The House, Wednesday, April 23, 1997

The House took up 39 bills: 23 together on the consent calendar, then 16 one by one, listed below by bill.

Journal
House Journal 54
Assembled
1:00 PM
Votes Taken
14 voice votes
Cite this page

Granite Record indexes the General Court’s record; it is not that record. Where a citation allows only one source, cite the General Court — every page here links to what it is drawn from. The date below is the day the page was read.

MLA
“The House, Wednesday, April 23, 1997.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/session/H/1997-04-23. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
APA
Granite Record. (n.d.). The House, Wednesday, April 23, 1997. Retrieved 19 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/session/H/1997-04-23
Chicago
Granite Record. “The House, Wednesday, April 23, 1997.” Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/session/H/1997-04-23.
BibTeX
@misc{session-H-1997-04-23, title = {The House, Wednesday, April 23, 1997}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/session/H/1997-04-23}, note = {Accessed 19 Oct. 2026} }

How the Day Began

The House assembled at 1:00 PM, a prayer was offered and Rep. Leighton Pratt led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Excused for the Day

Show the 40 members excusedRepublican 1

The journal records 40 members as having leave of the House for the day, that is, permission to be away. A member on leave may still have voted on part of the day, and the roll call record does not always agree with the journal about who was excused.

Rep. Belvin, Rep. Blanchard, Rep. Copenhaver, Rep. Doucette, Rep. Felch, Rep. Feng, Rep. Franks, Rep. Hawkinson, Rep. Cecelia Kane, Rep. Murch, Rep. O'Connell, Rep. Irene Pratt, Rep. Sullivan, Rep. Brian Taylor Rep. Allen, Rep. Battles-Pierce, Rep. Boriso, Rep. Burke, Rep. Crowell, Rep. Flint, Rep. Ruth Gage, Rep. Ginsburg, Rep. Hansen, Rep. Lynott, Rep. James McDonald, Rep. Millard, Rep. Musler, Rep. Norelli, Rep. O'Keefe, Rep. Owen, Rep. Pantelakos, Rep. Arthur Pelletier, Rep. Marsha Pelletier, Rep. Peterson, Rep. Tara Reardon, Rep. Katherine Rogers, Rep. Royce, Rep. Salatiello, Rep. Kathleen Colburn, Rep. Rosen

What the House Did That Day

The record does not say what order these came in: the journal page is cited on only a few of them, so they are listed by bill.

HB 343-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
relative to authority by governmental entities over driveways and other accesses to public ways.
Rep. Pfaff (Merr 11) House Public Works and Highways Senate Public Affairs Transportation and Highways

Concur with the Amendment (Accept the other chamber's changes)

Motion Passed: Changes Accepted on a voice vote

In the record: Concur

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseFeb 26, 1997✓SenateMar 27, 1997✓GovernorMay 19, 1997✓LawJul 18, 1997
HB 539-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
relative to the tax lien process for quarterly tax bills in the city of Concord.
Rep. Fraser (Merr 21) House Local and Regulated Revenues Senate Ways and Means

Concur with the Amendment (Accept the other chamber's changes)

Motion Passed: Changes Accepted on a voice vote

In the record: Concur

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓HouseFeb 26, 1997✓SenateApr 3, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawJun 9, 1997
HB 737-FN-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
establishing a committee to study the New Hampshire retirement system relative to redefining earnable compensation.
Rep. Kurk (Hills 5) House Executive Departments and Administration Senate Insurance Study Committees and Commissions

Concur with the Amendment (Accept the other chamber's changes)

Motion Passed: Changes Accepted on a voice vote

In the record: Concur

✓IntroducedJan 29, 1997✓HouseMar 12, 1997✓SenateApr 10, 1997✓GovernorMay 21, 1997✓LawMay 21, 1997
HR 22 (1997)Adopted by House
memorializing State Representative Beverly A. Gage of Salem.
Rep. Donna Sytek

Adopt (Approve the resolution)

Motion Passed: Resolution Adopted

✓IntroducedApr 23, 1997✓HouseApr 23, 1997
SB 128 (1997)Died
increasing the membership of the university system study committee.
Sen. K. Wheeler (SD21) House Education Senate Education Education - Finance

House Education recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 9–3.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 6, 1997✕HouseApr 23, 1997Governor✕LawApr 23, 1997
SB 153 (1997)Died
requiring a check-off box on a driver's license application form relative to having the social security number indicated on the driver's license.
Sen. Larsen (SD15) House Transportation Senate Transportation Motor Vehicles

House Transportation recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 16–0.

Recommit (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Passed: Sent Back to Committee on a voice vote

Spoke for the motionRep. Sherman Packard

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 13, 1997✓HouseMay 14, 1997Governor✕Law
SB 155 (1997)Became Law
requiring the division of educational improvement, department of education, to prepare and adopt a plan for providing special education to inmates in the state prison system and county correctional facilities.
Sen. Gordon (SD2) House Education Senate Education Education - General

House Education recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 12–3; a minority, Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL).

Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA, Pass the bill with changes)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✓HouseMay 28, 1997✓GovernorJun 18, 1997✓LawJun 18, 1997
SB 156 (1997)Became Law
establishing a committee to study issues relating to providing special education services to eligible pupils who are incarcerated in the state prison system and county correctional facilities.
Sen. Gordon (SD2) House Education Senate Education Study Committees and Commissions

House Education recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 13–2.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✓HouseApr 23, 1997✓GovernorMay 19, 1997✓LawJul 18, 1997
SB 206-FN-A (1997)Died
relative to seminars conducted by the superior court for persons seeking custody or visitation of minor children and relative to fees charged for such seminars.
Sen. Russman (SD19) House Judiciary and Family Law Senate Judiciary

House Judiciary and Family Law recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 8–5.

Recommit (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Passed: Sent Back to Committee on a voice vote

Spoke for the motionRep. Holden

✓IntroducedJan 23, 1997✓SenateApr 3, 1997✕HouseMay 7, 1997Governor✕LawMay 7, 1997
SB 25 (1998)Died
establishing employer immunity from civil liability for good faith disclosure of information regarding current and former employees to prospective employers.
Sen. Danais (SD20) House Judiciary and Family Law Senate Executive Departments and Administration

House Judiciary and Family Law recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 12–1.

Recommit (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Passed: Sent Back to Committee on a voice vote

Spoke for the motionRep. John McCarthy

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✓SenateMar 13, 1997✕HouseJan 15, 1998Governor✕LawJan 15, 1998
SB 35 (1997)Became Law
extending the elevator law to accessibility lifts.
Sen. Blaisdell (SD10) House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Senate Executive Departments and Administration

House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 12–0.

Recommit (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Passed: Sent Back to Committee on a voice vote

Spoke for the motionRep. Emerton

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✓SenateFeb 6, 1997✓HouseMay 20, 1997✓GovernorJun 23, 1997✓LawJan 1, 1998
SB 48-FN (1997)Died
to provide an optional retirement program for certain employees of the department of regional community-technical colleges.
Sen. Fraser (SD4) House Executive Departments and Administration Senate Insurance Retirement

House Executive Departments and Administration recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 10–7; a minority, Ought to Pass (OTP).

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✕HouseApr 23, 1997Governor✕LawApr 23, 1997
SB 64-FN-A (1997)Became Law
exempting motor fuel used for automobile racing from road toll taxation.
Sen. Barnes (SD17) House Public Works and Highways Senate Ways and Means Transportation and Highways

House Public Works and Highways recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 17–0.

Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA, Pass the bill with changes)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 6, 1997✓HouseMay 14, 1997✓GovernorJun 19, 1997✓LawJun 19, 1997
SB 90-FN (1997)Died
requiring all proposed legislation affecting independently owned small businesses to include an analysis of the cost of the legislation.
Sen. Blaisdell (SD10) House Legislative Administration Senate Internal Affairs Legislature

House Legislative Administration recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 9–3.

Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA, Pass the bill with changes)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

Also spoke during this billRep. O'Hearnthe record does not say which of the day's motions

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✕HouseMay 20, 1997Governor✕LawMay 20, 1997
SJR 2 (1997)Became Law
relative to federal funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Sen. Jim Rubens House Education Senate Education Education - General

House Education recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 15–0.

Recommit (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Passed: Sent Back to Committee on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 13, 1997✓HouseMay 7, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓Law