Opinion
If you like watching your government at work on Zoom and YouTube, you might be interested in a bill being heard Wednesday to allow remote testimony post-COVID-19.
HB 216, relative to continuing the practice, has its final hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 10 as part of a series of bills starting at 9 a.m.
This bill would make it easier for people in rural parts of the state and people with disabilities to testify in the House, advocates say. The public can attend via this Zoom link: https://www.zoom.us/j/95164452682.
You can find all House and Senate sessions and committee meetings here and click “live Stream” for details: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/
This is an important bill for rural Granite Staters and others for whom getting to the State House in person is a challenge, such as people with disabilities, said Jules Good, a disability rights activist.
House members will not hear public testimony during this session, Good said.
You can watch House committee meetings and sessions online. If you subscribe to NH House Live Stream on YouTube, you will even get an email alert when a committee or session goes live:
There is a NH Senate Live Stream on YouTube but wasn’t as up to date as the House’s. You can go to NH.gov streaming video site for the Senate.
You can also call in if you don’t have access to a computer. See instructions at end of story.
“Granite Staters deserve full access to House proceedings, where Representatives make decisions that impact the everyday lives of their constituents,” says Good, who is responsible for getting House proceedings captioned this legislative session so deaf and hard of hearing people like themself have full access.
“Several other states have been allowing remote participation, even over the phone, since as early as 1978. It is time for New Hampshire to catch up. Democracy must be accessible to all NH residents, not just those who can drive to the State House,” Good said.
JUDICIARY
Other bills that will be heard Wednesday morning in the Judiciary Committee:
9:00 a.m. Executive Sessions on HB 149-FN, extending certain civil immunity to public and private entities during major public health emergencies; HB 216, relative to public notice of and access to meetings under the right to know law; HB 232, relative to nonpublic sessions under
the right to know law; HB 288-FN, eliminating the housing appeals board; HB 379, relative to electronic notice; HB 402, relative to takings of property in a declared emergency; HB 418, relative to supreme court reporting; HB 440, relative to the protection of religious liberty; HB 478, relative to treatment of PFAS contaminants in the drinking water of the Merrimack
Village Water District; HB 540, relative to supported decision-making as an alternative to guardianship; HB 542, relative to the applicability of a state of emergency declaration to a house of worship; HB 550, relative to the nonpayment of rent during the state of emergency; HB 561, relative to potential jurors excused from jury duty due to a lack of residency in the
county of jury service; HB 566, relative to sealing records in nonpublic session under the right-to-know law; HB 578-FN, relative to standards for mental health courts; HB 597-FN, relative to the expectation of privacy; HB 630, relative to remote board meetings under the right-to-know law and authorizing certain procedures for rulemaking.
Committee members will receive secure Zoom invitations via email.
Members of the public may attend using the following links:
- To join the webinar: https://www.zoom.us/j/95164452682
- Or Telephone: 1-929-205-6099
- Webinar ID: 951 6445 2682
The following email will be monitored throughout the meeting by someone who can assist with
and alert the committee to any technical issues: hcs@leg.state.nh.us or call (603-271-3600).
