ALLOWING TOWNS TO ADOPT A LOCAL ROOMS TAX:  The Senate voted to lay HB 641 on the table.  The bill would allow cities and towns to collect a daily charge of up to $2 per occupancy, 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.  If the bill remains on the table after June 6 it will require a 2/3 vote of the Senate to pass.  All 10 republicans oppose the bill so that will not happen.    

MINIMUM WAGE:  The Senate voted re-refer HB 186 back to committee for further review.   HB 186 would increase the minimum wage to $9.50 on January 1, 2020; to $10.75 on January 1, 2021; and to $12.00 on January 1, 2022.  It would also increase the wage for tipped employees from 45% of the minimum to 50% of the minimum.  Lastly, it would set a youth wage that would be $1 less than the minimum.  This vote to re-refer the bill means that there is ony one other bill still in play to raise the minimum wage.  – SB 10.  This Senate Bill would raise the minimum wage to $12 over three years.  It would go to $10.00 on January 1, 2020, and then on January 1, 2022 to $11.00 for employers that offer their employees at least 10 paid sick days, and $12 for employers who don’t offer their employees 10 paid sick days.  It would also separate the tip wage from the minimum.  Instead setting the tip wage to a percentage of the minimum (currently 45%), it would set it at $4.00.  It would guarantee that tipped employees would earn at least $12.00/hour through tips and wages combined.  If not, the employer would have to make up the difference.  The House Labor Committee has voted to gut the Senate version and replace it with their House-passed HB 186 version (see above).  The full House will likely go along with this next Thursday when they meet in Session.  The differences between the House and Senate versions will have to be resolved in a committee of conference in a few weeks.

STATE BUDGET / TOURISM PROMOTION:  The Senate Finance Committee voted to reduce from the House version the amount targeted to tourism promotion.  Earlier this Session, the House proposed an increase of $3 million per year in the state budget to promote NH as a destination spot.  A total of $10.8 million would be appropriated each year.  This was the first time in a long time that a budget was approved in one body of the legislature with funding tourism promotion at the statutory amount equaling 3.15% of the rooms and meals taxes collecting in the prior year.  This was a big victory for those in the tourism industry.  Led by Senator Dan Feltes, the Senate Finance Committee voted to reduce the House-passed version by $1 million the first year, and by $500,000 in the second year.  This would result in appropriation of $9.8 million in the first year, and $10.3 million in the second year.  The full Senate will vote on their version of the budget next Thursday, June 6. 
 
 Contact the NHLRA with your legislative questions or concerns at 603-228-9585 or info@nhlra.com.

NEED YOUR FEEDBACK ON NEW SWIMMING POOL REGULATIONS:  The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services wants to change its program that regulates public bathing facilities (swimming pools, spas, etc).  They have to inspect 1300 pools/year and only have the ability to visit 1/3 of them per year.  They are finding more and more problems so they want to make sure operators have qualified people that can basically self-certify that they are in compliance.  The new law would require pools to be operated only under the supervision of an individual who has successfully completed the certified pool and spa operator certification program offered by the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, National Swimming Pool Foundation or other certification programs approved by the Department.  It would also require pool operators to complete an annual self-certification declaration stating each pool at the facility is in compliance with all applicable requirements.  An annual fee of $250 per pool up to a maximum of $1500 would also be established.  These proposed changes are found in section 127 of HB 2 which is currently in the Senate Finance Committee.  NHLRA has not weighed in yet.  We’d love to hear your feedback.
 
MANDATING CHANGING STATIONS IN PUBLIC BATHROOMS:  The Senate voted to re-refer HB 520 back to Committee for further review.  HB 520 would require public accom­modations built after January 1, 2021 to install and maintain at least one diaper changing station that is accessible to all genders.  It would also apply to any single renovation of an existing building or facility which is proposed to be constructed on or after January 1, 2021, if the cost of such renovation exceeds $50,000.  The State Building Code Review Board will be taking this matter up at an upcoming meeting and therefore, the Senate re-referred the bill to allow them the opportunity to address this issue. 
 
UNIVERSAL CHANGING STATIONS:  The Senate Executive Departments Committee has voted 4-1 to recommend passage of HB 628 , which would require newly constructed public buildings with foot traffic of more than 1500 people per day or of more than 40,000 square feet, to have at least one universal changing station installed in a family restroom facility for persons of either sex who have a physical disability.  The full Senate will vote on the bill next Thursday, May 23. 
 

CASINOS:  By one of the largest margins in recent memory, the House killed SB 310 on a vote of 289-63.  It then voted to indefinitely postpone the bill which prevents the House from considering it this year or next without a 2/3 majority vote.  This pretty much kills it for good through the 2020 Session.    

PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE:  As expected, Governor Sununu vetoed the Democratic legislature’s version of paid family medical leave.  It would require 16 votes in the Senate to override his veto, and there are only 14 Democrats, and all the republicans will vote to sustain his veto so it looks like the Democrats version is dead.  The Democrats want a paid family leave program that covers all employees.  It would be paid for through a payroll deduction.  Sununu has called this an income tax.  He prefers a voluntary program.  His version was stripped out of the budget and is not in play right now.  It appears this issue will end in a draw with nothing moving forward. 

MANDATING CHANGING STATIONS IN PUBLIC BATHROOMS:  The Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee has voted 5-0 to recommend re-referring HB 520 back to Committee for further review.  HB 520 would require public accom­modations built after January 1, 2021 to install and maintain at least one diaper changing station that is accessible to all genders.  It would also apply to any single renovation of an existing building or facility which is proposed to be constructed on or after January 1, 2021, if the cost of such renovation exceeds $50,000.  The Committee noted that State Building Code Review Board will be taking this matter up at an upcoming meeting and therefore, the Committee recommends re-referring the bill to allow them the opportunity to address this issue.  The full Senate will vote on the bill next Wednesday, May 15.
 
PLASTIC BAGS AND STRAWS:  The Senate Commerce Committee voted 4-1 to recommend killing two bills that would roll back the use of plastic bags and straws.  HB 558 would prohibit food service businesses from providing a plastic straw to a customer unless specifically requested.  HB 560 would prohibit stores and restaurants from providing single-use plastic bags except to distribute their remaining 2018 inventory.  It would allow stores and restaurants to provide reusable plastic or recycled paper bags to customers for 10 cents, to be retained by the business.   NHLRA opposes both bills.  The full Senate will vote on the bills next Wednesday, May 15.  

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

WORKERS COMPENSATION:  The House passed SB 99 with amendment on a vote of 204-152.  As amended, the bill would clarify the definition of gainful employment.  When someone goes off temporary partial disability workers compensation and returns to work at a different position, this bill would ensure that the employer would have to return the worker to a position that pays the employee similarly to what they were being paid prior to the work injury.  A provision to remove the 262 week limit on payments for temporary and permanent partial disability was taken out by the House Labor Committee.  This provision could have increased workers compensation by between 5-30 percent.  NHLRA opposes the bill.  It now goes back to the Senate for consideration of the House amendment.

NEW SWIMMING POOL REGULATIONS:  The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services wants to change its program that regulates public bathing facilities (swimming pools, spas, etc).  The new law would require pools to be operated only under the supervision of an individual who has successfully completed the certified pool and spa operator certification program offered by the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, National Swimming Pool Foundation or other certification programs approved by the Department.  It would also require pool operators to complete an annual self-certification declaration stating each pool at the facility is in compliance with all applicable requirements.  An annual fee of $250 per pool up to a maximum of $1500 would also be established.  These proposed changes are found in section 127 of HB 2 which is currently in the Senate Finance Committee. 

MINIMUM WAGE:  On Thursday, May 9 the Senate Commerce Committee will hear HB 186, which would increase the minimum wage to $9.50 on January 1, 2020; to $10.75 on January 1, 2021; and to $12.00 on January 1, 2022.  It would also increase the wage for tipped employees from 45% of the minimum to 50% of the minimum.  That would increase the tip wage from $3.27 to $4.75, then $5.38, then $6.00 over three years.  Lastly, it would set a youth wage that would be $1 less than the minimum.  NHLRA opposes the bill. 

CASINOS:  The House Ways & Means Committee has voted 17-2 to recommend that SB 310 be killed.  The bill would authorize two casinos in NH.  The committee noted that the New England Region is already overcrowded with casinos and that New Hampshire could not likely support a destination casino.  The committee was also concerned with cannibalization of existing businesses in the state.  The full House will vote on the bill next Wednesday or Thursday. 
 
Contact the NHLRA with your legislative questions or concerns at 603-228-9585 or info@nhlra.com.