Rep. Ellen Read

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for how lobbyists in New Hampshire must report their financial activities to the Secretary of State. It requires lobbyists to file electronic statements by the end of January, May, July, and September that detail all fees received and expenses paid since the last report. The law also mandates that these filings be submitted in a digital format capable of linking income, spending, and political contributions for easier tracking. These new reporting requirements will officially begin taking effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definitions of "full course meals" and "full service restaurants" for alcohol licensing purposes in New Hampshire. It specifies that a full course meal includes a variety of prepared foods like grilled items, fried dishes, baked goods, sandwiches, salads, soups, and stove-top cooked options. A full service restaurant is now defined as an establishment with seating for at least ten guests that must offer multiple meal choices from at least two of these food categories. These changes affect businesses seeking or holding liquor licenses by clarifying the requirements for their dining areas and menus.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that vote counting and tabulation occur openly in public at polling places and central locations, ensuring the process is not paused or delayed until finished. It mandates that election officials keep all ballots at least four feet away from the guardrail during this public viewing and makes all generated documents available for public inspection once results are announced. Additionally, the law specifies that printed results from voting machines must be posted for public review within 60 minutes of the final ballot being processed if applicable. These changes directly affect election administrators and observers by enforcing transparency and immediate access to election data.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Hampshire municipalities to allow homeowners to build one accessory dwelling unit, such as a garage conversion or an addition, on their single-family property without needing special approval. It defines these units as separate living spaces with their own kitchen and bathroom and sets minimum size limits of 1,000 square feet for at least one unit. While towns can still require owner occupancy and enforce parking or aesthetic rules, they cannot mandate familial relationships between residents or restrict units to a single bedroom. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that municipalities must permit the conversion of existing structures like detached garages into these units even if they do not currently meet setback or lot coverage standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state Attorney General to send written notices to hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and other service providers detailing specific rights for sexual assault survivors. The notice would inform these entities about rights such as receiving free medical exams, accessing victim compensation, and understanding how evidence collection kits are stored and preserved. Additionally, the bill mandates that healthcare providers and law officers make a reasonable effort to share this information directly with survivors. Finally, the Attorney General must make this information publicly available on their official website.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities to provide reasonable opportunities for placing manufactured housing and subdivisions, prohibiting them from completely banning these structures through zoning or other regulations. It mandates that if a town allows residential development, it must permit manufactured homes on individual lots in most residential zones, subject to the same lot size and spacing rules as conventional single-family homes. The law also ensures that manufactured housing parks can expand and that their lot sizes and density requirements remain reasonable, while eliminating the need for special permits that are not also required for traditional single-family housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows towns to approve the conversion of single-family homes into two-unit dwellings in specific urban areas without requiring a discretionary hearing. To qualify, the property must be located in an urbanized area or urban cluster, cannot involve recent tenants or affordable housing restrictions, and generally cannot demolish more than 25% of the home's exterior walls unless local rules permit it. Local planning boards retain the ability to set objective standards like parking requirements and setback limits, but they cannot use these rules to physically block the construction of two units of at least 1,000 square feet each. Additionally, the bill permits planning boards to deny a project only if there is clear evidence of a specific adverse impact on public health, safety, or the environment that cannot be fixed.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking by preventing landlords from evicting them solely based on their victim status. It allows victims to stay in their homes if they provide written proof of a protective order, a report to law enforcement, a statement from a professional, or a court-approved self-certification form. The law also permits victims to request new locks at their own expense to exclude abusers and clarifies that landlords cannot be held liable for damages caused by these lock changes. While the bill offers these protections, it explicitly states that landlords can still evict tenants for unrelated reasons such as nonpayment of rent. Additionally, the bill requires landlords to keep all information regarding a tenant's victim status strictly confidential.