Rep. Mark Vallone

Maddy summaryHB 1708 reduces the statewide education property tax (SWEPT) rate for homeowners and property owners while increasing the business profits tax rate from 7.5% to 8.5% (with 40-44.2% of this revenue directed to the education trust fund). It sets specific annual revenue targets for the SWEPT - $346 million for 2026-2027, $284 million for 2027-2028, and $273 million annually thereafter - to maintain current education funding levels. Affected parties include residential property owners (who see lower taxes) and businesses (which pay higher profits taxes), with municipalities impacted by the tax shift receiving capped compensation up to $90 million. The bill ensures no net reduction in education funding by offsetting the SWEPT cut through increased business tax revenue.

Maddy summaryHB 1259 modifies New Hampshire's CPA licensing rules to allow out-of-state CPAs to practice in the state without additional fees or paperwork. It creates a "mobility" provision (RSA 309-B:6-a) enabling CPAs licensed in other states, territories, or DC to offer services in New Hampshire if they meet the state's education, exam, and experience requirements (as defined in RSA 309-B:5). This directly affects licensed CPAs from other jurisdictions seeking to provide services in New Hampshire, eliminating the need for separate state application or fees. The bill also updates minor details about education requirements and exam passing scores but focuses primarily on expanding practice access for qualified out-of-state CPAs.

Maddy summaryHB 1107 allows New Hampshire towns and school districts to appoint 1-3 alternate members to their municipal budget committees. These alternates, appointed annually by the committee itself, have the same authority as regular members during meetings. The bill amends existing law to formally permit this structure, which previously required committees to operate without alternates. It directly affects all municipalities that establish budget committees under RSA 32:14-15.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges the New Hampshire legislature to fully fund K-12 public education at the level determined by the state Supreme Court in the Claremont series of rulings. It specifically references the court's 1993 and 1997 decisions, which established that the legislature must define, cost, fund, and ensure accountability for an adequate education. The resolution calls on the legislature to comply with the court's most recent findings regarding education funding requirements. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Farm Energy Systems and Infrastructure Design Advisory Program to help qualifying New Hampshire farms improve their energy efficiency and infrastructure. The program will provide unbiased, research-based educational assistance on energy systems and connect farms with available financial resources like grants and loans. To implement this, the state will hire one field specialist and sign an agreement with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension to deliver the support. The initiative is funded by a $100,000 appropriation for the 2025 fiscal year and will begin on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 1320 requires real estate sellers or their agents in New Hampshire to provide buyers with written disclosures about specific environmental hazards before a property sale contract is finalized. The bill mandates that these notices cover risks related to radon, arsenic, lead, PFAS chemicals, and flooding, along with information on how to test for these issues and where to find further resources. While the law makes these disclosures mandatory, it explicitly states that failing to provide them does not invalidate the sale or create legal liability for the seller. The legislation also includes a contingency clause that adjusts its effective date depending on whether another related bill, HB 398, is passed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the requirement for accessible voting systems to include local elections in cities and towns that currently only provide them for state elections. It legally defines an accessible voting system as any machine capable of printing a paper ballot marked with the voter's choices, ensuring compliance with federal disability laws. Under the new rules, every polling place in municipalities using official ballot systems must have at least one such machine available to allow voters with disabilities to cast their ballots privately and independently without assistance. The changes take effect on January 1, 2025, aiming to ensure equal access to voting for all eligible citizens regardless of their disability status.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year pilot program in New Hampshire to help school districts buy local food by reimbursing them for purchases from New Hampshire and New England producers. Only schools participating in the National School Lunch Program can apply, and the state aims to award grants to one district in each county to support buying dairy, meat, produce, and other eligible items. The program provides a 33.3% reimbursement on food costs, with funds managed through a selection committee that ensures diverse participation across different school sizes and regions. Any leftover money after the pilot ends will return to the state's general fund, and the program will be evaluated annually to track its impact on local farms and school nutrition.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the life of the Commission on Holocaust and Genocide Education by updating reporting deadlines to include a final report due in 2027. The commission is tasked with tracking how Holocaust and genocide education is implemented across schools, specifically monitoring instruction by grade level, curriculum, and hours taught. It must submit regular reports to state officials, including the governor and legislative leaders, detailing its findings and any suggestions for new laws. The changes take effect immediately upon the bill's passage.