Rep. Ken Weyler

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a right-to-work law in New Hampshire that prohibits employers and labor unions from requiring employees to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment. It directly affects all workers in the state, including those employed by government agencies and private companies, by making any collective bargaining agreement that mandates union membership or financial support null and void. The legislation ensures that employees can freely choose whether to participate in a union without fear of penalty, while also protecting voluntary deductions only if employees provide written authorization that can be revoked with 30 days' notice. Additionally, the bill bans strikes or other actions taken solely to force an employer to agree to these prohibited requirements and mandates that employers post notices informing workers of their new freedom of choice.

Maddy summaryHB 301 requires New Hampshire legislators to step away from voting on any bill where they or their household members have a potential financial gain or a leadership role in an affected organization. The law also mandates that lawmakers verbally disclose such conflicts before speaking in committees or on the legislative floor. While the bill defines specific situations requiring recusal, it includes an exception allowing legislators to vote on broad-based tax measures or state budget items where their personal interest is minimal. These rules apply to both elected officials and their immediate families to ensure decisions are made without the influence of personal gain.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes moving any leftover money in New Hampshire's education trust fund to the state's general fund at the end of each fiscal year. The change would allow the general fund to access these surplus funds, which are currently restricted to education purposes. The legislation does not alter how the education trust fund is collected or spent, but rather changes the destination of any excess balance. Although the bill was introduced, it was ultimately removed from consideration before the legislative session ended.

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 law allows non-profit organizations in the state to hire outside individuals to run charity auctions without requiring those individuals to hold a professional auctioneer's license. To qualify, the hired person must sign a written contract that clearly defines their duties, compensation, and identifies where the auction money will be held, while strictly prohibiting them from taking a commission or percentage of the sales revenue. Political advocacy groups are explicitly excluded from these rules and must continue to follow standard licensing requirements if they hold auctions. The changes take effect on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire law to clarify how vehicles owned by two or more people as joint tenants with rights of survivorship are handled after one owner dies. It allows the surviving owner to keep the vehicle and transfer or renew its registration without needing to get a new title or go through a full transfer process. The law specifies that using "and" between owners' names on a title application establishes this ownership type, while using "or" does not require any extra designation. Additionally, the bill permits a nonresident to be one of the joint owners for this specific purpose, and it sets the effective date for these changes to September 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for state school building aid to explicitly include chartered public schools alongside traditional school districts. It establishes that these independent schools must own any buildings they construct with state funds and outlines how the aid is disbursed, providing an initial 30 percent of the eligible cost followed by annual payments over 20 years. The legislation also sets a requirement that facilities built with this assistance must be used for K-12 instruction for at least two decades or the school must repay the full grant amount. Additionally, the bill clarifies eligibility criteria, such as excluding office space and temporary structures from funding, and sets a new deadline for submitting construction applications starting in 2025.

Maddy summarySB 517 seeks to clarify the employment status of university students working as residence hall assistants or dormitory counselors who are part of a bona fide educational program. The bill proposes amending multiple state laws to explicitly exclude these specific students from being classified as employees under regulations covering wages, workers' compensation, and workplace protections. By redefining their status, the legislation aims to ensure that such students are not subject to the same legal requirements and benefits as other workers. Although the bill outlines these specific changes, it was ultimately deemed inexpedient to legislate and did not become law.