A little over a year ago, New Hampshire began facing a public health crisis that changed the way we lived and the way we worked. That proved challenging to everyone, and the Legislature was no exception. From the onset of the Governor’s Stay at Home and Safer at Home guidelines, to today where those guidelines are being peeled away in a measured attempt to reopen New Hampshire safely, there is much to reflect upon.
While each legislative year comes with its own unique set of challenges, the beginning of the current term cast a shadow over a promising victory for Republicans as we earned back the majority in the House. Moving past the sudden passing of my good friend and colleague former Speaker Dick Hinch was a tremendous task – one that unexpectedly propelled me forward into the Speakership. Understanding former Speaker Hinch’s desire to work together – across the aisle – to complete the work our constituents sent us to Concord to do, my leadership team and staff got to work.

Having to follow COVID-19 guidelines, and with the Statehouse Complex being closed to the public, we developed a hybrid model for House policy committee meetings that allowed us to provide a safe, risk-mitigated environment for members and a way to conduct legislative business with little-to-no interruptions. Each committee meeting was set up via Zoom webinar for in-person and at-home attendees to fully participate and allow for public access despite the complex’s closure to the public. We developed extensive health and safety protocols, deployed PPE, and updated our internal procedures. We deployed portable HEPA air filtration systems with anti-contagion UV-C light treatment in each meeting room, and throughout the Statehouse to provide an additional layer of risk mitigation to our working environments....