Belknap County legislators propose bills on transportation, election law, Gunstock

CONCORD — Four members of Belknap County’s delegation of state representatives as well as Sen. Tim Lang put forward legislative service requests, or requests for bills to be drafted, during the open filing window last month. While bills are in their early stages and drafts are not public, The Daily Sun spoke with these legislators about their proposals. Among other things, the LSRs put forward by local representatives touch on transportation issues such as cars, boating licenses and e-bikes as well as election and ballot rules.

Matt Coker (D–Meredith) 

Rep. Matt Coker is a prime sponsor on two LSRs and a co-sponsor of a third. The first piece of legislation Coker is looking into would allow for digital copies, such as photos, of boater safety certificates to be accepted and verified by law enforcement. Currently, operators need their certificate in physical copy, which Coker said he saw as a challenge.

The second would remove a requirement for automobile inspections on new cars until 24 months after purchase. Coker said he had originally thought to make inspections biennial for cars regardless of age, but settled on this more incremental change. 

“One of the biggest complaints I get on the Transportation Committee is about vehicle inspections,” Coker said. “I feel like we should probably start moving in the direction of reducing that burden on people” in an incremental way.

Coker had originally filed a third LSR, he said, but withdrew it after joining forces across the aisle with Rep. Glenn Cordelli (R–Tuftonboro). Cordelli’s bill, Coker said, reduces barriers to parents who need to surrender an infant under the state’s safe haven statute. 

Currently, state law allows hospitals and dedicated Safe Havens to take temporary care without a court order of an infant no more than 7 days old if surrendered by a parent. This bill would open that window from seven to 61 days. It also would increase protections for parents doing so. 

“It would basically say that the police, in the process of the investigation [of the surrender], can't go after the parents for like, some other crime that they may have committed that's not attached to the baby,” Coker said.

Coker said the bill is being written with an eye to prevent situations like one that occurred in Manchester last year, where a mother experiencing homelessness was alleged to have abandoned her newborn child in the woods. 

Rep. Barbara Comtois (R–Barnstead) 

Rep. Barbara Comtois requested six bills on a range of topics. According to their brief descriptions, they include one related to “retirement system allowances for former spouses of retirees;” one about establishing a committee “to study the effects of legislation passed relative to meat processing and sales in New Hampshire;” one relating to vehicle registrations and “reciprocal toll collection enforcement agreements;” one “requiring agencies and their contractors to accept cash payments;” and one related to “nullifying the regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture.” 

Most notably, Comtois also requested a bill titled "relative to the Gunstock Area Commission and ski resort.” The county-owned ski area's leadership  arrangements are established in state law via its 1959 enabling statute and subsequent supporting legislation. Changes to that leadership structure, because they alter state law, must pass through the Statehouse.

Comtois could not be reached for an interview for this story and the details of her requested bill relating to Gunstock remain unclear.

Rep. Nikki McCarter (R–Belmont)

Floating district Rep. Nikki McCarter requested five bills, four of which relate to changes around ballot review and other election laws.

One bill, which was submitted both as a House bill and as a state constitutional amendment, would add serialized tabs for voters to know which ballot was theirs without divulging personal details and would require all ballots be hand counted, in addition to other changes to state election las. McCarter described this legislation as ambitious and mostly likely unable to pass but nevertheless worth pursuing because it represented the will of her constituents.

Two other bills relating to election law requested by McCarter would expand the definition of "election official" and would require municipalities to make ballots public information available for review to anyone within 90 days of them filing a request. This measure, she said, would help to "quell" the skepticism about the accuracy and transparency of vote counting by allowing citizens to review ballots for themselves.

Under current state law, anyone can observe election workers counting ballots after the polls have closed, as well as any recounts.

McCarter emphasized the importance to her and her constituents of these bills’ mission of “tightening up the security and the transparency” of state election laws and “holding people accountable” when they violate them. 

“There is no one in their right mind that can say that our elections are as safe and secure as has been purported by people who are perceived to be in authority,” McCarter said. “I have had dozens and dozens of constituents reach out and beg me to do something. This is what I've done.”

Rep. Doug Trottier (R–Belmont)

Rep. Doug Trottier, who is also an employee of the county sheriff’s department, requested a bill that would increase safety regulations on e-bikes and their operators.

Because e-bikes are capable of traveling at high speeds, Trottier said, they should be subject to similar rules as motor vehicles. 

Because of the safety risks they pose, Trottier said, people with e-bikes who wish to use them on public roads should be required to have a license and should face the same penalties for behaviors like DUI or reckless operation as motor vehicle operators.

Sen. Tim Lang (R–Sanbornton)

Sen. Tim Lang requested one bill titled “relative to consumer guarantee contracts.” He could not be reached for an interview for this story.