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Concord, NH – Today, the House of Representatives passed HB 1696, a bill to reauthorize the New Hampshire Health Protection Plan. This bill will now go to the House Finance Committee.

Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), who is a co-sponsor on the bill, issued a statement following the vote.

“Today’s vote in the house is a big step forward in ensuring that 47,000 low-wage earning citizens have health care through the New Hampshire Health Protection Plan,” said Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro).

“We know that the 2-year reauthorization and reform plan in HB 1696 will protect our state’s taxpayers by restricting any general funds or new taxes from being used to pay for reauthorization. It maintains private insurance plans for these citizens, which have helped reduce the hidden tax of uncompensated care by nearly $150 million. Hospitals and Insurers will pay for the portion of the program no longer covered by the Federal Government and if we are short any funding, the program will end.”

“This plan will also establish work requirements based on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program which is already used in the state to help people obtain education or work in the state,” said Bradley.

“We are encouraged by the support we’ve seen thus far and look forward to working together to seek ultimate passage of this bill.”

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CONCORD, NH – Today, the Senate voted to increase the net metering cap for residents and businesses who sell renewable energy they generate to utility companies in the state.

This bill would raise the cap from 50MW, to 75MW and direct the Public Utilities Commission to develop a net metering tariff for all generation above the 75MW cap limit.

“Today’s vote by the Senate addresses the growing market for the sale of renewable energy generated by private citizens or business by increasing the amount of surplus energy they are able to sell to utility companies at retail prices,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R- Wolfeboro).

“While this legislation increases the cap, it also serves to protect customers who are not taking advantage of residential solar which is subsidized through higher electric rates for other customers. By limiting the amount of energy that can be sold through net metering, and requesting the PUC to develop a rate for all net metering above that cap, we limit the cost shifted to other customers while allowing solar projects to continue to grow in New Hampshire,” added Bradley.

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Concord, NH –The Senate Finance Committee passed three early bills Tuesday on the response to the heroin and opioid crisis, including bills to increase interdiction measures, funding for system upgrades to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and establishing a Drug Court grant program. These bills, supported by the Joint Task Force, will go to the Senate floor for a full vote on Thursday.

“There is clear evidence that targeted police presence aimed at drug trafficking has taken numerous dealers off of the streets, effectively reducing the supply of deadly heroin and fentanyl in our communities. I am encouraged to see this bill, SB 485, unanimously approved by Senate Finance, which establishes a program to provide grants to local communities to be used for increased interdiction measures. By providing the resources for this program that we know is successful, we can increase our local police forces’ ability to remove drugs from our streets, effectively curbing the cycle of substance abuse,” said Senator Jeanie Forrester (R-Meredith), Senate Finance Chair and prime sponsor of SB 485-FN-A.

“Senate Finance also voted in support of a bill, SB 522, funding upgrades to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program [PDMP] in order to expand its usage by medical providers and pharmacists. The PDMP system serves to reduce the practice of doctor shopping or seeking opioid pain medication from multiple prescribers. It will also serve to lessen instances of overprescribing which may lead to addiction and the abuse of heroin and other illegal and deadly substances,” said Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), prime sponsor of SB 522-FN-A.

“We first proposed a state-wide County Drug Court grant program back in October, and through conversations with all of the stakeholders and extensive work by the Joint Task Force, this bill has been thoroughly vetted and was approved, with an amendment, by the Senate Finance committee. This is a critical step forward in establishing this evidence based, recovery program in the State of New Hampshire,” said Senator David Boutin (R-Hooksett), sponsor of SB 464-FN-A.

“Drug courts offer a holistic approach to combating the heroin and opioid crisis by providing treatment and recovery services for addicts with a history of incarceration in order to restore healthy behaviors for the long term. The amendment to this legislation also includes measures to allow for an alternative drug offender program in counties, suitable for lower risk drug offenders. I am grateful for the support we’ve seen on this legislation and look forward to voting on this bill on the Senate floor this week,” said Boutin.

“The amendment to the drug court legislation also requires that for every dollar spent outside of the budget on these programs, one be saved to the Revenue Stabilization Fund, totaling $5 million, in order to be better prepared for future economic downturns,” added Forrester.

“I am proud of the swift work done by the Senate Finance Committee in passing these early bills from the Joint Task Force today, and I am confident that these bills will find support on the Senate floor this week,” Bradley continued.

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Concord, NH – As part on an ongoing effort to improve the New Hampshire’s ability to grow and create jobs, Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) introduced SB 342-FN to the Senate Ways and Means committee today, which serves to eliminate the income tax on small businesses or start-up companies looking to grow and create jobs in New Hampshire.

The bill’s main sponsors, Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) and Senator David Boutin (R-Hooksett), Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, issued a statement on the legislation following the hearing.

“Building on the Senate’s successful efforts to help stimulate job creation by passage of the first corporate tax cuts in more than 20 years in New Hampshire last session, today we introduced SB 342, a bill dedicated to eliminating the unfair impediment to startups as the Business Profits Tax becomes a tax on capital formation, which has proven to be a barrier to successful business growth in our state,” said Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro).

“The Senate’s top priorities, aside from ensuring the needs of New Hampshire citizens are met, are to strengthen and grow New Hampshire’s economy, encourage job creation, and ensure that startup and small businesses are thriving in a competitive climate across the state. This bill would effectively remove what is a tax or penalty on successful business growth in the Granite State, which is a barrier to creating jobs” said Bradley.

“This bill compliments the Senate’s work to reduce the Business Enterprise Tax and Business Profits Tax as part of the budget last session, and is another step towards restoring the New Hampshire advantage and a stronger economy in the state,” said Senator David Boutin (R-Hooksett).

“This bill would remove a restrictive tax that penalizes growing business and startups in New Hampshire and provides measures to make sure that the state of New Hampshire is not playing a role in hindering the ability for startups and small businesses to grow and create jobs for New Hampshire workers,” added Boutin.

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Concord, NH – Today, the House of Representatives’ Health, Human Service and elderly Affairs committee voted 17-1 to approve HB 1696, reauthorizing the New Hampshire Health Protection Plan, with an amendment.

Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley issued a statement upon passage from the committee.

“I commend the House Health, Human Services and elderly Affairs committee’s support and the sponsor of the bill, Representative Joe Lachance for his hard work which brings us one step closer to reforming and reauthorizing the New Hampshire Health Protection Plan. The plan we’ve developed will continue to serve the 47,000 New Hampshire citizens receiving benefits, with protections in place restricting the use of general funds and preventing new or increased taxes to fund reauthorization,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro).

“This bill also includes work requirements, and a strong agreement by both New Hampshire Hospitals and Insurers who will voluntarily fund a portion of the program that is no longer paid for by the federal government. To make sure taxpayers are protected we’ve also included provisions in the bill to end the program immediately if hospitals, insurers or the federal government backs off of their financial commitment to New Hampshire.”

“The NHHPP has benefitted the state by reducing the cost of uncompensated care by nearly $150 million, which is a hidden tax paid for by increases is private and employer-paid insurance premiums. I’m grateful for the strong support shown by numerous interest groups and business leaders for this plan which will be a break in the rise of health care costs for everyone in the state.”

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CONCORD, NH – Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) and Representative Joseph Lachance (R-Manchester) today spoke at a press conference on legislation aimed at reforming and reauthorizing the New Hampshire Health Protection Plan alongside a number of supportive advocacy organizations representing citizens and businesses across the state. The current program is set to expire December 2016.

HB 1696, sponsored by Representative Lachance, will be heard in the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 9:00 a.m. in Representatives Hall.

“We believe the New Hampshire Health Protection Program is working with more than 47,000 New Hampshire citizens signed on to this program. Evidence that the cost of uncompensated care has been reduced by nearly $150 million, additional common sense work requirements for those who are able bodied and built in taxpayer protections makes reauthorizing this program for two more years the right thing to do for New Hampshire,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro).

“The program originally created was a New Hampshire specific program to provide private health insurance to needy families without adding to the burden faced by our state’s taxpayers and as an alternative to the cookie-cutter Obama Care Expanded Medicaid plan. The reauthorization plan we’ve developed meets those same goals with taxpayer protections in place while ensuring our neediest citizens receive health care.”

“As part of our plan, we will fund reauthorization without new or increased taxes or general funds. The hospitals and insurers have agreed to voluntarily fund a portion of the state’s share of reauthorization costs, which dips from 100% to 95% federal contribution in 2017. We also built additional taxpayer protections into the program by ending the program should federal funding or any other funding sources fall short of program costs. As part of our goal to help Granite Staters get back to work, this plan requires additional common sense work requirements already required for state and federal assistance programs and continues modest co-pays. We believe this makes sense for needy families and individuals and for taxpayers. I urge my colleagues in the House to consider and support this plan, ” said Bradley.

“The proposed modifications to the New Hampshire Health Protection program are consistent with our New Hampshire values and principles. Personal responsibility measures are key for continuing success of this program and we seek a work requirement for able bodied adults, a co-payment for inappropriate use of the emergency room and there are modifications ensuring that this program is being used by those for whom it is intended,” said Representative Joseph Lachance.

“I am pleased to be a part of an effort to continue the NH HPP without impacting New Hampshire taxpayers or general funds. That is the key component to my support for the legislation and the program will not continue unless it is funded by outside sources. Most importantly, I’m proud to say that this bill represents how, in New Hampshire, we can continue to do things our own way,” said Lachance.

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Concord, NH – Critical Senate bills aimed at curbing the heroin and opioid crisis in New Hampshire, recommended by the Joint Task Force on the response to the heroin and opioid crisis and passed by both the House and Senate, became law today.

The Senate bills signed into law takes several steps to help curb the heroin crisis, including: increasing penalties for the possession of heroin, creating parity among insurance companies for providing addiction treatment services, and allowing for expanded use of the Prescription Drug Monitoring program.

Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R- Wolfeboro), prime sponsor of the one the bills signed into law, issued the following statement:

“While the legislation enacted today will not solve our the drug epidemic facing New Hampshire, it will provide additional tools for law enforcement and the medical community and families seeking treatment for loved ones suffering from heroin addiction. These bills establish a coordinated approach to increase drug and substance abuse prevention efforts, treatment, and recovery in order to curb the heroin and opioid crisis in the state of New Hampshire,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley.

“The Legislature will continue to focus on combating addiction and addressing the heroin crisis by taking up additional proposals recommended by the joint Task Force, including Drug Courts, expanded interdiction efforts, and working with the medical boards to adopt new ruled for prescribing opioid, among others in the days and weeks to come. Our work here is not yet done, but this is a great step forward and we ask members of the public, law enforcement and the medical community to continue to partner with us in this critical effort,” Bradley added.

Photo caption: Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley praises the legislators, advocates, stakeholders and the medical community for their work on the expedited Senate bills signed into law today to help curb the heroin and opioid crisis in New Hampshire.

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Concord, NH – A bill relative to net energy metering, SB 333, was heard in committee today, which increases the cap for customers who are generating renewable energy and are selling it to utility companies.

“Building on the progress we made last session aimed at reducing energy rates for New Hampshire residents and businesses, this bill serves to increase the cap for energy generating customers who sell surplus supply to utilities. Removing the cap will not only encourage expanded energy diversity and use of renewable energy resources by homeowners but will encourage growth in the solar and renewable energy industry in our state as well,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“While there are benefits of increasing this cap, we need to make sure that in a region with some of the highest energy costs in the nation, energy customers who do not take advantage of residential solar are not burdened by high electric rates due to renewable energy subsidies. This bill offers a realistic compromise that will keep rates in check for both regular ratepayers and renewable energy customers.”

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Concord, NH – Today, three bills recommended for expedited review by the Joint Task Force on the response to the heroin and opioid crisis were heard and passed in a joint committee hearings and will be voted on by the full Senate this Thursday.

Senator Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), issued the following statement on the expedited legislation.

“I am proud to see all three bills marked “expedited review” passed out of committee today so the full Senate can vote on them this Thursday. We are on track to have these bills on the Governor’s desk by the end of January as we planned to do,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), who chaired the Joint Task Force

“SB 576, a bill that I sponsored, which addresses a number of critical preventative and treatment measures aimed at curbing the heroin crisis. This legislation strengthens the penalties for possessing or selling fentanyl to match those of heroin, provides a uniform standard for insurers to cover treatment for addicts seeking care, allows general funds to be used to update the Prescription Drug Monitoring program, and adds two members, including a physician who practices pain medicine or anesthesiology, to the board of medicine medical review committee,” Bradley added

“The Senate and House will continue to work diligently, closely examining other bills related to curbing the opioid crisis that addresses the areas of prevention, treatment, recovery and interdiction in a holistic and effective way as we continue our work this session.”

The legislation passed in committee includes:

SB 369-FN –

SB 576-FN-A –

SB 447-FN –

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