This bill directs New Hampshire's Department of Energy to create new rules for customer-owned generators connecting to the state's electric grid. The proposed regulations will establish clear procedures for eligibility, engineering standards, review timelines, and cost responsibilities, aiming to make the process more predictable and aligned with national best practices. The department must provide regular updates to legislative committees and submit the draft rules for final review within 15 months of the bill's effective date. Existing laws governing these connections will remain in place until the new rules are officially adopted.
This bill creates a faster approval process for modifying existing energy facilities, such as adding battery storage or changing fuel types, without requiring a full new siting review. To qualify for this expedited track, the facility must already be approved, connected to the grid, and located on the same land, while the changes must improve health and safety and stay within current grid capacity limits. The process requires state agencies to complete their reviews within 90 days and mandates a 30-day deadline for the site evaluation committee to determine if an application is complete. Local communities are still informed through public notices and sessions, ensuring that municipal concerns are addressed alongside the streamlined state procedures.
This bill expands the list of medical professionals in New Hampshire who can certify patients for the state's therapeutic cannabis program. It allows physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to issue certifications if they hold the necessary federal licenses to prescribe controlled substances, and it removes the requirement for a pediatrician's signature when certifying minors, instead requiring certification from two pediatric care providers. The law also creates a new category for any other licensed New Hampshire provider who can prescribe drugs and has DEA registration, provided they are primarily responsible for the patient's care. These changes aim to increase access to medical cannabis by broadening the types of healthcare workers eligible to recommend it.
This bill, known as the Bradley Haas Act, provides a one-time death benefit of $100,000 to the family of a New Hampshire hospital security officer who is killed while performing their duties. The legislation specifically allocates these funds to the beneficiaries of Bradley Haas, who was fatally shot at a hospital in 2023, and distributes the money according to existing state rules for law enforcement death benefits. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "police officer" for death benefit purposes to include security officers employed directly by the state of New Hampshire. This change ensures that state-employed security guards are eligible for the same financial support as other sworn law enforcement officers if they die in the line of duty.
SB 378 establishes a task force to design and review New Hampshire's performance-based school accountability system, which is intended to ensure schools provide an adequate education. The task force will consist of 10 to 15 members, including school administrators, principals, classroom teachers, and other educational experts, who will define performance criteria, set goals, and create a scoring system based on existing data like state test scores and college readiness indicators. Before the system is fully implemented, the Department of Education must verify its accuracy by testing it in a representative sample of schools across the state. The group is required to submit a final report with recommendations to state officials by June 30, 2026, and the bill provides funding to cover the task force's operational expenses.
Signed by Governor Sununu 07/26/2024; Chapter 262; eff. I. Sec 1-2 eff 1/1/25 II. Sec 3 eff 9/24/24 III. Rem eff 7/1/24
This bill requires New Hampshire to add cytomegalovirus (CMV) screening to the results reported for infants who fail their newborn hearing tests. The law allows parents to choose not to have their baby undergo this specific screening. Additionally, the state must report progress on this new targeted screening program to a health oversight committee by March 1, 2025. These changes are designed to help identify CMV infections early in life, and the rules will officially begin on January 1, 2025.
This law allows parents or guardians to appoint a temporary agent to handle the care, custody, or property of a minor or incapacitated person for up to 60 days. To make this appointment valid, the parent or guardian must sign a document in front of two witnesses, and the chosen agent must sign to accept the role. The bill includes specific rules for situations involving shared parenting plans, requiring that the other parent consent unless there are safety concerns like domestic violence or child abuse investigations. Additionally, the appointing parent can cancel or change the agent's authority at any time, and a court can also limit or alter what the agent is allowed to do.
This bill establishes a committee to examine how nonprofit organizations contract with the Department of Health and Human Services for children's services. The committee is tasked with investigating these arrangements and developing any necessary legislative recommendations. It must submit its final findings and suggestions to state leaders and the state library by November 1, 2024. This measure focuses on creating a review process rather than immediately changing existing contracts or funding.
This bill requires horse racing operators in New Hampshire to turn over unclaimed ticket and voucher money to the state treasurer. The law mandates that any unclaimed funds remain unpaid for 12 months before being forfeited to a special state fund, while operators must submit detailed reports of these unclaimed items to the treasurer and the lottery commission. Once the money is transferred to the state, the lottery commission can issue payment to ticket holders who claim their tickets within a specific timeframe. The bill takes effect 60 days after it is passed by the legislature and signed by the governor.
This bill requires the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to issue most air pollution control permits within 120 days of receiving a complete application, unless the applicant agrees to a longer timeline. It mandates that the department publish public notice and offer a hearing opportunity before acting on permit applications, except for sources deemed to have an insignificant impact on air quality. Additionally, the law establishes an annual reporting requirement where the department must submit written reports to state legislative committees by February 28 each year, detailing the number of applications received, permits granted or denied, and cases pending longer than 120 days. These changes directly affect businesses and individuals seeking air permits and increase transparency regarding the permitting process.
This bill establishes a Commission on the Interdisciplinary Primary Care Workforce to study and report on strategies for improving healthcare access in New Hampshire. The commission will examine the state's loan repayment program and health professions survey, submitting an interim report in 2026 and a final report with recommendations in 2029. It also expands the commission's membership to include a representative from Direct Primary Care Frontier and requires the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification to share data with the State Office of Rural Health to support primary care initiatives. These changes aim to gather information and propose future legislation to address workforce needs in the state's healthcare system.
