Rep. Josh Yokela

Maddy summaryThis bill allows drivers with medical conditions to legally install aftermarket window tint on their vehicle's windshield and side windows. To do so, these drivers must apply for a special permit from the commissioner, who can waive standard tinting laws if the applicant provides proof of a bona fide medical need. The permit would authorize the use of tinted windows that allow at least 35 percent of light to pass through, and the commissioner may consult a medical review board when evaluating applications. The changes would become effective 90 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryHB 1215 updates state laws to provide greater stability for land developers and clarifies how building code appeals are handled. The bill extends the time period during which approved land subdivisions are protected from new zoning or fee changes from five to ten years, provided the project begins construction within five years and stays compliant with health standards. It also establishes a higher-level review board to hear appeals against local building code decisions, ensuring consistency across the state. Additionally, the law requires the Register of Deeds to record land plats even if they do not meet regulations adopted after the project was approved. These changes aim to reduce uncertainty for property owners and streamline the approval process for construction projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Hampshire municipalities to allow homeowners to build one accessory dwelling unit, such as a garage conversion or an addition, on their single-family property without needing special approval. It defines these units as separate living spaces with their own kitchen and bathroom and sets minimum size limits of 1,000 square feet for at least one unit. While towns can still require owner occupancy and enforce parking or aesthetic rules, they cannot mandate familial relationships between residents or restrict units to a single bedroom. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that municipalities must permit the conversion of existing structures like detached garages into these units even if they do not currently meet setback or lot coverage standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire town meeting procedures to allow local communities to vote on specific questions using official ballots, similar to how they currently elect officials. Under the new rules, towns would place these referendum questions on the meeting warrant and conduct voting through established absentee and polling place protocols, with polls remaining open for at least one hour after discussion ends. The legislation also provides a process for towns that previously adopted a system where only officer elections use official ballots to vote on returning to that earlier arrangement, requiring a three-fifths majority to approve such a change. These adjustments take effect 60 days after the bill passes, giving municipalities time to prepare for the updated voting methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities to provide reasonable opportunities for placing manufactured housing and subdivisions, prohibiting them from completely banning these structures through zoning or other regulations. It mandates that if a town allows residential development, it must permit manufactured homes on individual lots in most residential zones, subject to the same lot size and spacing rules as conventional single-family homes. The law also ensures that manufactured housing parks can expand and that their lot sizes and density requirements remain reasonable, while eliminating the need for special permits that are not also required for traditional single-family housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows towns to approve the conversion of single-family homes into two-unit dwellings in specific urban areas without requiring a discretionary hearing. To qualify, the property must be located in an urbanized area or urban cluster, cannot involve recent tenants or affordable housing restrictions, and generally cannot demolish more than 25% of the home's exterior walls unless local rules permit it. Local planning boards retain the ability to set objective standards like parking requirements and setback limits, but they cannot use these rules to physically block the construction of two units of at least 1,000 square feet each. Additionally, the bill permits planning boards to deny a project only if there is clear evidence of a specific adverse impact on public health, safety, or the environment that cannot be fixed.