Sen. Kevin Avard

Maddy summarySB 239 allocates $400,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the General Fund to the Fish and Game Department to continue environmental reviews for threatened and endangered species. It also allocates $2 million from the Fish and Game Fund in 2026 to cover a deficit from past salary increases for department staff. The funds are non-lapsing (meaning unused funds carry over) and take effect July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects the Fish and Game Department's budget for specific operational needs.

Maddy summarySB 115 appropriates $28.87 million to fund Phase 2 of the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Project. This funding will build regional drinking water infrastructure - like pumps, storage tanks, and pipelines - to increase water supply by over 2 million gallons daily for multiple towns affected by PFAS contamination and rising demand. The funds are nonlapsing (won't expire) and ensure no current utility ratepayer faces increased costs from new services funded by this appropriation. The bill directly affects communities in Southern New Hampshire struggling with water quality and supply challenges.

Maddy summarySB 135 would require Medicaid to set payment rates for state plan case management services at parity with other similar Medicaid services, ensuring providers receive consistent reimbursement. This directly affects Medicaid service providers who deliver case management, such as community health organizations and social service agencies. The bill aims to prevent underfunding by aligning payment rates for these services with established Medicaid rate structures. However, the bill was ruled "Inexpedient to Legislate" by the Senate on October 31, 2025, halting its progress.

Maddy summaryHB 470 regulates the use of general anesthesia, deep sedation, and moderate sedation during dental procedures. It directly affects dentists performing complex treatments and their patients requiring sedation. The bill would establish specific guidelines for when each sedation level may be used, ensuring patient safety during dental care. It does not change current dental licensing requirements but sets new standards for sedation administration practices. The bill is currently under review by the relevant committee.

Maddy summaryHB 142 designates the Sunday closest to September 25 as "Gold Star Mother's Day" in the state. It directly affects state agencies, schools, and local governments, requiring them to recognize the day through official proclamations or observances. The bill establishes a formal state observance of this day, which honors mothers who have lost children while serving in the U.S. military. It became law on August 1, 2025, and takes effect September 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 221 requires local election officials to annually verify voter registration lists starting in 2026, instead of every 10 years. Towns must hold public sessions between April and August each year, provide 30-day written notice before removing names, and allow voters to maintain registration by voting in the last five years or being newly added to the list. Officials must remove names of unregistered voters after September 1 and file a certification with the state secretary of state. This directly affects all New Hampshire towns and cities, their election administrators, and registered voters who must actively maintain their registration status.

Maddy summarySB 118 establishes the Hampstead Hospital and Residential Treatment Facility Capital Investment Fund to support capital projects at that facility. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to deposit lease and administrative revenue from the facility into the fund, with a $3 million reporting threshold for excess revenue. The fund is nonlapsing (can be used year after year) and may only be used for required capital investments at Hampstead Hospital, not for other purposes. The fund provisions take effect July 1, 2025, while related sections about nursing home allowances and staff appropriations (mentioned in the title but not detailed in the bill text) have separate effective dates. The bill does not address cannabis cultivation, as that appears to be an error in the provided title.