Leaders of 20 New Hampshire trade associations and chambers of commerce are requesting Governor Sununu veto two bills passed by the legislature, HB 712 and HB 1166. HB 712 establishes a mandatory paid family leave benefit. HB 1166 expands eligibility for receiving unemployment insurance benefits.

“As leaders of chambers of commerce and statewide trade associations, we are writing to urge you to veto two bills [because]… they will negatively impact our members and will slow New Hampshire’s economic recovery,” the letter says. The letter was hand-delivered to the governor today.

HB 712 establishes a mandatory paid family leave program. Although the legislation allows companies to pass on the cost of this new benefit to their employees if they choose, it does not allow them to “opt out” of the program. “We believe that employers are best equipped to make decisions about employee benefit programs that allows them to attract and retain individuals best suited for their enterprises, not state government,” the letter said.

HB 1166 makes permanent COVID-19 related reasons qualifying an individual to receive unemployment benefits that are set to expire at the end of the year. It also extends unemployment eligibility to those who are afraid they would contract COVID-19 if they returned to work, even if their employer had complied with all federal and state workplace health and safety guidelines and it also requires employers of 15 or more people to provide a family medical leave benefit for COVID-19 related reasons and allows those individuals to collect unemployment while away from work on family medical leave.

“We believe this provision is little more than a backdoor means to provide mandatory employer paid family leave, which we oppose. Most significantly, this legislation will quickly deplete New Hampshire’s unemployment trust fund resulting in higher unemployment insurance taxes for employers. We ask that you veto this bill as well,” the letter states.

“These bills add unnecessary costs to enterprises of all shapes and sizes at a time when policy makers should be working to remove barriers to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. They will further incumber employers, large and small, with unnecessary and ill-timed, additional costs,” the letter concludes.

The letter was co-signed by the following individuals/organizations:

Jim Roche, President, Business & Industry Association; Pete McNamara, President, NH Auto Dealers Association; Mike Somers, President & CEO, NH Lodging & Restaurant Association; Robert J. Sculley, President, NH Motor Transport Association; Jessyca Keeler, President, Ski New Hampshire; John Dumais, President & CEO, NH Grocers Association; Gary Abbott, Exec. Vice President, Associated Contractors of NH; Joan Pageau, Interim President, NH Association of Insurance Agents; Joshua Reap, President, Associate Builders & Contractors NH/VT Chapter; Wendy Hunt, President & CEO, Greater Merrimack/Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce; John Nyhan, President, Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce; Donna Morris, President, Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce; Ashley Haseltine, President, Greater Derry/Londonderry Chamber of Commerce; Janice Crawford, Executive Director, Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce; Laura Ring, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce; Kyle Knapton, Board President, Greater Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce; Brenda Collins, Executive Director, Greater Hudson Chamber of Commerce; Kathleen Driscoll, Executive Director, Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce; Virginia Leiby, Lead Office Volunteer Coordinator, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce; and, Kate Luczko, President and CEO, Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce.

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