Rep. Nicholas Bridle

Maddy summaryHB 1594 changes New Hampshire's registration fees for electric vehicles from a flat rate to a weight-based system. Fully electric cars (BEVs) will pay $25 for vehicles under 2,000 pounds, $100 for 2,000-5,000 pounds, and $150 for heavier models, while plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) will continue to pay $50 regardless of weight. Neighborhood electric vehicles and low-speed scooters would be exempt from fees. The fees collected would go into the highway fund, and the bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1577 allows utilities to share customer information with town emergency planners for emergency response planning and coordination. It requires utilities to have contracts with municipalities that include security safeguards to protect data and prohibit using the information for unrelated commercial purposes without customer consent. The bill directly affects utilities and municipal emergency management authorities by creating a legal pathway for this data sharing while adding privacy protections. This amends existing law (RSA 363:38) to permit the disclosure specifically for emergency planning, not for general use or billing.

Maddy summaryHB 1095 increases the maximum weight limit for utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) from 2,000 to 3,000 pounds unladen dry weight. This change affects UTV owners, manufacturers, and state park managers by updating definitions in RSA 215-A:1 and trail restrictions in RSA 215-A:43 for state-owned trails and Jericho Mountain State Park. The bill allows UTVs up to 3,000 pounds and 65 inches wide on designated trails, aligning with current park regulations. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

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 1833 creates a special license required for non-resident anglers participating in tuna tournaments in New Hampshire. It mandates that non-residents must obtain this license - valid only for 10 days during a single tournament - to legally take, possess, or transport tuna for sale. The license requires participation in a nonprofit-run tournament (operating at least one year), includes a $15 surcharge deposited into a coastal cleanup fund (with exemptions for verified cleanup volunteers), and prohibits taking other marine species under this license. The bill applies specifically to non-resident tournament participants and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1751 establishes a 5% public safety surcharge on paid parking at New Hampshire state park facilities. The surcharge, collected through existing parking systems, funds a dedicated account that distributes quarterly revenues to the host municipalities based on each park's collected surcharge. These funds must be used solely for public safety services directly related to park visitation, such as police, fire, and emergency medical services. The bill creates a new revenue stream for local public safety without imposing new fees on visitors or creating new criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 1330 would change New Hampshire's primary voting rules to allow any registered voter to participate in the primary election of any political party, regardless of their own party affiliation or if they have no declared party. This affects all registered voters in the state who wish to vote in either state or presidential primaries. The key provision removes the current requirement that voters must declare a party to vote in that party's primary, instead permitting voters to choose any party's primary ballot. Voters would still be restricted to casting only one primary ballot per election. The bill would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 403 requires all public and private schools in New Hampshire to begin the school year on or after the day following Labor Day. This law directly affects school boards statewide by prohibiting them from scheduling the start of classes before Labor Day. The key provision amends state law to establish a new requirement that schools must begin no earlier than the day after Labor Day, as defined by existing law. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, with no exceptions specified.

Maddy summaryHB 1320 establishes a temporary committee to study funding sources for New Hampshire's State Council on the Arts. The committee, composed of three House members and one Senate member, will analyze past, current, and potential future funding options. It must submit a report with findings and recommendations to state leaders by November 1, 2026, but does not allocate funds or make policy changes itself. This is a procedural bill focused solely on gathering information for future consideration.