The House of Representatives’ attempt to revive the landfill moratorium bill by linking it to a pensions bill for public safety employees was seen as an unfair move by the state Senate.

House Bill 1620 which looked to impose a moratorium on landfill permits until 2028, was previously killed by the Senate.

In a last-ditch effort to get it passed, the House voted to attach it to Senate Bill 134, which focuses on providing pensions to police and firefighters who suffer serious and permanent injuries from acts of violence before reaching retirement age while performing their duties.

At the Senate Session Thursday, Sen. Regina Birdsell, the primary sponsor of the disability pension bill, criticized the House’s decision and linked the bill to three other House bills.

“Those on the other side of the wall to attach an amendment that has landfills associated with, to me is unacceptable and unconscionable,” said Sen. Birdsell at the session. 

The intention behind Sen. Birdsell’s move was to guarantee the passage of the disability pensions bill regardless of whether the Senate intended to reject it due to the inclusion of the landfill amendment.

Rep. Kelly Potenza, who introduced the amendment only hours before the Senate session, defended the decision, stating it was not made in bad faith.

According to Rep. Potenza, the bill was suggested by the House Clerk and chosen at random.

“It wasn’t to torpedo it or hurt it,” she said. “It was about what the people want. I was doing this to keep HB 1620 alive and do the people’s business.”

At nearly every hearing on landfill legislation, the recurring issue of Casella Waste Systems’ proposal to establish a landfill in Dalton near Forest Lake has been consistently brought up as a defense to protect the natural resources in the North Country and ensure the progress of these bills.

While Sen. Sue Prentiss, also a sponsor of the bill, supports the moratorium and is concerned about more landfills in the North Country, she disagrees with the way the landfill legislation was linked to another bill.

“I don't think it belongs on this bill and could have ultimately dragged it down and would have jeopardized these disability pensions that these folks ultimately deserved, who were disabled protecting the public,” said Sen. Prentiss.

This year, just like in the past, the Senate has repeatedly blocked landfill-related legislation, including measures to restrict out-of-state trash and proposals requiring state evaluations of landfill sites before the completion of the permit applications.

Rep. Nicholas Germana, a member of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, said that some senators understand that Gov. Chris Sununu is in opposition to the moratorium and are “carrying the governor’s water on a lot of these landfill bills.”

“I think that the 16 landfill bills were always going to be really difficult because as I said, the governor has certain political interests that are aligned with certain economic interests in the state,” said Rep. Germana.

However, strain between the New Hampshire House and Senate has been brewing for some time, extending beyond the issue of landfill legislation. 

“I have felt the tension. I think that it's unfortunate because it's not the way we should be doing the business of the people,” said Sen. Prentiss. “I don't view one body as more important than the other. I think we're all citizen legislators.”

After speaking with veteran legislators, Rep. Germana also echoed the same sentiment.

“This is the ugliest they have seen the relationship between the House and the Senate and their time here. There is a sense that there is frustration, perhaps even anger on both sides,” said Rep. Germana. “A lot of people in the House feel that the Senate at times is just not very respectful towards the House and feels like they can use the House Bill to do whatever they want.”