Sen. Kevin Avard

Maddy summaryHB 1290 requires New Hampshire's Department of Energy to create rules for the installation, interconnection, and use of customer-owned energy storage systems (like home batteries). These rules will guide the Public Utilities Commission when approving utility tariffs and making decisions about customer compensation for such systems. The bill does not change existing net metering rules or electrical permit requirements for installers. It directly affects homeowners, businesses, and utilities by establishing a regulatory framework for customer energy storage. The rules must be adopted by the Department of Energy, with the Commission using them to approve tariffs and orders.

Maddy summarySB 561 allows applicants for a gaming facility license in New Hampshire to update the proposed location of their facility while their application is pending. To change addresses, applicants must ensure the new location is within the state and in a municipality that hasn't banned gambling under existing law. They must notify the lottery commission in writing with required documentation, and the commission has 90 days to review the new address before finalizing the application decision. This change eliminates the need to submit a completely new application when updating a proposed facility location.

Maddy summaryThis bill harmonizes New Hampshire's criminal code and the Fetal Life Protection Act by setting the gestational age limit for abortion restrictions at 20 weeks instead of 24 weeks. It amends the homicide statute to exempt pregnancy terminations performed before 20 weeks and updates the Fetal Life Protection Act to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks (except in medical emergencies or for fatal fetal abnormalities). Health care providers performing abortions after 20 weeks without meeting these conditions would face class B felony charges. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, correcting an inconsistency between existing statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 1702 requires pharmacies and medical facilities in New Hampshire to post a standardized notice about mifepristone (a drug used for chemical abortions) when dispensing it. The notice, displayed prominently in specific areas like waiting rooms or pharmacy counters, states that mifepristone may sometimes be reversible if the second pill hasn’t been taken, and provides a contact for resources. Noncompliance could result in a class B felony charge for providers or civil lawsuits seeking damages for patients harmed by the lack of notice. The bill directly affects pharmacies and clinics dispensing mifepristone, with no estimated state or local costs.

Maddy summarySB 506 directs New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to implement federal work and community engagement requirements for Medicaid eligibility under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025." It requires the state to submit a plan to CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) by December 2026, after legislative review, and mandates quarterly reports to lawmakers on implementation progress. The bill suspends existing state law provisions related to these requirements while federal rules are in effect, with automatic reinstatement if federal rules end. It does not provide new state funding or create positions, aligning state Medicaid operations with federal guidelines.

Maddy summarySB 611 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to annually set Medicaid case management service rates that better reflect actual delivery costs, aiming to eliminate payment disparities. The department must consider factors like cost efficiency, quality of care, and access while addressing disparities such as administrative overhead costs currently paid to certain providers (e.g., for DAADS services). The bill does not provide new funding, and fiscal estimates indicate implementation could cost the state $2.1 million to $6.25 million annually from general funds. This change targets alignment between case management rates and other Medicaid services, without altering eligibility or coverage.

Maddy summarySB 518 streamlines approval for specific electric transmission line upgrades by creating a "qualified transmission asset replacement project" category. It applies to utility companies replacing 5% or more poles/towers on existing lines within 5 years without increasing pole height, tower width, or corridor size. The bill requires applications to include detailed project descriptions, financial plans, and public notices, while giving the energy department automatic party status in reviews. This modifies the site evaluation process to expedite projects meeting strict criteria, directly affecting utilities planning eligible transmission line replacements in New Hampshire.

Maddy summaryHB 1739 creates incentives to attract large data-center campuses to New Hampshire while modernizing the electric grid. It offers developers phased property tax breaks over 12 years and transferable tax credits covering up to 20% of construction costs, contingent on signing binding Grid Modernization Agreements. These agreements require developers to source non-gas electricity (like solar or wind) matching their energy use, fund grid-stabilizing programs, and partner with community colleges for workforce training in data-center operations. The bill also establishes fast-track permitting for eligible sites and mandates community benefits like noise limits, environmental screening, and resident bill credits from exported power.

Maddy summaryHB 1198 establishes a program to manage paint consumers no longer want (postconsumer paint) by requiring paint manufacturers to create and fund a stewardship plan. The plan must detail how to collect, recycle, or responsibly dispose of unused paint, include a fee added to each paint purchase, and cover consumer education. Manufacturers must submit their approved plans to the state environmental agency within 12 months, and retailers can only sell paint if the manufacturer has an approved plan. This directly affects paint manufacturers, retailers, and voluntary collection sites that participate.

Maddy summarySB 452 creates a new legal framework allowing unlicensed practitioners to offer certain complementary and alternative health care services (like acupuncture or nutritional counseling not covered by standard medical practice) without needing state licensing. It directly affects unlicensed providers and their patients, requiring providers to disclose their unlicensed status, share qualifications, and obtain written consent before offering services. The bill prohibits providers from performing surgery, prescribing drugs, manipulating spines, or advising patients to stop licensed medical treatments. It also mandates clear client disclosures about the provider's lack of licensure and maintains existing licensing requirements for standard medical practitioners.