Rep. Connie Lane

Maddy summaryHB 1814 establishes a 10-year statewide strategic housing and infrastructure plan (SHIP) that requires the governor to develop and update the plan every two years. The plan must identify housing needs, incorporate regional infrastructure projects, and include public input through hearings in each executive council district. It directly affects state agencies (like the Department of Business and Economic Affairs), municipalities (which must update master plans every 10 years), and regional planning organizations. The bill also expands the Council on Housing Stability’s membership to include regional planning representatives and housing advocates, ensuring broader input into housing strategy.

Maddy summaryHB 1786 imposes a semi-annual state assessment on residential properties valued over $1 million that are not used as a primary residence (luxury second homes), directly affecting owners of such properties. The revenue generated funds statewide housing development programs, including $15 million for workforce training in building trades and municipal grants for housing production. Key provisions include creating a dedicated fund for demolishing vacant buildings, expanding tax credits for housing infrastructure, and establishing a commission to study state financing for housing. The bill aims to address New Hampshire's housing shortage by leveraging new revenue to support affordable housing construction and workforce development.

Maddy summaryHB 1726 requires New Hampshire state agencies to identify surplus property suitable for affordable housing development and make it available to qualified developers at below-market rates. The bill mandates that at least 20% of housing units developed on such property must remain affordable to low- and moderate-income households for a minimum of 20 years, with legal restrictions ensuring this use. It also prioritizes municipal grant funding for communities collaborating with state agencies on identifying and rezoning eligible land. The bill does not provide new state funding but allows agencies to retain proceeds from property sales for one additional budget cycle. This directly affects state agencies, qualified housing developers, and low-to-moderate-income households seeking affordable housing.

Maddy summarySB 438 (2026 Session) enables the Department of Safety and Secretary of State to create a secure process for sharing photo images and U.S. citizenship information from REAL ID applicants who are applying for an *enhanced* identification card. This information would be used by election officials to verify voter identity at polling places, satisfying existing proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting. Applicants can opt out or withdraw consent at any time, and the system must be operational by January 1, 2027. The bill specifically affects applicants for enhanced REAL ID cards, not all voters, and does not impact voter registration status.

Maddy summaryHB 1031 allows candidates for state office and current state officeholders to use up to $3,000 of campaign funds for security measures. It directly affects state-level political candidates and officeholders, covering security for themselves, their family, and campaign or office staff. The bill permits spending on reasonable security costs like alarms, locks, gates (if purely for security), professional personnel, and cybersecurity, but only if the threat exists due to their political role and costs match standard market rates. It explicitly states such spending does not count as personal use of campaign funds. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1695 requires the secretary of state to include a voter's guide on the ballot for constitutional amendments, explaining the consequences of voting "yes" or "no." The guide must state what happens if the amendment passes (e.g., new law takes effect) or fails (e.g., current law remains). It mandates the guide be printed directly below the amendment question on the ballot, or distributed with the ballot if it would require an extra page. This applies to all constitutional amendments proposed by the legislature or constitutional convention, ensuring voters receive clear, objective information before casting their vote.

Maddy summaryHB 1783 creates new benefits for community-based water and wastewater treatment projects that enable residential construction on smaller lot sizes. The Department of Environmental Services will determine if projects qualify, and qualifying projects may receive priority for housing grants, preferred financing rates from the municipal bond bank, or expedited approvals. These benefits apply specifically to innovative regional water/wastewater systems that reduce minimum lot size requirements for homes, as defined under existing law. The bill does not provide new state funding for these benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1277 requires absentee ballot applicants in New Hampshire to include their New Hampshire driver's license number or nondriver's identification number on their application form. This change directly affects voters requesting absentee ballots, as it adds a new field (line 35-36) to the standard application. The bill amends RSA 657:4 to mandate this identification detail be provided when submitting an absentee ballot request. It does not alter eligibility rules but adds a verification step for absentee ballot applications.

Maddy summaryHB 1201 requires political committees exempt from federal taxation under IRS sections 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) to disclose their donors' identities in financial reports. This directly affects these tax-exempt political committees, which previously could avoid disclosing donors. The bill amends state law to eliminate their current exemption from donor disclosure, replacing it with a mandatory requirement. It removes the prior option for such committees to avoid disclosure by using a voter notice disclaimer.

Maddy summaryHB 1083 requires individuals or organizations making large independent political expenditures to disclose the original source of the funds. Specifically, it applies to those spending over $500,000 supporting/opposing a gubernatorial candidate or over $50,000 total for other state offices (executive council, state senate, or state representative). These entities must file an itemized report with the Secretary of State listing each original contributor's name and address. The bill targets transparency in campaign finance by revealing who ultimately funds significant election-related spending. It does not change existing contribution limits but mandates disclosure for high-value independent expenditures.