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.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special committee to study emergency mental health services for people aged 21 and under in New Hampshire. The committee, made up of five state legislators, will review current laws, insurance coverage, and claims data to identify gaps in behavioral health care for youth. It will also gather expert testimony and assess whether insurance plans are following fairness rules regarding mental health coverage. By November 1, 2024, the group must submit a report with its findings and any suggested new laws to state leaders and the governor.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of a school transportation vehicle to include private passenger cars used by contracted companies to transport students to public and private schools. It allows school districts and private schools to hire these providers, provided the vehicles are approved by the Department of Safety and driven by certified school bus operators. The legislation also requires stricter background checks for drivers, including criminal history reviews, and mandates that all drivers maintain specific qualification files accessible to the state department. Additionally, the state director gains the authority to inspect these vehicles before they are used to ensure they are fit for transporting children.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Hampshire school districts to create written policies for managing their library collections and handling requests to remove materials. The new rules mandate that these policies cannot ban or remove books based on specific personal characteristics such as race, gender identity, or sexual orientation, nor can they restrict materials based on the viewpoint expressed within them. Under the proposed guidelines, parents and guardians would have a formal process to request a review of library items they find unsuitable, but the material must remain accessible to students while the review is pending. The legislation defines "library materials" broadly to include books, digital resources, and other educational or entertainment items available in school libraries. These policies must be in place and effective by January 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 537 proposes changes to New Hampshire absentee voting procedures by allowing election officials to open outer envelopes and partially process ballots before Election Day. Under the bill, clerks and moderators could schedule specific times in the three weeks prior to an election to open envelopes, check for errors, and contact voters to fix issues, provided they post public notice at least five days in advance. The legislation also expands the types of reasons a voter can cite on their application to include working on election day or caring for children or infirm adults. Additionally, the bill updates the standard text on return envelopes to clarify that ballots must be sealed in an inner envelope before being placed in the outer return envelope.