Sen. Cindy Rosenwald

Maddy summarySB 98 extends the program allowing private donations to regional career and technical education centers. This bill directly affects these centers by maintaining their access to private funding streams without altering eligibility or donation rules. The extension preserves the existing donation framework, ensuring continued support for workforce training programs. It became law on July 15, 2025, and takes effect September 13, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new lending limits for New Hampshire depository banks (commercial banks taking deposits). It prohibits banks from lending more than 20% of their capital and surplus to any single borrower, with a possible 25% limit if the excess loan is fully secured by U.S. government obligations meeting specific value requirements. The bill also requires new state banks to submit detailed 3-5 year capital and business plans for approval, including capital adequacy explanations and financial projections. Additionally, existing banks must seek commissioner approval before making major changes to their business plans within the first 3-5 years of operation. These changes aim to strengthen bank safety and soundness by controlling risk exposure.

Maddy summarySB 236 transfers management of the Electric Assistance Program from its current administrator to the Department of Energy. This bill directly affects low-income households that receive utility bill assistance through the program. The key provision is the formal transfer of administrative authority and oversight responsibilities to the Department of Energy, streamlining program management under a single state agency. The bill became law on June 24, 2025, and takes effect August 23, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 282 increases the maximum retirement benefits for first responders (like police, firefighters, and EMTs) critically injured in the line of duty. It adjusts how these benefits are calculated within the state retirement system by linking them to the formula used for education adequacy grants. The bill phases in these benefit increases over time, with full implementation starting January 1, 2026, and subsequent adjustments through 2034. This change directly affects eligible first responders and modifies retirement benefit calculations without altering education funding levels.

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 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 235 allows New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department to use federal Pitman-Robertson conservation funds specifically for protecting threatened and endangered species, and permits the department to collect donations at approved sites without needing governor or council approval. It establishes that donation funds must go into the Fish and Game Fund and can only be used for conservation, restoration, management, or educational efforts related to fish, game, and wildlife. The bill directly affects the Fish and Game Department by expanding its funding sources and flexibility for species conservation programs. Key mechanisms include setting up donation collection points through the executive director's approval and explicitly restricting fund use to conservation purposes. The bill was signed into law on June 24, 2025, and takes effect August 23, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 252 allows doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners (APRNs) to prescribe certain highly regulated prescription drugs - including opioids - from Schedules II through IV via telemedicine. It requires an initial in-person patient visit before telemedicine prescribing begins and mandates an annual in-person follow-up evaluation for all such prescriptions. The law applies specifically to drugs in Schedules II-IV (tightly controlled medications) and requires all telemedicine prescriptions to comply with federal and state regulations. The bill takes effect August 23, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 92 updates New Hampshire's birth worksheet requirements to include current and prior names of parents and standardized Apgar scores at 1, 5, and 10 minutes for newborns. It directly affects parents, newborns, and the Vital Records Administration by restricting the personal information shared with the CDC - banning names, birth dates of parents, medical IDs, and addresses - but allowing release of parents' birth years and the baby's birth date. The bill's key mechanism requires the Vital Records Administration to omit specific identifiers when sending birth data to the CDC for public health reporting. The changes take effect June 30, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 210 primarily creates a statewide open enrollment system, allowing New Hampshire parents to transfer children to any public school district within the state without tuition fees. It amends residency rules to clarify legal residence for school attendance and requires districts to publicly report school capacities and enrollment decisions. The bill establishes that military-connected students receive admission preference over non-residents and mandates districts to post capacity data monthly. The bill’s title mentions bullying prevention, but the text contains no actual provisions addressing bullying; the focus is solely on expanding school choice through open enrollment mechanisms.