Rep. Jim Spillane

Maddy summaryHB 1697 would create a new New Hampshire law exempting firearms and accessories manufactured within the state from federal gun regulations. It requires these items to be marked "For N.H. Use Only. Export is Criminal" and prohibits their possession or transport outside New Hampshire, with violations classified as class B misdemeanors. The bill mandates unique serial numbers based on manufacturing location and date, and requires manufacturers to provide ownership transfer records. This directly affects New Hampshire firearm manufacturers, owners of these "N.H. Only" firearms, and law enforcement handling interstate transport violations. The bill has no estimated fiscal impact on state or local governments.

Maddy summaryHB 1048 repeals the general prohibition on possessing or selling blackjacks, slung shots, and metallic knuckles for adults, while maintaining a ban on these items for people under 18. The bill specifically makes it illegal for anyone under 18 to carry these weapons and prohibits selling them to minors. This change allows adults to possess and sell these weapons to other adults, but continues to prohibit minors from having them or being sold to them. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1757 would require divorcing couples in New Hampshire to have been married for more than six years to qualify for alimony. It directly affects individuals ending short marriages (six years or less) by prohibiting courts from ordering either term alimony or reimbursement alimony in such cases. The bill amends existing divorce law to set this six-year minimum requirement for alimony requests, which must be filed before the divorce decree or within five years of its effective date. This change applies to all cases filed on or after January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1404 establishes a study committee to examine how property is divided during divorce proceedings in New Hampshire. The committee, composed of five House members (including two from the Children and Family Law Committee) and two Senate members (including one from the same committee), will review state laws and other states' approaches to equitable property division. It must report its findings and any proposed legislative changes to state leaders by November 1, 2026. This bill does not change current divorce laws but sets up a review process to potentially inform future policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1699 allows individuals to carry certain firearms (like loaded rifles, shotguns, or crossbows) on boats operating at "no-wake speed" or "not exceeding 1.5 times headway speed," which are defined as slow-moving vessels. This change directly affects boat operators and passengers using mechanically propelled boats or towed boats at low speeds. The bill modifies existing law (RSA 207:7) by creating an exception to the general prohibition on carrying firearms on such boats when moving slowly. It does not change the definition of "loaded" or apply to law enforcement officers. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated fiscal impact on state or local governments.

Maddy summaryNew Hampshire's CACR 15 proposes adding a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest game to the state constitution. It states that all citizens have this right, including using traditional methods, but only under existing laws and regulations. The amendment specifies that these rules must promote wildlife conservation, maintain resources for public use, and preserve hunting/fishing for future generations. It does not change current laws on property rights, trespass, or eminent domain. The proposal requires voter approval in the November 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1045 clarifies rules for using artificial lights during nighttime hunting and outdoor activities in New Hampshire. It prohibits using lights (other than normal vehicle headlights and incidental lights like reversing lights during typical driving) to locate or take wildlife between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise. Exceptions include agricultural work (e.g., protecting livestock), utility operations, and using lights solely for navigation or property inspection without targeting wildlife. The bill does not change existing nighttime hunting bans but provides clearer guidelines to prevent accidental violations. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1241 changes how courts calculate income for divorce-related support orders. It defines "gross income" to include only regular earnings from a parent's primary job (wages, salary, or primary self-employment), explicitly excluding overtime pay, secondary job earnings, and other income from outside sources. This applies to both alimony (RSA 458:19) and child support (RSA 458-C:2) calculations. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting divorcing parents and courts determining financial obligations.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 10) would require any bill establishing or increasing a state tax to pass with at least two-thirds of members present and voting in both legislative chambers. Currently, tax bills only need a majority vote to pass. If approved by voters in November 2026, this change would apply to all state tax legislation originating in the House of Representatives. The amendment would raise the voting threshold for tax bills from majority to supermajority, affecting how legislators vote on tax policy.

Maddy summaryHR 20 is a New Hampshire House resolution (not a law) that formally reaffirms support for the Second Amendment and New Hampshire's state constitutional right to bear arms. It specifically urges Congress and the President to stop potential federal restrictions on firearm ownership based on characteristics like sexual orientation or religion, referencing reports of internal DOJ discussions about such rules. The resolution also calls for advancing the SHORT Act to address existing constitutional infringements, though it has no legal force and serves as a symbolic statement to federal leaders.