City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Legislative Sub Committee, 7 Mar 2022

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3.7.2022 Legislative Subcommittee

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One for coming we'll start with a roll call.

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Of the legislative subcommittee, I suppose let me take it for you. Oh yeah, okay, um mayor here.

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Assistant mayor here, representative, tabor yeah here and I'm sorry counselor cook here and then.

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uh City manager- I am here as a non-voting member happy to be here- uh assistant city attorney, jane.

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Ferrini here also non-voting member, and also uh if the representatives could identify themselves.

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Becky representative becky macbeth: do we push this or just leave it? It's obviously evident.

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Off, if you push the button yeah and representative representative david.

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Muse and then uh via our webinar, we have two other representatives with us. If you could.

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Identify yourself and get off mute first as a little helpful in first thing on a monday.

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He's pointing go ahead jerry I was going to do. Ladies first, jerry warren state rep.

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Hi, joan hamblin state rep, and could you all please be sure to speak into the microphone.

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So we can hear you clearly thank you. Have you been able to hear us so far? I can hear some of you with.

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Some of you are muffled: okay thanks. How was this joan? Can you hear me? I can hear you dave great.

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Represent representative samsich had a dentist appointment, so he gives his regret.

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So those are popular monday after vacation. uh I know that uh karen is going to be leaving us a.

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Little early for a dentist appointment as well um so glad to see everybody's taking.

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Their dental health uh very seriously, um so uh again, thank you all for coming. I know.

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The the work that you guys are doing is um uh tireless and and often uh thankless, uh but we.

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In the city of fort smith appreciate uh the work that that you guys are are doing on on behalf.

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um Of our of our city uh and of our residents- and we understand that this um has been probably.

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A tougher uh session than than anyone can really recount um in in memory there's been times when.

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uh You know it's been uh more divided in terms of numbers, but it's tough to remember a time when.

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There's you know so many factions that are going on and and government itself uh is, uh is that.

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At stake, um and so it's appreciated the work that you're doing you know um and that you've taken the.

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Time to meet with us uh means a lot to the city of portsmouth and uh to this committee uh personally.

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So um with that, we'll we'll look for a motion to approve the uh the minutes from january 31st.

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So moved your honor second, all in favor aye aye and we do not need a roll call vote.

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Because non-voting members are on the zoom just for the you know. That was an issue before so.

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um We would love to hear um an update on uh from the legislative delegation, um so we first have.

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Senator perkins quoca, but we will pause. I don't know if she wanted to speak on redistricting or.

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If that was a separate line item that somebody else wanted to speak on, but I know that.

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There were some bills identified from representative muse, so we'll start with those.

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And hopefully we can uh hear from the senator when she gets here. So so one of the one of the.

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Fairly consistent themes in this legislative session have been bills introduced to pare back.

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The things that municipalities are allowed to do under new hampshire law.

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I think another thing that we've seen is we've seen a pretty active effort. I think some, including.

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Me would would call it to to micromanage our public schools so along those lines, hb 1266 is.

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A bill that would prohibit municipalities like portsmouth from adopting or enforcing policies.

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That restrict the enforcement of federal immigration laws to somebody who's already.

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In custody, so one of the things to understand is that a federal immigration detainer is a civil.

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Detainer, not a criminal detainer, so um we're not actually talking about a violation of the law.

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And an ice civil detainer doesn't actually have the force of law uh under our laws.

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So this is one uh I think that concerning a number of people, it would essentially.

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Prohibit any new hampshire city from being a new hampshire, a sanctuary city, it would repeal the.

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The ordinances effectively of the cities that have done that and that received an 11 to 10 ought to.

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Pass recommendation from the criminal justice and public safety committee on which I sit and I voted.

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Against that recommendation, but it will come to the house floor probably sometime later this month.

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uh Hb 1072 prohibits and criminalizes uh the denial of access to school facilities.

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Documents or school events to people who are in elected school district positions.

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So one of the things I think that we've seen in portsmouth over the years and I think most.

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Communities sort of share this with us is that if an elected school official, a school board member.

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Wants information from the administration they ask for it and they get it. Exceptions include things.

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Like eips, and things like that, that are, that are that are confidential and personal to the student.

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And things like that, what this bill would essentially do is open up access to a fairly large.

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Class of documents there was an amendment that did restrict access to documents that actually.

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Aren't already protected under new hampshire law so that that is, you know one good thing.

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In favor of moderation, but essentially uh what it means is that if, if you have a person.

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Who's elected to a school committee and for one reason or another, they want to be disruptive.

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School officials will not be able to die to deny them access to facilities. You know, regardless of.

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The way they behave- um and uh it's it's one of these things- I think we're kind of seeing it's.

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It's been a been a contentious year in a lot of different uh different respects, um but this is.

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An attempt to basically use the power of law and use the power of the legislature.

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To achieve something that can typically be achieved by civil people having a civil.

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Conversation, so it was a bill that I voted against in committee, but it was another.

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Bill that passed 11 to 10 and will go to the full house, hb 1033- is one. I know that.

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Concerns almost everybody in municipal government in new hampshire, because essentially what it would.

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Do is it would eliminate our ability to give the new hampshire municipal association, money.

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To do lobbying so one of the reasons why um we're not up there, testifying on every single bill that.

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Affects municipalities is because the municipal association over the years has done a really good.

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Job representing its members, letting people know what's going on their their website if you're.

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Unfamiliar with it, it's just a great resource for all the all the the bills that are in front.

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Of the legislature that affect municipalities- um and this, this basically is something that again.

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There are, there has been a sort of a theme in this session of the legislature to.

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Remove the ability of municipalities.

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To do things that they are currently allowed to do under new hampshire law and this bill.

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Essentially, is a way to take a critical voice in support of municipalities. Out of the picture.

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And again, this bill has actually already.

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Made it through the full house, it is now going to go to this to the house, finance committee.

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And and it'll come back with, uh um I'm sorry uh this this this this actually, uh I'm actually.

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I think I messed up here. um uh Let me check yeah, that's the finance for yeah. This is.

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This is one where we had a bunch of people where, essentially, we had initially a vote uh against the.

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Bill the vote was overturned um and now now it's come back. Another hp 307 would declare.

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Municipal ordinances and regulations null and void that regulate firearms in any way.

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So, for example, um the property in back of in in jones avenue and back of the high school.

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Where the high school cross country team runs and that's currently posted.

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No firearms. We wouldn't be able to do that as a community. We would have to take those uh sound.

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Those signs down and if we chose to leave them up um uh any citizen, I believe it's kind of gone back.

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And forth, um but I believe it's any any citizen in the community can basically come forward and.

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And claim us what amounts to a civil bounty uh until that the city would have to pay.

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If the law wasn't immediately removed from the books, so this particular one has actually passed.

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The house and the senate, the senate amended it. So it's going to come back to the house either.

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As a motion to concur with the changes the senate made, or it's going to come back um as a um as a.

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One of the things that could happen is there. There could be a conference committee, but.

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It seems fairly unlikely uh that this is uh that they're, the senate in the house are not going to.

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Reach some sort of an agreement on this, and uh it's likely the governor will sign it.

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um Another bill I just wanted to get on your radar, too, is one that actually was a really nice win and.

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That's a bill that would restore seven and a half percent of the original 35 percent of payments for.

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Municipalities in the state retirement system that was uh stripped away about a decade ago.

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Under the uh uh o'brien house and uh since then I know a lot of municipalities, including portsmouth,.

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Have been trying to get some of that money back seven and a half percent isn't even.

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You know is, it is a fairly small fraction of the of the money that came into the city before, but.

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Seven and a half percent is better than the zero percent um that's coming in now, and it.

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Would make a big difference for the city that bill has actually passed in the house.

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And that's the one that's in the finance committee, that's where I made my confusion with the earlier.

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Bill this one now goes to the to the house finance committee, which essentially is charged.

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With figuring out a way to either pay for it, or the other thing that they can do is just simply.

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Recommend to kill it, whatever recommendation they make will come back to the house for another vote.

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If it passes the house again, then it will move over to the senate um and senator perkins coco.

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Will be, you know, probably huge on point to try to get it passed over there, but those are those are.

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Four that I just wanted to highlight, the municipal association has a really comprehensive list.

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Of other bills that have come before the um the legislature that um uh that will affect.

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Municipalities, we are talking here literally about the tip of the iceberg. I don't think I've ever.

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I mean this is my second term, but I know in the previous term um we had a few bills that.

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Affected municipalities and probably the biggest ones regarding education and education, funding.

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But we just didn't see this level of enthusiastic effort trying to strip away the.

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Power of municipalities to do what you know what municipalities do in new hampshire, so are there.

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Any questions I'll I can try to answer them or thank you, representative muse. I think we do have.

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Some I have some questions, but first I'll open it up if there's uh concert tabor. So if the the bill.

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Banning lobbying were to pass would that eliminate our ability to do coalition communities against.

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It would it wouldn't be in lobbying, it would ban your ability to pay the lobbyists so so.

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But what the outfall of that is that um it would just be harder for the municipal association to.

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Represent municipalities as broadly or as thoroughly or as well as it does now, and.

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So if this passes, the work of this committee becomes much more important because there will.

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Be bills that the the municipal association probably won't have the staff for resources.

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To testify on to work on because they'll be cash-strapped.

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So it'll be important for folks like us to know about that. So if there are things that.

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Are important to portsmouth we can step into the breach and and make sure that we're up there.

D

Yeah, I was more thinking not just an hma which is very valuable, but if we once again had to.

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Take issue with a donor town tax structure, as we did some time back. It sounds like.

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We'd lose our power to do that it would it would your ability to pay somebody else.

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To do it, for you would be affected right, your ability to do it yourself would not be affected.

A

A counselor cook, I also have a question on this particular bill. How would this prohibition on.

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Spending tax dollars for lobbying would it limit our ability to have jane continue her work.

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Or our ability to have city councillors even speak, because we technically are paid.

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Are you you're asking if city councillors would be affected in their ability to testify, because.

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They're paid because we're paid you're, not lobbyists, you're elected representatives.

D

So I I don't, I would need to look at the bill a little more closely, but.

D

My guess is that would never have flown in committee um as divided as we can be these days.

D

That I think that would be going too far yeah. I think there is a statute that describes the.

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Ability of elected officials to to testify on behalf of cities and and other folks, um so I.

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I think that analysis is correct, that that you have the ability, as a representative of the city.

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To go and testify, but it's an interesting question about staff right because if we say I believe in.

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I'm going out on a limb here because I haven't reviewed that statute in a while. But.

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If, if we are going on behalf of the mayor or going behalf of this committee, I think that distinction.

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Would clearly have to be made? Because I think that statutory scheme references that as well.

B

But I'd have to reread that and and double check, but it's definitely a chilling effect for sure.

A

um There are no other questions from the the council. I had a couple of questions. The.

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Anti-Sanctuary cities bill: um that's a there's immigration cities that are designated.

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Like as immigration cities in the in the state of new hampshire, this is separate from that.

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um This is not a requirement of the um there's. No, I guess to your point on this being a civil.

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Action that ice would take is civil detainment. There's no requirement.

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um And has been proven on the federal level of us providing any information.

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To ice or any other detainment, so I guess what's the practical effect of of of this.

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The pre, the practical effect, would be um that something that we are currently you know.

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Prohibiting our police department from doing they would, they would actually be able to do.

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It they would actually be able to cooperate if they wanted to. You know, for example, if.

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If we were holding somebody on another charge and an ice, detainer flag came up.

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We could call ice um and uh and that and have that person, and that person would then be on.

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Ice's radar and and charged with immigration violations. Okay, I think that would I mean.

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We have now principles, I don't know if we shared but they're similar to what and we've approved.

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Those those might fall under you know we might be against that support the civil rights of.

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Individuals and oppose discrimination against any individual because of age, sex, race, creed,.

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Color marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, national origin, it might be.

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Trapped in international origin is something that we could be opposed to this bill, based on the.

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Principles that we already state so I'd like us to if we want to oppose that bill to choose that.

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You know legislative principle 15 to uh to do so, um and do we want to vote on on these in uh so.

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Await a motion to uh I'd move that we write a letter in opposition to.

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David, this is 1266 hp, 1266.

E

Second, all in favor.

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Okay and then hb 1072 criminal penalties for denying elected school officials, access to.

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School facilities, documents- and that's, I guess the heart of that- is trying to figure out what the.

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Around the mask et cetera policies, this probably grew out of that. I don't know um you know. I would.

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Imagine that we would be opposed to this based on you know, advocate to maintain local authority.

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um And so I would wait a motion to oppose uh hb 1272 1070 1072 so moved. Second, all in favor.

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Hb 1033, I would, uh under the same grounds, advocate to maintain local authority.

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I would wait a motion to uh oppose this bill so moved. Second, all in favor all right all right.

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H, uh hb 10 uh or uh 14 17.. um I would uh I don't know how we're gonna, I would say in support.

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Three revenue streams to aid municipalities, um uh I'd, wait; a motion to support hp, 1417.

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So go ahead either way so moved. Second, all in favor, aye, aye, aye and then on uh senate bill.

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307 nullification of ordnance is the prohibit possession of guns and knives in the municipal.

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Property um a couple of questions on this uh one: we don't have the ability- as I understand.

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To prohibit uh or whatever flows down from the state level and this already flows down from the.

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State level that we can't make uh rules, so you don't have the ability to create new regulations.

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um But essentially, what the other the old bill did? Was it grandfathered current regulations.

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So what this would do is it would essentially wipe those current regulations off the books.

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Unless they were things you know, for instance, you can still do things like um you know. Zoning law.

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For example, would still apply if somebody wanted to open a gun shop in portsmouth, but uh but it but.

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Essentially, the laws that that the ordinances we have that basically ban firearms from public parks.

D

um Would basically become null and void as well as schools? Right because, uh as I understand, there's a.

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Federal firearms uh act that prevents uh people from carrying guns into schools unless they are.

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Licensed to do so, and since we have a concealed carry by right in the state of new hampshire.

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Anyone then would be allowed to carry a gun into schools unless otherwise regulated previously.

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Is that would that go away? Would we we we have as a state several? This has come up several times.

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The ability for new hampshire to support school safety zones, so one of the things that we can do.

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Right now is, if you, because firearms actually are prohibited from schools under federal law,.

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You can call a federal agent, but what you can't do is call your local police department.

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Unless there is another incident or the impending threat of another incident,.

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So it essentially it's if somebody, you know open, you know, brings their child into school.

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And open carries a firearm into school, um there's literally nothing local police officers.

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uh Can do this; this is an issue that also has come up now that um now that basically firearms.

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Are allowed into polling places and um a lot of times during elections? um School is in session.

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uh So we have a situation where and I don't think we've we faced this yet in portsmouth, but.

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Manchester and other cities have faced it where there are. Actually, you know people on.

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On the school property near the electioneering zone and in some cases actually inside the polls.

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While there are kids in the school who are actually carrying firearms, I.

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I filed a bill that would prohibit open carrier firearms in uh in polling places.

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That was actually defeated in the house, uh has an itl recommendation. Okay, and so we tried and then.

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And this also adds the the the we don't have any laws in the books or we don't currently allow.

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Knives in the school, this would strip our ability to uh to prevent knives from going into schools.

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As well is that also correct student students are prohibited, but anybody else is not okay, so.

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I and then there's a curious portion of that that would allow the governor to remove.

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People non-complying uh with that uh and as the person who sets the agenda, uh I guess.

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That would be myself um so if I did not bring forth an agenda, the governor uh could remove.

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Me from office um based on on this bill, so I will await a motion to write a letter in opposition to.

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Senate bill 307 and send that upon signature uh to the uh to the governor so moved. Second, all in.

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Favor all right: okay, one question on the bill uh david: when I was reading it the first first time.

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Around it's a lot to digest, but the first line, a paragraph says that current bills will be null.

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And void, but then it goes on to there's two other sections of the bill. One says any citizen in the.

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In the town can bring an action if there's a bill on the books, and you have 60 days to remove it.

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My understanding was, that was if there were new ordinances and that this bill would act as you.

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Know to supersede any other any of the ordinance that currently exists, but I find the sections of.

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The bill confusing because then there's you had a third section, and this is what the mayor was.

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Referring to that, if a person I think who has been aggrieved, then then the penalties become.

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Very very large, and also the removal from office in the event that it's a a willful violation.

B

So has your committee clarified, discussed questions some of the language of this bill.

D

The language of this bill has actually actually changed in the senate. It was amended. That's one.

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Of the reasons why the motion to concur is necessary before it goes to the governor.

D

What I, what I need to do is is to sit down and see what the differences are.

D

Between the senate bill and between what we sent over in the house, it also changed several times.

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In the house it was amended in the house. I think at least twice so there's been a fair amount of.

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Back and forth over over this particular one, but when I did when I looked at the senate,.

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When I looked at the senate amendment a couple of weeks ago, I looked at it quickly.

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I didn't see anything that really substantially changed or would impact the way that.

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I think portsmouth would feel about this bill one way or the other. um So I I can go back and look at.

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It again, uh but what I, what I would suggest is um take a look at the amendment and the docket.

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The last senate amendment in the docket is the bill. That's coming over to the house now.

A

All right, yeah, one out of one out of four david.

E

um So, uh thank you. uh Senator perkins coca um would love to hear uh any updates that that you.

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Have for the committee? No pressure, if you don't yeah? No thanks for having me thanks for being.

A

Here, yeah and apologies for being a few minutes later, I was just wrapping up something for work.

F

Nice to be with you guys, as we approach crossover.

F

We're not there yet, um but you know, there's a few bills. We were working on together um here.

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At the city, so I wanted to provide an update on those. uh They were sb, 437 and 441., um which.

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Asked for us to have the ability to charge not just a five dollar fee at car registration, but.

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Potentially up to fifteen dollars as an additional source of local revenue,.

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Though we had bipartisan support on that, um it did not make it out of committee. Unfortunately, um and.

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That was the one I think we had a better chance on, so I think it was good to bring it back. It has.

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Been a bill, that's seen some success in the past and um you know I think, with some discussion and.

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um You know that face is probably a good chance going forward, but unfortunately, not this year.

F

um 437, which was the ability of municipalities to have a share of speeding ticket revenue.

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So uh currently, which I know marino both discussed, is surprising.

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um Local speeding tickets, when they are collected 100 of that revenue actually goes to the state.

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And so none of it supports our local police force or you know the cost of providing them. There are.

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Policy questions on both sides of this debate, and one of the points raised on the other side is that.

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You would never want a municipal officer to have an incentive to stop someone or to provide a.

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Speeding ticket and so that's been sort of a long-standing reason that that the policy is.

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That way, um you know, I think we all know that um municipalities are always looking for ways.

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To raise revenue and to keep property taxes down, and so it was a debate that was had in committee.

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And ultimately, that bill did not make it out of committee either at this stage.

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So it's something we can consider you know bringing back in the future if we want to.

F

Another one that I know is is important to the city which senator sue prentiss from up.

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In grafton county filed this year is the one on what we call the pillow tax, but I guess.

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It's sort of a local term for that, because people didn't recognize that name up in the.

F

State house, but I think it's it's growing, um the you know it's the ability for us to charge an.

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Additional dollar or two per room per night of occupancy in our hotels and um the bill itself.

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Faced opposition, what we were able to do is to get a study committee set up, which.

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That's actually the farthest. This concept has ever made it um so the bill that incorporated.

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um The commission that would explore this, enabling legislation did make it out of the senate.

F

uh Unanimously, so that's sb 343 when that comes over to you. um It was 338 before, but now the.

F

Amendment's on 343., um and then uh I know just I think in fun, long-term news. You know talking.

F

About offshore wind, there have been a couple bills that came through energy and um one was was sort.

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Of intended to be, you know, procurement effort for offshore wind, it got scaled back, but it did create.

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The office of offshore wind in our new department of energy, which is a good thing and I think, it'll.

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Be important to have staff time. You know at the state level sort of focused on this effort and.

F

While every effort towards offshore wind is probably years away, it's it's, I think very.

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Important for new hampshire to be constantly understanding, you know, where is our space.

F

To kind of participate in offshore wind and how can we bring those benefits back.

F

To this district, you know, I think some of the benefits that have been discussed are certainly.

F

Construction staging you know so, along the banks of the scadaware river being able to lay down.

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Equipment that potentially comes from overseas uh and then another opportunity is for inventory.

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At pease you know to sort of store parts or store pieces that are needed in construction.

F

Certainly, a huge one is jobs, you know being able to um staff the construction of offshore wind.

F

And in the gulf of maine is is a cool opportunity and I know the community college is watching that.

F

Closely so again, these are all years away as a reminder on offshore wind. You know new hampshire's.

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State coastline always extends for every state three miles offshore.

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In new hampshire's case, we actually have the isles of shoals, and so.

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um Our coastline is a full three miles past that so it's 13 miles off shore.

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And after that, it's federal water, and so that that would get leased um through the federal agency.

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Through the bureau of ocean energy management boam- and you know that goes out as far as you.

F

Can kind of contemplate, I think colloquially, you know being able to build wind outside of.

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The view of local communities is something that's talked about commonly in the wind industry.

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um For offshore, because you could still get the energy while you know sort of accommodating.

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You know any concerns about viewshed and then obviously there's lots of wildlife.

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Concerns you know, engineering concerns and others that sort of come with all this.

F

Where to bring the power on shore locally is one that continues to be heavily discussed.

F

I got to take a tour of shiller station. You know where we sort of talked about what their.

F

Their future plans could be and um and the new owners there are.

F

Very cooperative and sort of understanding what the future needs might be, and I think none of.

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None of any of this has materialized into anything concrete. There's, no agreements, there's no.

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You know nothing binding in place, but I think there's a lot of possibility for us and so having.

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Someone at the state level that's paying attention to all that, and especially keeping portsmouth.

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Updated, I think, will be really important so that that was sort of a fun piece of work.

F

And then sb 249, obviously, is something we're working on together. uh Short-Term rentals and.

F

I spent a bunch of time um after that bill made it out of committee. We had what four or five days.

F

Between when it passed as amended at a committee and when it came to the senate floor.

F

You know sort of talking to other senators to see if there was support to amend it and.

F

And basically, what the bill does is at a fundamental level. Is it says that.

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um Short-Term rentals can't be prohibited and it defines short-term rentals in an odd way.

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As single-family or two-family structures, so it allows the town to continue enforcing.

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Its other ordinances, you know on noise, on parking on setbacks and other zoning.

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But you know does essentially require that there be some way for a short-term rental.

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To be allowed, for example, in a single-family neighborhood, and so um there was not a lot of.

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Support to amend the bill, perhaps surprisingly, but I I think it's because you know we're a.

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Tourist community we're on the front lines of this battle. um You know we understand it in a way that.

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North conway can understand it, um but I think few communities have sort of internalized how.

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This could affect their long-term housing stock, their housing costs. Yet so I did send an email.

F

I think to some of you, I don't know if I included the whole delegation yet, but um I think that as.

F

It comes over to the house. We should work together once it's assigned to committee.

F

To figure out who can bring an amendment for us and- and I think the content of that amendment is.

F

Important and I I sent a couple questions to you guys if you have a couple minutes that I think.

F

Would just be um useful to discuss and then I can kind of take those concepts forward. So.

F

um One of them was owner occupancy and I know the mayor and I spoke um extensively about that.

F

And he you know, he's been very in touch with me to make sure that we're protecting portsmouth.

F

On this issue, and so in my discussion with other senators, one things that came up in other places.

F

Is you know, a lot of districts have houses that are owner occupied, but it might be someone that's.

F

Away, you know, and so they might spend the winter in florida, but rent their house out for skiing.

F

And you know traditionally owner occupancy, I think, as we would um think of it in its broadest use,.

F

Would be that there's an owner on site, you know whether that's in the same home or you know like.

F

In the main house and and the short-term rental as a guest house- and so um you know, I think that.

F

Contemplating how we might be willing to expand that a little might gain us a little support.

F

Just listening to um you know the feedback that other legislators are getting. I think that.

F

There's a lot of people who do use their homes in that way to sort of be away from their home.

F

And rent it when they're not occupying it, and so I think we could gain votes by.

F

Contemplating whether that's something that's acceptable to portsmouth, to include that as.

F

As sort of our definition of owner occupancy, you know, and then um a second question I have is.

F

Is sort of what what do we want to be able to do in these single-family zones? I mean.

F

The position of the association of realtors, who are bringing this bill is that.

F

Short-Term rentals are residential use and I think I would maintain- and I think jane.

F

Would probably maintain- and maybe others that I mean this- is at minimum acquisite commercial use.

F

um And potentially, you know could be considered a fully commercial use so.

F

You know, I think it's it's always been at least my view and, and I would welcome everyone else- is that.

F

Zoning is an appropriate mechanism to regulate short-term rentals and that you know, because they.

F

Have commercial aspects to them that we want to be able to place them in our our various zones? um In.

F

A way that's accommodating to our residents and to our neighborhoods, and so one way to do that would.

F

Be through a permit system- and um you know that's how we issue the right to you know- have other uses.

F

In our city is through permits, conditional use permits or um special use permits, and so.

F

That could be something we explore. I don't think the realtors um I think we'd have to do.

F

It carefully because they would likely oppose a permit system, because their intent is for.

F

This use to be able to exist and I think they fear that permit system might hamper the use. um I agree.

F

That it might, but that it's also important for the residents to have their say so welcome discussion.

A

So the just on the and thank you uh senator berkinskoka, the.

A

The realtors are supportive of this because, as I would understand and and would love to hear if.

A

This is different that it uh and it creates a a larger market for them to sell houses, uh because.

A

It raises the value of a home that is currently in long-term rental. It creates a value to convert.

A

That to short-term rental and increase the price of a sale. That's something that.

A

Valerie or sorry not valerie, um roseanne lentz uh believes uh in the city of portsmouth.

A

But has the consequence of taking long-term rentals off of the market and putting them.

A

Into short-term rentals, which very much directly opposes uh any efforts that we're making from.

A

An affordability standpoint in the state which I now believe has somewhat broad bipartisan support.

A

From a recognition that it's an important issue, at least from the governor.

A

Has identified in a state of the state as a major issue that you know the only thing.

A

That he positioned as massachusetts, beating us on was affordable, housing or creation of.

A

Housing everything else we are far and away superior in every in every uh in every way. So.

A

I was interested and somewhat disappointed here that the housing authority has not.

A

Taken any official position on that: do you think that they will, before the house votes.

A

On this uh new hampshire housing finance, yeah yeah, I could ask them they often don't.

F

Take positions on legislation actually, so they tend to view themselves as a technical resource.

F

um Could they, um if we worked with them, uh could they at least dispel the myth that the realtors.

A

Have that they are separate markets, that this would have an impact on long-term rentals.

F

Yeah, I think I think it's a great idea. Maybe we could reach out to housing action. New hampshire.

F

Who does do advocacy to sort of talk about how this impacts availability? Because.

F

One of the points I made to my fellow senators uh was that you know, even if you're not in a.

F

Tourist community, this this problem of long-term housing stock exists everywhere and affects all.

F

Of us and and the fact that you can value a home now, based on its you know, overnight short-term.

F

Rental value does impact housing prices um for all of us in every market. You know the vacancy.

F

Rate is one percent across the state: it's not just in southern new hampshire, um so I think.

F

That you know bringing that idea to them could help dispel some of the misinformation. But I.

F

Also think that exploring you know what we want: the content of our amendment to.

F

Be is important because I think that's that's sort of our option at this point and another.

F

Thing we could do you know just to address this. um You know in terms of like how we would proceed is.

F

Is we could explore if it is a permit-based system putting a cap on the permits locally.

F

So, for example, you'd have a number of short-term rentals that you would know as a city could exist.

F

In your municipality, and that would give you a tool to balance, you know long-term housing.

F

Stock with short-term housing stock, for example, if portsmouth has 10 000 housing units, we would know.

F

What percentage or number of those you know were being used as short-term rentals so that.

F

We can continue to meet our very important goal of long-term housing stock. You know, as the mayor has.

F

Brought up so uh on that in terms of uh trying to think on the fly on what could encompass both the.

A

uh You know I I understand that there's a desire, you know new hampshire says that you know not.

A

Not yourself, but your house has to pay property taxes. You know that's how we fund the whole system.

A

So for your house to actually earn money is an attractive thing that I understand.

A

And I'm certainly cognizant of, but if we could limit it to um houses where you reside.

A

An owner is allowed to if they frankly, I guess I care less about a a somebody that.

A

Lives in new hampshire, but does not reside in new hampshire, looking to rent out their home.

A

In new hampshire then, and that it could definitely be still allowed on the the the individual towns.

A

This would not prevent that, but from a blanket statement of saying that this is something that.

A

Could have a residency requirement of a house for a somebody to be permitted to have that they.

A

Have it has to be their place of residence? Okay, that's an interesting idea like that. Is there.

E

um I know there's been concern from from north conway and laconia that corporations are coming in.

E

So I wonder what the wording of that or even more stringent word in um or how we would word it to.

E

Limit corporations from purchasing homes to then turn them into short-term rentals would do do we.

E

Feel like the residency requirement, um would that block it? Even if say the the person who owned the.

E

Corporation was a resident yeah. I I think it's a good idea. um I would want to explore what.

F

um What some of our allies you know in this fight might think, because I would, I would say it. Yes, you.

F

Know we want to include that in a definition of owner occupancy that you know it has to be.

F

An individual, a human, but I also think what you bring up goes to enforcement too, because we want.

F

To make sure that um it, you know if there is a violation of your permit or the ordinance that.

F

There's somebody to go to you know the case in conway, which you're referring to, I think.

F

um There's a nuisance use, that's been just going on for about 10 years and so um there's no way to.

F

Enforce it, you know, and I think that that's part of our goal, so I think that's a really good point.

C

um Yeah, I I think, if you believe we could get some cap on the number. I think that would be great.

C

Looking at conway they've got 600 units, 600 houses, that's about 10 percent of their housing stock.

C

So you know if that means that we would be looking at a thousand houses or 10 000 houses, 10 percent.

C

um And that's a significant impact on a community significant impact on neighborhoods.

C

So, and and in conway, as as we've talked about what we're seeing is entrepreneurs.

C

Go into the lodging business by buying four five six, eight ten houses and doing short term rentals.

C

So that I think that's if you play the movie forward on this bill, that's where it ends up.

C

So a cap, I wonder if we could define.

C

Short term as a week and anything less than the week, we could regulate interest. Maybe there's.

C

Support for that yeah because actually was a question. I meant to send you jane many ordinances.

F

Address transient use, sort of in other ways, and I haven't reached out to you to ask how ours does.

F

Or whether it defines that not in terms of days but in terms of the the the types of places that.

B

Are used for transient use, so um our transient use ordinance um and our short-term rental case all.

B

Revolved around the term dwelling unit and what is a dwelling unit and what isn't a dwelling unit.

B

And what isn't a dwelling unit is a transient occupancy quote unquote and our ordinance.

B

Defined transient occupancy as and gave examples like boarding, house hotel, motel.

B

And it wasn't a complete list of transient uses, but because it wasn't a complete list of transient.

B

Uses we can regulate short-term rental as a transient use, so it it's. It's very specific.

B

From town to the next town, even though conway had sort of similar arguments, similar issues similar.

B

Definitional debates shall we say their ordinance was drafted differently and it was really because.

B

Our transient occupancy was defined in terms of samples, and that's the that's why we wanted.

B

The supreme court for for that, whether we can you know obviously there's been a lot to look.

B

At to a lot of talk about workforce housing, a lot of talking about zoning amendments so.

B

Certainly, that's something that um isn't the easiest thing to for the layperson to understand.

B

Obviously so further definitions and and further exploration of those um is is probably.

B

Worth coming at a point, yeah- and I just would concur with the mayor that if the owners on site.

C

um These are much better managed in terms of uh community impact than if the owner's.

C

Away- and I think I emailed you the case of our neighborhood, where somebody would vacate take.

C

His family and stay in a motel and rent it out and it was being rented out for weekends. Only um and.

C

You know: that's that's what one of the neighbors called the cops for a beer party and.

C

So, okay, they wouldn't have called if they were serving wine. It's just the beer.

D

There was a I remember a case. A couple of years ago there was a woman in my my district who bought.

D

The house next door and ran into issues so would would there be flexibility in in an ordinance to.

D

Not only include um someone who uh you know a homeowner who's living on the property, but.

E

Somebody who resides in an adjacent property.

E

So um because this it'll come up, it'll come up yeah. I guess uh this is not a legislative.

A

Agreement, although it might be my fundamental issue with this bill, is, is not for enterprising.

A

Individuals that are looking to make money through tourism in the state of new hampshire. It's that.

A

In the way that they're doing that, and why I'm not super supportive of a cap is that it says here are.

A

The amount of uh units that we will allow you uh to take off the long-term rental market in order.

A

To pursue this uh this goal, um it is a fundamental issue that we cannot both uh any effort that we've.

A

Made the 64 units at court street those are all going to be in the wash if we allow more.

A

Units to be converted to short-term rental units- and it's I I want there to be some cost to pay.

A

Politically for concord to support this bill and and and state that we are doing so, while you.

A

Know on the other side of the mouth, talking about affordable housing units and I'll speak to it now.

A

Could be dissuaded from it, but that's the reason why I would have a press conference around this.

A

Because I don't think this has been identified as the issue that's at play, there's certainly issues.

A

To deal with in terms of noise and pollution, uh you know quality of life for neighbors. I totally.

A

Get that I think that portsmouth, we need to act on short-term rentals to allow a framework for this.

A

To happen, it does allow people to stay in their homes. It does allow people to um you know the.

A

Working stiff case that you mentioned that's the name of the llc, you know I'm not convinced that.

A

That's the best and highest use of somebody buying a house wanting their daughter to move in at some.

A

Point in the future and renting it out. You know in the meantime, because that does take an entire.

A

House off the market for a community member to be to live in and turns it into an enterprise.

A

Which is is great but limited value, for you know, people that are trying to.

A

You know promote the the working of a city, but um counselor cook I have have. We worked with the.

E

Hospitality industry specifically hotels on this at all, because I would think that they would.

E

Want to lobby against allowing for short-term rentals good question.

B

I know years ago, when this conversation and these types of bills were being discussed there.

B

Were short-term rentables there was also the hotel occupancy bills that were kind of swimming around.

B

The same committees and we had some discussions through the chamber to reach out to our local.

B

Hotel establishment, I know that the bread and the b and b folks are very vociferously objecting and.

B

Opposing this I have not heard specifically the subset of hotel, motels, but definitely b and b's.

B

Are have been testifying at hearings and writing letters and opposing because they're regulated.

B

And so what they're saying is it's not an even playing field that I have to do x, y and z and then.

B

A residential homeowner would not have to under these types of bills, but I do think our land use.

A

Committee should also have um you know to speak and finally act upon, like we have a shadow airbnb.

A

You know situation in portsmouth where people do it as long as their neighbors, don't snitch on.

A

Them for doing it, that is not how we should run a city or government, so we we should hopefully.

A

Joanna can I will bring that over to the land. Is there also a way to address this by saying that if.

E

We allow these then they have to be regulated and taxed in the same way, all hotels, oh yeah, are they.

A

Are they gonna? That was the other question. Are they gonna be? There are non-commercial property.

A

Or non-commercial use that would be paying roman meals tax. I don't know how that happens.

B

They currently play meals in rooms um we're supposed to play meals in rooms. We know the.

B

State's ability to enforce and register there's a registration and and all of that, but I think there.

B

Is a shadow economy too that I'm not sure all of that is, is getting to the state um and um that.

B

Is the that's the question I've always had? How can you, how can you impose a meals and rooms tax.

B

On something that this bill is claiming is a residential use, so I just I don't understand.

B

How the state can would you say to the size of the mouth? It's it's an interesting, creative way.

B

I think to to classify property so, um and I have one final question: how does this it's for single.

E

Family and duplex situations: how does this impact housing in multi-family zones? Is it just any house.

E

That's a single family in a multi-family zone still is impacted or because we have a lot of.

E

Residential housing- that's single-family in multi-family zoning neighborhoods in portsmouth.

E

Right so I don't, my interpretation is every one of those houses could be a short-term rental. Okay,.

B

That's different, that's my view. The competing uh bill of every house being able to be a.

A

A four unit house uh would that make this a moot point: if all single families- that's true.

F

Four unit houses it might um okay. Well, uh I want to be cognizant of time uh here. So we've talked.

A

About this, a lot there's a lot that is going to go into the amendment. Obviously jane is a resource to.

A

Help you know, help portsmouth's position on this, but would love to be able to see something that.

A

Could come back to the legislative subcommittee? Understand timing doesn't always work that way.

A

But before that made it to the house, I did want to briefly uh point out that, if possible, I'd.

A

Like to speak on this bill specifically to try to address some of the affordable issues at a press.

A

Conference I've been told that, with your help, I can get one uh more easily at the legislative.

A

Office building so we'll be reaching out around that and then um discussion of uh hb 1255.

A

This is the mayor has requested. We consider writing. I fully support that. I think that there's.

A

A number of arenas that this could be supported under one advocate to maintain local authority.

A

To um you know, support the civil rights of individuals and oppose discrimination against.

A

Any individual um and then three, um let's see the oh use, expertise in research and decision making.

A

So I think you know understanding that teachers are experts in the field of educating and to trust.

A

Their judgment, uh in terms of that, I would love to uh um I'd love to to have a motion.

A

uh To draft a bill uh in opposition to this so moved. Second, all in favor- and you know if.

A

There's a desire to to speak on this bill. When does this come up again at that? I am not sure.

A

Has this already been spoken to, I think it may have already been spoken to on the house.

D

This has been exact in education because I know all of our first committee bills have.

D

Been exact um but the the vote isn't on the legislative website right now, yeah, it's like.

E

It's it's yeah. I feel, like it's been a very hard bill to follow through where it where it is. Okay,.

B

I noticed that in a few bills that they were exact, but you couldn't find look like at the end of this.

B

Week you couldn't find the votes yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for all the work, bye, senator.

A

Did somebody just knock on that door? No, I think that was just okay, all right. um Okay, so.

A

I guess we'll find uh appropriate time and I was reminded when we celebrated martha um at the.

A

There was an event on saturday. uh There was a recollection, uh her husband, jeff of.

A

Slaves petitioning for their um for their freedom for the house, and that bill was laid on the floor.

A

And expedient to legislate and then brought forth again by martha uh to deliver them.

A

Their freedom, post, tumorously- and you know that would be the type of.

A

Discussion that you know would not be uh that could possibly you know, be confused.

A

With the divisive concept, even though it shows growth and and and change over a.

A

Course of time that that paints, you know all of us with the ability to become uh better and.

A

More human, um but it's a frustrating, uh it's a frustrating bill uh to say the least. So we will.

A

Oppose it in in any way that we can. This does not have to go back to the city council because again.

A

The legislative principles I think uh touch on that, but it might be something worth mentioning.

A

Because I'm sure the community uh would like to be aware that we are, we are opposing and then.

A

Jane general discussion of bills, the city is tracking.

A

Jane has done an amazing job, putting all the bills on the legislative subcommittee.

A

um And yeah round of applause for jane there, the uh um so they can all be found on the city's.

A

Website, if you're watching along at home or uh watching this on youtube at some later point.

A

By going to uh just searching legislative subcommittee and then under one of the menus.

A

uh Clicking bills that are tracking jane are there anything that you want to call out as a part of.

A

That for discussion, uh sure we already touched on house bill 1033, which is the lobbying bill and.

B

I I know that is uh coming up for a vote and I know our delegates received a real eloquent email.

B

From peter lachlan I would hurt you to read it and you know consider what he says. It's uh really.

B

Talks he talks eloquently about um you know when the state downshifts, you know the city.

B

The city needs a voice, and municipalities need a voice, and he goes through some examples of.

B

Of why lobbying is important, so I'll send it to our committee members if, if they weren't.

B

Copied on it, but I know our delegation was and then we are tracking house bill, 1073.

B

Which is removing the exemption for attorney-client work product? I don't.

B

Know if you guys have lived through this the last couple of years there was a supreme court case.

B

That resulted in an amendment to 91a to specifically include the attorney-client.

B

Work product as an exemption from right to know this bill removes that, so that is something nhma.

B

Is fighting very aggressively and we're monitoring that particular bill as that progresses? The other.

B

Bills that other two bills that I just wanted to to flag that I think are coming for.

B

A vote on thursday are um house bill, 12 68 and the report from that committee is ought to pass and.

B

That's the one restricting that general provision of creation of bylaws under our ordinances, 4717.

B

And it's adding qualifying language to limit. There was just a general provision that says you can.

B

Create ordinances that are sort of in the best interest of the citizens that don't violate any.

B

State law, but the language is limiting, I believe, to nuisance, and this has been amended a lot. I.

B

Think this particular bill and nhma believes this is uh again a local authority, an assault on local.

B

Authority they are via the, they are vigorously opposing it, and um it's one of the the bills that.

B

Again appear appears innocuous. You know uh at first reading, but then, when you think about it,.

B

And you read it particularly the amendments and the debates about it. It's concerning.

B

uh The same was with a health bill. It had similar language to start off with house bill 1272.

B

That has been voted out to pass on the consent calendar. But again it's a restriction of health.

B

Officers abilities to regulate and again narrowly kind of defines a laundry list of things they can.

B

Propose so I just urged our delegates to be cognizant of.

B

That and cognizant of local authority, when you cast your votes on thursday.

B

And I think those were the ones that just jumped out at me um from our from our very long list.

B

The the list is obviously getting shorter, because bills are getting itl's and.

B

You know, as as crossover approaches, it's going to be a really much smaller list, that.

B

This committee can focus on um for for legislative issues.

B

And that's what I had highlighted so thank you, jane.

A

The discussion of uh legislation interest first, was there any questions for jane on that? No.

A

I get to uh meet with the mayors uh of new hampshire, um largely, I would say it falls into.

A

um Issues of local control, uh the nhma um is a uh is a frequent um uh joiner of those round tables.

A

Where we haven't found universal uh uh support is opposing uh the the airbnb um bill um there. This.

A

Is actually somewhat bipartisan coming from folks in manchester, um again just different situation.

A

Not as vibrant tourism uh community in in manchester, as is in uh portsmouth, um the the.

A

Divisive competence, education um also haven't uh uh come up there um and I would say that um we've.

A

Met with the uh the governor, um it was uh more or less um a a discussion of whatever the legislature.

A

Does I'm supportive he he quoted to us as he doesn't particularly follow the bills himself.

A

There's a lot of bills, you know from his perspective and that if there are bills that.

A

Need to be followed up on or happy to reach out, so I would say that um I think that it would be.

A

It would it would work better um from a uh a roundtable standpoint if there were bills that.

A

You think that the uh the mayors should be aware of. um It is a, I think, an effective lobbying group.

A

To to have the mayors come out against something, so I would much you know. I'd view this more as a a.

A

Two-Way street, if you could bring uh issues where we think that um you know um an example, was the.

A

The uh the bill that failed uh from a uh a pillow uh fee, um the the senator from nashua.

A

Said the nasha was against it. Well that happened to be news to mayor donchess of manchester, um so.

A

Things like that, I think, there's an opportunity to uh bring other kind of boots on the grounds folks.

A

That are strapped for cash uh to to highlight and if there's an opportunity to do so, I would very.

A

Much appreciate the the legislative delegation in this committee to to bring those forth as.

A

Agenda items going forward, but we've had a couple meetings, seem like reasonable people um and uh I.

A

Think it's if there's a if there's a way to try to direct him. That would be a good one to do.

A

And then jane back to you on the update on coalition committees.

B

um Yeah, we didn't uh the the ones that the coalition community was tracking relative to donor.

B

Town bills, they didn't have legs this session, so uh one was, I think, it's 608 was tabled and then.

B

There were uh quite a few other ones um on behalf of the the committee sort of the the.

B

Public meeting and the remote meetings and the lobbying kind of rolled into the review.

B

And tracking, because it obviously affects the communities for the coalition community.

B

But on ed funding I was able to reach out to chris dwyer a former city councilor, and there is a bill.

B

That I'm forgetting the number but it is it is the adoption of the commission on education's.

B

Fundings really platform on changing the formula and I believe it was retained in committee.

B

So that it's going to come back, but it's not going to come back.

B

This spring and the mayor had suggested that I reach out to chris dwyer, who was on the commission.

B

And actually has presented to other legislative subcommittees, slides on what the commission.

B

Found and so we can kind of understand it as a group and understand it in terms of this.

B

Bill that is going to be in committee, that's going to be vetted and analyzed, and the other issue is.

B

The education freedom accounts, I've reached out to our school department and there's.

B

A lot of comment bills that I have not been able to follow: they're fast and furious and they're.

B

They're they're complicated, but the question from this committee was: how does the current, how do the.

B

Current bills affect our budget, so I've reached out to the school department on that as well.

B

And um so chris dwyer is, is able. I thought if, if this committee is uh in agreement, that we.

B

Could do another legislative subcommittee on ed funding and kind of uh get that going? um I I asked.

B

Chris, when she was available- and she is available every monday between now and april- 4th so.

B

Again, I don't know whether this committee wants to make a decision now on a date or whether we feel.

B

We want to wait on this and kind of deal with crossover, or you know how we want to time.

B

The presentation of of this information added funding well, I would suggest that, given that this.

A

Is not an immediate issue for education funding in this year uh that we wait until after uh crossover.

A

Unless there is something that you think these freedom account bills are going to have an issue.

A

That we should be ahead of at the moment there was a bill that did.

D

Make it through the education committee that would allow local education freedom accounts.

D

And that could result result in uh as much as ten thousand dollars per student going out um uh when.

D

A student like when a student who's eligible um takes advantage of it or their parents do.

D

This is one I substituted on the education committee several times. This is one that.

D

Came up an executive session and did make it through. I don't see any education bills on.

D

The house calendar this week, but that's one that will be coming up um and.

D

There are also a number of bills that were filed intending to repeal education savings accounts to.

D

To to basically force the state to budget and live within a budget for education,.

D

Freedom accounts all the the bills that basically have been filed to repeal or limit.

D

Have been killed in committee with house votes to come if they, if those bills are also killed.

D

In the house they're dead for this year so um but I would say, the the education, the local education.

D

Freedom account, one is definitely one to track, because that could have significant impact on.

D

Local school budgets, how does that differ from the actual freedom accounts? You would ask me that.

D

D

I would need I I would need to go back and look at the bill, but what I'll do is I'll try to find.

D

A bill and try to find my notes on it. um It's one of one of the challenges you deal with as.

D

A legislator 900 bills that are filed. We had we had 58 in our committee this session and then.

D

In education they had 104. so keeping them all straight, um especially as you get older.

D

I mean a little bit of a challenge, but I do, but that is one that kind of comes to mind top of mind.

D

Is one that okay should be tracked? Well then, maybe let's try to get the uh it's important. I think.

A

um Former counselor dwyer is a excellent resource on education funding. Let's try to have her in.

A

To speak on uh that, and you know, education is how or in funding education is kind of how this whole.

A

State operates in both fair and unfair ways, uh but really you know, uh moves the the needle uh and.

A

You know finding out when, when you find out that the lottery doesn't pay, you know for the whole.

A

You know the whole kit and caboodle of education funding. You know the the uh the curtain is.

A

Revealed uh a little bit here in the state of new hampshire, so I think understanding that as quickly.

A

As it can, as a legislative subcommittee meeting uh might be a useful useful, so uh jane, do you want to.

A

Reach out and and suggest a uh a time in march later in the month uh two or three weeks from now.

B

Does this morning time work for for most people at uh you know the 10 o'clock hour on mondays.

B

Does the march 28th uh date seem to work, looks for me yeah. I think so.

E

um March 28th, we have another committee, that's already scheduled in this room. Oh well, that's a no.

B

Then, or we can remove the time, is that what other committee is saying the government is meeting in.

E

Here at 10 at 10 to 11 30., okay, approximately could we do it earlier? We could do it at nine.

B

A

All right, without anything else, any other questions. The the build number is uh 607 hb 607.

D

Establishing local education savings accounts for students.

D

All right, I believe, 608 and I believe 608 is the.

B

That big funding one that the one that that went to, I believe that went to committee. Yes,.

A

Any questions from the uh the zoom verse there.

A

Representative, hamlet or representative ward, no we're good I'll, just say john john and I.

E

Are trying to keep the right to vote alive, which is not easy to do we're both on the same committee.

E

And uh john has done a great across the aisle effort to get ranked choice. Voting approved at.

E

Least, as a bit of enabling legislation, which is a real trial. Well, thank you both for the that effort.

A

You know more people voting is, oh, we didn't get the redistricting update um so.

E

People should just contact the governor at this point, yeah yep. So as I understand the.

A

And correct me: if I'm I'm wrong, um that the house maps have been approved is.

A

That correct in the senate maps and the ec and the executive council maps have been.

A

Approved but the governor has put himself into a box with the congressional maps, are.

E

I don't know representative ward yeah, I think that's uh accurate. We still haven't gotten.

E

The senate bills from crossover, but it's not going to change okay, but the the the the.

A

The the district uh the governor has stated that he doesn't like to look at him, but that's good. I.

E

Think the more you hear from people, the better okay. Well, this is the first that you know since.

A

We've had districts in new hampshire. This would be the first time that portsmouth would not be in the.

A

Congressional first district, I think, going back to 1847, which is impressive. uh You know there's.

A

A lot of things that were not effective in 1847, but that one, uh you know keeping us in a regional.

A

Community with other seafaring, you know, coastal towns seems like a a positive thing to to move.

A

Forward so um I think that we should. uh We should probably write a letter uh on uh on on that to.

A

To represent fair maps, so I would wait a motion to uh to uh to to write a letter to the governor.

A

uh Proposing fair representative maps uh uh from the legislative subcommittee I'd I'm so moved.

A

All in favor all right um yeah. Thank you, that's great um mayor. Would you please note that it makes.

E

It difficult to do our work with rockingham planning commission when you split our county.

E

Across districts, as far as federal funding for things like coast, bus service and.

A

I think we should. uh We should add that, uh to the note um and also mention the you know, the.

A

The regionality there's different, you know, centers, like we are viewed as a seacoast community when it.

A

Came to uh when it um when it came to um covet tracking and whatnot, and this would also split.

A

That out, you know and put us in the same position as as keen and gotten to know the mayor. There.

A

Seems like a really nice guy, but you know we are not uh neighbors with with keene um from.

A

From a federal uh standpoint, they do not have a port, uh they do not face the same issues that.

A

That that we do so, yes, we will get that letter out and you know potentially craft that as.

A

An op-ed from the legislative subcommittee as well to share with the paper.

B

Yeah all right, just as a note um in looking at the calendar, I'm not sure this is updated.

B

And whether there's been an amendment but house bill, 607 uh that looks like it's been tabled.

D

And I'm looking at the same thing that I was wondering.

D

Looking for a moment to bring that up, um uh there have been a bunch of bills, but there are several.

B

Right so we'll look at the universe of those and make sure it didn't get. It can get taken off the.

D

Table there, but the reason this one went off is, uh if you look at the vote above it right.

D

There's, I think, there's there's a lot of concern, even among people who support.

D

Education freedom accounts because of the the the actual cost to the state in the first year.

D

Is way higher than the education commissioner uh predicted on the order of millions of dollars.

E

Hundreds of millions, so there is a lot of concern about you- know, maybe biting too much.

D

Of the apple off too soon, even among people who favor education, freedom accounts so.

D

But one thing to be aware of is that um the tape something that's laid on the table, I believe uh it.

D

Could come off this it's possible for something like this to come off the table? It's one of.

D

The things that they tell us to pay attention to during the during the session and a lot of it will.

D

Depend on um on uh how many people show up and that that's that's gonna that could potentially.

D

Be an issue for thursday because we're going back into reps hall for the first time in two years.

D

And reps hall is significantly smaller than the venues where we've been holding legislative.

D

Sessions to date, where more distancing is, is allowable in reps hall. Think of it as like a.

D

Like a theater that was designed um two centuries ago, when people were a lot.

D

Smaller uh and the seats are packed very very tightly and there's no room for distancing so.

D

Attendance will be an issue. Well, uh we wish you well and and luck in going there. Hopefully.

A

um You were all safe uh sitting as close together uh as you will be, and um that.

A

The the people's business gets done. um It's appreciated again by by portsmouth.

A

um And everybody that tracks uh this and we'll do our bit to help more people, understand.

A

You know the work that that you're doing, and hopefully we can do together.

A

So uh with that, I will await a motion to adjourn unless there is further business, but anyone here.

C

Move will you adjourn you're on second, all in favor, aye aye. Thank you very much. Thank you.