Rep. James Tierney

Maddy summaryHB 107 requires political advertisements in newspapers, periodicals, and billboards to be clearly labeled "Political Advertising" at the beginning or end. It prohibits publishers, broadcasters, and billboard operators from charging different rates to political candidates, committees, parties, or causes compared to non-political advertisers. Violations carry a $50 fine for the first offense, increasing to $1,000 for repeat violations within five years. The bill specifically removes the requirement to label billboard political ads under this provision, as amended. This law directly affects media outlets and political entities engaging in paid advertising.

Maddy summarySB 180 repeals the current designation of Coos County as a distressed place-based economy and requires the Department of Environmental Services to revise rules for new landfills. This bill directly affects local officials in Coos County and landfill operators by changing how landfill regulations are developed. The key mechanism is ending the existing economic designation system and mandating updated landfill rules. The bill does not create new taxes or funding but shifts regulatory oversight for landfills. (Note: This bill is pending further legislative action as of June 2025.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in New Hampshire to inform their employees about resources available to support veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Specifically, employers must provide written notice or post a visible notice containing contact information for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD. The law applies to all employers and mandates that this information be shared with staff to ensure access to support services. If an employer fails to comply with this requirement, they could face civil penalties enforced by the state Department of Labor. The bill would become effective 60 days after it is passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis law requires the state Department of Revenue Administration to study how forest carbon credit programs might reduce timber tax revenue and to submit reports to the legislature by late 2024 and late 2025. The bill also creates a public registry to list New Hampshire forest lands enrolled in carbon programs, requiring owners to provide details such as their name, property location, and enrollment dates. Additionally, it mandates that landowners or program administrators notify the local municipalities where the enrolled forest land is located about these enrollments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires newspapers, periodicals, radio and television stations, and billboard operators to charge the same advertising rates to all political candidates, committees, parties, and causes. To ensure transparency, media companies must file their advertising rate schedules with the secretary of state at least 30 days before the election deadline, and any changes to these rates must be filed five days in advance to take effect. Additionally, all political advertisements must be clearly labeled as "Political Advertising" at the beginning or end of the ad. These rules are designed to prevent media outlets from discriminating against specific political groups by offering them different prices for the same advertising space.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows existing school administrative units to merge their administrative offices to reduce costs, provided the combined unit has only one superintendent. To support these mergers, the state will offer a grant of $200 per student annually for two years, with funding coming from the education trust fund and requiring the merger to be completed by July 1, 2030. The planning committee will evaluate merger proposals using the same process used for reorganizations, and the grant amount will be calculated based on the number of students residing in the district as of October 1st. This law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to all school districts served by the newly merged administrative unit.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new penalties for drivers who exceed posted weight, height, or size limits on covered wooden bridges in New Hampshire. It creates a two-tier fine system where drivers face a $500 penalty for violating size limits without causing damage, and a $1,000 fine if their vehicle damages the bridge, with higher fines up to $2,000 if the violation blocks traffic. Additionally, vehicle owners must pay the full cost of any repairs to the bridge, plus a $100 civil penalty if they fail to pay within 30 days. The law also clarifies that towing a trailer on a bridge marked "nothing in tow" counts as a violation of dimensional limits. These provisions take effect on January 1, 2025, and all fines collected go to the municipality or agency responsible for maintaining the bridge.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the election terms for Coos County officials, including the county attorney, sheriff, treasurer, register of deeds, and register of probate, from two years to four years. The change applies to elections starting in 2024 and will continue for all future elections, aligning Coos County with the existing four-year terms already in place for Rockingham County. These officials will now be voted on by county residents every four years instead of every two years, and the law takes effect on September 1, 2024.