Sen. Donovan Fenton

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new safety rules for wake surfing in New Hampshire to protect both surfers and others on the water. It prohibits wake surfing on bodies of water smaller than 50 acres and within 300 feet of shorelines, docks, or other boats. Additionally, the law bans operating a motorboat while someone is wake surfing behind it unless the boat is specifically designed for that activity. The Department of Safety is also tasked with promoting safe boating practices and educating operators on how to direct waves away from shorelines. These regulations will become effective on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new committee to examine voluntary home visiting services for families with newborns, infants, and young children. The committee, which will include members from both the House and Senate, is tasked with researching current providers such as midwives, doulas, and health centers to understand their processes, costs, and outcomes. It will also assess the benefits and harms of these services to families and investigate whether there is unmet demand in the state. Finally, the committee must submit a report with its findings and legislative recommendations to state officials by October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state insurance commissioner to issue written guidance to health care providers and insurance companies regarding the coverage of pelvic floor therapy. The commissioner must also review current insurance plans to identify any gaps in coverage and submit a detailed report with findings and recommendations to state officials by November 1, 2024. The law takes effect 60 days after it is passed, ensuring that these administrative steps are taken to clarify how pelvic floor therapy is covered under health insurance plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of disability and special needs for the Child Care Scholarship Program to include children who are at risk of or experiencing delays in social or emotional development. Under the new rules, eligibility would be determined through standardized developmental screening tools rather than requiring a formal medical diagnosis or special education code. Licensed child care providers and treating clinicians would be authorized to verify a child's eligibility based on these screening results. The legislation also appropriates $375,000 to fund the implementation of these changes and allows for the use of certain federal funds if available.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new committee to examine how insurance appraisers are currently licensed in New Hampshire. The committee will consist of one senator and four representatives who will investigate whether adding a licensing requirement would better protect consumers and review the use of digital appraisal methods. To gather information, the group will hear testimony from insurance officials, industry professionals, and the public before submitting their findings and any legislative recommendations by November 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program to offer financial retention grants to teachers working in rural or underserved schools in New Hampshire. To qualify, educators must be full-time staff at schools located in low-density areas or those facing economic challenges, and they must sign a contract to stay at the same school for up to four years. The program provides increasing payments of $1,500 through $4,500 as teachers complete each year of their contract, with the Department of Education responsible for identifying eligible schools and managing the application process. The legislation also authorizes an initial appropriation of $1 for the 2025 fiscal year to fund these grants, with the governor permitted to access these funds from the state treasury.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $300,000 to the state's loan repayment program specifically for qualified nursing professionals licensed in New Hampshire. The funds are intended to help these nurses manage student debt, with the money designated to the Department of Health and Human Services for the biennium ending June 30, 2025. Additionally, the bill requires the department to submit a report by November 1, 2024, proposing a separate student loan forgiveness program for nurses who do not currently qualify for the repayment assistance. The legislation takes effect immediately upon passing and includes provisions for reporting to various legislative leaders and the governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require doctors who perform abortions to send written reports to their medical facility detailing the date, location, patient's age and residence, method used, gestational age, and any related prescriptions. The medical facilities would then be responsible for compiling this data and submitting an annual report to the state Department of Health and Human Services. The collected information would be used to create statistical tables on maternal health and abortion procedures, which the department would present to the state legislature each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits private individuals or companies from owning new landfills in New Hampshire, requiring that any future facilities be owned by the state or a local municipality. While the state or local governments would own these sites, they could still hire private companies to manage and operate the daily functions of the landfills. Existing private landfills that were fully permitted and actively accepting waste as of December 1, 2023, are allowed to remain under private ownership and may expand or modify their operations. The law is designed to shift ownership of new waste disposal sites to public entities while ensuring private expertise is utilized for operations.