The Senate, Thursday, February 20, 1997

The Senate took up 38 bills, listed below by bill.

Votes Taken
8 roll calls, 1 division36 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 Senate, Thursday, February 20, 1997.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/session/S/1997-02-20. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
APA
Granite Record. (n.d.). The Senate, Thursday, February 20, 1997. Retrieved 19 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/session/S/1997-02-20
Chicago
Granite Record. “The Senate, Thursday, February 20, 1997.” Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/session/S/1997-02-20.
BibTeX
@misc{session-S-1997-02-20, title = {The Senate, Thursday, February 20, 1997}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/session/S/1997-02-20}, note = {Accessed 19 Oct. 2026} }

The Senate journal does not record who spoke for or against a motion, so this is the vote record without the debate.

What the Senate 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.

SB 114 (1997)Died
requiring any person under 21 years of age who is convicted of any alcohol related offense to successfully complete an alcohol treatment program.
Sen. Roberge (SD9) Senate Transportation Motor Vehicles

Senate Transportation recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 4–1.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 138 (1997)Became Law
establishing teacher appreciation day.
Sen. Pignatelli (SD13) House Education Senate Education

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 7–0.

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✓HouseApr 23, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawAug 8, 1997
SB 14 (1997)Died
allowing a municipality to vote to prohibit the sale of liquor in certain areas of the municipality.
Sen. Cohen (SD24) Senate Ways and Means

Senate Ways and Means recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 7–0.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 143 (1997)Became Law
authorizing a municipality to change the date for filing for an elderly exemption.
Sen. Squires (SD12) House Local and Regulated Revenues Senate Public Affairs Taxes - Local

Senate Public Affairs recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 6–0.

Recommit (Send the bill back to committee)

Motion Passed: Sent Back to Committee on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateMar 13, 1997✓HouseMay 14, 1997✓GovernorJun 19, 1997✓LawJan 1, 1998
SB 146 (1997)Became Law
establishing a committee to study the issue of reducing the number of years of service required to be vested in the retirement system plan from 10 years to 5 years.
Sen. Hollingworth (SD23) House Executive Departments and Administration Senate Insurance Study Committees and Commissions

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✓HouseMay 7, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawAug 8, 1997
SB 147 (1997)Died
relative to forms and rates of industrial insurance policies.
Sen. Danais (SD20) Senate Insurance Insurance

Senate Insurance recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 7–0.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 15 (1997)Died
establishing a committee to examine all aspects of the state park system.
Sen. Hollingworth (SD23) Senate Wildlife and Recreation Study Committees and Commissions

Senate Wildlife and Recreation recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 4–3; a minority, Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL).

Adopt the Committee Amendment (Accept the committee's changes)

Motion Failed 10–14 on a roll call

In the record: Adopt Majority Committee Amendment

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Failed on a voice vote

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 154 (1997)Became Law
relative to charter schools.
Sen. Rubens (SD5) House Education Senate Education Education - General

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 5–2.

Adopt the Committee Amendment (Accept the committee's changes)

Motion Passed: Amendment Adopted 15–9 on a roll call

In the record: Adopt Committee Amendment

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 20, 1997✓GovernorJun 23, 1997✓LawJun 23, 1997
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

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 7–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed 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

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 7–0.

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 165 (1997)Became Law
relative to Medicare and health maintenance organizations and relative to the disclosure by insurers of test results for the presence of an antibody or antigen to a human immunodeficiency virus.
Sen. Squires (SD12) House Commerce Senate Insurance Insurance

Senate Insurance recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 7–0.

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 20, 1997✓GovernorJun 19, 1997✓LawJan 1, 1998
SB 169-FN (1997)Became Law
relative to a college tuition savings plan.
Sen. Larsen (SD15) House Education Senate Education

Senate Education recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 7–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 23, 1997✓SenateMar 27, 1997✓HouseMay 28, 1997✓GovernorJun 20, 1997✓LawJul 1, 1997
SB 171-FN (1997)Died
establishing a consumer advocate position in the insurance department.
Sen. K. Wheeler (SD21) Senate Insurance Insurance

Senate Insurance recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 7–0.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 23, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 175 (1997)Died
establishing a committee on the feasibility of installing rumble strips before toll booths.
Sen. Roberge (SD9) House Public Works and Highways Senate Transportation Study Committees and Commissions

Senate Transportation recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 5–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 23, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✕HouseApr 23, 1997Governor✕LawApr 23, 1997
SB 176-FN (1997)Became Law
relative to late payment of the legacies and successions tax.
Sen. Gordon (SD2) House Finance Senate Judiciary

Senate Judiciary recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 7–0.

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

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes

✓IntroducedJan 23, 1997✓SenateMar 27, 1997✓HouseMay 14, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓LawJul 1, 1997
SB 177-FN (1997)Became Law
relative to the liability of prospective adoptive parents for court ordered services.
Sen. Gordon (SD2) House Judiciary and Family Law Senate Judiciary Children

Senate Judiciary recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 7–0.

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

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes

✓IntroducedJan 23, 1997✓SenateApr 3, 1997✓HouseMay 20, 1997✓GovernorJun 20, 1997✓LawJun 20, 1997
SB 180-FN-A (1997)Became Law
relative to establishing a revolving fund for loans for the maintenance, enhancement, and rehabilitation of local rural airport service.
Sen. Fraser (SD4) House Transportation Senate Transportation Motor Vehicles

Senate Transportation recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 5–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed

✓IntroducedJan 23, 1997✓SenateMar 27, 1997✓HouseMay 28, 1997✓GovernorJun 20, 1997✓LawAug 19, 1997
SB 194-FN-A (1997)Became Law
allowing school districts to transport school-age children between schools and before-and-after-school programs.
Sen. K. Wheeler (SD21) House Judiciary and Family Law Senate Public Institutions, Health and Human Services Education - General

Senate Public Institutions, Health and Human Services recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 4–4; a minority, Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL).

Lay on the Table (Set the bill aside)

Motion Passed: Bill Tabled on a voice vote

In the record: Laid on Table

✓IntroducedJan 23, 1997✓SenateMar 27, 1997✓HouseMay 7, 1997✓GovernorJun 20, 1997✓LawAug 19, 1997
SB 21 (1997)Became Law
excepting persons who are 17 years old and graduated from high school from the youth employment law and establishing a committee to study the youth employment law.
Sen. Pignatelli (SD13) House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Senate Insurance Employment

Senate Insurance recommended Ought to Pass (OTP).

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

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✓HouseMay 7, 1997✓GovernorJun 20, 1997✓LawAug 19, 1997
SB 33 (1997)Died
relative to the legal killing of certain dogs.
Sen. K. Wheeler (SD21) Senate Wildlife and Recreation Animals

Senate Wildlife and Recreation recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 4–3; a minority, Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL).

Adopt the Committee Amendment (Accept the committee's changes)

Motion Failed 10–14 on a roll call

In the record: Adopt Majority Committee Amendment

Third Reading (Pass the bill)

Motion Failed 9–11 on a division

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 39 (1997)Became Law
relative to the delivery of bank products and services, and establishing a study committee on operation of electronic customer service terminals by non-banks and non-credit unions.
Sen. Fraser (SD4) House Commerce Senate Banks Banking and Finance

Senate Banks recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 4–0.

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

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✓HouseMay 20, 1997✓GovernorJun 20, 1997✓Law
SB 45 (1997)Died
relative to personnel rights of certain employees of the department of health and human services.
Sen. Blaisdell (SD10) Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Senate Executive Departments and Administration recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 5–3.

Remove from the Table (Take the bill back up)

Motion Passed: Back Before the Senate on a voice vote

In the record: Take from Table

Third Reading (Pass the bill)

Motion Failed 10–14 on a roll call

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 8, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
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

Senate Insurance recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 5–2.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✕HouseApr 23, 1997Governor✕LawApr 23, 1997
SB 52-FN (1997)Died
prohibiting bear dog training.
Sen. K. Wheeler (SD21) Senate Wildlife and Recreation Fish & Game

Senate Wildlife and Recreation recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 4–3; a minority, Ought to Pass (OTP).

Third Reading (Pass the bill)

Motion Failed 6–18 on a roll call

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 55-FN-LOCAL (1997)Died
relative to real estate seized in the town of Croydon for unpaid taxes.
Sen. Rubens (SD5) Senate Public Affairs

Senate Public Affairs recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 4–1; a minority, Ought to Pass (OTP).

Adopt the Floor Amendment (Change the bill from the floor)

Motion Failed 4–19 on a roll call

Moved by Sen. Rubens.

In the record: Adopt Floor Amendment 0356

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 57 (1997)Died
prohibiting bear and deer baiting for hunting purposes.
Sen. Cohen (SD24) Senate Wildlife and Recreation Fish & Game

Senate Wildlife and Recreation recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 4–3; a minority, Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL).

Third Reading (Pass the bill)

Motion Failed 10–14 on a roll call

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 59-FN-LOCAL (1997)Died
relative to calculation of tuition for out-of-district pupils.
Sen. Johnson (SD3) Senate Education Education - General

Senate Education recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 7–0.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 72 (1997)Became Law
relative to the New Hampshire life and health guaranty association and repealing the law relative to the interstate insurance receivership compact.
Sen. Squires (SD12) House Commerce Senate Insurance Insurance

Senate Insurance recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 8–0.

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

Motion Passed: Bill Passed with Changes on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 23, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✓HouseApr 23, 1997✓GovernorJun 9, 1997✓Law
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

Senate Finance recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 6–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✕HouseMay 20, 1997Governor✕LawMay 20, 1997
SB 92 (1997)Died
establishing a committee to study the utilization of the state's allocation of tax exempt private activity bonds.
Sen. Blaisdell (SD10) Senate Banks Study Committees and Commissions

Senate Banks recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 4–0.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 94-LOCAL (1997)Became Law
repealing the New Hampshire civic center commission.
Sen. Larsen (SD15) House Commerce Senate Finance

Senate Finance recommended Ought to Pass (OTP), 6–0.

Ought to Pass (OTP, Pass the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Passed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✓SenateFeb 20, 1997✓HouseMay 14, 1997✓GovernorJun 18, 1997✓LawAug 17, 1997
SB 95-FN-A (1997)Died
establishing a child day care training and recruitment fund and making an appropriation therefor.
Sen. Squires (SD12) Senate Education Children

Senate Finance recommended Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), 6–0.

Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL, Kill the bill)

Motion Passed: Bill Killed on a voice vote

✓IntroducedJan 9, 1997✕SenateFeb 20, 1997HouseGovernor✕LawFeb 20, 1997
SB 97-LOCAL (1997)Died
relative to polling hours.
Sen. Gordon (SD2) House Election Law Senate Public Affairs Elections

Senate Public Affairs recommended Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTPA), 6–0.

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 20, 1997Governor✕LawMay 20, 1997