Now that the holidays are behind us, we can focus on the upcoming 2022 legislative session in New Hampshire.

A look at who’s in charge

On one hand, you may recall that Republicans in the state House of Representatives hold a slim majority (207-186-1) in that chamber. So, if the Republicans hope to accomplish some of their key initiatives, they cannot afford many defectors. On the other hand, Republicans in the state Senate hold a 14-10 majority, and a caucus that is a bit more aligned compared to the state House Republican caucus.

Gov. Chris Sununu remains in the corner office and he has announced plans to seek a fourth term as governor in 2022.

Auto-deductibles legislation

A bill I want to bring to everyone’s attention is S.B.331, which is relative to waivers of deductibles in automobile insurance policies. According to the bill analysis, this bill would require any automobile insurance policy that contains coverage for physical damage—by reason of collision—to waive any deductible of such coverage when the damage is caused by any motor vehicle if its operator has been positively identified and is solely at fault. Currently, the law applies only to uninsured motorists.

A public hearing on this bill has been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, at 9:30 a.m.

A note on this year’s public hearing

Unlike last year, members of the public will not be able to testify remotely.

The hearings will be available for streaming, but if a member of the public wants to testify on a bill, he or she must do it in person.

I think COVID-19 protocols will be fluid this next session, so this may change. Stay tuned.