Rep. Kelley Potenza

Maddy summaryHB 707 requires the Department of Environmental Services to revise regulations governing new landfill proposals. This directly affects the state agency responsible for environmental oversight and developers planning to build new landfills. The bill mandates the department to update specific rules related to landfill approvals and environmental standards. The bill is currently recommended for passage by the committee with an amendment.

Maddy summarySB 227 is a procedural bill titled "relative to site setbacks for landfills," but the provided context does not specify its substantive policy changes, such as required setback distances or affected entities. The bill's legislative history shows it was referred to committee, debated, and later "laid on the table" without advancing to a vote on the merits. No details about specific mechanisms, affected landfills, or direct impacts are included in the available actions. Since the context lacks the bill's actual text or policy provisions, a substantive summary cannot be provided. For concrete details, consult the full bill text or official legislative resources.

Maddy summarySB 296 increases the minimum percentage of education scholarships for nonpublic schools that must go to low-income students from 40% to 50%. It requires scholarship organizations to award at least half of their funds to students who qualified for federal free/reduced-price lunch in the prior school year, verified through household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. The bill also allows students temporarily losing eligibility to retain their scholarship for one "probationary year" before becoming ineligible. This applies directly to scholarship organizations distributing funds under New Hampshire's education freedom account program, affecting families seeking nonpublic school funding.

Maddy summarySB 246 requires New Hampshire Medicaid and private health insurers to cover maternal depression screenings at well-child visits and during prenatal/postpartum care for new mothers. It mandates coverage for screenings at specific intervals (1, 2, 4, and 6 months postpartum) and includes referrals to mental health resources. The bill allocates $275,000 to establish a perinatal psychiatric provider consult line and $75,000 for rural maternal health EMS services. These changes directly affect new mothers and infants in New Hampshire by expanding access to mental health support during the perinatal period.

Maddy summaryHB 697 is a proposed bill that would adjust the payment rates for witnesses testifying in criminal court cases. It directly affects individuals who are subpoenaed to testify, ensuring they receive updated compensation for their time and expenses. The bill's key provision modifies the current fee schedule to align with current cost-of-living standards, increasing the daily payment amount. This change aims to improve witness participation in criminal proceedings by providing fairer reimbursement. The bill is currently under review in committee and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryHB 233 requires the New Hampshire Vaccine Association's board of directors to audio and video record all meetings and publish those recordings on the association's website in an accessible format within 48 hours of each meeting. This bill directly affects the New Hampshire Vaccine Association by mandating transparency in its public proceedings. The key provision is the 48-hour posting requirement for all recorded meetings, aiming to make the association's decision-making process more accessible to the public. The bill was introduced in March 2025 but was ultimately deemed "Inexpedient to Legislate" by committee in October 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 682 establishes a new Office of Offshore Wind Industry, modifies the structure of the Offshore and Port Development Commission, and creates an Office of Energy Innovation within the state government. The bill does not specify detailed policy provisions or direct impacts in the provided context, only noting its legislative passage and effective date. It was signed into law by Governor Ayotte on August 1, 2025, effective September 30, 2025 (Chapter 286). The context lacks specific details about the offices' functions, funding, or affected entities to describe concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 361 prohibits school districts from requiring students or staff to wear face masks as a condition of attending school. The law directly affects public and charter schools across the state by removing mandatory mask policies, though it does not prevent voluntary mask use. Key provisions ban school boards from adopting rules that mandate mask-wearing in classrooms or school facilities. The bill became law when Governor Ayotte signed it on July 15, 2025, and takes effect September 13, 2025. It does not address other health measures or mask requirements for specific health conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 270 requires election officials to preserve external storage devices used in electronic ballot counting systems after elections. This directly affects state and local election administrators responsible for managing voting equipment. The bill mandates that these devices be retained for a specified period (as defined by the law) to ensure verifiable records of election results. The law became effective on September 13, 2025, following gubernatorial approval on July 22, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 369 updates New Hampshire's registration requirements for sexual offenders and offenders against children. It requires these individuals to report in person to local law enforcement within 5 business days of release from custody, conviction (if not incarcerated), or establishing new residence, employment, or schooling in the state. Offenders with multiple residences must report to their primary jurisdiction and provide all addresses, including those outside New Hampshire. The law, signed by Governor Ayotte and effective January 1, 2026, applies to misdemeanor and felony cases covered under current registration statutes.