Rep. John Sellers

Maddy summaryHB 1670 defines "organized retail crime" as acting with others to steal merchandise from stores with intent to resell or redistribute it, or knowingly receiving stolen items. It creates new criminal penalties for leaders of such operations, classifying offenses as class A felonies if stolen merchandise totals $2,500 or more (with enhanced penalties at $10,000), and requires courts to order forfeiture of property used in the crime. Key mechanisms include aggregating thefts across multiple stores and counties over 180 days to meet value thresholds, and allowing prosecutions in any county where activity occurred. The bill directly targets individuals involved in coordinated retail theft rings, while preserving existing laws like RSA 629:3 for prosecution.

Maddy summaryHB 1046 modifies New Hampshire law to allow a person to carry a loaded firearm on a snowmobile operated on private property when the operator has the landowner's permission (express or implied). It specifically excludes public trails, corridors, or rights-of-way. The bill maintains existing definitions for "unloaded" firearms but removes the prior prohibition on carrying loaded firearms on snowmobiles in permitted private settings. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state or local fiscal impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1002 repeals the property tax exemption for solar energy systems, meaning homeowners and businesses with solar installations will no longer be excluded from taxable property assessments. The bill removes specific tax code provisions (RSA 72:62 and related sections) that previously allowed solar systems to be valued separately for tax purposes. Starting April 1, 2027, solar energy systems will be included in standard property tax valuations, requiring owners to pay taxes on these systems as part of their property assessment. This change directly affects property owners who currently benefit from the exemption, shifting their tax obligation to align with standard property valuation practices.

Maddy summaryHB 1610 would allow New Hampshire school districts to retain unused general funds at the end of each fiscal year for the next year, instead of returning them to taxpayers. The bill limits retained funds to 2.5% of the district's annual property tax revenue and requires school boards to hold a public hearing before using the funds. Districts must also provide an annual public report detailing how the retained funds were spent. This change modifies existing law to give school districts ongoing flexibility for managing unanticipated expenses.

Maddy summarySB 564 prohibits municipalities from restricting maximum road length (as long as state fire code standards are met) or imposing numerical limits on housing lots in dead-end streets. It also requires municipalities to allow utilities (like septic systems and power lines) in designated open space or buffer areas of subdivisions, excluding wetlands and protected shoreland. The bill directly affects local governments and developers by removing specific development barriers that increase housing costs. It does not override fire code, environmental protections under RSA 482-A or RSA 483-B, or municipal authority to enforce health/safety standards.

Maddy summarySB 448 modifies New Hampshire's definition of "veteran" to include individuals discharged under honorable conditions (including those with a general discharge under honorable conditions), ensuring they qualify for state benefits. It establishes a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license for state-resident veterans meeting this definition, with a one-time fee adjusted based on the veteran's service-connected disability rating. This replaces annual license fees with a single payment, directly benefiting disabled veterans who previously faced eligibility barriers. The bill also updates multiple state statutes to align with the revised veteran definition, ensuring consistency across programs like employment preferences and tax exemptions.

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 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 summarySB 643 requires cities and towns to hold a public hearing with at least 30 days' notice and a 60-minute public comment period before voting to override a local tax or spending cap. It mandates a roll call vote for the override, recording each council member's vote, and requires publishing the results (including each member's name and vote) on the next property tax bill. This bill does not change existing requirements for supermajority votes or voter approval to override caps but adds transparency measures to inform taxpayers about how officials vote on tax increases. The law directly affects municipalities seeking to raise taxes or spending above locally adopted limits.

Maddy summaryHB 1416 prohibits New Hampshire state agencies, subdivisions, and municipalities from regulating pregnancy resource centers regarding abortion or contraception services. It directly affects private nonprofit pregnancy resource centers (which provide support without performing abortions or referring for abortion/contraception) and government entities that might impose such regulations. The bill bans requirements that centers offer, provide, refer for, or promote abortion, chemical abortion drugs, or contraception, and prohibits restrictions on their services based on these policies. It also allows affected centers or individuals to sue the government for violations seeking damages or court orders.