Sen. Kevin Avard

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Hampshire's Insurance Commissioner to create and publish a report by January 1, 2028, and every five years thereafter, detailing insurance risks from extreme weather events like floods, storms, and hurricanes. The report must include information on "fortified home and commercial standards" (measures to reduce weather-related damage) and identify areas at risk of coverage loss or premium increases, using data from FEMA maps, New Hampshire coastal viewer tools, and other risk assessments. It also mandates that the Commissioner develop these fortified standards using science-based guidelines from national insurance organizations and consider them when setting insurance rates. This affects insurers, who must factor these standards into rate calculations, and consumers, who will receive accessible information about weather-related risks and mitigation options.

Maddy summarySB 464 changes New Hampshire's civil rights enforcement standard by requiring that prohibited conduct (like threats or violence) be "substantially motivated by hostility" toward a victim's protected characteristic - such as race, gender identity, or disability - to be considered a civil rights violation. This applies directly to enforcement agencies and courts when investigating or prosecuting civil rights cases. The bill modifies RSA 354-B:1 to clarify that conduct must be clearly driven by bias, not just coincidental, to trigger civil rights protections. It takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state or local cost impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1742 protects customers who generate their own electricity (like solar panel owners) from being accidentally enrolled in third-party power programs without their consent. It requires utilities to investigate such cases within 10 business days and restore affected customers to their standard utility service within 5 days if confirmed. For up to six months prior to restoration, utilities must apply retroactive net metering credits for electricity they exported to the grid but weren't credited for during the incorrect enrollment. This ensures customers aren't financially penalized for errors in enrollment.

Maddy summarySB 590 allows municipalities to use revolving funds to support energy services under approved electric aggregation plans. It specifically authorizes the use of non-tax revenues (like fees from participating customers) to supplement these programs, while prohibiting the use of local tax funds for this purpose. This bill directly affects towns and cities operating aggregation plans, which let residents and businesses collectively choose electricity providers. The key change is enabling municipalities to establish revolving funds for these services, with potential local expenditure increases estimated between $10,000 and $100,000 per municipality that adopts the provision. Participation in aggregation plans remains voluntary for residents and businesses.

Maddy summarySB 644 requires background checks for individuals seeking permits to operate solid waste and hazardous waste facilities in New Hampshire. Specifically, it mandates criminal history checks - including fingerprint-based national database searches - for owners, officers, directors, partners, and managers of these facilities during the permit application process. The law applies to all facility owners (including partners in partnerships and managers/members in LLCs) and covers both new permits and ownership transfers. These checks must be conducted through the state police and FBI databases, with applicants submitting authorization forms and fingerprints to the Department of Environmental Services.

Maddy summarySB 595 creates a path for community water systems to return to standard testing schedules after being required to test more frequently due to missing or late water tests. It directly affects water systems sanctioned by the Department of Environmental Services for these violations. The key provision requires such systems to submit six consecutive timely water test results to revert to the original testing frequency. This bill modifies existing rules to provide a clear remediation process without changing overall testing requirements. The change applies only to systems that have corrected their testing compliance.

Maddy summarySB 619 establishes a 14-day deadline for courts to hold status hearings after animals are confiscated due to alleged cruelty, prioritizing these cases on court calendars. It requires courts to limit hearings to whether the confiscation was authorized, allows bonds up to $1,000 per animal (or equitable transfer if co-owned), and prohibits using hearing outcomes in related criminal cases. The bill directly affects animal owners, courts, and animal control agencies by creating faster resolution pathways while ensuring animal welfare considerations. The fiscal impact is minimal, costing less than $10,000 annually for the Judicial Branch through 2029.

Maddy summarySB 516 updates specific job titles within the Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Division, removing redundant terms like "council" from "general counsel." It revises titles for staff attorney, supervising lead attorney, and supervising regional attorney positions to reflect current administrative structure. The bill makes no policy changes or funding adjustments - it solely corrects internal job descriptions. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summarySB 421 amends New Hampshire's trauma medical review committee membership and adds an annual reporting requirement. The bill specifies that the committee must include representatives from all trauma hospital levels (I-IV), emergency medical services groups, trauma nurses, fire services, and a trauma survivor. It also requires the committee to annually report to the governor on trauma hospital locations and levels, committee recommendations for system improvement, and data on leading causes of injury and death from both intentional and unintentional causes. This bill directly affects trauma hospitals, medical providers, emergency services, and injury prevention stakeholders in New Hampshire.

Maddy summarySB 454 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to update existing public health outreach programs with specific information about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It directs the department to incorporate content for the public on early signs, early detection benefits, links to other health conditions, and brain-healthy lifestyle tips, while also adding provider-focused materials on cognitive assessments, Medicare wellness visits, and FDA-approved treatments. The bill mandates biennial reports starting in 2027 to track implementation progress. This update applies to current outreach programs without creating new initiatives, with minimal estimated costs under $10,000 annually.