Rep. Wendy Thomas

Maddy summaryHB 1154 restricts sending unsolicited text messages for commercial advertisements or political campaigns without the recipient's prior permission. It requires senders to obtain express consent (in writing or otherwise) before texting ads, with exceptions for established business relationships or numbers voluntarily shared in such contexts. The bill mandates clear opt-out mechanisms in every message and prohibits using multiple numbers to evade blocking. Violations carry criminal penalties (up to a class B felony for repeated offenses) or civil fines of $250-$2,000 per incident, effective July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1080 prohibits the sale of condoms and personal lubricants (including vaginal and anal products) that contain intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bill directly affects retailers, manufacturers, and sellers of these products in New Hampshire by adding a new restriction to consumer product safety law (RSA 149-M:64). It requires these products to be free of intentionally added PFAS, which are persistent "forever chemicals" linked to health concerns. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment, with no estimated state or local cost impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1621 requires developers to complete a baseline environmental study before building or expanding manufacturing or storage facilities larger than 50,000 square feet. The study must assess current environmental conditions - including water, air, soil, noise, and light - and analyze potential impacts, mitigation measures, and alternatives. Applicants must fund the study, conducted by approved professionals, and resubmit it for ownership changes or facility use modifications. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services must review the study and make it publicly available with a 30-day comment period before issuing permits. This applies specifically to industrial-scale facilities, not smaller operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a committee called the "better education on life-saving action committee" to study how to improve public awareness of New Hampshire's good Samaritan law. The law protects people from legal liability when they call for medical help during a drug overdose. The committee will examine current outreach methods, identify effective ways to reach high-risk communities, and assess whether state funding could help spread the information. It must report its findings and recommendations to state leaders by November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1530 requires landowners to notify neighbors and hold a public meeting before removing beaver dams or significantly lowering water levels in "shared" beaver impoundments (ponds or wetlands affecting multiple properties) outside emergency situations. It applies directly to landowners, municipalities, and property managers who want to disturb such dams for non-urgent reasons, like protecting property or infrastructure. The bill mandates 30 days' written notice to affected neighbors and a public informational meeting 15 days before action, published in local media or online. Exceptions include immediate threats to life/property, or installing flow devices (which require no notice). This aims to balance property protection with community input on shared water resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1664 directs New Hampshire’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to remove the Hannah Duston Memorial and its historic marker in Boscawen. The bill states the memorial distorts history by not acknowledging Native American perspectives and glorifies the violent act of scalping and killing 10 Native people (including six children), as described in the memorial’s legend. The department must remove the memorial and marker, with options to destroy them or store them for potential future display in an accurate, objective manner that respects all historical participants. This bill specifically targets the physical memorial site, not broader historical narratives or policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1170 requires the Department of Environmental Services to conduct public benefit and community impact assessments before approving permits or projects under specific state titles. The bill mandates that the department actively engage with local and neighboring communities to gather input and identify both positive outcomes and potential negative effects of proposed developments. To measure success, the commissioner must establish specific indicators that can be tracked through surveys, interviews, and other tools, ensuring that human safety and environmental concerns are properly weighed. If passed, the department would need to adopt new rules to implement these assessment requirements within 60 days of the law taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to add eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, to the list of qualifying conditions for the state's therapeutic cannabis program. If enacted, it would allow individuals diagnosed with these specific conditions to legally access medical cannabis under the existing framework. The legislation includes a provision to include other specified feeding and eating disorders alongside the named examples. The bill was ultimately not passed and died on the table before the legislative session concluded.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow the state's fish and game commission to establish a special season for hunting coyotes at night, specifying rules on how, when, and where such hunting can occur. It also adds a protection period from April 1 through July 31 to prevent hunting during the time coyote pups are being raised. The legislation does not change existing laws regarding hunting coyotes during the day or in baited areas. Although the bill was introduced, it was ultimately set aside and did not become law.