Taxes, Tolls and Free Wi-Fi

The House of Representatives is in session Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 1:30 p.m. The Senate is in session Thursday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m.

The legislative Fiscal Committee meets Friday, Feb. 1, starting at 10 a.m. in Rooms 210-211 in the Legislative Office Building (LOB). Also, Friday is the last day to introduce House bills, according to the House calendar.

Reminder: Governor Hassan delivers her budget address to a Joint Convention of the Legislature on Feb. 14. Despite the date, it may not be the rosiest.

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Join us for a Live Chat with Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 11:30 a.m.  You can ask questions via any of the 12 Patch websites in New Hampshire, or submit your questions ahead of time by emailing them to marc.fortier@patch.com.

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Games of Chance law. Senate Ways and Means on Tuesday will have a public hearing on Senate Bill 75 at 9 a.m. Tuesday, in Room 103 of the Statehouse. The New Hampshire Lottery Commission is also to give a presentation later

No harm less a foul? The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee hears House Bill 262 on Tuesday at 1 p.m. in LOB 204. This bill would provide that "an assault which does not result in harm to another shall be charged as a violation and not a misdemeaner." Sponsors are: Rep. Frank Sapareto, R-Derry, Rep. Keith Murphy, R-Bedford, and Rep. Kelleigh Murphy, R-Bedford.

Qu'est que c'est? A House committee will hear a bill Tuesday that proposes a committee study the teaching of a second language beginning in kindergarten.

What happens to your Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts when you die? A committee is recommending the full House, when it meets Wednesday, to kill a bill relative to the powers of an executor or administrator to take control of a decedent's social networking websites. Writing for the majority on the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Timothy Horrigan notes online service providers generally stipulate when happens when the user dies. He described the bill as "premature, as well as unenforceable."

Research and Development. The Senate Ways and Means Committee unanimously recommends the full Senate on Thursday pass SB 1, which would increase the research and development tax credit against the business profits tax.

Pistol permit fees. House Criminal Justice and Public Safety will hear a bill Tuesday that would reduce the pistol permit fee for nonresidents from $100 to $20.

State Minimum Wage Rate. House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services on  Tuesday would hear this bill, which would establish a state minimum hourly rate ($8 /hour).

WI-FI and fried dough. A bill to move forward with providing free Wi-Fi access at Hampton Beach State Park is up for a hearing Tuesday in Room 305 LOB. The total cost to the state would be $129,740, according to the bill.

Toll talk. House Public Works and Highways will hear a bill Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. in Room 201 of the LOB, that proposes discontinuing the toll at Exit 12 on the Everett Turnpike in Merrimack. Reps. Jeanine Notter, R-Merrimack, and Lenette Peterson, R-Merrimack, are the bill sponsors.

Rescue Funds. A $10 surcharge would be applied to all fines issued for Fish and Game law violations, which would go into the search and rescue fund, under a bill co-sponsored by House Republican Leader Gene Chandler, R-Bartlett. The bill would also establish a minimum flat fee for individuals prompting a search and rescue – unless the person has a current hunting or fishing license, an OHRV, snowmobile or boat registration, or a voluntary hike safe card (said card being established through the bill). The House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee has a hearing on the bill at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in LOB 307. 

NH brews at state liquor stores. A bill before the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee on Tuesday proposes the Liquor Commission establish a pilot program for the sale of certain state liquor stores of microbrewery and nano brewery beers that are brewed in New Hampshire. Sponsors include Rep. Renny Cushing, D-Hampton, and Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth.