Rep. Mark Warden

Maddy summaryHB 392 directs the dissolution of three specific state entities: the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Health Equity, the Department of Environmental Services' environmental justice programs, and the Governor's Council on Diversity and Inclusion. The bill prohibits these agencies from re-establishing these offices or using any allocated funds for projects labeled "health equity" or "civil rights and environmental justice." It also removes the Office of Health Equity director position from state statute and repeals related membership requirements. This bill affects state agencies' program structures and funding allocations, with no new funding provided or positions authorized.

Maddy summaryHB 1546 repeals New Hampshire's business profits tax, eliminating a tax that previously applied to businesses operating within the state. The bill removes all references to "business profits tax" from state statutes, including tax code sections, reporting requirements, and penalty provisions. This change directly affects businesses that were required to pay this tax, removing their obligation to file returns or pay associated penalties for this specific tax. The bill does not replace the tax with another business tax but simply removes the existing requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 392 directs the state to dissolve three specific entities: the Office of Health Equity within the Department of Health and Human Services, the environmental justice and civil rights functions within the Department of Environmental Services, and the Governor's Council on Diversity and Inclusion. This bill would eliminate these offices and their mandated programs, directly affecting state agencies and their existing equity-focused initiatives. The key mechanism is the formal termination of these offices' legal authority and operations, removing their structural role in state policy implementation. The bill does not create new programs or alter funding but ends specific administrative functions related to health equity, environmental justice, and diversity coordination.

Maddy summaryHB 639 establishes New Hampshire's first comprehensive legal framework for blockchain technology and digital assets, creating a new "Blockchain Basic Laws" chapter (Chapter 359-V) in state law. It defines key terms like "blockchain," "digital asset," and "digital asset mining business" (a business using over 1 megawatt of energy for blockchain operations) while prohibiting electricity rate discrimination against such businesses. The law aims to attract blockchain innovators by positioning New Hampshire as a business-friendly jurisdiction with clear regulations, protecting investors and consumers through defined legal standards. It directly affects blockchain companies, digital asset miners, and consumers using blockchain-based services within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 428 clarifies how New Hampshire local governments interact with the state building and fire codes. It allows municipalities to handle permit issuance and fee collection for building projects under the state code, provided their local rules are at least as strict as the state standards. The bill updates definitions to clarify that local enforcement agencies (like building inspectors) can operate under state code while ensuring local rules don't weaken state requirements. It also specifies that technical code changes (like safety standards) remain the state's responsibility, not local governments. This primarily affects local building officials, contractors, and municipalities managing construction oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 310 establishes a commission in New Hampshire to study how to create regulations for stable tokens (digital currencies tied to real assets), tokenized real-world assets (like property or commodities represented on blockchain), and blockchain-based trusts. The commission will examine potential regulatory frameworks and make recommendations to the state legislature. The bill was signed into law on July 15, 2025, with its key provisions taking effect on November 1, 2026, allowing time for the commission's work. This bill does not create immediate regulations but sets the stage for future policy decisions on these emerging financial technologies.

Maddy summaryHB 327 amends state law to clarify who can witness signatures for candidates filing to run for state representative. It specifies that for districts with one town or ward, the town/city clerk or secretary of state must witness filings. For districts with multiple towns or wards, the town clerk where the candidate lives (or a designated town clerk if unincorporated) must witness filings. This change directly affects candidates seeking state representative positions in different district configurations. The bill became law on July 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 598 establishes a committee to study all public data sources across state government branches, including current data formats and potential new data streams. The committee will evaluate existing public data (like spreadsheets and databases), recommend standardized formats for government data outputs, and protect personal identifiable information. It requires the committee to report preliminary findings by November 2025 and final recommendations by November 2026. This bill directly affects all state government departments that provide public data, aiming to create consistency in how data is shared.

Maddy summaryHB 548 exempts certain health care facilities from licensing moratoriums and specific regulatory requirements. It specifically applies to facilities operating on a membership-based model or accepting direct payments from patients (not covered by insurance), excluding nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. The bill removes barriers to new licenses and capacity increases for these direct-pay facilities while requiring them to provide a patient bill of rights. It also directs the health department to study direct-pay health care models. This policy change directly affects non-nursing-home facilities using membership or direct-payment business models.