Henry Veilleux, Sheehan Phinney Capitol Group 

NORTHERN PASS:  In an effort to prohibit the Northern Pass Transmission Project from taking private property by eminent domain, the New Hampshire Senate passed an amended version of HB 648 that says eminent domain can only be used in instances where the regional electric grid operator (ISO- New England) says that it's crucial to the region's power needs. While Northern Pass opponents claim the vote as a big victory, Northern Pass officials note that the project has never been predicated on the use of eminent domain and that they continue to negotiate with landowners on selected portions of the proposed route.  Eminent domain has been used by utilities for generations for projects determined to be in the public interest and the effects of this legislation on other potential projects remain to be seen. The bill now goes back to the House for consideration of the Senate changes. Last March, the House voted 317-51 to pass a different kind of restriction. The House and Senate will now need to set up a committee of conference to resolves the differences in their respective bills and get one final version to the governor. The Chamber opposes HB 648.

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE TAX CREDIT AGAINST THE BUSINESS PROFITS TAX:  The House Ways & Means Committee has voted 18-0 to recommend passage of HB 1221, which would enable a taxpayer to apply the credit for the business enterprise tax against the business profits tax on a quarterly basis when making estimated tax payments.  The full House will vote on the bill next Wednesday. The Chamber supports this bill.

REQUIRING REFUNDS FOR RETURNS OF MERCHANDISE:  A subcommittee of the House Commerce Committee has voted unanimously to recommend killing HB 1445, which would require retailers to give refunds in the form of cash or credit for the return of merchandise. The full committee will take up the subcommittee's recommendation soon. The Chamber opposes this bill. 

ABOLISHING THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES:  The House Executive Departments & Administration Committee has voted 15-0 to reject the proposal to abolish the New Hampshire Department of Cultural Resources, and instead replace the bill with an amendment to transfer the McAuliffe-Shepard discovery center to a private operation. The Committee noted the department's contribution to tourism is adequate to recommend its continuance. The full House will vote on the bill next Wednesday. 

STATE OF THE STATE:  The House and Senate will convene next Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. to hear the State of the State Address by Governor John Lynch.  

Will Stewart, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce 

With the introduction of House Bill 1282, one can't help but wonder if the memories of some legislators are wiped completely clean between legislative sessions.

HB 1282 seeks to, essentially, repeal the state's workforce housing law, a law that took effect in 2008 and requires municipalities to allow for a reasonable opportunity for workforce housing to exist within their boundaries. While not a strict repeal, HB 1282 would allow municipalities the ability to opt into the workforce housing law. 

Last year saw a very similar bill killed at the committee level by an overwhelming vote of 14-1. The full House, however, saw fit to ignore the committee's Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) recommendation, opting to vote on and ultimately pass the bill 219-110. When the bill crossed over to the Senate, it was killed on a voice vote. But it appears that death was a very temporary one, indeed.