Rep. Kristine Perez

Maddy summaryHB 1649 prohibits towns, cities, and villages from using any taxpayer funds - such as general, reserve, or public funds - to donate money to non-profit organizations. It allows exceptions only for competitive grant programs that serve a clear public purpose and follow state/federal laws. The bill explicitly states that non-profits may still contract for goods/services through standard bidding processes, as long as these are quantifiable and verifiable. This amendment to RSA 31 applies directly to municipal governments and takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1606 prohibits Chinese nationals (non-U.S. citizens with ties to the People's Republic of China government, such as PRC state-owned enterprise employees or CCP members) from owning or controlling real property in New Hampshire. It provides a 90-day grace period for current owners to sell properties, after which undivested properties face state seizure. Violations trigger civil penalties of 25% of the property’s value, criminal misdemeanor charges for facilitators, and automatic forfeiture of the property to the state. The bill directly affects PRC nationals and entities facilitating their property acquisitions, with enforcement handled by state courts and the Department of Justice.

Maddy summaryHB 1621 requires developers to complete a baseline environmental study before building or expanding manufacturing or storage facilities larger than 50,000 square feet. The study must assess current environmental conditions - including water, air, soil, noise, and light - and analyze potential impacts, mitigation measures, and alternatives. Applicants must fund the study, conducted by approved professionals, and resubmit it for ownership changes or facility use modifications. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services must review the study and make it publicly available with a 30-day comment period before issuing permits. This applies specifically to industrial-scale facilities, not smaller operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1496 removes a legal limit on the number of parking spaces municipalities can require for new residential buildings. This bill directly affects local governments (cities, towns, counties) and housing developers, as it allows them to set any number of parking spaces per dwelling unit without restriction. The key provision repeals a specific law (RSA 674:16, VII) that previously capped parking requirements, giving communities full authority to regulate parking needs based on local conditions. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment and applies to new residential developments.

Maddy summaryHB 1737 would reinstate the death penalty for specific crimes against children under 13 years old in New Hampshire. It defines "capital offenses against a child" as first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or aggravated sexual assault involving a minor under 13, mandating a death sentence for anyone convicted of these crimes who was at least 18 at the time of the offense. The bill requires courts to impose the death penalty without considering mitigating factors and limits appeals to only evidentiary or constitutional errors related to guilt, with the Supreme Court required to resolve all appeals within one year of conviction. This law would apply only to offenses committed after its effective date, not retroactively.

Maddy summaryHB 1740 updates New Hampshire's domestic violence protection laws to strengthen victim safety and law enforcement response. It requires police to immediately investigate all abuse reports, create written reports within 24 hours, and mandate arrests when probable cause exists - regardless of whether the abuse was witnessed. The bill also establishes a new domestic violence law enforcement training fund and clarifies that civil protective orders must follow criminal proceedings, not replace them. These changes directly affect victims of domestic violence, law enforcement agencies, and courts handling such cases.

Maddy summaryHB 1120 requires local planning boards to adopt subdivision regulations for developments with 4 or more units, mandating water supply studies to confirm adequate water quantity for current, proposed, and future uses. It also establishes minimum on-lot private well testing requirements and ensures protection of water-dependent natural resources. The bill clarifies that developers must cover associated costs for these studies and testing, while excluding community water systems and large groundwater withdrawals regulated under existing laws. This directly affects subdivision developers, local planning boards, and property owners with private wells in affected areas.

Maddy summaryHB 1671 prohibits New Hampshire Medicaid-funded healthcare facilities from discriminating against employees, students, or trainees who have valid medical or religious vaccine exemptions. Specifically, it bans facilities from firing, threatening, or otherwise punishing these individuals for exercising their lawful exemptions. If the Department of Health and Human Services finds a violation, it must withhold Medicaid payments to the facility and may suspend or terminate the facility from the Medicaid program. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1762 revises New Hampshire's child support calculation by updating the definition of "adjusted gross income" to include specific deductions like child care costs, medical expenses, retirement contributions, and state income tax. It also changes how parenting time affects support amounts by capping the parenting time factor at 1.000 and establishing a minimum child support obligation for low-income parents. These changes directly impact parents in child support cases by altering the formula used to determine financial responsibility. The bill applies to all child support orders under New Hampshire law.

Maddy summaryHB 1717 reorganizes New Hampshire's family court system by establishing the "judicial branch family division" as a statutory court (not constitutional), replacing "marital masters" with administrative law judges. It requires all family matters for a single family to be handled by one administrative law judge in a geographically accessible court, mandates full judicial review of all recommendations, and ensures constitutional protections for children's rights in all proceedings. The bill directly affects families involved in divorce, custody, child support, and other family law cases handled in the state's family courts. Key mechanisms include standardized training for administrative law judges, mandatory consent acknowledgments before hearings, and explicit requirements for judicial review to prevent infringement of fundamental rights.