NHPA supports amendments to House Bills 216 and 630

February 19, 2021

To: Honorable Members of the House Judiciary Committee Re: HB 216 and 630

The New Hampshire Press Association supports the intent of House bills 216 and 630, but believes both are in need of changes to adequately ensure the people’s ability to constructively participate in government decision making once public health conditions improve to where congested group gatherings can safely return.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected everyone’s lives and businesses. The New Hampshire Legislature is to be commended for its efforts to continue to do its job while finding innovative ways to allow public accessibility to the greatest extent possible.

But surely, we all can agree the current situation is far from ideal and should be a method of last resort moving forward. 

What we are experiencing today as governments go about their business is akin to what we see happening in our schools. Yes, things are getting done, but the experience is stressful and frustrating for many with less than optimal outcomes. 

Many of the policies governments have cobbled together to keep business moving were done so on the fly and without optimal enabling statutes.  House bills 216 and 630 are an important step toward filling that void.

However, the Press Association is concerned that if passed without restriction these bills will leave open the possibility that what should be the exception could become the rule. 

Therefore the Press Association supports the three amendments proposed by Right to Know New Hampshire:

1. Meetings held electronically and without a physical location should only be allowed

during emergencies or a state of emergency.

2. If, during the meeting, a member of the public notifies the public body that there are

problems with access, those problems must be stated in the minutes, and if it is

verified that problems with access existed, then all actions taken during that portion of

the meeting shall be null and void.

3. If the mechanism of public access to the meeting is capable of recording the meeting

at nominal cost, then the public body shall record the meeting as a public record. The

minutes for the meeting shall indicate that the meeting was recorded and the recording

is available to the public.

However the Judicial Committee decides to reconcile these two similar pieces of legislation, The New Hampshire Press Association urges the adoption of these amendments to ensure that remote governance is used only when absolutely necessary and when remote sessions are conducted that the people’s right to know it fully protected.

The New Hampshire Press Association Officers President Howard AltschillerExecutive Editor Seacoast Media Group Vice President: Mark GuerringuePublisher Conway Daily Sun Secretary Melanie PlendaProject Manager Granite State News Collaborative Assistant Secretary Vanessa PalangeValley News Treasurer Geoff ForesterPhoto Editor Concord Monitor Assistant Treasurer David BrooksConcord Monitor

Board Members Nancy West – Executive Editor, InDepthNH.org Matt Burdette – Publisher/Editor. Nashua Telegraph Dan Tuohy – Digital Engagement Producer, New Hampshire Public Radio Keith Gentili – Publisher/Editor, The New Boston Beacon Brendan McQuaid – President, New Hampshire Union Leader Michael Casey – Associated Press Rosemary Ford – Editor, Eagle-Tribune/Derry News Sarah Pearson – Features Editor, Concord Monitor Carol Robidoux – Publisher/Editor, Manchester Ink Link