The NH House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 89 yesterday by a vote of 225-142 – a convincing margin. SB 89 will protect our state’s loon population by banning the sale and freshwater use of toxic lead fishing sinkers and jigs weighing one ounce or less–still the largest known cause of New Hampshire adult loon mortality.

Your calls and emails to your senators and representatives and your attendance at hearings, were pivotal in securing the following:

• Unanimous passage of SB 89 by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee,
• Unanimous Passage of SB 89 by the Full Senate,
• Passage of SB 89 by the House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee by a 2/3 majority (9-6), and,
• Yesterday’s passage of SB 89 by the full House of Representatives, by a vote of 225-142.

The next step is for the Governor to sign SB 89 into law. Since the bill was slightly amended by the House (extending the phase-in period from two years to three), it will return to the Senate briefly before reaching the Governor. The Senate must concur with the House’s change. Senate concurrence is expected, so you do not need to contact your Senators at this time.