New Hampshire is one of six states (and the District of Columbia) with a same-sex marriage law. In 2012 the legislature considered HB 437, a bill that would explicitly prohibit same-sex marriages.
Compared to other states, New Hampshire has relatively few regulations on the sale and ownership of firearms. However, some argue that New Hampshire has too many constraints on the Constitutional right to bear arms. Several bills have been proposed in the 2012 session to loosen the regulation of firearms.
Despite repeated attempts, the Legislature has been unable to pass legislation that would allow adults to purchase and use small amounts of marijuana. In 2012 the legislature is considering HB 1526, a bill that would make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a violation subject to a $100 fine.
In March 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), a federal statute that marks Congress's chief health care reform legislation. The New Hampshire legislature is considering several bills in 2012 that would undermine PPACA mandates.
New Hampshire nearly became the 23rd state in the nation to enact a Right-to-Work law, but Governor John Lynch vetoed HB 474 on May 11, 2011. Right-to-work laws typically prohibit collective bargaining agreements that require employees join unions.