Rep. Michael Cahill

Maddy summaryHB 1063 reduces the percentage of meals and rooms tax that businesses (like restaurants and hotels) can retain from 3% to 1.5% for returns filed electronically and received on time by the Department of Revenue Administration. This change directly affects operators who collect these taxes, shifting revenue from their retained portion to state funds. The bill amends RSA 78-A:7, III and takes effect July 1, 2026. Based on FY 2025 data, this would increase state revenue by approximately $6.4 million annually, primarily benefiting the General Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1257 requires candidates for New Hampshire state representative or state senator to have lived in their specific legislative district for at least two years prior to running for office. The bill amends existing law (RSA 655:8 for representatives and RSA 655:7 for senators) to explicitly add this two-year district residency requirement. This directly affects all individuals seeking these state legislative seats by setting a new eligibility criterion. The bill takes effect upon passage and does not change existing statewide residency requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1399 appropriates $5 million from New Hampshire's Revenue Stabilization Reserve Account (the "Rainy Day Fund") to reimburse the Claremont School District for part of the costs of renovating Stevens High School in 2015. The bill specifically addresses a project completed during a building aid moratorium, which the district needed to restore accreditation and maintain eligibility for future aid. This funding directly benefits the Claremont School District and Stevens High School, covering costs the district incurred but could not recover during the moratorium. The appropriation is a one-time payment from the state's rainy day fund, effective 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1482 would replace the Old Man of the Mountain graphic on standard passenger license plates in New Hampshire with four seasonal scenic designs (fall foliage, winter skiing, spring trout fishing, and summer boating) starting January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to work with the Division of Travel and Tourism Development to create these designs, maintain the "Live Free or Die" motto, and distribute each design equally each year. It does not create new fees or revenue, as the seasonal plates would replace an existing plate series with no additional ongoing costs beyond a one-time $180,000 system update. This change affects all standard passenger vehicle owners in New Hampshire who receive new plates after 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1480 increases New Hampshire's meals and rooms tax rate from 8.5% to 9% for businesses selling meals and lodging (like restaurants and hotels). This change directly affects those businesses, requiring them to collect the higher tax from customers and remit it to the state. The bill amends tax code sections to reflect the new rate, impacting revenue collected on taxable meals and room rentals. The fiscal note estimates this will generate approximately $20-28 million annually in additional state revenue for the General Fund and Education Trust Fund starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 279 increases the penalties for businesses that serve alcohol to customers who are already intoxicated. Specifically, the law raises the maximum fine for a second offense within seven years to $7,500 and extends the potential license suspension to 30 days. This change directly affects on-premises licensees, such as bars and restaurants, by imposing stricter consequences for repeated overserving violations. The bill became effective on September 10, 2024, after being signed into law by the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies unemployment benefit rules to allow individuals working from home to remain eligible for benefits, provided they can find suitable work within their residence. Under the new provisions, a person is no longer disqualified for not being available for work outside their home unless there is a reasonable expectation of substantial employment opportunities available inside the home. The commissioner of the Department of Employment Services is tasked with creating specific rules to determine what constitutes a reasonable expectation of such work. This change directly affects unemployed workers who are currently working remotely or seeking remote positions while collecting unemployment insurance. The legislation takes effect immediately upon signing.

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 updates the rules for how public agencies charge fees when individuals request government records under the Right-to-Know law. It clarifies that agencies can only charge for copying costs or for employee time spent beyond ten hours, setting a maximum hourly rate of $25 for those additional hours. The legislation also requires agencies to provide clearer explanations when denying requests and mandates that multiple requests made within a 30-day period be treated as a single request to prevent fee stacking. Additionally, it establishes a requirement for agencies to create transparent policies for calculating these costs and allows requesters to file complaints if they believe the estimated fees are unreasonable.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers with 15 or more employees to clearly communicate their policies on unused paid time off and to provide workers with regular accounts of their accrued balances. It mandates that when an employee leaves due to a business closure, ownership change, or termination without a reasonable expectation of return, any unused vacation, holiday, or personal time must be paid out as wages, excluding sick days. The law also allows employees to agree in writing to transfer their unused paid time off to a new employer following a change in ownership instead of receiving cash payment. These rules are designed to apply to companies offering paid earned time and will become effective on January 1, 2025.