New Hampshire Senate Fails to Agree on Drone Legislation

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BY: Garry Rayno, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester

Carson(TNS) — An attempt to protect the business use of drones upended agreement on how best to regulate drones to protect the privacy of state residents.

The Senate version of House Bill 602 exempts business use from many of the prohibitions for private and government use of drones, and the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Neal Kurk, R-Weare, wanted the provisions removed.

Under the bill, both government- and privately-owned drones would need permission to travel over private property.

Law enforcement would not be allowed to fly a drone below 250 feet over private property to collect information without the consent of the owner. Drone owners would be required to follow all federal guidelines within five miles of an airport, weapons of any kind would be prohibited, and they may not be used to harass or stalk anyone.

Kurk noted the business exemption would allow a licensed private eye to follow someone with an armed drone almost anywhere, but the Senate’s chief negotiator, Sen. Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, disagreed saying they had to be used for legitimate business purposes, noting they are not allowed to harass or stalk someone.

She said she had a number of meetings with business owners who were concerned the House version of the bill would impact their businesses.

“We want to make sure business is able to do business,” Carson said.

But Kurk argued while businesses do not have to abide by any of the prohibitions, there are no federal guidelines in place to prevent intrusions.

Conference committee member Rep. Renny Cushing, D-Hampton, who worked on the bill for the past three years, said the House was trying to balance the new technology against the privacy of residents. “We attempted to deal with the question of trespass in modern America,” Cushing said. “You can enter someone’s property in a way that was never done before.”

He said New Hampshire puts a premium on being left alone by government or someone else. “I don’t want Home Depot taking a picture of my lawn furniture,” Cushing said, “and then sending me something saying it’s time to replace it.”
The conference committee did not set a time to meet again.

This article was printed from: http://www.govtech.com/policy/New-Hampshire-Senate-Fails-to-Agree-on-Drone-Legislation.html

Londonderry Company Hosts Group of Russian Business Leaders

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On October 23, 2013, over twenty Russian business leaders – all Executive MBA students at the prestigious Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration – visited Highland Forwarding, Inc. and Highland Project Logistics, Inc. in Londonderry, New Hampshire. The stop was part of a national visit arranged by the Academy to introduce their executive students to innovative businesses in the USA with Russian connections and customers.

Highland Forwarding, Inc. is an innovative international logistics company with strong business and cultural ties to Russia. It has placed six times on the INC 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in the USA, and has increased its staff by 30% every year since its founding in 1998, currently employing 29 staff in the states.

The visitors were welcomed by a Proclamation from NH State Senator Sharon Carson, which was read by Town Manager Kevin Smith. Mr. Smith also held a question-and-answer session responding to several questions about the business climate, welfare responsibilities, population growth rates, and the government’s role in encouraging and regulating business start-ups and their growth.

Highland President Radek Maly and Business Development Director Natasha Derkach hosted the delegation for the remainder of the day. “These visits are always informative for our company and for these executives” said Maly. “We hope they will leave with a better appreciation of the positive business environment here, and someday do business with our company or others in Londonderry”.

Town Manager Kevin Smith said he was pleased to tout the advantages of Londonderry; both its economic advantages as well as its natural resources, “Radek has built a great building on a great site; it’s a wonderful asset for the community for demonstrating our advantages.”

Trade Association Endorses Sharon Carson For State Senate

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CONCORD, NH, September 19, 2012

The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of New Hampshire (HBRANH) today announced its endorsement of Senator Sharon Carson for Senate District 14.

In announcing the association’s endorsement, Kendall Buck, HBRANH Executive Vice President, stated “Senator Carson has been a strong supporter of legislation and regulations that assist the home building and remodeling industry here in the Granite State.”“The association looks forward to continuing its excellent working relationship with the Senator on making New Hampshire a more business friendly environment for our members.”

ABOUT HBRANH: The HBRANH is one of New Hampshire’s largest trade associations with a combined membership of over seven hundred companies, employing over 30,000 citizens, involved in all aspects of the building industry. The HBRANH is dedicated to the evolution and continued growth of the building industry, to provide affordable housing for all income levels, and to build a positive image for the building industry.

Carson stated, “I am honored to be endorsed by my friends at the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of New Hampshire.”  Senator Carson has also been endorsed by the NRA.

Carson Honored by State Grocers Association

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The state’s grocers have presented Sen. Sharon Carson, Republican – Londonderry, with their top legislative honor. She received the Legislative Action Award at the New Hampshire Grocers Association (NHGA) Annual Government Day event last Tuesday in Concord.

State Senator Sharon Carson

Commenting on Carson’s selection, NHGA President /CEO John Dumais said, “We are delighted to present this recognition to Sen. Carson for her determined effort to improve the relationship between business and state government. The Senator has always been concerned with state agency regulations and related enforcement procedures.” He added, “In seeking legislation, we presented our concerns to the Senator and suggested establishing an Advisory Board to address specific state agency issues. Our concerns were ultimately placed into legislation. That kind of responsiveness is very important and appreciated by our industry.”

Carson said, “When concerns were brought to my attention regarding how certain rules pertaining to weights and measures were being enforced, I was pleased to sponsor legislation to bring clarity to the situation. As a legislator, I always want government to work for people. NHGA is a terrific partner because it’s a group that brings solutions to the table. I look forward to working with the NHGA again in the future.”

The NHGA Legislative Action Award is presented to elected officials who have demonstrated their commitment simultaneously addressing business issues, reducing government waste and protecting the general public. The award consists of a hand blown glass sculpture with various colored intertwined spirals in the center symbolizing the achievements of public/private cooperation achieved on legislative issues.

Recent Transportation Infrastructure Summit Discusses Importance of Pettengill

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Senator Sharon Carson – District 14

Senator Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, participated in a transportation infrastructure summit on March 30 in Manchester. The event, billed as “Paths to the Future”, concentrated on the status of road and bridge projects related to the widening of I-93 and was organized by the Greater Derry/Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.

Carson noted the event included an important discussion of the future of Pettengill Road which is an extremely timely, I-93 related project.  “The recent opening of the Raymond Wiezorek Drive connecting the Everett Turnpike with the Manchester/Boston Regional Airport has created a renewed interest in how Pettengill should be developed,” she said.

She added, “Due to its close proximity to the airport and Wiezorek Drive, there is tremendous potential here to attract more commercial businesses in the Pettengill Road area which would create thousands of new jobs in Londonderry.  Since its major upgrades in 1994, the airport has proven to be an amazing economic engine for our area with nearly one thousand acres surrounding it still to be developed.  As a result, Pettengill could play a key role in any future development.  But with all this potential, our challenge continues to be funding. That’s why bringing so many interested parties together for a summit like this is so important.”