Rep. David Paige

Maddy summarySB 240 would allocate state funds to the Department of Environmental Services for eligible water infrastructure projects, such as treatment facilities or watershed protection. The bill directs the department to distribute these funds to specific local projects meeting defined criteria. However, the bill was deemed "Inexpedient to Legislate" by the Senate on October 31, 2025, preventing it from becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 279 establishes a new loan program to provide financing for businesses focused on building or rehabilitating housing. It allocates state funds to the Department of Business and Economic Affairs and the Business Finance Authority to administer these loans. The program directly supports small housing developers, contractors, and housing-focused nonprofits by offering them access to capital for housing projects. This policy change shifts state funding toward housing development through a dedicated loan mechanism, without specifying loan terms or interest rates.

Maddy summaryHB 737 authorizes keno gaming statewide, allowing counties to offer it as a new option for local games of chance. It changes license fees for charitable organizations running gaming events and updates their reporting requirements to simplify compliance. The bill directly affects local governments (which can now implement keno), charitable groups (through adjusted fees), and gaming operators (with new reporting rules). The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, for most provisions, with key changes like keno authorization becoming active on June 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 393 requires permits for fixed boat moorings in public waters and prohibits using spuds, lifts, or similar vessel-integral devices as alternatives to permits. It directly affects recreational and commercial boat owners who secure vessels to public water bottoms without a permit. Key provisions define "mooring" broadly and exempt commercial barges (with landowner permission), government vessels, and vessels used for fishing or water activities. The law, effective January 1, 2026, replaces prior exemptions and applies to all public water bodies requiring mooring permits.

Maddy summarySB 170, if passed, would strengthen housing nondiscrimination protections in New Hampshire by adding gender identity, sexual orientation, and school enrollment status to the list of protected classes under state law. It also limits municipal authority over development by prohibiting cities and towns from imposing stricter septic system, well-siting, or utility placement rules than state standards allow, and requires municipalities to provide written feedback on development plans within 7 days. The bill directly affects housing applicants, developers, and local governments by ensuring equal access to housing and streamlining approval processes for utilities in subdivision buffers (excluding wetlands). The bill would take effect January 1, 2026, pending final legislative approval.

Maddy summaryHB 50 prohibits educators in New Hampshire public schools from intentionally teaching discrimination targeting specific racial groups, including white people, Black people, or Hispanic/Latino people. It defines "educator" to include certified teachers, administrators, and specialists, and states that violating this rule constitutes a breach of the educator code of conduct, potentially leading to disciplinary action by the state board of education. The bill allows affected individuals or the attorney general to file civil lawsuits against schools or districts for violations, seeking remedies in court or through the human rights commission. It explicitly states that discrimination cannot be justified by special considerations for any racial group and aims to equally protect all citizens from discrimination based on race.