Rep. Mike Belcher

Maddy summaryHB 1196 repeals New Hampshire's Housing Champion Designation and Grant Program, which provided financial incentives and recognition to municipalities for adopting housing-friendly policies. The bill ends the state's authority to issue new grants or designations under this program, affecting participating municipalities and the Department of Business and Economic Affairs that administered it. Existing contracts (worth approximately $2.6 million) will be honored until June 2027, but no new funding or recognition will be provided after the bill's effective date. The repeal also eliminates the Housing Champion Program Fund and the associated advisory committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1076 allows towns and cities in New Hampshire to decide whether to use electronic ballot counting devices for elections, directly affecting local governments and voters. Municipalities must hold a vote on the issue using specific ballot language approved by the Ballot Law Commission, with voters choosing to authorize or stop using these devices. The law requires local officials to notify the Secretary of State after making this decision, and the use of such devices remains in effect until rescinded by another voter vote. This bill does not mandate electronic counting but gives communities the option to adopt or eliminate it through a formal ballot process.

Maddy summaryHB 1706 repeals New Hampshire's state-administered refugee resettlement program and prohibits state agencies from using state funds for refugee resettlement activities. The bill specifically requires the Department of Health and Human Services to terminate existing contracts related to refugee resettlement (such as the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program) and bans all state spending - directly or indirectly - on resettlement efforts. It does not affect federal refugee programs or funds, as the state's involvement was limited to administering approximately $4.5 million annually in federal funds. The bill applies solely to state government actions and has no impact on existing refugee services or federal programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1697 would create a new New Hampshire law exempting firearms and accessories manufactured within the state from federal gun regulations. It requires these items to be marked "For N.H. Use Only. Export is Criminal" and prohibits their possession or transport outside New Hampshire, with violations classified as class B misdemeanors. The bill mandates unique serial numbers based on manufacturing location and date, and requires manufacturers to provide ownership transfer records. This directly affects New Hampshire firearm manufacturers, owners of these "N.H. Only" firearms, and law enforcement handling interstate transport violations. The bill has no estimated fiscal impact on state or local governments.

Maddy summaryHB 1561 prohibits non-U.S. citizens from the People's Republic of China (PRC nationals, including those with ties to PRC government entities) from attending New Hampshire's accredited public and private colleges and universities. It requires institutions to obtain notarized affidavits from all applicants and students confirming they are not PRC nationals, with affected individuals given 90 days to voluntarily withdraw after the law takes effect. Institutions failing to comply face daily $1,000 fines, while PRC nationals who refuse to withdraw face mandatory expulsion and potential federal referral. Violations by individuals or staff are classified as class A misdemeanors.

Maddy summaryHB 1313 repeals New Hampshire's current law (RSA 132:37-40) that prohibited people from entering or remaining on public sidewalks adjacent to reproductive health care facilities. This directly affects individuals and groups seeking to engage in free speech activities - such as handing out literature or speaking - near clinic entrances. The key provision removes the buffer zone restriction, allowing people to approach sidewalks without legal penalty. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and has no estimated fiscal impact on state or local governments.

Maddy summaryNew Hampshire's CACR 31 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all ballots (including absentee) to be hand-counted, serial-numbered, and accompanied by a dated perforated tab for voter receipt. It mandates 60-month retention of all ballots and election records in securely monitored storage, with dual-signature chain-of-custody logs and public annual reporting by the Secretary of State. Registered voters may view ballots during retention periods with election officials upon one week's notice, and unused ballots must remain labeled with their printed lot. The amendment directly affects voters (through ballot tracking), election officials (through new counting/storage procedures), and municipalities (through storage requirements and reporting).

Maddy summaryHB 1465 requires certain state employees, including court staff, judges, attorneys, and bar association members, to report suspected civil rights violations or breaches of judicial conduct rules committed by judicial branch members. If they have reasonable cause to believe a violation occurred (e.g., in person or reported to them), they must immediately notify the Attorney General’s office. Failure to report is punishable as a misdemeanor, with a $1,500 fine and up to one week in jail. The Attorney General forwards reports to the court administrative office, county sheriffs, and the chief justice, while protecting good-faith reporters from retaliation. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1564 removes the phrase "gender identity" from multiple New Hampshire statutes that currently include it as a protected characteristic in discrimination laws. This affects provisions related to equal employment (RSA 21-I:42), classified employment protections (RSA 21-I:52), cable TV service access (RSA 53-C:3-g), hate crime reporting (RSA 106-B:14-c), police training (RSA 106-L:2), racial profiling definitions (RSA 106-O:1), and mental health services (RSA 135-C:13). The bill deletes all instances of "gender identity" except in RSA 332-M:2, III-a. It does not create new policies but eliminates existing language from these statutes. The direct effect is removing gender identity as a specified protected category in these legal provisions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares that Sharia law and political Islam constitute an "existential threat" to New Hampshire and the U.S., and prohibits any government institution from showing "deference" to Sharia law. It specifically targets state and local government operations, implying restrictions on how public entities engage with Islamic legal principles. The resolution cites examples like voluntary Islamic tribunals in Minnesota and New York as evidence of "Sharia enforcement," though these are disputed claims. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but makes a symbolic policy statement. It was introduced by multiple state representatives and referred to the State-Federal Relations committee.