Rep. Mary Jane Wallner

Maddy summarySB 155, titled "relative to highway toll credits," proposes changes to toll credit programs for highway users. The bill's specific provisions and who it directly affects (e.g., drivers, toll-paying commuters) are not detailed in the provided context. As a procedural bill focused on toll credits, it has been referred to multiple committees and is currently under interim study. No concrete policy changes or mechanisms are described in the available information.

Maddy summaryThe context provided does not include the substantive text or specific provisions of HB 343. While the bill's title references "reporting regarding the northern border alliance program," no details about the required reports, who must submit them, or the program's scope are included. The bill was introduced on March 20, 2025, referred to the Judiciary Committee, and ultimately killed on May 22, 2025, after a committee voted "Inexpedient to Legislate" (4-0). Without the bill's content, a factual summary of its policy changes or affected parties cannot be created.

Maddy summarySB 243 modifies New Hampshire's child care scholarship program by establishing rules for a temporary pilot program. It allows the Department of Health and Human Services to temporarily suspend the pilot if an active waitlist exists (per administrative code) and requires reinstatement when the waitlist ends. The bill also mandates a detailed report by May 2028 to the legislature, covering program usage, costs, funding needs, and improvements. Additionally, it directs the department to study and simplify the application process by November 2026 to reduce unnecessary paperwork for families seeking child care scholarships. This bill directly affects low-income families applying for child care assistance and providers participating in the scholarship program.

Maddy summaryHB 157 establishes a legislative study committee to review and improve the process for creating fiscal notes - documents estimating the cost of proposed laws. The committee, composed of House and Senate members plus the legislative budget office, will examine current requirements for when fiscal notes are needed, what they should include (like cost-benefit analysis), and whether the $10,000 cost threshold should change. It will also assess staffing and resource needs for the budget office and state agencies, focusing on major departments like health and education. The goal is to make fiscal notes more useful for lawmakers without changing actual legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating a new state tax on interest and dividend income for New Hampshire residents starting in 2025. It would impose a 5 percent tax on individuals, partnerships, and other entities that earn more than $7,500 annually from sources like bonds, corporate dividends, and mutual funds, while excluding interest from state government debt and income held in retirement accounts. The legislation includes a provision to automatically adjust the $7,500 income threshold every two years based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Additionally, the bill clarifies how the tax applies to partnerships and limited liability companies, ensuring that only the portion of income attributable to residents of the state is taxed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal preference for keeping children in New Hampshire and placing them with their siblings whenever possible, unless doing so would endanger them. It modifies custody rules for parents not charged with abuse or neglect by creating a rebuttable presumption that they are fit to care for their children, requiring the state to prove unfitness with specific evidence. The legislation also sets a clear order of preference for out-of-home placements, prioritizing relatives, community-based foster homes, and schools of origin over group or residential care. Additionally, it mandates that psychological evaluations be conducted by trauma-specialized psychologists and clarifies that firearm ownership alone does not make a home unsafe if federal and state laws are followed.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for New Hampshire's child care scholarship program to families where at least one parent is a verified child care professional working at a licensed center. To qualify, the household must have an income at or below the local median, and the child care professional must work at least 25 hours per week at a certified facility. The legislation appropriates $1.1 million to fund these scholarships and establish a temporary project running from January to June 2025 to assess how the expansion helps recruit and retain child care staff. The state Department of Health and Human Services will manage the program and submit a final report by November 2025 detailing the number of new participants and recommendations for future funding.