HB 1490 updates the Solid Waste Management Act by clarifying legal definitions and strengthening permit oversight for solid waste facilities. The bill explicitly defines "abutters" as property owners adjacent to or across from waste facilities and specifies which vehicles count as "end-of-life" for disposal purposes. It grants the state department authority to terminate permits when a facility closes and requires that all permits be continuous in duration unless revoked for cause. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the department must wait 30 days after a public hearing before issuing final permit decisions to ensure public concerns are fully considered.
HB 1407 updates the rules for child care centers in New Hampshire by setting specific minimum staffing levels based on the age of the children in a group. The bill requires facilities to maintain certain ratios of lead and assistant teachers to ensure adequate supervision for infants and toddlers up to 35 months old. For example, a group of infants between 6 weeks and 12 months can have a maximum of 13 children, provided there are enough teachers assigned according to the new guidelines. These changes will take effect on September 10, 2024, directly impacting how child care providers must organize their staff and manage group sizes.
This bill updates New Hampshire's Clean Lakes Program to include specific authority for managing cyanobacteria blooms, which are harmful algal growths that can degrade water quality. It empowers the Department of Environmental Services to take short-term actions like chemical or physical treatments to control these blooms and to reduce the nutrient inputs that cause them. The legislation also allows the department to provide financial grants to local groups and individuals for managing both exotic aquatic weeds and cyanobacteria, while requiring consultation with other state agencies before implementing certain treatments. Effective September 1, 2024, the program will focus on diagnosing water issues, implementing long-term solutions, and ensuring safe conditions for public recreation.
This bill updates New Hampshire law to allow employers to pay up to $3,000 in unpaid wages to the families of deceased employees without waiting for formal court documents. Under the new rules, if there is no active probate case, wages can be distributed directly to the employee's heirs according to the state's standard order of inheritance. The change aims to simplify the process for families to receive owed money quickly after a worker dies. The law takes effect on September 10, 2024.
This bill prohibits the nonconsensual sharing of fake sexual images that depict a person in a realistic but false manner. It defines a "synthetic image" as any digital creation that alters or generates a person's likeness to show their intimate parts or sexual activities without their permission. The law specifically targets individuals who create or distribute these images with the intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the person shown. Anyone found guilty of this offense will face criminal penalties under the state's existing laws on nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images. The changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2025.
This law allows employees to legally store a locked, non-visible firearm or ammunition in their personal vehicle while on employer property without facing discipline. It prohibits employers from forcing employees to reveal if they have a gun in their car and bars workplace searches for firearms unless conducted by law enforcement with a warrant or valid exception. Additionally, the bill shields employers from civil lawsuits regarding injuries or thefts involving these stored weapons, provided the employer did not intentionally encourage the harm. These protections apply to private businesses, the state, and municipalities, effective January 1, 2025.
This bill expands the requirement for accessible voting systems to include local elections in cities and towns that currently only provide them for state elections. It legally defines an accessible voting system as any machine capable of printing a paper ballot marked with the voter's choices, ensuring compliance with federal disability laws. Under the new rules, every polling place in municipalities using official ballot systems must have at least one such machine available to allow voters with disabilities to cast their ballots privately and independently without assistance. The changes take effect on January 1, 2025, aiming to ensure equal access to voting for all eligible citizens regardless of their disability status.
This bill authorizes the New Hampshire Commissioner of Education to establish fees specifically for processing criminal background checks for educators. The law requires that these fees be set at a level reflecting the actual cost of conducting the checks and mandates that the money collected be used solely to cover these expenses. Effective July 1, 2024, the funds generated from these fees cannot lapse or be transferred to other state budgets, ensuring they remain dedicated to the background check program.
This bill establishes a structured math program for public high school students who have completed or are nearing completion of algebra I. It allows schools to assess these students in the spring of their tenth grade to determine if they need a foundational review course or are ready for college-level mathematics. Students identified as needing support will take a course focused on expanding their understanding of algebra, geometry, and statistics, while those demonstrating mastery can enroll in advanced courses that count toward high school graduation and community college credits. The program is designed to help students progress at their own pace, with the option to take qualifying advanced courses during their eleventh or twelfth grade years.
This bill changes the election terms for Coos County officials, including the county attorney, sheriff, treasurer, register of deeds, and register of probate, from two years to four years. The change applies to elections starting in 2024 and will continue for all future elections, aligning Coos County with the existing four-year terms already in place for Rockingham County. These officials will now be voted on by county residents every four years instead of every two years, and the law takes effect on September 1, 2024.
This bill updates pesticide laws to allow licensed agricultural pilots to use drones for spraying chemicals at heights of 20 feet or less. It specifically exempts these drone operations from certain notification requirements that would otherwise apply to aerial pesticide use. The law takes effect on September 1, 2024, and only covers applications conducted by individuals holding valid state registration or permits.
This bill authorizes the issuance of special number plates for surviving spouses of veterans who have passed away, allowing them to keep the license plates indefinitely until they remarry. The legislation amends existing laws to ensure that these plates, originally designated for veterans, can be transferred to a spouse without requiring a new application or fee upon the veteran's death. Additionally, the bill extends similar permanent rights to the surviving spouses of retired National Guard members and active-duty service members who qualify as veterans. These changes aim to provide a seamless transition for families while maintaining the requirement that the plates are non-transferable to anyone other than the eligible spouse.
