Rep. Ross Berry

Maddy summaryHB 1418 requires that in towns and school districts using the official ballot referendum system (SB 2 towns), any new or expanded spending proposal - such as a town operating budget or school district appropriation - must meet two conditions to pass: at least 15% of registered voters must cast ballots on the proposal, and a majority of those voting must approve it. This applies specifically to municipalities that have adopted the official ballot meeting format under RSA 40:13. The bill does not change spending amounts but sets a minimum voter participation and approval threshold for budget decisions. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1369 amends New Hampshire law to allow towns to post the warrant for a special town meeting on their official website instead of publishing it in a newspaper of general circulation. The bill updates RSA 39:4 to require that the warrant be posted within one week of the meeting being called, maintaining the current deadline while expanding notice options. This change directly affects all New Hampshire towns holding special town meetings by providing a digital alternative to newspaper publication. The law would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1396 amends New Hampshire law to prohibit filling vacancies in the state House of Representatives. Specifically, it revises RSA 661:10 to state that "if a vacancy occurs in the office of state representative... the vacancy shall not be filled." This policy change directly affects constituents in the affected district, as the seat remains vacant until the next general election. The bill does not apply to other offices like state senators or executive councilors, which retain existing vacancy procedures under different constitutional provisions. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1168 extends the time employers have to respond to wage claims from 10 days to 30 days after receiving notice. This change directly affects employers who receive claims from employees alleging unpaid wages. The bill modifies RSA 275:51 by updating the deadline for employers to file written objections to such claims. If employers don't respond within the new 30-day window, the commissioner may order payment without further delay. This is a procedural adjustment to the existing wage enforcement process.

Maddy summaryHB 1807 requires school districts to include specific financial information in voting materials for school budget decisions. It mandates that warrant articles and ballots display the previous year's per-pupil cost (calculated using updated formulas), 10-year cost-per-pupil and teacher salary trends in graphs, and the estimated tax impact if all budget articles pass. This affects all New Hampshire school districts and voters participating in school budget votes. The bill repeals the old per-pupil cost calculation method and requires standardized, inflation-adjusted data presentation to improve transparency for voters.

Maddy summaryHB 1187 changes the filing process for candidates running in special elections for New Hampshire's state House of Representatives. It allows candidates to file their candidacy with their local town or city clerk instead of the state secretary of state, during a 3-day window. During this period, local clerk offices must be open for at least 2 hours each day, and the secretary of state must post the specific dates and hours online. This adjustment streamlines local filing while ensuring timely submission to the state office. The bill has minimal fiscal impact, costing less than $10,000 annually.

Maddy summaryHB 1195 requires New Hampshire municipalities to allow child care centers (such as group centers, preschools, and school-age programs) to operate on commercially zoned land without special permits, provided they meet state licensing standards set by the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill defines "child care center" to exclude family day care homes (run from residences) and specifies that municipalities cannot impose additional zoning rules beyond state requirements. It also exempts centers from certain building restrictions when converting existing structures (without altering size) and permits local restrictions in industrial zones if child care conflicts with existing uses. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 430 requires school employees (like teachers) to respond honestly and completely to written requests from parents about their child's education within 10 business days. It directly affects parents seeking information and school staff who must provide it. The bill includes an exception: if full disclosure risks a student's immediate harm, staff must report to child welfare authorities within 48 hours and may withhold only that specific information. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and requires the state board of education to update educator ethics rules by June 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1298 requires local election officials (town clerks) to dispose of external memory devices from electronic ballot counting machines in the same manner as physical ballots. The bill amends state law to explicitly include these devices under existing disposal rules for ballots, absentee applications, and related election materials. This applies to both federal and non-federal elections, with retention periods of at least 22 months for federal elections or 60 days for others. The change ensures memory devices are destroyed rather than stored, aligning their disposal with standard ballot handling procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1140 allows disabled individuals with specific physical conditions - such as paraplegia, loss of both lower extremities, or other disabilities approved by the executive director - to hunt from motor vehicles with a special permit. To qualify, hunters must hold a current hunting license, apply for the permit (with a $10 fee), and carry it while hunting. The permit permits hunting from motor vehicles, including off-highway vehicles, snowmobiles, and terrain vehicles, but prohibits carrying loaded firearms while the vehicle is moving. This change modifies existing hunting regulations to accommodate certain disabled hunters under strict safety and licensing requirements.