Rep. Dennis Mannion

Maddy summarySB 411 revises the procedure for creating inventories of property seized under search warrants in New Hampshire. It requires that the inventory be made in the presence of the person from whom property was taken (if present) or, if they are not present, in the presence of at least one neutral third-party witness. For electronic searches, officers may skip the witness requirement if they personally attest to the inventory's accuracy. This change applies to all law enforcement officers executing search warrants and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 543 establishes provisional eligibility for Medicaid nursing facility services in New Hampshire, directly affecting long-term care applicants and nursing facilities. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to grant temporary coverage within 90 days of application submission if a facility agrees to comply with program terms, without waiting for full application completion. This provisional status lasts up to 18 months or until a final eligibility decision, with facilities receiving payments during this period and required to reimburse funds if final approval is denied. The bill appropriates $1 for the 2026-2027 biennium to fund this program and creates two new positions within the department to manage it (per RSA 167:8).

Maddy summaryHB 1240 upgrades the penalty for criminal threatening when a victim reasonably believes a deadly weapon is being used. It makes this offense a class B felony under New Hampshire law, directly affecting individuals who threaten others while displaying or using something that appears to be a deadly weapon (as defined in RSA 625:11). The bill amends RSA 631:4 to include the "apparent use" of a deadly weapon as a factor elevating the crime. This change takes effect January 1, 2027, and 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 summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 13) proposes removing all references to the "register of probate" position from New Hampshire's constitution. It would amend Articles 71 and 81 to delete the elected office and its duties, which were already redistributed to circuit court clerks in 2011. The bill does not create or change any current duties but formally eliminates the obsolete constitutional reference. Voters will decide in the November 2026 election whether to approve this change.

Maddy summaryHB 1471 updates the retirement benefit calculation for New Hampshire police and fire personnel (Group II members) who began service before July 1, 2011, and were not vested by January 1, 2012. It aligns their "average final compensation" formula with the method established in HB 2 (2025), limiting how extra pay (like overtime) is included in retirement calculations. Specifically, it caps the inclusion of special duty pay in the highest 5 years of service to match the average over the member’s last 5 years of service after January 1, 2012. This change has no new fiscal impact, as it implements an existing calculation method already approved in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1026 clarifies that accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - small secondary housing units on the same lot as a main home - are not considered manufactured housing. The bill explicitly states that municipalities may prohibit ADUs associated with manufactured housing, such as mobile homes or factory-built units. This change affects local zoning decisions, allowing towns to restrict ADUs in manufactured housing developments while ensuring ADUs remain excluded from the legal definition of manufactured housing. The law updates state definitions to prevent ambiguity in housing regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1281 establishes certification standards for "facility comfort dogs" used by public agencies like hospitals, schools, and emergency services to provide emotional support. It requires these dogs to earn an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen certificate by 18 months and complete quarterly training, while banning prong/electronic collars during deployment. Handlers must obtain specific certifications including Mental Health First Aid and Emergency First Aid for Dogs, and agencies must maintain detailed training records. The bill also sets care standards, such as prohibiting raw diets, requiring spaying/neutering, and mandating retirement policies for the dogs. These requirements directly affect public safety agencies, their handlers, and the comfort dogs they deploy.

Maddy summaryHB 1070 mandates that individuals placed in protective custody for suspected mental health crises must be transported by ambulance to a hospital or designated mental health site for evaluation, rather than by law enforcement. This applies directly to people experiencing acute mental health emergencies who are deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill requires emergency medical technicians to provide care during transport, sets a 6-hour limit for protective custody, and allows law enforcement to override ambulance transport only if the individual poses a safety risk to medical personnel. It does not change eligibility criteria for involuntary admission but standardizes the initial transport process for mental health evaluations.

Maddy summaryHB 1237 updates how New Hampshire's state police select and manage contracted tow companies for removing abandoned or obstructive vehicles. It revises procedures to create a rotating list of qualified tow businesses organized by geographic area and vehicle type (class I, II, or III), replacing outdated terms like "wreckers" with "qualified tow businesses." The bill affects state police, tow companies, and property owners dealing with vehicles abandoned on private property or obstructing public spaces. Key changes include requiring the police to use this updated list when practicable, allowing specialized towing for specific vehicle classes, and ensuring tow companies can charge appropriately for equipment used. The Department of Safety requested this change to improve efficiency and safety in vehicle removal operations.