The New Hampshire House passed HB 1 and HB 2, the state’s $13.5 billion budget, a Republican package that cut both taxes and spending while addressing issues like abortion and Critical Race Theory. NH Journal reports House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, widely seen as having the hardest job in Concord on the budget, called the legislation a transformational set of reforms.
At a packed Bedford Sportsplex, the New Hampshire House of Representatives on Thursday passed HB 1 and HB 2, the state’s $13.5 billion budget, a sweeping set of proposals that cut both taxes and spending, as well as addressing social issues like abortion and Critical Race Theory.
NH Journal
Senate President Chuck Morse praised the plan as keeping Republican promises, in remarks reported by NH Journal.
The new spending plan passed by both the House and Senate today reflects the promises Republicans made back in January: It’s balanced, fiscally conservative, and works for New Hampshire,” said Morse. “It includes property tax relief for New Hampshire families getting back on their feet following the pandemic, and tax cuts for our Main Street businesses also hit hard.
NH Journal
NH Journal summarizes what the budget contained.
Included in the budget are a ban on late-term abortions , a ban on teaching discrimination in the classroom, and a paid family medical leave program.
NH Journal
The outlet describes Osborne’s role and his framing of the package.
House Leader Jason Osborne, who many statehouse watchers said had the hardest job in Concord getting the budget passed, called the legislation a “transformational symphony of reforms.”
NH Journal
Just before the vote, Osborne took a shot at the opposition.
I’d like to thank the last 20 speakers for so thoroughly selling me on House Bill 2
House Majority Leader Jason Osborne
The vote at the Bedford Sportsplex sent the package to the governor after both chambers signed off, with Osborne credited by statehouse observers for the difficult work of holding the narrow majority together.
Senate leaders described the plan as balanced and built on Republican principles, NH Journal reports. The budget combined tax and spending cuts with several closely watched policy provisions, and Morse said it reflected the promises Republicans made at the start of the session.
The final tally on HB 2 came after a lengthy floor debate, which Osborne used to needle the bill’s critics.
The vote followed a lengthy floor debate in which Democrats lined up against the package.
Osborne’s remark needling the bill’s critics came just before the final tally.
The budget paired tax relief with provisions on abortion, classroom instruction and paid leave.
With both chambers in agreement, the package moved to the governor for his signature.
Senate leaders described the plan as balanced and built on Republican priorities.
Statehouse observers credited Osborne with the difficult work of holding the majority.
The vote took place at a packed venue in Bedford, NH Journal reports.
The package cleared the Senate before the House gave final approval.
Osborne mocked the bill’s critics in his remarks before the vote.
The budget combined tax cuts with several policy provisions.
Statehouse watchers credited Osborne with holding the majority together.
Read the full story at NH Journal.
