Rep. Deb Hobson

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Hampshire's drug laws to impose mandatory minimum prison sentences for individuals convicted of trafficking specific quantities of fentanyl class drugs. It requires a minimum of three and a half years in prison for selling five grams or more of fentanyl, and raises that minimum to seven years for sales of 28 grams or more, while also increasing the maximum possible sentence to life imprisonment for repeat offenders. The law includes exceptions for minors, people with significant mental impairments, and those with minor roles in the crime, and it takes effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1443 proposes changes to the special education dispute resolution process in New Hampshire to increase the use of neutral conferences and adjust mediator assignments. The bill would require the Department of Education to select a neutral third party on a rotational basis to help parents and school districts review case facts and issues before a formal hearing. This neutral would issue a non-binding recommendation and suggested settlement options to encourage parties to reach a mutual agreement, rather than acting as a judge. Additionally, the bill outlines specific procedures for these conferences, including time limits for presentations and rules about when parties can communicate with the neutral. Finally, it assigns mediators to cases on a regional rotational basis and sets the law's effective date for January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis New Hampshire bill would temporarily stop state agencies from purchasing or leasing electric, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid vehicles for their fleets for a ten-year period starting July 1, 2024. The law requires agencies to use only traditional internal combustion engine vehicles or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles during this time, citing the need for improved battery technology and a modernized electric grid. It directly impacts the Department of Administrative Services and other state entities that manage vehicle fleets, effectively pausing the adoption of newer electric options for the next decade. The legislation does not authorize new funding or positions, and it leaves the decision of which specific non-electric vehicles to buy to individual agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a mandatory minimum prison sentence of ten years to life for anyone convicted of distributing specific controlled drugs, such as methamphetamine or PCP, when the recipient dies as a result. Under the new law, prosecutors must prove that the drug distribution directly caused the death, but the accused cannot use the victim's own reckless behavior or consent as a defense. The legislation applies strictly to the sale, manufacture, or dispensing of these substances and does not prevent separate charges for homicide or drug enterprise leadership. If passed, the changes would take effect on January 1, 2025, and could increase costs for the state and local governments related to the judicial and correctional systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Anti-Sanctuary Act, would require state and local law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. It explicitly prohibits any government entity from adopting policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration requests, such as honoring detainers or withholding inmate information. While the law mandates efforts to support federal enforcement, it includes specific exceptions that prevent the use of immigration status information against victims or witnesses of certain serious crimes like domestic violence and sexual assault. If a local agency violates these requirements, the state attorney general could file a lawsuit to stop the policy and seek court orders to enforce compliance.

Maddy summaryThis law requires the Department of Safety to create and maintain a statewide database of maps showing where government radio towers and equipment are located. Municipalities, counties, and state agencies must submit their own radio system maps to this repository and keep the information up to date. The resulting database will be available for emergency services and public safety officials to use for planning and to find areas with poor radio coverage. The law takes effect on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Secretary of State to provide copies of the state constitution to the general public as needed. It authorizes the Secretary to charge a fee for bulk orders requested by government branches and members of the public to cover the cost of producing these copies. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, ensuring that the state constitution is more readily available to citizens.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies which children with disabilities are covered under liability protections when placed in court-ordered settings or receiving specific treatments. It defines the covered group as those receiving special education services through certain state programs, while explicitly excluding children at specific youth centers or those awaiting initial court disposition. The law requires courts or the Department of Health and Human Services to notify the Department of Education whenever a child is placed out-of-district or sent for an episode of treatment, ensuring the state knows the initial duration of the placement. This notification requirement applies to both the original court orders and any future changes to those orders. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how New Hampshire calculates school funding for home-educated students who take public high school courses. It specifies that each home-educated student enrolled in a board-approved public course from grades 7 through 12 will count as 0.15 of a student for funding purposes. The change affects school districts and municipalities by adjusting the average daily membership counts used to distribute state education funds. The law applies to students legally residing in the state and is effective starting September 1, 2024.