Rep. Bob Lynn

Maddy summarySB 261 requires law enforcement agencies to record all custodial interrogations (questioning of individuals in police custody). It creates a state fund to provide grants for agencies to purchase recording equipment, with dedicated funding allocated for this purpose. The bill directly affects state police departments and sheriff's offices by mandating recording practices and providing resources to meet this requirement. This policy change aims to increase transparency in police questioning during arrests.

Maddy summaryHB 60 modifies New Hampshire's landlord-tenant law for leases exceeding 12 months (or renewed to 12+ months). It requires landlords to provide tenants with 60 days' written notice before lease expiration and file a legal "possessory action" within 6 months of the lease ending to terminate the tenancy. The bill also defines "no fault termination" (when a lease ends without tenant-related issues) as not an eviction for rental applications or tenant screening, mandating courts to document that the tenant was not at fault. Crucially, these provisions only take effect after the Department of Health and Human Services reports that New Hampshire maintained a 4%+ quarterly rental vacancy rate for the entire calendar year.

Maddy summaryHB 369 updates New Hampshire's registration requirements for sexual offenders and offenders against children. It requires these individuals to report in person to local law enforcement within 5 business days of release from custody, conviction (if not incarcerated), or establishing new residence, employment, or schooling in the state. Offenders with multiple residences must report to their primary jurisdiction and provide all addresses, including those outside New Hampshire. The law, signed by Governor Ayotte and effective January 1, 2026, applies to misdemeanor and felony cases covered under current registration statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 520 authorizes hearing officers within the Department of Education to issue subpoenas during investigations. This directly affects education hearing officers and the entities or individuals involved in their proceedings, such as schools or staff. The bill grants a specific administrative authority to compel testimony or documents, streamlining investigations without changing broader education laws. It became effective January 1, 2026, after passing committees and being signed by the Governor.

Maddy summarySB 52 updates New Hampshire's default rules for trusts that lack specific instructions. It replaces the previous automatic inheritance rule with a new requirement: distributions to minors or incapacitated beneficiaries now need a court order, rather than being automatic. This directly affects trust creators, trustees, and beneficiaries in New Hampshire who establish or manage trusts without detailed provisions. The law takes effect on September 13, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 627 allows the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to directly approve new companies to provide Lifeline program services in the state, without requiring separate legislative action. This affects low-income households eligible for Lifeline, which helps cover phone and internet costs, by expanding their choices for service providers. The key provision streamlines the process: the PUC can now review and approve new providers based on established criteria, rather than needing a new bill for each addition. The bill became law on July 7, 2025, and takes effect September 5, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 235 amends the state's educator code of ethics and code of conduct to explicitly require public school educators to uphold a "responsibility to parents." This policy change directly affects teachers, administrators, and school staff in public schools, mandating they consider parental input and concerns in educational decisions. The key provision adds specific language to existing codes, requiring educators to engage with parents regarding student conduct, learning, and school policies. The bill became law on July 1, 2025, and takes effect August 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 265 requires all public bodies to include the start and end times of meetings and the printed name of the recording secretary in their official meeting minutes. This applies directly to municipal, county, and state agencies that hold public meetings. The bill mandates these specific details be documented in every meeting record, effective August 22, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and receiving the governor's signature on June 23, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 92 updates New Hampshire's birth worksheet requirements to include current and prior names of parents and standardized Apgar scores at 1, 5, and 10 minutes for newborns. It directly affects parents, newborns, and the Vital Records Administration by restricting the personal information shared with the CDC - banning names, birth dates of parents, medical IDs, and addresses - but allowing release of parents' birth years and the baby's birth date. The bill's key mechanism requires the Vital Records Administration to omit specific identifiers when sending birth data to the CDC for public health reporting. The changes take effect June 30, 2026.