$100 Plus Mileage

As we close out another legislative session in New Hampshire, we’re watching to see which of the remaining bills passed by the Legislature will be signed by Gov. Ayotte. If Gov. Ayotte signs these bills, they will become some of the newest laws in the Granite State, but their path from where they are now to the Governor’s desk isn’t as clear as you might think. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

As another legislative session comes to a close, we’ve seen many bills passed by the New Hampshire Legislature and many more left by the wayside. Some of this year’s bills were “retained in committee,” which suggests the bills could be back next year. In this article, we’ll talk about what it means to be retained in committee and look at some bills from this session that could make a comeback.  Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

New Hampshire is famous for our “Citizen Legislature,” where representatives are paid just $100 per year plus mileage for their service. Ideally this deters candidates from running for personal gain. However, state races are gaining more attention from interest groups, and some watchdogs are sounding the alarm over the influence of money in campaigns. Here at Citizens Count, we are dedicated to providing unbiased information about New Hampshire issues and candidates, so we’ve combed through state campaign finance reports to answer the question: can you “buy” a state representative race in New Hampshire? Our analysis shows that while there is a possibility of outside influence, most state representative races in 2024 didn’t flip based on spending. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

President Trump began his second term in office by signing executive orders on stage at his inauguration rally inside the Capital One Arena in Washington. Trump has gotten plenty of use out of his executive pen in the months since, and executive orders have come to define his governing style. But he is hardly the first president to rely heavily on executive fiat. This article looks at how executive orders function within the constitutional framework and how presidents and New Hampshire governors throughout history have used them. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

New Hampshire is known for its high volume of alcohol sales, thanks in part to the low-tax liquor stores along our state borders. Being labeled as the number one state for booze may not be a point of pride for Granite Staters, but it’s an important part of our state’s economy: taxes on liquor and beer provide 5% of unrestricted revenue in the state budget. This year lawmakers are working on several bills that aim to boost alcohol sales – and hopefully boost our bottom line. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

In 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This year, cities, states, and the federal government are hard at work planning how they will celebrate. Granite Staters deserve to be proud of their revolutionary history; New Hampshire was the first of the 13 colonies to declare independence from England, six months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. One proposal before the New Hampshire Legislature would give drivers the chance to participate in next year’s festivities by purchasing a special, commemorative license plate for America’s 250th.  Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Whether it’s a November election or a March town meeting, Granite Staters are used to roadside political signs popping up like an invasive species. State law allows signs along public rights-of-way with the landowner’s permission—but it’s not always obvious who owns the land, which leads to some heated debates. This year the New Hampshire House and Senate are considering legislation to clear up who decides where roadway signs are placed. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Many of the innovations that have come to define the technological age we live in—from artificial intelligence to cryptocurrency mining—all have one thing in common: they demand large amounts of electricity. Tech companies and utilities are currently grappling with ways to meet this need. You’ve likely read headlines about proposals to power data centers using “small modular rectors” (SMRs) and even a push to restart Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. HB 672, a bill in the New Hampshire Legislature, is aimed at encouraging similar developments in New Hampshire by allowing off-grid electricity providers. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

In 2018 New Hampshire voters approved a constitutional Right of Privacy, but that didn’t give the Legislature, executive branch, or the courts much detail on how to handle citizens’ data. Since then, the New Hampshire Legislature has debated dozens of bills to restrict how businesses and the government store, use, disclose, and delete our personal information. This year the Legislature is looking to limit how some retailers handle driver’s licenses. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

There are many reasons a victim of a crime like sexual assault or domestic abuse might be afraid to come forward. Among them is the fear that, if they do not have strong enough evidence to back up their story, their assailant might sue them for defamation. A bill before the New Hampshire Legislature this year seeks to address this by prohibiting such defamation lawsuits against accusers. The bill coincides with a national effort to get similar legislation passed in other states, but some worry the proposed law goes too far. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

On February 13, Gov. Kelly Ayotte provided her budget proposal to the state Legislature. She promised to prioritize funding for special education and law enforcement, but also promised roughly $150 million in budget cuts. Meanwhile, President Trump is overhauling federal funding, which makes up roughly one-third of New Hampshire’s budget. Now it’s up to the state Legislature to sort through competing priorities and uncertain revenue, and draft a final budget for the Granite State. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

The blue flag emblazoned with the New Hampshire state seal that currently flutters proudly above the State House could be in for a makeover—that is, if state legislators pass HB 210 or HB 176 this year. These bills look to redesign the official New Hampshire state flag. HB 210 would create a commission to study whether there should be a new flag, while HB 176 proposes a specific, new design featuring the Old Man of the Mountain.   Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Election season is here, and it’s hard to turn on the TV or pull up a news site without being bombarded by messaging from candidates and interest groups. Still, if you have a cause you care deeply about, now is a great time to advance that cause by getting involved in the electoral process. In this article, we’ll explore some concrete steps you can take to do just that. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Summer vacation isn’t just for kids and teachers; the New Hampshire Legislature is also nearing its summer break. Most of the legislative action is over until the fall, when lawmakers will begin proposing a new round of bills. That makes now a good time to look back on some proposals that had a lot of buzz this year but didn’t make it to the finish line (Gov. Sununu’s desk). If the past is any sign of the future, this article won’t just be a retrospective, but a preview of coming attractions. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

As more of our world moves online, more policy debates center around how businesses collect and use our personal data. The debate over gun laws is no exception; this year the New Hampshire Legislature passed a bill blocking credit card companies from implementing a code for firearm purchases. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

From the proposed TikTok ban to the infamous “Chinese spy balloon” that drifted across the United States last year, many American lawmakers have called for new laws defending against the threat of Chinese espionage. While much of this conversation has taken place at the federal level, Granite State legislators are considering a broad bill to prevent Chinese companies from buying land near U.S. military installations, farmland, critical infrastructure, and even restaurants and banks.  The bill sailed through the Senate, but now state representatives have raised some red flags. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

When facing a controversial issue, the New Hampshire Legislature can take years to work out a bill. Marijuana legalization, firearm background checks, Right-to-Work, and school funding are some of the most well-known multi-year debates. For the past four years legislators have been working on another issue you might have missed: whether the state should license music therapists. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

We have yet to fight time-traveling terminators, but artificial intelligence is still taking over. Chatbots are replacing customer service operators, generative AI is overtaking human stock photos, and students are letting ChatGPT do their homework. Until the federal government takes action, it’s up to state legislators to draw the line. Now the New Hampshire House and Senate are working on five bills that define the legal and illegal use of artificial intelligence (AI). Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

If you lived in an American city around 2021, you’ll likely remember how, all of a sudden, electric scooters seemed to be everywhere. Companies like Bird and Lime unleashed a fleet of scooters available for rent using a smartphone app, and many cities hosted shared e-bikes to help cut down on automotive traffic. Since then, the popularity of scooters and e-bikes for commuting has continued to grow. Some worry about the safety of these mobility devices however, since their rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can catch fire if improperly built or cared for. Now, the New Hampshire Legislature is considering SB 365, a bill that prohibits sales of electric bicycles, scooters, and lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, that have not been safety certified. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.

Many of the debates around campus sexual assault in New Hampshire have focused on protecting victims and punishing perpetrators, but state Rep. Bob Lynn (R-Windham) sees the issue through a different lens. He’s concerned about the rights of the accused. Now the New Hampshire House of Representatives is debating a bill that would require detailed due process rights for students, faculty, and student organizations accused of misconduct at public colleges and universities. Listen as hosts Anna Brown and Mike Dunbar, of Citizens Count break it down in  $100 Plus Mileage. This podcast is produced in partnership with Citizens Count, Granite State News Collaborative and The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications at Franklin Pierce University.