Sen. David Rochefort

Maddy summarySB 250 requires pharmacies to be paid separately for administering long-acting injectable drugs, not just for the medication itself. This directly affects pharmacists who provide these injections in community settings. The key change amends state law to mandate reimbursement for the administration service in addition to the drug cost. The law takes effect on August 23, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 141 extends the deadline for criminal defendants to petition for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence or forensic testing. It allows petitions up to 3 years after conviction, with exceptions for cases involving new forensic methods, scientific understanding, or evidence not available at trial. To qualify, petitioners must prove innocence under penalty of perjury and demonstrate how the new evidence would exonerate them. The bill directly affects incarcerated individuals convicted of felonies who seek to challenge their convictions using evidence unavailable at trial. It does not address library records, as the title's mention of "library cards" appears inconsistent with the bill's actual content.

Maddy summarySB 285 changes New Hampshire's official terminology by replacing "physician assistant" with "physician associate" in all relevant state statutes. It amends hundreds of legal references across healthcare laws, including licensing, practice regulations, and penalty provisions (such as RSA 328-D:13). The bill is purely a technical update to terminology with no changes to professional practice standards or responsibilities. It does not alter how these healthcare professionals operate or their scope of practice. The law became effective June 17, 2025, with some sections delayed until January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 212 updates election law terminology by replacing "votes" with "ballots" in specific sections of New Hampshire's election statutes (RSA 659:88 and 659:91-a). It does not change any substantive requirements for write-in nominations or vote thresholds - candidates still need 35 write-in ballots or 10% of total ballots cast to qualify. The bill directly affects election administrators and candidates navigating primary election rules, ensuring consistent language in legal references. This is a purely terminological adjustment with no policy impact, as the 35-ballot or 10% requirements remain unchanged. The bill became law on June 17, 2025, after passing both chambers and receiving gubernatorial approval.

Maddy summarySB 254 requires criminal history background checks for individuals serving as surrogate parents in New Hampshire's special education system. It mandates that the Department of Education conduct these checks using fingerprints and FBI/state records, valid for 5 years, with strict confidentiality rules (records destroyed after 60 days). The bill disqualifies applicants convicted of specific drug-related offenses (e.g., selling controlled substances under RSA 630:1) or crimes involving children within the past decade. This directly affects surrogate parent applicants who must pay for checks and submit required documentation, while ensuring child safety through standardized screening. (Note: The bill's title mentions "controlled substance inventories," but the actual provisions focus solely on surrogate parent background checks.)

Maddy summarySB 18 allows existing pediatric intermediate care facilities (established before the law's effective date) to temporarily add up to 2 beds beyond their licensed capacity, starting July 1, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2026. The commissioner of health and human services may assess facility needs and request additional beds from the fiscal committee of the legislature if necessary. If approved, the commissioner can increase a facility’s licensed bed count through formal committee approval. This directly affects pediatric facilities serving children in intermediate care, providing temporary flexibility while requiring legislative oversight for permanent capacity changes.

Maddy summarySB 72 establishes a "Parental Bill of Rights" in New Hampshire law, directly affecting parents of minors (under 18) and public schools. The bill requires schools to provide parents with timely, accurate information about their child's education, health, discipline policies, and assessments, and grants parents specific rights to opt out of health/sex education, surveys, and certain data collection. It prohibits schools or government entities from infringing on parental rights to direct a child's upbringing, education, or health care without demonstrating a compelling state interest and using the least restrictive means. The law aims to clarify parental authority while setting specific disclosure requirements for schools.

Maddy summarySB 180 repeals the current designation of Coos County as a distressed place-based economy and requires the Department of Environmental Services to revise rules for new landfills. This bill directly affects local officials in Coos County and landfill operators by changing how landfill regulations are developed. The key mechanism is ending the existing economic designation system and mandating updated landfill rules. The bill does not create new taxes or funding but shifts regulatory oversight for landfills. (Note: This bill is pending further legislative action as of June 2025.)

Maddy summarySB 30 designates the Virginia opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) as New Hampshire’s official state marsupial, amending state law to recognize this species. The bill directly affects New Hampshire residents and state identity by formally naming the opossum as a symbolic representative of the state. Key provisions include updating legal references to identify opossums found in New Hampshire as "New Hampshire opossums." The bill contains no provisions related to fertilizer penalties - the mention of "fertilizers" in the title appears to be an error, as the actual text focuses solely on the marsupial designation. This is a symbolic, non-regulatory change with no practical impact on policy or enforcement.

Maddy summarySB 13 prohibits the renewal or issuance of driver's licenses in New Hampshire to individuals with pending asylum claims, regardless of any temporary work authorization they may hold. It also invalidates out-of-state driver's licenses held by undocumented immigrants. The bill specifically blocks license renewals for people with pending asylum cases and prevents the issuance of new licenses to asylees until they receive permanent residency status, even if they have work permits. These changes directly affect undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers in the state who currently hold or seek driver's licenses.