Rep. Melissa Litchfield

Maddy summaryHB 1378 would require healthcare providers to give parents or legal guardians full access to their minor child's electronic medical records (including online patient portals), except in three specific cases: 1) when the minor can legally consent to treatment without parents (e.g., certain reproductive or mental health services), 2) when a protective order or court ruling prohibits access, or 3) when a provider documents in writing that disclosure could cause abuse or neglect. This bill directly affects parents, guardians, and healthcare providers by changing how medical records are shared. It aims to support parental involvement in children’s healthcare decisions while preserving existing legal protections for minors in sensitive situations. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1335 requires physicians to disclose to patients any financial incentives exceeding $5,000 received from a single source (like drug manufacturers) for preferential promotions related to specific treatments. It directly affects patients receiving care from providers who receive such payments, ensuring they learn about potential conflicts before prescriptions. The law mandates written disclosure as part of informed consent, including the source, amount, and a statement that the recommendation is based on clinical judgment. This applies only to incentives tied to the treatment being prescribed, not general practice income. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1828 requires New Hampshire's Department of Education to create an auditing process for teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities. The audit ensures these programs teach research-backed literacy instruction (including phonics, fluency, and vocabulary) aligned with the science of reading. The department must develop metrics to evaluate how effectively programs teach these methods and publish the results online. This directly affects all post-secondary institutions offering teacher training in New Hampshire.

Maddy summaryHB 1447 requires New Hampshire public facilities (including restrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters) and private entities to separate access based on biological sex as defined by birth certificate. The bill defines "biological sex" as male or female based on sex listed on an individual's birth certificate issued at or near birth, and specifies that "woman," "girl," "man," and "boy" refer to these categories for facility access. It explicitly states that such sex-based separation policies do not constitute discrimination under state law. The law applies to all state political subdivisions and private businesses operating in New Hampshire.

Maddy summaryHB 1132 would require public schools and public charter schools in New Hampshire to remove all flags except the U.S. flag, New Hampshire state flag, and POW/MIA flag from school buildings and grounds. Exceptions allow for flags used in specific educational contexts (like foreign language or U.S. history classes), U.S. military branch flags, and official city or town flags. Violations would trigger escalating penalties: a warning for the first offense, disciplinary action for the second, and potential state-imposed fines up to $1,000 for third or subsequent violations. The law would take effect on September 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1286 allows dentists to treat patients who decline recommended x-rays, provided the treatment doesn't violate dental standards of care. Dentists must obtain a signed waiver from patients acknowledging they waive the right to sue if injury occurs due to missing x-rays. The bill protects dentists from license penalties or disciplinary action when following this process. It amends New Hampshire's dental practice law to clarify these procedures and takes effect 60 days after passage. This directly affects dentists and patients in clinical decisions about x-ray requirements.

Maddy summarySB 459 requires New Hampshire schools to designate athletic teams and locker rooms based on students' biological sex at birth, as listed on their birth certificates. It applies to grades 6-12 (excluding K-5 and intramural/club sports) and mandates separate housing for prison inmates based on biological sex as recorded on their birth certificates. The bill creates legal remedies for athletes harmed by violations, including injunctions and attorney fees, while exempting schools from liability for following the law. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1229 requires courts to enforce alimony waivers in divorce agreements unless the waiver is proven invalid due to coercion, fraud, duress, mutual mistake, material misrepresentation, supervening illegality, or unconscionability. It directly affects individuals in divorce proceedings who have signed agreements waiving alimony rights. The bill amends New Hampshire law to make such waivers binding by default, shifting the burden to the party challenging the waiver to prove one of the specified grounds for invalidity. The change takes effect January 1, 2027. This policy alters how courts handle alimony waiver agreements in family law cases.

Maddy summaryHB 1117, the "Health Care Provider Free Speech and Innovation Act," protects licensed health care providers (such as doctors, nurses, and therapists) from disciplinary action, sanctions, or legal liability when discussing medical information, emerging therapies, or off-label treatments with patients, colleagues, or the public. This protection applies only if the communication is made in good faith and not knowingly false or misleading. The bill also prohibits retaliation from licensing boards, employers, or insurers for such communications and allows providers to recommend innovative therapies with patient consent, provided they are not legally prohibited. It does not require insurers or employers to cover non-standard treatments but aims to accelerate the adoption of medical innovations by safeguarding open dialogue. The law directly affects health care providers and their ability to share evolving medical knowledge without fear of punishment.

Maddy summaryHB 1635 modifies New Hampshire school suicide prevention training requirements by requiring all school faculty, staff, and contracted personnel to complete suicide awareness training within 30 days of hire and every two years thereafter (replacing the prior annual requirement). The training must cover youth suicide risk factors, warning signs, response procedures, referrals, and community resources, and may use existing professional development programs or self-training materials. School districts determine how to administer the training, including whether it applies to volunteers per district policy. The bill takes effect September 1, 2026.