Rep. Alexis Simpson

Maddy summarySB 86 amends New Hampshire law to clarify that the state's full faith and credit supports the Housing Finance Authority's affordable housing guarantee program. It requires the state treasurer to provide funds from the treasury to the authority when needed to cover guaranteed obligations, with reports to the fiscal committee. This directly affects the Housing Finance Authority and the affordable housing projects it supports by ensuring state-backed financial backing for their guarantee program. The bill focuses on the funding mechanism, not new housing policies or outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 279 establishes a new loan program to provide financing for businesses focused on building or rehabilitating housing. It allocates state funds to the Department of Business and Economic Affairs and the Business Finance Authority to administer these loans. The program directly supports small housing developers, contractors, and housing-focused nonprofits by offering them access to capital for housing projects. This policy change shifts state funding toward housing development through a dedicated loan mechanism, without specifying loan terms or interest rates.

Maddy summarySB 132 requires New Hampshire health insurance companies to cover prosthetic devices for residents under 19 and over 19. For children, coverage includes activity-specific devices annually (with no annual limits for medically necessary devices), while adults get one activity-specific device every five years. The bill mandates coverage for all necessary materials, user instruction, and medically necessary repairs or replacements. It excludes Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) plans and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 566 requires new landfill permit applicants to submit a detailed plan for managing leachate - the liquid waste that seeps from landfills. This directly affects landfill developers and operators seeking permits for new facilities. The key provision mandates specific technical documentation outlining how leachate will be collected, treated, and prevented from contaminating soil or water. The bill became law on July 22, 2025, and takes effect September 13, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 156 clarifies the specific duties and responsibilities of the state's advisory committee on procurement. The bill directly affects committee members and state agencies that rely on the committee's guidance for purchasing processes. It modifies the committee's role in reviewing procurement policies and procedures without altering the underlying state procurement laws. This is a procedural bill focused on administrative structure, not new spending or regulations.

Maddy summarySB 170, if passed, would strengthen housing nondiscrimination protections in New Hampshire by adding gender identity, sexual orientation, and school enrollment status to the list of protected classes under state law. It also limits municipal authority over development by prohibiting cities and towns from imposing stricter septic system, well-siting, or utility placement rules than state standards allow, and requires municipalities to provide written feedback on development plans within 7 days. The bill directly affects housing applicants, developers, and local governments by ensuring equal access to housing and streamlining approval processes for utilities in subdivision buffers (excluding wetlands). The bill would take effect January 1, 2026, pending final legislative approval.