Rep. Heather Raymond

Maddy summaryHB 177 clarifies the financial responsibilities of New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for children placed in treatment settings where DHHS has financial responsibility. It directly affects children in foster care or similar placements receiving treatment services, ensuring DHHS properly manages costs for these episodes. The bill establishes specific mechanisms requiring DHHS to coordinate with treatment providers and document financial obligations for each placement period. This law, signed by Governor Ayotte on July 22, 2025, takes effect September 13, 2025, updating how DHHS handles billing and oversight for these child welfare cases.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 347 ensures that employees who are members of the state's general court (legislature) can take time off work to attend voting sessions without losing their jobs. Employers with 25 or more employees must allow this time off, requiring staff to provide advance notice of session dates. Employees may use accrued paid leave for these sessions, or take unpaid leave if no paid time is available. Employers who violate this law face civil penalties enforced by the labor commissioner. The law applies to all general court voting sessions and takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Hampshire high schools to provide students with information and access to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) starting in the 2024-2025 school year. Schools must offer guidance on financial aid eligibility, application deadlines, and the benefits of early submission, while also making the FAFSA form available upon request. The legislation mandates that schools handle any shared personal information in compliance with privacy laws and removes a previous requirement for schools to report on how many students completed the form.