Rep. Melissa Litchfield

Maddy summaryHB 1373 expands background checks for individuals seeking teaching credentials in New Hampshire by adding specific crimes to the list that would disqualify applicants. It disqualifies applicants convicted of certain drug trafficking offenses (like RSA 318-B:2), sex offenses involving children (including RSA 650:2), or other serious violations listed in the bill within the last 10 years. This directly affects people applying for educator credentials who have these specific criminal histories. The bill modifies existing law (RSA 189:13-c) to include these additional disqualifying offenses, effective upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1379 changes the annual deadline for publishing special education complaint data reports from July 1st to September 1st, starting in 2026. This bill directly affects the New Hampshire Department of Education, which is required to publish the annual report on its website and share it with the Office of Special Education Advocate, the State Advisory Council, and education committee chairs. The key change modifies the reporting date in RSA 186-C:5-a, III without altering the report's content or scope. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1370 removes a requirement for New Hampshire public schools to report to the Department of Education if they lack policies for identifying and accommodating gifted and talented students. The bill amends RSA 189:29-b to eliminate the specific language (now in brackets) that previously forced schools to state "if no such policies exist" in their annual reports. Instead, schools must now only submit an annual narrative report detailing their existing policies, programs, and procedures for gifted students starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This change simplifies reporting for schools that do not have dedicated gifted education programs, while maintaining the requirement for those that do. The bill directly affects all public schools in New Hampshire and the Department of Education.

Maddy summaryHB 1134 clarifies how town meeting budget items are counted for tax and budget cap calculations. It requires that total appropriations in warrant articles (budget items) be accumulated in the order they are voted on during annual town meetings, rather than by their position on the agenda. This directly affects towns operating under the town meeting form of government, ensuring consistent application when determining if a budget exceeds the 10% expenditure limit or triggers a tax cap override. The bill makes this procedural change to prevent ambiguity in budget voting outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 1710 adopts the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act into New Hampshire law, creating new procedures for courts to address child abduction risks. It requires courts to issue prevention measures - such as travel restrictions or custody adjustments - when a credible risk of abduction is proven, based on specific risk factors like prior abduction attempts or threats. The bill mandates detailed petitions including the child’s location, the respondent’s details, and history of domestic violence or custody disputes. This applies to all courts handling child-custody cases, directly affecting parents, guardians, and legal entities involved in custody proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed veterinarians in New Hampshire to provide remote veterinary care using telehealth technology, such as video calls or phone consultations. It establishes specific requirements for creating a vet-client-patient relationship remotely, including real-time observation of the animal or access to electronic medical records, and mandates written client consent acknowledging equal care standards and the option for in-person visits. Veterinarians can prescribe medications remotely but must conduct in-person exams for controlled substances (except in hospice, palliative care, or transport emergencies). The law also requires vets to maintain confidentiality, provide emergency care instructions, and keep detailed telehealth records.

Maddy summaryHB 1050 establishes that parents, educators, and community groups can provide educational instruction (referred to as "learning pods") to voluntarily associated children in any area within a municipality - whether zoned for specific land uses or not. It directly affects those organizing informal educational settings by overriding local zoning ordinances or land use rules that might previously have restricted such activities. The bill adds new provisions to state law stating that no zoning ordinance can restrict or prohibit educational instruction in municipally zoned or non-zoned areas. This creates a statewide right to operate learning pods without needing local government approval for land use. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1669 establishes a "Teacher Bill of Rights" for educators in New Hampshire public schools and public charter schools. It guarantees teachers specific rights, including a safe and healthy school environment free from violence, respectful treatment, the ability to share student information with parents (per FERPA), and protection from retaliation when exercising professional judgment. The bill requires all public school districts and charter school boards to post this bill of rights on their websites. It directly affects teachers by defining their workplace protections and communication rights within school policies. The law takes effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1658 requires app stores operating in New Hampshire to verify users' age categories (e.g., child, teenager) and obtain parental consent for minors under 18. It mandates that app stores create "minor accounts" (for users under 18) linked to "parent accounts" (for adults), and disclose key information like an app's age rating, content description, data collection practices, and data protection methods to parents before consent. The bill also requires re-obtaining parental consent for significant app changes, such as new in-app purchases or altered data collection. This law directly affects app store providers (e.g., Apple App Store, Google Play), app developers, and parents of minors in New Hampshire.

Maddy summarySB 403 requires all public and private schools in New Hampshire to begin the school year on or after the day following Labor Day. This law directly affects school boards statewide by prohibiting them from scheduling the start of classes before Labor Day. The key provision amends state law to establish a new requirement that schools must begin no earlier than the day after Labor Day, as defined by existing law. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, with no exceptions specified.