Commission on Government Affairs

This Commission serves as the Voice of Nursing in New Hampshire when it comes to the legislative and health policy arena. Since nurses make up the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, it is essential to the development of the profession that nurses' voices are heard on critical healthcare issues. Commission meetings are held year-round. However, work is more frequent during the legislative session – during which time they hold the following events:

• Health Policy Awareness Day
  Once a single event, now two Health Policy Days are held in March-April in Concord . Nurses and Nursing Students from across NH gather in NH's capitol for a unique opportunity to interact with NH legislators – including several who are RNs themselves. Along with a tour of the state house, each session includes a mock legislative hearing where attendees play the role of a legislative committee hearing testimony and asking questions about a specific healthcare bill under consideration by the Legislature at that time.

2008 Legislative Efforts by NHNA: A Review
One of the ways that NHNA seeks to provide added value to its members is by representing the interests of New Hampshire nurses in the corridors of the State House in Concord. See what NHNA has done during the 2008 legislative year.

Watch our homepage for 2009 legislative activities and action alerts.

Commission Members

• Chair: Judith Joy PhD – Colby-Sawyer College
• Lea Ayers-Lafave PhD, RN – Comm. Health Institute
• Ginny Blackmer, MSN, ARNP, RN – Lakes Region General Hospital
• Barbarajo Bockenhauer, MSN, ARNP, PMHCNS-BC – NH Hospital
• Meg Bourbonniere, PhD, RN – Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
• Lisah Carpenter, Esq., BSN, RN ret. – Exec. Dir. NH Nurse Practitioner Assoc.
• Jean Dudley, RN – Beverly Hospital
• Susan Fetzer, PhD, RN – UNH Dept. of Nursing
• Laurie Harding, MS, RN – Armistead Caregiver Services
• Kathleen McMahon-Brown, BSN, RN, BLS, ACLS – Cheshire Medical Center
• Paul Mertzic, MS, RN – Catholic Medical Center
• Barbara Shaw, BSN, RN – Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center
• Linda von Reyn, PhD, RN – Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

Lobbyist

• Robert Dunn, Esq. – Devine, Millimet & Branch - Attorneys at Law

Related Resources

Government Affairs Commission Update on HB 572 and 580
See what NHNA's Government Affairs Commission has been keeping track for you.

NHNA Update: HB2 (Trailer) and Its Impact on the BON
Thanks to your support in contacting your representatives, the Government Affairs Commission of NHNA has learned that compromises have been suggested to the HB2 Trailer Bill. Click heading for more details.

Action Alert: 'Seat Belts for All' Coalition
NHNA has long been part of this Coalition. This year we are again advocating for passage of this important, life saving bill: HB 383 NH remains the ONLY state without a similar law despite substantial data supporting its efficacy.

How Contact the New Hampshire State Legislators
Want to contact our state legislators but not sure how? Use this page as your guide.

New Hampshire General Court: Track a Senate or House Bill