House Bills 437, 791, & 905: Establishing Civil Unions in New Hampshire

Sponsors:
House Bill 437: Representatives James R. Splaine (D), Dana S. Hilliard (D)

House Bill 791: Representatives Maureen Baxley (D + R), Gail C. Morrison (D), Edward A. Butler (D), Marlene M. DeChane (D), Bette R. Lasky (D)

House Bill 905: Representative Steve Vaillancourt (R)

Summary:
Together, House Bills 437, 791, and 905 would establish civil unions in New Hampshire, giving same-sex couples the same rights, responsibilities, and obligations as married couples.

Status:

1/4/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Introduced and referred to Judiciary Committee
1/31/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Introduced and referred to Judiciary Committee
1/31/2007		(House) H.B. 905: Introduced and referred to Judiciary Committee
3/5/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Public Hearing, Legislative Office Building 208, 11 a.m.
3/14/2007		(House) H.B. 905: Public Hearing, Representative’s Hall, 9 a.m.
3/14/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Public Hearing, Representative's Hall, 1 p.m.
3/19/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Subcommittee Work Session, 10 a.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/19/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Subcommittee Work Session, 9 a.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/19/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Subcommittee Work Session, 9:02 a.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/19/2007		(House) H.B. 905: Subcommittee Work Session, 9:03 a.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/19/2007		(House) H.B. 905: Subcommittee Work Session, 9:03 a.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/20/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Subcommittee Work Session, 2 p.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/28/2007		(House) HB 791: Special order to April 4: Regular place on calendar, without objection
3/20/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Subcommittee Work Session, 2 p.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/22/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Executive Session, 10 a.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/22/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment for March 27th (New Title)
3/22/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Special Order to April 4: Regular place on calendar, without objection
3/22/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Subcommittee Work Session, 9:30 a.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/22/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Executive Session, 10 a.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/22/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment for March 27th, Vote 15-5 (New Title)
3/22/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
3/22/2007		(House) H.B. 905: Executive Session: 10 a.m., Legislative Office Building 208
3/22/2007		(House) H.B. 905: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for March 27, Roll Call Vote 19-1
3/28/2007		(House) H.B. 905: Special Order to April 4th: Regular place on calendar, without objection
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Recommit (Rep. Rowe): Division Vote 134-217
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Committee Amendment: Amendment Failed, Voice Vote
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Floor Amendment (Rep. Lasky), New Title: Amendment Adopted, Division Vote 223-137
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Floor Amendment (Rep. Defruscia), New Title: Amendment Failed, Division Vote 113-253
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Floor Amendment (Rep. Mooney), New Title: Amendment Failed, Division Vote 115-249
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Ought to Pass Amended, Motion Adopted, Roll Call Vote 243-129
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 437: Reconsider (Rep. Splaine), Motion Failed, Voice Vote
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 905: Inexpedient to Legislate; Motion Adopted, Voice Vote
3/28/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Special order to April 4th: Regular place on calendar, without objection
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Amendment Adopted (New Title), Division Vote 245-120
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Lay on table (Rep. Hunt): Motion Failed, Division Vote 158-207
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Floor Amendment (Rep. Wendelboe), New Title, Amendment Failed, Roll Call Vote 148-219
4/4/2007		(House) H.B. 791: Ought to Pass Amended, Motion Adopted, Roll Call Vote 210-160
4/26/2007		(Senate) HB 437: Passed by Third Reading Resolution
5/02/2007		(House) HB 437: Enrolled
5/22/2007		(Senate) HB 791: Public Hearing, 2:45 p.m., Room 103, State House
5/29/2007		(Senate) HB 791: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
5/31/2007		(Senate) HB 791: Inexpedient to Legislate, Roll Call (24Y-0N0 - Bill Killed
5/31/2007		HB 437: Signed by the Governor, Effective Date Jan 1st, 2008

HSLDA's Position:
Oppose! These bills are an attack on the traditional family, as well as an attack on the traditional interpretation of parental rights, on which the right to homeschool is based. Parental rights are derived from a number of sources, including “western civilization concepts of the family as a union of a man and a woman with broad parental authority over minor children…” [See U.S. Supreme Court case Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000)]. An attack on these concepts erodes parental rights and the foundation for home education.

Action Requested:
None at this time.

Other Resources

May-11-2007—New Hampshire—Calls Needed to the Governor to Defend Traditional Family

H.B. 437 Bill Text

H.B. 791 Bill Text

H.B. 905 Bill Text

Feb. 28, 2007—New Hampshire—Your Voice Crucial in Preserving Traditional Family

March-8-2007—New Hampshire—Your Voice Crucial in Preserving Traditional Family

March 20, 2007—New Hampshire—Your Help Needed to Defend Traditional Family

March 26, 2007—New Hampshire—Your Help Needed to Defend Traditional Family

March-30-2007—New Hampshire—More Calls Needed to Defend Traditional Family