Rep. Heath Howard

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to change how New Hampshire calculates and funds special education costs by including them directly in the state's education tax and grant formulas. It would require the state to pay 95 percent of the costs for services listed in a student's Individualized Education Plan, whether provided by the school district or contracted outside providers. Additionally, the legislation removes a separate line item for special education funding from the general "adequate education" calculation, aiming to streamline how schools receive financial support for these students. The bill also updates state statutes to clarify that special education is part of the state's duty to provide an adequate education and outlines procedures for reimbursing districts and prorating funds when students transfer between districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1657 establishes new laws to prohibit hazing at secondary and post-secondary educational institutions in New Hampshire by defining hazing as any act that forces a student to violate laws, consume harmful substances, endure physical or mental abuse, or risk their health and safety. The bill imposes criminal penalties on individuals and organizations that knowingly participate in hazing and requires schools to report serious incidents to local authorities within 72 hours. Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, the law mandates that all students and student organization advisors complete an anti-hazing education program before participating in school activities. Additionally, educational institutions must publicly report annual findings of hazing violations on their websites while protecting the privacy of individual students.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the distribution of artificial intelligence-generated media that falsely depicts a specific person without their consent and without a clear label indicating the content is synthetic. It applies to anyone who shares such misleading text, images, videos, or audio with the intent to deceive others about what the person actually did. The law creates a stricter penalty for content used near elections or intended to harm a candidate, classifying those offenses as felonies in repeat cases or when violence is provoked. Violations of the general rule are punishable as misdemeanors, while election-related violations carry heavier penalties under specific circumstances. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to add eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, to the list of qualifying conditions for the state's therapeutic cannabis program. If enacted, it would allow individuals diagnosed with these specific conditions to legally access medical cannabis under the existing framework. The legislation includes a provision to include other specified feeding and eating disorders alongside the named examples. The bill was ultimately not passed and died on the table before the legislative session concluded.

Maddy summaryHB 1370 directs the Secretary of State to prepare and distribute secure, durable containers and tamper-evident sealers to town and ward clerks for preserving ballots before state elections. The bill also requires these officials to use special containers specifically designed for separate ballots related to questions posed to voters. Although the legislation was adopted by the conference committee, it was ultimately laid on the table and did not become law before the end of the session.

Maddy summaryHB 1210 proposes to change how Strafford County commissioners are elected by replacing the current district-based system with a single election where all voters in the county choose three commissioners at large. The bill also includes specific provisions for Sullivan County, outlining its existing three districts, though the primary focus is on altering Strafford County's representation structure. If passed, these changes would take effect on January 1, 2025, shifting the method of selecting county leadership to a countywide vote rather than one per district.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a study committee to examine how the housing crisis specifically impacts people with disabilities in New Hampshire. The committee will be composed of five legislators and tasked with gathering testimony from various state agencies and disability advocacy groups to understand the scope of the problem and identify potential solutions. Over the course of at least six meetings, the group will research housing availability and affordability before submitting interim and final reports with recommendations to state officials by late 2024 and 2025.

Maddy summaryThis New Hampshire bill expands the state's therapeutic cannabis program by adding generalized anxiety disorder to the list of qualifying medical conditions. It directly affects individuals diagnosed with this condition who wish to legally access medical cannabis through the state's existing framework. The law amends current statutes to include anxiety disorder alongside other approved conditions and takes effect 60 days after passage. No new funding is required for this change, as the program is self-funded through application fees paid by patients.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Matthew Brown Act, requires public schools and charter schools in New Hampshire to print the phone number for the National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline on student identification cards. The law applies to cards issued for the first time or replaced after the bill takes effect, ensuring that students in grades 6 through 12 have immediate access to eating disorder support resources. Schools must also verify annually that the helpline number on these cards is accurate and up to date before each new school year. The legislation aims to integrate mental health resources directly into the daily materials students carry, rather than relying on them to find help information elsewhere.