Sen. Kevin Avard

Maddy summarySB 515 requires that children placed in specialized treatment facilities (qualified residential treatment programs) receive a qualified assessment within 30 days and have their placement reviewed by a court within 60 days. It directly affects children in juvenile court cases involving such placements, their families, and the courts handling these matters. The bill also allows court proceedings to continue if a child’s legal counsel cannot be secured after diligent efforts, while prioritizing issues not affecting the child’s expressed interests. These changes align state law with federal requirements under the Family First Prevention Services Act and aim to ensure timely oversight of children’s care. The bill has no fiscal impact on state or local government.

Maddy summaryHB 1215, titled "Grace’s Law," ensures individuals with developmental disabilities receiving state services can use their preferred communication method, including AAC devices, sign language, letterboards, or speech-generating tools. It requires staff in group homes, schools, and state institutions to accommodate these methods through reasonable efforts. The law applies to all state service providers supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. It takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1323 defines "parental alienation" as a pattern of behavior damaging a child's relationship with a parent - such as disparaging remarks, manipulation, or unjustified interference with parenting time - while excluding protective actions taken in good faith for safety concerns. The bill requires New Hampshire courts to consider parental alienation as a factor in custody, visitation, and parental rights decisions, including joint decision-making and modifications to parenting plans. It establishes a "family access motion" for parents to seek enforcement of parenting plans when alienation occurs and allows courts to order remedies like adjusted schedules. The law also mandates courts to evaluate parental alienation in grandparent visitation cases and requires attorney fee awards in contempt cases involving failure to comply with court orders related to parental alienation.

Maddy summarySB 578 requires all public schools to provide daily recess for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, expanding current requirements. It mandates play-based learning for kindergarten through third grade and explicitly prohibits withholding recess as punishment for misbehavior or incomplete schoolwork. The bill defines recess as unstructured outdoor play (when safe), separate from physical education classes. This law applies to all public schools in the state, directly affecting K-8 students and school policies.

Maddy summarySB 549 prohibits state and local governments from using public funds to support organizations that distribute drug paraphernalia, including needles and syringes through syringe service programs (SSPs). It specifically blocks state funds - such as those from opioid settlement money - from being used for SSPs that provide such paraphernalia, except during disease outbreak responses under existing law. The bill affects funding for public health programs by restricting how state and local resources can be allocated to organizations distributing drug-related items. The fiscal note indicates this would reduce annual funding for SSPs by approximately $1.7 million, though it clarifies this does not represent net savings but potential cost shifts to other healthcare services.

Maddy summarySB 512 requires courts to waive the $125 filing fee for individuals seeking to annul criminal records related to charges that resulted in a not-guilty verdict, case dismissal, or lack of prosecution. It directly affects people with unresolved criminal charges that didn’t lead to conviction, removing a financial barrier to clearing their records. The bill amends state law to mandate fee waivers when petitioners provide proof of these outcomes, streamlining the annulment process. The change takes effect January 1, 2027, and aims to support rehabilitation by reducing costs for affected individuals.

Maddy summarySB 591 allows New Hampshire electric utilities to own or build power generation facilities under specific conditions, directly affecting utility companies and their customers (ratepayers). The bill requires approval from the Public Utilities Commission, limits new facilities to 400 megawatts, and mandates that projects must serve the public interest while benefiting ratepayers and taxpayers. Utilities may also enter 20-year power agreements for these facilities, subject to environmental and permitting rules. This policy change modifies existing law to permit limited utility reentry into power generation, aiming to support energy reliability and economic needs.

Maddy summarySB 608 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval to add family caregiver support services - including counseling, training, and peer support - to the Acquired Brain Disorder (ABD) and Choices for Independence (CFI) home-care programs. It also eliminates all co-payments for child care scholarships when children are in the care of relatives (like grandparents or other legal guardians), removing financial barriers for kinship caregivers. The bill directly affects family caregivers enrolled in ABD/CFI waiver programs and kinship caregivers receiving child care assistance through state programs. These changes aim to reduce financial burdens for caregivers supporting children at home.

Maddy summarySB 298 requires all sober living houses in New Hampshire to obtain certification from the New Hampshire Coalition of Recovery Residents (NH CORR), employ a paid house manager (not a current resident), and verify that new residents have completed or are in a recognized substance use disorder rehabilitation program. Existing uncertified houses must achieve certification within 180 days of the law’s effective date, or face penalties including $1,000 fines for first violations. Municipalities and the Department of Health and Human Services enforce compliance by requiring certification proof for zoning approvals and auditing records. The law aims to standardize safety and recovery support while ensuring houses operate under verified operational rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1131 updates New Hampshire town meeting procedures for referendums by requiring that referendum questions be placed on the official ballot used for electing town officers, rather than on a separate ballot. The bill removes a previous restriction that kept referendum questions off this ballot and integrates them into the standard voting process governed by state election laws. It also establishes a 3/5 majority vote requirement for towns to rescind their use of this ballot system, with specific wording for the rescission question. This change directly affects all New Hampshire towns that have adopted the official ballot system for referendums, which is the current standard practice in many communities.