Rep. Jim Qualey

Maddy summaryHB 1723 requires all electric utilities and grid operators in New Hampshire to assess and report vulnerabilities of high-voltage transformers (100 kV+ and 25 MVA+) to geomagnetic disturbances (like solar storms) and electromagnetic pulses. By January 2027, covered entities must conduct technical assessments using specific international standards, evaluating risks like transformer saturation and insulation damage. They must then submit detailed reports to state agencies by 180 days after enactment, including transformer specifications, manufacturing origins, and recommended protection measures. This aims to safeguard critical grid infrastructure from potential widespread power outages caused by natural or man-made electromagnetic events.

Maddy summaryHB 1187 changes the filing process for candidates running in special elections for New Hampshire's state House of Representatives. It allows candidates to file their candidacy with their local town or city clerk instead of the state secretary of state, during a 3-day window. During this period, local clerk offices must be open for at least 2 hours each day, and the secretary of state must post the specific dates and hours online. This adjustment streamlines local filing while ensuring timely submission to the state office. The bill has minimal fiscal impact, costing less than $10,000 annually.

Maddy summaryHB 1131 updates New Hampshire town meeting procedures for referendums by requiring that referendum questions be placed on the official ballot used for electing town officers, rather than on a separate ballot. The bill removes a previous restriction that kept referendum questions off this ballot and integrates them into the standard voting process governed by state election laws. It also establishes a 3/5 majority vote requirement for towns to rescind their use of this ballot system, with specific wording for the rescission question. This change directly affects all New Hampshire towns that have adopted the official ballot system for referendums, which is the current standard practice in many communities.

Maddy summaryHB 1604 requires towns and cities to make suitable public facilities - such as schools, town halls, and fire stations - available as polling places for all elections when requested by local election officials (selectmen or ward officers). The bill specifies that facilities must meet size and accessibility standards under existing law and must remain accessible to voters while allowing normal operations like education or emergency services to continue. Municipalities would cover reasonable costs for custodial services, utilities, and security related to the polling place use, unless otherwise agreed. This change aims to expand polling location options without imposing new requirements on voters or election processes.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment would require all voters in New Hampshire to be legal residents aged 18 or older who actually live in the community they claim as their home (domicile). It replaces the current "inhabitant" standard with this new requirement, ensuring voters reside where they register to vote. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 election. It does not change existing restrictions like felony convictions or voting accessibility rules.