Gov. John Lynch scored a victory last week in his quest to raise the school drop-out age when the Senate voted 14-7 to pass SB 268. The bill would require students to stay in school until age 18. The Senate also amended the bill to include a provision that would expand vocational education programs in Manchester and Nashua.

In an effort to make steps toward permanently resolving the state’s education funding issues, Senate President Ted Gatsas (R-Manchester) introduced earlier this month a proposed constitutional amendment that would leave it up to the Legislature to “determine and define the content, extent, and funding of … education.” The state Supreme Court ruled that the education funding plan legislators came up with during the 2005 session was unconstitutional because it still relied on local property taxes to fund education.

According to Gatsas’ bill, CACR 43, it would be up to the Legislature to define what, exactly an “adequate” education is, as well as to determine which communities get how much money. Last week, seeing that he didn’t have enough votes to pass the measure, Gatsas laid the bill on the table. Senate Democrats opposed the measure, saying that it would take away the judicial review process on any new education funding plan.

The bill needs at least 16 votes in order to be re-introduced to the Senate.

Another proposed amendment to the state constitution also faltered this week. CACR 34, which would have defined marriage as between one man and one woman, needed a 60 percent majority, or 240 votes, to pass; 207 House members voted against the bill while 125 voted in favor of it.

Two other noteworthy bills did make it through the House, however. The House approved HB 1692, also known as the “New Hampshire sexual predators act.” The bill would create harsher penalties for those convicted of molesting children. However, before voting, the House removed a key provision that would allow prosecutors to seek a minimum 25-year sentence for those convicted of abusing a child under the age of 13.

The House also passed HB 1177, a bill that would ban smoking in bars and restaurants. The final vote was 189-156. Senate Republicans have said they will work to defeat it.

House members also voted in favor of HB 1673, a measure that would require coal-burning power plants in the state to cut mercury emissions by 80 percent by the year 2013, with financial incentives for companies to reduce emissions earlier. The House also said OK to HB 1167, which would send $5 million to the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) during the next two years. The program was budgeted only $1.5 million in 2005, despite calls from Gov. John Lynch and other lawmakers for a $10 million appropriation.

On March 29, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a hearing on SB 318, which extends limits on the use of deadly force in self-defense from one’s home to any location.

Following the Senate passage of the bill, sponsor Sen. Peter Bragdon (R-Milford) said, “The passing of SB 318 sends a clear message to the corrupt elements of our society that New Hampshire places a high value on the right of our citizens to protect themselves from a threatening situation.”

In the Senate on Tuesday, April 4, the Education Committee will hold a hearing on HJR 21, a resolution asking the University of New Hampshire to restore intercollegiate baseball and softball teams. Also that day, the Energy and Economic Development Committee will hear testimony on HB 1568, which would establish a legislative committee to study the placement and construction of wind farms in the state.