Sen. David Rochefort

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local municipalities to add a specific section to their land use master plans dedicated to waste reduction. The new provision requires these plans to outline strategies for lowering solid waste disposal through methods like recycling, composting, and managing hazardous or electronic waste. Communities can implement these strategies by conducting needs analyses, organizing town waste committees, seeking grant funding, and collaborating with neighboring regions. The law takes effect 60 days after it is passed, giving towns time to update their existing planning documents.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for how physician assistants in New Hampshire must work with doctors by defining specific terms like "collaboration" and "participating physician." It creates a new pathway allowing experienced physician assistants with over 8,000 hours of clinical training to practice without a local doctor if they receive a waiver from the state medical board, while those with fewer hours must continue to have a written agreement with a New Hampshire physician. The legislation also temporarily suspends state licensure requirements for certain out-of-state physician assistants working at the state Veterans Affairs Medical Center and establishes a committee to study the profession's scope of practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the composition and qualifications for the New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy and adjusts requirements for the Certified Public Accountant examination. It increases the number of board members from five to seven, adding a pharmacy technician and a public member while raising the pharmacist representation to five, with stricter rules on terms and financial conflicts of interest. The legislation also mandates that pharmacist and technician board members have at least ten years of licensure and five years of practice in the state, and it sets a passing grade of 75 for all sections of the CPA exam. These changes aim to ensure the board reflects current industry roles and to standardize examination standards for accountants.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates regulations for septic systems on waterfront properties in New Hampshire by clarifying that "developed waterfront" includes land within 250 feet of fresh water, coastal waters, or rivers. It requires a more detailed four-part site assessment study for these properties, which must include specific data on soil, slope, and water tables, along with a professional evaluation of the existing system. The legislation also mandates that if a designer finds a septic system is failing during an assessment, the system must be replaced before the property is sold. Additionally, the bill preserves the ability of local governments to enforce stricter septic standards than those set by the state. These changes take effect on September 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 1490 updates the Solid Waste Management Act by clarifying legal definitions and strengthening permit oversight for solid waste facilities. The bill explicitly defines "abutters" as property owners adjacent to or across from waste facilities and specifies which vehicles count as "end-of-life" for disposal purposes. It grants the state department authority to terminate permits when a facility closes and requires that all permits be continuous in duration unless revoked for cause. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the department must wait 30 days after a public hearing before issuing final permit decisions to ensure public concerns are fully considered.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legislative committee to investigate how pharmacy benefit managers influence the cost, administration, and distribution of prescription drugs in New Hampshire. The committee, composed of one senator and three representatives, will examine specific issues such as the impact of clawbacks, steering practices toward mail-order pharmacies, and the role of plan design in consumer pricing. By soliciting testimony from relevant experts and entities, the group aims to understand these operational effects and determine if new oversight measures could lower drug costs. The committee is required to submit its findings and any legislative recommendations to state officials and the governor by November 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes specific rules that required pharmacies in New Hampshire to maintain detailed continuous quality improvement programs beyond simply having them in place. By repealing sections of the state pharmacy law, the legislation reduces the administrative obligations placed on licensed pharmacies regarding these internal review processes. The change takes effect immediately upon passage and applies directly to all pharmacies operating under the state's regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows high school students to serve as unpaid members of their local school board, directly involving students in district governance. It requires the student government to organize elections where the student body votes for up to three representatives and establishes a process for students to submit proposals to the board. Serving a one-year term, these student members must attend at least one board meeting per month but cannot run or vote if they are graduating during their term. The law takes effect 60 days after passage, beginning on August 13, 2024.

Maddy summarySB 354 requires health insurance companies to apply money from independent charity patient assistance programs toward an enrollee's cost-sharing obligations, such as copayments and deductibles. This rule applies to group accident and health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs, but it excludes drugs that have generic or other covered alternatives available. The law also mandates that insurers receive specific details about assistance payments made on behalf of patients, while exempting high-deductible and catastrophic health plans from these requirements until the enrollee's annual deductible is met. Taking effect on January 1, 2026, the bill aims to streamline how charitable funds interact with insurance billing processes.