January 31, 2020
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$12 MINIMUM WAGE AND $4 WAGE FOR TIPPED EMPLOYEES:  On a partisan 14-10 vote, the Senate passed SB 410, which would increase the state’s minimum wage to $10.00 on 1/1/2021 and then to $12.00 on 1/1/2023.  It would also change the wage for tipped employees from 45% of the applicable minimum wage to a flat $4.00.  This latter change is supported by NHLRA.  The bill now goes to the House.  This issue is likely to end up how it did last Session, with the legislature passing a minimum wage bill and the Governor vetoing it. 

ALLOWING TOWNS TO ADOPT A LOCAL ROOMS TAX:  On Tuesday, February 4 at 2:00 p.m. the House Municipal & County Government Committee will hold a work session on  HB 1160, which would allow cities and towns to collect a daily charge of up to $2 per room containing occupied beds, or as a percentage of the price of the room, provided that the rate doesn’t exceed $2 per occupancy per 24-hour period.  NHLRA opposes this bill. 

FOOD ALLERGIES:  A subcommittee of the House Commerce Committee voted 4-3 to recommend passage of HB 1102 with amendment.  As amended the bill would require food service establishments to include on all menus and menu boards a notice to customers of the customers obligation to inform their server of his or her food allergies.  It would also require food service establishments to have a person in charge at all times of operation trained and certified as a food protection manager.  This last provision is already a requirement of the new food code.  The full committee will vote on the bill next Tuesday, February 4.

ALLOWING DOGS ON RESTAURANT PATIOS:  On Wednesday, February 12 at 1:00 p.m. the House Commerce Committee will hear HB 1483, which would allow dogs on open air restaurant patios.  Access to the patio would have to be from the exterior of the restaurant. 

MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF SHORT TERM RENTALS:  On Wednesday, February 5 at 10:15 am the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee will hear SB 458, which would limit cities and towns ability to regulate short terms rentals like those rented through online platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway.
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Contact the NHLRA with your legislative questions or concerns at 603-228-9585 or info@nhlra.com.

January 24, 2020
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$12 MINIMUM WAGE AND $4 WAGE FOR TIPPED EMPLOYEES:  The Senate Commerce Committee has voted 3-2 to recommend passage of SB 410, which would increase the state’s minimum wage to $10.00 on 1/1/2021 and then to $12.00 on 1/1/2023.  It would also change the wage for tipped employees from 45% of the applicable minimum wage to a flat $4.00.  This latter change is supported by NHLRA.  The full Senate will vote on the bill next Thursday, January 30.  This issue is likely to end up how it did last Session, with the legislature passing a minimum wage bill and the Governor vetoing it. 
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FOOD IN CIGAR BARS:  The Senate Commerce Committee has voted 5-0 to recommend passage of SB 478 with amendment.  As amended, the bill would enable cigar shops to have food available, but still prohibit them from selling food.  The cigar shops want to be able to have complimentary snacks available for patrons.  The full Senate will vote on the bill next Thursday, January 30.

BEDBUGS:  On Tuesday, January 28 the House Health & Human Services Committee will hear HB 1428, which will require Town Health Officers, upon a complaint of a guest of an inn, hotel, motel or other establishment which provides lodging to transient guests, to enter the premises to evaluate whether bedbugs are present. 

FOOD WASTE:  On Wednesday, January 29 the House Health & Human Services Committee will hear HB 1703, which would establish a food waste working group to review existing regulations and policies to reduce food waste, to promote food recovery, and to identify regulatory hurdles that impede sharing of food with the hungry.  The working group would be comprised of 16 people, one of which would be a member appointed by the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association. 
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Contact the NHLRA with your legislative questions or concerns at 603-228-9585 or info@nhlra.com.

ALLOWING TOWNS TO ADOPT A LOCAL ROOMS TAX:  On Wednesday, January 22 at 10:00 a.m. the House Municipal & County Government Committee will hear HB 1160, which would allow cities and towns to collect a daily charge of up to $2 per room containing occupied beds, or as a percentage of the price of the room, provided that the rate doesn’t exceed $2 per occupancy per 24-hour period.  NHLRA opposes this bill. 

ADDING THE SALE OF SKI TICKETS TO THE MEALS AND ROOMS TAX:  On Tuesday, January 21 at 1:00 pm, the House Ways & Means Committee will hear HB 1652, which would add the sale of ski tickets under the meals and rooms tax.  

FOOD ALLERGIES:  On Wednesday, January 22 at 11:00 am the House Commerce Committee will hear HB 1102, which would require food service establishments to include on all menus and menu boards a notice to customers of the customers obligation to inform their server of of his or her food allergies.  It also directs the Department of Health & Human Services to develop a voluntary program for food service establishments to receive a designation as “food allergy friendly” and maintain such list on the Department’s website.  Finally, it would require food service establishments to have a person in charge at all times of operation trained and certified as a food protection manager.  This last provision is already a requirement of the new food code.  NHLRA is going to raise a few concerns with the bill.

SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS, CUPS AND STRAWS:  On Thursday, January 23 the House Commerce Committee will hear two bills related to plastic bags, cups and straws.  HB 1472 will prohibit food service establishments from providing a single use plastic straw to a customer unless specifically requested.  HB 1194 would permit any merchant to charge $.05 per single use plastic cup and bag to discourage the use of them and encourage the use of reusable ones.  Single use bags used for bulk items or to prevent leaking of food items would be exempt. 

LIMITING THE USE OF PAPER RECEIPTS:  On Thursday, January 23 the House Commerce Committee will hear HB 1508, which would require a business to provide a customer with proof of purchase only at the customers’ option.  No business could print a paper receipt unless the customer asks for one.  No paper receipt printed by a business could contain bisphenol A or bisphenol S. 

 Contact the NHLRA with your legislative questions or concerns at 603-228-9585 or info@nhlra.com.

January 10, 2020

The 2020 Session of the New Hampshire Legislature kicked off this past Wednesday with the House and Senate meeting to vote on bills left over from the 2019 Session.  They will be in Session this year until June 4.

​$15 MINIMUM WAGE:  On a vote of 212-155 the House passed HB 731, which would increase the state’s minimum wage in 6 increments over the next 5 years.  It would be increased as follows:  to $8.50 60 days after passage; $10.60 on 1/1/2021; $11.70 on 1/1/2022; $12.80 on 1/1/2023; $13.90 on 1/1/2024; and $15.00 on 1/1/2025.  The tipped wage would increase from 45% of the hourly minimum to 50%.  The bill now goes to the Senate.  NHLRA opposes this bill.

$12 MINIMUM WAGE AND $4 WAGE FOR TIPPED EMPLOYEES:  On Tuesday, January 14 at 2:20 p.m., the Senate Commerce Committee will hear SB 410, which would increase the state’s minimum wage to $10.00 on 1/1/2021 and then to $12.00 on 1/1/2023.  It would also change the wage for tipped employees from 45% of the applicable minimum wage to a flat $4.00.  Seperating the tip wage as a percentage is a change supported by NHLRA. 

ALLOWING CITIES AND TOWNS TO BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS:  On a vote of 215-151 the House passed HB 102, which would give cities and towns the ability to ban the distribution of single-use plastic bags.  The bill now goes to the Senate.  NHLRA opposes this bill. 

SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAG FEE:  On a vote of 205-158 the House passed HB 559, which would require businesses to charge 10 cents per single use plastic bag.  The business would retain the 10 cents.  The bill now goes to the Senate. 

PAYMENT OF ROOMS AND MEALS TAX FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS:  The House passed HB 274, which will require online companies such as Airbnb and Homeaway to collect the rooms and meals tax on behalf of the persons renting rooms on their platforms.  The bill now goes to the Senate.

PAYMENT FOR EARNED BUT UNUSED VACATION TIME:  The House passed HB 532 with amendment.  As amended, this bill requires employers to pay terminated employees for unused vacation time.  Payment must be made no later than the next pay period.  The bill now goes to the Senate.  NHLRA opposes this bill. 
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REQUIRING BUSINESSES TO ACCEPT CASH:  On Thursday, January 16 at 2:15 p.m. the House Commerce Committee will hear HB 1589, which will require businesses to accept cash as payment.
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Contact the NHLRA with your legislative questions or concerns at 603-228-9585 or info@nhlra.com.