Rep. Richard Brown

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 summaryThis bill updates rules regarding tree stands, observation blinds, and game cameras on private land in New Hampshire. It extends the season for placing portable tree stands and observation blinds from April 25 to June 1 and from August 1 to December 31, while requiring their removal by June 1 unless the property owner grants permission. The legislation also mandates that all such equipment be labeled with the owner's contact information and clarifies that property owners may contact law enforcement to remove unauthorized items. Additionally, the bill adjusts the expiration dates for property owner permits and explicitly allows state officials to use electronic tracking devices on private land only with written landowner consent or a scientific permit.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to align the rules for filing for office and conducting school district elections with the existing systems used in town elections. It allows school districts to choose between a non-partisan ballot system, which currently applies to most districts, or a new partisan ballot system where candidates run with party labels and a plurality vote wins. Under the new partisan option, school districts would vote to adopt the system at a meeting, and the rules for preparing ballots and managing candidates would mirror those used for partisan town elections. The legislation clarifies that references to town clerks in current laws should instead refer to school district clerks when applying these election procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1187 sought to update state laws regarding how local municipalities can lease equipment for their buildings and facilities. The bill would have clarified that lease agreements containing nonappropriation clauses are not considered debt and would have allowed the costs of building improvements that become fixtures for the equipment to also be financed through these leases. This change would have directly affected local town councils and city governments by expanding their options for funding equipment purchases without increasing their official debt load. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and the veto was sustained, meaning the proposed changes did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most charitable organizations to file an annual financial statement with their local municipality by June 1 to maintain their property tax exemption. The statement must detail the organization's financial condition and include any other information needed to prove its eligibility for the tax break. While religious and educational groups already have specific exemptions, this rule applies to other charities and allows for late filings only if the delay was due to an accident, mistake, or misfortune, provided the local tax rate has not yet been approved. The law takes effect on April 1, 2025, and will change how these organizations must document their status to qualify for reduced property taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for a specific local tax cap in New Hampshire towns and districts that have already chosen to use it. It clarifies that the estimated tax amount for the upcoming year must include both the operating budget and all other approved spending, ensuring the total does not rise by more than the previously set cap unless adjusted for specific factors. The law applies automatically to existing tax cap programs without requiring towns to pass new local amendments to adopt it. It became effective on September 1, 2024, after being signed into law by the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires powerboat operators to wear an engine cut-off switch lanyard while operating specific vessels at speeds higher than the minimum needed to maintain steerage. The rule applies to powerboats that are at least 26 feet long or have outboard engines with more than 115 pounds of thrust or 3 horsepower, unless the boat has an enclosed cabin or was manufactured before 2020 without such a device. The law defines an engine cut-off switch as a safety device that disables the engine if the operator falls off the helm and sets the requirement to take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryHB 1046 requires boat owners who are not the vessel operator to notify law enforcement and file an accident report if the operator fails to do so after an incident involving death, injury, or property damage exceeding $2,000. The bill mandates that the operator must immediately stop, assist those involved, and exchange information, while also submitting a written report to the Department of Safety within 15 days. If the operator is unable or unwilling to comply with these duties, the owner must take over the responsibility to report the accident to police and the state department. Failure to meet these notification and reporting requirements can result in criminal penalties, ranging from a class A misdemeanor to a felony depending on the severity of the incident.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire town meeting procedures to allow local communities to vote on specific questions using official ballots, similar to how they currently elect officials. Under the new rules, towns would place these referendum questions on the meeting warrant and conduct voting through established absentee and polling place protocols, with polls remaining open for at least one hour after discussion ends. The legislation also provides a process for towns that previously adopted a system where only officer elections use official ballots to vote on returning to that earlier arrangement, requiring a three-fifths majority to approve such a change. These adjustments take effect 60 days after the bill passes, giving municipalities time to prepare for the updated voting methods.