This bill increases the criminal penalty for violating the privacy of minors in New Hampshire by making such acts a class B felony. It directly affects anyone who knowingly or should reasonably know that a person under 18 is entitled to privacy in a specific location. The key provision amends existing privacy laws to specify that breaching the peace or privacy of a child in these settings will result in the most severe felony classification. This change aims to provide stronger legal consequences for privacy violations involving children without altering the underlying definition of what constitutes a privacy breach.
This bill modifies the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program in New Hampshire by removing a rule that required the state to hold a future interest in every easement purchased with program funds. Under the new law, easements acquired through the program will be held directly by the municipalities, political subdivisions, or nonprofit corporations that purchase them, rather than being shared with the state. This change allows local entities to have full ownership of conservation easements without the state retaining a legal claim to the property in perpetuity. The legislation applies specifically to resource assets bought using LCHIP funds and does not alter how the program acquires or restores other types of cultural or historical resources.
This bill updates the rules for how public agencies charge fees when individuals request government records under the Right-to-Know law. It clarifies that agencies can only charge for copying costs or for employee time spent beyond ten hours, setting a maximum hourly rate of $25 for those additional hours. The legislation also requires agencies to provide clearer explanations when denying requests and mandates that multiple requests made within a 30-day period be treated as a single request to prevent fee stacking. Additionally, it establishes a requirement for agencies to create transparent policies for calculating these costs and allows requesters to file complaints if they believe the estimated fees are unreasonable.
This bill allows drivers with medical conditions to legally install aftermarket window tint on their vehicle's windshield and side windows. To do so, these drivers must apply for a special permit from the commissioner, who can waive standard tinting laws if the applicant provides proof of a bona fide medical need. The permit would authorize the use of tinted windows that allow at least 35 percent of light to pass through, and the commissioner may consult a medical review board when evaluating applications. The changes would become effective 90 days after the bill is passed.
This bill strengthens privacy protections for student data by requiring schools to obtain written parental consent before sharing personally identifiable information with third parties. It mandates that parents be notified at least 14 days in advance whenever their child's data is released, specifying who received the data, what information was shared, and the educational purpose for its use. The law explicitly excludes internal transfers between state departments and local schools from these notification requirements while ensuring that third parties cannot further share the data without additional parental permission.
This bill updates state laws to clarify what constitutes a recovery house and ensures these facilities are treated the same as regular homes in local zoning rules. It defines a recovery house as a substance-free residence centered on peer support for people recovering from addiction, while explicitly excluding licensed boarding or halfway houses. Under the new provisions, these homes would not need special permits or site plan reviews if they are located in existing single-family, two-family, or multi-family buildings. To operate legally, the homes must either be certified or actively pursuing certification within one year of opening, and operators must notify local officials at least 30 days before starting.
HB 1298 creates a new pathway for part-time educators to receive adjunct authorization in specific shortage subject areas. To qualify, individuals must work less than 20 hours per week, hold a relevant bachelor's degree, pass required exams, and provide proof of five years of related work experience. The bill also mandates criminal background checks for these hires and clarifies that this temporary authorization does not lead to a standard teaching certificate unless the educator completes a formal preparation program. Additionally, the law updates the professional code of ethics to explicitly include part-time teachers and excludes anyone with a revoked teaching license from eligibility.
This bill establishes an election information portal and allocates funding to support its development and maintenance. It directs $50,000 to the Secretary of State to verify voter qualifications and $450,000 to the Department of State to add the portal to the existing Statewide Voter Registration System. These funds are intended to enhance the system's capabilities for managing voter data and election information. The legislation takes effect immediately upon passing.
This bill allocates $500,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services to fund recreational activities for adults with developmental disabilities who have left the school system. The funding addresses a gap where Medicaid no longer covers these recreational services, allowing individuals to participate in community activities that support their health, socialization, and safety goals. To receive these funds, eligible individuals must be enrolled in a specific state waiver program, and the department will contract with organizations to administer the services, limiting payments to $600 per person. The department is required to submit interim and final reports to the fiscal committee by April and September 2025 to track how the money is used.
HB 1069 expands access to public records and meeting materials by allowing any person, not just citizens, to inspect and copy documents during regular business hours. The bill permits individuals to request records electronically or by mail without visiting government offices in person, while agencies retain flexibility to provide records in their existing formats if electronic conversion is unduly burdensome or insecure. It also removes filing fees for appeals against ombudsman rulings and clarifies that the public body must cover service costs if they refuse to accept them. Finally, the law defines governmental proceedings more broadly to include any functions affecting any person and takes effect 60 days after passage.
This bill creates a new commission to organize and rewrite New Hampshire's education laws, specifically those found in Chapters 186 through 200-N. The commission will be made up of legislators, education officials, and representatives from various school and teacher organizations, who will meet to review the current laws for duplicates, conflicts, or areas that can be combined. After their review, the group will draft a new set of proposed legislation to be submitted to the legislature by September 2026. To support this work, the bill provides $200,000 in funding to hire legal experts for both the Department of Education and the Office of Legislative Services.
This bill allows towns and cities in New Hampshire to vote on whether to permit the operation of games of chance within their borders starting July 1, 2024. Under the new rules, municipalities must hold public hearings and place the question on a ballot for residents to decide if they want to allow casino-style gambling in their area. Existing licensed operators and those who applied for licenses between January 2023 and October 2023 are exempt from needing local approval, while new applicants must first get permission from their local government. Additionally, communities can later vote to ban these operations if a facility fails to open within seven years or stops operating for that duration, and unincorporated areas may make similar decisions through county delegations.
