Rep. Susan Porcelli

Maddy summarySB 410 authorizes New Hampshire law enforcement agencies to possess portions of human remains (such as tissue or bone) for training cadaver detection dogs, directly affecting law enforcement, funeral homes, and mortuaries. The bill requires written consent from next of kin or the deceased’s prior donation authorization, specifies the exact portions to be used, and mandates documentation retention. After training, all remains must be returned to a New Hampshire institution of higher education or a licensed medical waste disposal company. Agencies must also develop written policies covering consent, handling, storage, and final disposition, all to be submitted to the police standards council. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1491 regulates two types of pooled risk management programs used by state and local governments. It requires "advance premium pooled risk management programs" (which collect fixed premiums without later assessments) to be licensed by the insurance department and maintain specific reinsurance coverage. The bill also establishes that the secretary of state will regulate "assessment pooled risk management programs" (which can require members to pay extra if funds run low). These programs directly affect political subdivisions like cities, towns, and school districts that use pooled insurance to manage their risk.

Maddy summaryHB 1541 requires New Hampshire's Secretary of State to provide all voting precincts with secure, lockable, tamper-evident containers for storing ballots before each election. These containers must be reusable, stackable, transportable, numbered, and designed to accommodate different ballot sizes. The bill mandates annual progress reports tracking container replacements and locations, using existing Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds without new state appropriations. It directly affects all local election offices statewide by standardizing ballot storage equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 1374 modifies the procedure for school districts withdrawing from cooperative school districts. It requires only a 3/5 supermajority of voters in the withdrawing district to approve withdrawal, replacing the prior requirement that also needed majority support from the entire cooperative district. This simplifies the process by focusing approval solely on the district seeking to leave. The bill directly affects school districts considering separation from cooperative arrangements.

Maddy summarySB 568 clarifies that the Department of Safety's commissioner may appoint specific staff members - including assistant commissioners, division directors, or bureau chiefs - to verify background checks for employee candidates. The bill explicitly defines eligible designees and requires the department to maintain strict confidentiality of all background check records. It also permits electronic submission of fingerprint information, following procedures established by the division of state police. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1833 creates a special license required for non-resident anglers participating in tuna tournaments in New Hampshire. It mandates that non-residents must obtain this license - valid only for 10 days during a single tournament - to legally take, possess, or transport tuna for sale. The license requires participation in a nonprofit-run tournament (operating at least one year), includes a $15 surcharge deposited into a coastal cleanup fund (with exemptions for verified cleanup volunteers), and prohibits taking other marine species under this license. The bill applies specifically to non-resident tournament participants and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1669 establishes a "Teacher Bill of Rights" for educators in New Hampshire public schools and public charter schools. It guarantees teachers specific rights, including a safe and healthy school environment free from violence, respectful treatment, the ability to share student information with parents (per FERPA), and protection from retaliation when exercising professional judgment. The bill requires all public school districts and charter school boards to post this bill of rights on their websites. It directly affects teachers by defining their workplace protections and communication rights within school policies. The law takes effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1005 repeals the commission established to study New Hampshire's zoning enabling act under RSA 674:23-a. The bill dissolves this specific statutory commission without altering any zoning laws or affecting residents, businesses, or local governments. This is a procedural change that removes the commission's legal existence, with no new policies or regulations implemented.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how towns regulate manufactured homes. It requires municipalities to allow siting on residential lots with the same zoning rules as single-family homes (not just in parks), and mandates "reasonable efforts" to accommodate them. Existing manufactured housing parks must follow NFPA 501A fire safety standards for expansions. It also allows disaster victims to temporarily live in manufactured homes on their property for 30 days after a building permit is issued, while rebuilding their primary residence.

Maddy summaryHB 1342 requires New Hampshire election officials to publicly share basic voter information for absentee and UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) voters, including names, addresses, and ballot status. However, it prohibits releasing overseas mailing addresses and electronic contact details (like email or phone numbers) for UOCAVA voters who are members of the uniformed services. The bill also bans disclosure of how ballots were voted and mandates that records be made available within one business day of a request. Officials who fail to comply face civil fines up to $1,000 for the first offense or misdemeanor charges for repeated violations.