There was no showdown over education funding last week, as the House overwhelmingly approved the school funding plan previously passed by the Senate. The plan, developed in part by Sen. Ted Gatsas (R-Manchester), gradually decreases the statewide property tax and the property-rich "donor towns" will no longer be required to contribute additional money to state coffers.

The new plan would distribute $835 million in total aid, with $472 million coming from the education trust fund and $363 coming from the statewide property tax. The plan will also target additional aid to districts with lower property tax revenues and will take into account the number of low-income and disabled students in each district.

Not everyone was happy with the plan. Gov. John Lynch indicated last week he would accept the plan but would not sign the bill. Just before the Senate's vote on the plan two weeks ago, Lynch believed he had enough support to pass his education plan, which was similar to the Senate's plan but would have completely eliminated the statewide property tax. However, Lynch lost the support of senators Richard Green (R-Rochester) and Joseph Kenney (R-Wakefield), and his plan was scrapped.

"I fought hard for a bipartisan bill that eliminated the statewide property tax, eliminated donor towns, and targeted aid in the best possible way. And I am not giving up on achieving all of those goals. But I am not willing to let the current broken law stay in place just because of the Senate's Republican Leadership's insistence on keeping the statewide property tax. Some progress-eliminating donor towns and targeting aid-is better than none," Lynch said in a statement issued after the House's vote.

Also last week, Senate and House members reached a number of compromises on some contentious bills that had been retained in committee. Lawmakers have decided to move ahead with a resolution that asks the state's Congressional delegation to urge Congress to find the Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor are within the boundaries of New Hampshire. Under the bill, HCR 4, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard would be considered part of the state. The border dispute has simmered for years. In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the border between the two states lies in the middle of the Piscataqua River.

Legislators also ironed out plans for the state's controversial onboard diagnostic testing system. Under the revised bill, service station owners could set their own fees for the test, which has driven inspection prices up to as much as $40 at some stations. This means that motorists will now have to shop around to find the best price for the emissions test. The revision also allows for repair waivers for low-income car owners who fail the test. Currently, federal law has capped repair costs needed to pass the test at $700. The House and Senate must now vote on the revised bill.

Gov. John Lynch signed into law SB 30, the Collaborative Practice for Emergency Contraception Act. The law lets pharmacists dispense an emergency contraception drug, known as the "morning after pill," from behind the counter. The pill, a concentrated dose of regular birth control pills, was previously available only by prescription. New Hampshire is the seventh state to pass such a measure; the new law will take effect later this year.

State legislators will wrap up their session on June 29, but the issue of establishing speed limits on Lake Winnipesaukee will dog lawmakers throughout the summer. The House has retained in committee HB 162, which would set speed limits for powerboats at 45 mph during the day and 25 mph at night. Because of public outcry from both sides over the measure, the House has scheduled two public meetings in the Lakes Region on June 29 and July 6 to give supporters and detractors a chance to state their cases.

All meetings are open to the public. For the low-down on voting results and a full calendar, visit http://gencourt.state.nh.us.