AN ABRIDGED TOUR OF THE LEGISLATION PROCESS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

A new law begins with an idea. That idea can begin in the imagination of anyone from a private citizen to the Governor. Then that idea must be sponsored by a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives or Senate. That member submits a legislative service request to the Office of Legislative Services. There it is drafted into a bill using proper form and language, and is assigned a bill docket number beginning with HB (for a House Bill) or SB (for a Senate Bill).

The drafted bill is next reviewed, approved, and signed by the sponsoring legislator(s). It’s then submitted to the Clerk’s Office of the relevant chamber. Referring to the bill by number only, the House or Senate adopts a motion to introduce it. The bill is read twice in the early session and is assigned to a committee by the House Speaker or Senate President.

In New Hampshire, every bill referred to a committee must have a public hearing unless the rules are suspended by a two thirds majority of the members present. At the beginning of the public hearing, the committee chair announces the number and title of the bill, and anyone wishing to testify (in favor or against the bill) rises, addresses the chairman, gives their name and address and, if appearing as a lobbyist, states such to the clerk.

Those supporting the bill alternate in speaking order with those opposed at all hearings. Those wishing to give testimony leave their names with the committee clerk and are called in order, and if a citizen cannot be physically present, a written statement may be submitted to the clerk of the committee. When all testimony has been heard, the chair declares the public hearing closed. The committee then votes on whether to:

• Recommend that their legislative chamber pass the bill,

• Refer it back to committee for further study, or

• Kill it.

If the bill is recommended for passage and then passes the chamber in which it originated, it is sent on to the other body where it goes through similar procedures: public hearing, committee recommendation, and a vote by the full chamber.

If either chamber disputes the language or the provisions of a bill, a conference committee composed of members from both chambers resolves the disagreement. Appropriation Bills – bills which propose the expenditure of government funds – are sent to the Finance Committee of the originating chamber. An amended bill must be passed in identical form by both the House and Senate before it is sent to the Governor. If a bill has been amended by the non-originating body, it is sent back to the originating body for its approval.

When a bill has passed in both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the Committee on Rules and Enrolled Bills where the bill is examined for clerical errors. Once the bill is signed by the Speaker of the House or Senate President, the bill is forwarded to the Secretary of State who transmits it to the Governor, who has five days to veto it, sign it into law, or let it go into effect without a signature. If the bill is vetoed by the Governor, a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate is required for an override. If an override vote is successful, the bill becomes law. Each bill includes a specific date that it is to go into effect.