Rep. Riché Colcombe

Maddy summaryHB 273 grants parents the right to access their minor child's library records at public libraries. The bill directly affects parents of minors and public libraries that maintain such records. It requires libraries to provide parents with access to their child's borrowing history and other library records upon request. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, after being signed by Governor Ayotte on August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 712 restricts certain gender-affirming medical procedures for minors (including chest reconstruction, commonly referred to in medical contexts as "breast surgeries" but not the precise term used in legislation) in residential care facilities and health facilities. The bill requires facilities to obtain parental consent for these procedures and prohibits them without such consent for minors under 18. It also includes unrelated provisions requiring health care providers to collect and report abortion statistics, though this element appears misplaced in the bill's title. The law affects minors receiving care in residential facilities and medical providers operating within those settings. Note: The bill's title inaccurately describes the medical procedures; it targets gender-affirming care, not general breast surgeries.

Maddy summaryHB 225 requires New Hampshire employers with 50+ employees at a single location to reemploy military spouses if their service member is involuntarily deployed. The bill defines "employer" to exclude combined staff under common ownership and allows employers to refuse reemployment only if circumstances make it impossible or unreasonable, per federal guidelines (20 C.F.R. § 1002.139). This directly affects military spouses in New Hampshire who face job loss due to their partner's deployment. The law creates a clear framework for employer obligations while providing a specific exception tied to federal standards. It takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 228 requires citizens to submit petitions requesting topics for town meeting agendas by July 1st each year, instead of the previous deadline. This directly affects towns and residents participating in local governance, as it standardizes the submission window for petitioned articles at annual or special town meetings. The bill modifies procedural rules for town meeting organization without altering substantive policies. It became law on July 22, 2025, and takes effect September 13, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 475 would have modified the standard budget reductions applied to official ballot town meetings in New Hampshire towns. The bill aimed to adjust how much funding is automatically reduced for these local meetings, directly affecting towns that rely on this format for budget decisions. It passed the legislature but was vetoed by Governor Ayotte on July 15, 2025, preventing it from becoming law. The measure focused on changing the default budget calculation method, not on new funding or procedural changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes strict standards for sexual education in New Hampshire K-12 schools, mandating that instruction be delivered exclusively by licensed nurses and requiring written parental consent before any class begins. The curriculum must cover medically accurate topics such as anatomy, hygiene, and disease prevention while explicitly prohibiting discussions on gender identity, sexual orientation, and lifestyle choices. Additionally, the law requires schools to provide parents with curriculum materials and a 14-day notice period for any proposed lessons, along with an opt-in mechanism for families who do not wish their children to participate.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes updating the requirements for school nurses in New Hampshire by adding a mandate that they must be certified by the state board of education in addition to holding a current nursing license. The legislation would allow school superintendents to nominate and school boards to appoint these nurses to manage school health programs while ensuring they have the necessary facilities and equipment. If passed, the changes would take effect 60 days after the bill becomes law. However, the bill was recently referred for an interim study, meaning it has not yet been approved for future legislative action.