Sen. David Rochefort

Maddy summarySB 211 requires New Hampshire public schools to establish eligibility rules for female-designated sports programs, directly affecting student athletes in those programs. The bill mandates that schools cannot exclude students solely based on transgender status but sets specific criteria: students must identify as female in daily life, not transfer teams mid-season for competitive advantage, and meet other criteria tied to the sport's educational purpose. It also requires all schools to adopt privacy policies by September 2025, allowing any student needing increased privacy (regardless of reason) to access single-stall restrooms or private changing areas. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all public school sports programs in the state.

Maddy summarySB 34 requires written parental consent for each new medical service (defined by a new ICD code) provided to Medicaid-enrolled students through the Medicaid to Schools program. It mandates an annual report to state lawmakers detailing the program's costs and enrollment. The bill also states the program terminates statewide if federal or state policy opposes parental control over children's medical services, or in a single school district if local policy changes. This directly affects Medicaid-enrolled students and their parents in schools participating in the program.

Maddy summaryHB 215 requires landfill permit applicants to submit a detailed report outlining both potential environmental and community harms and benefits of their proposed project before a permit is approved. This directly affects landfill companies seeking new permits or expansions, as they must now proactively disclose these impacts to regulators. The key mechanism is a mandatory pre-permit disclosure requirement, shifting the burden to applicants to document effects like soil contamination risks or local job creation. The bill aims to provide clearer information for decision-makers without specifying how the report will influence final permitting decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 648 proposes to require health insurance plans to cover glucose monitoring devices for individuals with diabetes. The bill would mandate coverage for necessary monitoring equipment, directly affecting policyholders with diabetes and their insurers. Currently pending in committee with a referral for interim study (as of November 13, 2025), the bill has not yet been enacted. Specific coverage details or device types are not provided in the available context.

Maddy summarySB 71 allows New Hampshire counties to hold individuals detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for up to 48 additional hours (excluding weekends and holidays) after resolving local state charges, provided the county and ICE have a written agreement. This bill directly affects county correctional facilities and ICE, establishing clear limits on how long local jails can detain immigration enforcement detainees. The key provision requires counties to have a formal written agreement with ICE to use this 48-hour extension, and it specifies that counties cannot hold individuals solely for immigration enforcement without addressing state charges first. The bill aims to clarify cooperation protocols between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 247 modifies regulations for contracts between health carriers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and pharmacies. It requires PBMs and carriers to provide more transparency regarding drug reimbursement calculations, known as Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) pricing, and establishes a formal appeal process for pharmacies to dispute these costs. The bill also allows pharmacies to decline to dispense a drug if the reimbursement amount is less than their acquisition cost. Additionally, it mandates that Pharmacy Services Administrative Organizations (PSAOs) provide pharmacies with copies of PBM contracts and prohibits them from requiring pharmacies to purchase drugs from specific entities. These provisions are set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 704 would provide state funding for caregiver respite services and senior volunteer programs. The bill directly affects family caregivers needing temporary relief and seniors participating in volunteer initiatives. It includes a specific appropriation (funding allocation) to support these programs but does not detail exact eligibility rules or program structures. The bill is currently pending in committee after receiving a "ought to pass" recommendation with an amendment. (Note: Specific provisions like funding amounts or program requirements are not described in the provided context.)

Maddy summaryHB 661 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to ensure children in foster care receive federal benefits like Social Security and veterans' payments. Within 60 days of a child entering foster care, the department must check for existing benefits or apply for them, and if it becomes the representative payee, it must manage those funds exclusively for the child's unmet needs (not for care costs) using special accounts like ABLE accounts. The bill mandates annual reports to the child and family, prohibits using benefits to cover care expenses, and requires returning any remaining funds when the child exits foster care.

Maddy summaryHB 349 would authorize optometrists to perform specific ophthalmic laser procedures within their scope of practice. This bill directly affects optometrists by expanding their permitted treatments and patients seeking these laser-based eye care services. The key provision allows optometrists to conduct certain laser procedures (like those for diabetic retinopathy) without requiring a physician's direct supervision, as outlined in the bill's current committee report. The bill is pending further legislative action after passing committee with amendments.

Maddy summarySB 185 updates how New Hampshire's Office of Professional Licensure and Certification handles complaints against licensed professionals (like doctors, lawyers, or engineers). It requires the office to review each complaint within 30 days to determine if it alleges valid misconduct, and if not, recommend dismissal to the licensing board. If misconduct is alleged, the office must investigate within 90 days (or the board may decide within 60 days if the investigation is delayed), overriding other conflicting laws. The bill directly affects licensees facing complaints and the office’s process for resolving them, with changes effective March 1, 2026.