Rep. Katelyn Kuttab

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 14) would require all candidates for governor, state senator, and state representative to be U.S. citizens, amending Articles 14, 29, and 42 of New Hampshire's Constitution. It directly affects individuals seeking these three statewide and legislative offices by adding explicit U.S. citizenship as a qualification. The bill proposes to update the constitution's language to clarify this requirement, which currently exists in varying forms but would be uniformly stated for all three offices. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 general election to take effect. This is a procedural change to constitutional qualifications, not a new policy affecting current officeholders.

Maddy summaryHB 1513 requires the scholarship organization managing New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account program to provide detailed, public transparency reports. It mandates that the organization publish annual data on account expenses by category and education provider within 45 business days of fund release, in a standard sortable electronic format on its website - without personally identifiable information. The bill also requires the organization to provide requested data to oversight bodies (like the legislative committee and Department of Education) within 45 business days and ensures all qualifying educational expenses are accessible. This directly affects the scholarship organization administering the program, adding specific reporting obligations to enhance public accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 1136 simplifies rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), like backyard cottages or in-law suites, making them easier to build on single-family properties. It allows municipalities to permit ADUs automatically (without special permits) or through standard processes, permits multiple ADUs per home, and sets a 750-square-foot minimum size. The bill clarifies that towns without ADU rules must allow one ADU by default (beyond basic building permits), expands access standards to all ADUs, and prohibits ADUs in townhouses, manufactured housing, or rented land. Homeowners, local governments, and potential renters are directly affected by these changes to zoning and construction rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1434 allows New Hampshire towns and cities to hold votes on whether to permit keno gambling within their borders. It replaces a prior law that only let municipalities vote to *ban* keno with a system where they can vote to *allow* it. The bill requires a public hearing and a ballot vote (via town meeting or municipal election) with a majority "yes" vote needed to authorize keno operations. It also repeals outdated keno administration laws from 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1531 requires applicants for new or renewed licenses to operate gaming facilities (including "games of chance" facilities and game operator employer licenses) to negotiate and sign agreements with the local municipality where the facility will operate. These "host community agreements" must address specific impacts like infrastructure, emergency response, security, public inquiries, and local hiring, negotiated in good faith. Before finalizing, the municipality must provide public notice and allow a 14-day comment period, with the agreement submitted to the licensing commission as a prerequisite for approval. Existing license holders are exempt until their licenses expire and they renew.

Maddy summaryHB 1547 requires defendants charged with specific misdemeanors - including misdemeanor sexual assault involving minors, class A misdemeanor assault, and misdemeanor stalking - to choose within 30 days of arraignment: either appeal to superior court for a jury trial or proceed in circuit court with a waived right to a jury trial. Circuit courts cannot move forward with a trial under the waiver option without confirming the defendant knowingly and voluntarily gave up their jury trial right through a court discussion. The bill applies only to these three offense types and modifies existing appeal rules to clarify that superior courts handle jury trial appeals for these cases. It does not change sentencing or create new costs, as noted in the fiscal impact statement.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 27) urges New Hampshire's U.S. congressional representatives to seek a new investigation into the 1967 attack on the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy ship attacked by Israeli forces in international waters during the Six-Day War. It specifically requests an investigation into four areas: whether survivors were pressured to stay silent about the attack, the prolonged duration of the attack (42-60 minutes), whether the ship was clearly marked with U.S. identification, and the declassification of all related government documents. The resolution does not create new law but is a symbolic request for transparency and accountability regarding an incident that killed 34 U.S. personnel. It is addressed to New Hampshire's congressional delegation and reflects the New Hampshire House's position on this historical event.

Maddy summaryHB 1243 requires all New Hampshire executive branch agencies (like departments and commissions) to base every contracting and investment decision solely on directly benefiting state citizens. The bill mandates that agencies certify contracts meet this standard and prohibits considering any purpose unrelated to providing citizens with goods, services, or benefits - except for federal law compliance or multistate programs that directly help residents. It has minimal fiscal impact, costing less than $10,000 annually through 2029, and applies to all state agencies making purchasing or investment choices.

Maddy summaryHB 1508 allows New Hampshire residents to record audio and video conversations they are part of without the other person's consent, provided the recording doesn't violate privacy laws (as defined in RSA 644:9) or is used for blackmail or harassment. The bill requires the Department of Justice to create a public awareness campaign explaining the new rules, including educational materials for the public and training for law enforcement and prosecutors. This campaign will clarify legal boundaries for recording and prevent misuse. The state will fund these efforts using existing resources, with an estimated one-time cost of $500,000 for the campaign and ongoing costs for staff support.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the permitted uses of impact fees - charges imposed on new development - to include purchasing safety equipment for police, fire, and emergency services. It directly affects municipalities that collect impact fees, allowing them to allocate these funds toward existing safety vehicle fleets (like police cars or fire trucks) rather than solely for infrastructure like roads or water systems. The key change amends the definition of "impact fee" in state law to explicitly authorize this use, adding it to the existing list of approved purposes. This is a concrete policy adjustment to the existing fee structure, not a new program.