Rep. Ross Berry

Maddy summaryHB 1509 would remove judicial immunity for judges who make bail decisions under specific circumstances. It allows civil lawsuits against judges if they release a defendant for certain offenses (like violations of RSA 631:2-b, felonies, or crimes committed while on prior bail), the released defendant then commits a new crime or intentional tort, and another person suffers physical or financial injury as a result. Injured parties or their estates could sue, and courts would not apply judicial immunity in these cases. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not change bail standards but creates a new legal pathway for accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 1250 requires employees in New Hampshire to give employers at least 15 days' notice before taking unpaid leave for childbirth, postpartum care, or pediatric medical appointments for their child. It limits this leave to 25 hours total within the first year of the child’s birth or adoption and allows employers to deny job reinstatement if returning would cause major operational disruption. The bill applies to employers with 20 or more employees and permits employees to substitute accrued paid leave for the unpaid time. Employers may request documentation to verify the leave’s purpose. This changes existing rules by clarifying notice requirements and reinstatement conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 359 requires banks, credit unions, and insurers to base service decisions on objective, risk-based analysis rather than non-quantitative factors. It prohibits denying or canceling services due to a person's political views, religious beliefs (except for religious institutions), firearm ownership, environmental or social policy choices, or participation in diversity initiatives. The bill specifically bans the use of "social credit scores" that consider factors like support for environmental standards, gun ownership, or engagement in social justice programming. Financial institutions must use measurable risk data, with limited religious exemptions, and violations are treated as unfair business practices subject to penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 313 would allow government bodies to hold closed sessions during public meetings when discussing matters that could likely harm an individual's reputation if discussed publicly. The bill specifically targets situations where open discussion might damage someone's standing, such as in personnel matters or sensitive investigations. It directly affects local and state government entities that hold public meetings, requiring them to follow this rule when considering whether to exclude the public from specific discussions. The proposal aims to balance transparency with protecting individuals from reputational harm during official proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 686 requires voters to provide identification when applying for an absentee ballot. This directly affects voters who seek to cast ballots by mail, mandating ID verification at the request stage. The bill’s key provision adds an ID requirement to the absentee ballot application process, replacing any prior methods of verification. It does not change rules for in-person voting or ballot drop-off procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 463 would change who serves on election recount boards for local select board and school board elections in New Hampshire. It specifically modifies the composition requirements for these recount boards, altering the appointment process or membership criteria. The bill directly affects local election administrators and voters in communities holding these specific local elections. As of the latest update, the bill remains pending in committee after a committee report recommended it pass, but it has not yet been voted on by the full legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 323 would require voters to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, when voting in person at polling locations. This requirement directly affects voters participating in person at elections, including those who may not carry such identification. The bill's key provision mandates this ID check as a standard step for verifying voter identity at polling places. It does not apply to mail-in or absentee voting and focuses solely on in-person ballot casting.

Maddy summaryHB 158 would allow the public to inspect lists showing who voted absentee in elections. It directly affects voters and election observers by providing transparency into absentee ballot usage. The bill requires election officials to make these lists available for public review, typically at designated locations or online. This is a procedural change focused on election transparency, not a substantive policy shift. The bill is currently in committee with a majority committee report recommending passage.

Maddy summaryHB 348 requires all New Hampshire towns and cities to create written guidelines for their general assistance programs. These guidelines must cover application processes, eligibility criteria (including requiring residency proof like leases or utility bills, with special provisions for victims of domestic violence or trafficking), appeal procedures, and a minimum local assistance limit of 50% of the federal poverty level. The bill directly affects local governments, which must adopt these rules, and residents seeking local assistance who must meet the new residency and documentation requirements. It does not change state-level assistance programs but sets standards for how municipalities administer local aid.

Maddy summaryHB 359 prohibits banks and insurance companies from denying services based on non-risk factors (like race, gender, or zip code), requiring them to use only objective, risk-based metrics (such as credit scores or accident history) for decisions. It directly affects financial institutions and their customers by mandating transparent, data-driven underwriting standards. Key provisions require institutions to justify any service denial using quantifiable risk data, not subjective or discriminatory criteria. The bill is currently pending in committee, referred for further study after a committee vote (15-2) on October 28, 2025.