Governor Sununu Signs SB 437, HB 1415, HB 1809, and HB 2018 Into Law

Concord, NH – Yesterday, Governor Chris Sununu issued the following statements after he signed SB 437, HB 1415, HB 1809, and HB 2018 into law.

SB 437: relative to the robotics education development program.

"As Governor, expanding access to STEM programs for students has been a top priority of mine. Over the last 18 months, we have spearheaded an unprecedented effort to make robotics programs available across the Granite State. This bill will build upon that effort by allowing for state aid to be available to more robotics programs which will further expand opportunities for students."

HB 1415: establishing a death benefit for a school employee killed in the line of duty and making an appropriation to the public school infrastructure fund.

"If we cannot put our children on the school bus and know they are safe, nothing else matters. This year for the first time in our state's history, we made a critical $20 million investment in state support for local projects helping keep our children's schools safe and secure. Importantly, this legislation will enable us to invest an additional $10 million more into these critical projects, while also establishing a death benefit for a school employee killed in the line of duty."

HB 1809: relative to balance billing under the managed care law and relative to coverage for emergency services.

"House Bill 1809 will protect patients with managed care health insurance plans by ensuring that those who go to a network hospital or ambulatory surgical center are not subjected to a surprise bill from an out of network provider. This represents a fair and measured way to end this practice and will ensure that consumers are protected without causing premiums to rise. I want to thank the patients who helped get this legislation passed by sharing their own experiences with these unexpected medical charges."

HB 2018: relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement program, establishing a committee to study the removal of the Merrimack tolls, and establishing a committee to study driveway permitting.

"The 10-Year Highway Plan contained in this bill is built upon the plan I proposed in January, and is good news for New Hampshire's taxpayers. It addresses our infrastructure needs by focusing on preservation, maintenance, and the safety of existing pavement and bridge infrastructure throughout the State while living within our means and not increasing tolls on hard-working Granite Staters."