Rep. Bob Lynn

Maddy summaryHB 1274 creates a new Judicial Council to oversee the administration of New Hampshire's courts by expanding the existing body to include representatives from the attorney general's office, court clerks, the Bar Association, and the state legislature. The bill also tightens rules for criminal arrests by requiring most defendants to appear in court within 24 hours and allowing those held under specific bail statutes to request a hearing via telephone. Additionally, it grants courts the authority to appoint contract attorneys for indigent defendants when deemed necessary, while simultaneously increasing the limit on how much money the judicial branch can transfer between its own accounts without legislative approval. The law requires a report on the costs of these new attorney appointments by October 2025 and takes effect immediately upon signing, with one provision regarding attorney appointments delayed until January 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 318 updates the rules for how magistrates and bail commissioners handle the release or detention of people awaiting trial. The bill requires officials to consider public safety and the likelihood of a defendant appearing in court when making bail decisions, while explicitly prohibiting the use of money as the only reason to keep someone detained. It establishes stricter standards for certain serious crimes, such as homicide and sexual assault, by mandating that arrested individuals be held until they can appear before a judge rather than being processed by a bail commissioner. Additionally, the law creates a rebuttable presumption that defendants with a history of failing to appear in court or committing new offenses while on bail should be detained, though they retain the right to present evidence to challenge this decision.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how members of the Board of Tax and Land Appeals and the Housing Appeals Board are selected and removed. It shifts the power to appoint these board members from the Supreme Court to the Governor and Executive Council, while also requiring a hearing before confirmation. The law establishes five-year terms for board members and outlines a process for removing them for reasons such as neglect of duty or misconduct. These changes will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a specific exception to the rule requiring operator certificates for commercial vessels, allowing individuals aged 14 to 17 to operate small boats without certification under strict conditions. To qualify, the vessel must be 16 feet or shorter and used solely for selling pre-packaged food or non-alcoholic beverages, while prohibiting activities like towing, safety support, or transporting passengers. The law also defines what constitutes a commercial passenger vessel and sets new requirements for written examinations and certifications for those operating larger commercial vessels. These changes take effect on January 1, 2025, with a temporary provision starting on September 17, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new state laws to protect freedom of speech and association at public colleges and universities in New Hampshire. It designates outdoor campus areas as public forums where students and staff can engage in peaceful expression without being forced into designated "free speech zones." The legislation prohibits institutions from discriminating against student groups based on their religious, political, or ideological views and defines specific limits on when speech can be restricted, such as during unlawful fights or harassment. Additionally, the bill creates a legal remedy allowing individuals or groups to sue schools for violations, with a monetary cap on damages adjusted annually for inflation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a study commission to examine and improve New Hampshire's legal processes for individuals found incompetent to stand trial or deemed insane. The commission will include representatives from the judiciary, health and human services, corrections, law enforcement, defense attorneys, and mental health advocacy groups to review current laws and treatment standards. Its primary tasks involve updating the state's outdated definition of insanity, aligning care with the new forensic hospital, and developing a comprehensive plan to increase the number of people who successfully regain competency and return to court. The group is required to hold multiple meetings and submit interim and final reports with recommendations for new legislation by November 2024 and November 2025.

Maddy summaryThis law allows employees to legally store a locked, non-visible firearm or ammunition in their personal vehicle while on employer property without facing discipline. It prohibits employers from forcing employees to reveal if they have a gun in their car and bars workplace searches for firearms unless conducted by law enforcement with a warrant or valid exception. Additionally, the bill shields employers from civil lawsuits regarding injuries or thefts involving these stored weapons, provided the employer did not intentionally encourage the harm. These protections apply to private businesses, the state, and municipalities, effective January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the requirement for accessible voting systems to include local elections in cities and towns that currently only provide them for state elections. It legally defines an accessible voting system as any machine capable of printing a paper ballot marked with the voter's choices, ensuring compliance with federal disability laws. Under the new rules, every polling place in municipalities using official ballot systems must have at least one such machine available to allow voters with disabilities to cast their ballots privately and independently without assistance. The changes take effect on January 1, 2025, aiming to ensure equal access to voting for all eligible citizens regardless of their disability status.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that vote counting and tabulation occur openly in public at polling places and central locations, ensuring the process is not paused or delayed until finished. It mandates that election officials keep all ballots at least four feet away from the guardrail during this public viewing and makes all generated documents available for public inspection once results are announced. Additionally, the law specifies that printed results from voting machines must be posted for public review within 60 minutes of the final ballot being processed if applicable. These changes directly affect election administrators and observers by enforcing transparency and immediate access to election data.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission to submit a report by November 1, 2024, to state legislative leaders and clerks. The report must examine problems related to copying, sharing, or using images from body-worn cameras worn by police. Specifically, the commission will look at how these images affect investigation sources, the privacy of suspects and officers, legal rules about sharing evidence with defendants, and public access rights under state law. The law takes effect immediately upon signing and does not change how cameras are used, but instead mandates a review of the issues surrounding the data they collect.