CONCORD – Acting New Hampshire House of Representatives Speaker Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) released details of the January 6th House session to state representatives yesterday. The event details were developed in coordination with and reviewed by several state and local agencies including UNH, UNH Police, Durham Police, Durham Fire, the State Fire Marshal, and the Department of Public Health.

A copy of the communication to House members and a copy of the event details report is attached to this press release.

Excerpts of the letter to state representatives are as follows,

“First and foremost, please know that I take the health and safety of all our members and staff very seriously, which is why we plan to host what we believe to be the most risk-mitigated session of the House yet during this pandemic, in a socially distanced, inside-your-own-vehicle manner, on January 6. It is our belief that the extra precautions of members voting and debating from the comfort of their own vehicles, spread apart across the largest parking lot on UNH’s campus, will allow us to do our business effectively and efficiently. Given the circumstances of the situation we face and recognizing the important business which must be conducted on January 6, we believe that every reasonable accommodation has and will be made to allow all members to participate. Ultimately, every member must determine for themselves, based upon their own circumstances, as they have at previous sessions, whether they will attend.”

“As has been previously mentioned, the New Hampshire Supreme Court has given their opinion that holding a House session remotely, either wholly or in part, would not violate Part II, Article 20 of the New Hampshire Constitution. However, the Court also provided that the House has the authority to adopt rules of proceedings and therefore prescribe a method to determine a quorum. The House has not adopted a rule which allows it to meet remotely, either wholly or in part, and until such a time as the members adopt such a rule, we are obligated to meet in-person. Additionally, in researching how to stand up a remote session, the anticipated cost in establishing a secure voting mechanism would be in excess of $300,000. In the absence of a rule which permits remote participation, such an expense cannot be justified at the present time, nor is it possible to resolve the significant logistical requirements of a remote session given the short timeframe and the unique challenges of the 400-member House.”

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