Rep. John Sellers

Maddy summaryHB 1213 modifies how New Hampshire towns determine the number, selection method (elected or appointed), and term lengths (1-3 years) for local highway agents. Towns must vote at annual meetings using specific ballot questions to approve changes, which take effect after the next meeting. Current highway agents continue serving their existing terms without interruption. The bill repeals outdated rules about highway agent selection and ensures changes don’t require immediate local action.

Maddy summaryHB 1526 modifies procedures for New Hampshire towns and school districts that use a municipal budget committee. It standardizes the wording of town meeting votes about establishing or changing the committee (e.g., "Shall we change the number of members from X to Y?") and adjusts the timeframe for appointing initial members in cooperative school districts from 15 to 30 days. The bill also clarifies how committees can be rescinded or how membership size or election method can be changed, requiring votes to take effect after the next annual meeting. This affects all towns and school districts operating under RSA 32:14 or 195:12-a.

Maddy summaryHB 1272 would allow New Hampshire towns and school districts to choose whether to print candidates' party affiliations on local ballots, after voters approve the change at a town meeting. If approved, party affiliations (using the first three letters of the party name, like "DEM," or "UND" for unaffiliated candidates) would appear after each candidate's name. This applies only to town and school district elections, not state-level races, and requires voter approval each time the policy is adopted or rescinded. The bill does not mandate this change but gives communities an option to implement it.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges all federal agencies and contractors operating at federal facilities (such as National Parks, museums, and government offices) to accept physical U.S. cash as legal tender, in alignment with 31 U.S.C. §5103. It specifically targets situations where cash is refused while electronic payments incur "convenience fees," violating the legal tender law. The resolution demands that federal services accept cash without additional charges for all transactions. It does not create new laws but calls for compliance with existing federal currency regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1619 establishes new protections for property owners by prohibiting rent controls, limiting municipal zoning authority to basic health/safety needs, and requiring prompt permit processing. It repeals the InvestNH Program (which provided grants for affordable housing) and the New Hampshire Housing Champion designation. The bill prohibits government takings for private development without just compensation and bans municipal subsidies for specific housing types. These changes directly affect property owners, municipalities, and housing developers by reducing government regulation in housing markets.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 10) would require any bill establishing or increasing a state tax to pass with at least two-thirds of members present and voting in both legislative chambers. Currently, tax bills only need a majority vote to pass. If approved by voters in November 2026, this change would apply to all state tax legislation originating in the House of Representatives. The amendment would raise the voting threshold for tax bills from majority to supermajority, affecting how legislators vote on tax policy.

Maddy summaryCACR 28 proposes a constitutional amendment to New Hampshire's Article 6, granting towns, parishes, religious societies, and other groups the right to elect and contract with their own teachers for religious and moral instruction within Christian denominations. It would prohibit compelling individuals to pay for teachers of a different Christian denomination and ensure all Christian groups receive equal legal protection without establishing religious hierarchies. This amendment requires voter approval in the November 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1769 prohibits publicly funded medical facilities (including state-funded hospitals and clinics) from referring patients for abortions, except in medical emergencies or when referring to a pregnancy resource center (a nonprofit facility offering counseling/support but not abortion services). The bill requires these facilities to submit compliance affidavits and allows taxpayers or affected mothers/family members to sue the facility or state for violations. It also voids contracts with organizations that violate the referral ban. This law directly affects state-funded healthcare providers and creates new legal avenues for challenging abortion referrals. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1214 allows New Hampshire municipalities to take direct control of public library governance. If a town or city elects to assume control under state law, the library's existing trustees would transition to an advisory role, while the municipal governing body (like a town council) becomes the primary decision-maker. This bill directly affects local governments and public library boards, changing how libraries are managed without altering library funding or services. The policy change would take effect 60 days after enactment, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 prohibits blocking public crosswalks by banning parking vehicles that encroach on crosswalks, placing objects or structures within marked crosswalks, or delaying pedestrians. It directly affects drivers, businesses, and individuals who may park or place items in crosswalks, ensuring clear pathways for pedestrians. The bill establishes fines of up to $250 for first offenses and $500 for repeat violations, with exemptions for emergency vehicles and authorized closures by local authorities. This law takes effect 60 days after passage, aiming to improve pedestrian safety at intersections.