Senate kills last call bill for NH bars

May 22—CONCORD — The state Senate killed a House-passed bill that would have permitted bars to stay open one hour later up to 2 a.m., seven days a week.

The legislation (HB 1227) also would have extended those hours from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. in any city or town that adopted such a change on its own.

Sen. Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, said no business owners turned out in support of the change during a public hearing on the bill in the Senate, while lobbies for both the local police chiefs and the hospitality industry opposed it.

"We are going to have more impaired drivers and it's an unfunded mandate," said Gannon, charging that it would increase police overtime costs.

"This takes away local control."

No one spoke in favor of the measure, and the bill died on a voice vote.