Rep. Dan McGuire

Maddy summaryHB 1317 updates the rules for charitable organizations seeking property tax exemptions in New Hampshire by requiring them to file annual financial statements with their local municipalities before June 1. The bill allows municipalities to charge a late fee of $50 per week for overdue forms but prohibits granting exemptions once the local tax rate has been approved for the year. It also empowers city assessors and selectmen to request specific organizational documents within 30 days, with failure to provide these materials potentially resulting in a denial of exemption. Additionally, the legislation expands the grounds for tax abatement to include "good cause" beyond just errors or inability to pay, while setting a March 1 deadline for applying for such relief.

Maddy summaryThis resolution asks policymakers at all levels to carefully review all available data and viewpoints before creating climate change rules. It highlights concerns about biased research, misleading reports, and past inaccurate climate predictions that could lead to poor policy decisions. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal statement urging caution and balanced consideration in future climate legislation.

Maddy summaryThis law establishes tax limits for towns and school districts that choose to adopt them, restricting how much they can raise in property taxes compared to the previous year. Local governments can set a fixed dollar amount or percentage cap, with automatic adjustments allowed for inflation and changes in population or student attendance. Towns and school boards can override these limits during annual meetings, but doing so requires a specific voting process where a supermajority of those voting must approve the increase. The rules apply only to communities that voluntarily enact the cap, giving them control over their budget constraints while providing a structured way to exceed them if necessary.

Maddy summaryThis law requires electricity generators in New Hampshire to notify the Department of Energy within 30 days if an outside regulatory agency threatens to force their plant to close. In response, the state's energy department must investigate how the closure would impact power reliability and costs, and it may take legal steps to challenge the external order. The bill also states that state agencies cannot be sued for actions taken to protect in-state power generation under these rules.

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits individuals, corporations, and political committees from distributing artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes of candidates within 90 days of an election unless they include a clear disclosure stating the media was manipulated. The required label must specify whether the content is an image, video, or audio and must be displayed prominently for the entire duration of the media or read aloud at regular intervals. Exceptions exist for bona fide news reports that acknowledge the material's questionable authenticity, interactive computer service providers, and satire or parody that does not rely on AI. Candidates whose images are used in deceptive deepfakes can seek legal relief, including injunctions to stop publication and financial damages against the creator. The bill took effect on August 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for plumbing apprenticeships in New Hampshire by limiting each plumbing license holder to employing a maximum of two apprentices. It clarifies that a master plumber is not required to register an apprentice in a state-approved program, though such registration is still permitted if the program meets federal Department of Labor standards. The law defines a plumbing apprentice as someone learning to install plumbing and drainage systems under the supervision of a licensed professional. These changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how retirement benefits are calculated for Group II members of the New Hampshire Retirement System, specifically affecting those who were already vested before January 1, 2012, and those who started working after July 1, 2011. It establishes new rules for early retirement, allowing eligible members to retire at age 45 with 20 years of service or age 50 with 25 years of service, while requiring a minimum age of 52.5 for those who began service after 2011 unless they accept a reduced benefit. The legislation also sets a minimum annual pension of $10,000 for qualifying retirees and adjusts the percentage used to calculate pension amounts based on years of service, with different rates applying to pre-2012 and post-2011 employees. Additionally, the bill updates disability retirement formulas and includes a specific appropriation to fund these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how dog license fees are collected and allocated in New Hampshire while repealing several older designated funds. It establishes a new $1.75 companion animal population control fee for dog owners, which must be deposited into a specific fund for animal neutering, and reduces the standard license fee to $1.75 for owners aged 65 or older who license only one dog. Additionally, the legislation redirects remaining money from the pesticides training program fund to the pesticides control fund and officially repeals multiple previous laws that created separate funds for items like body-worn camera equipment, emergency vehicle warning signs, and state heating system savings. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, for the dog fee provisions, with the rest of the bill becoming active 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new chapter in state law to regulate how government agencies use artificial intelligence, defining specific terms like generative AI and deepfakes. It prohibits the use of AI for manipulating individuals, classifying people in ways that could lead to discrimination, conducting public surveillance with facial recognition, or creating deceptive deepfakes. While the law allows for certain AI applications, it requires human review for irreversible decisions affecting rights or law enforcement actions and mandates that users be informed when interacting with AI systems. State agencies must audit their current systems within nine months to ensure compliance and remove any prohibited tools, while also submitting annual reports to the governor and legislative leaders.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a committee to study the procedures for seizing items connected to drug crimes. The committee will consist of three representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, who will receive travel reimbursement for their work. The legislation focuses on creating a specific group to examine how these asset forfeitures are currently handled.