What are state lawmakers doing that actually affects your daily life? Lots! Find out with Front Door Politics: jargon-free, non-advocacy state house news at www.frontdoorpolitics.com.

As New Hampshire’s citizen legislature wraps up its work before summer break, questions still loom on a number of topics.

minimum wage: On June 8, Lynch vetoed a bill that would replace the state’s minimum wage standards with the federal minimum wage. The two figures have been the same since 2009, when the federal government increased the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour (about $15,000 per year before taxes). 

“This bill strikes out-of date and redundant language reiterating the federal minimum wage rates in NH law,” wrote Rep. Tammy Simmons (R-Manchester) in her report to the House urging passage of the bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Carol McGuire (R-Epsom).Simmons wrote that HB 133 would relieve the legislature of having to amend the state’s minimum wage statute any time the federal rate changes. “Unnecessary RSAs that have absolutely no impact on residents of the state should be amended or repealed giving citizens a comprehensible and relevant code of law,” Simmons wrote.

But Lynch is not willing to make the assumption that New Hampshire will always want its minimum wage equal to the federal minimum. “I do not support turning over complete authority to the federal government to determine what makes sense for our citizens or our businesses,” he wrote in his veto message.

HB 133 now returns to the House, where a two-thirds majority vote would be required to override Lynch’s veto. The odds are good they’ll make the override, as the bill originally passed 239-106. The Senate’s 19-5 vote to pass the minimum wage repeal is also well within the veto-proof margin.

‘Right-to-Work’: A less certain veto override has yet to come up for a vote in the N.H. House. Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) has delayed his chamber’s moment of truth on the so-called “Right to Work” bill (House Bill 474).

In February’s vote to pass HB 474 and May’s vote to approve the Senate’s amendmended version, the House fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to override Lynch’s May 11 veto. O’Brien has been postponing the override vote ever since.

Sponsored by Rep. William Smith (R-New Castle), the bill in question has come under fire from labor interests, who claim it would undermine unions and ultimately drive down compensation for union and non-union employees, alike.

New Hampshire Labor Commissioner George Copadis is among those who have come out against the legislation. In his six years on the job, he wrote last month in a Concord Monitor column, “Not once has a business leader in this state told me he or she believed right-to-work should be adopted in this state.”

Supporters, meanwhile, maintain that it’s unfair for non-union employees to pay a fee to unions for collective bargaining on their behalf. They say limiting unions’ collective bargaining influence will help lure businesses to the state. 

“By becoming the only right-to-work state in the northeast, we would be opening our borders to more manufacturing jobs and to companies looking at New Hampshire as an attractive location to set up shop,” N.H. Republican Party chair Jack Kimball said in a press release.

The override vote could have been called on June 8, when many legislators were expected to be attending the funeral of former governor Walter Peterson. Speaker O’Brien apparently decided against that, delaying the vote for a third time. 

He’ll now have until June 22 to round up sufficient votes to push HB 474 past Lynch. That’s the next scheduled House session, and it’s the day before the House deadline to complete legislative business before the summer break. If the House does manage to override Lynch’s veto, it’s likely the Senate could do the same—they passed HB 474 by exactly a two-thirds majority in April.

happy hours: State law regulating how restaurants and bars can advertise “happy hour” specials for discounted drinks is likely to change soon. The House and Senate both have passed Senate Bill 120, sponsored by Sen. Nancy Stiles (R-Hampton), easing restrictions on alcohol advertising and promotions.

Currently, businesses aren’t allowed to advertise a happy hour “in view of any public way.” Paid advertisements and signs in or outside of restaurants and bars are all off limits.

Originally, SB 120 would have lifted all restrictions on happy hour promotions. But groups like New Futures, a New Hampshire nonprofit aimed at reducing alcohol and drug problems in the state, are claiming a partial victory. The House’s amended version of SB 120, which was accepted by the Senate last week, adds a clause that lets cities and towns write their own restrictions on signs promoting alcohol.

The new regulations would be effective immediately upon passage, so towns could start writing their own rules—and bars could start making new signs—very soon.

special elections: Remember Rep. Martin Harty (R-Barrington), who said in March that mentally ill people should be shipped to Siberia? He resigned soon after and apologized for what he said was meant as a sarcastic remark. The special election to fill his vacant seat is now underway.

The results of the race in Strafford County District 3 are being closely watched for their implications about voter satisfaction with Speaker O’Brien’s leadership.

Last week, Strafford’s Bob Perry won the Democratic primary for the seat, beating three other candidates. Honey Puterbaugh of Barrington was the sole Republican candidate in the primary. The two will face off against third-party candidate Ross McNamara of New Durham in the Aug. 9 special election.

A special election for Rockingham County District 14 also is underway, with the primary to be held July 5. Voters can choose between Ryan Mahoney of South Hampton and Mark Preston of Seabrook for the Democratic nomination. Republican candidates include Lou Gargiulo of Hampton Falls and Max Abramson, Kevin Janvrin, Dennis Sweeney and Gary Wheaton, all of Seabrook. Brendan Kelly of Seabrook has declared his intent to run as a third party candidate in the special election, which will take place Sept. 6.