Sen. Kevin Avard

Maddy summaryHB 1376 prevents courts and child welfare agencies from considering a parent's decision to raise a child consistent with their biological sex as child abuse, endangerment, or a basis for negative legal actions. The bill specifically removes such parenting practices - like using a child's biological sex for pronouns or medical decisions - from definitions of "abused child," "endangering child welfare," and "best interests of the child" determinations. It also prohibits adoption agencies and courts from treating a parent's refusal to support gender transition or their choice to raise a child according to biological sex as grounds for denying adoption, removing a child, or terminating parental rights. The law applies directly to parents, guardians, child-placing agencies, and courts handling family law matters.

Maddy summaryHB 1775 allows New Hampshire electric utilities to own or invest in natural gas and nuclear power generation facilities, up to 10% of their total peak electricity demand. Utilities must seek approval from the Public Utilities Commission for these investments and can recover costs through customer rates. The bill repeals prior restrictions on utility-funded generation equipment and expands the definition of eligible investments to include natural gas and nuclear resources. This directly affects NH utilities by changing their investment rules, with no new state funding required.

Maddy summarySB 429 requires all public schools in New Hampshire to install trauma kits containing specific emergency supplies (tourniquets, bleeding control bandages, gloves, scissors, and official training materials) by July 2026. The bill establishes a dedicated "trauma kit fund" in the state treasury, appropriating $25,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to cover kit procurement and distribution. It applies specifically to public schools (excluding vacant or under-construction buildings) and mandates the Department of Administrative Services to determine kit placement priorities. The law does not require school staff to use the kits during emergencies and specifies exact contents based on national emergency response standards.

Maddy summarySB 592 requires New Hampshire municipalities and regional planning commissions to explicitly include habitat strongholds and wildlife corridors in their regional conservation, land-use, and energy planning. Conservation commissions must now maintain an index of these natural areas within their communities, and regional commissions must consider them in comprehensive regional plans covering land use, transportation, recreation, and infrastructure. The bill uses existing definitions for habitat strongholds (RSA 207:1, XIII-a) and wildlife corridors (RSA 207:1, XXXVI) without creating new protected areas. This change affects all municipalities and regional planning bodies statewide, ensuring these natural features are factored into development decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1807 requires school districts to include specific financial information in voting materials for school budget decisions. It mandates that warrant articles and ballots display the previous year's per-pupil cost (calculated using updated formulas), 10-year cost-per-pupil and teacher salary trends in graphs, and the estimated tax impact if all budget articles pass. This affects all New Hampshire school districts and voters participating in school budget votes. The bill repeals the old per-pupil cost calculation method and requires standardized, inflation-adjusted data presentation to improve transparency for voters.

Maddy summarySB 534 requires campaign committees supporting constitutional amendments or local ballot questions to certify under penalty of perjury that no foreign national funded their activities or influenced decisions. It mandates that committees return foreign contributions within 10 business days and disgorge funds if violations are found, with committee leaders held personally liable. The bill also prohibits foreign nationals from directing or soliciting contributions for these campaigns. These rules apply to all committees and independent spenders involved in covered ballot measures, with records maintained for four years and certifications published online.

Maddy summarySB 538 extends the net metering eligibility term to 20 years for municipal energy projects in New Hampshire, directly affecting cities and towns developing community-based renewable energy systems. The bill ensures these projects can continue receiving compensation under current or future utility tariffs for the longer of 20 years from their start date or until January 1, 2040, addressing delays that previously shortened project viability. Municipalities participating in group net metering under House Bill 315 (2021) can transition to new utility tariffs while maintaining their 20-year eligibility period. This change restores the financial viability of municipal projects by aligning with the original intent of 2021 legislation and preventing premature loss of net metering benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1774 requires New Hampshire to participate in a federal tax credit for donations to scholarship organizations and creates a state list of qualifying groups. It prohibits state financial aid for college programs that don't meet federal earnings standards, defined by outcomes like job placement and wages above 150% of the federal poverty level. This affects public colleges, universities, and students enrolled in programs deemed "low-earning outcome" under federal criteria. The law aims to redirect state funding toward academic programs with stronger job prospects for graduates.

Maddy summarySB 667 amends New Hampshire assault laws to specifically address violence against emergency room personnel. It adds new provisions making it a first-degree assault (RSA 631:1, I(e)) to knowingly cause serious bodily injury to ER staff acting in their duties, and a second-degree assault (RSA 631:2, I(g)) to knowingly cause bodily injury to them. The bill defines "emergency room personnel" broadly to include all hospital ER staff and volunteers providing public services, such as doctors, nurses, clerks, technicians, students, and volunteers. This law directly affects individuals who assault ER workers and increases penalties for such acts by classifying them as specific assault offenses. The bill is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 453 allows advanced practice registered nurses and physician associates to certify two specific medical needs currently only permitted for physicians. It extends vehicle equipment waivers for people with disabilities from 2 to 4 years when such nurses or associates certify "lasting medical necessity." It also permits these professionals to exempt children from certain immunizations if they certify that a specific vaccine could harm the child’s health. These changes update existing laws (RSA 266:61-a and RSA 141-C:20-c) to expand who can make these certifications, directly affecting disabled drivers seeking vehicle modifications and parents navigating school immunization requirements.