Rep. Kelley Potenza

Maddy summaryHB 1616 prohibits New Hampshire state agencies and local governments (like cities and towns) from using public funds to advertise vaccines. It bans both direct advertising by these entities and payments to contractors for vaccine promotion. The law specifically targets spending from state or local budgets on vaccine-related advertising, including through federal immunization grants. This bill does not affect vaccine access, safety, or public health programs - only the use of public funds for promotional activities.

Maddy summaryHB 1322 reestablishes a Judicial Conduct Commission to investigate complaints about judges and clerks (including court staff like clerks of court and registrars) and recommend to the legislature whether impeachment or removal actions are warranted. The commission will operate concurrently with the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s existing disciplinary authority, meaning it does not replace the court’s power to discipline judges but provides a structured process for handling complaints. Key provisions include defining "judge" and "clerk" broadly, establishing an executive director to manage operations, and ensuring recommendations align with constitutional separation of powers. This bill restores a mechanism for judicial accountability that was lost after the previous commission was repealed in 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill (CACR 22) proposes a constitutional amendment to abolish the fixed annual compensation for New Hampshire legislators. It removes the current $250 per elected term for presiding officers and $200 per term for all other legislators from the state constitution. The amendment would eliminate these specific payment amounts, replacing them with a system that only provides mileage for actual attendance on legislative days (with limits on days and timing). If approved by voters in 2026, this change would take effect, ending the fixed stipends for all state legislators.

Maddy summaryHR 38 authorizes the New Hampshire House Judiciary Committee to investigate whether there is cause to impeach a New Hampshire Supreme Court justice, following recent criminal charges against Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi. The committee may subpoena witnesses and documents to gather evidence related to the justice's conduct, including past legal actions and pleas. It must report its findings and recommendations to the full House of Representatives. This resolution is a procedural step based on constitutional impeachment standards, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1044 requires that vacancies in county commissioner offices be filled by the members of the county convention (or, for Hillsborough County, convention members representing the commissioner's district) through a majority vote. This replaces the previous method described in brackets within the existing law (RSA 661:9, II(a)). The appointed commissioner serves until the next biennial election, and if the vacancy is filled for less than the remaining term, that district is added to the next election ballot. The bill applies to all counties and takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1584 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to prominently display notices about medical and religious immunization exemptions on all vaccination-related materials, such as websites, brochures, or social media posts. It specifies that the notice must appear as visibly as main content - like a headline - and not just in footnotes. The bill also allows parents to use any written statement (not a specific form) to claim religious exemptions for their children's vaccinations. Additionally, the department must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing all promotional materials, compliance with the notice requirement, and any penalties assessed for noncompliance. This bill directly affects the Department of Health, schools, and healthcare providers distributing immunization information.

Maddy summaryHB 1756 allows qualifying organizations (including religious, educational, charitable groups, and veterans associations like the American Legion) to submit a single application for property tax exemptions instead of filing annually. Once approved, exemptions remain in effect permanently unless a town assessor later determines the organization no longer qualifies. The bill requires annual field reviews by local assessors to verify ongoing eligibility and mandates organizations to provide updated documentation at least every five years (or annually if requested). This replaces the current system where exemptions must be re-verified each year.

Maddy summaryHB 1356 extends the statute of limitations for minors to sue providers for violating laws prohibiting gender-altering medical procedures. It changes the deadline from 2 years to 10 years after a minor turns 18 to file a private lawsuit. This directly affects minors who received such medical treatments before age 18 and wish to pursue legal action. The bill modifies RSA 332-N:3, II, which governs when claims for violations of the gender-procedure ban must be filed. The fiscal note indicates no state or local cost impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1309 requires New Hampshire towns to clearly state the "intent and effect" of every item on town meeting warrants, eliminating deceptive or ambiguous language. This directly affects all towns holding meetings by mandating that each warrant article explicitly explains what the proposal does and its expected outcome. The bill amends RSA 39:2 to require that "the intent and effect of each warrant article shall be stated without deception or deliberate ambiguity," ensuring voters understand what they are voting on. It applies to all town meeting business, including budget items, though it allows towns to adjust specific funding amounts within existing budget constraints. This change aims to improve transparency in local governance without altering voting procedures or creating new financial obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 1128 restricts weather modification activities like cloud seeding to only situations where the governor declares a state of emergency for a catastrophic drought. This requires the drought to pose significant risks to water supply, agriculture, public health, or economic stability, with the declaration published publicly per state law. Before any weather modification occurs, the state must complete a 14-day environmental review and provide public notice in at least four newspapers and online, disclosing the chemicals used, potential health/wildlife impacts, and funding sources. The bill ensures such activities are limited to extreme emergencies with transparency and environmental safeguards.