Concord update: NH Legislature gets organized
On Nov. 8, I was honored to be elected as one of Hampton’s five N.H. state representatives. Today, I want to report to you that I completed my first assignment in that role: I was sworn in as a full-fledged member of the NH House of Representatives on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
As one of your state representatives, I want to provide you with regular updates on what I – and your other elected representatives – are doing in Concord. I will endeavor to do that through regular updates to my social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linked In) accounts, emails and published pieces such as this in the Hampton Union and on Seacoastonline.
I also want to provide you with multiple ways to connect with me; so that I can hear what is important to you and/or help you resolve an issue you may be having with any state agency. You can send an email to my new legislative email account at chris.muns@leg.state.nh.us or leave me a message at (603) 929-3629. I also am planning to hold regular “office hours” at the Lane Memorial Library. The first such opportunity will be on Saturday, Jan. 14 between noon and 2 p.m.
December 7 was “Organization Day” for both the N.H. House of Representatives and the N.H. state Senate. The House is more evenly divided than it ever has been. There are 201 Republican state representatives, 198 Democrats and one currently undecided seat (more on that in a moment). In addition to me (a Democrat), Hampton is represented by Democrats Mike Edgar and Candice O’Neil and Republicans Tracy Emerick and Jason Janvrin. Republicans have a 14 to 10 majority in the N.H. state Senate, where newly elected Democratic state Sen. Debra Altschiller will be representing Hampton.
In the House, Rep. Sherman Packard from Londonderry was re-elected Speaker of the House in a close vote over Rep. Matt Wilhelm of Manchester; 205 votes for Packard to 184 for Wilhelm with 2 blank ballots. Rep. Wilhelm will serve as Democratic Leader with Rep. Jason Osborne of Auburn serving as Republican leader.
The Senate elected Sen. Jeb Bradley from Wolfeboro as the president of the Senate. The Republican leader will be Sen. Sharon Carson from Londonderry and the Democratic leader will be Sen. Donna Soucy from Manchester.
Unlike many other states where secretaries of state are elected directly by the people, in New Hampshire the Legislature elects our Secretary of State every two years.
In addition to overseeing and certifying the results in all state elections, the N.H. Secretary of State is also responsible for keeping the official records of state, regulating all securities traded in the state, registering and overseeing N.H. corporations and administering the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) in the state.
This year, the race for Secretary of State was contested, between Acting Secretary of State David Scanlan and former state Sen. Melanie Levesque.
Meeting in joint session the House and Senate elected Scanlan 237 to 175 for Levesque.
The only other piece of substantiative business the House dealt with on December 7 was what to do about the one undecided state representative race in Rochester where the voting ended up in a tie. Democrats believed there was an agreement with Republicans to support a joint motion calling for a special election so that the voters in Rochester can decide who will represent them. Unfortunately, at the last moment Republicans introduced a motion to prevent that vote from taking place. Luckily that motion was narrowly defeated 193 to 187. Hampton state representatives voting in favor of permitting a special election were Mike Edgar, Chris Muns and Candice O’Neil; Tracy Emerick and Jason Janvrin voted to prevent a special election from taking place.
The next session of the N.H. House of Representatives will be on Jan. 4, 2023. Between now and then, I and other state representatives will learn which committee we have been assigned to. That is where the real work takes place. “Rumor” has it that nearly 1000 bills will be introduced. Each of those bills will be assigned to one of the House’s 20 standing committees, receive a public hearing, and be debated in and voted out of committee before being voted on by the full House of Representatives. If you are interested in following the progress of any bill, go to www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/advanced.aspx.
One challenge we all face this winter is staying warm, particularly in light of rising heating and electricity prices. If you are having trouble paying for heat this winter reach out to Southern New Hampshire Services by calling (800) 322-1073 or going to www.snhs.org/services/fuel-assistance and asking about their fuel assistance program.
I hope you and yours have a safe, healthy and very happy holidays.
“See” you in the New Year!
Chris Muns is one of Hampton five N.H. state representatives. He currently serving his second term, having previously served between 2012 and 2014.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Concord update: NH Legislature gets organized
