Rep. Michael Vose

Maddy summaryHB 157 establishes a legislative study committee to review and improve the process for creating fiscal notes - documents estimating the cost of proposed laws. The committee, composed of House and Senate members plus the legislative budget office, will examine current requirements for when fiscal notes are needed, what they should include (like cost-benefit analysis), and whether the $10,000 cost threshold should change. It will also assess staffing and resource needs for the budget office and state agencies, focusing on major departments like health and education. The goal is to make fiscal notes more useful for lawmakers without changing actual legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow electric distribution utilities in New Hampshire to recover the costs associated with net energy metering, a program that lets customers generate their own electricity and sell it back to the grid. Under the proposed changes, utilities must use a specific recovery mechanism approved by the state commission to cover these expenses, which are added to the list of allowable costs for rate-setting purposes. The legislation also clarifies that costs related to retiring certain power generation assets and fulfilling employee protection obligations remain recoverable. If passed, the bill would take effect 60 days after its enactment, though a recent committee review did not recommend it for future legislation.

Maddy summarySB 307 allows New Hampshire electric distribution utilities to recover the costs of long-term transmission service agreements through retail rates. These agreements would cover projects in New England that have received funding or capacity contracts from the U.S. Department of Energy, with limits set at a total of 120 megawatts and a maximum duration of 30 years. The bill requires utilities to review proposals within three months and mandates that the Public Utilities Commission approve the agreements based on factors like benefits to ratepayers, price stability, and system reliability. If approved, utilities would pass any associated costs or savings directly to their customers through annual adjustments in retail rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New Hampshire Department of Energy to conduct a study on the benefits and risks of supporting clean or non-carbon emitting power generation. The investigation must examine topics such as customer costs, grid reliability, cybersecurity, and how other states handle clean energy standards. After consulting with utilities and other stakeholders, the department is required to submit a report to the legislature within one year offering recommendations on financial and regulatory support. The bill aims to balance economic growth, energy security, and electricity rates for existing customers.

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 strengthens the Department of Energy's authority to enforce compliance orders against public utilities and their agents by establishing a civil penalty of up to $100,000 for violations, with funds directed toward ratepayer credits or low-income assistance programs. It expands community solar opportunities by allowing developers to designate projects for low- and moderate-income households, subject to a 6-megawatt annual capacity limit, while also updating reporting requirements for the state's renewable energy fund and net metering data. The legislation clarifies definitions for useful thermal energy in renewable portfolio standards and streamlines the process for municipalities to receive information regarding personal wireless service facility applications. Additionally, it exempts small utilities with less than $10,000 in annual revenue from certain assessments and repeals older statutes related to wireless tower mapping and departmental guidance.