Rep. Peter Petrigno

Maddy summaryHB 612 proposes three separate changes: (1) creating a temporary traditional driver's license for youth operators who will turn 21 soon, allowing them to drive legally during the transition period; (2) requiring employers to provide workers' compensation benefit cost-sharing details to affected employees; and (3) designating the third week in September as "New Hampshire Service Dog Week." If enacted, these provisions would directly affect young drivers nearing 21, workers receiving workers' compensation, and service dog advocates in New Hampshire. The bill remains pending, with its conference committee report not yet filed.

Maddy summaryHB 178 requires foster parents to advocate for foster children with disabilities during case planning meetings and decision-making processes within the foster care system. It directly affects foster children with disabilities and their foster parents by mandating that foster parents ensure these children’s specific needs are addressed in their care plans. The key provision establishes a formal role for foster parents to represent the child’s perspective in meetings involving medical, educational, and developmental services. The bill became law on June 23, 2025, and takes effect August 23, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 294, signed into law by Governor Ayotte on May 29, 2025 (effective July 28, 2025), addresses procedures for processing absentee ballots. The bill modifies how election officials handle absentee ballot submissions, though specific technical changes aren't detailed in the provided context. It directly affects voters who cast absentee ballots and election administrators responsible for processing them. As a procedural bill focused on ballot handling, it does not change voter eligibility or voting rights but standardizes the processing workflow for absentee ballots.

Maddy summaryHB 50 prohibits educators in New Hampshire public schools from intentionally teaching discrimination targeting specific racial groups, including white people, Black people, or Hispanic/Latino people. It defines "educator" to include certified teachers, administrators, and specialists, and states that violating this rule constitutes a breach of the educator code of conduct, potentially leading to disciplinary action by the state board of education. The bill allows affected individuals or the attorney general to file civil lawsuits against schools or districts for violations, seeking remedies in court or through the human rights commission. It explicitly states that discrimination cannot be justified by special considerations for any racial group and aims to equally protect all citizens from discrimination based on race.

Maddy summaryHB 553 amends New Hampshire's child abuse and neglect laws by updating definitions and establishing a rebuttable presumption that family unity is in a child's best interest. The bill requires courts to presume family unity is appropriate unless proven otherwise, while mandating removal only when a child's physical, emotional, or psychological welfare is at risk. It revises definitions of "abandoned" (excluding cases due to lack of mental health services) and "abuse" (including sexual abuse and intentional physical injury). The law also emphasizes trauma-informed care, prioritizes placing children with kin or in community settings, and requires frequent reviews to return children home as quickly as possible. This directly affects child welfare courts, families involved in abuse/neglect cases, and child protective services.