Rep. Carrie Sorensen

Maddy summaryHB 1798 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to apply for a federal waiver by November 1, 2026, to add diaper coverage under Medicaid for infants' first year of life. The bill directly affects Medicaid-eligible infants (approximately 4,000 annually) and their families, providing coverage for 100 diapers per month during the child's first 12 months. It appropriates $100,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to fund the program, with federal matching funds expected to cover most costs. Implementation depends on federal CMS approval, with a target start date of May 1, 2027, if approved.

Maddy summarySB 530 modifies how New Hampshire's vital records office reports fetal deaths to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It prohibits sharing specific personal details - including the mother's or father's full name, address, medical record numbers, and birth dates - with the CDC. The bill allows the office to share only the parents' birth year and the fetal delivery date. This change affects the state's reporting process for fetal deaths, updating terminology and limiting sensitive data released to federal health agencies. The policy directly impacts the state vital records office and CDC data collection procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1574 allows New Hampshire school districts to extend free and reduced-price lunch benefits to special education students who are 21 years old but continue their education through age 22, as required by their individualized education plan (IEP). The bill authorizes school boards to maintain eligibility for these students until their IEP is completed or they turn 22, whichever comes first. The state will reimburse school districts for these meals through the general fund at the same rate as federal USDA meal programs. This change directly affects students with IEPs who remain in school beyond age 21, removing a barrier to nutritional support during their extended education. The policy takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.

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 summarySB 483 provides $15 million in state General Fund money to the Department of Health and Human Services if federal TANF funds cannot be used for child care employer grants. This backup funding would directly support New Hampshire child care employers through recruitment and benefit grants, helping them attract and retain staff. The bill triggers this state appropriation only if the federal government fails to approve or denies the use of TANF funds for this purpose by July 1, 2026. The $15 million is nonlapsing, meaning it remains available for use in fiscal year 2027 without needing annual reapproval.

Maddy summaryHB 1794 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to study how recent Medicaid changes affect residents' healthcare access. The department must prepare a report detailing impacts on covered individuals, healthcare providers (including hospitals and community clinics), timely care access, waiver program participants, and state budget effects. The report must cover specific areas like the number of affected residents and potential facility closures, with an interim version due November 1, 2026, and a final report by July 1, 2027. This bill directly affects New Hampshire residents relying on Medicaid and healthcare organizations providing services to them. It mandates a factual assessment of existing changes without altering Medicaid policy itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1188 prohibits employers from requiring low-wage employees - defined as those earning an hourly rate of 500% or less of the federal minimum wage - to sign noncompete agreements. It voids any existing noncompete agreements for these workers and limits the duration of any such agreement to a maximum of 12 months. The bill directly affects low-wage workers in New Hampshire, removing legal barriers that previously restricted their ability to change employers. This policy change increases job mobility for workers in low-paying positions by preventing employers from using noncompete clauses to limit their employment options.

Maddy summarySB 92 updates New Hampshire's birth worksheet requirements to include current and prior names of parents and standardized Apgar scores at 1, 5, and 10 minutes for newborns. It directly affects parents, newborns, and the Vital Records Administration by restricting the personal information shared with the CDC - banning names, birth dates of parents, medical IDs, and addresses - but allowing release of parents' birth years and the baby's birth date. The bill's key mechanism requires the Vital Records Administration to omit specific identifiers when sending birth data to the CDC for public health reporting. The changes take effect June 30, 2026.