Maddy summaryHB 1271 reorganizes the oversight of acupuncture in New Hampshire by transferring regulatory authority from an existing board to the executive director of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. The bill establishes a new three-member advisory board composed of licensed acupuncturists and a detoxification specialist to advise the executive director on rulemaking and implementation. Key provisions include setting specific eligibility requirements for licensure, defining the scope of practice, and creating a list of approved acupuncture schools. The legislation also outlines procedures for license renewal, continuing education, and the use of professional titles, while maintaining existing rules until they are formally updated or repealed.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1010 aims to expand access to midwifery care by preventing state rules from denying or transferring patients based on specific pregnancy factors. The bill directly affects midwives and pregnant individuals by prohibiting restrictions related to carrying multiple fetuses, fetal malpresentation, or having fewer than three prior cesarean sections. Additionally, it stops regulations from refusing midwifery services simply because a patient lives far from a hospital. If passed, the law would take effect 60 days after enactment and would require further study before becoming permanent.
Maddy summaryHB 1663 updates New Hampshire's medical privacy laws to align with the state constitution's strong protection of personal information, asserting that these state rules are stricter than federal regulations. The bill declares that all medical records belong to the patient and establishes specific limits on copying fees, while also defining key terms like "business associate" and "marketing" to clarify how health data can be shared. It further grants patients rights to receive timely information about their conditions and treatment options, and requires healthcare providers to maintain audit trails for electronic record access. Currently, the bill has been referred for an interim study by the legislature, meaning it has not yet been enacted into law.
Maddy summaryHB 1040 would change how interest is calculated on property tax refunds when a taxpayer receives a tax abatement. Currently, the interest rate is fixed at 4 percent, but this bill proposes that the rate be set by the Department of Revenue Administration and then increased by two percentage points. The change applies to interest paid from the date the taxes were originally paid until the refund is issued. Although the bill was referred for an interim study, it was not recommended for future legislation, meaning the proposed changes were not adopted.
Maddy summaryHB 1676 creates a Sunset Commission to evaluate New Hampshire's occupational licensing boards and determine if they should continue existing. The commission, made up of members appointed by the governor, legislative leaders, and the public, will assess whether current regulations are necessary for consumer safety or if less restrictive alternatives like voluntary certification or market competition would suffice. Based on its findings, the bill proposes repealing or modifying the authority of numerous boards over the next six years, starting with acupuncture and body art practitioners in 2025 and ending with real estate and physical therapy boards in 2030. Ultimately, the legislation aims to reduce regulatory barriers while ensuring that any remaining restrictions are the least intrusive methods needed to protect public health and safety.
Maddy summaryHB 1408 proposes merging the existing boards for architects and landscape architects into a single regulatory body called the Board of Architects and Landscape Architects. This new entity would be composed of five members appointed by the governor, including two practicing architects, two practicing landscape architects, and one public member with no financial ties to the professions. The bill establishes specific qualifications for board members, such as requiring a decade of active practice in their respective fields, and outlines the board's authority to set licensing rules, ethical standards, and continuing education requirements. Additionally, the legislation repeals and re-enacts the relevant statutes to formally consolidate these two professional groups under one unified oversight structure.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire laws to standardize how hospitals and institutions collect and record information for birth worksheets. It requires facilities to gather specific details about the child, parents, and the birth event, including names, dates, addresses, and consent for sharing data with the Social Security Administration or immunization registry. The legislation also clarifies who must sign the documents, such as physicians or nurse midwives, and establishes rules for handling situations where parents refuse to provide certain information or when births occur in moving vehicles. Additionally, it mandates that a separate form be used to report health and statistical data about the mother, father, and baby to state divisions.
Maddy summaryHB 1633 would have legalized and regulated the sale of cannabis in New Hampshire by creating a new state framework similar to the existing alcohol industry. The bill proposed establishing a licensing system for various businesses, including growers, manufacturers, distributors, and retail stores, while mandating age verification and prohibiting marketing directed at minors. It also included provisions to fund education and treatment programs using tax revenue from legal sales and to ensure all products are tested for safety and contaminants. Although the bill passed a conference committee, it ultimately failed to become law after being removed from the table and the legislative session ended.