Rep. Lisa Freeman

Maddy summaryHB 1773 would direct New Hampshire to seek federal approval to prohibit SNAP (food stamp) benefits from purchasing sweetened drinks (with 5g+ added sugar) and candy. The bill requires the state health department to submit a waiver to the USDA by January 2027, defining prohibited items like soda and candy bars while excluding milk, juice blends, and certain non-refrigerated sweets. It mandates implementation plans for retailers and annual reports on purchasing patterns and health outcomes. This would directly affect SNAP recipients in New Hampshire who currently use benefits for these restricted items.

Maddy summaryHB 1645 defines "Rules" for innovation schools as administrative rules and related state laws, specifically excluding RSA 194-E:8. It requires that safety-related rules and laws under this chapter (covering student and school safety) cannot be waived. This bill directly affects innovation schools in New Hampshire by clarifying terminology and preventing exemptions for safety regulations. The key change is prohibiting waivers for safety rules, ensuring consistent application of safety standards. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1829 modifies New Hampshire's definition of "persistently dangerous schools" by adding two new criteria: incidents resulting in physical harm (including simple assault, reckless conduct, or student hazing) and persistently poor academic performance (specifically schools designated as "targeted support and improvement" under RSA 193:H-1). This expands the current definition, which already includes serious crimes like homicide and arson, to include these additional factors. Schools meeting this revised definition - experiencing three qualifying incidents over three consecutive years - would be classified as persistently dangerous. The bill directly affects public schools that meet these expanded criteria, potentially triggering state interventions or support measures.

Maddy summaryHB 1649 prohibits towns, cities, and villages from using any taxpayer funds - such as general, reserve, or public funds - to donate money to non-profit organizations. It allows exceptions only for competitive grant programs that serve a clear public purpose and follow state/federal laws. The bill explicitly states that non-profits may still contract for goods/services through standard bidding processes, as long as these are quantifiable and verifiable. This amendment to RSA 31 applies directly to municipal governments and takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1778 bars public schools in New Hampshire from teaching any approach that prioritizes personal identity factors (like race, gender, or sexual orientation) over individual merit in curriculum or policies. It requires school districts to create policies banning DEI-related curriculum, trainings, and programs, while prohibiting staff or students from being required to declare gender identity or pronouns. The law also mandates schools to promote equal opportunities for all students regardless of identity, with violations subject to civil action or educator disciplinary measures. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not provide new state funding for implementation.

Maddy summarySB 579 modifies New Hampshire's school transfer rules to allow parents to request transfers to any school within their school administrative unit (SAU), not just within their immediate district. It directly affects parents or guardians seeking to move their children to another public school within the same SAU or to schools outside the SAU. Key provisions include giving superintendents or service providers authority to approve transfers based on student needs (e.g., academic or social factors) and requiring them to consider school capacity for within-SAU requests. The bill also clarifies tuition arrangements for out-of-SAU transfers and specifies that parents are responsible for transportation. This change streamlines intra-SAU transfers while maintaining existing processes for district-wide moves.

Maddy summaryHB 1586 allows the state education commissioner to stop all public funding to any public school that fails to provide special education services meeting state and federal law requirements. This directly affects schools not complying with special education mandates, such as those not delivering individualized education plans (IEPs) for qualifying students. The bill requires the commissioner to notify the state treasurer to halt all state and federal school funding until the school comes into compliance, with the commissioner certifying resolution before funding resumes. The legislation does not create new funding but may require monitoring staff to track compliance.