Rep. Brian Cole

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in New Hampshire to inform their employees about resources available to support veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Specifically, employers must provide written notice or post a visible notice containing contact information for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD. The law applies to all employers and mandates that this information be shared with staff to ensure access to support services. If an employer fails to comply with this requirement, they could face civil penalties enforced by the state Department of Labor. The bill would become effective 60 days after it is passed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for how candidates and the public can access voter checklists in New Hampshire towns and cities. It ensures that these lists are available for free examination before any election and allows anyone to request a physical or electronic copy. While the first free electronic request per election remains free, the bill introduces a fee of up to $25 for subsequent electronic copies and sets specific pricing for paper copies based on the number of names on the list. Local officials are responsible for providing these documents and collecting the applicable fees, which take effect on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis law authorizes the Department of Environmental Services to receive $6.5 million to improve regional drinking water infrastructure in southern New Hampshire. The funds will be used for Phase 2 of a project that increases water supply capacity by over two million gallons per day for towns affected by PFAS contamination and rising demand. Specific actions include designing necessary support projects, installing chemical treatment systems at water tanks in Derry and Salem, and raising the water level of Lake Massabesic. The money comes from general state funds and existing federal and trust funds, and the governor can access these resources starting July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire hunting laws to allow lever-action carbines in areas where only handguns or pistols are typically permitted for game. The legislation specifically authorizes the use of rifles chambered in .357, .44 Magnum, or .45 Colt, as well as straight-walled pistol cartridges of .38 or .357 caliber and greater. These changes take effect on January 1, 2025, and apply to all hunters operating within the state's designated handgun-only hunting zones.