Rep. Matthew Hicks

Maddy summaryHB 1161 removes a mandatory requirement for New Hampshire municipalities to establish advisory boards for development districts. Currently, local governments must create these boards; the bill changes the law to make them optional. Municipalities can now decide whether to form such boards based on their specific community needs. This directly affects all cities and towns operating development districts under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 1330 would change New Hampshire's primary voting rules to allow any registered voter to participate in the primary election of any political party, regardless of their own party affiliation or if they have no declared party. This affects all registered voters in the state who wish to vote in either state or presidential primaries. The key provision removes the current requirement that voters must declare a party to vote in that party's primary, instead permitting voters to choose any party's primary ballot. Voters would still be restricted to casting only one primary ballot per election. The bill would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1548 requires New Hampshire's Department of Education to collect and publish detailed data on the costs of special education services for all K-12 schools, including public, charter, private, trade, and other schools. It mandates the department to break down costs by school district and provider type (such as private special education providers or joint agreements) and include related transportation expenses. The data must be published online and reported to the legislature annually. The bill does not provide funding for data collection or reporting, though the department notes it may need additional staff to implement the requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 1371 prohibits landlords from charging application fees to individuals applying for residential rental agreements. It requires landlords to accept standard identification (like government-issued ID, taxpayer ID, or social security number) for background checks instead of requiring a social security number or refusing applications without one. The bill applies only to residential rentals, excluding commercial properties. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 572 establishes the "Partners in Housing" program under the Housing Champions Fund to help cities, counties, and developers build workforce housing. The bill allocates state funding to support these projects, directly aiding local governments and developers in creating housing for essential workers like teachers and nurses. It focuses on increasing affordable housing supply through financial assistance rather than new regulations.

Maddy summarySB 200 is a procedural bill that directs the state to accept and display a portrait of Sylvia Larsen, a former state legislator. The bill would require the relevant state agency (likely the legislature or Capitol office) to formally receive and install the portrait in an official public space, such as the State House. This is a ceremonial gesture honoring Larsen's service, with no policy changes or financial impacts. The bill was tabled as "Inexpedient to Legislate" by committee in October 2025, indicating it did not advance. It directly affects state government operations related to Capitol art displays.

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.