Sen. Kevin Avard

Maddy summarySB 153 creates an expedited permitting process for driveway access to state highways for large residential developments (20+ units). It requires the Department of Transportation to approve or deny such permits within 60 business days of a traffic study, with applicants paying a $120 per unit non-refundable fee plus a retainer for third-party reviews. The bill establishes a new position within the Department to manage this process and mandates refunds for unused retainers within 120 days. The law, signed by the governor and effective October 5, 2025, directly affects developers of multi-unit residential projects seeking faster highway access approvals.

Maddy summarySB 292 revises New Hampshire's funding formula for special education costs, providing state aid to school districts when their special education expenses exceed 3.5 times the state's average per-pupil cost for the prior school year. Districts are responsible for costs up to 3.5 times the average plus 20% of additional costs (capped at 10 times the average), with the state covering the rest through automatic entitlement. The bill allocates $250,000 annually for emergency aid to small districts (under 1,000 residents) facing financial harm from special education costs, and specifies that unused emergency funds must support broader special education cost increases. It takes effect August 24, 2025, and is funded from the state education trust fund.

Maddy summarySB 248 creates a legislative committee to study New Hampshire's current palliative and hospice care systems. The committee will examine how these services operate, including access, quality, and patient needs across the state. This bill does not change existing laws or provide new funding; it only establishes a formal process for gathering information. The committee's findings may inform future legislative decisions, but the bill itself only creates the study mechanism. It became law on June 23, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 31 creates an "apprentice guide license" for individuals seeking to become hunting or fishing guides but who haven't yet met all requirements for a full license. It requires apprentices to pass a criminal background check, obtain first aid/CPR certification, and work only under the direct supervision of a fully licensed guide who is 18 or older. The bill does not set specific fees but directs that they be established through existing administrative rules. This change directly affects aspiring guides in New Hampshire who need structured training under supervision before qualifying for full licensure, effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 250 requires pharmacies to be paid separately for administering long-acting injectable drugs, not just for the medication itself. This directly affects pharmacists who provide these injections in community settings. The key change amends state law to mandate reimbursement for the administration service in addition to the drug cost. The law takes effect on August 23, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 96 requires New Hampshire school employees (like teachers) to respond in writing to parent inquiries about their child within 5 school days, answering completely and honestly where permitted by law. School districts may withhold information only if disclosure could cause abuse, neglect, or abandonment (with written documentation), but must otherwise provide full responses. This directly affects parents seeking information about their child’s education and school staff who must follow these communication rules. Violations would be treated as breaches of educator conduct standards. The bill is currently pending in committee.

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 72 establishes a "Parental Bill of Rights" in New Hampshire law, directly affecting parents of minors (under 18) and public schools. The bill requires schools to provide parents with timely, accurate information about their child's education, health, discipline policies, and assessments, and grants parents specific rights to opt out of health/sex education, surveys, and certain data collection. It prohibits schools or government entities from infringing on parental rights to direct a child's upbringing, education, or health care without demonstrating a compelling state interest and using the least restrictive means. The law aims to clarify parental authority while setting specific disclosure requirements for schools.

Maddy summarySB 69 primarily requires New Hampshire school boards to publicly discuss and vote on all charitable gifts, donations, or grants before accepting them, with anonymous donations permitted. It also establishes a statewide virtual early childhood literacy program for preschoolers (ages 4-5) to improve kindergarten readiness through online, evidence-based resources, funded by existing grants or donations. The bill adds public vote requirements for gift acceptance across multiple school funding areas (including medical supplies like epinephrine auto-injectors) and references library user privacy protections in its title, though the text does not detail this provision. These changes affect school districts, local boards, and organizations donating to schools, focusing on transparency in gift acceptance rather than new funding mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 13 prohibits the renewal or issuance of driver's licenses in New Hampshire to individuals with pending asylum claims, regardless of any temporary work authorization they may hold. It also invalidates out-of-state driver's licenses held by undocumented immigrants. The bill specifically blocks license renewals for people with pending asylum cases and prevents the issuance of new licenses to asylees until they receive permanent residency status, even if they have work permits. These changes directly affect undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers in the state who currently hold or seek driver's licenses.