Maddy summaryHB 1657 establishes new laws to prohibit hazing at secondary and post-secondary educational institutions in New Hampshire by defining hazing as any act that forces a student to violate laws, consume harmful substances, endure physical or mental abuse, or risk their health and safety. The bill imposes criminal penalties on individuals and organizations that knowingly participate in hazing and requires schools to report serious incidents to local authorities within 72 hours. Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, the law mandates that all students and student organization advisors complete an anti-hazing education program before participating in school activities. Additionally, educational institutions must publicly report annual findings of hazing violations on their websites while protecting the privacy of individual students.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a report detailing how to expand access to the medications mifepristone and misoprostol. The report must identify potential ways to protect and increase access, outline methods for better public education on these drugs, and list any obstacles currently preventing their availability. The legislation requires the report to be submitted to state legislative leaders by November 1, 2024, without using state general funds, and notes that the department must not violate existing state or federal laws while conducting this study.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state's historical resources director to create and keep an updated list of all public monuments. It mandates that the transportation commissioner must get approval from the state historic preservation office before installing any new historical marker, ensuring the office investigates the event and holds public hearings. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that changing or permanently removing an existing marker requires formal approval from the state legislature through a vote in both the House and Senate. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new article to the New Hampshire constitution to explicitly guarantee a fundamental right to abortion. It would protect this right for all individuals up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, allowing restrictions only if there is a compelling state interest addressed by the least restrictive means. After 24 weeks, the bill permits abortion if an attending physician judges it necessary based on applicable standards of care. The legislation also outlines the process for submitting this constitutional amendment to voters for a decision at the November 2024 general election.
Maddy summaryHB 1474 updates the composition and operational rules of New Hampshire's Commission on Native American Affairs to better represent indigenous communities. The bill reduces the number of public members from eleven to ten and clarifies that each representative must come from a specific tribe, band, or community rather than a broad social group, while also adjusting the voting quorum requirement. It outlines the commission's duties to study issues affecting Native Americans, preserve cultural artifacts and burial grounds, and recognize indigenous contributions without granting special legal rights or privileges to any individual. The legislation also mandates that the commission meet at least four times annually and publishes its meeting notices and minutes online for public transparency.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates how the state calculates funding for students with special education needs, directly affecting school districts and the families of these students. It establishes different funding levels based on the intensity of services a student receives, distinguishing between those who attend regular classes most of the day, those with partial inclusion, and those in separate schools or homebound settings. The legislation also introduces a new method for adjusting these costs in the future by applying specific numerical multipliers to a base funding amount. These changes are designed to ensure that financial support aligns more closely with the actual resources required to educate students with disabilities.