Rep. Erik Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 1641 requires court clerks to send domestic violence, stalking, and civil restraining orders to prosecutors and probation officers within 24 hours when the person subject to the order is on bail or probation. This directly affects individuals under court supervision (bail or probation) who are named in such protection orders. The key mechanism mandates this rapid transmission to ensure law enforcement and probation officials are promptly notified. The bill would require 43 new full-time court positions for implementation, costing an estimated $1.76 million annually starting in 2027, though it does not provide funding for these positions.

Maddy summaryHB 1637 requires courts to schedule hearings on bail modification or revocation motions within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) in domestic violence, stalking, and harassment cases. Before any hearing can occur, the party filing the motion must provide the court with certified copies of the complaint, affidavit, warrant, bail slip, and related court orders. The bill also mandates that in cases where a district court has found a person poses a danger, the superior court must hold a hearing and issue written findings when reviewing bail changes. This law takes effect January 1, 2027.

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 summarySB 571 updates New Hampshire's requirements for issuing CPA certificates. It replaces the term "substantial equivalency" with "comparable" when evaluating foreign accountancy credentials, making the standard clearer for applicants with international qualifications. The bill also modifies educational rules by requiring a bachelor's degree plus 30 additional credit hours in accounting (including specific subjects like auditing and taxation), and allows candidates to take the CPA exam up to 120 days before graduating. These changes directly affect individuals seeking CPA licensure in New Hampshire, particularly those with foreign credentials or nearing degree completion.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Hampshire law enforcement agencies to use a standardized lethality assessment tool (LAP) during responses to suspected domestic violence incidents, violations of protective orders, and stalking cases involving domestic violence. It mandates that officers administer the LAP screening with victims and submit the results to the court at the defendant's arraignment. Currently, participation in the LAP program is voluntary, with only about 45% of departments reporting data; this bill makes statewide use mandatory. The policy directly affects police departments, victims in these cases, and court proceedings by ensuring consistent assessment of risk during critical early stages of investigations.

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 1547 requires defendants charged with specific misdemeanors - including misdemeanor sexual assault involving minors, class A misdemeanor assault, and misdemeanor stalking - to choose within 30 days of arraignment: either appeal to superior court for a jury trial or proceed in circuit court with a waived right to a jury trial. Circuit courts cannot move forward with a trial under the waiver option without confirming the defendant knowingly and voluntarily gave up their jury trial right through a court discussion. The bill applies only to these three offense types and modifies existing appeal rules to clarify that superior courts handle jury trial appeals for these cases. It does not change sentencing or create new costs, as noted in the fiscal impact statement.

Maddy summaryHB 1445 requires New Hampshire to issue enhanced driver licenses and Real ID-compliant cards specifically for border crossings. It affects U.S. citizens who are New Hampshire residents and need to cross U.S. borders by land or sea. The bill amends state laws to mandate that the Department of Motor Vehicles provide these cards as proof of identity and citizenship for border entry. This would allow residents to use these cards instead of standard IDs when crossing borders, aligning with federal requirements.