Rep. Matt Sabourin dit Choinière

Maddy summaryHB 1350 expands the definition of "antique" motor vehicles to include all vehicles (including trucks, motorcycles, farm tractors, and retired fire apparatus) over 25 years old, regardless of type, use, or maintenance condition. It removes previous restrictions on daily or commercial use and eliminates requirements that vehicles must be kept in original/restored condition or used only for exhibitions or parades. The bill repeals the existing antique vehicle exemption law (RSA 266:33) and allows any qualifying vehicle to receive antique registration. This change affects approximately 75,000 vehicles currently registered under standard plates, shifting them to a lower-fee antique classification ($6/year vs. $42-$66/year), which would reduce annual state highway fund revenue by $2.7-$4.5 million.

Maddy summaryHB 1639 creates a new process for county-level "petition-initiated special grand juries" that can be activated when 500 qualified voters in a county sign a petition. These grand juries, housed under county sheriffs' offices, would investigate public institutions, detention facilities, financial entities, election/tax administration, and corporate misconduct. Counties would cover all costs for convening these juries and conducting investigations, including audits of public entities receiving taxpayer funds. The bill requires counties to support these juries' operations while granting them authority to inspect facilities, review records, and issue public reports on findings. This directly affects county governments, public agencies, and facilities receiving public funding by establishing a new voter-driven oversight mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 1606 prohibits Chinese nationals (non-U.S. citizens with ties to the People's Republic of China government, such as PRC state-owned enterprise employees or CCP members) from owning or controlling real property in New Hampshire. It provides a 90-day grace period for current owners to sell properties, after which undivested properties face state seizure. Violations trigger civil penalties of 25% of the property’s value, criminal misdemeanor charges for facilitators, and automatic forfeiture of the property to the state. The bill directly affects PRC nationals and entities facilitating their property acquisitions, with enforcement handled by state courts and the Department of Justice.

Maddy summaryHB 1825 establishes an independent legal licensing board to regulate the practice of law in New Hampshire, replacing the previous system. The board, with 12 members appointed by the Supreme Court, governor, and legislature, will oversee licensing and set standards for legal practice, including defining "practice of law" to include representation, document preparation, and legal advice. The bill allows any member of the public to take the bar exam without educational or professional prerequisites, though passing it does not grant the right to practice law - it only provides a credential for academic or employment use. The board will issue certificates for exam passage and manage licensing under new rules, with members serving staggered terms and receiving per diem compensation. This bill directly affects aspiring lawyers, current attorneys, and the public seeking legal credentials.

Maddy summaryThis New Hampshire House Resolution (HR 21) urges the state's congressional delegation - Senators Shaheen and Hassan, and Representatives Pappas and Goodlander - to support federal legislation repealing two military authorization acts: the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and the 2002 AUMF. The resolution does not change law but formally asks these representatives to co-sponsor and advocate for repeal in Congress. It cites that both authorizations have been used for decades beyond their original purposes (targeting al-Qaeda after 9/11 and Saddam Hussein in Iraq), enabling military actions in multiple countries without current congressional review. The resolution emphasizes restoring Congress's constitutional role in declaring war, as these outdated authorizations remain in effect despite their original targets being eliminated.

Maddy summaryHB 1740 updates New Hampshire's domestic violence protection laws to strengthen victim safety and law enforcement response. It requires police to immediately investigate all abuse reports, create written reports within 24 hours, and mandate arrests when probable cause exists - regardless of whether the abuse was witnessed. The bill also establishes a new domestic violence law enforcement training fund and clarifies that civil protective orders must follow criminal proceedings, not replace them. These changes directly affect victims of domestic violence, law enforcement agencies, and courts handling such cases.

Maddy summaryHB 1520 redefines "citizen of New Hampshire" for voting purposes as either a native-born resident or someone who has taken an oath of allegiance to the state. It requires voters to provide proof of New Hampshire citizenship (such as a birth certificate, New Hampshire citizenship card, or sworn oath) and U.S. citizenship (like a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers) when registering to vote. The bill also mandates that the secretary of state issue New Hampshire citizenship cards to eligible residents who qualify as native-born or through oath of allegiance. This legislation establishes new verification steps for voter registration in New Hampshire, clarifying state citizenship requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1830 requires all New Hampshire public schools to provide annual firearm safety education to students in grades K-12 as part of health, physical education, or civics classes. The training must be age-appropriate - focusing on avoidance and reporting for grades K-5, and expanding to safe handling, storage, and legal responsibilities for grades 6-12 - using dummy firearms or multimedia resources (no live weapons). Parents may opt their children out under existing procedures, and school districts must report compliance annually to the state. The bill mandates the Department of Education to develop the curriculum by 2027 but provides no state funding, relying instead on grants and external resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1762 revises New Hampshire's child support calculation by updating the definition of "adjusted gross income" to include specific deductions like child care costs, medical expenses, retirement contributions, and state income tax. It also changes how parenting time affects support amounts by capping the parenting time factor at 1.000 and establishing a minimum child support obligation for low-income parents. These changes directly impact parents in child support cases by altering the formula used to determine financial responsibility. The bill applies to all child support orders under New Hampshire law.

Maddy summaryHB 1443 clarifies that surviving spouses of retired state employees are automatically covered under the same medical benefit plan that the retiree was enrolled in, specifically for Medicare-eligible retirees. The bill amends state law to explicitly state that the state’s payment for retiree medical premiums applies to both the retired employee and their spouse for life. This change ensures surviving spouses qualify for continued coverage without needing separate enrollment, confirming existing policy rather than creating new benefits. The fiscal note states this clarification has no additional cost to the state, as surviving spouses were already eligible under current rules.