Rep. Linda Tanner

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for free school meals in New Hampshire to include students from households earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Under the new rules, school districts must provide at least one free meal daily to every student whose family income falls below this threshold, with the state funding the additional costs through the education trust fund. The legislation also updates the definition of the education trust fund to explicitly include money for these expanded meal programs. These changes take effect on September 1, 2023, and aim to ensure more children have access to nutritious food during school hours.

Maddy summaryHB 1087 proposes creating a temporary commission to study how public schools in New Hampshire teach information literacy and media literacy. The commission would be made up of legislators, educators, and representatives from youth media organizations to review current curriculum standards and identify barriers to effective instruction. Its main tasks include evaluating available resources for teachers, comparing the state's efforts with those of other states, and gathering input from students, parents, and experts. The group is required to submit a final report with its findings and recommendations by November 1, 2024, though the bill was not enacted during the 2024 legislative session.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow groups of at least 25 residents or property owners in a town to petition the state commissioner to ban or limit wake surfing on local lakes, ponds, or rivers. If approved, the commissioner must hold a public hearing to evaluate factors such as environmental impact, water depth, safety concerns, and existing water uses before making a decision. The proposed restrictions would take effect no earlier than October 1 of the year the order is issued and would apply to any person operating a motorboat for wake surfing in the affected area.

Maddy summaryThis bill would regulate wakeboating and wakesports in New Hampshire by defining specific terms and establishing safety rules for these activities. It prohibits wakesports between sunset and sunrise, on waters smaller than 50 acres, within 500 feet of shorelines, and in areas less than 20 feet deep. The legislation also bans wakesports behind boats with propulsion systems extending beyond the swim platform and requires the state commissioner to create maps identifying legal zones for these activities. Although the bill passed committee review, it was ultimately removed from consideration and did not become law before the legislative session ended.

Maddy summaryHB 1103 modifies the penalties under New Hampshire's Shoreland Protection Act by clarifying the conditions under which individuals can be fined for damaging public waterways. Specifically, the bill states that people who harm waterways and fail to make a good faith effort to fix the damage after being notified by the Department of Environmental Services will face penalties. This change aims to streamline the enforcement process by removing barriers that previously made it harder for the department to seek civil fines for proven violations. The law takes effect on January 1, 2025, and does not alter the maximum amount of fines that can be imposed per violation.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for the state advisory committee on the education of students with disabilities, which advises on policies affecting children with disabilities from birth through age 26. The legislation expands the committee by adding specific seats for representatives from health and human services, correctional facilities, and advocacy organizations, while also requiring one member from the House Education Committee. A key provision mandates that a majority of the committee must consist of individuals with disabilities or their parents, ensuring that those directly impacted lead the group. Appointments for these roles will be made by the governor, with some specific members recommended by relevant agencies or organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire's Clean Lakes Program to include specific authority for managing cyanobacteria blooms, which are harmful algal growths that can degrade water quality. It empowers the Department of Environmental Services to take short-term actions like chemical or physical treatments to control these blooms and to reduce the nutrient inputs that cause them. The legislation also allows the department to provide financial grants to local groups and individuals for managing both exotic aquatic weeds and cyanobacteria, while requiring consultation with other state agencies before implementing certain treatments. Effective September 1, 2024, the program will focus on diagnosing water issues, implementing long-term solutions, and ensuring safe conditions for public recreation.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants the commissioner of the Department of Safety the authority to create temporary safety zones on public and coastal waters during emergencies. Under these new rules, the commissioner can set maximum speed limits for vessels for up to ten days when immediate action is needed due to weather or environmental hazards. The law takes effect ninety days after its passage, allowing officials to respond quickly to dangerous conditions without waiting for additional legislative approval.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Hampshire school districts to create written policies for managing their library collections and handling requests to remove materials. The new rules mandate that these policies cannot ban or remove books based on specific personal characteristics such as race, gender identity, or sexual orientation, nor can they restrict materials based on the viewpoint expressed within them. Under the proposed guidelines, parents and guardians would have a formal process to request a review of library items they find unsuitable, but the material must remain accessible to students while the review is pending. The legislation defines "library materials" broadly to include books, digital resources, and other educational or entertainment items available in school libraries. These policies must be in place and effective by January 1, 2025.