Rep. Terry Roy

Maddy summaryThis bill allows towns and cities in New Hampshire to vote on whether to permit the operation of games of chance within their borders starting July 1, 2024. Under the new rules, municipalities must hold public hearings and place the question on a ballot for residents to decide if they want to allow casino-style gambling in their area. Existing licensed operators and those who applied for licenses between January 2023 and October 2023 are exempt from needing local approval, while new applicants must first get permission from their local government. Additionally, communities can later vote to ban these operations if a facility fails to open within seven years or stops operating for that duration, and unincorporated areas may make similar decisions through county delegations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new class of judicial employees called magistrates to handle pre-trial release decisions and other court tasks. It authorizes the chief justice to appoint at least 15 magistrates, ensuring at least one is assigned to every county in the state. These magistrates would have the power to decide on bail, conduct arraignment hearings, and issue arrest and search warrants, with the requirement that those handling bail cases be licensed attorneys. The legislation also mandates that individuals released on bail receive information about local services for homelessness, hunger, mental health, and substance use. Additionally, the bill changes the rules for when arrested individuals must appear before a judge and allows for electronic payment of bail in both physical and remote court settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state licensing system for music therapists to regulate the practice of music therapy in New Hampshire. It creates a specific governing board within the existing allied health framework to oversee licensure and define the scope of practice, which includes using music for therapeutic goals like improving communication skills or managing stress. The law prohibits anyone without a license from using the title "music therapist" while allowing other healthcare professionals to use music incidentally to their existing duties. Additionally, the bill clarifies that licensed music therapists cannot evaluate or treat speech, language, or swallowing disorders unless they also hold a separate license in that field.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures that military-connected students transferring to a new school district receive their existing special education services immediately while waiting for a new evaluation to be completed. It also requires school districts to provide comparable services to these students upon arrival, regardless of whether the school is currently in session. Additionally, the legislation mandates that parents representing themselves in special education due process hearings can subpoena witnesses, with the state reimbursing witness fees for parents who are members of the armed forces if they win their case.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands property tax exemptions for disabled veterans who own homes specially adapted with assistance from the Veterans Administration. To qualify, veterans must be 100 percent permanently and totally disabled, a double amputee, or blind in both eyes due to service-connected conditions, and they must provide proof of these disabilities to local assessors. The exemption applies to the veteran or their surviving spouse who has not remarried, removing all property taxes on their specially adapted homestead. The law takes effect 60 days after it is passed.