Rep. Ron Dunn

Maddy summaryHB 1231 requires health care providers (like hospitals, clinics, and doctors) to give patients a detailed written or electronic statement within 15 business days after billing their insurance. The statement must list each medical service provided, the date, billing codes, amounts billed to insurance, what insurance paid or denied, and any remaining patient balance. This directly affects patients receiving care and providers who must disclose billing details they previously may not have shared. The law aims to increase transparency about insurance claims without changing how providers bill insurers.

Maddy summaryHB 1655 establishes annual fees on properties with waterfront access or deeded water rights to state-owned dams to fund dam maintenance. Property owners with waterfront access pay $100 yearly, while those with deeded water rights pay $50 yearly, with both fees deposited into a dedicated dam maintenance fund. Working farms and properties in current use are exempt from these fees. Municipalities collect the fees, report to the state, and may retain $5 per property for administrative costs, with unpaid fees subject to interest and liens.

Maddy summarySB 443 gives New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services new authority to create rules for reviewing and approving wastewater infrastructure plans, including sewer connection permits. It directly affects municipalities and sewer utility districts that must submit plans for new or upgraded sewage systems. Key provisions require the department to review industrial discharge permits (if not under EPA-approved programs) and set standards for sewer connection permits. The bill updates existing law to formalize these review processes and ensure proper design and operation of wastewater facilities. It does not change funding or impose new costs but establishes a structured permitting framework for wastewater projects.

Maddy summaryHB 1620 requires owners of underground residential heating oil tanks (located beneath homes, garages, or crawl spaces) to either remediate leaks or permanently close the tanks after they become abandoned (unused for 12 months). It mandates soil testing around tanks under structures, with remediation required if leaks are detected, and requires sellers to disclose tank status and soil test results to buyers during property sales. The bill directly affects residential property owners and sellers in New Hampshire, as well as oil tank service companies that perform removals or remediation. Key mechanisms include standardized soil sampling, closure methods using inert materials, and a 180-day removal deadline for above-ground abandoned tanks. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1295 requires nonprofit housing projects seeking property tax exemptions in New Hampshire to meet stricter eligibility criteria. Key provisions include mandating that at least 20% of residents receive services free or at reduced cost based on income, requiring transparent fee policies published online, and prohibiting the use of excess funds for personal benefit. The bill directly affects charitable housing facilities serving elderly (62+) and disabled residents that rely on tax exemptions. These requirements take effect April 1, 2027, and apply to projects operated under state law or federal housing programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1224 modifies how towns calculate their default budget when no new budget is approved by the deadline. It specifically allows funding for vacant public safety positions (like police, fire, or emergency medical roles) that were listed in last year's approved budget, provided they remain vacant before the previous budget was approved. Unspent funds for these positions must reduce local taxes instead of being reallocated to other budget areas. This change directly affects New Hampshire towns using the default budget process for official ballot town meetings. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1389 establishes strict liability for owners or operators of facilities that release PFAS chemicals into groundwater, triggering cleanup requirements when contamination reaches 500 parts per trillion or higher. It directly affects businesses handling PFAS (like manufacturers or waste facilities) that caused such contamination. The bill mandates compliance with federal cleanup regulations (40 CFR 265.111 and 265.114) for equipment, piping, and building surfaces used with PFAS. This requires facilities to address contamination through closure, decommissioning, or remediation of affected infrastructure.

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 1659 creates a new optional property tax credit for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating, as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Cities or towns can choose to adopt this credit, which would provide a tax credit ranging from $701 to $5,000 annually for qualifying veterans' primary homes (up to 10 acres). The credit replaces existing veteran tax exemptions and continues to a surviving spouse (if unmarried) or dependent children after the veteran's death. This applies only to veterans who own their homestead, excluding other property tax exemptions for military service.

Maddy summaryHB 1461 encourages municipalities with existing sewage systems to extend service to neighboring communities by creating a faster approval process for such projects and giving them priority in state loan and grant programs. It requires that extensions follow regional plans or local master plans and allows municipalities to recover costs through user fees or impact fees charged to the receiving community. The bill also includes a provision allowing state officials to mandate extensions if there’s a public health risk, housing goal barrier, or significant economic harm, while ensuring host municipalities don’t bear extra costs. This primarily affects towns with sewage infrastructure seeking to expand service across town lines, particularly for housing or economic development projects.