HB71

It is unbelievable to me that this bill has been drafted, much less supported by anyone. As we have seen recently in Texas, access to vaccines SAVES LIVES. The NH Vaccine Association does not cost the State of NH anything and it does not require vaccines of anyone who, for whatever crazy reason, chooses not to vaccinate their children. It also SAVES MONEY. There is absolutely no sensible or ethical reason to eliminate the NH vaccine association.

This is an un necessary bill, there are already laws in place ensuring this can't happen

This is very strangely buried in a finance bill rather than education. Schools should be safe places for ALL children. This bill pushes unnecessary, anti-immigrant fear where it does not need to exist.

These are children, they should be allowed to receive an education.

Please oppose

Female

Please vote no on HB 71. Thank you Jim G0ttwald

Happy St. Patrick's day - IMagine this amendment coming up when Irish immigrants were the most prevalent. We need to protect those that are less secure than we are.

I strongly oppose this bill because it creates barriers for institutions to offer shelter even when they have facilities large enough to do so. In emergencies like floods or fires, no town official will want to make offering shelter contingent on people having the right kinds of documents — that would be not only cruel to a vulnerable group, but hugely inefficient. In addition, I have *never* heard of an instance of the problem that this bill seeks to remedy. This is performative legislation that will only hurt people and further erode the ability of education facilities to make the decisions that make sense in their own local communities.

This proposed bill is xenophobic and discriminatory toward immigrants. Beyond that, it risks loss of federal funding due to non-compliance with federal guidance to the tune of $12-18 million annually.

I strongly oppose this bill because it creates barriers for institutions to offer shelter even when they have facilities large enough to do so. In emergencies like floods or fires, no town official will want to make offering shelter contingent on people having the right kinds of documents — that would be not only cruel to a vulnerable group, but hugely inefficient. In addition, I have *never* heard of an instance of the problem that this bill seeks to remedy. This is performative legislation that will only hurt people and further erode the ability of education facilities to make the decisions that make sense in their own local communities.

Protecting those most vulnerable in our communities and society, regardless of immigration status, is vital and just common decency. I am opposed to this bill and the idea of State funding be contingent upon an institution DENYING shelter to those most in need. Keep our public, tax-payer funded institutions safe places for ALL, especially the most vulnerable and in-need.

Be decent human beings and help people who need it. It’s not complicated.

If there is a natural disaster or other emergency when schools are serving as emergency shelters human beings should not be prevented of being safe. Keeping them from being safe is a malicious act which is inhumane. If children are in a mixed family where some members are legal and some are not, the children should not be forced to separate from their family or be unsafe. Keeping children from being safe and staying with their family is the only reasonable humane response. This bill puts people in harms way based on unwarranted fears or prejudice. Karen Burnett-Kurie

This bill pushes an anti-immigrant agenda that is detrimental to all NH citizens.

Another issue that is not happening, instead of meaningless legislation for a non-existent issues, how about passing bills for increased house construction, more education spending and more.

I am here to express my strong opposition to HB 71-FN. This bill would prohibit public elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education from using their facilities to provide shelter for individuals who have not been formally admitted into the United States. This legislation is unnecessary, harmful, and restrictive in ways that could negatively impact our communities. I urge you to vote against HB 71-FN for the following reasons: 1. It Denies Communities the Ability to Respond to Emergencies Public schools and universities have historically played a crucial role in disaster response and emergency relief efforts. In times of crisis, such as severe weather events or unexpected displacement, these institutions have stepped up to provide temporary shelter for those in need. This bill severely limits their ability to do so, even in humanitarian emergencies, simply because of an individual’s immigration status. While the bill allows schools to provide short-term shelter in cases of declared disasters, it excludes those who may be displaced due to other crises, such as housing shortages or federal policies that temporarily leave individuals in limbo. Denying access to shelter based on immigration status goes against fundamental humanitarian values and weakens our ability to care for vulnerable populations. 2. It Creates Bureaucratic Challenges and Legal Ambiguities The bill places an undue burden on school administrators and public institutions, requiring them to determine the immigration status of those seeking shelter. Schools are not immigration enforcement agencies, nor should they be placed in a position where they are forced to police who qualifies for emergency housing. This could also lead to legal challenges, as the bill may conflict with federal law. Immigration is a federal issue, and states that attempt to regulate matters related to federal immigration enforcement often find themselves facing costly lawsuits. Additionally, this bill could put institutions in a difficult position if federal or local emergency response directives contradict the restrictions imposed by HB 71-FN. 3. It Targets a Vulnerable Population Unfairly This bill singles out a specific group of people—those not formally admitted into the country—and bars them from receiving a basic human need: shelter. Many individuals in this category are asylum seekers, refugees, or individuals waiting for legal processing. They are often families with children who are fleeing violence, persecution, or dangerous conditions. Preventing schools from providing shelter to these individuals does nothing to address immigration concerns but instead punishes people who are already in dire situations. At its core, this bill promotes exclusion rather than solutions. 4. It Undermines Local Control and Community Decision-Making HB 71-FN imposes a one-size-fits-all policy on local schools and institutions of higher education. Communities should have the right to decide how their public spaces are used in times of crisis. Local officials, school boards, and university administrators are in the best position to determine how to respond to emergencies, yet this bill strips them of that flexibility. By prohibiting schools from using their facilities in a manner that aligns with their community values and emergency response needs, this legislation takes away an essential tool for helping people in times of crisis. 5. It Does Not Solve Any Real Problem There is no evidence that schools in New Hampshire or elsewhere are regularly used as long-term shelters for undocumented individuals. Schools have occasionally been used to provide emergency assistance to people in need, but this has been in response to extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters or humanitarian crises. There is no widespread misuse of public school facilities that warrants this level of restriction. Instead of solving a pressing issue, this bill creates new problems by tying the hands of school districts and universities, increasing legal and administrative burdens, and turning a humanitarian issue into a political one. Conclusion HB 71-FN is unnecessary, punitive, and detrimental to our state’s ability to respond compassionately and effectively to crises. I urge this committee to reject this bill and instead focus on policies that strengthen, rather than weaken, our communities. Thank you for your time.

Small government = fewer performative BS laws. Can we get back to addressing ACTUAL PROBLEMS in NH? Maybe the House Finance Committee should be addressing WHY MY PROPERTY TAXERS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF??

This is xenophobic and unnecessary.

I oppose HB 2 which affects school funding.

I oppose this bill because it is attempting to create a problem that does not exist. There is no reason to discuss this topic in the State House, and it is flagrantly discriminatory to people from outside the United States. We are all human beings.

It is our state right to stand up against injustice. This bill with prohibit us from doing what is right; protecting those who are in need of sanctuary and solace. These are children dreaming of a better life. Have some empathy.