Rep. Riché Colcombe

Maddy summaryHB 1383 updates the rules for how members of cooperative school boards are selected in New Hampshire. The bill requires these boards to choose one of five specific methods for electing members, such as dividing the district into equal population areas, ensuring proportional representation, or having members represent their original local districts. It also sets a maximum term limit of three years for board members and mandates the use of an official non-partisan ballot system for these elections. This legislation directly affects cooperative school districts by standardizing their election processes and limiting how long individual board members can serve.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal process for the Department of Environmental Services to transfer ownership of state-owned dams to local towns or groups of landowners before the dams are removed. Under the new rules, the department must offer the dams to affected municipalities first, providing them with detailed information about the dam's condition and estimated repair costs, and only proceed with removal if no one accepts the transfer within a set timeframe. To support these transfers and future maintenance, the legislation creates a loan program funded by a state dam maintenance fund, offering 20-year loans at a 5 percent interest rate to towns or associations that take ownership. The bill also mandates that any loans taken must be repaid using local budget appropriations or property taxes from areas bordering the impoundment, with a cap of 50 percent of those taxes. Additionally, the process includes an exemption for dams deemed to be in imminent danger of failure, allowing the state to remove them immediately without offering a transfer.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how vacancies are filled for school board seats that are elected at large in cooperative school districts. It requires that any person appointed to fill such a vacancy must live in the same town as the member who left the seat. The law also outlines a specific order for filling these gaps, starting with existing board members from the same town, then moving to local selectmen, and finally the district moderator if no agreement can be reached. These appointed individuals serve only until the next district election, at which point voters will choose a new representative for the full term.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to how New Hampshire administers its refugee resettlement program by prioritizing state funding for the social determinants of health for U.S. citizens first. Under the new rules, government resources for refugees could only be used after the department confirms that all eligible citizens have been served and removed from waitlists for state-funded services. The legislation would take effect 60 days after passing, though recent committee reviews have recommended against further legislative action on this measure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and private schools in New Hampshire to designate interscholastic sports teams as male, female, or coed based on the biological sex listed on a student's birth certificate. It explicitly prohibits female-designated teams from allowing male students to participate and mandates that schools enforce these rules without fear of legal complaints or investigations from government entities or athletic associations. The legislation also creates a legal pathway for students or schools to sue for damages if they believe these eligibility rules have been violated or if someone faces retaliation for reporting such violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Veteran Licensing Acceleration Program to help military veterans in New Hampshire obtain professional licenses more quickly in regulated fields. It creates a dedicated administrator within the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services to provide resources, mentorship, and guidance on how military experience translates to state licensure requirements. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification issue temporary licenses within 30 days to armed forces members and their spouses who already hold valid out-of-state licenses, allowing them to work while completing local requirements. The bill also directs the state to adopt rules defining which military training counts as equivalent to professional education and includes funding to support these new initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the ability of incarcerated individuals, parolees, and those convicted of violent felonies or crimes against children to change their legal names. To obtain a name change, these individuals must now prove to a probate court that the change is necessary, and they must notify relevant government agencies and the original prosecuting authority. The law also requires the prosecutor to attempt to inform the victim or the victim's family, allowing them to share their views with the judge before a decision is made. These rules apply specifically to serious offenses such as murder, assault, kidnapping, and sexual crimes, while the changes take effect on July 30, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new standards for informed consent and outlines specific patient rights within the state's medical practice laws. It requires physicians to clearly explain diagnoses, treatment options, risks, and benefits while documenting these discussions, and it grants patients the right to refuse care, request second opinions, and maintain privacy. Additionally, the legislation ensures that doctors will not abruptly stop medically necessary treatment without providing adequate notice and assistance for finding new care. These changes apply to all patient-physician interactions and take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.