Rep. Jason Osborne

Maddy summarySB 84 is a procedural bill that only amends the effective date of existing zoning procedures for residential housing, setting it to July 1, 2026. It does not change any substantive zoning rules or affect specific communities or housing types. The bill's sole provision adjusts when current zoning procedures will go into effect. As a procedural amendment with no policy changes, it directly affects the implementation timeline of existing zoning laws. This bill was referred for interim study by committee with a 16-0 vote.

Maddy summaryHB 452 would allow non-citizens temporarily residing in New Hampshire to obtain state driver's licenses. It directly affects immigrants with temporary legal status (such as visa holders) who currently cannot apply for licenses under state law. The bill would amend existing requirements to replace citizenship verification with proof of legal status for license applicants. This policy change would provide a new pathway for eligible individuals to legally drive in New Hampshire.

Maddy summarySB 39 would create an alternative program for driver education, offering a new pathway for new drivers to meet licensing requirements beyond traditional classroom instruction. It directly affects teenagers and young adults seeking their first driver's license, who typically complete mandatory driver education courses. The bill establishes specific criteria for this alternative program, including curriculum standards and instructor qualifications, to ensure it meets safety and training goals. This policy change would provide an additional option for schools or organizations to deliver driver education, potentially increasing accessibility for students. The bill is currently in committee review with a scheduled hearing.

Maddy summaryHB 155 reduces the tax rate for the business enterprise tax, directly affecting businesses subject to this specific tax. The bill lowers the percentage rate applied to business profits, providing a direct reduction in tax liability for qualifying entities. Key provisions include modifying the tax calculation formula to reflect the new, lower rate without changing the tax base or exemptions. This policy change aims to decrease the tax burden on eligible businesses through a straightforward rate adjustment. The bill passed committee with amendments but faces opposition in the minority report.

Maddy summaryHB 417 would repeal the communications services tax, which currently applies to providers of internet, phone, and similar telecommunications services. This repeal would eliminate a tax obligation for companies offering these services, potentially affecting their operational costs. The bill's key provision is removing this tax requirement from state law. As of the latest action, the bill was referred to committee for interim study with no further legislative action taken.

Maddy summaryHB 224 establishes a renewable energy fund to support solar, thermal, electrical, and offshore wind initiatives in New Hampshire. Any excess funds in the renewable energy fund - after covering program costs, administrative expenses, and specific initiatives like offshore wind development - must be rebated to all electricity customers in the state. The rebates are calculated based on each customer’s kilowatt-hour usage and distributed promptly. This policy directly affects all residential and commercial electricity ratepayers by returning unused program funds to their bills. The bill modifies existing law to ensure continuous funding for renewable programs and automatic rebates when surplus funds exist.

Maddy summarySB 103 requires New Hampshire towns and cities to provide at least one polling place for every 15,000 registered voters in presidential elections, unless they submit and get approval for a detailed plan addressing potential voter delays. The plan must cover traffic flow, parking, staffing levels, equipment availability (like electronic poll books), and other operational factors specified by the Secretary of State and Attorney General. Approval of such plans is conditional on meeting specific measures to prevent delays, and the officials may request additional information before granting approval. This bill directly affects local election planning for all towns and cities holding presidential elections.

Maddy summaryHB 672 legalizes off-grid electricity providers in New Hampshire, allowing companies to operate without connecting to the state's main power grid. It directly affects off-grid energy providers and their customers, removing previous legal barriers to their services. The key provision establishes a regulatory framework for these providers to legally offer power through independent systems like solar or wind. The law took effect on August 1, 2025, after being signed by Governor Ayotte.

Maddy summaryHB 143 makes it a crime for anyone to use AI-powered communication tools (like chatbots) to facilitate, encourage, offer, solicit, or recommend harmful acts to a child. It directly affects developers and operators of generative AI services interacting with minors, imposing criminal penalties for violations. The bill also creates a private right to sue for individuals harmed by such interactions. It became law on August 1, 2025, and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 273 grants parents the right to access their minor child's library records at public libraries. The bill directly affects parents of minors and public libraries that maintain such records. It requires libraries to provide parents with access to their child's borrowing history and other library records upon request. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, after being signed by Governor Ayotte on August 1, 2025.