This bill amends New Hampshire law to presume that patients registered in the state's therapeutic cannabis program have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to these patients unless doing so would cause significant difficulty or expense for the business. Additionally, the bill establishes a legal presumption that an employee using cannabis while on duty is a hardship for the employer, which could affect termination decisions.
This bill requires employers with 15 or more employees to clearly communicate their policies on unused paid time off and to provide workers with regular accounts of their accrued balances. It mandates that when an employee leaves due to a business closure, ownership change, or termination without a reasonable expectation of return, any unused vacation, holiday, or personal time must be paid out as wages, excluding sick days. The law also allows employees to agree in writing to transfer their unused paid time off to a new employer following a change in ownership instead of receiving cash payment. These rules are designed to apply to companies offering paid earned time and will become effective on January 1, 2025.
This bill establishes a new program in New Hampshire requiring manufacturers of architectural paint to create and maintain a system for collecting and recycling leftover paint from consumers. To fund this effort, the legislation mandates adding a fee to the purchase price of all architectural paint sold in the state, with the collected money used to support the recycling initiative. Under the plan, manufacturers must set up collection sites so that residents have access to a drop-off location within a 25-mile radius, while wholesalers and retailers are required to provide educational materials and signage to encourage participation. The Department of Environmental Services will oversee the program, approve manufacturer proposals, and enforce rules that prohibit the sale of paint by manufacturers who fail to comply with these recycling requirements.
HB 1231 allows qualifying patients and their designated caregivers to grow cannabis at home for medical purposes, provided the plants are kept in a locked, enclosed area that is not visible to the public. The bill sets specific limits on cultivation, permitting patients to possess up to three mature plants, three immature plants, and 12 seedlings, while allowing caregivers to assist with up to five patients or cultivate for one patient if they live far from treatment centers. To participate, individuals must register with the state, obtain an identification card, and report their cultivation location, which must be situated at their residence and approved by property owners. The legislation also clarifies that caregivers can receive up to $500 annually for expenses related to assisting patients and grants legal protections against arrest for those following the rules while transporting or testing cannabis.
HB 1314 updates the requirements for New Hampshire's Comprehensive State Development Plan to include specific sections on smart growth, affordable housing, economic development, and environmental protection. The bill mandates that the plan address critical topics such as land use, transportation, natural hazards, and threats from chemical or biological contamination. It also requires the inclusion of policies for preserving cultural resources, managing regional concerns, and ensuring adequate public utilities and recreation services. By adding these detailed components, the legislation aims to create a more structured framework for guiding the state's long-term growth and resource management.
This bill amends the law to direct the Grid Modernization Advisory Group to study ways to improve how energy efficiency programs and incentives are delivered. The group will focus on finding methods to streamline these programs and maximize the benefits for consumers using existing state, federal, and utility funding. The advisory group must provide its recommendations to the Department of Energy, and the changes will take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.
Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/15/2024; SJ 12
Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/15/2024; SJ 12
Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/15/2024; SJ 12
Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/15/2024; SJ 12
Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/15/2024; SJ 12
This bill updates the penalties for individuals who illegally sell cannabis to people who are not authorized medical patients or caregivers. It specifically removes a previous criminal penalty for such sales and instead mandates the revocation of the seller's registry identification card. The law applies to both qualifying patients and designated caregivers who violate these rules. These changes are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025.
