Sen. Sharon Carson

Maddy summaryHB 1000 extends legal protection from civil lawsuits (indemnification) to legislative sergeant-at-arms staff, matching the existing coverage for legislative security staff. This applies when staff members act within their official duties, provided their actions were not reckless or wanton. The bill amends state law to include both House and Senate sergeant-at-arms staff under this protection, effective January 1, 2027. It directly affects legislative support staff who perform security and procedural duties in New Hampshire's legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide domestic violence program within the judicial branch to improve handling of civil domestic violence cases. It requires judges and court staff to complete specialized training on domestic violence dynamics, lethality assessment, and victim safety, and mandates law enforcement to use a standardized lethality assessment form in suspected cases. The bill also allows victims to submit safety affidavits when filing family court petitions, updates stalking laws to include installing electronic devices on a person as a stalking offense, and expands annulment eligibility for violent crimes while requiring courts to notify and seek input from victims before granting annulment. These changes directly affect domestic violence victims, law enforcement, courts, and individuals seeking annulment of criminal records.

Maddy summarySB 588 requires all municipalities served by a school district to vote on closing any elementary or high school. It mandates school boards to hold public meetings after receiving petitions from 20+ voters, with ballots asking "Shall the school district authorize the discontinuation of [school]?" A majority vote is required for closure. This applies to both single-district and cooperative school districts, repealing previous rules that allowed school boards to decide closures without voter input. The bill directly affects residents in all towns served by the school and changes how school closures are approved.

Maddy summarySB 514 prevents local legislative bodies (like town councils) from changing the wording of ballot questions that ask voters to approve raising municipal tax caps. The bill requires that when a budget would exceed the tax cap, the question must be put to a vote by ballot (not decided by the council), and the question cannot be altered by the council. A 3/5 majority vote is required for the tax cap override to take effect, with polls open for at least one hour after discussion. This applies to all existing municipal tax caps without needing new local action and takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 553 increases penalties for drivers who willfully attempt to evade law enforcement by speeding, turning off headlights while moving, or abandoning their vehicle during a chase. Offenders will face a mandatory 5-day jail term (with no probation or deferred sentencing) and a driver's license suspension of at least six months. This law directly affects individuals who use these specific tactics to avoid police pursuit. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 539 reclassifies all eligible biomass technologies under "Class III" for renewable energy compliance, replacing previous subcategories. It specifically affects existing biomass plants (under 25 MW or operating in Coos County by 2026) and landfill methane projects. The bill removes methane gas from Class III eligibility if landfill sites exceed 10 MW total capacity, requiring new landfill projects to meet strict size limits. This change streamlines eligibility rules but restricts certain methane sources from qualifying under the renewable portfolio standards.

Maddy summarySB 142 establishes a new Department of Children's Services and Juvenile Justice to replace the Department of Health and Human Services' Division for Children, Youth and Families and Bureau of Children's Behavioral Health. The bill transfers all related functions, including child protection, foster care, adoption, juvenile justice, and children's behavioral health services, to this new department, which will be organized into four divisions: Administration support, Child welfare, Juvenile justice, and Children's behavioral health services. The new department will be headed by a commissioner appointed by the governor, and all employees from the transferred divisions will become employees of the new department. This change affects all children, youth, and families in New Hampshire who receive these services, as well as the state employees currently working in the transferred divisions.

Maddy summarySB 66, the "Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment (SAVE) Act," regulates third-party advisors helping veterans navigate benefits claims. It prohibits paid referrals to benefits advisors, requires written agreements for paid services (capping fees at 5x monthly benefit increases), and mandates clear disclosures about free government alternatives. The bill directly affects veterans seeking benefits assistance and third-party advisors, requiring them to disclose no affiliation with VA or state veterans' agencies and avoid guaranteeing outcomes. Violations face civil penalties enforced by the state attorney general, with fines returned to harmed veterans.

Maddy summarySB 162 restricts foreign governments and entities from China, Russia, Iran, Syria, and North Korea from purchasing or leasing property within 10 miles of six specific New Hampshire military installations, including the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pease Air National Guard Base. The bill requires anyone acquiring such property to file a sworn affidavit confirming they aren't a foreign principal from a designated country and that they understand the restrictions. Violations could result in criminal penalties (a Class A misdemeanor for individuals, Class B felony for entities) or civil forfeiture of the property. This law applies to real property within 10 miles of protected facilities, measured as the shortest distance between property and facility perimeters.

Maddy summaryHB 111 extends the office of the right-to-know ombudsman - which helps people access government records and resolve disputes - through July 2027, adding two years to its current expiration. The bill maintains a $25 filing fee for complaints submitted to the ombudsman’s office, while eliminating the standard $280 court filing fee that would otherwise apply. This prevents the office’s termination in 2025, ensuring continued access to this free resource for citizens seeking government transparency. The extension requires $170,706 in FY 2026 and $175,948 in FY 2027, funded from the General Fund.