House Bill 1567, sponsored by Rep. Charles Weed (D-Keene), would make it legal to possess up to one-quarter ounce of marijuana for personal or medical use. Last year, Weed sponsored a bill that would have legalized any quantity of marijuana, but it died in the House. Police agencies overwhelmingly opposed the bill.

House Bill 1623, sponsored by Rep. Jeffrey Fontas (D-Nashua), would make possession of up to 1.25 ounces of marijuana a violation level offense, instead of a Class A misdemeanor. A violation carries a $200 fine, while a Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine. Opponents say the bill, as it is currently worded, would also allow for the legal sale of marijuana.

House Bill 1559, sponsored by Rep. Paul Ingbretson (R-Pike), requires people convicted of Class A misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana or hashish to be sentenced to home confinement instead of jail time. Under the proposal, fines could still be imposed for drug convictions.

All three proposals, if approved, would likely reduce state and county expenditures on court cases and incarceration costs, according to fiscal notes attached to the bills. The cost of incarcerating someone in a county jail for one year is estimated at $29,000.
 
All three bills are currently being considered by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. 

In other legislative news, the state Senate is considering a bill that would enable 17-year-olds to vote in state primaries if they turn 18 before the date of the general election. Sponsored by Sen. Joseph Foster (D-Nashua), Senate Bill 436 is currently before the Election Law and Internal Affairs Committee.

House Bill 1222, sponsored by Rep. David Campbell (D-Nashua), would prohibit motorists from writing text messages on cell phones or typing with two hands on other electronic devices while driving. The bill, which is currently before the Transportation Committee, would make texting while driving a violation-level offense. However, drivers would still be permitted to talk on cell phones. (The Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill that would prohibit drivers from talking or texting on cell phones while driving.)

Of particular interest to certain Seacoast residents is House Bill 1306, which would permit people to remove commercial signs that are placed on public property without the owner’s consent. Sponsored by Rep. Jim Splaine (D-Portsmouth), the bill probably would have prevented “sign bandit” John Decker from facing criminal charges in 2006. Decker, of Stratham, drew loads of local media attention when he was arrested for removing a sign from a public road in Portsmouth. He was ultimately convicted and fined.