Rep. J.D. Bernardy

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal process for the Department of Environmental Services to transfer ownership of state-owned dams to local towns or groups of landowners before the dams are removed. Under the new rules, the department must offer the dams to affected municipalities first, providing them with detailed information about the dam's condition and estimated repair costs, and only proceed with removal if no one accepts the transfer within a set timeframe. To support these transfers and future maintenance, the legislation creates a loan program funded by a state dam maintenance fund, offering 20-year loans at a 5 percent interest rate to towns or associations that take ownership. The bill also mandates that any loans taken must be repaid using local budget appropriations or property taxes from areas bordering the impoundment, with a cap of 50 percent of those taxes. Additionally, the process includes an exemption for dams deemed to be in imminent danger of failure, allowing the state to remove them immediately without offering a transfer.

Maddy summaryThis New Hampshire bill would temporarily stop state agencies from purchasing or leasing electric, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid vehicles for their fleets for a ten-year period starting July 1, 2024. The law requires agencies to use only traditional internal combustion engine vehicles or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles during this time, citing the need for improved battery technology and a modernized electric grid. It directly impacts the Department of Administrative Services and other state entities that manage vehicle fleets, effectively pausing the adoption of newer electric options for the next decade. The legislation does not authorize new funding or positions, and it leaves the decision of which specific non-electric vehicles to buy to individual agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill outlines how the state commission should manage energy procurement agreements for customers who do not choose their own electricity supplier. It requires the commission to oversee contracts between utilities and energy providers, ensuring a mix of short, medium, and long-term agreements to balance stable retail prices with wholesale market costs. The legislation also mandates that costs related to renewable energy standards and the administration of default service be paid by these customers, while allowing the commission to take steps to prevent misuse of the default service option.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a right-to-work law in New Hampshire that prohibits employers and labor unions from requiring employees to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment. It directly affects all workers in the state, including those employed by government agencies and private companies, by making any collective bargaining agreement that mandates union membership or financial support null and void. The legislation ensures that employees can freely choose whether to participate in a union without fear of penalty, while also protecting voluntary deductions only if employees provide written authorization that can be revoked with 30 days' notice. Additionally, the bill bans strikes or other actions taken solely to force an employer to agree to these prohibited requirements and mandates that employers post notices informing workers of their new freedom of choice.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new article to the state constitution that grants parents a fundamental right and responsibility to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their minor children. It establishes that the state or local governments cannot interfere with these parental rights unless they prove a compelling interest of the highest order that cannot be served any other way. The measure includes a specific exception stating that this right does not apply to parental actions that would end a child's life or cause physical harm to them. Rather than passing into law directly, the bill sets up a process to put this constitutional amendment to a vote of the qualified voters in November 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 301 requires New Hampshire legislators to step away from voting on any bill where they or their household members have a potential financial gain or a leadership role in an affected organization. The law also mandates that lawmakers verbally disclose such conflicts before speaking in committees or on the legislative floor. While the bill defines specific situations requiring recusal, it includes an exception allowing legislators to vote on broad-based tax measures or state budget items where their personal interest is minimal. These rules apply to both elected officials and their immediate families to ensure decisions are made without the influence of personal gain.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Anti-Sanctuary Act, would require state and local law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. It explicitly prohibits any government entity from adopting policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration requests, such as honoring detainers or withholding inmate information. While the law mandates efforts to support federal enforcement, it includes specific exceptions that prevent the use of immigration status information against victims or witnesses of certain serious crimes like domestic violence and sexual assault. If a local agency violates these requirements, the state attorney general could file a lawsuit to stop the policy and seek court orders to enforce compliance.

Maddy summaryThis law requires the Department of Safety to create and maintain a statewide database of maps showing where government radio towers and equipment are located. Municipalities, counties, and state agencies must submit their own radio system maps to this repository and keep the information up to date. The resulting database will be available for emergency services and public safety officials to use for planning and to find areas with poor radio coverage. The law takes effect on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires newspapers, periodicals, radio and television stations, and billboard operators to charge the same advertising rates to all political candidates, committees, parties, and causes. To ensure transparency, media companies must file their advertising rate schedules with the secretary of state at least 30 days before the election deadline, and any changes to these rates must be filed five days in advance to take effect. Additionally, all political advertisements must be clearly labeled as "Political Advertising" at the beginning or end of the ad. These rules are designed to prevent media outlets from discriminating against specific political groups by offering them different prices for the same advertising space.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Hampshire state law to clarify the definition of mental illness by explicitly excluding conditions where impairment is primarily caused by intellectual disability. It establishes that individuals who have both mental illness and an intellectual or developmental disability remain eligible for mental health services under the state system. The legislation requires the department to coordinate mental health and developmental services while prohibiting denial of care based on the co-occurrence of these conditions.