Rep. Claudine Burnham

Maddy summaryHB 1380, the "Replacement Value Property Assessment Act," changes how property taxes are calculated in New Hampshire by requiring assessments to be based on replacement or cost-based value (not current market value) for both buildings and land. It affects all property owners and municipalities, implementing a phased transition: 2026 assessments use a 50/50 blend of old and new methods, shifting to 25% market value/75% cost-based value in 2027, and fully adopting cost-based assessments starting in 2028. The bill includes revenue neutrality rules (municipalities cannot raise total tax revenue solely from this change) and establishes appeal processes for property owners. It takes effect July 1, 2026, with annual reporting on assessment impacts required starting in 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 1304 requires that all written or oral examinations for individuals seeking guide licenses must be administered exclusively by conservation officers from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. This change directly affects people applying for guide licenses in hunting and fishing, as it replaces current exam administration procedures. The bill amends RSA 215:5 to specify that only conservation officers may conduct these examinations, removing previous options for other administrators. The provision takes effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

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 summaryThis House Resolution (HR 24) urges New Hampshire's congressional delegation to sponsor federal legislation renaming Little Haystack Mountain in the White Mountains to "Mt. Kościuszko." It specifically requests support for honoring Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish patriot who fought for American independence during the Revolutionary War. The resolution also encourages the governor to consider state-level actions to support the renaming. This is a symbolic gesture to recognize Kościuszko's historical contributions and celebrate Polish-American heritage, not a law that changes any existing policy or naming.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 20) proposes to repeal Article 72-a of New Hampshire's constitution, which currently establishes the supreme and superior courts as the primary judicial bodies. If adopted, it would restore Article 4 (which gives the General Court full power to create courts) without the exception allowing the judicial structure to exist. The amendment requires voter approval at the November 2026 general election, where voters would decide whether to remove the judicial court framework and revert to the General Court's broader authority to establish courts. This change affects the constitutional foundation of New Hampshire's court system, not day-to-day court operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1437 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all New Hampshire elections to use hand-counted, serial-numbered ballots with perforated voter receipts matching ballot numbers. It mandates strict ballot handling procedures, including 24/7 monitored storage for 60 months, dual-signature chain-of-custody logs, and random county audits by citizen reviewers after each election. The bill directly affects all local election officials (moderators, clerks) and voters, limiting polling locations to 5,000 voters and requiring annual training for election staff. This amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHB 314 prohibits state, local, and federal government entities from using public funds to pay for lobbying activities. It directly affects government agencies, departments, and local municipalities that receive public funding, preventing them from spending taxpayer money to influence legislation or government decisions. The key provision bans the allocation of any public budget resources toward hiring lobbyists or covering lobbying-related expenses. This bill aims to restrict the use of taxpayer dollars for advocacy efforts within the legislative process.

Maddy summaryHB 709 would allow parents or guardians to enroll their children in any public school district where they pay property taxes or school district taxes, directly affecting families who own property or pay taxes in multiple districts. The bill’s key provision replaces the current requirement that students must reside in a district to attend its schools, instead using tax payment as the eligibility criterion for enrollment. This would enable families to choose schools in districts where they have a financial stake through tax payments, without needing to live there. The bill does not change school funding formulas or require districts to admit students beyond this tax-based enrollment rule.

Maddy summaryHB 686 requires voters to provide identification when applying for an absentee ballot. This directly affects voters who seek to cast ballots by mail, mandating ID verification at the request stage. The bill’s key provision adds an ID requirement to the absentee ballot application process, replacing any prior methods of verification. It does not change rules for in-person voting or ballot drop-off procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 693 would permit election officials to manually count ballots as an alternative to machine tabulation during election processing. This directly affects local election administrators and voters, as it provides a procedural option for verifying results through hand-counting. The bill's key provision allows jurisdictions to choose manual counting for specific ballot sets, such as during audits or recounts, without requiring machine use. However, the bill was deemed "Inexpedient to Legislate" by the committee in September 2025 with a 17-0 vote, meaning it did not advance further.