House Snuffs Out Fragrance Bill

Legislators have killed a bill that would've banned state employees from wearing perfumes, colognes and strong fragrances, according to multiple Associated Press reports.

The House killed HB1444 through a voice vote Wednesday without debate, according to state records. The bill was proposed by Rep. Michele Peckham, R-North Hampton, in an attempt to make state offices more hospitable to individuals with allergies or sensitivities to strong odors.

Peckham admitted earlier in the week that the bill was all but "dead" after receiving an "Inexpedient to Legislate" designation, although the local legislator had hoped skeptical colleagues would see the similarities between strong fragrances and second-hand smoke.

Several Hampton-North Hampton Patch Facebook readers voiced strong opposition to the bill, with many expressing shock over the representatives' decision to tackle scent issues rather than more pertinent issues.

"You have to be kidding," wrote Sandra Baillargeon-Sheridan. "They are spending our time and money debating this. PLEASE. Let's bring things up that will help our towns and state. This non-sense should be banned."

The Associated Press reported that Rep. Paul Brown, R-Raymond, deemed the bill could generate a constitutional conflict between an employee's rights and "occasional health concerns."