in front of him. Wednesday’s votes will determine whether or not there will be veto-proof majorities.

Throughout the session, it has been generally observed that all state agencies are to be affected by the cuts. In the nonprofit sector, much has been noted about the cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services which may lead to loss of services to thousands as well as signficant job losses. Along with that concern, much attention has been given to the cuts in education and healthcare. Under this budget, the University System will lose almost 50% of its state funding, which advocates say will lead to higher tuition. Hospital advocates, meanwhile, have been very vocal with concern regarding the loss of over $230 million in uncompensated care payments to the hospitals. They predict this will lead to higher health insurance premiums.

View all budget documents, including the latest at www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/fy2012_2013_budget.html

Senate Passes a $4 Billion State Budget
June 1, 2011 - The Senate voted 19-5 on June 1 to pass a $4.4 billion state budget. This budget would result in spending $71 million more than the proposed House budget and $250 million less than the budget proposed by the Governor. The vote came after a series of proposed amendments that would have added funds for hospital charity care, state colleges and universities, child health care, elderly housing services and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. 
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Senate Finance Committee Update
As reported on the Center’s website, and in all state media outlets, the Senate Finance Committee this past week cut approximately one-quarter of the provisions in HB2, therefore reducing the state budget bill by one-fourth.

Chairman Chuck Morse, R – Salem, stated that "many of the provisions did not have a place in a bill that deals with finances." This move stripped out one provision that the Center and sector advocates have closely monitored, provision 450 - the section that sought to cap local welfare responsibilities.

The Senate Finance Committee's other decisions of note were decisions to kill House efforts to strip collective bargaining rights from union members who delay approval of contracts and the proposed $110 million cut to hospitals through uncompensated care. The committee also refused to pass a $26 million cut in mental health services, and a $20 million cut to services for the disabled. The provision to abolish the Department of Cultural Resources was stripped, even if temporarily "depending on closer study of the cost savings."

The work was necessary, in the committee's words, to "clean up House Bill 2 so we could start building a budget." Many issues may indeed return for debate in policy committees, noted Chairman Morse. To view the bill in its current status as amended by the House, visit www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2011/HB0002.html

NH House Defeats HB1356
Right-to-Know Law Will Not Apply to Nonprofits
By a vote of 214 to 80 the NH House of Representatives voted against HB1356 late in the afternoon of March 18.  The floor debate lasted about 45 minutes.  The principal speakers were Representative Bill Johnson speaking against the bill, followed by the bill’s sponsor, Representative Rick Watrous who spoke for the bill, Representative Alida Millham who spoke in opposition to the bill, and Representative Gary Richardson.  A total of 13 questions were posed to the speakers by 13 different representatives.  When the House had no further questions, the vote was taken and the bill was ultimately voted inexpedient to legislate.