Rep. Wayne MacDonald

Maddy summaryHB 1813 requires health insurance carriers to provide participating healthcare providers and facilities with 60 days' notice before making changes to their contracts, limiting such changes to four times per year on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. The bill mandates that carriers include redlined copies showing changes (with additions underlined/bolded and deletions struck through) and, for changes affecting over $500,000 in total annual reimbursement, provide a financial impact estimate to both providers and the Insurance Department. This directly affects health carriers and their contracted providers by increasing transparency and giving providers more time to review significant contract modifications. Exceptions include mutual agreements between carriers and providers, changes required by government rules, or updates to standard medical coding. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1638 creates a process for healthcare providers to bypass step therapy protocols when a patient's condition requires it, directly affecting patients and providers in insurance plans that use step therapy. Step therapy typically forces patients to try less expensive medications first before coverage is provided for more expensive alternatives. The bill requires step therapy protocols to be based on updated clinical guidelines developed by expert panels and mandates that insurers must grant an override request when providers demonstrate medical necessity, including conditions like advanced cancer or serious mental illness. This establishes a clear, evidence-based pathway to avoid unnecessary treatment delays without altering existing insurance coverage rules.

Maddy summarySB 475 amends New Hampshire law to update the definition of "foster home" for animals, requiring that a licensed veterinarian must determine placement is in the animal's best interest for health, safety, and wellbeing - including for pregnant or lactating animals. Foster homes must be associated with and inspected by an animal shelter facility. This change directly affects animal shelters and foster home providers, who will now need to obtain a veterinarian's written determination for each animal placed in foster care. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1337 repeals the New Hampshire council on autism spectrum disorders by removing RSA 171-A:32 (the council's existence) and RSA 171-A:33 I(d) (which required council representation on another body). This bill also deletes a reference to the council from RSA 265:3-c, which relates to a driver program offering blue envelopes for people with autism. The repeal directly affects the council itself and eliminates its role in advisory functions. The bill makes no new policy changes but removes existing statutory language, effective 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Hampshire's domestic violence law by adding "coercive control" to the list of behaviors courts can consider when issuing protection orders. Coercive control is defined as a pattern of behavior - including isolating a victim from support, controlling finances, monitoring communications, or threatening harm to pets/children - that causes a reasonable fear for safety. The bill directly affects victims of domestic violence and the courts handling protection order cases by expanding the types of abusive conduct that can be legally recognized. It does not change existing penalties or require new funding, as confirmed by the fiscal note showing no state revenue or expenditure impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1215, titled "Grace’s Law," ensures individuals with developmental disabilities receiving state services can use their preferred communication method, including AAC devices, sign language, letterboards, or speech-generating tools. It requires staff in group homes, schools, and state institutions to accommodate these methods through reasonable efforts. The law applies to all state service providers supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. It takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 461 updates New Hampshire's legal definition of "hemp" to require that the total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration - including tetrahydrocannabolic acid (THCA) - must not exceed 0.3% on a dry weight basis. This change directly affects hemp farmers, product manufacturers, and state regulators by establishing a clear standard for legal hemp under state law. The bill modifies existing law to align with the federal definition of hemp, which includes THCA in THC calculations, ensuring consistency for businesses selling hemp-derived products. The law will take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 665 requires pharmacies to charge consumers the lowest available price for prescription drugs at the point of sale, directly affecting patients purchasing medications and pharmacies. The bill defines "lowest available price" as the minimum of the pharmacy’s cash price, the consumer’s insurance cost-sharing amount, or any available discount price at the time of transaction. Pharmacists must determine and disclose this price before completing the sale, and insurers cannot penalize pharmacies for doing so. Violations could result in disciplinary action by the pharmacy board or civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, with the law taking effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 476 requires hospitals to follow federal price transparency rules and provides a "good faith estimate" safe harbor, protecting them from penalties if cost estimates differ due to clinical changes or outside factors. It mandates health insurers to give personalized, pre-service cost estimates for scheduled services through their existing federal tools (Transparency in Coverage APIs), accessible via the state's HealthCost portal. The bill expands the state's health data system (CHIS/APCD) to power consumer cost comparisons for uninsured and out-of-network care without building new IT infrastructure. These changes directly affect hospitals, insurers, and consumers by making upfront health care costs clearer before treatment.

Maddy summarySB 631 directs the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to install a 1,845-foot sound barrier along the west side of Interstate 93 southbound, between Pillsbury Road in Londonderry and Exit 4 (Route 102 ramp). The barrier will border the Woodmont Development property and aims to reduce noise for nearby residents. The project has an estimated cost of $8.07 million, funded through existing Highway Fund and potential federal funds (if eligible), with no new state funding provided. This is a physical infrastructure project affecting properties adjacent to the specified I-93 corridor.