Rep. Mike Moffett

Maddy summarySB 486 clarifies key definitions in New Hampshire's rulemaking process under the Administrative Procedure Act. It updates terms like "form" (requiring blank spaces for public use, not just agency-labeled documents) and "final legislative action" (defining when rulemaking fails). These changes affect state agencies creating rules and the public interacting with them during rulemaking. The bill makes procedural language clearer without altering substantive rulemaking requirements. It is a technical clarification to the existing Administrative Procedure Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a requirement that ferrets must have health certificates for transfer. Animal shelters must now maintain microchip scanners and contact owners within 72 hours if an animal is unclaimed or abandoned. Shelters must scan for microchips upon intake, attempt to reunite animals with registered owners, and contact secondary owners via microchip registries if primary owners cannot be reached. These changes apply to all animal shelters transferring dogs, cats, or ferrets in New Hampshire.

Maddy summarySB 430 requires school employees (like teachers) to respond honestly and completely to written requests from parents about their child's education within 10 business days. It directly affects parents seeking information and school staff who must provide it. The bill includes an exception: if full disclosure risks a student's immediate harm, staff must report to child welfare authorities within 48 hours and may withhold only that specific information. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and requires the state board of education to update educator ethics rules by June 2027.

Maddy summarySB 573 establishes certification standards for facility comfort dogs, their handlers, and the teams they form. It defines a "facility comfort dog" as a specifically trained dog providing emotional support in settings like hospitals, schools, and emergency services (distinct from service dogs), and requires handlers to be emergency response or public safety workers (e.g., police, firefighters, EMTs). The bill sets a framework for certification, including training requirements, to ensure these teams can effectively offer comfort and crisis response in high-stress environments. This applies to organizations such as hospitals, schools, and public safety agencies using comfort dogs for emotional support.

Maddy summarySB 423 reestablishes a commission to study post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders and whether PTSD should be covered under workers' compensation. The bill adds a New Hampshire comfort dog community representative to the commission and specifies its 17-member composition, including officials from labor, safety, and insurance departments, plus representatives from fire, police, medical, and mental health organizations. The commission must study succession planning, standardized peer support programs, and other relevant matters, with an interim report due by November 1, 2026, and a final report by November 1, 2027. This bill directly affects first responders by initiating a formal study of PTSD incidence and potential policy changes, without altering current workers' compensation rules.

Maddy summarySB 490 establishes a task force to study the feasibility of building housing on vacant property at Great Bay Community College within the Pease development area. The task force will examine military/student housing models, funding sources, operational plans, and resident needs, specifically for students, faculty, staff, and New Hampshire National Guard personnel. The bill authorizes the college to develop housing on this property, subject to coordination with state agencies. The task force must submit recommendations by December 30, 2026, to the governor and legislature.

Maddy summarySB 492 authorizes New Hampshire's Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services to lease or license property it owns, directly affecting the department and private entities renting that property. The bill requires lessees (unless tax-exempt) to pay local property taxes on the leased property, similar to private owners, and outlines penalties for nonpayment. It creates a dedicated "Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services Property Fund" to manage revenues from leases, which can be used for purchasing, maintaining, or operating department property and projects. The fund ensures these revenues are kept separate and can cover related expenses like property maintenance, administrative costs, or bond payments.

Maddy summaryHB 1199 allows New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department to establish a permit and fee system for other state agencies requesting its staff, equipment, or expertise to support their work. The bill requires fees to cover actual department costs, including staff salaries/benefits, vehicle/equipment use, and administrative coordination. All collected fees would be deposited into the Fish and Game fund. This policy change directly affects state agencies needing Fish and Game support, creating a formal reimbursement process for services previously provided without cost recovery.

Maddy summarySB 502 updates outdated references in New Hampshire state law by removing mentions of the "Department of Business and Economic Affairs" and "Office of Planning and Development." It specifically amends statutes related to the Department of Energy, Geographic Information System committees, and regional planning commissions to reflect current department structures (replacing "Office of Planning and Development" with "Division of Planning and Community Development" under the Department of Business and Economic Affairs). This is an administrative correction to ensure legal references match the state's current organizational structure. The bill affects how state agencies and commissions are referenced in statutes but does not create new policies or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1460 prohibits companies and services that collect children's data from selling their location or other sensitive information. It directly affects businesses operating apps, websites, or platforms that gather data from minors, banning the sale regardless of parental consent. The bill amends New Hampshire's data privacy law (RSA 507-H) by adding a new requirement that covered entities cannot sell children's data, building on existing federal COPPA rules. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, without new state funding or positions.