CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - With two months left in the legislative session, Senate budget writers are focused on reworking the House’s $11.2 billion two-year state spending plan.
Senators must pass a budget by June 4, before entering into negotiations with the House. The two chambers will then send Gov. Maggie Hassan a plan that she’ll have until June 30 to sign. As the session wraps up, lawmakers are still working on non-budget bills related to fetal homicide laws, marijuana, restrictions on the use of welfare benefits and workers’ compensation costs. Here are some of the highlights:
BUDGET
Senators are hoping to restore money in the state’s rainy day and renewable energy funds, both of which the House raided for a combined $60 million. Senators are also eager to provide more money for services for people with developmental disabilities and older people, and to restore money for tourism promotion.
The Senate’s ability to make all of the changes it wants will depend heavily on revenue numbers. April is a significant month for business tax revenues. Seeing these numbers typically allows the Senate to raise revenue estimates - and spend more money. April revenues came in slightly below plan, but the state is still $29 million ahead of plan for the year. Business taxes came in eight percent below target.
Republicans say the budget won’t include money to continue Medicaid expansion, a key priority for Hassan. She hasn’t said if she’ll veto a bill without it.
The existing $10.7 billion spending plan ends June 30.
FETAL HOMICIDE
Both chambers are looking to pass legislation that would let criminal charges be brought for the death of a fetus in certain cases, excluding abortion. Supporters say so-called fetal homicide laws give women the necessary legal recourse when they lose a pregnancy from an assault or other type of criminal act.
A House version of the bill allows for charges after a fetus reaches eight weeks of development, but a Senate version waits until the point of viability.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
The House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee is working on a plan aimed at bringing down the state’s high costs of on-the-job injuries. A compromise has been elusive for several years, with businesses hoping for the state to set prices but doctors and workers resisting a so-called “fee schedule.”
Republican Rep. Will Infantine, chairman of the committee, says he’s working up a plan to set a price schedule by using data from existing costs in New Hampshire but still give doctors leeway on how much they can charge.
MARIJUANA
The Senate has rejected efforts in recent years to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, but will have another opportunity to vote on the legislation this year. The House has passed a bill that reduces the penalty for possessing half an ounce or less of marijuana to a violation.
Hassan’s office says she doesn’t support the bill as written.
EBT CARDS
Both chambers are looking to restrict what welfare recipients can buy with cash benefits they get by using their electronic benefit cards. A House bill restricts where the cards can be used while a Senate bill bans the purchase of specific items such as alcohol, tobacco or guns. The two chambers will likely hold a committee of conference to negotiate a final bill.
Republicans generally support restricting how the benefits can be used, while Democrats do not.
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