Rep. Calvin Beaulier

Maddy summaryHB 1369 amends New Hampshire law to allow towns to post the warrant for a special town meeting on their official website instead of publishing it in a newspaper of general circulation. The bill updates RSA 39:4 to require that the warrant be posted within one week of the meeting being called, maintaining the current deadline while expanding notice options. This change directly affects all New Hampshire towns holding special town meetings by providing a digital alternative to newspaper publication. The law would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1598 creates a streamlined eviction process for landlords seeking to remove tenants who fail to pay rent or breach leases in ways affecting health/safety, criminal activity, or drug-related offenses. It requires landlords to provide a 5-day notice with a clear warning about the expedited timeline, giving tenants only 3 days to respond after court filing. If tenants don’t pay or vacate, courts must issue a writ of possession immediately without a hearing - unless the tenant pays all overdue rent within 48 hours. This process limits defenses to just rent payment or the alleged breach, blocking unrelated claims, and restricts stays of execution except for immediate payment. The bill applies to all landlords and tenants in qualifying eviction cases, effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1603 requires state agencies to provide current, verifiable proof of an endangered or threatened species' presence - such as GPS coordinates, timestamped photos, and official credentials - before restricting land use for that species' habitat. It directly affects landowners whose property may face restrictions and state agencies like Fish and Game. The bill mandates that any evidence used must include written landowner permission or an administrative warrant for data collection. It also prohibits agencies from requiring new biodiversity surveys as a condition for land use applications. This policy change aims to ensure land use decisions are based on recent, documented evidence rather than outdated data.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how New Hampshire municipalities tax farm structures and the land beneath them. It requires qualifying farm structures (like barns, greenhouses, and processing sheds) to be assessed at no more than their replacement cost minus depreciation, and the land under them at no more than 10% of market value. Municipalities must adopt these rules by April 1, 2027, and property owners must notify assessors within 60 days of any changes that could disqualify their property from the reduced tax rate. Unpaid taxes accrue interest and may result in property liens, with penalties applying if structures cease to qualify for the tax.

Maddy summaryHB 1499 would expand eviction grounds under New Hampshire's landlord and tenant law by adding three specific conditions: (1) a tenant or occupant being unlawfully present in the U.S., (2) a recent conviction (within 3 years) for certain violent crimes or drug offenses, or (3) being a registered sexual offender under state law. This bill directly affects tenants who meet these criteria, allowing landlords to seek eviction based on these new grounds. The key provision modifies the existing statute to include these three categories as valid reasons for termination of tenancy. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage and does not require new state funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1233 modifies New Hampshire's right-to-know law to clarify how non-public meeting minutes are handled. It requires that only specific portions of minutes directly covered by a motion to hold a non-public session may be withheld from public disclosure, rather than entire records. The bill also mandates that public bodies list non-public session minutes online with the date, start time, end time, and reason for withholding. This affects town councils, school boards, and other public bodies holding non-public meetings. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryCACR 24 proposes adding a constitutional right for parents and legal guardians to direct their children's education in New Hampshire. If approved by voters in 2026, it would insert a new Article 2-c into the state constitution stating this right cannot be violated. The amendment requires a 2/3 vote in favor at the 2026 general election to take effect. It directly affects parents/guardians by establishing a constitutional basis for their authority over educational decisions, without specifying curriculum or school policies. This is a procedural constitutional amendment requiring voter approval, not an immediate law.

Maddy summaryHB 1351 establishes statewide standards for home-based businesses in New Hampshire, directly affecting homeowners operating such businesses and local municipalities that regulate them. The bill defines "no-impact" businesses (e.g., invisible, no customer visits) as allowed without permits in all zoning districts, while "low-impact" businesses (with up to 4 non-resident employees and ≤20 daily customer visits) require only ministerial registration. It preempts local rules that conflict with these standards, such as banning outdoor storage compliant with the bill, imposing stricter employee limits, or requiring special permits. Municipalities can no longer enforce categorical bans on home businesses unrelated to health/safety, like 2-client caps or blanket signage prohibitions. The law aims to standardize regulations while preserving residential character and neutral nuisance standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1801 modifies four key areas of law enforcement practice. It requires the state to prove a detention was lawful after a plaintiff shows it was unlawful, with $100 hourly damages (adjusted annually) for wrongful detention. The bill revises drug forfeiture rules to specify which property (like vehicles, money, or real estate) can be seized and adds a lien on seized items. It also mandates new certification requirements for law enforcement officers and creates a violation-level offense for officers who knowingly provide false information in written reports. These changes directly affect individuals claiming unlawful detention, property owners in drug cases, and law enforcement officers.

Maddy summaryHB 1634 creates a new legal pathway in New Hampshire state courts for individuals harmed by federal employees who violate state or federal law. It allows victims to sue federal employees (including contractors working with federal agencies) in superior court, requiring proof of a violation by a "preponderance of the evidence" (more likely than not). The law mandates that winning plaintiffs receive attorney fees and requires all case documents to be public under state open records law. This bill takes effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting federal employees operating in New Hampshire and residents seeking redress for legal violations.