a roundup of legislation that takes effect in 2009

Energy, education and the economy were priorities of New Hampshire legislators in the previous session, passing new laws for the new year.

Since 2008 was an election year, expectations were low for laws that would make drastic or controversial changes. But House Speaker Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth) said some significant laws that took effect the year before had been further developed.

For instance, the 2007 session defined an adequate education for the state, but the cost of an adequate education was determined last year and appropriations were made to see it through.

Other laws for education that will make a noticeable difference are raising the legal dropout age to 18 and ensuring that every child has access to kindergarten. The rule to keep kids in school longer is accompanied by resources for alternative programs for older students, Norelli said.

Both of those education laws failed in the Legislature before Democrats gained a majority in the state House and Senate, Norelli said. She added that Democrats can take credit for and be proud of all the laws that “finally” passed after working on them for years through the previous Republican majority.

These laws also include investing in the state’s changing workforce and promoting economic development by giving tax credits to businesses that create jobs and provide training in recessed areas. This, Norelli said, makes for a strong workforce. Other bills encourage workforce housing in planning.

Dante Scala, chairperson of the political science department at the University of New Hampshire, said a Democratic majority was evident in the passing of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The bill, which several other Northeastern states have signed onto, establishes a cap and trade program for harmful gas emissions from utility companies. Emission permits are auctioned off and the proceeds go toward renewable energy sources and conservation.

Another environmental bill that passed was an expansion of LCHIP (Land and Community Heritage Investment Program), although on Nov. 21, $3 million of its $4.3 million budget was rescinded to help cover the current budget deficit. LCHIP money protecting the state’s natural and historic resources. Norelli said the program not only benefits residents and their standard of living, but also the economy through tourism.

Lawmakers also allowed for an assessment of geothermal energy sources within the state. They also set standards for state agencies in recycling and efficient energy use, and established a renewable energy incentive program for utility companies.

Despite everything that passed in 2008, Scala noted that nothing came close to the social issues addressed with passage of civil unions the year before. He said the key concerns were a budget deficit and other fiscal matters, and that will likely continue into this year when legislators prepare the biennial budget. He called this an “austere time” for all state governments considering the economic downturn.

Scala said many Democrats in the Legislature would have liked to discuss a sales or income tax as a means of addressing the financial shortage, but that wasn’t likely to happen in an election year.

The greatest accomplishment of 2008 may have been making ends meet despite the recession. Several bills, for instance, made changes within the judicial branch to cut the state budget, such as letting certain judges retire but remain active.

“It was more of a year about keeping the state level rather than moving forward,” Scala said.

One of the financial matters dealt with in the 2008 session was helping to make sure that the New Hampshire retirement system is sustainable for the long-term, said Norelli. But legislators suspended the annual increase on medical subsidy as a part of that.

In terms of health care, another issue on people’s minds as paychecks shrink or jobs are lost, the Legislature set up HealthFirst, an affordable, wellness-based health insurance plan for small employers. Also, the state government made plans to look at community health care in rural areas. Some funding went to AIDS patients, a need made clear by a long waiting list for medicine assistance.

Among the most talked about bills was one making public urination or defecation a violation, although the actual text is short. Other new laws of interest relate to animal cruelty, voting and Internet solicitation. A complete list of new laws and proposed ones for next year can be found by searching the New Hampshire General Court at www.gencourt.state.nh.us.