Rep. Katelyn Kuttab

Maddy summaryHB 1175 updates New Hampshire's law against fraud using scanning devices or reencoders to specifically cover payment card chips (like those in modern credit cards), not just magnetic strips. It makes it illegal to scan or reencode chip data without permission to defraud cardholders, card issuers, or merchants. The bill expands existing criminal penalties to address current fraud methods targeting chip-based payment technology. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

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 summaryHB 1064 modifies New Hampshire's laws on government liability for negligence. It increases the maximum payout for personal injury or property damage claims against government agencies from $325,000 to $475,000 per person per claim, with a $1.425 million limit per incident. The bill also requires local governments to cover employees' negligence costs (if not reckless) during work duties, shifting financial responsibility from employees to the agency. This directly affects injured individuals seeking compensation and government employees who may face personal liability for work-related incidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students in New Hampshire public schools and camps to use over-the-counter sunscreen without a doctor's note or prescription. School and camp staff may assist with application upon parental permission, and the law requires schools to implement age-appropriate skin cancer prevention education covering UV risks and protective measures like sunscreen and sun-protective clothing (e.g., hats). It also protects staff from liability when following these guidelines, addressing current barriers where some schools prohibited sunscreen due to "medication bans."

Maddy summarySB 559 lowers the minimum speed limit on locally controlled roads from 25 mph to 20 mph in certain areas, including outside urban districts and within business or urban residential zones. Local authorities must base any speed limit reduction on engineering or traffic studies before implementing it. The bill does not require new funding or change existing enforcement, as it only modifies the minimum limit threshold in state law. This affects municipalities and town officials responsible for setting speed limits on local roads.

Maddy summaryHB 1229 requires courts to enforce alimony waivers in divorce agreements unless the waiver is proven invalid due to coercion, fraud, duress, mutual mistake, material misrepresentation, supervening illegality, or unconscionability. It directly affects individuals in divorce proceedings who have signed agreements waiving alimony rights. The bill amends New Hampshire law to make such waivers binding by default, shifting the burden to the party challenging the waiver to prove one of the specified grounds for invalidity. The change takes effect January 1, 2027. This policy alters how courts handle alimony waiver agreements in family law cases.

Maddy summaryHB 1635 modifies New Hampshire school suicide prevention training requirements by requiring all school faculty, staff, and contracted personnel to complete suicide awareness training within 30 days of hire and every two years thereafter (replacing the prior annual requirement). The training must cover youth suicide risk factors, warning signs, response procedures, referrals, and community resources, and may use existing professional development programs or self-training materials. School districts determine how to administer the training, including whether it applies to volunteers per district policy. The bill takes effect September 1, 2026.

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 summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 13) proposes removing all references to the "register of probate" position from New Hampshire's constitution. It would amend Articles 71 and 81 to delete the elected office and its duties, which were already redistributed to circuit court clerks in 2011. The bill does not create or change any current duties but formally eliminates the obsolete constitutional reference. Voters will decide in the November 2026 election whether to approve this change.

Maddy summaryHB 1420 creates a temporary tax credit for businesses that advertise in qualifying local newspapers. The credit reduces a business's state tax liability based on the cost of local newspaper ads, with unused portions refundable without interest. To qualify, a newspaper must focus on local news (covering New Hampshire towns, cities, or counties), employ local journalists, and meet audience requirements - excluding political groups, large corporations, and non-local media. The credit applies to small businesses advertising in these local publications, aiming to support community journalism by lowering advertising costs for businesses.