HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTE TO MAKE NEW HAMPSHIRE LESS SAFE FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTORS

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, the House Republicans voted to block House Bill 564, legislation that would have put uniform standards in place for use of rubber bullets and tear gas on peaceful protestors. Following the vote Representative Casey Conley (D-Dover), released the following statement:

“This bill would have established uniform statewide standards around law enforcement's use of certain non-deadly weapons. These weapons, which were used against peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters around the country last summer, are less lethal than firearms but are still deadly. By killing this bill, the House missed an opportunity to place safeguards around the use of these weapons against New Hampshire residents.”

HOUSE REPUBLICANS PASS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CONDONE CRIMINAL VIOLENCE

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, the House of Representatives voted 206-144 to pass House Bill 197, a bill aimed at unnecessarily expanding the existing “stand your ground” statute. Following the vote Representative David Meuse (D-Portsmouth), released the following statement:

“Allowing more gun violence in our communities will only harm public safety. We have already seen criminals use New Hampshire’s “stand your ground” law as a shield against prosecution for violence in our streets. This dangerous expansion of the “stand your ground” law will only allow more criminals to avoid prosecution. Our collective goal should be to reduce gun violence in New Hampshire, not exacerbate it. Too many people have lost their lives to reckless gun violence in New Hampshire, we cannot rightfully pass legislation that would endanger more of our constituents.”

REPUBLICANS BLOCK BIPARTISAN AFFORDABLE HOUSING LEGISLATION SUPPORTED BY GOVERNOR

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today, the House of Representatives, led by House Republicans, voted to stall House Bill 586, bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the shortage of affordable housing in New Hampshire. Following the vote Representative Marjorie Porter (D-Hillsborough), released the following statement:

“This bill originally came out of a recommendation from the Governor’s affordable housing taskforce, was worked on by a dedicated, bipartisan group of legislators and stakeholders over months in the Municipal and County Government Committee last year and this term. This is sound, enabling legislation that will move our state in the right direction to addressing our affordable housing shortage. Our constituents across the state were already struggling to find affordable housing, and the economic shockwaves caused by the pandemic have only intensified this problem. It is extremely disappointing that House Republicans would buck the governor, their own caucus members, and most importantly their constituents to sideline this bill.”