It's a busy week for our State Senators and Representatives! Rather than provide a long list of bills for the week, these newsletters focus on spotlighting 2 to 3 bills with some details and talking points provided, to allow for both advocacy and education. Do consider sharing with others!

This week’s action:

• Support HB550: Let's speak up to increase state funding for public schools to the adequate levels as ruled by the court system.
• Oppose HB238: Let's protect NH's workers and our unions by speaking up against this union-busting bill by Tuesday evening. 

SUPPORT HB550-FN, modifying the base cost of an adequate education. This bill increases the base cost of an adequate education and expands the definition of an adequate education. On Tuesday, January 21st at 2PM, the House Education Funding Committee will have a public hearing on HB550. This is the first major school funding bill this session, and it's critical that we show support for investing in our public schools.

Act by Monday:

Use this easy advocacy tool, provided by the NH School Funding Fairness Project, to email the committee with one click. Tell them to SUPPORT this important bill. Your message will be sent to the members of the House Education Funding Committee. 

• Alter the wording to make your email unique.
• Include a personal story if possible.

AND/OR

1. Sign into the House Remote Testimony tool to voice your support.

2. Enter your personal information.
3. Select:

• Tuesday, January 21st on the calendar
• House Education Funding 
• 2:00 pm - HB550
• I am a member of the public.
• I am representing myself.

4. Click: "I support this bill", then hit the submit button at the bottom of the form. Adding remote testimony is suggested. It will help make your case. 

Attend the Session at the Statehouse at 2PM on Tuesday and have your voice heard in person. This is the most impactful action to take. 

Talking Points:

• HB550 would increase the State's base adequacy payment for public education from $4,266 per student (currently) to $7,356.
• This bill would increase education funding from the State by about $454 million, allowing communities around the state to lower their property taxes or provide critical services to their students that they can’t currently afford. 
• During the ConVal trial in 2023, and the Rand trial last year, there was an overwhelming body of evidence presented that the State's current adequacy payments are insufficient to actually provide NH students with an adequate education.
• The State, meanwhile, presented no evidence to justify the current funding levels.
• To be clear, following the Court's ruling by increasing base adequacy such as outlined in HB550 would not reduce school funding for any school district. Messaging to the contrary is misleading and being used as a fear tactic

Thank you to NH School Funding Fairness Project. This organization does wonderful advocacy work, and provides informative presentations on the complex topic of school funding in New Hampshire. If they haven't presented in your community, considering organizing a meeting and reaching out to NHSFFP to come speak. 

OPPOSE HB238-FN, prohibiting collective bargaining agreements from requiring employees join or contribute to a labor union.
Republican backers refer to this and similar bills as "Right to Work" legislation. HB238 is really a union busting bill which should more accurately be referred to as the "Right to Work for Less" bill. The executive session on HB238-FN will also take place on Wednesday at 3PM, as the Republicans try to fast-track this bill. Please take action by Tuesday night as this will be your one chance to voice your opinion before the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services committee votes on whether or not to recommend HB238.

Act by Tuesday:

1. Sign into the House Remote Testimony tool to voice your opposition.
2. Enter your personal information.
3. Select:

• Wednesday, January 22nd on the calendar
• House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
• 10:00 am - HB550
• I am a member of the public.
• I am representing myself.

4. Click: "I oppose this bill", then hit the submit button at the bottom of the form. Adding remote testimony is suggested. It will help make your case. 

Consider providing in-person testimony. 

Talking Points:

• HB238 is really an underhanded attempt to abolish unions in New Hampshire altogether by denying New Hampshire workers the freedom to join together to form strong unions, if they choose.
• Although this anti-worker bill has been defeated repeatedly over the past 20 years, the current makeup of the state legislature is a cause for real concern.
• HB238 is an attack on the freedom of all New Hampshire workers to join together. "Right-to-Work" suppresses wages, lowers workplace safety, and reduces the quality of public services our communities rely on.
• Studies have found that states with "Right-to-Work" laws had wages that were on average 16% lower than non-"Right-to-Work" states.
• Backers of "Right-to-Work" claim it protects employees from being forced to join a union, but federal law does that already. The passage of the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947 made it illegal to force workers to become part of a union. 
• In 2018, following the Supreme Court's decision in the Janus case, Gov. Sununu acknowledged that “there is no need” for "Right-to-Work" legislation in New Hampshire. 
• "Right-to-Work" is sponsored by out-ofstate corporate special interest groups, including the billionaire-backed Americans for Prosperity (AFP). They don't care about protecting New Hampshire’s workers.The only goal is to pad the pockets of their corporate donors at the expense of New Hampshire’s working families.
• The American labor movement has had a much-welcomed surge the past few years. In September, 71% of Americans reported they approve of labor unions, with approval transcending political party. Auto workers, performing artists, teachers, baristas and more made national headlines by going on strike for dignity and respect on the job, and 900,00 unionized workers received double-digit wage increases in 2023 as a result. “Right-to-work” is a slap in the face to this progress. Our legislature has the opportunity to stand with working families, reject this harmful legislation, and give New Hampshire workers a level playing field.
• Real freedom is the ability to stand together with your coworkers to negotiate for things like retirement security, workplace safety, and better benefits. That’s precisely what we risk losing if "Right-to-Work" passes.

Thank you to our NH unions for talking points. 

WHAT: Visibility/Sign Holding for Senate “Right-to-Work” Public Hearing (HB 238-FN)
WHEN: Wednesday, January 22nd from 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM (when we will all go to the hearing)
WHERE: In Front of New Hampshire Legislative Office Building (33 N State Street, Concord, NH 03301)