Rep. J.D. Bernardy

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the administrative structure of the Site Evaluation Committee for Energy Facility Siting by making it part of the Public Utilities Commission. The change requires the committee to operate under the direct supervision of the commission rather than as an independent body. This adjustment affects how the committee is managed and integrated within the state's energy regulatory framework. The legislation does not alter the committee's core duties or the specific energy projects it reviews.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies to pay ambulance service providers directly for medically necessary emergency transport, rather than reimbursing patients who must then pay the providers. The law applies to both individual and group health insurance plans and allows insurers to continue negotiating specific reimbursement rates with non-participating ambulance companies. Insurers may still issue checks to patients if they choose, but direct payment to the provider becomes the standard method. The changes take effect on September 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts from ordering specific family reunification therapies, camps, or programs as part of a parenting plan. It directly affects parents involved in custody cases and the counselors or organizations providing these services. The law bans programs that require no-contact orders, involve overnight stays out of state, transfer custody, or use threats, coercion, or isolation to separate children from their families. Additionally, the bill mandates that any counseling selected by the court must be recommended by the parents and covered by their health insurance. These restrictions take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire town meeting procedures to allow local communities to vote on specific questions using official ballots, similar to how they currently elect officials. Under the new rules, towns would place these referendum questions on the meeting warrant and conduct voting through established absentee and polling place protocols, with polls remaining open for at least one hour after discussion ends. The legislation also provides a process for towns that previously adopted a system where only officer elections use official ballots to vote on returning to that earlier arrangement, requiring a three-fifths majority to approve such a change. These adjustments take effect 60 days after the bill passes, giving municipalities time to prepare for the updated voting methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the law to direct the Grid Modernization Advisory Group to study ways to improve how energy efficiency programs and incentives are delivered. The group will focus on finding methods to streamline these programs and maximize the benefits for consumers using existing state, federal, and utility funding. The advisory group must provide its recommendations to the Department of Energy, and the changes will take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.