Rep. Julie Miles

Maddy summarySB 496 exempts private residences designated by broker-dealers as supervisory locations from being classified as branch offices under securities regulations. The bill adds a definition for "residential supervisory location" as a private home used for supervising agents, provided it complies with FINRA Rule 3110.19. This directly affects broker-dealers and their associates by reducing regulatory burden for using home offices to supervise field staff. The policy change clarifies that such residences are not treated as formal branch offices for registration or supervision purposes.

Maddy summarySB 473 defines "field officers" in the Army National Guard as officers holding the rank of lieutenant colonel or colonel for promotion and appointment purposes. This bill directly affects National Guard officers seeking advancement within those specific ranks. It amends state law to clarify the term, ensuring consistent application during promotion processes. The bill is procedural, with no substantive policy changes beyond the definition. It takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1734 authorizes New Hampshire to establish experimental treatment centers that provide medical treatments using investigational drugs, biologics, or devices that have completed Phase 1 clinical trials but are not yet FDA-approved for general use. These centers must be approved by the Department of Health and Human Services and can only treat eligible patients who have a physician's recommendation, provided written informed consent (including discussion of alternative FDA-approved treatments and potential costs), and understand insurance may not cover the treatment. The bill creates a new legal framework distinct from existing medical licensing, requiring centers to follow specific consent protocols and safety standards documented by qualified medical institutions. It directly affects patients seeking innovative treatments, healthcare providers, and manufacturers of investigational medical products.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students in New Hampshire public schools and camps to use over-the-counter sunscreen without a doctor's note or prescription. School and camp staff may assist with application upon parental permission, and the law requires schools to implement age-appropriate skin cancer prevention education covering UV risks and protective measures like sunscreen and sun-protective clothing (e.g., hats). It also protects staff from liability when following these guidelines, addressing current barriers where some schools prohibited sunscreen due to "medication bans."

Maddy summarySB 476 requires hospitals to follow federal price transparency rules and provides a "good faith estimate" safe harbor, protecting them from penalties if cost estimates differ due to clinical changes or outside factors. It mandates health insurers to give personalized, pre-service cost estimates for scheduled services through their existing federal tools (Transparency in Coverage APIs), accessible via the state's HealthCost portal. The bill expands the state's health data system (CHIS/APCD) to power consumer cost comparisons for uninsured and out-of-network care without building new IT infrastructure. These changes directly affect hospitals, insurers, and consumers by making upfront health care costs clearer before treatment.

Maddy summarySB 478 aims to lower prescription drug costs for New Hampshire residents by regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). It bans "spread pricing" (where PBMs keep the difference between what they pay pharmacies and charge insurers), requires all manufacturer rebates to reduce consumer out-of-pocket costs or premiums, and prohibits retroactive fees on clean claims. The bill also mandates transparent pricing lists, allows audits to prevent misuse, and prioritizes the lowest net-cost drugs in formularies. These changes directly affect patients, pharmacies, insurers, and PBMs by making drug pricing more transparent and reducing hidden costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1713 establishes new standards for affordable housing development in New Hampshire by revising zoning laws. It defines "eligible housing" for low-income (80% or less of median area income) and moderate-income (80%-140% of median area income) residents, and authorizes the transfer of surplus state-owned property to the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority for affordable housing projects. The bill requires affordability restrictions on housing developed on transferred properties, including rules for occupancy, resale, and mixed-income housing. This directly affects state agencies managing surplus property, the Housing Finance Authority, and low/moderate-income residents seeking affordable housing options.

Maddy summarySB 546 requires health insurance carriers offering commercial plans in New Hampshire to implement annual secret shopper audits starting January 2027. These audits, conducted by independent third parties, assess whether providers in carriers' networks are accessible and accepting new patients, following federal CMS guidelines for health benefit exchanges. Carriers must submit results by May 31 each year, with penalties for failing to report, confirming fewer than 80% of providers as in-network, or not meeting network access standards. Noncompliant carriers face fines, must reimburse enrollees for out-of-network claims, and may be required to create corrective action plans. The law directly affects all health insurers selling commercial coverage in New Hampshire.

Maddy summarySB 547 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in New Hampshire to increase transparency and fairness in drug pricing. The bill requires PBMs to act in the best interest of health insurance companies (their clients) and bans them from keeping profits from "spread pricing" - where PBMs charge health plans more than they pay pharmacies for drugs. It defines key terms like "affiliate" and "revenue," and mandates that PBMs pass all rebates from drug manufacturers to health plans rather than retaining them. This directly affects PBMs, health insurers, and pharmacies, aiming to address high drug costs (23% of healthcare spending) and patient cost concerns (25% skip doses due to expense).

Maddy summaryHB 1351 establishes statewide standards for home-based businesses in New Hampshire, directly affecting homeowners operating such businesses and local municipalities that regulate them. The bill defines "no-impact" businesses (e.g., invisible, no customer visits) as allowed without permits in all zoning districts, while "low-impact" businesses (with up to 4 non-resident employees and ≤20 daily customer visits) require only ministerial registration. It preempts local rules that conflict with these standards, such as banning outdoor storage compliant with the bill, imposing stricter employee limits, or requiring special permits. Municipalities can no longer enforce categorical bans on home businesses unrelated to health/safety, like 2-client caps or blanket signage prohibitions. The law aims to standardize regulations while preserving residential character and neutral nuisance standards.