This bill strengthens the Department of Energy's authority to enforce compliance orders against public utilities and their agents by establishing a civil penalty of up to $100,000 for violations, with funds directed toward ratepayer credits or low-income assistance programs. It expands community solar opportunities by allowing developers to designate projects for low- and moderate-income households, subject to a 6-megawatt annual capacity limit, while also updating reporting requirements for the state's renewable energy fund and net metering data. The legislation clarifies definitions for useful thermal energy in renewable portfolio standards and streamlines the process for municipalities to receive information regarding personal wireless service facility applications. Additionally, it exempts small utilities with less than $10,000 in annual revenue from certain assessments and repeals older statutes related to wireless tower mapping and departmental guidance.
This bill prohibits the disposal of wet-cell batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and electronic devices in New Hampshire's solid waste landfills, incinerators, and composting facilities. To help facilities comply, the law requires them to post informational signs or notify customers about the ban, while also mandating that local governments and waste operators provide educational materials and recycling opportunities. The legislation further clarifies legal definitions for terms like "computer" and "electronic device" to specify which items are covered and which are excluded, such as those built into household appliances. These changes are designed to reduce hazardous waste and promote recycling, with the rules taking effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill updates state laws regarding residential parking, tenant definitions, and the eviction of unauthorized occupants. It limits the number of required parking spaces for certain small workforce housing units and multi-family buildings to no more than 1.5 spaces per unit. The legislation clarifies who counts as a tenant by formally defining subtenants and implied tenants, while establishing that only authorized individuals may live in a rental property. It also changes how landlords must handle personal property left behind after a tenant moves out, requiring a seven-day grace period before disposal. Finally, the bill sets strict timelines for court hearings in eviction cases and outlines specific evidence needed to prove someone is living there without permission.
This bill establishes veterans treatment courts in New Hampshire to help military members facing criminal charges by connecting them with specialized support services. The program is designed for veterans with service-related mental health conditions, traumatic brain injuries, substance use disorders, or those who have experienced military sexual trauma. Key features include a non-adversarial approach, mandatory drug and alcohol testing, and access to mental health and rehabilitation programs. If a participant successfully completes the court requirements, the judge may reduce their sentence, dismiss charges, or grant annulment of their conviction after one year. The legislation also creates a coordinator position to oversee the courts and provides state funding to help counties cover operational costs.
This bill clarifies how municipalities and counties can group their electric customers together to negotiate power rates. It updates state laws to ensure that the personal data of these individual customers remains private and is not made public. The legislation also specifies that these local groups can use customer information to develop new energy services and comply with existing energy regulations. By making these adjustments, the bill aims to streamline how local governments manage and utilize electricity aggregation programs.
This bill updates driveway construction rules to limit new driveways to a maximum width of 50 feet and restricts the number of driveways allowed per property unless the land frontage is over 500 feet. It also mandates that local planning boards issue driveway permits within 60 days for residential projects and grants them authority to regulate stone walls and fences near public roads. Separately, the legislation expands eligibility for the state's child care scholarship program by including children with delays in social or emotional development, even without a formal medical diagnosis. To support these changes, the bill appropriates $375,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services for rulemaking and program administration.
Signed by Governor Sununu 08/23/2024; Chapter 364; eff: 10/22/2024 HJ 16
This bill updates the definitions used in New Hampshire's campaign finance laws to clarify who and what counts as a candidate, political committee, and political party. It expands the scope of what is considered a contribution and expenditure to include various forms of support, such as personal services, childcare costs for candidates, and specific types of communications across digital and traditional media. The legislation also establishes new rules for creating regional political party committees and provides clearer distinctions between partisan and non-partisan voter activities. By redefining these core terms, the bill aims to modernize how political spending and advocacy are tracked and regulated in the state.
This New Hampshire law streamlines the process for obtaining criminal background checks for employees and volunteers in various state departments to help address staffing shortages. It allows more government agencies, such as the Department of Revenue Administration, to take fingerprints directly from applicants instead of relying solely on the Department of Safety's limited number of fingerprinting sites. The bill also permits employers to accept police clearances from local law enforcement if an applicant's fingerprints are unreadable after two attempts, preventing job offers from being withdrawn due to technical issues. These changes aim to speed up hiring and volunteer recruitment while maintaining the requirement for national criminal history record checks.
This law updates regulations for money transmitters and credit entities in New Hampshire to better protect consumers and align with other states. It clarifies definitions for terms like virtual currency and control, while establishing new rules for how companies must hold customer funds and report their financial activities. The bill also sets specific credit rating standards that these businesses must meet to ensure they are financially stable.
This bill officially adopts New Hampshire's ten-year transportation improvement plan for 2025 through 2034, which outlines specific road and bridge projects across the state. It adds new infrastructure initiatives, such as bridge repairs and traffic improvements in towns like Claremont and Londonderry, while also removing or combining other projects that are no longer needed. The legislation increases funding for several existing projects and sets aside money for the replacement of the state prison for men. Additionally, the bill establishes a new maximum speed limit of 45 miles per hour on rural highways and creates a process to use salvaged railroad materials to help fund trail construction.
This bill authorizes Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance services when emergency responders provide care at a patient's home or on the scene without transporting them to a hospital. To qualify for payment, providers must document that the response was triggered by an emergency call and that the patient either refused transport, was deemed stable for community care, or died after resuscitation efforts were stopped. The legislation includes a $500,000 appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services to fund these reimbursements, with the specific Medicaid rule changes taking effect only after federal approval.
