Legislative Update for January 19, 2018

INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE:  On Tuesday, January 23 at 1:30 p.m. the Senate Commerce Committee will hear SB 554, which would increase the minimum wage as follows: on July 1, 2018, $7.50 an hour if the employer offers health insurance to its employees and $9.00 if the employer does not offer health insurance; on July 1, 2019, $9.00 an hour if the employer offers health insurance and $11.00 if the employer does not offer health insurance; on July 1, 2020, $10.50 an hour if the employer offers health insurance and $13.00 if the employer does not offer insurance; on July 2021, $12.00 an hour if an employer offers health insurance and $15.00 if the employer does not offer health insurance.  NHLRA opposes this bill.
 
PAYMENT FOR UNUSED VACATION OR PERSONAL TIME:  On Wednesday, January 24 at 10:00 a.m. the House Labor Committee will hear HB 1393, which would require an employer that terminates an employee for any reason to pay that employee no later than the next regular pay period for unused vacation time or personal time.  NHLRA opposes this bill.
 
ADVANCE NOTICE OF WORK SCHEDULE:  On Wednesday, January 24 at 1:00 p.m. the House Labor Committee will hear HB 1451, which would require employers with 10 or more employees or 2 or more locations to provide an employee with a work schedule in writing at least 7 days before the first day of the work schedule.  The employer would have to post the written work schedule in a conspicuous and accessible location.  If the employer requests changes to the written work schedule the employer would have to provide the employee with timely notice of the change and the employee would be entitled to decline any work shifts not included in the original noticed work schedule.  NHLRA opposes this bill.

ROOM REMARKETERS:  On Thursday, January 18  NHLRA testified in the House Ways & Means Committee in support of HB 1548, which would subject the full amount charged by room remarketers (like Travelocity, Airbnb, HomeAway, etc.) to the meals and rooms tax.  These remarketers would become the licensed entity to collect and remit the tax due on rooms sold through their marketplaces.  The trade association representing these room remarketers is lobbying against this bill.  NHLRA urges members to email the House Ways & Means Committee at HouseWays&MeansCommittee@leg.state.nh.us and urge them to pass HB 1548 to ensure a level playing field between our industry and the online remarketers. 
 
ALLOWING CITIES AND TOWNS TO LICENSE SHORT TERM RENTALS:  On Tuesday, February 6 at 2:00 p.m. the House Commerce Committee will hear HB 1635, which would allow cities and towns to issue licenses for the operation of a short term rental. 
 
LIMITING THE TYPES OF BEVERAGES OFFERED WITH A CHILDREN’S MEAL:  On Wednesday, February 14 at 2:00 p.m. the House Commerce Committee will hear HB 1668, which would limit the beverages offered with a children’s meal to milk or a non-dairy milk alternative, 100 percent juice or fruit juice combined with water or carbonated water with no added caloric sweetness, water, sparkling water, or flavored water with no added natural or artificial sweeteners.  NHLRA opposes this bill.
 
SEPARATE BATHROOMS FOR EACH SEX:  On Wednesday, February 14 at 1:15 p.m. the House Commerce Committee will hear HB1382, which would repeal the requirement that restaurants provide separate bathrooms for each sex.

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