SB 621 establishes a cold case commission to serve as a middle person between New Hampshire's Department of Justice Cold Case Unit and families of homicide victims in unresolved cases. The commission, made up of two Department of Justice staff, two family members of victims (appointed by the governor), and one representative from a missing/murdered persons coalition, handles communications about case status to families and the public. It cannot investigate cases or access information protected by law, but requires the Department of Justice to share sufficient details to fulfill its communication role. The bill does not create new investigations but aims to improve transparency and support for families in long-unresolved homicide cases.
HB 266 strengthens the Department of Energy's role in energy regulation by granting it formal standing before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), requiring it to be treated as a full party in all relevant proceedings. The bill mandates the department to support the PUC, site evaluation committee, and consumer advocate office, while giving it authority to demand specific documents and answers from public utilities. This directly affects the Department of Energy, utilities companies, and the PUC by formalizing the department's participation in regulatory processes and information requests. The changes aim to streamline communication and ensure the department can effectively advocate for energy policy within existing regulatory frameworks.
This bill creates a formal process for parents and legal guardians to authorize specific caregivers (adults with whom a minor resides) to make education and health care decisions for children without transferring full guardianship. It establishes "Caregiver Authorization Affidavits" that must be notarized, include specific information about all parties, and be signed under oath with witnesses. The authorized caregiver can consent to medical treatment, access health records, and make educational decisions on behalf of the child, while the parent retains ultimate authority to override decisions. The authorization is valid for up to two years, cannot be used to circumvent laws or for specific school attendance, and can be amended or revoked in writing.
HB 1280 establishes a 19-member commission to study public school open enrollment in New Hampshire. The commission, including school superintendents, local school board members, legislators, parents, and business administrators, will develop a system for open enrollment that addresses state funding, equitable access, transportation, special education responsibilities, and budget documentation. It must propose revisions to existing law (RSA 194-D) covering enrollment processes, timelines, and funding mechanisms to prevent direct invoicing between schools. The bill suspends current RSA 194-D rules until the commission submits its final report to the legislature. This directly affects New Hampshire public schools, students, and families by shaping future enrollment policies.
HB 1218 requires mobile home park owners to provide written notice within 14 days to sellers about specific repair needs for a home sale, replacing vague requirements with clear, detailed lists. It mandates park owners to disclose written criteria for approving new tenants and provide sellers with a direct contact method (email/phone) for inquiries, requiring responses within 2 business days. For parks with over 25 units, the bill reduces monthly lot fees by 25% after the first denied qualified buyer (represented by a real estate agent under contract), with an additional 25% reduction per subsequent denial - capping at 75% off the original fee until the home sells. These changes directly affect mobile home sellers, park owners, and prospective buyers in larger mobile home parks, aiming to increase transparency and fairness in the sales process.
HB 1660 allows New Hampshire municipalities to use project-based credit enhancement agreements (CEAs) to incentivize specific housing developments without requiring a full tax increment financing (TIF) district. It directly affects municipalities and developers building qualifying housing projects, such as senior housing, skilled care facilities, workforce housing, or other community-identified housing needs. The bill clarifies that housing-related captured tax revenue will be excluded from equalized property valuation calculations, preventing towns from facing artificially inflated state tax bases. This change streamlines support for housing projects while excluding conversions of existing homes, luxury developments, or individually owned units like single-family homes. The law aims to address housing shortages by making municipal financial tools more accessible for housing-focused initiatives.
HB 1794 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to study how recent Medicaid changes affect residents' healthcare access. The department must prepare a report detailing impacts on covered individuals, healthcare providers (including hospitals and community clinics), timely care access, waiver program participants, and state budget effects. The report must cover specific areas like the number of affected residents and potential facility closures, with an interim version due November 1, 2026, and a final report by July 1, 2027. This bill directly affects New Hampshire residents relying on Medicaid and healthcare organizations providing services to them. It mandates a factual assessment of existing changes without altering Medicaid policy itself.
HB 1375 prohibits landlords from charging more than one application fee per tenant within any 12-month period, regardless of how many rental units the tenant applies for or leases under the same landlord or agent. It specifically covers all fees related to processing rental applications, including background checks, credit checks, and administrative costs. This law directly affects tenants seeking rental housing and landlords managing applications. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment, ensuring tenants pay only one fee for multiple applications to the same landlord within a year.
HB 1432 clarifies how condominium associations in New Hampshire must handle electricity billing for shared residential services like septic systems and well pumps. It requires associations to split these costs equally among the residential units sharing a single meter, regardless of the association’s billing arrangement with the utility. Condo associations without commercial use can request that utilities apply the standard residential rate for these specific services, effective in the next billing cycle after the request. Utilities are not required to verify whether the association meets the requirements or confirm the meter’s residential use. This bill directly affects residential condo associations managing shared utility infrastructure.
HB 1343 allows condominium associations' governing bodies (like boards of directors) to hold meetings remotely or in hybrid formats, including via video or phone. It explicitly states that electronic participation counts toward quorum requirements, meaning meetings can proceed if enough members join online. The bill requires associations to provide access information for remote attendees and ensure they can hear proceedings and ask questions. It also permits electronic voting on association matters, with results counted using standard ballot procedures. This change directly affects condo associations and their unit owners by modernizing meeting protocols.
HB 1028 updates New Hampshire's legal definition of "renewable generation facility" to explicitly include energy produced from bio-oil, bio-synthetic gas, and biodiesel (as defined in RSA 362-A:1-a). This change directly affects renewable energy projects seeking tax benefits under RSA 72:73, particularly those using these biofuels. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, clarifying which facilities qualify for related tax provisions.
HB 1804 consolidates school administrative units (merging smaller school districts) and makes the position of chief school administrator an elected role rather than an appointed one. It defines specific education roles for school administrators and requires school boards to develop and evaluate curricula. The bill amends several state laws to update compensation structures, reporting requirements, and duties for county-level school officials. These changes directly affect school districts, county school conventions, and chief administrators across New Hampshire. The policy focuses on restructuring school governance and increasing local community input through elections.
