Rep. Chuck Grassie

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow municipalities to provide temporary shelter and aid to homeless individuals on public property without fear of being sued for negligence. It establishes a legal shield for government employees and units, stating they will not be held liable for injuries or damages occurring in designated homeless aid areas unless the harm was caused by intentional misconduct. Additionally, the bill exempts these government entities from standard landlord-tenant laws when operating such shelters. The legislation aims to encourage local governments to create homeless assistance programs by clarifying their legal protections regarding liability.

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 summaryHB 1563 restructures how the state calculates education grants for municipalities by defining a specific "local property tax contribution" based on warrants issued for the tax year beginning April 1, 2024. Under the new formula, the state will determine a municipality's total education grant by adding the per-pupil cost of an adequate education and extraordinary need funds, then subtracting this defined local property tax contribution. The bill repeals several existing statutes related to the education tax and low and moderate income homeowners property tax relief, with most changes taking effect on July 1, 2025. This legislation directly affects local governments and school districts by altering the method used to distribute state education funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1226 establishes new protections for freelance workers in New Hampshire by requiring hiring parties to provide written contracts that detail services, compensation rates, and payment deadlines. The bill applies to individuals hired as independent contractors for projects valued at $800 or more, while explicitly excluding legal professionals, medical staff, sales representatives, and construction contractors. It mandates that payment be made within 30 days of service completion and prohibits retaliation against workers who seek their rights under the law. Additionally, the legislation requires employers to retain contract records for at least six years and grants freelance workers the ability to file claims with the labor commissioner to enforce payment terms.

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 updates zoning laws in New Hampshire to make it easier for families to operate home-based child care businesses. It allows family and group family child care to be used as an accessory to any residential property without needing a special site plan review, provided they meet state health and safety standards. Local governments must permit these facilities by right or through a conditional use permit, and providers can start operating immediately if their state permit is pending while waiting for local approval. The changes take effect 60 days after the law is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of "development of regional impact" in New Hampshire to explicitly include solid waste landfills. Under the new rules, any proposed landfill must notify all communities located within its watershed or within a 10-mile radius of the site. Local land use boards are required to share meeting minutes and project plans with regional planning commissions and affected municipalities within five business days of making a decision. The law applies to new landfill projects but excludes existing facilities that were fully permitted before December 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the requirements for individuals seeking licensure as licensed nursing assistants in New Hampshire. It mandates that applicants demonstrate sufficient aptitude in the English language, a change from the previous strict requirement to read and write in English. The legislation also clarifies that applicants must report pending criminal charges or convictions and meet continuing competence standards set by the state board. These rules apply to all new applicants and are designed to ensure a consistent baseline of communication skills and professional conduct for nursing assistants.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for how public agencies charge fees when individuals request government records under the Right-to-Know law. It clarifies that agencies can only charge for copying costs or for employee time spent beyond ten hours, setting a maximum hourly rate of $25 for those additional hours. The legislation also requires agencies to provide clearer explanations when denying requests and mandates that multiple requests made within a 30-day period be treated as a single request to prevent fee stacking. Additionally, it establishes a requirement for agencies to create transparent policies for calculating these costs and allows requesters to file complaints if they believe the estimated fees are unreasonable.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for a state commission studying environmentally triggered chronic illnesses from 2024 to 2029. The commission, which investigates how environmental factors contribute to long-term health conditions, will continue to submit annual progress reports and a final summary to state officials and the public. By delaying the final report date, the legislation gives the commission more time to gather data and formulate recommendations for potential laws. The change applies specifically to the existing commission's timeline without altering its core mission or the groups it studies.