Rep. Valerie McDonnell

Maddy summaryHB 1692 modifies New Hampshire's Legislative Youth Advisory Council by expanding its youth membership from 16 to 20 members (total council size: 24), requiring a new digital application process for youth members aged 14-22, and clarifying the council's duties. The bill directs the council to review legislation affecting youth priorities - such as education, housing, health, and civic engagement - and submit annual policy recommendations to the legislature. It establishes specific appointment rules (including geographic/socioeconomic diversity requirements) and penalties for membership violations, while adding a formal application process requiring recommendation letters from educators or officials. This bill directly affects New Hampshire youth seeking council roles and shapes how the legislature engages youth perspectives on policy.

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 summaryHB 1817 allows students who reside in a New Hampshire school district - regardless of whether they attend public, private, charter, or home education programs - to access all curricular courses and cocurricular activities (like clubs, sports, and arts) offered by that district. It requires school boards to adopt policies ensuring these students face no stricter rules than resident students in the district. The bill specifically affects home-educated students (including those with disabilities under certain conditions), private school students, and charter school students who live within a district but are not enrolled there. It does not change where students must attend school but guarantees equal access to local programs once they reside in a district.

Maddy summaryHB 1793 prohibits New Hampshire public colleges and universities from restricting the possession or carrying of firearms and non-lethal weapons (like pepper spray or stun guns) on campus. It directly affects public institutions of higher education and any student, faculty, staff, or visitor who lawfully carries such items under state law. The bill requires schools to allow constitutional carry without requiring permits or licenses and permits individuals harmed by school policies to sue for at least $10,000 in damages. This law takes effect January 1, 2027, aligning with New Hampshire’s existing constitutional carry framework.

Maddy summaryHB 1538 prohibits vape product marketers from using deceptive tactics to target minors. Specifically, it bans imitating food, school supplies, or clothing (e.g., candy packaging or pencil designs), using minor-appealing characters (like cartoon figures or video game icons), or embedding interactive video game features in vape products. The law directly affects vape manufacturers and retailers who market products through these methods. Violations will be handled as civil infractions by the Liquor Commission, with penalties under existing rules. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1700 adds a non-voting student member position to New Hampshire's State Board of Education. The position requires the member to be a currently enrolled student in a New Hampshire career school, high school, community college, college, or home education program (or enrolled in an education freedom account), aged 14-22. The student member serves a non-renewable two-year term or until turning 22, whichever comes first. While they cannot vote on board decisions, they have all other rights of board members.

Maddy summaryHB 1123 requires companies with 50 or more employees in New Hampshire to list both the minimum and maximum annual salary ranges, along with a general description of benefits, in all public job postings. Employers must provide concrete salary figures (not vague terms like "competitive") and cannot use open-ended ranges. If an employer does not negotiate salaries for a position, they must state a fixed pay rate. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 768 allows public school districts to contract with any nonpublic school that meets state approval standards, removing previous restrictions on such partnerships. This directly affects public school districts seeking alternative educational arrangements and approved nonpublic schools eligible to provide services. The key provision eliminates prior limitations preventing public schools from contracting with nonpublic schools for specific programs or services, such as specialized instruction. The bill became law on July 15, 2025, after passing both chambers and receiving the governor's signature.

Maddy summaryHB 115 provided temporary funding to cover ongoing expenses and existing financial commitments for the New Hampshire state government. It directly affected state agencies and programs requiring immediate budget support to operate. The bill's key mechanism was allocating short-term funds to prevent service disruptions during the budget process. The bill was passed by both chambers in June 2025 but was vetoed by Governor Ayotte on July 15, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 90 amends the legal definition of "part-time teachers" in public school settings. This change directly affects part-time educators employed by public school districts, clarifying their classification under state education law. The bill's key provision updates the statutory definition without altering employment terms or benefits, simply establishing a new standard for determining part-time status. It became effective on July 7, 2025, the date Governor Ayotte signed it into law.