This bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, or distribution of lithium-ion batteries and electric scooters in New Hampshire unless they are certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. The law requires that certified products display the laboratory's logo or name on the packaging, documentation, or the device itself, with specific exceptions for second-hand sales where such documentation is absent. Additionally, the legislation bans the assembly, reconditioning, or sale of second-use batteries intended for electric bicycles and scooters, while allowing these devices if they are registered with the state motor vehicle division. Violations of these safety standards can result in civil fines of up to $250 for a first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.
This bill modifies New Hampshire's drug laws to impose mandatory minimum prison sentences for individuals convicted of trafficking specific quantities of fentanyl class drugs. It requires a minimum of three and a half years in prison for selling five grams or more of fentanyl, and raises that minimum to seven years for sales of 28 grams or more, while also increasing the maximum possible sentence to life imprisonment for repeat offenders. The law includes exceptions for minors, people with significant mental impairments, and those with minor roles in the crime, and it takes effect on January 1, 2025.
This bill creates a new commission to evaluate how New Hampshire supports technology-based start-up businesses. The commission will include representatives from the state legislature, the governor's office, and private industry sectors such as venture capital and tech alliances. Its main task is to assess the current business ecosystem, compare it with other states, and propose ways to improve funding, tax incentives, and job training opportunities. The group must submit its findings and legislative recommendations to state leaders by November 1, 2024. Additionally, the bill repeals an existing, similar commission to prevent duplication of efforts.
This bill restricts how consumer reporting agencies can share credit reports for real estate loans with third parties. Under the new rules, these agencies cannot simply forward a report to another entity just because one was requested; instead, they must verify that the third party either has a direct relationship with the borrower or has received explicit consent to receive the information. This change directly impacts lenders, mortgage brokers, and other financial service providers involved in property-backed credit transactions. The legislation aims to tighten privacy protections by ensuring that sensitive credit data is not broadly redistributed without proper authorization or a legitimate connection to the consumer.
Interim Study Report: Not Recommended for Future Legislation (Vote 13-3)
This bill outlines rules for how the state's Public Deposit Investment Pool must manage its money, specifically requiring an investment advisor to keep at least 30 percent of funds in insured or collateralized deposits and to maintain the highest possible credit rating for the pool. It grants the state treasurer and an advisory committee the authority to select an investment advisor through a competitive process and to create detailed rules regarding disclosure, investment limits, and administrative practices. The legislation also repeals previous investment advisor obligations and sets an effective date of December 30, 2030, for the repeal provision, while other parts of the bill take effect immediately upon passage.
This bill establishes a formal certification process for substance use disorder treatment facilities and programs in New Hampshire, requiring them to meet specific standards set by the Department of Health and Human Services. Facilities offering services such as outpatient care, residential treatment, and intensive therapy must obtain this certification, while certain independent providers and mental health programs are exempt. The legislation creates a dedicated fund financed by certification fees to support the oversight system and mandates that the department maintain a public list of certified providers. Additionally, the bill creates an ombudsman office to investigate and resolve complaints regarding services provided by the department and its contractors. Finally, the act repeals previous definitions related to certified counselors to align with the new regulatory framework.
This bill directs the Department of Energy to conduct a comprehensive investigation into energy storage solutions, specifically focusing on both behind-the-meter systems installed at customer sites and utility-scale projects. The study will examine how to create fair pricing for storage, identify regulatory hurdles like building codes, and review successful practices from other states to encourage investment from both utilities and private owners. The department is required to submit its findings and recommendations to state legislative committees by December 30, 2025, for customer-focused issues and by December 30, 2026, for utility-scale matters. Ultimately, the report will propose necessary changes to state laws and regulations to facilitate the growth of energy storage while aiming to protect ratepayers from increased costs.
This bill establishes a fee structure for New Hampshire state parks that provides financial discounts to state residents compared to nonresidents. It mandates that entry fees for residents collected online or at park entrances must be no more than 50% of the fees charged to nonresidents. Additionally, the law allows park officials to set separate rates for specific services like camping or parking, requiring resident fees to be capped at 90% of nonresident rates. Residency for these purposes can be verified through various documents such as state ID cards, utility bills, or vehicle registrations. The changes are scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2025.
This bill updates New Hampshire law to criminalize the creation and sharing of fake, computer-generated sexual images of people without their permission. It directly affects individuals who produce or distribute these synthetic images by defining them as illegal when they are made to look real and intended to harass, threaten, or coerce the person depicted. The law specifically covers images that show intimate body parts or sexual acts that never actually happened, expanding current protections against nonconsensual image sharing to include digital manipulation. Effective January 1, 2025, anyone who creates or shares such false visualizations faces criminal penalties under the state's existing statutes on private sexual images.
This bill requires courts and counties in New Hampshire to cover the cost of pretrial electronic monitoring for indigent defendants if their cases end without a conviction. It defines an indigent defendant as someone unable to pay for these services and mandates that facilities consider a defendant's ability to pay when setting fees. Under the new rules, defendants who do not pay for their own monitoring and whose cases conclude without a conviction will not be required to reimburse the government for the equipment or its use. The legislation also establishes a process for courts to estimate costs and report annually to the legislature on how many indigent defendants receive this monitoring.
This bill allows cooperative school districts in New Hampshire to create budget committees with specific membership rules. The committees will consist of the same number of members as the district's school board, plus one additional member appointed from that board. While most members are appointed by the district moderator, the school board chairperson appoints one member to serve in a non-voting, ex-officio capacity. All committee records must be kept as public documents available for inspection, and the changes take effect on July 1, 2024.
