Rep. Debra DeSimone

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for how public agencies charge fees when individuals request government records under the Right-to-Know law. It clarifies that agencies can only charge for copying costs or for employee time spent beyond ten hours, setting a maximum hourly rate of $25 for those additional hours. The legislation also requires agencies to provide clearer explanations when denying requests and mandates that multiple requests made within a 30-day period be treated as a single request to prevent fee stacking. Additionally, it establishes a requirement for agencies to create transparent policies for calculating these costs and allows requesters to file complaints if they believe the estimated fees are unreasonable.

Maddy summaryHB 1189 updates how the Department of Health and Human Services reports unpaid child support to federal agencies. The bill requires the department to use an automated system that only flags debts as delinquent if they meet specific federal minimum thresholds. When reporting these debts, the system must include the exact dollar amount owed to ensure accuracy. This change applies to the state's child support program and aims to align reporting practices with federal guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definition of temporary alimony in divorce cases to clarify how these payments are calculated and limited. Under the new rules, courts will generally apply standard duration limits to temporary support, but they can exempt these payments from those limits if the support lasts an unusually long time. Additionally, a court may choose to apply a specific percentage formula for calculating payments only if it finds that doing so would cause immediate, irreparable economic harm to the spouse receiving support. These changes take effect on January 1, 2025, and directly affect judges and parties involved in family court proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for handling contempt of court cases within family division matters, such as divorce, child support, and custody disputes. It clarifies that contempt occurs when someone willfully refuses to follow a clear court order while having the ability to do so, and it places the responsibility on the person seeking enforcement to prove this violation by a preponderance of the evidence. If a court finds a party in contempt without a valid excuse, it can award legal fees to the other side or order the non-compliant party into jail until they obey the order. These changes apply to all cases under the family division's jurisdiction and will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts to keep a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors on hand to treat severe allergic reactions. It authorizes school nurses to decide how many doses to keep and permits doctors to write prescriptions in the name of the school district so pharmacies can fill them. Schools can buy these devices at reduced prices or through donations, and they must report annually on how often the medication is used.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the Judicial Conduct Commission in New Hampshire by repealing the specific law that created it. The change directly affects the state's judicial oversight system by removing the commission's authority to investigate judges and handle complaints regarding their professional behavior. Because the commission is abolished, its existing powers and responsibilities are effectively ended, and any future judicial conduct matters would need to be handled through different legal channels. The legislation takes effect immediately upon being signed into law.