Rep. Jess Edwards

Maddy summaryHB 1772 creates a New Hampshire grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services to fund state participation in a multistate clinical trial consortium studying ibogaine as a potential treatment for substance use disorder and other neurological or mental health conditions. The bill appropriates $1 (likely a typo for $1 million) to support this effort, requiring grant recipients to be New Hampshire-based entities with proven expertise in neurological/mental health research, matching funds from non-state sources, and FDA-approved trial protocols (including an IND application and breakthrough therapy designation request). Entities must submit quarterly progress and financial reports, and the state must verify matching funds before disbursing grant money. This bill directly affects eligible research institutions participating in the consortium, not the general public.

Maddy summaryHB 1460 prohibits companies and services that collect children's data from selling their location or other sensitive information. It directly affects businesses operating apps, websites, or platforms that gather data from minors, banning the sale regardless of parental consent. The bill amends New Hampshire's data privacy law (RSA 507-H) by adding a new requirement that covered entities cannot sell children's data, building on existing federal COPPA rules. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, without new state funding or positions.

Maddy summarySB 425 lowers the retirement age for the adjutant general and deputy adjutant general from 65 to 64. It changes the adjutant general's term to a maximum of 5 years or until age 64 (previously age cap alone) and sets the deputy adjutant general's term at 4 years or until age 64. The bill also creates a new appointment process for the commandant of the New Hampshire veterans' home, requiring nomination by the home's board of managers and appointment by the governor and council for a 4-year term. These changes directly affect leadership roles in the New Hampshire National Guard and the veterans' home.

Maddy summarySB 422 expands the governor's commission on addiction, treatment, and prevention by adding two new public members: one with expertise in gaming addiction and one representing long-term recovery. It also changes the status of the faith-based community representative from non-voting to a voting member. The bill modifies the commission's membership structure under state law to include these additions, increasing the total public members from seven to nine. These changes directly affect the commission's composition and decision-making process for addressing addiction-related policies. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 583 directs New Hampshire's Department of Education to create a public education funding transparency system tracking how state education dollars are allocated, disbursed, and spent over the past decade at the school, district, and intermediate unit levels. The system must include data visualization dashboards for state officials (like the legislature and governor) and public-facing tools showing aggregate, non-identifiable funding data. Key features require the system to integrate diverse data sources, ensure strict privacy compliance (including de-identified data and small cell suppression), and support advanced analytics for forecasting and program evaluation. The bill appropriates $900,000 for system creation and $500,000 annually for maintenance starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1773 would direct New Hampshire to seek federal approval to prohibit SNAP (food stamp) benefits from purchasing sweetened drinks (with 5g+ added sugar) and candy. The bill requires the state health department to submit a waiver to the USDA by January 2027, defining prohibited items like soda and candy bars while excluding milk, juice blends, and certain non-refrigerated sweets. It mandates implementation plans for retailers and annual reports on purchasing patterns and health outcomes. This would directly affect SNAP recipients in New Hampshire who currently use benefits for these restricted items.

Maddy summarySB 479 allows alternative treatment centers (ATCs) to operate as for-profit businesses, previously requiring them to be non-profit entities. This bill amends state law to permit ATCs organized as business corporations or limited liability companies (instead of only non-profit voluntary corporations) to sell cannabis to qualifying patients. Key provisions remove the mandatory non-profit status requirement and establish procedures for non-profit ATCs to legally convert to for-profit structures. The change directly affects ATC operators seeking to pursue commercial models while maintaining existing patient access to therapeutic cannabis.

Maddy summaryHB 570 modifies New Hampshire's Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) by expanding the definition of "public payor" to include state-funded health plans and corrections department coverage. It adds an alternate board member appointed from an advisory council (with terms tied to council membership), sets a 2-year term for the board chair (elected by members), and extends the executive director position until June 2030 (previously limited to 2 years after initial hire). The bill does not repeal the PDAB but adjusts its structure, with estimated annual costs of $140,000-$153,000 for the executive director role funded by the General Fund. It takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 100 prohibits the use of state funds for planning, building, operating, or managing new passenger rail projects, including the specific Nashua-Manchester-Concord route (project #40818) in the state's 2019-2028 transportation plan. It amends state law to block the Department of Transportation from spending state money on these projects, shifting financial responsibility to local governments, private entities, or other non-state partners. This change affects how projects like the Nashua-Manchester-Concord line would be funded, as the state can no longer contribute its share toward federal matching requirements. The bill directly impacts state transportation funding decisions and project development for passenger rail services statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 208 updates certification rules for school nurses in New Hampshire by requiring 3 years of current experience in acute/chronic pediatric care (replacing broader "related nursing areas" language) and adding leadership skills in professional nursing practice as a competency requirement. It directly affects school nurses seeking or renewing certification in the state. The bill amends RSA 200:29 to tighten clinical experience standards and emphasizes pediatric-focused skills. The Legislative Budget Assistant estimates minimal fiscal impact ($10,000 or less annually through 2028). The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.