REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE NURSING MOTHERS WITH ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT SPACE AND BREAK TIME:   The Senate Commerce Committee voted 5-0 to recommend passage of SB 618 with amendment.  As amended the bill would require employers with 6 or more employees to provide nursing employees with an unpaid break of at least 30 minutes for every three hours of worked performed, and access to sufficient space for expression of milk during work hours.  This would have to be allowed for a period of one year from the date of birth of the child.  The bill also would provide a tax credit of up to $5,000 against the NH Business Enterprise Tax for costs an employer would incur to make sufficient space available.  The full Senate will vote on the bill next Thursday, March 5.

REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS FOR PREGNANT EMPLOYEES:  On Tuesday, March 3 the Senate Commerce Committee will hear SB 679, which would require an employer to provide a pregnant employee with reasonable accommodation if the employee so requests with the advice of the employees’ health care provider. 

PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE:  On Tuesday, March 3 the Senate Finance Committee will hear two bills establishing paid family and medical leave.  SB 730 is the Governor’s bill and would enable private employers to voluntarily participate in a state-run program.  HB 712 is the Democratic-lead legislative version that would establish a mandatory program for employers.  The legislature is not likely to pass the Governor’s bill, and the Governor will veto the legislature’s bill, so this issue isn’t likely to go anywhere this year. 

REGULATION OF FOOD TRUCKS:  The Senate Commerce Committee voted 5-0 to recommend passage of SB 479, which would establish a committee to study and review state and municipal regulation of food trucks and to evaluate ways to reduce state and local barriers to operating food trucks in NH.  The Committee would be charged will filing a report by November 1, 2020.  The full Senate will vote on the bill on March 5.

DOGS IN OUTDOOR AREAS OF BREW PUBS:  The Senate Commerce Committee has voted 4-1 to recommend passage of SB 450, which would allow brew pub licensees to enable patrons to bring their dogs onto outdoor patios provided that the access to the patio is from the exterior of the building.  The full Senate will vote on the bill on March 5. 

ADDING THE SALE OF SKI TICKETS TO THE MEALS AND ROOMS TAX:  The House Ways & Means Committee has voted 20-0 to recommend that HB 1652 be killed.  The bill would add the sale of ski tickets under the meals and rooms tax.  NHLRA opposes this bill.  The full House will vote on the bill next Thursday, March 5.

LICENSING OF MUSHROOM HARVESTERS:  The House passed HB 1692 with amendment.  As amended, the bill would establish a licensing program for wild mushroom harvesters within the NH Department of Health & Human Services so that such mushrooms will be considered as being an “approved source” and thereby able to be purchased by food establishments.  The bill has now been referred to the House Executive Departments & Administration Committee for further review.    

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

REGULATION OF FOOD TRUCKS:  The Senate Commerce Committee voted 5-0 to recommend passage of SB 479, which would establish a committee to study and review state and municipal regulation of food trucks and to evaluate ways to reduce state and local barriers to operating food trucks in NH.  The Committee would be charged will filing a report by November 1, 2020.  The full Senate will vote on the bill on March 5.

DOGS IN OUTDOOR AREAS OF BREW PUBS:  The Senate Commerce Committee has voted 4-1 to recommend passage of SB 450, which would allow brew pub licensees to enable patrons to bring their dogs onto outdoor patios provided that the access to the patio is from the exterior of the building.  The full Senate will vote on the bill on March 5. 

ADDING THE SALE OF SKI TICKETS TO THE MEALS AND ROOMS TAX:  The House Ways & Means Committee has voted 20-0 to recommend that HB 1652 be killed.  The bill would add the sale of ski tickets under the meals and rooms tax.  NHLRA opposes this bill.  The full House will vote on the bill on March 5.

LICENSING OF MUSHROOM HARVESTERS:  The House Environment Committee has voted 19-1 to recommend passage of HB 1692 with amendment.  As amended, the bill would establish a licensing program for wild mushroom harvesters within the NH Department of Health & Human Services so that such mushrooms will be considered as being an “approved source” and thereby able to be purchased by food establishments.  The full House will vote on the bill on March 5. 

MOTORIST SERVICE SIGNS NORTH OF CONCORD:  The House passed HB 1363.  The bill would allow logos of restaurants, lodging establishments and campgrounds to be placed on the large blue motorist service signs on limited access highways north of Concord.  Currently, the logos are only allowed on signs on highways Concord and south.  The bill now goes to the Senate.  

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

RESTAURANT DELIVERY OF ALCOHOL:  On Tuesday, February 18 at 1:30 p.m. the Senate Commerce Committee will hear SB 512, which would allow restaurants to obtain a special alcohol delivery license that would enable the restaurant to deliver up to 192 ounces of beer or up to 1.5 liters of wine with the delivery of a meal prepared by the license.  It also would allow restaurants engaged in take-out-service to include wine and beer in the take-out order.  NHLRA supports this bill. 

REGULATION OF FOOD TRUCKS:  On Wednesday, February 19 at 2:15 p.m. the Senate Commerce Committee will hear SB 479, which would establish a committee to study and review state and municipal regulation of food trucks and to evaluate ways to reduce state and local barriers to operating food trucks in NH.  The Committee would be charged will filing a report by November 1, 2020. 

DOGS IN OUTDOOR AREAS OF BREW PUBS:  On Wednesday, February 19 at 2:00 p.m. the Senate Commerce Committee will hear SB 450, which would allow brew pub licensees to enable patrons to bring their dogs onto outdoor patios provided that the access to the patio is from the exterior of the building.
 
ADDING THE SALE OF SKI TICKETS TO THE MEALS AND ROOMS TAX:  The House Ways & Means Committee has voted 20-0 to recommend that HB 1652 be killed.  The bill would add the sale of ski tickets under the meals and rooms tax.  The full House will vote on the bill next Wednesday, February 19.

BEDBUGS:  A subcommittee of the House Health & Human Services Committee has voted to recommend killing HB 1428.  The bill would 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.  The full committee will vote on the bill soon.

LICENSING OF MUSHROOM HARVESTERS:  The House Environment Committee has voted 19-1 to recommend passage of HB 1692 with amendment.  As amended, the bill would establish a licensing program for wild mushroom harvesters within the NH Department of Health & Human Services so that such mushrooms will be considered as being an “approved source” and thereby able to be purchased by food establishments.  The full House will vote on the bill next Wednesday, February 19. 

MOTORIST SERVICE SIGNS NORTH OF CONCORD:  The House Transportation Committee has voted 19-0 to recommend passage of HB 1363, which would allow logos of restaurants, lodging establishments and campgrounds to be placed on the large blue motorist service signs on limited access highways north of Concord.  Currently, the logos are only allowed on signs on highways  Concord and south.  The full House will vote on the bill next Wednesday, February 19. 
 
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, February 12 at 10:30 a.m. the House Municipal & County Government Committee will continue its work 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.  A similar bill passed the House last year and was tabled in the Senate.  This bill is likely to pass the House again this year.  NHLRA opposes this bill.  We will have to reach out to the entire Senate again to stop this there.

ADDING THE SALE OF SKI TICKETS TO THE MEALS AND ROOMS TAX:  The House Ways & Means Committee has voted 20-0 to recommend that HB 1652 be killed.  The bill would add the sale of ski tickets under the meals and rooms tax.  NHLRA opposes this bill.  The full House is expected to vote on the bill on February 20.

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.  

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