Rep. Michael Edgar

Maddy summaryHB 1822 requires state, county, and local law enforcement agencies and correctional facilities to submit semi-annual reports to the Attorney General about individuals detained for civil immigration violations (including under immigration detainers or federal 287(g) agreements). Reports must include the number of people detained and the length of each detention, with the first reports due December 31, 2026. The Attorney General must then summarize this data in a semi-annual report to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, starting February 1, 2027. The bill imposes no new funding but notes potential administrative costs for the Attorney General’s office.

Maddy summaryHB 1451 requires all employers in New Hampshire to create written safety plans protecting workers from extreme heat (80°F+ or 15°F-) and cold, including mandatory rest breaks in temperature-controlled areas and access to fluids. It mandates annual employee training on recognizing heat/cold illness symptoms, reporting procedures, and emergency response, while prohibiting retaliation for reporting safety concerns. The law applies to all workplaces with temperature-related risks, particularly outdoor and manual labor jobs like construction and transportation. Employers must develop plans using a step-by-step approach (e.g., hazard elimination, engineering controls) and involve employees in the process.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Hampshire's Insurance Commissioner to create and publish a report by January 1, 2028, and every five years thereafter, detailing insurance risks from extreme weather events like floods, storms, and hurricanes. The report must include information on "fortified home and commercial standards" (measures to reduce weather-related damage) and identify areas at risk of coverage loss or premium increases, using data from FEMA maps, New Hampshire coastal viewer tools, and other risk assessments. It also mandates that the Commissioner develop these fortified standards using science-based guidelines from national insurance organizations and consider them when setting insurance rates. This affects insurers, who must factor these standards into rate calculations, and consumers, who will receive accessible information about weather-related risks and mitigation options.

Maddy summaryHB 1768 provides free day-use admission and metered parking at New Hampshire state parks for honorably discharged veterans who are state residents. It exempts eligible veterans from these fees upon presenting proof like a veteran license plate, DD-214 form, or other recognized documentation. The bill directly affects New Hampshire veterans meeting these criteria, removing financial barriers to park access. The fiscal note estimates an annual revenue loss of $200,000-$450,000 for the State Park Fund, based on park fee data and veteran residency assumptions.

Maddy summaryHB 1285 creates a multi-agency task force to study whether New Hampshire could implement an R-PACER program, which would allow homeowners to finance property resilience improvements (like flood mitigation) through property taxes. The task force, including state finance and housing authorities, must review lessons from New Hampshire’s existing C-PACER program for businesses, examine other states’ R-PACER models, and recommend if and how such a program should be adopted. It will assess key elements like eligible improvements, consumer protections, lender oversight, and required administrative authority. The task force must report its findings and legislative recommendations to state leaders by June 2027, with no immediate policy changes enacted by this bill.

Maddy summaryHB 1660 allows New Hampshire municipalities to use project-based credit enhancement agreements (CEAs) to incentivize specific housing developments without requiring a full tax increment financing (TIF) district. It directly affects municipalities and developers building qualifying housing projects, such as senior housing, skilled care facilities, workforce housing, or other community-identified housing needs. The bill clarifies that housing-related captured tax revenue will be excluded from equalized property valuation calculations, preventing towns from facing artificially inflated state tax bases. This change streamlines support for housing projects while excluding conversions of existing homes, luxury developments, or individually owned units like single-family homes. The law aims to address housing shortages by making municipal financial tools more accessible for housing-focused initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 1273 creates "Flood Resilience Incentive Zones" (FRIZ) to help homeowners in flood-prone areas make resilience improvements. It allows municipalities to offer tax credits (minimum $100 annually), property tax relief, and low-cost loans for qualifying projects like elevating homes, installing flood barriers, using natural water management systems (e.g., bioswales), or upgrading electrical systems to reduce flood damage. Municipalities can also collect a fee of up to $0.50 per $1,000 property value to fund these initiatives through revolving funds. The bill directly affects residential property owners in designated FRIZ areas and gives local governments new tools to support flood mitigation.

Maddy summarySB 628 enables highway authorities (state or local governments) to license curbside electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in public rights-of-way, such as sidewalks or street spaces. It establishes two options for electricity supply: either a dedicated new service or a "host energy reimbursement arrangement" where operators pay adjacent property owners for electricity use via separate metering. The bill sets strict siting rules to ensure pedestrian accessibility, safety, and compliance with disability standards, while clarifying that operators are not considered public utilities. This directly affects highway authorities, property owners hosting chargers, and EV charging operators by creating a legal framework for public EV charging infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 1461 encourages municipalities with existing sewage systems to extend service to neighboring communities by creating a faster approval process for such projects and giving them priority in state loan and grant programs. It requires that extensions follow regional plans or local master plans and allows municipalities to recover costs through user fees or impact fees charged to the receiving community. The bill also includes a provision allowing state officials to mandate extensions if there’s a public health risk, housing goal barrier, or significant economic harm, while ensuring host municipalities don’t bear extra costs. This primarily affects towns with sewage infrastructure seeking to expand service across town lines, particularly for housing or economic development projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to allocate $1 to the Department of Safety to fund infrastructure repairs in Hampton, North Hampton, Rye, Newcastle, Portsmouth, and Seabrook following flooding from January 2024 storms. The legislation allows the governor to issue a warrant to draw this sum from unappropriated treasury funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The act takes effect immediately upon passage and designates the money for grants to help these specific coastal towns address storm-related damage.