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N.H. "Paycheck Fairness Act" To Become Law

What Would Ben Think?
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A bill designed to close the wage gap between men and women will become law, after it cleared its final legislative hurdle today.

House lawmakers passed the so-called “Paycheck Fairness Act” with bipartisan support, 233-103.  The Senate passed the bill unanimously in March.

Shortly after the House vote, Governor Maggie Hassan said she would sign the bill into law.

In the run up to the vote, Democratic Representative Shannon Chandley of Amherst framed the measure as an economic imperative. “Working people, particularly young, working women, will know that New Hampshire values their contributions, and provides for redress when their rights are violated,” she said.

The bill makes it illegal for employers to forbid workers from talking about their compensation.  It also extends the deadline to file a discrimination complaint from one year to three years.

The Business and Industry Association and House Republicans had objected to the longer deadline. 

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