The New Hampshire State Senate by voice vote on Feb. 21 rejected an anti-ESG investing bill that would have placed investing restrictions on the $11.8 billion New Hampshire Retirement System, Concord, and any state agency that invests taxpayer money.
The voice vote, which kills the bill, followed the recommendation of a Senate committee that previously had voted 5-0 to recommend rejection of the bill.
Proposed by six Republicans, the bill said investing taxpayer dollars "does not include any action taken, or factor considered, by a fiduciary with any purpose whatsoever to further social, political or ideological interests" beyond what is permitted by state or federal law.
Among the prohibited interests: limiting investments or divesting from gun manufacturers; limiting investments or divesting from companies that don't meet environmental standards; assessing corporate boards' governance policies on compensation, composition and employment; reducing or disclosing greenhouse gas emissions; and providing "access to abortion, sex or gender change or transgender surgery."