Rep. Richard Brown

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 1517 requires business entities (like corporations or LLCs) that own residential properties (such as single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, or quadruplexes) to disclose that a purchase involves an interest in the entity, not the property itself. It bans these entities from restricting the transfer of ownership interests (allowing owners to sell without approval), charging fees for transfers, or discriminating against qualified buyers. The bill also prohibits agreements from mandating disputes be resolved outside state or federal courts. This directly affects entities managing residential properties through ownership arrangements and the owners who purchase interests in them.

Maddy summaryHB 1439 modifies penalties for New Hampshire retirement system retirees who exceed part-time work hour limits. It replaces full annuity suspensions with proportional reductions based on excess earnings, spread over 12 months. Retirees may avoid penalties by demonstrating good faith (e.g., relying on employer reporting errors), and full suspension is limited to willful, repeated violations or failure to cooperate with system inquiries. The bill directly affects retirees working part-time while receiving state retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1060 simplifies engineering licensure requirements by removing two specific barriers. It eliminates the requirement that applicants must have 10+ years of engineering experience supervised by a licensed engineer, and removes the condition that their education or experience must be deemed "satisfactory to the board." This change directly affects engineers with extensive experience who are seeking licensure through the exam process, particularly those whose work history doesn’t meet the previous supervision standard. The bill allows these applicants to apply directly for the professional engineering exam without needing prior board approval of their experience. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1020 designates Lake Winnipesaukee as New Hampshire's official state lake. This symbolic recognition formally honors the lake's cultural and recreational significance to the state without changing any laws, regulations, or policies. The bill was introduced by multiple legislators and referred to the Resources, Recreation and Development committee. It has no direct impact on residents, businesses, or government operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1012 repeals existing state laws that defined and permitted accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) in New Hampshire. The bill removes specific legal provisions (RSA 674:71, 674:72, and 674:73) that allowed these secondary housing units on single-family properties. This repeal would directly affect property owners who previously could build ADUs or DADUs as independent living spaces on their lots. The bill does not create new rules but eliminates the legal framework that enabled these unit types, taking effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1009 limits municipal parking requirements for specific housing types. It prohibits cities and towns from mandating more than 1.5 parking spaces per unit for: (1) studio and one-bedroom units under 1,000 square feet that qualify as workforce housing, and (2) multi-family buildings with 10 or more units. This directly affects local governments that previously enforced stricter parking rules and developers building qualifying housing projects. The bill updates state law to standardize these parking limits, aiming to reduce construction costs for affordable housing developments.

Maddy summaryHB 1006 changes parking rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by requiring parking to be provided either on-site or at a legally dedicated off-site location only with municipal approval. This removes property owners' previous discretion to choose parking locations without local government permission. Municipalities may require up to one additional parking space per ADU if they require parking for the main house. The bill amends existing law to eliminate owner choice in parking placement for ADUs.

Maddy summaryHB 416 prohibits intentionally dumping yard waste (such as grass clippings, leaves, or branches) into rivers, lakes, or streams. It directly affects property owners, landscapers, and waste management services that handle yard debris near waterways. The law bans this specific disposal method but does not detail enforcement penalties or exemptions. The bill passed both legislative chambers, was signed by the governor on July 22, 2025, and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 153 creates an expedited permitting process for driveway access to state highways for large residential developments (20+ units). It requires the Department of Transportation to approve or deny such permits within 60 business days of a traffic study, with applicants paying a $120 per unit non-refundable fee plus a retainer for third-party reviews. The bill establishes a new position within the Department to manage this process and mandates refunds for unused retainers within 120 days. The law, signed by the governor and effective October 5, 2025, directly affects developers of multi-unit residential projects seeking faster highway access approvals.