Issues:
Reproductive Justice:
On the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Kenney has prioritized protecting bodily autonomy. With the overturn of Roe, he is more motivated than ever to return to Judiciary and continue fighting for these fundamental rights. Despite Democratic efforts last term, the GOP slipped into the budget a 24-week-ban on abortion (the "Sununu Abortion Ban"), in the budget, since the GOP could not meet their goal through the normal legislative process. The Ban also criminalizes doctors who provide needed women's health services, with a penalty up to seven years in prison. Rep. Kenney advocated vigorously against outrageous related bills, such as HB 1181 (a "father's rights bill," which would have allowed a father to petition a court for an injunction to stop his wife from receiving an abortion), or HB 1625 (Which would repeal the buffer zone option outside reproductive health care facilities). Rep. Kenney is committed to returning to Concord to co-sponsor legislation to codify the fundamental right of bodily autonomy into law and to support other reproductive justice legislation.
Combating Climate Change:
As this past year has made crystal clear, both globally and locally (yes, here in New Hampshire) we face a climate and energy crisis. We must push for productive legislation at both federal and state levels. Rep. Kenney is committed to supporting bills in Concord that focus on energy efficiency and other measure that would address this crisis. During this past session, the GOP blocked at least 14 climate related bills by "tabling" them, thus avoiding the democratic process of a debate. One of these bills, HB 172, would have established greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and a climate action plan. Rep. Kenney intends to continue to be an outspoken advocate for sustainability and protecting our planet.
Comprehensive Gun Reform:
The United States continues to see tragedies, many in the halls of our schools, because we have too many guns. Our gun-assisted suicide rate is too high. New Hampshire is not exempt. Families are suffering. We know that common-sense gun-safety measures would help reduce these terrible incidents: closing background check loopholes, gun-free school zones, and red flag law so that guns can be confiscated when it is reasonable for the safety of our community. Rep. Kenney would fight for community safety by passing smart gun laws.
Affordable Housing:
On the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Kenney has prioritized affordable housing initiatives. If young people cannot afford to live in New Hampshire, they will end up settling in other states. Our economy and our communities will suffer. We have known this for years, but little work has been done in Concord to attract and keep young people. Rep. Kenney has worked tirelessly over multiple sessions to address this issue. Take rental housing: He supported a bill requiring landlords to provide adequate notice to tenants of rent increases, a critical change to the status quo, given New Hampshire's limited housing options. Rep. Kenney was also the prime sponsor of HB 1291, which would prohibit landlords from discriminating against Section-8 Voucher holders. (We are the only New England state that does not have this measure.) since many landlords do not accept applications from voucher holders, and since vouchers expire, voucher holders often lose any opportunity for housing. HB 1291 would allow voucher holders to get their foot in the door by allowing them to apply, yet still allow landlords to have full control over who rents their unit.
Healthcare Reform:
Rep. Kenney believes in universal healthcare-for-all. On the state level, we must prioritize expanding Medicaid coverage. This past session, HB 103-FN was signed into law, adding a dental benefit under the Medicaid program. This was a huge victory in a tough legislative session, but we must continue to expand state-level coverage.
Public Education:
As someone who has only attended public school, Rep. Kenney values and knows the need to prioritize public education. The GOP has continuously fought for school voucher programs, which they call "school choice." In reality, these vouchers subsidize people already enrolled in private school, and public schools lose those dollars, even at a time when we face an unprecedented teacher shortage. The GOP would also intrude in the classroom. We have seen bills such as HB 1431, which would force teachers to tell the parents of students who may have opened up about their sexuality; this would effectively "out" LGBTQ students, violating their right to self-determination. This is a dangerous precedent that would be counterproductive as law. The GOP's 'divisive concepts' bill (HB 544) would make it illegal for teachers to teach the breadth of our own history, requiring them to avoid any discussion about the realities of how race and gender have factored into our collective past. Avoiding uncomfortable realities does not build strong minds. In short, let teachers teach!
Voting Rights:
Every legal voter must have access to a ballot. This is enshrined in our Constitution. Yet, the GOP continuously wants to disenfranchise voters who do not agree with their policies. In New Hampshire, this tends to mean students. The fact is, you have the right to vote wherever you are domiciled. It was an honor for Rep. Kenney to sponsor legislation to overturn SB3 and HB1264, two bills aimed disenfranchising students. Additionally, Rep. Kenney co-sponsored HB121, which would have set up an independent redistricting committee. An Independent committee would have allowed us to avoid the voting rights-blocking gerrymandering we now see after the recent redistricting. Rep. Kenney hopes to return to Concord to continue fighting for the fundamental right of voting.
On the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Kenney has prioritized protecting bodily autonomy. With the overturn of Roe, he is more motivated than ever to return to Judiciary and continue fighting for these fundamental rights. Despite Democratic efforts last term, the GOP slipped into the budget a 24-week-ban on abortion (the "Sununu Abortion Ban"), in the budget, since the GOP could not meet their goal through the normal legislative process. The Ban also criminalizes doctors who provide needed women's health services, with a penalty up to seven years in prison. Rep. Kenney advocated vigorously against outrageous related bills, such as HB 1181 (a "father's rights bill," which would have allowed a father to petition a court for an injunction to stop his wife from receiving an abortion), or HB 1625 (Which would repeal the buffer zone option outside reproductive health care facilities). Rep. Kenney is committed to returning to Concord to co-sponsor legislation to codify the fundamental right of bodily autonomy into law and to support other reproductive justice legislation.
Combating Climate Change:
As this past year has made crystal clear, both globally and locally (yes, here in New Hampshire) we face a climate and energy crisis. We must push for productive legislation at both federal and state levels. Rep. Kenney is committed to supporting bills in Concord that focus on energy efficiency and other measure that would address this crisis. During this past session, the GOP blocked at least 14 climate related bills by "tabling" them, thus avoiding the democratic process of a debate. One of these bills, HB 172, would have established greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and a climate action plan. Rep. Kenney intends to continue to be an outspoken advocate for sustainability and protecting our planet.
Comprehensive Gun Reform:
The United States continues to see tragedies, many in the halls of our schools, because we have too many guns. Our gun-assisted suicide rate is too high. New Hampshire is not exempt. Families are suffering. We know that common-sense gun-safety measures would help reduce these terrible incidents: closing background check loopholes, gun-free school zones, and red flag law so that guns can be confiscated when it is reasonable for the safety of our community. Rep. Kenney would fight for community safety by passing smart gun laws.
Affordable Housing:
On the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Kenney has prioritized affordable housing initiatives. If young people cannot afford to live in New Hampshire, they will end up settling in other states. Our economy and our communities will suffer. We have known this for years, but little work has been done in Concord to attract and keep young people. Rep. Kenney has worked tirelessly over multiple sessions to address this issue. Take rental housing: He supported a bill requiring landlords to provide adequate notice to tenants of rent increases, a critical change to the status quo, given New Hampshire's limited housing options. Rep. Kenney was also the prime sponsor of HB 1291, which would prohibit landlords from discriminating against Section-8 Voucher holders. (We are the only New England state that does not have this measure.) since many landlords do not accept applications from voucher holders, and since vouchers expire, voucher holders often lose any opportunity for housing. HB 1291 would allow voucher holders to get their foot in the door by allowing them to apply, yet still allow landlords to have full control over who rents their unit.
Healthcare Reform:
Rep. Kenney believes in universal healthcare-for-all. On the state level, we must prioritize expanding Medicaid coverage. This past session, HB 103-FN was signed into law, adding a dental benefit under the Medicaid program. This was a huge victory in a tough legislative session, but we must continue to expand state-level coverage.
Public Education:
As someone who has only attended public school, Rep. Kenney values and knows the need to prioritize public education. The GOP has continuously fought for school voucher programs, which they call "school choice." In reality, these vouchers subsidize people already enrolled in private school, and public schools lose those dollars, even at a time when we face an unprecedented teacher shortage. The GOP would also intrude in the classroom. We have seen bills such as HB 1431, which would force teachers to tell the parents of students who may have opened up about their sexuality; this would effectively "out" LGBTQ students, violating their right to self-determination. This is a dangerous precedent that would be counterproductive as law. The GOP's 'divisive concepts' bill (HB 544) would make it illegal for teachers to teach the breadth of our own history, requiring them to avoid any discussion about the realities of how race and gender have factored into our collective past. Avoiding uncomfortable realities does not build strong minds. In short, let teachers teach!
Voting Rights:
Every legal voter must have access to a ballot. This is enshrined in our Constitution. Yet, the GOP continuously wants to disenfranchise voters who do not agree with their policies. In New Hampshire, this tends to mean students. The fact is, you have the right to vote wherever you are domiciled. It was an honor for Rep. Kenney to sponsor legislation to overturn SB3 and HB1264, two bills aimed disenfranchising students. Additionally, Rep. Kenney co-sponsored HB121, which would have set up an independent redistricting committee. An Independent committee would have allowed us to avoid the voting rights-blocking gerrymandering we now see after the recent redistricting. Rep. Kenney hopes to return to Concord to continue fighting for the fundamental right of voting.