Rep. Jordan Ulery

Maddy summaryHB 1598 creates a streamlined eviction process for landlords seeking to remove tenants who fail to pay rent or breach leases in ways affecting health/safety, criminal activity, or drug-related offenses. It requires landlords to provide a 5-day notice with a clear warning about the expedited timeline, giving tenants only 3 days to respond after court filing. If tenants don’t pay or vacate, courts must issue a writ of possession immediately without a hearing - unless the tenant pays all overdue rent within 48 hours. This process limits defenses to just rent payment or the alleged breach, blocking unrelated claims, and restricts stays of execution except for immediate payment. The bill applies to all landlords and tenants in qualifying eviction cases, effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1735 expands New Hampshire's Right to Try Act to allow patients with "qualifying severe illness" (defined as chronic and debilitating conditions meeting federal standards) to access investigational treatments, in addition to those with terminal illnesses. The bill amends definitions to include this new category, requiring patients to have exhausted standard FDA-approved treatments and be unable to join clinical trials. It maintains existing requirements like physician oversight, patient consent, and no direct manufacturer compensation for providers. This change directly affects patients with severe chronic conditions who currently lack access to investigational therapies under state law. The bill does not alter cost-sharing or data collection requirements for manufacturers.

Maddy summaryHB 1199 allows New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department to establish a permit and fee system for other state agencies requesting its staff, equipment, or expertise to support their work. The bill requires fees to cover actual department costs, including staff salaries/benefits, vehicle/equipment use, and administrative coordination. All collected fees would be deposited into the Fish and Game fund. This policy change directly affects state agencies needing Fish and Game support, creating a formal reimbursement process for services previously provided without cost recovery.

Maddy summaryHB 1537 allows school bus operators to install high-resolution cameras on stop bars (the flashing arms extending from school buses) to capture drivers who run school bus stop lights. The cameras must clearly identify faces, include digital timestamps and tamper-proof video markers, and only activate when stop bars are extended during student loading/unloading. Videos must be preserved for up to 4 years if injuries occur, but deleted after 7 days if unused for investigations. School bus operators may choose to install the cameras but are not required to do so.

Maddy summaryHB 1483 creates a special license plate option for New Hampshire motor vehicle owners who are licensed amateur radio operators. The plate would display either the operator's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) call sign or a lightning bolt symbol, requiring FCC certification at application. The Department of Safety's emergency management division may access a list of plate holders for disaster coordination, but the bill explicitly states no additional privileges (like emergency lights or traffic exemptions) are granted. The director of motor vehicles may set fees for these plates, subject to legislative committee approval.

Maddy summaryHB 1003 prohibits Grafton County Attorney from engaging in private legal practice for compensation, except when providing free legal services to family members without conflicts of interest. The bill adds a new section (7:34-h) to New Hampshire law, explicitly banning the county attorney from accepting fees for private legal work beyond their official salary. This directly affects the Grafton County Attorney position, requiring them to focus solely on public duties without outside legal engagements. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 417 would reduce the communications services tax rate from 7% to 4% for the 2026 tax year and completely repeal the tax effective July 1, 2027. This bill directly affects businesses providing communications services in New Hampshire, including phone, internet, and cable services. The legislation removes the tax from state law by repealing RSA 82-A and amending other sections to eliminate references to the communications services tax. Based on 2024 revenue data of $30.6 million, the repeal is expected to reduce annual state revenue by approximately $30.6 million starting in fiscal year 2027. The Department of Revenue Administration will need to update tax forms and systems but anticipates no additional administrative costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1599 removes the current 10-year limit on businesses carrying forward net operating losses (NOLs) after a loss year, allowing these losses to be used indefinitely to offset future profits. This directly affects businesses that incurred losses in prior tax years, particularly those with large NOLs that would have expired under current law. The key change amends state tax code to align with federal rules, eliminating the requirement to use NOLs within a decade. While the fiscal note indicates this could reduce state revenue (as businesses may offset future profits with older losses), the exact impact depends on when businesses generate sufficient profits to utilize these carryforwards.

Maddy summaryHB 1419 establishes a 14-member commission to study whether New Hampshire should create a specialized court for business-related legal matters, such as corporate disputes, commercial contracts, and equity cases. The commission, including legislators, judges, business leaders, law school representatives, and legal experts, will assess the feasibility, costs, benefits, and necessary legal reforms - like modernizing corporate laws and creating judicial recruitment pathways - and evaluate fiscal impacts on state revenue. The commission must submit annual reports starting November 2026, with recommendations aimed at positioning New Hampshire as a competitive hub for business law, similar to Delaware’s court system. This bill does not create a court or change laws directly but sets up a study to inform future legislative decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1597 raises the maximum deductible amount for business property purchases from $500,000 to $2.5 million for property placed in service on or after January 1, 2027. This directly affects businesses making significant capital investments in equipment or property, aligning New Hampshire’s tax code with federal deduction limits. The key provision modifies the expense deduction cap under the Business Profits Tax statute, allowing larger upfront deductions for qualifying assets. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage, with potential revenue impacts noted as indeterminable starting in fiscal year 2027.