HB 1633 requires health care providers, law enforcement, and other designated entities to provide sexual assault survivors with clear, written information about their existing rights regarding medical examinations and evidence preservation. The bill defines "sexual assault survivor" broadly to include individuals reporting non-penetrative assault, attempted rape (even without legal terminology), and deceased victims. It mandates the attorney general to post a simplified summary online detailing evidence collection timelines, preservation periods (up to 20 years or the statute of limitations), and survivors' right to request extended preservation of evidence kits. This ensures consistent, accessible information without creating new rights, focusing on transparency in how evidence is handled.
SB 511 requires New Hampshire state parks to charge residents no more than 50% of the entry fee charged to non-residents, effective April 2027. It allows separate fee schedules for specific park services (like camping, boat rentals, or parking), where residents pay no more than 90% of non-resident rates for those services. The bill also permits discounted or waived fees for veterans and school/student groups. Residency verification will use state IDs, utility bills, or vehicle registrations. This policy directly affects all park visitors, with potential revenue impacts for the State Park Fund estimated between a $1.5 million decrease and $2 million increase annually.
SB 559 lowers the minimum speed limit on locally controlled roads from 25 mph to 20 mph in certain areas, including outside urban districts and within business or urban residential zones. Local authorities must base any speed limit reduction on engineering or traffic studies before implementing it. The bill does not require new funding or change existing enforcement, as it only modifies the minimum limit threshold in state law. This affects municipalities and town officials responsible for setting speed limits on local roads.
SB 414 clarifies that if a court finds a party in contempt for failing to comply with a marital property settlement (such as a divorce agreement about dividing assets), the court must order an immediate remedy to fix the problem. This applies directly to divorcing or separating couples and their enforcement cases, requiring courts to mandate immediate access to withheld funds, payments, or property when feasible. The bill amends state law to ensure courts prioritize resolving the core issue of noncompliance - not just imposing penalties - during enforcement proceedings. The change takes effect January 1, 2027.
SB 441 requires any New Hampshire municipality planning to transport homeless individuals or those needing substance use disorder treatment to another municipality to first establish a written agreement (Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU) with the receiving municipality. The MOU must detail services provided, financial responsibilities (including potential payments for treatment), transfer limits, and reporting requirements. This applies to non-emergency transports for housing, shelter, or treatment, but excludes emergency medical transfers, court-ordered moves, or voluntary relocations. Violations carry a $5,000 fine payable to the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill aims to ensure coordinated care and financial clarity between municipalities handling vulnerable residents.
HB 1121 defines the specific resources required to calculate the cost of an adequate education in New Hampshire. It mandates that the state include certain personnel and materials - such as teachers, counselors, nurses, instructional supplies, technology, facility maintenance, and transportation - in its funding calculations. This bill directly affects how the state determines the necessary resources for public schools to meet educational standards. The definition applies to all public school funding decisions under RSA 193-E:2-a, requiring the state to formally account for these elements when assessing educational costs. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.
HB 1602 creates a statewide program requiring battery manufacturers and brands (producers) to fund and manage the safe collection and recycling of covered batteries. It applies to portable batteries (under 4.4 lbs primary or 11 lbs rechargeable) and medium-format batteries (11-25 lbs), excluding medical device batteries, vehicle batteries, and lead-acid batteries over 11 pounds. Producers must join a "battery stewardship organization" that meets annual collection targets and follows environmental safety rules, with the Department of Environmental Services overseeing compliance. The program shifts recycling responsibility from consumers to producers, ensuring covered batteries are handled safely through a structured, industry-funded system.
HB 1086 bans the sale of corn, wheat, and soybean seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides, directly affecting farmers and seed sellers in New Hampshire. The bill prohibits selling or using these treated seeds but allows sellers to request a written waiver from the Agriculture Commissioner. It takes effect January 1, 2029, with no estimated state or local costs identified. The measure focuses on restricting specific agricultural seed treatments without altering other farming practices.
SB 449 requires commercial or industrial entities with solar or wind systems between 1 and 5 megawatts (called "industrial hosts") to consume at least 33% of their own electricity generation annually. This applies to new systems installed after January 1, 2027, that participate in net metering. The rule does not apply to low-income customers as defined by utility regulations. The bill modifies New Hampshire's net metering rules to ensure larger systems primarily offset their own electricity use, rather than exporting excess power.
SB 182 renames the "maternal mortality review panel" to "maternal mortality review committee" and revises its membership to include specific health professionals like obstetricians, pediatric specialists, and community health representatives. It updates the definition of "pregnancy-related death" to include deaths from accidental or incidental causes, removing a prior exclusion. The committee will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and facilitated by the New Hampshire Perinatal Quality Collaborative (NHPQC) affiliated with Dartmouth Health. This bill aims to improve the review process for maternal deaths to identify systemic factors and recommend healthcare system changes.
HB 723 repeals the legal requirement for electric and natural gas utilities to establish and operate a statewide multi-use energy data platform. It removes specific sections of law (RSA 378:50-54) that defined the platform, set its operational requirements, and outlined cost recovery mechanisms. This repeal prevents future costs that would have been incurred by utilities - estimated at $4.6-$7 million initially and $272,800-$416,400 annually - and passed on to ratepayers, including state and local governments. The bill becomes effective 60 days after passage.
HB 1246 limits conflicts of interest for planning board members who serve on other local boards. It prohibits a planning board member from voting on both a planning board and a zoning board when reviewing the same development project, requiring them to recuse from voting on matters they've already decided as a zoning board member. The bill directly affects planning board members holding dual roles on zoning boards or other boards like conservation commissions, with the key provision mandating single-board voting for overlapping matters. This change aims to clarify voting responsibilities in land use decisions under New Hampshire law.
