NH Bill Actions
Learn how to use the General Court website to register support of or opposition to bills in the Legislature.
To watch this presentation, select the following link and enter the passcode ChWq1H+V from the Zoom screen.
Watch Brian Beihl of Open Democracy Action explain how to register your views on State Legislation.
See below for a suggested list of bills to support or oppose and instructions on how to do so. The bills list is updated weekly by Sunday evening.
1. NH Bills of Interest This Week
For a full-page view of the spreadsheet list, hover over the spreadsheet and click the small grey box with the arrow at the top right.
2. How to Submit Your Position on a Bill Online
Instructions
Pick a bill from the "NH Bills of Interest" table above. Information you'll need about the bill (committee name, hearing date, bill number) is provided there. Then browse to the appropriate Online Testimony Submission page:
House: gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx
Senate: gencourt.state.nh.us/remotecommittee/senate.aspx
Step 1. Personal Information: (Enter Your Name, Town, Email)
Step 2. Select Date of the Hearing: (choose from the calendar)
Step 3. Select Bill:
Select the Committee: (choose from the drop-down menu)
Choose the Bill: (choose from the drop-down menu)
I am: A Member of the Public
I'm Representing: Myself
Indicate Your Position on this Bill: I Support (or Oppose) this Bill
Step 4. For the House, you may optionally upload a PDF or type in additional written testimony. For the Senate, see sending testimony via email below (#4).
Step 5. Submit
3. How to Testify on a Bill in Person at a Committee Hearing
Show up before the hearing starts prepared to give a 2 minute, concise talk. Sign up before the hearing on the sign-up sheet (also specify your position - support or oppose - there, in addition to having done so online before 8:00 am on the day of the hearing per step 2 above).
When you are called to testify: greet and thank the committee for hearing you, state your name, town, qualifications (e.g. member of your town's energy committee), your position on the bill, and the reasons. Try not to repeat what you've heard in previous testimony in the hearing, but you can mention you agree with specific previous points made.
You may deliver papers as well - best to provide a copy for each member of the committee.
After you speak for the time granted to you by the Committee Chair, committee members may ask you questions. It's better to be clear and brief in your statement and hope for more time to get to some details of interest in Q&A than it is to try to speed-talk your way through a lot of material in your statement or be cut off before you get to your main point.
Sample Testimony - NH Network Members - January 18, 2022
Bonnie Christie spoke about Extended Producer Responsibility and her part starts at about 26:15. Rep. Parshall Spoke first and then Lee Oxenham, also a bill sponsor, spoke just before her.
Currently, testimony can only be done in person. There are ongoing efforts to re-instate the option of online testimony.
First, find the bill webpage. One way to get there is to start at the Committees page:
House: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/standingcommittees.aspx
Senate: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/committees/senate_committees.aspx
Click on the Committee that will be holding the hearing.
Click on "Bills currently in Committee"
Click on the Bill number to load the page.
The Docket Description will provide the date, time, and location of the upcoming hearing.
4. How to Email Written Testimony on a Bill to Committee Members
In addition to submitting written input online (Step 2 above), you can email the Committee members. You can find the members of a committee listed with contact information either
on our new spreadsheet or
on the committee webpages. Start at the committee's page:
House: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/standingcommittees.aspx
Click on the committee name of interest to get to the committee page, then click on "Email All Committee Members" on that page.
Senate: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/committees/senate_committees.aspx
From there, click on "Email Entire Committee" for the committee of interest.
Put "Testimony", the Bill Number, a few words about it, and 'oppose' or 'support' in the Subject. Be respectful, courteous, and concise in your message for the best results.
5. General Court Resources
Check to see if your Representatives are showing up to vote and how they voted on roll call votes on the House or Senate floor, find bill details, and access hearing and floor vote schedules:
General Court of New Hampshire roll call votes: gencourt.state.nh.us/nhgcrollcalls
Bill quick search: gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/quicksearch.aspx
Find Your Representatives: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members
Senate Roster: gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/members/senate_roster.aspx
House Calendar: gencourt.state.nh.us/house/calendars_journals
House Weekly Meeting Schedule: gencourt.state.nh.us/house/schedule/dailyschedule.aspx
Senate Calendar: gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/calendars_journals
Senate Weekly Meeting Schedule: gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/schedule/dailyschedule.aspx
HOUSE
Navigate House website
Contact your State Representative(s)
View House Calendar (PDF) or Kent Street version
Find a House bill
Sign in to support/oppose House legislation
Stream House committee hearings
View Submitted Testimony
Review member voting records
SENATE
Navigate Senate website
Contact your State Senator
View Senate pdf calendar subscribe or digital weekly schedule
Find a Senate bill
Sign in to support/oppose Senate legislation
Stream Senate committee hearings
Review member voting records
6. Prior NH Bills of Interest: 2022 and 2023
To see the entire tables or to download copies, click in the upper right corner of the spreadsheet.
