Sen. Cindy Rosenwald

Maddy summarySB 141 extends the deadline for criminal defendants to petition for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence or forensic testing. It allows petitions up to 3 years after conviction, with exceptions for cases involving new forensic methods, scientific understanding, or evidence not available at trial. To qualify, petitioners must prove innocence under penalty of perjury and demonstrate how the new evidence would exonerate them. The bill directly affects incarcerated individuals convicted of felonies who seek to challenge their convictions using evidence unavailable at trial. It does not address library records, as the title's mention of "library cards" appears inconsistent with the bill's actual content.

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 18 allows existing pediatric intermediate care facilities (established before the law's effective date) to temporarily add up to 2 beds beyond their licensed capacity, starting July 1, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2026. The commissioner of health and human services may assess facility needs and request additional beds from the fiscal committee of the legislature if necessary. If approved, the commissioner can increase a facility’s licensed bed count through formal committee approval. This directly affects pediatric facilities serving children in intermediate care, providing temporary flexibility while requiring legislative oversight for permanent capacity changes.

Maddy summarySB 146 updates procedures for certifying deaths in Massachusetts by clarifying which medical professionals can issue death certificates and when medical examiners must be involved. It directly affects physicians, medical examiners, and funeral homes handling death records. The bill requires physicians to use standardized medical certification forms and mandates medical examiners to review certain deaths (like unexpected or violent cases) before finalizing records. Signed into law on June 10, 2025, it takes effect August 9, 2025, standardizing death certification across the state.

Maddy summarySB 29 updates the structure and responsibilities of the Health Care Workplace Safety Commission and modifies reporting requirements for healthcare facilities under their workplace violence prevention program. The bill changes commission membership rules and clarifies its jurisdiction, while simplifying the reporting process healthcare facilities must follow to document workplace violence incidents. It directly affects hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities required to submit these reports, as well as the commission managing the program. The law, signed by the governor on June 10, 2025, becomes effective August 9, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 77 requires that children in delinquency cases and children in need of services (CHINS) cases receive the same types of psychological evaluations as children in child protection matters. This standardizes mental health assessment requirements across these child welfare contexts, directly affecting minors involved in juvenile court and child welfare proceedings. The bill mandates identical evaluation protocols to ensure consistent access to necessary psychological assessments regardless of case type. It became law on June 10, 2025, and takes effect on August 9, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 294 addresses lab fee regulations for career and technical education (CTE) courses. The bill aims to establish standards for fees charged to students in CTE programs that require laboratory materials or equipment, directly affecting CTE students and school districts managing these costs. However, the provided context does not include specific policy details or provisions of the bill itself. The bill was recently laid on the table by Representative Luneau on May 22, 2025, following mixed committee recommendations (Majority: Inexpedient to Legislate; Minority: Ought to Pass). Without further text describing the bill's exact requirements, a detailed summary of mechanisms cannot be provided.

Maddy summarySB 37 amends New Hampshire's licensing rules for residential care and health facilities. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate complaints about facility violations, post investigation and annual inspection results on its website (excluding certain privacy laws), and use civil fines collected from facilities in a dedicated account to protect resident health and property. The bill also mandates dementia-specific training for direct care staff (6 hours initial, 4 hours annually) and updates patient visitation policies to clarify facility rules. These changes directly affect licensed residential care facilities, health facilities, and their staff, focusing on transparency, resident safety, and staff training requirements.

Maddy summarySB 257 establishes a committee to study whether New Hampshire should change its Medicaid eligibility process from its current system (using SSI 209b criteria) to the method used by 39 other states (SSI 1634), which automatically connects SSI applications to Medicaid coverage. The committee will examine how other states handle eligibility, compare New Hampshire’s stricter approach with the automatic coverage model, and gather input from the Department of Health and Human Services and county nursing homes. This study directly affects individuals seeking Medicaid coverage in New Hampshire, as it could lead to changes in how eligibility is determined. The bill does not change eligibility rules itself but initiates a review of potential policy shifts.

Maddy summarySB 170, if passed, would strengthen housing nondiscrimination protections in New Hampshire by adding gender identity, sexual orientation, and school enrollment status to the list of protected classes under state law. It also limits municipal authority over development by prohibiting cities and towns from imposing stricter septic system, well-siting, or utility placement rules than state standards allow, and requires municipalities to provide written feedback on development plans within 7 days. The bill directly affects housing applicants, developers, and local governments by ensuring equal access to housing and streamlining approval processes for utilities in subdivision buffers (excluding wetlands). The bill would take effect January 1, 2026, pending final legislative approval.