Rep. Claudine Burnham

Maddy summaryHB 1670 defines "organized retail crime" as acting with others to steal merchandise from stores with intent to resell or redistribute it, or knowingly receiving stolen items. It creates new criminal penalties for leaders of such operations, classifying offenses as class A felonies if stolen merchandise totals $2,500 or more (with enhanced penalties at $10,000), and requires courts to order forfeiture of property used in the crime. Key mechanisms include aggregating thefts across multiple stores and counties over 180 days to meet value thresholds, and allowing prosecutions in any county where activity occurred. The bill directly targets individuals involved in coordinated retail theft rings, while preserving existing laws like RSA 629:3 for prosecution.

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 This bill restores a mechanism for judicial accountability that was lost after the previous commission was repealed in 2024.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 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 1541 requires New Hampshire's Secretary of State to provide all voting precincts with secure, lockable, tamper-evident containers for storing ballots before each election. These containers must be reusable, stackable, transportable, numbered, and designed to accommodate different ballot sizes. The bill mandates annual progress reports tracking container replacements and locations, using existing Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds without new state appropriations. It directly affects all local election offices statewide by standardizing ballot storage equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 1306 requires town clerks and moderators to record seven specific absentee ballot counts on a standardized "absentee ballot certificate" during election processing. These counts include total ballots received, mailed to voters, spoiled, remaining before/after polls, and those cast on election day. The bill mandates that three copies of this certificate be kept by the clerk and moderator, with one copy sent to the Secretary of State. It directly affects local election officials in New Hampshire towns and wards, not voters or the voting process itself. This procedural change standardizes documentation for absentee ballot counts without altering voting rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1388 requires that each constitutional amendment appear as a single ballot question, preventing voters from casting a single vote on multiple amendments. The bill mandates specific wording above amendment questions (e.g., "Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments Proposed by the Legislature") and requires the ballot to include the full text of the proposed amendment and the vote history on the amendment’s passage. This applies to all ballots containing constitutional amendment questions in New Hampshire. The law takes effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1247 requires New Hampshire's Secretary of State to create and distribute clear notices about proposed constitutional amendments. The bill mandates that town and city clerks prominently display these notices (including specific header wording and vote dates) for at least 60 days before a statewide vote, and the Secretary of State must maintain a dedicated webpage with the same information. This directly affects voters who need to understand amendment proposals before voting, as well as local clerks responsible for posting the notices. The key mechanism is standardizing and centralizing information about constitutional amendments to improve voter access to details. The bill focuses on procedural transparency without changing amendment content or voting rules.

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 1604 requires towns and cities to make suitable public facilities - such as schools, town halls, and fire stations - available as polling places for all elections when requested by local election officials (selectmen or ward officers). The bill specifies that facilities must meet size and accessibility standards under existing law and must remain accessible to voters while allowing normal operations like education or emergency services to continue. Municipalities would cover reasonable costs for custodial services, utilities, and security related to the polling place use, unless otherwise agreed. This change aims to expand polling location options without imposing new requirements on voters or election processes.

Maddy summaryHB 1526 modifies procedures for New Hampshire towns and school districts that use a municipal budget committee. It standardizes the wording of town meeting votes about establishing or changing the committee (e.g., "Shall we change the number of members from X to Y?") and adjusts the timeframe for appointing initial members in cooperative school districts from 15 to 30 days. The bill also clarifies how committees can be rescinded or how membership size or election method can be changed, requiring votes to take effect after the next annual meeting. This affects all towns and school districts operating under RSA 32:14 or 195:12-a.