Casino, Budget, Marijuana and the White Potato

Legislative week ahead: A House super committee digs deeper into a bill proposing New Hampshire legalize casino gambling. Senators continue to examine billions in proposed state spending. And the state Senate has a diverse docket for its session Thursday, including a bill to establish the white potato as the state vegetable and a bill to decriminalize possession of up to a quarter ounce of marijuana.

The Senate is in session Thursday, May 2, at 10 a.m. The next House session is May 8.

Senate session bills include:

• House Bill 621, decriminalizing possession of one quarter of an ounce or less of marijuana. A Senate committee recommended, 5-0, that the full chamber kill the bill.
• House Bill 153, prohibiting the designation of industrial hemp as a controlled substance. A committee recommended, 4-1, that it be re-referred to committee.
• House Bill 443, prohibiting prison privatization. This has an "inexpedient to legislate" recommendation.
• And House Bill 535, establishing the white potato as the state vegetable. This comes to the full Senate with unanimous committee support.

Casino, yes or no? The Joint Committee of Finance and Ways and Means gets back to work on Senate Bill 152, the bill that would legalize a high-end casino in New Hampshire. A revenue subcommittee work session will meet at 10 a.m. today, April 29, in Room 202 of the Legislative Office Building. Other meetings on the calendar:

• Tuesday, 10 a.m., Community Impact subcommittee work session in LOB Room 208.
• Tuesday, 10 a.m., Regulations subcommittee work session in LOB 210-211.
• Tuesday, 10 a.m., Revenue subcommittee work session in LOB 202.
• Wednesday, 10 a.m., Community Impact subcommittee work session, LOB 208.
• Wednesday, 10 a.m., Revenue subcommittee work session, LOB 202.
• Thursday, 10 a.m., Community Impact subcommittee work session, LOB 208.
• Thursday, 10 a.m., Regulations subcommittee work session, LOB 210-211.
• Thursday, 10 a.m., Revenue subcommittee work session, LOB 202.

Budget Review. Senate Finance resumes its review of the state budget today, April 29, starting at 10 a.m. with a presentation by Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas. It's located in Statehouse Room 103.

Budget presentations continue on Tuesday, at 1 p.m., with the Division of Community Based Care Services. On Friday, Senate Finance begins its work at 9 a.m., with the Department of Resources and Economic Development, then the Department of Environmental Services at 10 a.m., the Department of Information Technology at 11 a.m., and afternoon presentations from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.