New Hampshire lawmakers are considering a bill that would refund any fines assessed to businesses for violating mask orders imposed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Roughly $10,000 in fines have been issued to businesses for not following the mandate.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu proposed a series of across-the-board tax cuts as part of his two-year budget proposal, unveiled Thursday. And as the state looks to advance economically from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new bill seeks to continue a tax reduction plan for businesses.
“Because New Hampshire is a rural state, and we have some tax advantages here in that there is no state income tax, and there is no state sales tax, it is quite an attractive place and we have seen people coming from the bigger urban areas,” Barbara Ruedig told The Center Square.
Republican lawmakers are making another push to expand private school options for students by redirecting state education aid, but the move faces pushback from Democrats and teachers’ unions who say it will hurt traditional public schools.
The state’s largest teachers union is pushing to move educators higher up in the COVID-19 vaccine line, and blasting Gov. Chris Sununu for prioritizing ski patrol workers over teachers in the first round of inoculations.
Emboldened by their new majority in the state Legislature, Republicans are plodding ahead with proposals to cut taxes, pass a “right to hire” law, expand private school vouchers and tackle other measures blocked by Democrats in the previous legislative session.
The New Hampshire House of Representatives will be considering a bill in the new session that would reduce the state’s business taxes incrementally over the next two years.
With COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations still rising, Gov. Chris Sununu has extended a statewide mask mandate and travel guidance for residents.
Data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that New Hampshire is administering fewer doses per 100,000 people than neighboring states Maine and Vermont. Lisa Bujno, board president of the New Hampshire Public Health Association, said the state initially received 12,000 doses.
Marijuana advocates are continuing a push to legalize the drug for recreational use in New Hampshire, but the effort faces an unlikely path in the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Business tax revenues were much higher than predicted, indicating the businesses which pay it are doing well. Revenues from business profits and enterprise taxes could produce between $768.4 million, a $17.7 million deficit, to $792.2 million, a $6.1 million surplus.
As travel restrictions between states tighten, particularly in New Hampshire’s neighboring state Massachusetts, businesses once again are among the most concerned.