The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled its hearing on SB 95, which enables public bodies to continue to meet remotely as they have done under Emergency Order #12 during the pandemic. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4, at 9:00 a.m. 

We have heard from many local officials about how well remote meetings have worked, and we have heard almost no complaints. We do expect that most, if not all, local boards will return to in-person meetings once it is safe to do so, but it certainly would be helpful to have the remote meeting option when circumstances warrant it—not only during a statewide emergency. 

Because remote meetings are still relatively new and, admittedly, represent a significant change in the public meeting concept, the Senate included a sunset date of July 1, 2022, in the bill. After that date, the remote meeting option would disappear unless the legislature reauthorizes it. In the meantime, the bill creates a legislative committee to study remote meetings and make recommendations to the legislature. We think this is a prudent approach. 

Local officials who would like to continue to have the remote meeting option are strongly encouraged to register in support of SB 95 using the House remote testimony form, or sign up to testify at the hearing on May 4. Please let us know if you have questions about the sign-up process.

The Senate passed the following bills yesterday, all of them on the consent calendar. All of the bills passed either without amendment or with minor technical amendments, so they are likely to become law unless vetoed. 

Town health officers.  HB 79 makes numerous changes to the health officer statutes. Among other things, it (1) eliminates the requirement that a health officer be a resident of the state; (2) allows greater information sharing between health officers and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); (3) requires each local board of health to meet at least annually to review the state of local public health issues and provide information to DHHS on the readiness to address public health threats; and (4) requires every health officer to complete at least three hours of training within one year of appointment, to be provided at no cost by DHHS in collaboration with the New Hampshire Health Officers Association. 

Notice of tax lien execution.  HB 126 gives a municipality 60 days from the date of execution of a tax lien to notify all persons holding mortgages on the property. Current law allows only 45 days. 

Acquisition, sale, and demolition of municipal property. HB 164 clarifies the authority of the governing body to demolish municipally owned buildings and requires review and recommendation by the heritage commission (if any) and the historic district commission (if the property is within a historic district), in addition to the planning board and the conservation commission, before the governing body may acquire or sell property under RSA 41:14-a or demolish or otherwise dispose of buildings. 

Restoration of involuntarily merged lots.  HB 284 repeals the December 31, 2021, deadline for owners of involuntarily merged lots to submit a request to the local governing body to have the lots restored to their premerger status. The legislature gave lot owners the right to make such requests in 2011, subject to a 2016 deadline. In 2016 the deadline was extended for five years. HB 284 as introduced would have extended it for two more years. Although no one—not even the sponsor—testified in support of the bill in the House, the House amended the bill to remove the deadline altogether. The Senate agreed, with a minor technical amendment. We had proposed an amendment extending the deadline for restoration requests to 2031—20 years from the date of the original legislation—to be consistent with the 20-year statute of limitations for real estate actions, but that amendment was not adopted.

Thursday, April 22, 2021 

HB 64-L, relative to renewable generation facility property subject to a voluntary payment in lieu of taxes agreement.  Passed. 

HB 79, relative to town health officers.  Passed. 

HB 88, relative to the city of Claremont police commission.  Passed. 

HB 126, relative to notice of execution of tax lien to mortgagees.  Passed. 

HB 164, relative to the acquisition, sale, or demolition of municipal land or buildings.  Passed with Amendment. 

HB 284, relative to the restoration of involuntarily merged lots.  Passed with Amendment. 

HB 286, establishing a committee to study the response of law enforcement and the criminal justice system to homelessness in New Hampshire.  Passed. 

HB 375, allowing the destruction of valueless contraband by the chief of police.  Passed with Amendment. 

HB 486-FN, relative to eligibility for the low and moderate income homeowners property tax relief.  Passed; referred to Finance. 

HB 530, relative to candidate background checks for law enforcement officers.  Passed.