NH House Testimony

HB230

House · 2025 sessionRepublicanSigned into law

Municipal public health ordinance rules

AI

Changes when town public health officials may adopt regulations relating to public health.

relative to the adoption of public health ordinances by municipalities.

MunicipalitiesPublic and Mental Health

Status

Signed into law · June 6, 2025
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

132 submissions
Support 125Oppose 7Neutral 0
Mary Ann AconeOpposePlaistow, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

I oppose this bill. Members of the public cannot be relied upon to follow scientific medical guidelines.

April CaporizzoSupportPLAISTOW, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

NO! NO! NO! to mask mandates, lockdown restrictions or any other insane measures on these so called pandemics.

Jonathan BelmontSupportBedford, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Good morning, I support the autonomy of communities to further enact control over matters related to public safety. This bill increases individuals' ability take actions to protect themselves and their communities from state and federal overreach. It became increasingly apparent during the Covid-19 response that federal and state government overreach has become a problem and is increasingly ineffective at evaluating public health concerns without severe politically motivated bias. Sincerely, Jonathan Belmont

Marc GarnettSupportRochester, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Oppose-please stop government overreach. Thank you.

Rebecca GarnettSupportRochester, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Oppose-please stop government overreach. Thank you.

Jeri KauffmanSupportLaconia, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Limiting the authority of town health officers to make mandates is a good step in protecting freedom.

Robert KenneySupportTemple, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Please SUPPORT – HB230. I support this bill because it limits the power of town health officers, which is currently unlimited. After the experience in 2020, I am very leery of health officials with minimal training having the power to impose a draconian restrictions on the public. As hindsight has shown, the decision making in 2020-2021 was out of control and, in many instances, flew in the face of common sense (e.g., six-feet separation, remain indoors, no fresh air or sunshine, business closures, etc.). Let’s not let that ever happen again.

Charlotte RussellSupportWestmoreland, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

I support this bill that limits the authority of town health officers. These volunteers are not qualified to issue mandates.

Jim and Nina KellySupportAuburn, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

This is the bill that passed both chambers only to be vetoed by Governor Sununu last year. But new year, new governor, new chances for success! This bill limits the authority of town health officers to make mandates. While it's not everything I'd want in and ideal world, it does successfully limit these officer's power, which is currently unlimited. And in future pandemics, these volunteers with 3 hours of training, would be unable to impose a town mask mandate, lockdown restriction, or any other insane measure they imposed during the last pandemic.

Kristen ReynoldsSupportSwanzey, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

I experienced first hand what it is like to have someone in the government make decisions about my personal healthcare over the recommendations of my own doctor.. Never again.

Tom AllenSupportHollis, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

I support this bill because it limits the power of town health officers, which is currently unlimited. After the last pandemic experience in 2020-2021, I am very leery of health officials with minimal training having the power to impose a mask mandates, lockdowns, and other restrictions on the public. That situation was out of control and, in many instances, flew in the face of common sense (six-feet separation, stay indoors, no fresh air or sunshine, etc.). Please support HB230. It's unconscionable that Gov. Sununu vetoed this bill last time. Thank you.

Carol PetrusewiczSupportRochester, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Please amend to read, "at no time shall a public health officer declare mandatory mask mandates. They may make recommendations," but the right to breath is inalienable and non negotiable.

Robin RousseauSupportPortsmouth, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Local health officials should have absolutely no power. They can be informative only. That's it.

Susan LaPointeSupportEpping, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

This bill limits the authority of town health officers to make mandates. The bill successfully limits town health officers powers, which is currently unlimited. In future pandemics, these health "officers", who are not doctors, would be unable to impose town mask mandates, lock down restrictions, or any other insane measure they imposed during the last pandemic.

Darlene CartierSupportDerry, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

This bill was vetoed by Gov Sununu and that shouldn't have happened! This bill limits the authority of town health officers to make mandates. While it's not everything I'd want in an ideal world, it does successfully limit these officers' power, which is currently unlimited. And in future pandemics, these volunteers with 3 hours of training, would be unable to impose a town mask mandate, lockdown restriction, or any other insane measure they imposed during the last pandemic. I do not support mandates of any kind, which is why I support this bill 100%! NO MANDATES OR LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS EVER!!

Nikki PowersSupportBarrington, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Let's go! Let's pass this Bill! I was so glad to see it pass both Chambers last year, and disgusted that it was vetoed by Sununu. We don't want to see our New Hampshire towns go through what we went through 5 years ago. Every measure was unhelpful and hurt a lot of people. These health officers come should not have had the authority and should never again have any kind of authority to Institute lockdowns, mask mandates, separation with plexiglass, and 5 feet apart nonsense. We are still reeling from the mental health health issues that were caused during that time. Far worse were the financial and mental outcomes than any issues from Covid. This became about control. We have so much evidence to prove this and that those who would make such rules were behaving hypocritically. Let's protect the people of New Hampshire from this ever being allowed to happen again.

Maureen HardySupportLondonderry, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

We can never repeat what happened with horrible COVID policy which led to tremendous damage to our children, families and economy.

Bronwyn SimsSupportNelson, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Let's hope Kelly Ayotte will pass this bill since Chris Sununu vetoed it last year! Please listen to your constituents. Thank you, Bronwyn Sims

Bradley LouthSupportHampton, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Local health officials should not have unlimited power to dictate health mandates in our communities like what happened during covid. This bill limits their powers.

Elizabeth KostaOpposePlaistow, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Health officials have access to health and safety materials prior to the gets wr public. In their capacity as a health official it is imperative they are able to protect the general public in the event of a catastrophic medical emergency.

Julie SimsSupportNewport, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

We strongly support this bill please pass .

Roy SimsSupportNewport, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

We strongly support this bill please pass .

Brian MazurSupportGoffstown, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

Since local municipalities lack the necessary training and expertise to enforce such measures, this bill restricts the authority of town health officers to issue mandates.

Valerie MurphySupportDanville, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

This is the bill that passed both chambers only to be vetoed by Governor Sununu last year. But new year, new governor, new chances for success! This bill limits the authority of town health officers to make mandates. While it's not everything I'd want in and ideal world, it does successfully limit these officer's power, which is currently unlimited. And in future pandemics, these volunteers with 3 hours of training, would be unable to impose a town mask mandate, lockdown restriction, or any other insane measure they imposed during the last pandemic. This is completely unacceptable!

Robin TynerSupportFreedom, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2025

This passed last year, for good reason, and it was UNCONSCIONABLE thatbSununu vetoed it. I met our Town Health Officer during covid. He was a kid who admittedly had zero education on medical matters, and was being given erroneous info and suggestions by so many ignorant & scared people during covid (including gov misinformation). These town officials can NOT have limitless power. Not should the state. While this bill isn't perfect, it puts truly NECESSARY limits on the ability to mandate anything regarding citizens' health - as we are all different. For example, it would've been unconscionable to mandate the (now proven unsafe & ineffectove) covid shots, since many of us had doctors that advised against them - and I had a doctor's note against masking, due to the well-studied negative impacts (not good for cance4 patients). Town Health Officials should NOT be sble to issues anything more than recommendations- anything else is impeding rights & potentially health of citizens.