Rep. Robert Wherry

Maddy summaryHB 1106 requires New Hampshire candidates for public office to publicly disclose whether they hold citizenship in any country other than the United States. Candidates must declare this information under oath or affirmation to the Secretary of State, including details like the specific country, basis for citizenship, date acquired (if known), and other relevant facts. This disclosure will be made publicly available, increasing transparency for voters. The bill does not change the existing requirement that candidates must be U.S. citizens (by birth or naturalization) but mandates this additional transparency measure regarding dual citizenship.

Maddy summaryHR 28 is a House Resolution requesting the New Hampshire Supreme Court to clarify the state's constitutional obligations regarding education. It asks the court to address specific legal questions about whether the state constitution requires direct state funding for public education, the limits of judicial review over education funding, and the historical role of towns versus the state in education. The resolution seeks the court's opinion on whether the constitution creates an enforceable right to state funding or leaves such decisions to the legislature's discretion. This procedural request does not change current law but aims to resolve legal uncertainty around education funding obligations.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 29) requests the New Hampshire Supreme Court to clarify the scope of specific constitutional provisions regarding the separation of powers. It asks the court to provide an opinion on how Articles 4, 72-a, and 73-a interact, particularly concerning the legislature's authority versus judicial power in areas like court administration, budgeting, and rulemaking. The resolution lists 11 specific legal questions about whether the legislature retains authority over matters not strictly defined as "judicial power" under the constitution. As a procedural request for a court opinion, it does not create new law or directly affect any individuals or entities. The resolution seeks clarification on existing constitutional language to resolve ambiguities about legislative and judicial responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 27) would remove an exception in New Hampshire's constitution that currently allows Article 72a to limit the General Court's authority to establish courts. The change would make the General Court the sole authority for creating courts, eliminating the existing exception. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2026 election to take effect, as specified in the resolution. It directly affects the state's constitutional process for court establishment but does not change court operations or create new legal obligations.

Maddy summaryHR 19 is a non-binding House resolution encouraging New Hampshire's public colleges and universities to invite more conservative speakers to campus to increase viewpoint diversity. It urges institutions to host conservative speakers alongside others across the political spectrum for discussions on topics like public policy and science, while emphasizing respectful debate. The resolution explicitly states it does not direct curricula or compel any invitations, affirming that more speech - not less - best serves students. It also condemns political violence and supports free expression in academic settings, as outlined in its text.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 14) would require all candidates for governor, state senator, and state representative to be U.S. citizens, amending Articles 14, 29, and 42 of New Hampshire's Constitution. It directly affects individuals seeking these three statewide and legislative offices by adding explicit U.S. citizenship as a qualification. The bill proposes to update the constitution's language to clarify this requirement, which currently exists in varying forms but would be uniformly stated for all three offices. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 general election to take effect. This is a procedural change to constitutional qualifications, not a new policy affecting current officeholders.

Maddy summaryHB 1462 creates a standardized complaint form for alleging that voters wrongfully claimed New Hampshire domicile to vote. The Department of Justice must provide this form (available online, at their office, or the Secretary of State's office) and investigate only complaints filed using it. Investigators may ask specific questions about voting history, domicile changes, or false information at registration, but are strictly prohibited from inquiring about unrelated private matters like medical care, utility bills, or family relationships. This procedural bill establishes clear limits on election complaint investigations without changing voter eligibility or voting rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1058 amends New Hampshire law to allow carrying a loaded firearm on an off-highway recreational vehicle (OHRV), such as an ATV or dirt bike, when operating it on private property with the landowner's permission. Currently, the law prohibits carrying a loaded firearm on an OHRV, but this bill creates a specific exception for private property use (excluding public trails, rights-of-way, or designated OHRV corridors). The change does not affect existing exceptions for law enforcement officers or for carrying pistols/revolvers. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1277 requires absentee ballot applicants in New Hampshire to include their New Hampshire driver's license number or nondriver's identification number on their application form. This change directly affects voters requesting absentee ballots, as it adds a new field (line 35-36) to the standard application. The bill amends RSA 657:4 to mandate this identification detail be provided when submitting an absentee ballot request. It does not alter eligibility rules but adds a verification step for absentee ballot applications.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 29) would remove language from New Hampshire's constitution stating that rules created by the Supreme Court "have the force and effect of law." Currently, such rules are treated as legally binding, but the amendment would prevent the Supreme Court from issuing rules with that legal authority. The change would affect how court procedures and administrative rules are enforced, shifting authority away from judicial rulemaking. If approved, it would require voters to decide on this constitutional change in the 2026 election.