Rep. Anita Burroughs

Maddy summarySB 577 prohibits public schools in New Hampshire from using specific artificial color additives, such as FD&C Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 5, in school meals and competitive foods served to students. The ban applies to all public elementary and secondary schools and takes effect on January 1, 2028. Schools must adjust food procurement and preparation to avoid these additives, which are listed by the FDA in the bill. The legislation directly changes school food standards without mandating specific alternative foods or ingredients.

Maddy summarySB 548 requires health insurance companies in New Hampshire to hold a public hearing with the insurance commissioner within 15 business days if they terminate a contract with a healthcare provider that would affect 1,000 or more patients. It also mandates that all health insurance provider contracts include a 60-day provision ensuring patients maintain access to their provider after termination (except for unprofessional conduct), and requires insurers and providers to jointly notify affected patients about this access and the hearing. The bill directly affects health insurers, healthcare providers, and patients covered by these contracts. These provisions aim to ensure transparency and continuity of care during contract terminations that impact large groups of patients.

Maddy summarySB 487 amends New Hampshire law to allow credit unions to pay their board members for serving on the board, which is currently prohibited. The bill removes the existing restriction preventing such payments, enabling credit union members (the owners) to set the compensation amount at an annual meeting. This change directly affects credit unions and their board members by making board service compensable, rather than requiring it to be voluntary. The law now permits credit unions to establish board compensation as part of their operational structure.

Maddy summarySB 610 revises New Hampshire's long-term care insurance regulations by moving the insurance commissioner's rulemaking authority for loss ratio standards into a new section of the law. It allows the commissioner to approve innovative long-term care policies if they benefit the public and offer reasonable value relative to premiums, while updating criteria for disapproving insurance forms (e.g., removing unreasonable benefits or deceptive pricing). The bill also permits public hearings on form and rate filings, with the commissioner able to limit disclosure of sensitive details during these hearings. These changes directly affect insurers, the insurance commissioner, and long-term care policyholders by streamlining approvals and clarifying regulatory processes.

Maddy summaryHB 1478 requires New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services to revise rules for new landfills to better protect public health and the environment. The bill mandates that new landfills must maintain a minimum 1,500-foot setback from drinking water wells, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, calculated using a specific groundwater travel distance method. This method requires applicants to hire independent hydrogeologists to test groundwater velocity and ensure contamination cannot reach water sources within five years. The rule changes directly affect landfill applicants and the Department, replacing current rules deemed insufficiently protective of water resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1602 creates a statewide program requiring battery manufacturers and brands (producers) to fund and manage the safe collection and recycling of covered batteries. It applies to portable batteries (under 4.4 lbs primary or 11 lbs rechargeable) and medium-format batteries (11-25 lbs), excluding medical device batteries, vehicle batteries, and lead-acid batteries over 11 pounds. Producers must join a "battery stewardship organization" that meets annual collection targets and follows environmental safety rules, with the Department of Environmental Services overseeing compliance. The program shifts recycling responsibility from consumers to producers, ensuring covered batteries are handled safely through a structured, industry-funded system.

Maddy summaryHB 1068 clarifies tax definitions for short-term rentals in New Hampshire. It updates the legal meaning of "hotel" to explicitly include apartments and rooms rented via online platforms (like Airbnb), and defines "occupancy" to cover short-term stays under 185 days. The bill also specifies that "occupant" includes renters for less than 185 days (excluding permanent residents) and expands "operator" to include rental facilitators like online platforms. This change ensures these short-term rentals are subject to the existing meals and rooms tax, directly affecting hosts, platforms, and property managers who rent rooms temporarily.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 44) expresses support for maintaining public ownership of New Hampshire's state and federal lands, including the White Mountain National Forest and other conserved areas. It specifically opposes efforts to rescind the federal Roadless Rule, which protects roadless areas from logging and development. The resolution urges New Hampshire's governor, attorney general, and congressional delegation to take action against any attempts to weaken these protections. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally states legislative support for preserving public lands.

Maddy summaryHB 1056 establishes a commission to study how reinsurance (insurance that insurers buy to cover large losses) affects property insurance costs and availability in New Hampshire. The commission, composed of 4 House members, 2 Senate members, the Insurance Commissioner, and two industry representatives (one from large insurers, one from small local carriers), will examine how extreme weather events influence reinsurance rates and translate to higher premiums for homeowners and businesses. It will also assess risks to small insurers and the state if reinsurers become insolvent or stop providing coverage. The commission must report its findings and recommendations to the legislature within a set timeframe.

Maddy summaryHB 1744 requires health insurance companies operating in New Hampshire to submit annual reports by March 1st starting in 2026, detailing their mental health and substance use disorder coverage practices. These reports must include data on claims denial rates, average wait times for appointments, provider network availability, and compliance with federal parity laws. The insurance commissioner will review these reports and make de-identified data publicly available, while the state Medicaid program must also report annually starting in 2027 on similar metrics. This bill establishes new transparency requirements without authorizing new funding or positions.