On Thursday May 16, we saw Republicans highlight their extreme agenda. Whether they were attacking public schools, books, and immigrant communities or promoting anti-public health legislation and guns on college campuses, Republicans showed Granite Staters what is important to them. It is a terrible vision for New Hampshire.
In between the “silly season” chaos, there were bright moments and some profound ones. We all came prepared for those opportunities, and I want to recognize a few of those moments here.
Thank you, Representatives Laurel Stavis and Jim Maggiore, and to all of the Municipal and County Democrats for your persistence and leadership in defeating SB 439, the data centers by-right bill, that would have allowed data centers to set up shop anywhere in the state without any input from local communities. The vote on the floor to table this bill was resounding because of the work of the committee Democrats who raised the alarm on this harmful bill.
Thank you to the Public Works & Highways Democrats, Ways & Means Democrats, and Representative Tom Schamberg for their work on SB 627, a bill to increase the toll rate for out-of-state drivers. Rep. Schamberg’s remarks were grounded, clear, and exactly what this moment called for. I want to highlight, in particular, the list of projects affected by the lack of funding in his floor speech. Giving concrete examples that are simple to follow along with is an important, persuasive tool in floor speeches.
Labor Committee Democrats also had two very important wins, where we blocked yet another anti-union bill (SB 88) and protected tipped workers (SB 416). The importance of the work inside the dome and with advocates outside the dome to build coalitions against anti-labor policy cannot be overstated.
Representative Billie Butler gave her first floor speech on SB 552, just after Representative Marjorie Smith gave her last floor speech on the same bill. Although very different from one another, both speeches were outstanding and reflected the weight of the moment. Democrats stood strong in their solidarity with trans Granite Staters. Even though that vote did not go our way, the floor debate and the record show that our caucus is diverse with voices from different generations, fresh perspectives, and a wealth of institutional knowledge, and despite those differences, our values hold strong and unified against attacks that threaten communities across the state.
The same thanks can be said for many hard-fought floor debates and strategy in committees throughout the day, starting with the Commerce & Consumer Affairs Committee, to the bills off consent. There are moments, even in the losses, we should be proud of.
Finally, thank you to everyone for your work on CACR 12, and Greenland/Rye Representative Dennis Malloy for his floor speech. This bill was the convergence of policy, politics, and public opinion. As Democrats, I know how much we love the nitty-gritty and nuance of policy, as well as how much we value robust, thoughtful, and well-researched debate around the issues that impact our lives, our neighbors’ lives, and the ability of people all around the state to thrive. What matters most is how we show up publicly after those conversations, and yesterday, we showed up as a strong, united caucus. The Republicans tried to bait us into a debate on their terms, and by staying disciplined in our message, we prevented them from succeeding.
Note from House Minority Leader Alexis Simpson of Exeter following up on the May 16, 2026 General Court Session.