Rep. Jennifer Rhodes

Maddy summaryHB 1366 requires law enforcement officers to notify military agencies when they have probable cause to believe a service member violated a military protection order. This directly affects active-duty military members (including National Guard personnel) and the law enforcement agencies handling such cases. The key provision mandates that officers must inform the military agency that entered the protection order into the federal database if a service member is suspected of violating it. The bill amends two state statutes to establish this notification requirement, ensuring military and civilian authorities coordinate on protection order enforcement. It takes effect 180 days after passage with no estimated state or local cost impact.

Maddy summarySB 409 amends penalties for disobeying law enforcement officers during traffic stops or pursuits. It increases penalties for specific violations: disobeying orders to stop (subparagraph I(c)) now carries a class B felony if a motor vehicle accident causes serious injury, and a class A felony if the accident causes death or injury to another person. The bill directly affects drivers who refuse to comply with officers during traffic enforcement, particularly in situations involving collisions. These changes enhance criminal penalties for dangerous disobedience during pursuits, without adding new financial costs to state or local governments.

Maddy summaryHB 1175 updates New Hampshire's law against fraud using scanning devices or reencoders to specifically cover payment card chips (like those in modern credit cards), not just magnetic strips. It makes it illegal to scan or reencode chip data without permission to defraud cardholders, card issuers, or merchants. The bill expands existing criminal penalties to address current fraud methods targeting chip-based payment technology. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1696 allows police to issue a written summons instead of arresting someone for certain misdemeanors or violations (excluding abuse, protective order breaches, or stalking cases). It requires people released on summons to "remain of good behavior" - meaning they cannot commit any new felony, misdemeanor, or major traffic offense while awaiting court. Failing to appear or violating this condition becomes a separate misdemeanor offense, punishable by fines and potentially consecutive jail time. This directly affects individuals charged with minor offenses who are released with a summons instead of being jailed.

Maddy summarySB 465 classifies xylazine - a veterinary sedative sometimes misused in illicit drug mixtures - as a Schedule III controlled substance under New Hampshire law. This change permanently places xylazine in Schedule III (a category for drugs with moderate abuse potential and accepted medical uses) via statutory amendment, overriding the commissioner’s authority to schedule it through rulemaking. It directly affects individuals and entities handling xylazine in New Hampshire, including healthcare providers, law enforcement, and pharmacies. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state revenue or expenditure impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1119 creates a new state licensing requirement for "associate funeral directors" in New Hampshire. To work in this role, individuals must obtain a specific license, pass board-approved exams, and secure certification through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. This bill directly affects people seeking to work as associate funeral directors, establishing a formal pathway distinct from existing full funeral director licensing. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1239 prohibits registered Tier II or Tier III sex offenders (for crimes against children under 13) from appearing within 1,000 feet of childcare facilities, churches, schools, or areas where children commonly gather under circumstances that would alarm reasonable people. This directly affects individuals convicted of sexual offenses against children under 13 who are required to register under New Hampshire law. The bill amends existing loitering statutes to add this specific restriction, creating a new criminal violation for such conduct near child-focused locations. It takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state or local cost impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1026 clarifies that accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - small secondary housing units on the same lot as a main home - are not considered manufactured housing. The bill explicitly states that municipalities may prohibit ADUs associated with manufactured housing, such as mobile homes or factory-built units. This change affects local zoning decisions, allowing towns to restrict ADUs in manufactured housing developments while ensuring ADUs remain excluded from the legal definition of manufactured housing. The law updates state definitions to prevent ambiguity in housing regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1658 requires app stores operating in New Hampshire to verify users' age categories (e.g., child, teenager) and obtain parental consent for minors under 18. It mandates that app stores create "minor accounts" (for users under 18) linked to "parent accounts" (for adults), and disclose key information like an app's age rating, content description, data collection practices, and data protection methods to parents before consent. The bill also requires re-obtaining parental consent for significant app changes, such as new in-app purchases or altered data collection. This law directly affects app store providers (e.g., Apple App Store, Google Play), app developers, and parents of minors in New Hampshire.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how towns regulate manufactured homes. It requires municipalities to allow siting on residential lots with the same zoning rules as single-family homes (not just in parks), and mandates "reasonable efforts" to accommodate them. Existing manufactured housing parks must follow NFPA 501A fire safety standards for expansions. It also allows disaster victims to temporarily live in manufactured homes on their property for 30 days after a building permit is issued, while rebuilding their primary residence.