Rep. Nancy Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the nonconsensual sharing of fake sexual images that depict a person in a realistic but false manner. It defines a "synthetic image" as any digital creation that alters or generates a person's likeness to show their intimate parts or sexual activities without their permission. The law specifically targets individuals who create or distribute these images with the intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the person shown. Anyone found guilty of this offense will face criminal penalties under the state's existing laws on nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images. The changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for a special commission to investigate the environmental and health effects of perfluorinated chemicals in five towns to November 1, 2029. The commission, which studies pollution in the air, soil, and groundwater of Merrimack, Bedford, Londonderry, Hudson, and Litchfield, will now submit its final report and any legislative recommendations by that new date. Additionally, the bill delays the official end of the commission's work until November 1, 2029, allowing more time for analysis. These changes apply directly to the commission members and the officials who receive their reports.

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 requires law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire to submit hate crime reports to the state police at least twice a year. The reports must detail the number of offenses and arrests, and the state police will publish these statistics on their website every 45 days. A hate crime is defined as any offense where an officer suspects the crime was motivated by bias against characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. The law takes effect on September 1, 2024, and applies to all police departments operating within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Matthew Brown Act, requires public schools and charter schools in New Hampshire to print the phone number for the National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline on student identification cards. The law applies to cards issued for the first time or replaced after the bill takes effect, ensuring that students in grades 6 through 12 have immediate access to eating disorder support resources. Schools must also verify annually that the helpline number on these cards is accurate and up to date before each new school year. The legislation aims to integrate mental health resources directly into the daily materials students carry, rather than relying on them to find help information elsewhere.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the criminal penalty for violating the privacy of minors in New Hampshire by making such acts a class B felony. It directly affects anyone who knowingly or should reasonably know that a person under 18 is entitled to privacy in a specific location. The key provision amends existing privacy laws to specify that breaching the peace or privacy of a child in these settings will result in the most severe felony classification. This change aims to provide stronger legal consequences for privacy violations involving children without altering the underlying definition of what constitutes a privacy breach.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for a state commission studying environmentally triggered chronic illnesses from 2024 to 2029. The commission, which investigates how environmental factors contribute to long-term health conditions, will continue to submit annual progress reports and a final summary to state officials and the public. By delaying the final report date, the legislation gives the commission more time to gather data and formulate recommendations for potential laws. The change applies specifically to the existing commission's timeline without altering its core mission or the groups it studies.

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.