Rep. Sandra Panek

Maddy summaryHB 1370 directs the Secretary of State to prepare and distribute secure, durable containers and tamper-evident sealers to town and ward clerks for preserving ballots before state elections. The bill also requires these officials to use special containers specifically designed for separate ballots related to questions posed to voters. Although the legislation was adopted by the conference committee, it was ultimately laid on the table and did not become law before the end of the session.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes stricter rules for placing children in state care into residential facilities, prioritizing placement with relatives or in foster homes as the first options. It mandates that residential care be used only as a last resort for children aged 12 and older, unless there is a specific medical or therapeutic need, and requires all such facilities to meet new state certification standards before receiving funding. To enforce these standards, the Department of Health and Human Services will create a team to inspect and certify programs, conduct regular unannounced visits, and report quarterly on their oversight activities and spending. Additionally, the bill requires special approval from the state director before placing any child in a facility outside of New England.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Hampshire school districts to create policies ensuring parents receive at least two weeks' advance notice before specific curriculum materials covering human sexuality, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity are used in class. It also mandates that districts make these materials available for parental review upon request and allows parents to request exceptions to specific course content if they find it objectionable, provided they arrange and pay for an alternative education plan. Additionally, the legislation prohibits schools from preventing parents from asking about their child's mental, emotional, or physical well-being, while maintaining an exception for situations where disclosure could lead to abuse or neglect.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires newspapers, periodicals, radio and television stations, and billboard operators to charge the same advertising rates to all political candidates, committees, parties, and causes. To ensure transparency, media companies must file their advertising rate schedules with the secretary of state at least 30 days before the election deadline, and any changes to these rates must be filed five days in advance to take effect. Additionally, all political advertisements must be clearly labeled as "Political Advertising" at the beginning or end of the ad. These rules are designed to prevent media outlets from discriminating against specific political groups by offering them different prices for the same advertising space.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for when child support payments must stop, extending the obligation for most children until they graduate high school or turn 19, whichever comes first. It clarifies that support ends automatically without needing a new court order once these conditions are met, unless the child has a disability. For children with disabilities, the law allows support to continue until age 21 or until they no longer qualify for special education services. The changes will officially take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis law requires the executor of an estate to officially report the death of any voter aged 18 or older to their local town or city clerk within 30 days of being appointed. Once the clerk receives this notice, they must inform the town supervisors, who are then responsible for removing the deceased person's name from the voter registration list at their next meeting. The bill also mandates that supervisors who fail to erase the name of a deceased voter after receiving proper notice could face legal penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require local election officials in New Hampshire to verify voter registration lists every four years, starting in 2027. Under the proposed rules, officials must notify voters via mail and online if their names are not updated, giving them 30 days to reregister before names are removed from the list. A voter's name would be kept on the list if they voted in the preceding four years or were added to the list since the last general election. The bill also mandates that officials file a certificate with the Secretary of State confirming the completion of this verification process.