The House, Thursday, March 18, 1999

The House took up 63 bills: 39 together on the consent calendar, then 24 one by one, listed below by bill.

Journal
House Journal 29
Assembled
10:00 AM
Votes Taken
7 roll calls, 1 division20 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, Thursday, March 18, 1999.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/session/H/1999-03-18. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
APA
Granite Record. (n.d.). The House, Thursday, March 18, 1999. Retrieved 19 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/session/H/1999-03-18
Chicago
Granite Record. “The House, Thursday, March 18, 1999.” Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/session/H/1999-03-18.
BibTeX
@misc{session-H-1999-03-18, title = {The House, Thursday, March 18, 1999}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/session/H/1999-03-18}, note = {Accessed 19 Oct. 2026} }

How the Day Began

The House assembled at 10:00 AM, a prayer was offered and Rep. Hall led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Presiding over the House during the day: Rep. Donna Sytek (R - Rock 26), Speaker of the House.

Excused for the Day

Show the 21 members excusedRepublican 13Democrat 8

The journal records 21 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. Judy Courchesne (D - Hills 47) Rep. James Fenton (R - Hills 24) Rep. Eugene Gagnon (R - Hills 48) Rep. Maurice Goulet (R - Hills 57) Rep. Cecelia Kane (D - Rock 32) Rep. Karen McRae (R - Hills 7) Rep. Stanley Searles (R - Hills 23) Rep. Elizabeth Shultis (D - Rock 86) Rep. Carol Williams (D - Hills 14) Rep. John Cobb (R - Graf 5) Rep. Griffin Dalianis (R - Hills 35) Rep. Bonnie Ham (R - Graf 3) Rep. Elizabeth Hoadley (R - Merr 24) Rep. Gerard Lavoie (R - Merr 12) Rep. Margaret Lynch (D - Ches 19) Rep. Patricia O'Keefe (D - Rock 14) Rep. Allen MacNeil (R - Graf 7) Rep. Walter Ruffner (R - Rock 83) Rep. Martha Solow (D - Graf 10) Rep. Jacquelyne Weatherspoon (D - Rock 20) Rep. Bronwyn Asplund (R - Merr 13)

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.

CACR 1 (1999)Died
relating to the rulemaking authority of the supreme court. Providing that supreme court rules are effective only when not inconsistent with statute.
Rep. Leo Pepino (R - Hills 40) House Judiciary Constitutional Amendments

House Judiciary recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 13–2.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Resolution Killed on a voice vote

Spoke for the motionRep. Wiggin

Spoke against the motionRep. Richard Marple (R - Merr 24)

✓IntroducedJan 6, 1999✕HouseMar 18, 1999SenateVoters
HB 206 (1999)Became Law
relative to restrooms in restaurants.
Rep. Howard Dickinson (R - Carr 2) House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Senate Public Institutions, Health and Human Services Public and Mental Health

House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 14–0.

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

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

Spoke for the motionRep. Larry Emerton (R - Hills 7)

Also spoke during this billRep. Marion Copenhaver (D - Graf 10) Rep. Alphonse Haettenschwiller (D - Hills 29) Rep. Karen Hutchinson (R - Rock 3)the record does not say which of the day's motions

✓IntroducedJan 6, 1999✓HouseMar 18, 1999✓SenateApr 29, 1999✓GovernorJun 3, 1999✓LawJun 3, 1999
HB 238-FN-A (1999)Became Law
allowing the production and sale of American ginseng in the state of New Hampshire and making an appropriation therefor.
Rep. Derek Owen (D - Merr 6) House Environment and Agriculture Senate Wildlife and Recreation

House Environment and Agriculture recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 16–0.

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

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 7, 1999✓HouseMar 18, 1999✓SenateApr 22, 1999✓GovernorMay 5, 1999✓LawJul 1, 1999
HB 239-FN-A (2000)Interim Study
permitting the development of an industrial hemp industry in New Hampshire and continually appropriating a special fund.
Rep. Derek Owen (D - Merr 6) House Environment and Agriculture

House Environment and Agriculture recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 14–6.

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

Motion Failed 174–183 on a roll call

Spoke for the motionRep. Hobart Harmon (R - Graf 8)

Spoke against the motionRep. Harold Melcher (D - Hills 11) Rep. Kathleen Flora (R - Hills 15)

Recommit (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Passed: Sent Back to Committee 195–163 on a roll call

In the record: Recommitted to Env & Agric

Spoke for the motionRep. Peter Leishman (D - Hills 13)

✓IntroducedJan 7, 1999HouseFeb 10, 2000SenateGovernor✕LawJul 12, 2000
HB 256 (1999)Died
repealing the preemption of local regulation of pesticides.
Rep. Betty Hall (I - Hills 20) House Environment and Agriculture Agriculture

House Environment and Agriculture recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 14–3; a minority, Ought to Pass (OTP).

Recommit (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Failed 115–219 on a roll call

Moved by Rep. Mary Ellen Martin (D - Hills 26).

Spoke for the motionRep. Mary Ellen Martin (D - Hills 26)

Spoke against the motionRep. Peter Leishman (D - Hills 13)

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed 268–88 on a roll call

Spoke for the motionRep. Loren Jean (R - Hills 17) Rep. David Scanlan (R - Graf 11)

Spoke against the motionRep. Mary Ellen Martin (D - Hills 26) Rep. John Tuthill (I - Sull 5) Rep. Derek Owen (D - Merr 4) Rep. Hall

✓IntroducedJan 7, 1999✕HouseMar 18, 1999SenateGovernor✕LawMar 18, 1999
HB 260-FN-A (1999)Died
establishing a marital commission pilot program in Sullivan county and making an appropriation therefor.
Rep. Alf Jacobson (R - Merr 2) House Children and Family Law

House Children and Family Law recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 15–0.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

Spoke for the motionRep. Irene Pratt (D - Ches 26)

Spoke against the motionRep. Alf Jacobson (R - Merr 32)

✓IntroducedJan 7, 1999✕HouseMar 18, 1999SenateGovernor✕LawMar 18, 1999
HB 274-FN (1999)Became Law
relative to the office of the consumer advocate.
Rep. Donald White (R - Hills 25) House Science, Technology and Energy Senate Executive Departments and Administration Energy and Utilities

House Science, Technology and Energy recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 17–1; 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 7, 1999✓HouseMay 13, 1999✓SenateJun 17, 1999✓GovernorJul 1, 1999✓LawAug 30, 1999
HB 276-FN-LOCAL (1999)Died
requiring that a school administrative unit budget be approved by vote at the annual school district meeting.
Rep. James Fenton (R - Hills 24) House Education Education - General

House Education recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 13–4.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 7, 1999✕HouseMar 18, 1999SenateGovernor✕LawMar 18, 1999
HB 278 (1999)Became Law
relative to scheduling of district court sessions.
Rep. Peter Bergin (R - Hills 16) House Judiciary Senate Judiciary

House Judiciary recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 14–1.

Re-refer to Committee (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Failed on a voice vote

In the record: Rerefer to Committee

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. Peter Bergin (R - Hills 6) Rep. Paul Mirski (R - Graf 10) Rep. Robert H. Rowe (R - Hills 14) Rep. Tony Soltani (R - Merr 8)the record does not say which of the day's motions

✓IntroducedJan 7, 1999✓HouseApr 14, 1999✓SenateMay 27, 1999✓GovernorJun 10, 1999✓LawJan 1, 2000
HB 396 (1999)Died
establishing April 6 of each year as New Hampshire Tartan Day.
Rep. Stephen Avery (R - Ches 8) House Executive Departments and Administration Memorials

House Executive Departments and Administration recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 11–3.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed 265–86 on a division

Spoke for the motionRep. Sylvia Holley (R - Hills 18)

Spoke against the motionRep. Stephanie Eaton (R - Graf 1)

✓IntroducedJan 28, 1999✕HouseMar 18, 1999SenateGovernor✕LawMar 18, 1999
HB 465 (1999)Died
prohibiting the application of the doctrine of adverse possession or prescription when boundary lines can be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
Rep. David Bickford (R - Straf 1) House Judiciary

House Judiciary recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 14–3.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed 266–87 on a roll call

Spoke for the motionRep. James Craig (D - Hills 9) Rep. David Hess (R - Merr 24)

Spoke against the motionRep. David Bickford (R - Straf 3) Rep. Thomas Varrell (R - Rock 79) Rep. Pierre Bruno (R - Hills 45) Rep. Tony Soltani (R - Merr 8)

✓IntroducedJan 28, 1999✕HouseMar 18, 1999SenateGovernor✕LawMar 18, 1999
HB 501-FN-A (1999)Became Law
relative to the repair of a certain covered railroad bridge in Contoocook village in the town of Hopkinton.
Rep. Richard Kennedy (R - Merr 7) House Public Works and Highways Senate Finance

House Public Works and Highways recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 12–4.

Recommit (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Passed: Sent Back to Committee on a voice vote

In the record: Recommitted to Public Works

Also spoke during this billRep. Richard Kennedy (R - Merr 4)the record does not say which of the day's motions

✓IntroducedJan 28, 1999✓HouseJun 16, 1999✓SenateOct 19, 1999✓GovernorNov 10, 1999✓LawNov 10, 1999
HB 621-FN-LOCAL (1999)Died
reducing the tolls on New Hampshire highways by 25 cents.
Rep. Rose Arthur (D - Hills 18) House Public Works and Highways Transportation and Highways

House Public Works and Highways recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 16–1.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

Spoke for the motionRep. Edwin Smith (R - Ches 1)

Spoke against the motionRep. Rose Arthur (D - Hills 58) Rep. Mary Moriarty (D - Hills 18)

✓IntroducedFeb 11, 1999✕HouseMar 18, 1999SenateGovernor✕LawMar 18, 1999
HB 629 (1999)Died
relative to establishing weekly "no hunting" days.
Rep. Riley (Ches 7) House Wildlife and Marine Resources Fish & Game

House Wildlife and Marine Resources recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 15–0.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

Spoke against the motionRep. Robert L'Heureux (R - Hills 21)

Also spoke during this billRep. Dennis Abbott (D - Rock 12) Rep. William Riley (D - Hills 2)the record does not say which of the day's motions

✓IntroducedFeb 11, 1999✕HouseMar 18, 1999SenateGovernor✕LawMar 18, 1999
HB 89-FN-A (1999)Became Law
making an appropriation for a department of transportation study of the state house complex's space needs, and naming the newly constructed state highway bridge on Route 135 between the towns of Haverhill and Bath in honor of Raymond S. Burton.
Rep. Leon Calawa (R - Hills 17) House Public Works and Highways Senate Transportation Transportation and Highways

House Public Works and Highways recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 15–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 6, 1999✓HouseMay 13, 1999✓SenateJun 29, 1999✓GovernorJul 16, 1999✓LawJul 1, 1999
HB 90 (1999)Became Law
removing the prohibition on adoption and foster parenting by homosexual persons.
Rep. Raymond Buckley (D - Hills 44) House Children and Family Law Senate Public Institutions, Health and Human Services Children

House Children and Family Law recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 15–3.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed 226–130 on a roll call

In the record: Committee report: OTP (sections 2,3 & 4)

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed 233–123 on a roll call

In the record: Committee report: OTP (remainder of bill)

Also spoke during this billRep. Thomas Arnold (R - Hills 46) Rep. Patricia Dowling (R - Rock 6) Rep. Fuller Clark, Rep. Richard Kennedy (R - Merr 4) Rep. Gary Torressen (R - Carr 10)the record does not say which of the day's motions

✓IntroducedJan 6, 1999✓House✓SenateApr 22, 1999✓GovernorMay 3, 1999✓LawJul 2, 1999
HJR 5 (1999)Died
requiring the attorney general to bring suit or to join with other states bringing suit against the United States Government for violating the United States Constitution and the New Hampshire constitution by enacting a military firearms ban.
Rep. Paul Mirski (R) House Judiciary State Government

House Judiciary recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 14–1.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Resolution Killed on a voice vote

Spoke for the motionRep. Henry Mock (R - Carr 4)

Spoke against the motionRep. Paul Mirski (R - Graf 10)

✓IntroducedJan 28, 1999✕HouseMar 18, 1999SenateGovernor✕LawMar 18, 1999