By GARRY RAYNO
and PAULA TRACY,
InDepthNH.org

CONCORD - House members received word Thursday that Speaker Sherman Packard plans to retire when his term concludes, and on that same day they defeated legislation aimed at curbing the power of cities, towns and state agencies to set rules on firearms and self-defense devices.

Attorney General John Formella sent a letter to all 424 lawmakers urging them to reject House Bill 609.

The Senate approved the measure along party lines by a 15-8 margin, but the House set it aside, which ended its chances on the final day for action.

Packard, 77, has represented his district in the House since 1990 and chaired the Transportation Committee for many years before becoming Speaker in 2020.

He succeeded Dick Hinch, who passed away from COVID shortly after being chosen for the post. Packard had been serving as Deputy Speaker at the time.

Packard has been absent from several session days this year because of a serious fall that will need surgery, a fact he shared with colleagues months earlier.

Guns

Formella sent his letter two days before the final session ahead of veto day, warning that the compromise version of House Bill 609 would produce numerous unintended effects that could hurt gun owners and threaten public safety.

The Attorney General stated that his duty requires safeguarding both constitutional rights and public safety, and that the bill would create a regulatory gap leading to major risks for Second Amendment protections and legal confusion for law enforcement operations.

The legislation seeks to confirm state control over rules covering firearms, their parts, ammunition and self-defense items while barring local governments and agencies from enacting their own restrictions.

Formella outlined several issues with the compromise, including interference with police training and potential constitutional problems.

The Senate nevertheless passed the compromise despite the warning from the state's top law enforcement official.

Sen. Tara Reardon, D-Concord, spoke against it, noting opposition from police, public universities and the Attorney General.

She argued that the measure undermines the authority of agencies, courts, airports and campuses and could open the door to carrying weapons on college grounds.

Reardon added that the University System Board of Trustees should retain the ability to set its own campus policies.

She warned the bill might let detainees retain firearms in booking areas, ease sales of stolen guns at pawn shops and nullify university weapon policies.

When the bill reached the House, Rep. Matthew Wilhelm, D-Manchester, moved to table it and cited the Attorney General's stance.

Rep. Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, replied that the Attorney General's view does not bind the legislature.

Roy later issued a statement asserting that lawmakers need not follow unelected officials and that constitutional rights come from founding documents and a higher power rather than bureaucrats.

The House voted 182-162 to table the bill.

Sununu Center Sale

Both chambers approved directing proceeds from the eventual sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester to the general fund rather than the victims' settlement fund under Senate Bill 481.

More than 1,000 former residents have filed claims alleging physical, sexual and emotional abuse by state staff. Roughly $100 million has already been paid, yet funds are dwindling. Earlier action had directed sale money to the settlement account.

Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, D-Concord, said routing the money to the general fund sends the wrong signal to those harmed by state employees.

Rep. Ken Weyler, R-Kingston, countered that debate is premature without a sale or purchase offer and noted more than $100 million already spent with no end in sight.

Rep. Lucy Webber, D-Walpole, questioned Weyler's remark, but Packard declined further action, observing that misleading statements have come from both sides.

The report passed 189-158 along mostly party lines. In the Senate, Sen. Cindy Rosenwald, D-Nashua, asked when the state would meet its moral duty, but the measure passed on a voice vote.

Zoning

Lawmakers approved several bills limiting what municipalities may do regarding residential projects in commercial or industrial zones and along dead-end roads.

Supporters highlighted changes intended to ease local rules and encourage more housing.

Rep. David Fracht, D-Enfield, quoted Joni Mitchell while opposing a measure allowing more development on dead-end roads, warning it could lead to dense building without limits on units per lot and could convert buffer areas to infrastructure.

Opponents of other zoning changes said they override local safety and infrastructure considerations and shift costs from developers to taxpayers, increasing litigation expenses.

Voting Rights

Two bills affecting elections advanced. House Bill 314 requires moderators to complete a form when verifying a voter without photo identification. Rep. Charlie St. Clair, D-Laconia, called the requirement excessive, while Rep. Ross Berry, R-Weare, said it prevents abuse of the existing system.

House Bill 1062 permits random audits by the Secretary of State's office of voters using affidavits. Rep. Luz Bay, D-Dover, raised concerns about lack of notice or due process, while Berry defended the audits as necessary following a recent court ruling.

Both measures passed on party-line votes.

Utility Generation

Lawmakers moved away from a long-standing policy under deregulation that kept utilities from owning generation assets. House Bill 1775 would permit utilities to own up to 10 percent of small nuclear or natural gas plants.

Rep. Michael Harrington, R-Strafford, noted the change could add significant capacity beyond recent power purchase agreements and recalled past costly projects borne by ratepayers.