Politics

Abortion data bill raises concerns among providers, privacy advocates

By TODD BOOKMAN

Abortion providers and some privacy advocates are rallying against a Republican proposal to collect abortion statistics, arguing the bill as written could put patient identities at risk.New Hampshire is one of four states that doesn’t collect and...

House Republicans recommend eliminating most of anti-hunger bill

By ETHAN DeWITT

House Republican lawmakers are moving to strip out major portions of a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing child hunger, arguing they are costly and unnecessary, in a decision that drew sharp criticism from Democrats and advocates.The House Finance...

Senate holds hearing on trans sports ban bill

By JEREMY MARGOLIS

In the latest hearing for a proposed ban on transgender athletes under consideration in New Hampshire’s State House, Pembroke resident and retired physician Jennifer Smith expressed a more nuanced position than most on the divisive issue.While...

On the trail: NH Democrats quietly hold second presidential primary

By PAUL STEINHAUSER

The Democratic National Committee will welcome New Hampshire’s delegates to the national nominating convention this summer in Chicago after the state party conducted a very small party-run presidential primary this weekend.An official vote bringing...

Senate weighs farm-to-school pilot program

By ETHAN DeWITT

Senators are considering creating a state-run “farm to schools” program to increase the amount of local produce that goes to school meals. House Bill 1678 would create a two-year pilot program to reimburse 10 public schools that purchase food from New...

As lawmakers contemplate requiring voter ID, one organization is ready to help

By ETHAN DeWITT

Sue Nastasi lost her birth certificate years ago. “Beats me where it is,” she said. But getting it back is not a simple matter. Nastasi was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in a hospital that doesn’t exist any more, under a different name, she said. She...

New Hampshire residents weigh compassion and caution in medical aid in dying bill

By SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN

Phillip Kaneb, sporting a vibrant blue shirt with a sticker boldly stating “no suicide,” strolled around the State House’s hallways on Wednesday, pausing intermittently to admire the paintings hanging on the walls, his infectious smile bringing joy to...

Bill requiring educators to answer parents’ questions moves forward

By JEREMY MARGOLIS

A bill that would require educators to answer parents’ questions about their children “completely and honestly” will move forward in the New Hampshire House without a recommendation from its Education Committee.On Tuesday – a day after the committee...

College due process rights at issue in NH bill

By RICK GREEN

An attorney for the University System of New Hampshire testified Tuesday that pending state legislation would disrupt an already effective system for handling disciplinary complaints at higher learning institutions.House Bill 1288 is aimed at ensuring...

At House hearing, some argue proposed transgender sports ban would violate anti-discrimination law

By JEREMY MARGOLIS

A week after a federal appeals court ruled a transgender sports ban in West Virginia was discriminatory, more than a dozen transgender girls, parents, educators and advocates in New Hampshire argued that a similar ban under consideration in New...

Committee approves bill allowing host communities to join charitable gaming

By SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN

The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously voted on Tuesday to advance Senate Bill 472, which allows host communities to participate in charitable gaming alongside charities and non-profits.Senate Bill 472, now heading to the full House of...

N.H. legislators continue to ignore three-year-old school-funding recommendations

The N.H. Senate is considering a bill to ban gender-affirming surgeries on minors. Hospitals statewide say they don't perform these procedures.

By JAMES RINKER

A bill that would ban gender-affirming surgery for minors in New Hampshire will have a public hearing before the state Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.But representatives from a dozen hospital systems statewide say they don’t perform this type...

Republicans have made illegal immigration a top issue in NH – sometimes with misinformation

On the trail: NH GOP leaders urge ‘decorum and respect’

By PAUL STEINHAUSER

Top Republican Party leaders in New Hampshire are calling for “decorum and respect” as candidates face off in the GOP gubernatorial primaries.The statement from NHGOP chair Chris Ager and New Hampshire’s two committee members on the Republican...

Sununu says he’ll support Trump even if he’s convicted

By JOSH ROGERS

As jury selection begins this week in the hush-money trial of former President Donald Trump, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu says he doesn’t believe many voters view Trump’s criminal indictments, his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, or his election denialism...

NH mayors want more help from state on homelessness prevention funds

By ETHAN DeWITT

When homeless residents request housing assistance from Keene, the city must help, even when shelters are full. As the number of New Hampshire’s homeless has grown, that has become increasingly expensive.During the fiscal year that ended in June 2023,...

Two democrats with parallel views run for same State Senate seat

By SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN

Angela Brennan of Bow and Rebecca McWilliams of Concord, both Democratic State Representatives, have entered the race for the New Hampshire State Senate in District 15, to fill the shoes of Sen. Becky Whitley, who is eyeing a congressional seat.The...

On the Trail: New congressional candidate spotlights border, inflation, overseas conflicts

By PAUL STEINHAUSER

Vikram Mansharamani charges that “Washington D.C. is completely dysfunctional,” but he’s hoping voters send him there to help fix the gridlock.Mansharamani, a businessman, entrepreneur, and author who made an unsuccessful run for the 2022 Republican...