Rep. Jess Edwards

Maddy summaryHB 627 allows the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to directly approve new companies to provide Lifeline program services in the state, without requiring separate legislative action. This affects low-income households eligible for Lifeline, which helps cover phone and internet costs, by expanding their choices for service providers. The key provision streamlines the process: the PUC can now review and approve new providers based on established criteria, rather than needing a new bill for each addition. The bill became law on July 7, 2025, and takes effect September 5, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 243 is a multi-topic bill containing several unrelated provisions. It increases penalties for false reports of child abuse to the Division for Children, Youth, and Families; modifies the Maternal Mortality Review Committee; establishes rules for electric vehicle charging stations; adjusts fees for annual testing by the Division of Weights and Measures; and authorizes accepting portraits of Senators Larsen and Bradley for the State House. The bill was referred to conference committee but a final report was not filed (as of July 8, 2025), meaning it did not advance to the governor. This is not a single policy change but a collection of separate amendments to existing laws and procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1 is a state budget bill that allocates funding to specific state departments for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027. It directly affects state agencies by providing their operating budgets for these two fiscal periods. The bill authorizes the state to spend designated funds for departmental expenses, including personnel, operations, and programs. This routine appropriations measure was signed into law by Governor Ayotte on June 27, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 64 extends hiring preferences for military members and their spouses to both state government positions and private businesses. It also establishes purchase preferences for disabled veterans and military spouses when the state makes supply purchases. The bill directly affects veterans, military families, and employers by requiring state agencies and private businesses to prioritize these groups in hiring and procurement decisions. Signed into law on June 23, 2025, it takes effect August 22, 2025.

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.

Maddy summarySB 285 changes New Hampshire's official terminology by replacing "physician assistant" with "physician associate" in all relevant state statutes. It amends hundreds of legal references across healthcare laws, including licensing, practice regulations, and penalty provisions (such as RSA 328-D:13). The bill is purely a technical update to terminology with no changes to professional practice standards or responsibilities. It does not alter how these healthcare professionals operate or their scope of practice. The law became effective June 17, 2025, with some sections delayed until January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 634 addresses the structure and operations of the New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders. The bill focuses on the council itself rather than new programs or funding, aiming to define its composition and responsibilities. Recent actions show the bill passed committee with amendments (May 15, 2025) but was non-concurred with by the House (June 12, 2025), halting its progress. This procedural bill does not directly affect individuals or enact new policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 62 modifies how military protective orders are handled in domestic violence cases. It requires courts to recognize and enforce military protective orders issued under federal law when filed in state court, directly affecting military personnel and their families facing domestic violence. The bill ensures these orders carry the same legal weight as state-issued protective orders, streamlining protection for service members. It became law after passing both chambers and being signed by Governor Ayotte, effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 571 requires public schools in New Hampshire to include Constitution Day (September 17) as part of their existing mandatory patriotic exercises. This bill directly affects all public schools by amending current requirements for patriotic activities to specifically include Constitution Day observances. The key provision mandates that schools incorporate educational components about the U.S. Constitution into their patriotic exercises, without adding new funding or administrative burdens. The law became effective August 1, 2025, following its passage through the legislature and signing by Governor Ayotte.