Rep. Valerie McDonnell

Maddy summarySB 295 creates New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program, allowing parents to use public funds for private school tuition or approved educational expenses. It directly affects eligible K-12 students from households earning up to 350% of the federal poverty level (with income verified only at initial application), prioritizing current EFA students, siblings, students with disabilities, and low-income families. The program sets a 10,000-student enrollment cap for 2025-2026, with potential 25% annual increases if prior-year enrollment exceeded 90% of the cap, and reserves spots for renewing students before new enrollments. The law, signed by the governor on June 10, 2025, is now effective and replaces prior eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHB 108 requires all public schools across multiple school districts to implement standardized anti-bullying and cyberbullying prevention programs and reporting procedures. It directly affects students, school staff, and administrators by mandating consistent policies for addressing both in-person and online harassment. The bill establishes clear protocols for investigating incidents, supporting victims, and notifying parents. It became law on June 2, 2025, and takes effect August 1, 2025, applying statewide to all participating school districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire state laws to clarify how schools should handle bullying and cyberbullying that occurs between different school districts. It defines "cross-district" incidents as those happening across multiple districts and expands the scope of bullying to include actions off school property if they disrupt a student's education or school operations. The legislation requires schools to investigate reported incidents within five school days, with a possible seven-day extension, and specifically assigns the responsibility for investigating cross-district cases to the district where the bullying originated. These rules apply to all students and schools in the state and will become effective 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new state laws to protect freedom of speech and association at public colleges and universities in New Hampshire. It designates outdoor campus areas as public forums where students and staff can engage in peaceful expression without being forced into designated "free speech zones." The legislation prohibits institutions from discriminating against student groups based on their religious, political, or ideological views and defines specific limits on when speech can be restricted, such as during unlawful fights or harassment. Additionally, the bill creates a legal remedy allowing individuals or groups to sue schools for violations, with a monetary cap on damages adjusted annually for inflation.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Matthew Brown Act, requires public schools and charter schools in New Hampshire to print the phone number for the National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline on student identification cards. The law applies to cards issued for the first time or replaced after the bill takes effect, ensuring that students in grades 6 through 12 have immediate access to eating disorder support resources. Schools must also verify annually that the helpline number on these cards is accurate and up to date before each new school year. The legislation aims to integrate mental health resources directly into the daily materials students carry, rather than relying on them to find help information elsewhere.