Rep. Kat McGhee

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local planning boards to include specific rules in their subdivision regulations regarding water supply and costs. It requires developers to conduct water supply studies and ensure enough water exists for current and future land uses, while also setting minimum testing standards for private wells. These requirements apply to new subdivisions but exclude large community water systems and major groundwater withdrawals already regulated by state law. Additionally, the bill permits planning boards to charge reasonable fees to cover administrative expenses and notification costs associated with reviewing subdivision applications.

Maddy summaryThis bill outlines how the state commission should manage energy procurement agreements for customers who do not choose their own electricity supplier. It requires the commission to oversee contracts between utilities and energy providers, ensuring a mix of short, medium, and long-term agreements to balance stable retail prices with wholesale market costs. The legislation also mandates that costs related to renewable energy standards and the administration of default service be paid by these customers, while allowing the commission to take steps to prevent misuse of the default service option.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Farm Energy Systems and Infrastructure Design Advisory Program to help qualifying New Hampshire farms improve their energy efficiency and infrastructure. The program will provide unbiased, research-based educational assistance on energy systems and connect farms with available financial resources like grants and loans. To implement this, the state will hire one field specialist and sign an agreement with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension to deliver the support. The initiative is funded by a $100,000 appropriation for the 2025 fiscal year and will begin on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how municipalities and counties can group their electric customers together to negotiate power rates. It updates state laws to ensure that the personal data of these individual customers remains private and is not made public. The legislation also specifies that these local groups can use customer information to develop new energy services and comply with existing energy regulations. By making these adjustments, the bill aims to streamline how local governments manage and utilize electricity aggregation programs.

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits individuals, corporations, and political committees from distributing artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes of candidates within 90 days of an election unless they include a clear disclosure stating the media was manipulated. The required label must specify whether the content is an image, video, or audio and must be displayed prominently for the entire duration of the media or read aloud at regular intervals. Exceptions exist for bona fide news reports that acknowledge the material's questionable authenticity, interactive computer service providers, and satire or parody that does not rely on AI. Candidates whose images are used in deceptive deepfakes can seek legal relief, including injunctions to stop publication and financial damages against the creator. The bill took effect on August 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a faster approval process for modifying existing energy facilities, such as adding battery storage or changing fuel types, without requiring a full new siting review. To qualify for this expedited track, the facility must already be approved, connected to the grid, and located on the same land, while the changes must improve health and safety and stay within current grid capacity limits. The process requires state agencies to complete their reviews within 90 days and mandates a 30-day deadline for the site evaluation committee to determine if an application is complete. Local communities are still informed through public notices and sessions, ensuring that municipal concerns are addressed alongside the streamlined state procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without charging patients any deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. The law specifically mandates that these services be provided free of cost-sharing for individuals who have met their annual deductible, while also ensuring that preventive care screenings are covered even before the deductible is met. Diagnostic examinations are defined as medically necessary tests for evaluating abnormalities found during routine screenings, whereas supplemental examinations are for high-risk individuals who have no current abnormalities but need screening based on their personal or family history. Effective January 1, 2025, this legislation removes financial barriers for New Hampshire residents accessing these specific breast health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state licensing system for music therapists to regulate the practice of music therapy in New Hampshire. It creates a specific governing board within the existing allied health framework to oversee licensure and define the scope of practice, which includes using music for therapeutic goals like improving communication skills or managing stress. The law prohibits anyone without a license from using the title "music therapist" while allowing other healthcare professionals to use music incidentally to their existing duties. Additionally, the bill clarifies that licensed music therapists cannot evaluate or treat speech, language, or swallowing disorders unless they also hold a separate license in that field.