Re-Cap of this Week: Important Follow-Up Actions!
This past week was a full docket of bills that affected educators’ collective bargaining rights and the climate for them and their students in schools. Since some of this legislation is so highly impactful, we want to emphasize the importance of following up with the committees they were heard.
HB 735 – Extreme Legislators Trying to Attack Your Local Union
HB 735 would force a re-certification vote just to maintain your local union if the original employees who formed the union no longer make up a majority of the unit. This is one of the cookie-cutter bills that billionaire funded anti-labor organizations try to push in state legislatures to attack unions and collective bargaining. This sort of bill is only designed for one thing: wasting local union time and resources instead of advocating for better wages and working conditions for their members.
All the major public sector unions testified against the bill, including NEA-New Hampshire, in a show of solidarity about why this bill is bad for workers whether you are an educator, a fire fighter, a police officer, or a plow truck driver. Despite vast opposition to this anti-union efforts, this week the House Labor committee also voted to recommend HB 238, the so-called “right-to-work” legislation, on a party line basis, so these committee members really need to hear from you!
HB 329 – Help Improve Air Quality and Address Extreme Temperatures in School Buildings
On the positive front, the House Education and Policy Committee heard testimony on HB 329 this week which requires school boards to develop air quality policies and plans to minimize or eliminate poor indoor air quality and temperature conditions. The bill would also require schools to implement the U.S. EPA Tools for Schools program to help provide and maintain good indoor air quality in public school buildings. NEA-NH supported legislation last year to make progress on the issue of air quality and extreme temperatures in schools, but the bill fell short of getting to the governor’s desk. Let’s get a newly revamped bill across the finish line this year to make a positive difference for staff and students!
Next Week: Parental Rights, Cell Phones in Schools, and Negotiating in Public Sessions
We have another packed week of hearings but here are some of the top bills we will be following next week in order of when they will have their hearing.
SB 72 – Senate So-Called “Parental Rights” Bill to be Heard on Monday
SB 72 is the latest version of a parental bill of rights and will be the first of its type this year to have a public hearing. SB 72 is similar in some ways and different in others than past bills. While the legislation lays out many of the rights that parents have already, it also puts in vague statements about the ability of parents to direct a school or a classroom versus language that is about fostering a partnership between parents and educators. The violation section gives parents the ability to sue the school over any “infringement” on their rights as laid out in the legislation which could end up making compliance with this law difficult for educators in the classroom.
SB 206 – Senate Cell Phone Bill
SB 206 is the Senate version of a bill that would require public schools to adopt policies to limit the use of cell phones in schools. This bill has stronger requirements for school policies, including prohibitions throughout the school day – not just during instructional time. Also, the bill requires that the policies are implemented consistently, to not place all the responsibilities for any exceptions to be classroom to classroom or teacher to teacher. We’ve heard from numerous members that strong consistent policies have improved the mental health climate in their school buildings and allowed students to focus more on their education.
HB 400 – Bill Making Collective Bargaining Negotiations Public Meetings
HB 400 would make collective bargaining negotiation sessions with your school districts open to the public under the state’s right to know law. This bill has come up in the past and both employers and unions have opposed it because it would focus negotiation sessions on the show rather than the dialogue needed to reach an agreement.
NEA-NH Legislative Advocacy Toolkit
Most of the tools you need to be a legislative advocate for public education are right at your fingertips through NEA-New Hampshire. Check out our new NEA-NH Legislative Advocacy Toolkit here to get all the information you need on how to communicate with your state representatives and senators, support and oppose specific bills, and testify in Concord.
Questions?
If you have questions on any of these bills or ones not mentioned here, please feel free to contact Brian Hawkins, NEA-NH Director of Government Relations at bhawkins@nhnea.org.
Need help signing in on legislation? Follow these comprehensive instructions (details for public hearings are contained in each action request).
For House bills:
1. Visit this link: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx
2. Enter your personal information
3. Select the hearing date
4. Select the committee
5. Choose the bill
6. I am – A member of the public
7. Choose who you are representing – Myself
8. Indicate your position on this bill
9. Upload remote testimony (Optional)
10. Review information and click submit
For Senate bills:
1. Go to https://bit.ly/3S4Cof1 and click the date that the bill you are interested in is being heard
2. Select the committee that is hearing the bill
3. Select the bill you are interested in
4. Select a category – Member of the Public
5. Indicate your position on this bill
6. Click continue
7. Enter your name and contact information
8. Click continue
9. Carefully review the information to ensure it is entered correctly. If it is correct, check the box and click continue.