Rep. Maureen Mooney

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits the sale of new consumer products that contain intentionally added chemicals known as PFAS, which are commonly used for stain and water resistance. The ban covers a wide range of household items, including mattresses, carpets, cosmetics, food packaging, and furniture, while excluding products made with high percentages of recycled content or those regulated by federal law. Manufacturers and distributors must stop producing or importing these items, and the state can also pursue civil lawsuits against companies responsible for PFAS contamination in public drinking water systems. Additionally, the legislation provides a framework for settling legal claims related to the impacts of these chemicals on water supplies.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire's safe haven laws to allow parents to anonymously surrender infants up to 61 days old, matching the age limits of other New England states. It expands the definition of safe haven devices to include containers installed in hospitals, police stations, and fire departments, provided they are staffed around the clock and have alarms. The legislation also clarifies that parents who surrender a baby cannot be prosecuted solely based on evidence found during that surrender, while still permitting investigations into other crimes not directly linked to the act of surrendering the child.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacy benefit managers and health insurers in New Hampshire to report detailed information about pharmaceutical rebates they receive and how those funds are used. The legislation mandates that these entities submit annual reports breaking down the total value of rebates collected, the amounts distributed to insurers, and the specific reductions applied to patient costs such as deductibles and copayments. Additionally, insurers must provide actuarial certifications explaining how rebates are remitted to policyholders and detail the methods used to estimate rebate amounts for plan design purposes. These reporting requirements apply to private health plans but explicitly exclude Medicaid, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and self-funded plans like the state employee health benefit plan. The law takes effect on June 30, 2024, and repeals a previous provision that had sought to remove these rebate reporting rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new committee to study the New Hampshire Board of Medicine and allocates funds to the Department of Health and Human Services. The committee will consist of four state representatives, with two appointed by the Speaker from specific health and executive committees, ensuring representation from both major political parties. The funding provided to nursing facilities comes with conditions requiring that at least one original owner maintain a significant ownership stake for five years, that the facility follows all licensing rules, and that it continues to accept Medicaid payments. If a facility fails to meet these requirements, the state has the right to recover a portion of the funds it distributed to that facility.

Maddy summaryHB 279 increases the penalties for businesses that serve alcohol to customers who are already intoxicated. Specifically, the law raises the maximum fine for a second offense within seven years to $7,500 and extends the potential license suspension to 30 days. This change directly affects on-premises licensees, such as bars and restaurants, by imposing stricter consequences for repeated overserving violations. The bill became effective on September 10, 2024, after being signed into law by the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to check for and apply for Social Security and veterans benefits for children entering foster care within 60 days. If the department becomes the official payee for these funds, it is prohibited from using the money to cover the child's care costs but may use it to meet unmet needs while establishing special accounts to save for the child's future. The law also mandates that the department notify parents and guardians about benefit decisions, conduct annual reviews to identify new eligibility, and return any remaining funds to the child or their responsible adult when the child leaves the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts meals provided through the state's restaurant voucher program from the meals and rooms tax. It directly affects elderly and adult services agencies that use vouchers to purchase food for eligible seniors and adults, as well as the restaurants that serve these meals. By removing the tax requirement for these specific transactions, the legislation aims to reduce the cost burden on program participants and the agencies administering the vouchers. The change takes effect on July 1, 2024, and is expected to decrease state tax revenue by an estimated $86,000 annually based on current program usage.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for state school building aid to explicitly include chartered public schools alongside traditional school districts. It establishes that these independent schools must own any buildings they construct with state funds and outlines how the aid is disbursed, providing an initial 30 percent of the eligible cost followed by annual payments over 20 years. The legislation also sets a requirement that facilities built with this assistance must be used for K-12 instruction for at least two decades or the school must repay the full grant amount. Additionally, the bill clarifies eligibility criteria, such as excluding office space and temporary structures from funding, and sets a new deadline for submitting construction applications starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for pre-trial competency evaluations in New Hampshire to ensure defendants are assessed by qualified professionals before facing trial. It allows courts to order evaluations by state or private psychiatrists or psychologists and expands where these exams can take place, including secure units, local clinics, or even remotely via electronic means, provided no party objects to the remote format. The law sets strict deadlines for completing these exams, requiring them within 45 days for incarcerated individuals and 90 days for others, while also mandating that courts review bail status or schedule status conferences if the evaluation is delayed. Additionally, the bill requires courts to provide forensic examiners with relevant medical and mental health records from the past three years and establishes that defendants must participate in the evaluation or face potential court sanctions.

Maddy summaryHB 115 moves the date of New Hampshire's state primary election from the second Tuesday in September to the second Tuesday in June. It also shifts the deadline for changing party registration and filing candidacy declarations from June to March, allowing voters and candidates more time to prepare earlier in the year. The bill updates related forms and hearing schedules for election officials to align with these new dates, ensuring that all primary election activities occur in the spring rather than the fall. These changes take effect on January 1, 2025, and directly impact voters, political parties, and candidates participating in the state's primary process.