Sen. Donovan Fenton

Maddy summarySB 160 establishes administrative rules for conducting raffles in the state. It directly affects nonprofit organizations, charities, and event organizers who host raffles as fundraising activities. The bill sets specific requirements for raffle operations, including licensing, prize disclosure, and reporting procedures. Signed into law on June 17, 2025, it becomes effective July 1, 2025, replacing previous administrative guidelines.

Maddy summarySB 233 directs New Hampshire's Grid Modernization Advisory Group to study four specific topics related to electricity reliability and energy storage, including grid challenges, storage's role, market solutions for storage, and an indexing credit model. The bill amends the group's mandate to explicitly include these considerations in its work. It does not impose new regulations or costs but guides the advisory group's focus. The bill became law on June 17, 2025, after passing both chambers and receiving the governor's signature. The advisory group itself is the primary entity affected by this directive.

Maddy summarySB 196 raises the exemption threshold for state agency projects from competitive bidding requirements from $500,000 to $1,000,000. This means state agencies can now bypass competitive bidding for projects costing up to $1 million, directly affecting agencies managing such projects. The key provision modifies existing law to increase the cost limit for automatic exemption, streamlining procurement for smaller projects. The bill became law on June 17, 2025, and takes effect August 16, 2025. It does not alter bidding rules for projects exceeding $1 million.

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 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 146 updates procedures for certifying deaths in Massachusetts by clarifying which medical professionals can issue death certificates and when medical examiners must be involved. It directly affects physicians, medical examiners, and funeral homes handling death records. The bill requires physicians to use standardized medical certification forms and mandates medical examiners to review certain deaths (like unexpected or violent cases) before finalizing records. Signed into law on June 10, 2025, it takes effect August 9, 2025, standardizing death certification across the state.

Maddy summarySB 29 updates the structure and responsibilities of the Health Care Workplace Safety Commission and modifies reporting requirements for healthcare facilities under their workplace violence prevention program. The bill changes commission membership rules and clarifies its jurisdiction, while simplifying the reporting process healthcare facilities must follow to document workplace violence incidents. It directly affects hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities required to submit these reports, as well as the commission managing the program. The law, signed by the governor on June 10, 2025, becomes effective August 9, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 77 requires that children in delinquency cases and children in need of services (CHINS) cases receive the same types of psychological evaluations as children in child protection matters. This standardizes mental health assessment requirements across these child welfare contexts, directly affecting minors involved in juvenile court and child welfare proceedings. The bill mandates identical evaluation protocols to ensure consistent access to necessary psychological assessments regardless of case type. It became law on June 10, 2025, and takes effect on August 9, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 602 requires certain convicted offenders to participate in a victim impact program as part of their sentence. The program connects offenders with victims or their families to help them understand the personal harm caused by their actions. This law takes effect on January 1, 2026, after passing unanimously through the legislature and being signed by Governor Ayotte. It directly affects individuals convicted of specific offenses who receive court-ordered participation.

Maddy summarySB 198 designates the third week of September as "New Hampshire Service Dog Week" to recognize service dogs and their handlers. This commemorative resolution directly affects service dog users, handlers, and related organizations across the state by establishing an annual awareness period. The bill does not create new legal requirements or funding but formally acknowledges the role of service dogs in supporting individuals with disabilities. It has been referred to committee and is currently under review.