By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD — A compromise rewriting of the state’s landfill siting laws and regulations was approved by the House Thursday.

The House also agreed to move oversight over the health insurance risk pools from the Secretary of State to the Insurance Department, approved a revised 10-Year Highway Improvement Plan, and another “bathroom bill” segregating people by the biological sex for sports, bathrooms and lockers rooms and prisons, but killed a bill that would have required parents be present at vaccination clinics held in schools.

Landfill Siting Committee

House Bill 707 would establish a site evaluation committee for solid waste landfills in the state much like the one for large utility projects.

The bill brings together state regulators, local officials and residents and the solid waste industry to site landfill with an eye toward expanding existing sites rather than developing new landfills to address the state’s solid waste disposal needs.

It also elevates the concept of public health in consideration of such siting and would have the Department of Environmental Services continue to enforce violations.

And the new law acknowledges the difference between new and expanded facilities.
Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who has said she does not want the state to be the dumping ground for out-of-state trash, has said she is pleased with the new regulations and evaluation process.

The bill also has the support of several North Country organizations that have fought a proposed landfill in Dalton and the expansion of the current landfill in Bethlehem.

Lawmakers have been trying for years to reach agreement on new landfill regulations and requirements without success.

Risk Pools

The House agreed to Senate changes in House Bill 1491, which would move oversight over health insurance risk pools from the Secretary of State’s Office.

Companies providing health insurance to public entities like school districts and municipalities found themselves having to increase prices substantially last fall when their reserves were nearly drained although they followed the recommendations of regulators. Health Trust, the largest provider, maintained a much larger reserve and was able to avoid the large mid-term premium increases that two other providers needed to cover costs.

Rep. John Hunt, R-Rindge, the chair of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee called the bill the most important for his committee this session.

10-Year Highway plan

The House agreed to Senate changes to the state’s 10-Year Highway Improvement Plan which is constrained due to lack of revenues, but lawmakers last week decided to buck Ayotte’s opposition to a toll increase for out-of-staters and New Hampshire residents without EZPass transponders.

The House agreed to the changes on House Bill 2026 on a voice vote Thursday sending the bill to the governor.

The Senate added 14 new projects to the plan after it approved the toll increase in Senate Bill 627.

The House Ways and Means Committee wanted to study the toll increase’s impact, but the House overturned its  recommendation and passed the bill.

The extra toll money, between $300 million and $400 million  a year, will allow the additional projects to go forward including the long delayed expansion of I-93 from Bow through Concord as well as other projects including the two exit projects on I-293 through Manchester.

Biological Sex 

The House approved Senate changes to one of the six bills it passed allowing businesses and organizations to segregate bathrooms and locker rooms, sports teams and prisons by a person’s biological sex at birth. 

The so-called “bathroom bills” all passed and will arrive at the governor’s desk in the next month.

Ayotte vetoed one of the bills already as she did a similar bill last year as did former Gov. Chris Sununu before her.

The House approved the Senate changes to House Bill 1442 on a 184-155 vote and now goes to the governor.

Tiny Houses

The House approved House Bill 1681, which establishes standards for housing structures, including tiny houses, tiny houses on wheels, and yurts.

The bill allows their use as single?family homes or accessory dwellings units, and sets construction, inspection, and off?site manufacturing requirements.

The bill also would regulate transportation and direct rule drafting under the state building code and wastewater and modular building statutes.

Rep. Len Turcotte, R-Barrington, warned that the bill may be enabling legislation now but will soon be mandatory which will allow these buildings into single-family neighborhoods as auxiliary dwelling rental units and he noted the bill removes all references to taxation leaving it up to cities and towns to figure it out.

“This unbundling of zoning regulations by the legislature is taking away local control,” he said.
The House agreed to the Senate changes to the bill on a 242-102 vote sending it to the governor.

Garry Rayno may be reached at garryrayno@yahoo.com.