Rep. Joseph Barton

Maddy summaryThis New Hampshire resolution requests Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose term limits for members of both the House of Representatives and Senate. It specifically aims to establish a limit on the number of terms a person may serve in either chamber. The resolution is part of a state-level effort to gather support from two-thirds of states, as required by the Constitution, to trigger such a convention. It does not create term limits itself but seeks to initiate the process for proposing them through a constitutional amendment.

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 summaryHR 38 authorizes the New Hampshire House Judiciary Committee to investigate whether there is cause to impeach a New Hampshire Supreme Court justice, following recent criminal charges against Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi. The committee may subpoena witnesses and documents to gather evidence related to the justice's conduct, including past legal actions and pleas. It must report its findings and recommendations to the full House of Representatives. This resolution is a procedural step based on constitutional impeachment standards, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1332 designates the Honor and Remember Flag as an official New Hampshire symbol to honor service members who died while serving or as a result of military service, and their families. The bill requires the state governor to display this flag daily at the New Hampshire state veterans cemetery in Boscawen and at the State House, specifically on the last Sunday in September. It does not create a new holiday or change benefits but mandates a specific display protocol for state properties. The bill’s title references "Gold Star Mother's Day," but the actual policy focuses on the flag symbol, not the holiday. This is a procedural change affecting state display practices, effective 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1003 prohibits Grafton County Attorney from engaging in private legal practice for compensation, except when providing free legal services to family members without conflicts of interest. The bill adds a new section (7:34-h) to New Hampshire law, explicitly banning the county attorney from accepting fees for private legal work beyond their official salary. This directly affects the Grafton County Attorney position, requiring them to focus solely on public duties without outside legal engagements. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1178 allows vehicle owners in New Hampshire to install aftermarket tinting on front side windows (left and right of the driver) if the tint permits at least 35% of light to pass through. It also creates a medical exemption, enabling individuals with qualifying health conditions to apply for a waiver permitting darker tint, provided they submit medical certification from a licensed provider and the tint still meets the 35% standard. The commissioner of safety will establish testing procedures and review waiver applications, including consulting a medical review board if needed. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1757 would require divorcing couples in New Hampshire to have been married for more than six years to qualify for alimony. It directly affects individuals ending short marriages (six years or less) by prohibiting courts from ordering either term alimony or reimbursement alimony in such cases. The bill amends existing divorce law to set this six-year minimum requirement for alimony requests, which must be filed before the divorce decree or within five years of its effective date. This change applies to all cases filed on or after January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1404 establishes a study committee to examine how property is divided during divorce proceedings in New Hampshire. The committee, composed of five House members (including two from the Children and Family Law Committee) and two Senate members (including one from the same committee), will review state laws and other states' approaches to equitable property division. It must report its findings and any proposed legislative changes to state leaders by November 1, 2026. This bill does not change current divorce laws but sets up a review process to potentially inform future policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1241 changes how courts calculate income for divorce-related support orders. It defines "gross income" to include only regular earnings from a parent's primary job (wages, salary, or primary self-employment), explicitly excluding overtime pay, secondary job earnings, and other income from outside sources. This applies to both alimony (RSA 458:19) and child support (RSA 458-C:2) calculations. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting divorcing parents and courts determining financial obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 1060 simplifies engineering licensure requirements by removing two specific barriers. It eliminates the requirement that applicants must have 10+ years of engineering experience supervised by a licensed engineer, and removes the condition that their education or experience must be deemed "satisfactory to the board." This change directly affects engineers with extensive experience who are seeking licensure through the exam process, particularly those whose work history doesn’t meet the previous supervision standard. The bill allows these applicants to apply directly for the professional engineering exam without needing prior board approval of their experience. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.