Rep. Jess Edwards

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire laws to standardize how hospitals and institutions collect and record information for birth worksheets. It requires facilities to gather specific details about the child, parents, and the birth event, including names, dates, addresses, and consent for sharing data with the Social Security Administration or immunization registry. The legislation also clarifies who must sign the documents, such as physicians or nurse midwives, and establishes rules for handling situations where parents refuse to provide certain information or when births occur in moving vehicles. Additionally, it mandates that a separate form be used to report health and statistical data about the mother, father, and baby to state divisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a three-year pilot program allowing recovery centers and community mental health centers to receive free passes to state parks for their clients. Funded through state and federal grants plus donations, the initiative would require these facilities to report annually on how the program is used and its impact. The pilot is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2024, with the specific provisions set to expire in 2027. Although the bill was referred for study, it was ultimately not passed during the 2024 legislative session.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a financial incentive program for the New Hampshire National Guard to encourage enlistment and reenlistment. Under the new rules, current or former Guard members can receive cash bonuses of up to $1,000 for recruiting new recruits and up to $6,000 for their own reenlistment if they do not qualify for a federal bonus. The legislation also creates a dedicated fund to cover these payments and requires the Adjutant General to manage the program. Additionally, the bill allows the Department of Transportation to continue offering recruitment and retention bonuses to its winter maintenance staff, including referral fees for employees who recommend new hires. These transportation incentives are designed to reduce turnover and ensure adequate staffing for critical safety services, with all expenditures subject to approval by the state's fiscal committee.

Maddy summaryThis law establishes tax limits for towns and school districts that choose to adopt them, restricting how much they can raise in property taxes compared to the previous year. Local governments can set a fixed dollar amount or percentage cap, with automatic adjustments allowed for inflation and changes in population or student attendance. Towns and school boards can override these limits during annual meetings, but doing so requires a specific voting process where a supermajority of those voting must approve the increase. The rules apply only to communities that voluntarily enact the cap, giving them control over their budget constraints while providing a structured way to exceed them if necessary.

Maddy summaryThis bill addresses New Hampshire's healthcare workforce shortage by creating a voluntary certification program for community health workers and establishing a commission to study primary care staffing issues. It allows the state to issue certificates to individuals who complete approved education and training, enabling them to use a specific professional designation while restricting them to authorized services. The legislation also extends the reporting timeline for a commission tasked with analyzing loan repayment programs and health profession surveys. Additionally, it updates the Nurse Practice Act to permit licensed nursing assistants to obtain a certificate for medication administration after meeting experience and exam requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for how physician assistants in New Hampshire must work with doctors by defining specific terms like "collaboration" and "participating physician." It creates a new pathway allowing experienced physician assistants with over 8,000 hours of clinical training to practice without a local doctor if they receive a waiver from the state medical board, while those with fewer hours must continue to have a written agreement with a New Hampshire physician. The legislation also temporarily suspends state licensure requirements for certain out-of-state physician assistants working at the state Veterans Affairs Medical Center and establishes a committee to study the profession's scope of practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the administrative structure of the Site Evaluation Committee for Energy Facility Siting by making it part of the Public Utilities Commission. The change requires the committee to operate under the direct supervision of the commission rather than as an independent body. This adjustment affects how the committee is managed and integrated within the state's energy regulatory framework. The legislation does not alter the committee's core duties or the specific energy projects it reviews.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire's child support guidelines to better reflect modern family arrangements by clarifying definitions and adjusting calculations. It formally defines terms like "eligible child care costs," "parenting time," and "substantially similar incomes" to provide clearer standards for courts and parents. The law introduces a new framework where child support obligations may be reduced or eliminated if both parents have similar incomes and share parenting time equally, while still allowing for adjustments in cases of significant health needs, long distances, or abuse. These changes aim to ensure that child support orders are fair and do not leave one parent with a higher adjusted income than the other when both are actively involved in raising the children. The provisions will take effect on January 1, 2025.