Rep. Joe Sweeney

Maddy summaryHB 1396 amends New Hampshire law to prohibit filling vacancies in the state House of Representatives. Specifically, it revises RSA 661:10 to state that "if a vacancy occurs in the office of state representative... the vacancy shall not be filled." This policy change directly affects constituents in the affected district, as the seat remains vacant until the next general election. The bill does not apply to other offices like state senators or executive councilors, which retain existing vacancy procedures under different constitutional provisions. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 610 repeals the Office of the Consumer Advocate (OCA) in New Hampshire, dissolving this office 120 days after the bill's passage and transferring all its duties, assets, and staff to the New Hampshire Department of Energy (DoE). The OCA, which represented residential utility consumers in regulatory proceedings, will no longer exist as a separate entity, with its responsibilities for consumer advocacy and ratepayer representation now handled by the DoE. This change removes all references to the OCA from state law, including its role in consumer education and participation in utility proceedings. The repeal is expected to reduce state expenditures by approximately $1.1 million annually, as the OCA's budget was funded through utility assessments. This policy change directly affects residential utility consumers who previously had a dedicated advocate in the OCA, though the DoE will now assume these responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1042 raises the state's unified contingent credit limit for New Hampshire's Business Finance Authority from $200 million to $450 million, effective June 1, 2026. This change directly affects the authority's ability to provide state-backed loans and guarantees for eligible business projects and programs. The bill modifies RSA 162-A:22 to increase the aggregate limit on these state guarantees, allowing the authority to support more financing for businesses without requiring new legislative approval for each project.

Maddy summaryHB 1588 establishes a process for cities and towns to create special assessment districts to fund infrastructure improvements (like roads, water, and sewer systems) directly tied to new housing developments. Municipalities can finance these projects through property assessments on benefiting parcels - collected over up to 20 years - without using general tax revenue. The bill also expands an existing state grant program to fund municipal infrastructure upgrades for new housing, with a $1 appropriation for fiscal year 2027. This directly affects municipalities planning new housing projects and property owners within designated districts who may face assessments based on their specific benefit from improvements.

Maddy summaryHB 158 requires town and city clerks to make absentee ballot applicant lists (including names and addresses, arranged by voting place) available for public inspection 60 days after an election (or earlier with a court order), excluding voters with protective orders. The bill also mandates the secretary of state to create a report on absentee ballot requests, detailing requests by voting district, address discrepancies, multiple ballots sent to one address, and the top 20 common mailing addresses. This affects local clerks who manage absentee ballots and the public who can access the lists. The report will provide transparency on absentee ballot distribution patterns without altering voting procedures. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 155 reduces New Hampshire's business enterprise tax (BET) rate from 0.55% to 0.50% for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2026. This directly affects businesses that pay the BET, calculated on their taxable enterprise value. The rate change takes effect July 1, 2025, applying permanently to all future tax periods meeting the end-date requirement. The bill does not alter other tax provisions but will decrease state revenue from this tax, with estimated impacts of $4.3 million in fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1469 requires massage therapy businesses employing more than one therapist to obtain a state license and undergo regular inspections by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). The bill establishes new health and safety standards for these businesses, including requirements for direct supervision by licensed therapists and procedures for license renewal and disciplinary actions. It also adds compensation for members of the massage therapists' advisory board and creates a new investigative paralegal position within the OPLC, with funding provided for this role. This legislation directly affects massage therapy businesses, the OPLC, and the advisory board by expanding regulatory oversight and operational requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1774 requires New Hampshire to participate in a federal tax credit for donations to scholarship organizations and creates a state list of qualifying groups. It prohibits state financial aid for college programs that don't meet federal earnings standards, defined by outcomes like job placement and wages above 150% of the federal poverty level. This affects public colleges, universities, and students enrolled in programs deemed "low-earning outcome" under federal criteria. The law aims to redirect state funding toward academic programs with stronger job prospects for graduates.

Maddy summarySB 541 appropriates $16.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Services for Phase 2 of the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Project. It directly funds infrastructure (including pumps, storage tanks, and pipelines) to increase water supply by over 2 million gallons daily for towns affected by PFAS contamination and rising demand. The bill requires that no public utility ratepayer face adverse costs from this project. Funds are nonlapsing, meaning they remain available for use beyond the fiscal year without needing annual renewal.

Maddy summaryHB 1646 creates a tax credit allowing businesses to reduce their state business profits tax by the value of off-site infrastructure they fund or build that directly benefits the public, after obtaining municipal approval. The credit is limited to a business's annual tax liability, with unused portions carryable forward for up to 20 years. Businesses must document these improvements, and the Department of Revenue Administration will develop rules for verification and calculation. The credit takes effect April 1, 2027.