HB 1094 repeals a current law that prohibited collecting seaweed between sunset and sunrise. This change directly affects commercial and recreational seaweed harvesters who were previously restricted from collecting during nighttime hours. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, removing the existing nighttime collection ban without adding new requirements or restrictions.
HB 1230 caps annual spending increases for New Hampshire's state government and local political subdivisions at a rate tied to the 4-year average inflation rate (capped at 2.5%) plus the previous year's population growth. It requires excess revenues over this limit to be deposited into a rainy day fund (up to 10% of revenue) or refunded, and prohibits spending above the cap without voter approval. Citizens can sue state/local governments for violations and, if successful, recover attorney fees and court costs. The bill directly affects state/local budgets and creates a legal pathway for public oversight of spending and debt decisions.
HB 1715 requires all domestic violence and stalking petition filings to be submitted electronically through the court's system starting October 1, 2026, with exceptions only for extraordinary hardship preventing access. It directly affects individuals filing these petitions, including victims seeking protection orders, by mandating electronic submission instead of paper filings. The bill specifies no filing fees and allows self-representation, while requiring courts to develop a new secure electronic system to handle confidential cases, including encryption and law enforcement integration. This change applies to both domestic violence cases (RSA 173-B) and stalking cases (RSA 633:3-a), replacing temporary pandemic-era email filing methods.
HB 1762 revises New Hampshire's child support calculation by updating the definition of "adjusted gross income" to include specific deductions like child care costs, medical expenses, retirement contributions, and state income tax. It also changes how parenting time affects support amounts by capping the parenting time factor at 1.000 and establishing a minimum child support obligation for low-income parents. These changes directly impact parents in child support cases by altering the formula used to determine financial responsibility. The bill applies to all child support orders under New Hampshire law.
HB 1628 requires New Hampshire public schools to provide excused absences for students attending religious instruction courses (called "released time courses") for up to five hours weekly, contingent on parental written consent and specific conditions like attendance tracking by the sponsoring organization. Schools must adopt policies ensuring no school district funding is used for these courses, transportation and liability fall to the sponsor, and students assume responsibility for missed work. The bill also permits schools to award academic credit for completed courses based solely on secular criteria - such as course hours, syllabus content, and instructor qualifications - without considering religious content or denominational affiliation. This law aims to facilitate religious education access while maintaining neutral, non-discriminatory evaluation standards for credit.
SB 420 amends New Hampshire's State Commission for Human Rights to clarify its leadership structure and enhance reporting requirements. It removes a requirement that the commission chair must be a licensed attorney, adds provisions for nominating an executive director (5-year term) and an assistant executive director (2-year initial term, then 5 years), and mandates detailed annual reports. These reports must include specific metrics on case handling speed, backlog status, system implementation, staff training, and progress on administrative rules. The commission must submit these reports to the governor, legislature, and publish them publicly on TransparentNH.
HB 1678 allows New Hampshire voters to submit registration forms directly to the Secretary of State starting January 1, 2026, instead of through local town clerks. It also requires the Secretary of State to create a secure online portal by January 1, 2028, where voters can electronically submit forms with identity, citizenship, and residence documentation. The portal must confirm receipt, securely transmit applications to local officials for verification, and include features like document uploads. This bill affects all qualified voters seeking to register, streamlining the process by removing the local clerk as an initial point of contact. The policy changes focus solely on submission methods, not eligibility requirements.
This is a symbolic House Resolution (not a binding bill) introduced by New Hampshire's legislature. It expresses support for California's hypothetical request to divide into two states, referencing California's Assembly Joint Resolution 23. The resolution has no legal effect on California's structure or the federal process for state division. It serves only as a statement of solidarity from New Hampshire's House, with no mechanism to alter California's status.
SB 563 requires small out-of-state wineries (producing under 5,000 cases yearly) to obtain a New Hampshire license to ship wine directly to consumers and businesses in the state. It mandates a 25% fee on all sales, monthly reporting of sales details, and annual license renewal. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and replaces existing rules for direct wine shippers, with revenue estimated to increase by $10,000-$100,000 annually.
HB 1443 clarifies that surviving spouses of retired state employees are automatically covered under the same medical benefit plan that the retiree was enrolled in, specifically for Medicare-eligible retirees. The bill amends state law to explicitly state that the state’s payment for retiree medical premiums applies to both the retired employee and their spouse for life. This change ensures surviving spouses qualify for continued coverage without needing separate enrollment, confirming existing policy rather than creating new benefits. The fiscal note states this clarification has no additional cost to the state, as surviving spouses were already eligible under current rules.
HB 1731 requires New Hampshire's Department of Education to create an online system cataloging all public schools, charter schools, non-public schools, and "learn everywhere" programs across the state. The system must include detailed profiles, searchable maps, and allow schools to update their own data, enabling families to easily find educational options. It appropriates $1 for fiscal year 2027 but the fiscal note estimates actual costs at $250,000-$300,000 for development and $98,000-$105,000 annually for ongoing maintenance. This bill directly affects all New Hampshire schools and families seeking educational resources by centralizing location and program information in one accessible platform.
HB 1716 requires students in New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program to demonstrate academic progress through one of three methods: taking standardized tests (national or state), or maintaining a portfolio evaluated by a certified teacher using a Department of Education-developed rubric. The bill directs the Department of Education's Division of Learner Support to create and publish this rubric annually, then compile data from all student reports to analyze academic proficiency rates. This data must include metrics like graduation rates, grade level, gender, race, and aid categories. The bill does not provide new funding but estimates annual costs of $300,000-$350,000 for staff and system upgrades to implement the reporting and analysis requirements.
