Rep. Laurel Stavis

Maddy summaryHB 1530 requires landowners to notify neighbors and hold a public meeting before removing beaver dams or significantly lowering water levels in "shared" beaver impoundments (ponds or wetlands affecting multiple properties) outside emergency situations. It applies directly to landowners, municipalities, and property managers who want to disturb such dams for non-urgent reasons, like protecting property or infrastructure. The bill mandates 30 days' written notice to affected neighbors and a public informational meeting 15 days before action, published in local media or online. Exceptions include immediate threats to life/property, or installing flow devices (which require no notice). This aims to balance property protection with community input on shared water resources.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 30) formally reaffirms that local municipalities - not the state - hold primary responsibility for planning, zoning, and related regulations, citing New Hampshire’s RSA 672:1 as the legal basis. It specifically references the state’s "Declaration of Purpose" law, which states that zoning and land-use rules have historically been and should remain a municipal function. The resolution does not change any laws but symbolically opposes state efforts to override local zoning authority under the guise of "property rights." It directly affects municipal governments, which retain control over land-use decisions for their communities.

Maddy summaryHB 1405 establishes a program allowing New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority to guarantee up to 80% of loans for affordable housing projects. This reduces risk for lenders financing housing where costs (rent/mortgage plus utilities/taxes) do not exceed 30% of residents' income, defined as 50-80% of state median income. The program limits annual guarantees to $30 million per lender and $300 million total statewide. It directly affects lenders, housing developers, and low/moderate-income residents seeking affordable homes.

Maddy summaryHB 1661 expands New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority's "Community Heroes" program to provide homeownership assistance to essential workers. It appropriates $750,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $1.5 million annually thereafter from the General Fund to fund the program, with no more than 10% allowed for administrative costs. The program specifically targets eligible workers in healthcare, childcare, elder care, law enforcement, firefighting, education, and active military service, allowing them to use funds for down payments, closing costs, or interest rate reductions. The bill requires the Housing Finance Authority to establish rules defining eligibility and takes effect July 1, 2028, for the annual appropriation.

Maddy summaryHB 572 establishes the "Partners in Housing" program under the Housing Champions Fund to help cities, counties, and developers build workforce housing. The bill allocates state funding to support these projects, directly aiding local governments and developers in creating housing for essential workers like teachers and nurses. It focuses on increasing affordable housing supply through financial assistance rather than new regulations.

Maddy summarySB 86 amends New Hampshire law to clarify that the state's full faith and credit supports the Housing Finance Authority's affordable housing guarantee program. It requires the state treasurer to provide funds from the treasury to the authority when needed to cover guaranteed obligations, with reports to the fiscal committee. This directly affects the Housing Finance Authority and the affordable housing projects it supports by ensuring state-backed financial backing for their guarantee program. The bill focuses on the funding mechanism, not new housing policies or outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 279 establishes a new loan program to provide financing for businesses focused on building or rehabilitating housing. It allocates state funds to the Department of Business and Economic Affairs and the Business Finance Authority to administer these loans. The program directly supports small housing developers, contractors, and housing-focused nonprofits by offering them access to capital for housing projects. This policy change shifts state funding toward housing development through a dedicated loan mechanism, without specifying loan terms or interest rates.

Maddy summarySB 170, if passed, would strengthen housing nondiscrimination protections in New Hampshire by adding gender identity, sexual orientation, and school enrollment status to the list of protected classes under state law. It also limits municipal authority over development by prohibiting cities and towns from imposing stricter septic system, well-siting, or utility placement rules than state standards allow, and requires municipalities to provide written feedback on development plans within 7 days. The bill directly affects housing applicants, developers, and local governments by ensuring equal access to housing and streamlining approval processes for utilities in subdivision buffers (excluding wetlands). The bill would take effect January 1, 2026, pending final legislative approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local municipalities to add a specific section to their land use master plans dedicated to waste reduction. The new provision requires these plans to outline strategies for lowering solid waste disposal through methods like recycling, composting, and managing hazardous or electronic waste. Communities can implement these strategies by conducting needs analyses, organizing town waste committees, seeking grant funding, and collaborating with neighboring regions. The law takes effect 60 days after it is passed, giving towns time to update their existing planning documents.