By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – The governor announced Friday she signed into law 18 bills passed by the legislature, including ones related to cyanobacteria and Senate Bill 619, establishing procedures for expedited court hearings and disposition of confiscated animals.
Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, also vetoed three bills including one enabling alternative treatment centers to operate a greenhouse cultivation location.
“I do not support expanding the cultivation of marijuana in our state. For this reason, I have vetoed SB 468,” she wrote in her veto message.
Also vetoed was HB 1072 relative to employer notice of department of labor investigations.
“While this bill is the product of thoughtful conversations and important considerations, it unnecessarily restricts the Department of Labor’s critical authority to swiftly respond to emergent situations where employers have failed to pay wages to their employees. New Hampshire families depend on timely paychecks, and we cannot delay the Department’s ability to react in those circumstances,” she wrote.
HB 1643, relative to the report of a guardian ad litem, was also vetoed.
“The role of the guardian ad litem is to assist the court in determining the best interests of the child. To that end, under current law guardians ad litem are directed by the court to gather information and, only if specifically requested by the court, make certain recommendations relating to parenting plans, schedules, and decision-making responsibilities. Ultimately, the court is responsible for making determinations relative to a child’s welfare. This bill would strip the authority of the court to request a guardian ad litem provide recommendations for consideration by the judge and limits information available to the court, which could impede its ability to ensure the best interests of a child,” Ayotte wrote.
The three vetoes will be returned to the Senate and the House in the fall to see whether they are sustained or overridden.
Ayotte did sign the following bills which are now law:
HB 656 — Relative to the authority of local school districts to accept federal grants.
HB 1073 — Clarifying when the secretary of state shall complete the registry of New Hampshire decentralized autonomous organizations.
HB 1381 — Extending the time of the party filing period.
HB 1425 — Relative to the development of an online wetlands permit processing system.
HB 1495 — Allowing a reimbursement anticipation note to be used as collateral in certain circumstances.
HB 1549 — Establishing that titles, bills of sale, and identification documents are required only at initial registration or transfer of ownership.
SB 499 — Relative to the membership, duties, and reporting requirements of the traffic safety commission.
SB 500 — Relative to restroom access for certain commercial motor vehicle operators.
SB 505 — Relative to applications for guide licenses and repealing the fee for temporary registration of nonresidents relative to OHRVs.
SB 516 — Relative to certain unclassified positions in the department of health and human services.
SB 595 — Relative to rulemaking for transient non-community water systems.
SB 598 — Establishing the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund task force.
SB 600 — Requiring the governor to submit and present a quarterly fiscal year budget report about the general and education trust funds to the general court fiscal committee.
SB 610 — Allowing the insurance commissioner to approve innovative short or long-term care policies.
SB 619 — Establishing procedures for expedited court hearings and disposition of confiscated animals.
SB 633 — Relative to donations received by the granite patron of the arts fund.
SB 644 — Requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners.
SB 655 — Relative to employee leasing companies, workers’ compensation coverage options, and a minimum wage exemption for minor league baseball players.