Rep. Bill Bolton

Maddy summaryHB 1262 requires home heating oil, kerosene, and propane dealers to provide clear, written contracts that disclose all terms in plain language - including total costs, delivery details, and contact information for the state consumer protection hotline. The bill specifically regulates prepaid contracts by restricting advertising to May 1-October 31, mandating refunds for undelivered fuel within 30 days, and requiring dealers to secure contracts through methods like futures contracts, surety bonds, or liquid inventory. These rules directly affect dealers who sell prepaid home heating fuel and consumers who enter such agreements. The bill excludes budget plans with monthly payments from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1756 allows qualifying organizations (including religious, educational, charitable groups, and veterans associations like the American Legion) to submit a single application for property tax exemptions instead of filing annually. Once approved, exemptions remain in effect permanently unless a town assessor later determines the organization no longer qualifies. The bill requires annual field reviews by local assessors to verify ongoing eligibility and mandates organizations to provide updated documentation at least every five years (or annually if requested). This replaces the current system where exemptions must be re-verified each year.

Maddy summaryHB 1293 would require certain charitable or non-profit organizations to pay property taxes on the value of their properties exceeding $1 million within any municipality. This applies to properties owned, used, and occupied directly for the organization's charitable purposes, but only on the portion above the $1 million threshold. Municipalities can choose to raise the exemption amount through a town meeting or city vote, and voluntary tax payment agreements (under RSA 72:23-n) would override this rule during their term. The law takes effect April 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1343 allows condominium associations' governing bodies (like boards of directors) to hold meetings remotely or in hybrid formats, including via video or phone. It explicitly states that electronic participation counts toward quorum requirements, meaning meetings can proceed if enough members join online. The bill requires associations to provide access information for remote attendees and ensure they can hear proceedings and ask questions. It also permits electronic voting on association matters, with results counted using standard ballot procedures. This change directly affects condo associations and their unit owners by modernizing meeting protocols.

Maddy summaryHB 1028 updates New Hampshire's legal definition of "renewable generation facility" to explicitly include energy produced from bio-oil, bio-synthetic gas, and biodiesel (as defined in RSA 362-A:1-a). This change directly affects renewable energy projects seeking tax benefits under RSA 72:73, particularly those using these biofuels. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, clarifying which facilities qualify for related tax provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 621 allows birth mothers to choose not to share specific information from their birth worksheet with state agencies. The bill directly affects individuals who have given birth and are interacting with state services related to their birth records. It provides a mechanism for birth mothers to withhold certain details contained in the worksheet, though the exact information covered is not specified in the title. This change modifies how state agencies may access or use that particular documentation.

Maddy summaryHB 195 establishes new protections for personal information held by third-party service providers (such as phone companies, banks, social media platforms, and internet providers). It requires these companies to obtain explicit, affirmative consent from users before disclosing non-public personal information (like names, SSNs, location data, or biometrics), except in specific circumstances like emergencies, crime prevention, legal requests, or to provide a requested service. The bill defines "personal information" broadly and mandates clear, separate consent procedures requiring users to actively "opt in" rather than passively accepting terms. This directly affects how companies collect and share user data, aiming to strengthen privacy expectations for individuals.