Rep. Karel Crawford

Maddy summaryHB 426 allows charitable organizations that missed the June 1, 2024, deadline to file financial statements for property tax exemption eligibility to apply retroactively for the 2024 tax year. It directly affects qualifying nonprofits that were prevented by accident, mistake, or misfortune from filing on time. Organizations must prove this to local selectmen; if denied, they can appeal to the board of tax and land appeals or superior court. The bill creates a clear process for late applications without requiring retroactive payment of taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 1229 would require sellers and their agents to provide a "minimum standards" document to buyers before the sale of any property bordering public waters. The buyer must sign an acknowledgment confirming they have read and understood this document, which outlines requirements for water quality protection, and a copy of this signed form must be sent to the Department of Environmental Services within seven days. If a property owner violates these new disclosure rules along with existing shoreland laws, they face a civil penalty of $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for each subsequent offense. The bill also ensures that any future changes to shoreland regulations will not apply retroactively to properties already under these rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows towns and cities to lower speed limits during specific seasons when pedestrian or bicycle traffic becomes heavy. Local officials can make this change on their own or after receiving a petition from at least ten residents, provided they first conduct an engineering and traffic study. The reduced speed limit must be at least 20 miles per hour, last no longer than four months in a year, and can apply to specific times of day. The municipality is responsible for paying for the new signs, which must be designed and installed with approval from the state Department of Transportation.

Maddy summaryHB 1103 modifies the penalties under New Hampshire's Shoreland Protection Act by clarifying the conditions under which individuals can be fined for damaging public waterways. Specifically, the bill states that people who harm waterways and fail to make a good faith effort to fix the damage after being notified by the Department of Environmental Services will face penalties. This change aims to streamline the enforcement process by removing barriers that previously made it harder for the department to seek civil fines for proven violations. The law takes effect on January 1, 2025, and does not alter the maximum amount of fines that can be imposed per violation.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire's Clean Lakes Program to include specific authority for managing cyanobacteria blooms, which are harmful algal growths that can degrade water quality. It empowers the Department of Environmental Services to take short-term actions like chemical or physical treatments to control these blooms and to reduce the nutrient inputs that cause them. The legislation also allows the department to provide financial grants to local groups and individuals for managing both exotic aquatic weeds and cyanobacteria, while requiring consultation with other state agencies before implementing certain treatments. Effective September 1, 2024, the program will focus on diagnosing water issues, implementing long-term solutions, and ensuring safe conditions for public recreation.