By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD — Students and judges will feel the grip of the House majority in bills passed on the last day before crossover Thursday, the traditional halfway point of the 2026 legislative session.

Students at the state’s public university and community college systems will have to pass a civics test in order to graduate.

Under House Bill 112, students at the public post-secondary schools in the state will have to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services civics naturalization test, take a course that covers fundamental American documents or pass a civics course competency test in order to graduate.

Several years ago, the state passed a law that requires high school seniors to pass the same test for graduation, and those students would be exempt from the requirement.

More than 50% of the students in the university system are from New Hampshire, and a higher percentage are in the community college system.

The measure’s opponents said the legislature should not be dictating graduation mandates to the colleges and universities.

Several years ago, former Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed an identical bill, saying it would have been the first time the legislature set graduation requirements for the state’s public colleges and universities, said Rep. Eileen Kelly, D-Bradford, and the same holds true today.

“Mandating a test at the college level does not realize the goal of good citizenship,” Kelly said.

She also noted the post secondary institutions indicate it costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to administer the test and track students who would be required to take it.

But Rep. Michael Moffett, R-Loudon, who has taught in both systems, said the test itself will not solve the knowledge crisis about government, but it will help and would reach those who did not take the test in high school.

Moffett said it is the legislature’s business to propose an assessment like this as the legislature determines the state support for the systems.

Moffett also objected to the fiscal note, saying it should not cost about $130,000 per school to do the testing.

The bill passed on a 191-157 vote and now goes to the Senate.

Judges

Under House Bill 1130, judicial evaluations of judges would be made public.

The evaluations were published in the past for the four to five judges evaluated each year, but without their names, which would now be attached to the scores.

The bill also would require other judges to sit in the courtroom of the judge being evaluated and expands the judges beyond just those on full-time status who will be up for review.

Supporters called it a chance to strengthen judicial accountability, but opponents said it could undermine the administration of justice.

The bill’s prime sponsor, retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Rep. Robert Lynn, R-Windham, said the bill addresses concerns raised by judges that the comments of people who had decisions going against them should not be made public.

Lynn said the new process was done in consultation with Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald and other changes have been included, such as scheduling responsibilities in the district court circuit.

But opponents said the new plan would tie up judges’ time doing evaluations when there are already significant backlogs in most courts.

Rep. Mark Paige, D-Exeter, said the new process may have the opposite effect desired, noting the new process has taken a tool of professional development and turned it into a target.

“The public with elections holds us accountable; we should leave the judiciary to do their job to call balls and strikes,” he said on the Red Sox’s opening day. “No one goes to a baseball game to watch the umpire, which this bill welcomes us to do.”

The bill passed on a 194-156 vote and goes to the Senate.

Massage Parlors

The House approved two bills for the state to begin regulating massage parlors.

House Bill 1458 deals with licensing massage establishments, reflexology, structural integration and Asian bodywork facilities. Supporters called it the first step in addressing human trafficking operations that disguise centers of prostitution as massage parlors.

House Bill 1469 would license massage therapy establishments through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.

Dam Funds

The House passed one bill that would begin to fund the work needed on the 276 state-owned dams.

The House passed House Bill 629, which raises the cost of a boat decal by $5 with the estimated $550,000 going to the dam maintenance fund.

The House tabled House Bill 1655, which would have collected a $100 fee on real estate with waterfront access, and $50 on real estate with deeded water access, which would have produced about $3 million annually.

Special Education Formula

The House decided to change the state’s formula for reimbursing school districts for special-education costs.

Under House bill 1563, the state would begin paying once services for the student reached $50,000 instead of the current threshold of $75,000.

There would be a sliding scale going from 10% from $50,000 up to $60,000, and 80% above $60,000 to $200,000, and 90% above $200,000. 

The amount would also increase 2% per year.

Electric Utilities

The House decided to reverse 30 years of precedent and again allow electric utilities to own generation facilities.

Under House Bill 1775, utilities would be able to own small natural gas and nuclear power generation facilities, which supporters said should help stabilize rates. However, opponents said it would once again put the economic risk on utility customers and not power generators for new facilities.

Under House Bill 1542, the state would essentially do away with the Renewable Energy Fund and distribute the money to ratepayers.

Employee Assistance

The House overturned its Finance Committee and voted overwhelmingly to allow all first responders in small communities to access the state’s employment assistance program.

The program would not go into effect until after the 2027 fiscal year.

Natural Decay

The House approved House Bill 1457, which would allow for the natural organic reduction of human remains and sets regulations for the practice.

No Title

Under the approved House Bill 1421, vehicles manufactured before 2000 will not need a title. 

Fire Code

House Bill 1555 would establish an appeal process for people who disagree with a local ruling on the state’s fire code.

All bills that passed the House as of Thursday will now go to the Senate. Going forward, any House bill taken off the table will require a two-thirds majority for approval.

Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com.