Welcoming Lebanon task force gathers public input on options after state curbs on immigration‑related policies

The Welcoming Lebanon Task Force held a public input session July 14 in the city council chambers and on the city’s virtual platform to gather community views after recent state laws narrowed what municipalities can do on immigration enforcement.

The task force chair opened the session by summarizing the legal context: the city adopted an inclusiveness resolution in 2018 and voters approved a "Welcoming Lebanon" ordinance in 2020, but the New Hampshire Legislature in May 2025 enacted laws (cited in the meeting as RSA 106‑q and RSA 106‑r) that prohibit certain municipal cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The chair said the new statutes, which took effect in January 2026, include penalties of up to 25% of annual state funding for violations.

Speakers at the public comment hearing urged the task force to pursue options that express community values while remaining within state law. Fran Cassell (Ward 2) said she favored "passing a resolution affirming its commitment to inclusiveness and equity" and urged revising the DEI Commission’s charge so the community’s goals are clearer. "I think passing a resolution . . . would be a good idea," Cassell said.

Faye Grierson of Lebanon urged emphasizing both humane treatment and practical workforce concerns. "Humanity first," Grierson said, and she warned that if workers—particularly in health care—feel vulnerable they might leave, which would harm local services and employers.

Martha Tecca, who identified herself as chair of the board of SHARE (an Upper Valley organization that supports asylees and refugees), described Lebanon as a regional access point for services and cautioned against writing policies that "otherize" the people they aim to help. Tecca offered SHARE’s assistance with outreach and service coordination.

Susan Almey (Poverty Lane, Ward 1) recommended rewriting the ordinance to be "more humane" rather than simply rescinding it, arguing that repeal could make protections easier to reverse in future terms. Kathy Beckett, joining online, called for a bottom‑up outreach approach and suggested forming a subcommittee to focus on public awareness and rights education so residents understand existing anti‑discrimination protections.

Task force members and staff also discussed practical matters: where the previous ordinance and the 2018 resolution are archived and how the task force can collect confidential input from vulnerable residents who may fear speaking publicly because of immigration enforcement. Anne Rose Lane and others said ICE activity has occurred in the Upper Valley and urged the task force to offer ways for affected people to provide input privately.

The chair said the task force will meet the following Monday to review public comments and work toward recommendations the panel intends to deliver to the city council in September. No formal motions or votes were taken at the July 14 meeting; the session was adjourned after public comment concluded.

What happens next: the task force will synthesize the input received, discuss options at its next meeting, and prepare a recommendation package for the council by September.