Rep. David Meuse

Maddy summaryHB 1715 requires all domestic violence and stalking petition filings to be submitted electronically through the court's system starting October 1, 2026, with exceptions only for extraordinary hardship preventing access. It directly affects individuals filing these petitions, including victims seeking protection orders, by mandating electronic submission instead of paper filings. The bill specifies no filing fees and allows self-representation, while requiring courts to develop a new secure electronic system to handle confidential cases, including encryption and law enforcement integration. This change applies to both domestic violence cases (RSA 173-B) and stalking cases (RSA 633:3-a), replacing temporary pandemic-era email filing methods.

Maddy summaryHB 1642 establishes a new legal process for courts to issue temporary orders restricting access to firearms for individuals deemed to pose an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. Eligible petitioners - including family or household members, intimate partners, or law enforcement officers - must file a court petition with a sworn affidavit detailing specific safety concerns, such as recent threats or dangerous behavior involving firearms. The court may issue an initial temporary order without the person at risk being present, followed by a prompt hearing where they can respond. The order requires the individual to surrender firearms and ammunition and remains in effect until the court decides otherwise, prioritizing public safety while ensuring due process.

Maddy summaryHB 1242 requires New Hampshire county commissioners to clearly separate funding for county government operations from funds used for state or federal purposes in their annual itemized budget recommendations. This applies to all county budget submissions delivered to county convention members, town selectmen, city mayors, and the secretary of state before December 1 each year. The bill mandates that budgets explicitly show this distinction in the "objects for which money is required" section, rather than lumping all funding together. It does not change funding amounts but improves transparency by clarifying how money is allocated between local county services and external government programs. This affects all counties preparing their annual budget recommendations under RSA 24:21-a.

Maddy summarySB 463 prohibits carrying firearms in "safe school zones" (defined under RSA 193-D:1) for most people, with exceptions for parents dropping off students (with firearms locked in vehicles), school-authorized personnel, and law enforcement. Violating this law would be a class A misdemeanor. The bill specifically exempts individuals who are properly trained school resource officers, active-duty military, or authorized by a school board in writing. It does not create new requirements but modifies existing criminal penalties under RSA 159:19-b.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire laws to formally include harm reduction strategies in the state's plan for preventing and treating substance misuse. It defines "drug misuse" as using substances outside legal or medical guidelines and establishes a specific definition for harm reduction that focuses on preventing overdose and disease while connecting people to care. The legislation also requires physicians to complete specific continuing education on pain management or addiction disorders as part of their license renewal. These changes aim to broaden the scope of care available across the substance use continuum without limiting necessary medical treatments for chronic pain or hospice patients.

Maddy summaryHB 1170 requires the Department of Environmental Services to conduct public benefit and community impact assessments before approving permits or projects under specific state titles. The bill mandates that the department actively engage with local and neighboring communities to gather input and identify both positive outcomes and potential negative effects of proposed developments. To measure success, the commissioner must establish specific indicators that can be tracked through surveys, interviews, and other tools, ensuring that human safety and environmental concerns are properly weighed. If passed, the department would need to adopt new rules to implement these assessment requirements within 60 days of the law taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as "Bradley's Law," authorizes New Hampshire courts and the Department of Safety to report specific mental health records to the federal background check system when individuals are involuntarily committed or found not guilty by reason of insanity. The legislation mandates that law enforcement confiscate firearms owned by these individuals within 48 hours of a qualifying court order and allows them to petition the court for relief from this disability after a set waiting period. It explicitly excludes information about people seeking voluntary treatment or those hospitalized only for assessment, ensuring that only specific legal dispositions trigger firearm prohibitions. By creating a new process for reporting these records and establishing a timeline for challenging the loss of firearm rights, the bill aims to align state procedures with federal requirements while providing a path for individuals to regain those rights.

Maddy summaryHB 1415 establishes strict liability for owners or operators of facilities where per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been released into groundwater or surface water at concentrations of 100 parts per trillion or higher. The bill defines specific chemical terms and designates any site where PFAS are used, stored, or disposed of as a PFAS facility. Under this law, responsible parties would be required to follow federal regulations for the closure, removal, or decommissioning of tanks, pipes, equipment, and building surfaces associated with PFAS management. Although the bill was vetoed by the governor, the legislature overrode the veto to make it effective law.

Maddy summarySB 507 would have extended the deadline for filing a petition for a new trial from three years to an unspecified longer period for most civil cases. The bill included a specific exception for criminal felony and class A misdemeanor cases, allowing new trial motions based on newly discovered evidence or new forensic testing regardless of the time limit. Although the legislation passed both legislative chambers, it was vetoed by the Governor and subsequently sustained by the legislature, meaning it did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis law allows school administrative units to choose different ways to calculate how much money each member school district contributes to their shared budget. Currently, districts must use a specific formula, but under this new rule, they can select an alternative method as long as every participating district agrees to it. The change gives local school leaders more flexibility in managing finances while ensuring that any new calculation method is approved by all involved districts before it is used. The law became effective on October 1, 2024.