Sen. Cindy Rosenwald

Maddy summarySB 558 moves the Youth Development Center claims administrator position from the executive branch to the judicial branch, requiring the Supreme Court to appoint the administrator instead of the governor. It reverses specific 2025 changes to the claims process, including rules about attorney fees in periodic payment settlements and the time period for accepting decisions. The administrator, appointed by the Supreme Court after consultation with the attorney general and claimants' counsel, will process claims and settle them based on established guidelines, with decisions being final and non-appealable. This bill directly affects individuals filing claims against the Youth Development Center regarding compensation for injuries or services.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 13) proposes removing all references to the "register of probate" position from New Hampshire's constitution. It would amend Articles 71 and 81 to delete the elected office and its duties, which were already redistributed to circuit court clerks in 2011. The bill does not create or change any current duties but formally eliminates the obsolete constitutional reference. Voters will decide in the November 2026 election whether to approve this change.

Maddy summaryHB 1760 repeals a requirement that the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services seek a waiver to impose pharmacy copayments and premiums on Medicaid beneficiaries, including those in the New Hampshire Advantage Health Care Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program. It removes specific law sections (2025, 141:65; RSA 126-AA:2-a; and RSA 126-A:3, IX) that would have mandated these cost-sharing measures. The bill appropriates funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to cover the resulting revenue shortfall for the 2026-2027 biennium. This change directly eliminates new costs for Medicaid participants while maintaining program funding stability.

Maddy summarySB 668 directs New Hampshire's Historical Resources Council to create a highway marker acknowledging the abuse suffered by former residents of the New Hampshire Youth Development Center (YDC). The marker will be developed with input from former residents and consider public reports of sexual and physical abuse, aiming to recognize the trauma experienced. The Council must finalize the marker's content in collaboration with the Department of Transportation, with placement required after the YDC property is sold or by June 30, 2028. This bill directly affects former YDC residents by formally acknowledging their experiences and informs the public through a historical marker along a highway.

Maddy summarySB 658 establishes a Safe and Resilient Schools Advisory Council within New Hampshire's Department of Education to develop voluntary school safety guidelines. The council, including education officials, police, mental health experts, disability advocates, and parent representatives, will create training on trauma-informed discipline, neurodivergent student support, crisis response, and classroom accommodations. It must review existing programs and submit recommendations by November 2026, with annual updates, while a dedicated fund (using state, federal, and private resources) will support implementation. The bill directly affects schools choosing to adopt these voluntary guidelines to improve student behavioral health and reduce exclusionary discipline.

Maddy summarySB 605 extends the payment timeline for special assessments issued by pooled risk management programs to local governments. It requires political subdivisions (such as towns, cities, and counties) to pay these assessments over 36 months from the invoice date, in equal installments, instead of immediately. The bill does not create new assessment requirements but changes the payment schedule for existing ones. This provides local governments with more time to manage cash flow for these costs, without altering the total amount owed.

Maddy summarySB 466 makes it a class A felony to alter, remove, or destroy identifying marks (such as the maker's name, model, or serial number) on any firearm. Possessing a firearm with such altered marks is considered evidence that the possessor made the changes. This law directly affects individuals who modify firearm markings or possess firearms with altered identification, raising penalties from a misdemeanor to a felony. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 493 allows New Hampshire village districts to create special funds and partner with towns to address harmful algae blooms (cyanobacteria) and water quality issues. It enables villages to jointly fund projects like erosion control, phosphate reduction, and water treatment through shared agreements and access state/federal grants (e.g., RSA 487:15-25). Village districts managing affected water bodies would directly use these provisions to implement mitigation efforts, with funds limited to 1% of annual budgets for unanticipated expenses. The bill focuses on practical tools for local action, not new environmental standards.

Maddy summarySB 566 expands New Hampshire's National Guard recruiting incentives by allowing any current or former Guard member to refer recruits for a $1,000 cash bonus (previously limited to certain ranks), increases reenlistment/reclassification bonuses to $8,000 (from $6,000), and adds up to $4,000 in reimbursement for military job-related credentialing costs when federal reimbursement isn't available. It directly affects New Hampshire National Guard members who refer new recruits, reenlist, or need job-specific training certifications. The bill requires state funding for these expanded incentives, with the Department of Military Affairs estimating an additional $125,000 annually starting in FY 2027 to cover the costs. The bill itself does not provide new funding but modifies existing program parameters.

Maddy summarySB 597 caps annual electric utility rate increases at 4% above inflation, preventing excessive hikes for New Hampshire residents. It requires the Public Utilities Commission to develop performance-based incentives tied to specific metrics like service reliability, customer satisfaction, grid modernization, and reducing peak demand. The Commission must complete an initial review within one year to establish these incentives and update them every four years. This bill directly affects electric utilities and their customers in New Hampshire, where high utility costs have been a longstanding concern.