Lakes Legislative Weekly

MARCH 15, 2010

SENATE BILL 408 - ESTABLISHING PURCHASING ALLIANCES FOR AFFORDABLE INSURANCE

• On Tuesday, March 16, at 8:30 AM, the NH Senate Commerce, Labor and Consumer Protection Committee will be holding a hearing on SB 408 in Room 102 of the Legislative Office Building. 

• This bill would allow nonprofits and small businesses to form purchasing alliances to bring down costs associated with health insurance. 

• Nonprofits provide many of the services to New Hampshire citizens, yet the rising cost associated with health insurance has been a burden that is preventing some organizations from fulfilling their mission. 

• This bill will help alleviate those costs by allowing nonprofits and small businesses to band together and bring down costs associated with health insurance premiums.

ACTION: 

• Please contact a member of the Senate Commerce, Labor and Consumer Protection Committee and voice your support for SB 408.
  
  
  
• Also, if you operate a small business or nonprofit, please send NH LAKES a letter of support, either via email or through the mail. 

SENATE BILL 442 – IMPROVING ACCESS TO FUNDING FOR EXOTIC PREVENTION PROGRAMS

• Good news! On Wednesday, March 10, the NH Senate voted unanimously 'Ought to Pass as Amended’ on SB 442 - Improving Access to Funding for Exotic Aquatic Weed Prevention Programs (like Lake Host™).    

• This bill, critically important for funding prevention programs like NH LAKES’ successful Lake Host™ Program, will now move to the NH House Resources, Recreation & Development Committee for consideration.

• Stay tuned!

SENATE BILL 464: PERMANENT SPEED LIMIT FOR LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE

• The NH Senate Transportation and Interstate Cooperation held a hearing on SB 464 on Thursday, March 11.

• We thank everyone that attended the hearing and/or wrote letters of support — thank you!

• This bill would repeal the sunset provision of January 1, 2011, and permanently establish a speed limit on Lake Winnipesaukee of 45 mph during the day and 25 mph at night.

• NH LAKES supports the bill because speed limits on our lakes encourage more recreational users, especially families, to enjoy our public water bodies.

• The bill will also hopefully encourage more tourists to the Lakes Region and help the local economy.  

ACTION: 

• If you have not done so already, please contact a member of the NH Senate and voice your support of SB 464.

SENATE BILL 426: RECLASSIFICATION OF PLEASANT

• On Tuesday, March 16, at 1:00 PM, the NH House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee will be holding a hearing on SB 426 in room 305 of the Legislative Office Building. 

• This bill will reclassify Pleasant Lake in Deerfield/Northwood, New Hampshire, to a Class A waterbody (current classification is Class B). 

• This is a welcome change toward recognizing the importance of a higher standard of water quality.

 ACTION: 

• Please contact a member of the House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee and voice your support for SB 426. 

Please visit our website regularly for the latest information. 

And, to find out who your legislators are and to contact them, visit: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg/

Thank you,

Jared A. Teutsch
President
NH LAKES