July 16, 2026 | Top Stories from the House Republican Newsletter
‘Unfit for Service’: House Members in Both Parties Call for Read’s Removal “I am hearing rumors of her screaming at House Services staff, which is unacceptable, if true. I am hearing rumors that the House Clerk (Paul Smith) needed security to enter his own office because of Ellen Read’s unhinged and threatening behavior. This is also unacceptable, if true,” Schultz wrote.
Rice told NHJournal that Read’s erratic actions have been raising red flags for months and that her behavior continues to become increasingly entitled. Read’s traffic court defense that the New Hampshire Constitution protects her from getting speeding tickets shows how little regard Read has for other people, Rice said.
https://nhjournal.com/unfit-for-service-house-members-in-both-parties-call-for-reads-removal/
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Governor signs bill to put school spending tax cap on Nov ballot in every city and town Rep. Ross Berry, R-Weare, had championed the measure, arguing that too many times local attempts to impose tax caps were thwarted due to low turnout at town or school district meetings.
“New Hampshire already spends the fourth-most per pupil in the nation, yet families continue to face outrageous increases that are taxing people out of their homes despite state education funding being at record-high levels,” Berry said.
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New Hampshire’s so-called ‘bathroom bill’ vetoed again, one of 29 vetoes for the year Wednesday’s veto likely ends the “bathroom bill” debate for 2026 as Republicans will almost certainly fail to convince enough Democrats to vote to override Ayotte’s vetoes. However, state Rep. Lisa Mazur, the Goffstown Republican who sponsored HB 1442, last month promised to send the same legislation to the governor for a sixth time in 2027.
“If these bills don’t pass, we’re going to bring them back next year,” Mazur told reporters at an event held before the two most recent vetos. “We’re going to keep going with this until something changes. We have to do this for our girls and our women.”
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STATE GOVERNMENT IN THE NEWS:
Ayotte signs bill to put local school tax cap question on November ballot https://www.nhpr.org/politics/2026-07-15/ayotte-signs-bill-local-school-tax-cap-question-november-ballot
Left-leaning group says state faces affordability crisis https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/voters/left-leaning-group-says-state-faces-affordability-crisis/article_fb7d1330-6737-4140-8d13-9bd14186f071.html
Lawmaker who drove 100+ MPH says speeding ticket flap is misguided ‘non-scandal’ https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/07/15/lawmaker-who-drove-100-mph-says-speeding-ticket-flap-is-misguided-non-scandal/
Ayotte Signs HB 1300, Puts Property Tax Relief — and GOP Turnout — on the Ballot https://nhjournal.com/ayotte-signs-hb-1300-puts-property-tax-relief-and-gop-turnout-on-the-ballot/
AVARD: Property Tax Relief Is Finally on the Ballot https://nhjournal.com/avard-property-tax-relief-is-finally-on-the-ballot/
Ayotte signs bill for spending cap vote https://www.keenesentinel.com/news/local/statehouse/ayotte-signs-hb1300-calling-for-november-vote-on-school-spending-caps/article_5363af1c-90f4-4b30-b01d-b803b3b36c9e.html
Charlestown officer was justified in November shooting, AG says https://www.keenesentinel.com/news/local/charlestown-nh-officer-involved-shooting-jacob-sands-christian-paquette-nov-2025/article_9084ecfa-8763-4309-a876-aed3e43a7995.html
Ward 5's Bogert resigns from council, effective end of month https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news/local/ward-5s-bogert-resigns-from-council-effective-end-of-month/article_172f64bd-e7af-4354-a529-a37c5b1731ce.html
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NATIONAL STORIES:
Vance says Trump administration 'screwed up' communications around Epstein files https://www.wmur.com/article/jd-vance-trump-administration-epstein-files/72501155
Would you want daylight saving time to be permanent? Granite Staters weigh in https://www.wmur.com/article/daylight-saving-time-permanent-nh-71526/72071435
Bill advances to make daylight saving time permanent. How would that impact you? https://www.wmur.com/article/sunshine-protection-act-daylight-saving-time/71942165
Bike lanes and speed cameras disappear from the DOT's list of proven safety measures https://www.nhpr.org/2026-07-16/bike-lanes-and-speed-cameras-disappear-from-the-dots-list-of-proven-safety-measures
New law will mean volunteer first responders get access to mental health treatment https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/state/new-law-will-mean-volunteer-first-responders-get-access-to-mental-health-treatment/article_155954cf-05da-4f8b-a2c0-3670989ae1e5.html
US expands strikes into northern Iran and disables ship trying to run blockade https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-hormuz-strait-war-july-16-2026-f98ff56554de2336f0e85bb5fdcae769
Hegseth announces new policy to test troops for low testosterone https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-pentagon-testosterone-testing-troops-47333bbf3af9e4cac432722332ff1383
Centrist No More? Goodlander Votes to End Israel Aid https://nhjournal.com/centrist-no-more-goodlander-votes-to-end-israel-aid/
U.S. grocery slowdown deepens as shoppers buy fewer items, raising pressure on food companies https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/16/us-grocery-spending-slows-in-hit-to-food-companies.html
FEC filings expose a suspicious payment trail following Swalwell's resignation https://www.foxnews.com/politics/swalwell-campaign-drops-eye-popping-sum-celeb-defense-attorney-weeks-after-resigning#&_intcmp=fnhpbt5
America's biggest taxpayer exodus is draining billions in income from two states https://www.foxnews.com/politics/billions-taxpayer-income-leaving-two-iconic-states-new-economic-map-emerges#&_intcmp=fnhpbt2
Wall Street titan drops tens of millions to rescue American shipbuilding jobs https://www.foxbusiness.com/industrials/major-us-bank-bets-big-americas-shipbuilding-comeback-24m-investment#&_intcmp=hp_doomsday_bigtop1
Tom Brady unveils bold GLP-1 plan he says could transform health care https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/tom-brady-teams-digital-health-firm-emed-expand-glp-1-weight-loss-medication-access