Committee Summary for Senate Judiciary (03/11/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB269 00:07:06.280 - 12:06:42 PM	Public Hearing	removing references to matrimonial age and time waivers in the vital records act.	Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2024
SB269 00:09:29.399 - 12:09:05 PM	Executive Session	removing references to matrimonial age and time waivers in the vital records act.	Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2024
SB265 00:15:49.720 - 12:15:25 PM	Public Hearing	repealing the provision related to religious use of land and structures.	Prentiss, Suzanne(D)[F]2024
SB264 00:46:18.119 - 12:45:54 PM	Public Hearing	relative to the therapeutic cannabis program.	Prentiss, Suzanne(D)[F]2024
SB260 01:12:52.760 - 1:12:28 PM	Public Hearing	relative to access to abortion care.	Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2024
SB270 01:51:26.560 - 1:51:02 PM	Executive Session	relative to allowing owners to gather items necessary for work from impounded vehicles.	Murphy, Keith(R)[B+]2024

SB269: Senator Deborah Aler, District 24 (Exeter, Atkinson, Greenland, Rye, Hampton, North Hampton, Hampton Falls) Support00:07:06.280 - 12:06:42 PM; Senator Aler introduced Senate Bill 269, which was requested by the Secretary of State's office. The bill aims to clean up language in the statutes following last year's law that banned child marriage. Specifically, it changes the terms 'bride and groom' to 'applicants' and removes references to court-issued age waivers and time waivers that were previously done away with. She emphasized that this is not a policy change but a necessary language cleanup.
SB269: Kristen Martino, Registrar and Director of Vital Records Support00:08:43.039 - 12:08:19 PM; Kristen Martino supported the bill, explaining that it is necessary to clean up language in the statutes after the passage of last year's SB 359, which raised the minimum age of marriage to 18 and eliminated court-issued age waivers. She also noted the discovery of outdated references to time waivers, which were removed in 2006, and expressed the need to remove these from the statutes as well.
SB269: Committee Vote00:09:29.399 - 12:09:05 PM; The committee moved into an executive session where they voted to recommend that SB 269 ought to pass. There was no discussion recorded during the session.
SB265: Su Prentice, Senate District 5, representing 15 communities in the Upper Valley, Sullivan County, and New London Support00:15:49.720 - 12:15:25 PM; Senator Prentice introduced Senate Bill 265, aiming to repeal RSA 674:76, a provision implemented in 2022 concerning the religious use of land and structures. She emphasized that her intention is not to infringe on religious freedom or free speech but to preserve local control over zoning ordinances. She highlighted that communities like Lebanon already have zoning regulations in place for religious structures. Prentice mentioned a dispute in Bedford about home prayer groups as the origin of the 2022 law and expressed concern about the extremes of allowing religious structures anywhere without regard to local zoning. She suggested a potential middle ground, such as a study committee, to address these issues without usurping local control.
SB265: Michael Tierney, Attorney specializing in land use Oppose00:21:36.840 - 12:21:12 PM; Michael Tierney, an attorney with extensive experience in land use, particularly with religious institutions, opposed Senate Bill 265. He recounted his involvement in the original bill's creation in 2022, driven by cases of discrimination against churches by local zoning ordinances. He cited the example of Christ Redeemer Church in Hanover, which has been trying to build for nearly 20 years but faced discriminatory zoning practices. Tierney argued that RSA 674:76 is crucial to prevent such discrimination and is consistent with exemptions in neighboring states like Vermont and Massachusetts. He emphasized the need for clear, non-discriminatory zoning regulations to protect religious uses and prevent local boards from making arbitrary decisions.
SB265: Kurt W., Former Representative Oppose00:31:45.320 - 12:31:21 PM; Kurt W., the prime sponsor of the original bill, opposed Senate Bill 265. He reiterated the reasons for the original legislation, driven by cases of discrimination against religious groups. He expressed confidence in the legislative process that led to the enactment of RSA 674:76 and urged the committee to consider the need for such a statute. He suggested that a study could be beneficial but warned against repealing the law without a clear understanding of its necessity.
SB265: Sean Foster, Senior Pastor of Crossing Life Church in Windham, New Hampshire Oppose00:33:36.159 - 12:33:12 PM; Sean Foster, Senior Pastor of Crossing Life Church in Windham, opposed Senate Bill 265. He shared his church's experiences with discrimination and legal battles over zoning issues, including a property tax exemption denial and restrictions on using an accessory dwelling unit. He highlighted the church's community service efforts and argued that RSA 674:76 was essential for their recent site plan approval. Foster emphasized the importance of the law in protecting churches from undue hardships and discrimination, allowing them to focus on serving the community.
SB265: Ian Huitt, Attorney for Cornerstone Oppose00:37:31.720 - 12:37:07 PM; Ian Huitt, representing Cornerstone, a Christian advocacy organization, opposed Senate Bill 265. He argued that zoning is the primary area where religious institutions face widespread discrimination. He cited ongoing litigation in Hanover as an example of transparent anti-religious bias. Huitt emphasized that protecting religious liberty from local zoning discrimination is essential in a constitutional republic. He noted the broad support for RSA 674:76 from various religious communities and warned of a significant mobilization against any repeal efforts.
SB265: Brody Des, New Hampshire Municipal Association Support00:41:09.560 - 12:40:45 PM; Brody Des from the New Hampshire Municipal Association spoke in support of SB265. He highlighted that the bill, which originated as House Bill 1026 and was signed into law by Governor Sununu, affects land use laws particularly concerning religious properties. The law, effective from July 1st, 2022, permits site plan review for controlling aspects like the height of structures, yard sizes, and lot area setbacks, but only if these requirements are applied equally to both non-religious and religious uses and do not burden religious exercise. However, other site plan review requirements such as lighting, signs, noise, drainage, erosion control, street and sidewalk layout, utility design, open space, landscaping, and parking are not applicable to qualifying religious properties. Des emphasized that municipalities treat all properties equally under site plan review processes and do not discriminate against religious uses.
SB264: Su Apprentice, State Senator District 5 Support00:46:18.119 - 12:45:54 PM; Senator Su Apprentice introduced Senate Bill 264 at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill aims to align with recent legislation, House Bill 1222 and Senate Bill 357, by making three key adjustments to the therapeutic cannabis program. Firstly, it clarifies that physician assistants certifying patients for therapeutic cannabis need a collaborative agreement only if required by their scope of practice. Secondly, it addresses the expansion of provider types allowed to certify patients for therapeutic cannabis, ensuring proper oversight mechanisms are in place for these new providers. Lastly, it extends the prohibition of certain relationships between providers and in-state alternative treatment centers to also apply to out-of-state cannabis dispensaries, aiming to prevent unethical behavior.
SB264: Michael Holt, Administrator of the Therapeutic Cannabis Program, Department of Health and Human Services Support00:49:42.799 - 12:49:18 PM; Michael Holt supported Senate Bill 264, describing it as remedial legislation to correct misalignments from the previous session. He detailed the bill's provisions, including the clarification on physician assistants' collaborative agreements, the inclusion of new provider types in oversight mechanisms, and the extension of prohibitions on relationships between providers and out-of-state cannabis dispensaries. Holt explained that the bill aims to close a loophole where New Hampshire providers were advertising on out-of-state dispensary websites, which could lead to patients being directed to potentially unsafe products due to less stringent regulations in other states like Maine.
SB264: Jerry Kerk, Retired House Representative and Surgeon, Chair of the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board Support00:57:54.480 - 12:57:30 PM; Jerry Kerk, representing the Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board, supports SB264. He explained that the board, composed of medical professionals, unanimously supports the bill as requested by the department. He discussed the ethical standards and high-quality testing of the therapeutic cannabis program, emphasizing its medical use rather than recreational. He also clarified the transition from a supervising to a collaborating physician model for physician assistants (PAs) in the context of therapeutic cannabis certification, addressing the alignment of statutory language with the scope of practice changes. Additionally, he highlighted the need for the Department of Health and Human Services to have the authority to refer provider misconduct to the appropriate regulatory boards, especially with the expansion of certifying providers. He stressed the importance of maintaining high ethical standards and avoiding financial conflicts of interest in the certification process, extending these standards to out-of-state providers.
SB264: Unnamed Speaker Information Only01:03:19.000 - 1:02:55 PM; An unnamed speaker raised a question about the term 'cannabis dispensaries' used in the bill, noting its absence in New Hampshire's ATC chapter. Jerry Kerk clarified that the term 'dispensary' is used generically to include out-of-state entities, ensuring that the ethical standards and prohibitions against financial conflicts of interest apply beyond New Hampshire's borders. The discussion also touched on the jurisdiction over out-of-state providers, with Kerk explaining that the bill aims to prevent those with compromised ethics from certifying patients in New Hampshire.
SB264: Representative Wendy Thomas, representing the town of Merrimack Support01:08:18.719 - 1:07:54 PM; Representative Wendy Thomas, representing Merrimack, expressed support for SB264 on behalf of herself and Representatives Heath Howard and Suzanne Vail. She stated that they are all in favor of the bill as written, emphasizing their involvement in the therapeutic cannabis program in the House.
SB260: Senator Deborah Aler, representing District 24 (Stratham, Exeter, Greenland, Rye, Hampton, North Hampton, and Hampton Falls) Support01:12:52.760 - 1:12:28 PM; Senator Deborah Aler introduced SB260, which aims to protect abortion access up to 24 weeks of gestation in New Hampshire. She emphasized the importance of abortion as a component of comprehensive reproductive health care, highlighting New Hampshire's history of protecting individual liberty and personal privacy. She argued that the bill provides clarity and certainty for patients and providers, aligning with medical standards. Aler discussed the necessity of the legislation to prevent the vulnerability of access to critical health care, citing examples of restrictive laws in other states. She stressed that the bill respects diverse viewpoints and does not mandate abortions but ensures personal freedom in health care decisions. In response to questions, she clarified that the bill provides an affirmative right to abortion care, offering more certainty despite the possibility of future legislative changes.
SB260: Michael Tierney Oppose01:22:27.719 - 1:22:03 PM; Michael Tierney spoke in opposition to SB260, arguing that the purpose of government is to protect life, including that of the mother, baby, and father. He expressed confusion about the bill's implications, questioning whether it would eliminate all restrictions on abortion, including parental notification laws and regulations on surgical centers. He criticized the bill's language, comparing it to the Second Amendment, and suggested that it could lead to litigation without protecting the life and safety of mothers or babies.
SB260: Kurt Welper, Strafford, Chairman of New Hampshire Right to Life Oppose01:26:01.000 - 1:25:37 PM; Kurt Welper, representing Strafford and as Chairman of New Hampshire Right to Life, opposed SB260, arguing that the bill essentially sanctions abortion by stating that the right to abortion cannot be infringed. He described abortion as a societal cancer that corrupts family, medicine, and law, and highlighted the moral inconsistency in legal treatment of abortion versus other forms of killing.
SB260: Sean Foster, Crossing Life Church Oppose01:27:50.400 - 1:27:26 PM; Sean Foster from Crossing Life Church opposed SB260, emphasizing the right of the child to be born free and independent. He argued that every person, including the child, deserves the right to life, drawing a parallel to Jesus's sacrifice for all, and urged the committee to consider the welfare of both the mother and the child.
SB260: Cla Tone, Reproductive Equity Now Support01:30:15.920 - 1:29:51 PM; Cla Tone, representing Reproductive Equity Now, supported SB260, highlighting the need for clear legal protections for abortion in New Hampshire, the only New England state without such protections. She discussed the national confusion and chaos regarding abortion access and emphasized that SB260 would affirm reproductive freedom in New Hampshire, aligning with the state's history of affirming personal freedoms.
SB260: Liz Canada, Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England Support01:33:48.239 - 1:33:24 PM; Liz Canada expressed strong support for Senate Bill 260, emphasizing the need for clear state law protections for abortion rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She highlighted that New Hampshire is the only state in New England without explicit state law or constitutional rights for abortion access. Canada referenced a survey indicating that 64% of Granite Staters want proactive action on abortion rights, which SB260 aims to address by ensuring no infringement on abortion rights prior to 24 weeks. She clarified that the bill does not change existing abortion laws but codifies protections into state law, aligning New Hampshire with other New England states.
SB260: Courtney Reed, ACLU of New Hampshire Support01:40:56.239 - 1:40:32 PM; Courtney Reed spoke in favor of SB260, describing it as a simple bill that affirms the right to abortion prior to 24 weeks without state interference. Reed stressed the importance of the bill in the context of nationwide restrictions on reproductive care post-Roe v. Wade, citing examples of health and economic consequences in other states. She argued that the bill would provide clarity and legal protection in state law, which is currently lacking, and emphasized the overwhelming support from Granite Staters for abortion rights.
SB270: Committee Members Information Only01:51:26.560 - 1:51:02 PM; During the executive session, the committee discussed Senate Bill 270, which deals with the release of personal items from impounded vehicles. Concerns were raised about the potential liability for impound lot operators if they release items to the wrong individuals, as well as the risk of releasing evidence needed for legal proceedings. The committee considered the testimony from impound lot operators and a state trooper, who opposed the bill due to these concerns. The committee decided to refer the bill for further work, suggesting that Senator Murphy might be interested in refining it. The motion to refer the bill was passed, and it was moved to the consent calendar.
SB270: Peter Information Only01:54:21.360 - 1:53:57 PM; Peter provided additional information or clarification during the executive session regarding the bill SB270 on impounded vehicles.

Gannon, Bill(Chairman)(R)[C+]2024	Abbas, Daryl(V Chairman)(R)[C+]2024	Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2024
McConkey, Mark(R)	Reardon, Tara(D)