Rep. Alexis Simpson

Maddy summaryHB 703 requires New Hampshire school districts participating in USDA meal programs to adopt policies that prevent denying meals, stigmatizing students, or restricting activities due to unpaid meal balances. It prohibits schools from withholding meals, taking served food, using identifying tokens/stickers, limiting access to events like sports or field trips, or requiring students to perform chores to pay meal debt. Schools must also develop outreach plans to encourage free/reduced-price meal applications and accept voluntary donations to reduce meal debt. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting all public K-12 students in participating school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 762 allocates $30,000 to the judicial branch to hire an independent contractor for a manual review of domestic violence and stalking cases, along with related criminal cases. The contractor will analyze existing court records to compile data on court-ordered programs, firearm relinquishment, temporary orders, and other specific case details for the judicial branch and the governor’s commission on domestic violence. This data collection aims to improve understanding of case outcomes without disclosing any personal information about individuals involved. The funding covers the 2025-2027 biennium, with priority given to non-state funds if available.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Modern Economy Act, would require most group health insurance plans to cover up to six rounds of intrauterine insemination for certificate holders each year, even without a formal infertility diagnosis. It also expands legal protections against sex discrimination to explicitly include pregnancy-related conditions and fertility treatments, mandating that employers allow time off for IVF follow-ups and postpartum care. However, the legislation excludes insurance plans available through the Small Business Health Options Program and those in transition to Affordable Care Act compliance. The measure was ultimately not passed, as it was laid on the table by the House in May 2024 and died when the legislative session ended later that year.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow members of the New Hampshire General Court to join the state employee assistance program run by the Department of Health and Human Services. The costs for this participation would be covered by funds from the legislative branch rather than the individual legislators. The legislation specifies that the program's per-person fees are to be paid directly to the department by the legislative branch. Although the bill was introduced, it was ultimately laid on the table and did not become law during the 2024 session.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new article to the New Hampshire constitution to explicitly guarantee a fundamental right to abortion. It would protect this right for all individuals up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, allowing restrictions only if there is a compelling state interest addressed by the least restrictive means. After 24 weeks, the bill permits abortion if an attending physician judges it necessary based on applicable standards of care. The legislation also outlines the process for submitting this constitutional amendment to voters for a decision at the November 2024 general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the disposal of wet-cell batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and electronic devices in New Hampshire's solid waste landfills, incinerators, and composting facilities. To help facilities comply, the law requires them to post informational signs or notify customers about the ban, while also mandating that local governments and waste operators provide educational materials and recycling opportunities. The legislation further clarifies legal definitions for terms like "computer" and "electronic device" to specify which items are covered and which are excluded, such as those built into household appliances. These changes are designed to reduce hazardous waste and promote recycling, with the rules taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis law expands food assistance programs by ensuring eligible families receive summer benefits on EBT cards and simplifying the application process for elderly SNAP recipients. To support these efforts, the state allocates specific funds for administrative, technology, and outreach costs related to the summer programs. Additionally, the bill establishes a new emergency recovery fund to help municipalities quickly access cash after natural disasters, allowing them to secure federal aid and repair infrastructure. The governor is also granted the authority to declare disasters in affected municipalities to trigger these relief measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for New Hampshire's child care scholarship program to families where at least one parent is a verified child care professional working at a licensed center. To qualify, the household must have an income at or below the local median, and the child care professional must work at least 25 hours per week at a certified facility. The legislation appropriates $1.1 million to fund these scholarships and establish a temporary project running from January to June 2025 to assess how the expansion helps recruit and retain child care staff. The state Department of Health and Human Services will manage the program and submit a final report by November 2025 detailing the number of new participants and recommendations for future funding.