Granite State smokers will still be able to puff away contentedly at their local pub, thanks to the Republicans in the state Senate. All eyes were on Concord on Thursday, April 6, as the Senate voted on HB 1177, the controversial proposal to ban smoking in all New Hampshire bars and restaurants. The bill was voted inexpedient to legislate by a slim margin of 12-11. Senate Democrats were less than pleased with the outcome.

“It is accepted that cancer is caused by second-hand smoke, and the Legislature should do everything it can to protect the health of New Hampshire citizens against the dangers associated with exposure to this hazard,” Sen. Lou D’Allesandro (D-Manchester) said in a statement.

On Wednesday, April 12, the House will vote on SB 207, which would add misdemeanors, fraud and theft to the state law that dishes out harsher penalties for violent felonies committed against the elderly and disabled. The bill has received the support of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

“This legislation sends a clear message that New Hampshire will deal harshly with those who attempt to prey on our vulnerable neighbors,” Rep. Peter Sullivan said in the committee’s report.

Also up for a vote this week is SB 268, Gov. John Lynch’s proposal to raise the age at which kids can drop out of high school from 16 to 18. The bill would also establish a pilot program for increasing vocational education classes in Manchester and Nashua. While a majority of the House Education Committee is recommending the bill pass, a minority of committee members wants the bill to undergo a closer study.

The committee’s minority report called the bill “flawed” and stated that current law allows students to drop out at the age of 16 only if they have parental permission.

“This bill takes away the parental rights and replaces the parents with the school superintendent. The minority believes the parental rights in making this decision about their children should be protected,” Rep. Michael Asselin said in the minority report. Other objections include the cost of increasing vocational programs as well as a lack of solid evidence that raising the dropout age will force more kids to complete school.

However, supporters of the bill say the real costs of kids dropping out of school are more social than financial.

The House will also vote on SB 399, which gives the commissioner of the state Health and Human Services department the ability to ration and re-distribute vaccines and related drugs in the event of a shortage during a pandemic, so long as he has the approval of the governor. The bill requires that companies supplying the vaccines be compensated for the seizure. The bill also allows the commissioner to close public buildings in the event of a pandemic and creates a committee made up of state, law enforcement and health officials to help the commissioner address ethical issues surrounding pandemics.

Meanwhile, the Senate will continue working its way through the massive number of bills already approved by the House.

On Tuesday, April 18, the Senate Energy and Economic Development Committee will hold a hearing on HB 1758, which would classify biodiesel as a renewable energy source. This would make biodiesel producers and users eligible for certain state and federal tax breaks. That day, the Senate Environmental and Wildlife Committee will look at HB 1495, which increases the setback requirements for landfills located near rivers. Under the bill, landfills would not be allowed within designated river corridors or less than 100 feet from the 500-year flood plain of the river. However, the new requirements would not apply to landfills that are closed or undergoing remediation procedures.