Rep. Jaci Grote

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how retirement benefits are calculated for Group II members of the New Hampshire Retirement System, specifically affecting those who were already vested before January 1, 2012, and those who started working after July 1, 2011. It establishes new rules for early retirement, allowing eligible members to retire at age 45 with 20 years of service or age 50 with 25 years of service, while requiring a minimum age of 52.5 for those who began service after 2011 unless they accept a reduced benefit. The legislation also sets a minimum annual pension of $10,000 for qualifying retirees and adjusts the percentage used to calculate pension amounts based on years of service, with different rates applying to pre-2012 and post-2011 employees. Additionally, the bill updates disability retirement formulas and includes a specific appropriation to fund these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows towns and cities to lower speed limits during specific seasons when pedestrian or bicycle traffic becomes heavy. Local officials can make this change on their own or after receiving a petition from at least ten residents, provided they first conduct an engineering and traffic study. The reduced speed limit must be at least 20 miles per hour, last no longer than four months in a year, and can apply to specific times of day. The municipality is responsible for paying for the new signs, which must be designed and installed with approval from the state Department of Transportation.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of "development of regional impact" in New Hampshire to explicitly include solid waste landfills. Under the new rules, any proposed landfill must notify all communities located within its watershed or within a 10-mile radius of the site. Local land use boards are required to share meeting minutes and project plans with regional planning commissions and affected municipalities within five business days of making a decision. The law applies to new landfill projects but excludes existing facilities that were fully permitted before December 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryHB 1474 updates the composition and operational rules of New Hampshire's Commission on Native American Affairs to better represent indigenous communities. The bill reduces the number of public members from eleven to ten and clarifies that each representative must come from a specific tribe, band, or community rather than a broad social group, while also adjusting the voting quorum requirement. It outlines the commission's duties to study issues affecting Native Americans, preserve cultural artifacts and burial grounds, and recognize indigenous contributions without granting special legal rights or privileges to any individual. The legislation also mandates that the commission meet at least four times annually and publishes its meeting notices and minutes online for public transparency.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the requirements for individuals seeking licensure as licensed nursing assistants in New Hampshire. It mandates that applicants demonstrate sufficient aptitude in the English language, a change from the previous strict requirement to read and write in English. The legislation also clarifies that applicants must report pending criminal charges or convictions and meet continuing competence standards set by the state board. These rules apply to all new applicants and are designed to ensure a consistent baseline of communication skills and professional conduct for nursing assistants.

Maddy summaryHB 1490 updates the Solid Waste Management Act by clarifying legal definitions and strengthening permit oversight for solid waste facilities. The bill explicitly defines "abutters" as property owners adjacent to or across from waste facilities and specifies which vehicles count as "end-of-life" for disposal purposes. It grants the state department authority to terminate permits when a facility closes and requires that all permits be continuous in duration unless revoked for cause. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the department must wait 30 days after a public hearing before issuing final permit decisions to ensure public concerns are fully considered.

Maddy summaryHB 1190 adopts the Interstate Social Work Licensure Compact, allowing licensed social workers to practice across multiple states with a single license issued by their home state. This change aims to reduce the burden of obtaining separate licenses for each state while improving public access to social work services, including through telehealth. The bill establishes a commission to oversee the agreement and ensures that social workers remain accountable to the laws of the state where their clients are located. It also includes specific provisions to support military families and facilitate the sharing of disciplinary information among member states.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exemption for out-of-state doctors who treat patients in New Hampshire, allowing them to practice there without full state licensure. To qualify, the doctor must maintain an active relationship with the patient in their home state and perform in-person check-ups at least once a year, with the frequency adjusted based on the patient's specific medical needs. The law applies specifically to physicians licensed elsewhere who are providing care to New Hampshire residents under these established conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the definition of New Hampshire's state fire code and officially ratifies amendments approved by the state board of fire control as of September 20, 2023. It changes the required edition of the National Fire Protection Association codes from 2018 to 2021 for both the Life Safety Code and the Uniform Fire Code. The law ensures that any other national standards referenced within these codes are also included unless specifically amended by the state board. These changes apply to all individuals and entities subject to the state fire code, including building owners, managers, and safety inspectors. The new requirements will become effective 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryHB 1155 prohibits life and long-term care insurance companies in New Hampshire from denying coverage, canceling policies, or charging higher premiums to individuals solely because they have donated an organ or tissue. The law also forbids insurers from making organ donation a condition for receiving or keeping an insurance policy. These protections apply to all such policies offered, issued, or renewed in the state on or after July 1, 2024, ensuring that living organ donors are not discriminated against by insurance providers.