Sen. Sharon Carson

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal certification process for substance use disorder treatment facilities and programs in New Hampshire, requiring them to meet specific standards set by the Department of Health and Human Services. Facilities offering services such as outpatient care, residential treatment, and intensive therapy must obtain this certification, while certain independent providers and mental health programs are exempt. The legislation creates a dedicated fund financed by certification fees to support the oversight system and mandates that the department maintain a public list of certified providers. Additionally, the bill creates an ombudsman office to investigate and resolve complaints regarding services provided by the department and its contractors. Finally, the act repeals previous definitions related to certified counselors to align with the new regulatory framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Energy to conduct a comprehensive investigation into energy storage solutions, specifically focusing on both behind-the-meter systems installed at customer sites and utility-scale projects. The study will examine how to create fair pricing for storage, identify regulatory hurdles like building codes, and review successful practices from other states to encourage investment from both utilities and private owners. The department is required to submit its findings and recommendations to state legislative committees by December 30, 2025, for customer-focused issues and by December 30, 2026, for utility-scale matters. Ultimately, the report will propose necessary changes to state laws and regulations to facilitate the growth of energy storage while aiming to protect ratepayers from increased costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire law to criminalize the creation and sharing of fake, computer-generated sexual images of people without their permission. It directly affects individuals who produce or distribute these synthetic images by defining them as illegal when they are made to look real and intended to harass, threaten, or coerce the person depicted. The law specifically covers images that show intimate body parts or sexual acts that never actually happened, expanding current protections against nonconsensual image sharing to include digital manipulation. Effective January 1, 2025, anyone who creates or shares such false visualizations faces criminal penalties under the state's existing statutes on private sexual images.

Maddy summarySB 321 establishes a rule requiring courts to detain defendants who have failed to appear in court three or more times for serious offenses within the past three years, or twice on the current charge. Under this provision, a judge must presume that releasing such individuals would not ensure they return for their trial, though the defendant still has the right to present evidence to try to overcome this presumption. The law applies specifically to cases involving felonies, class A misdemeanors, and driving under the influence charges, both in New Hampshire and equivalent out-of-state crimes. If a defendant successfully rebuts the presumption during a bail hearing, the court may then decide whether to release them pending trial. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires therapeutic cannabis oversight boards to develop and update product labels and educational materials regarding cannabis risks for qualifying patients. It also prohibits the sale of hemp-derived products that contain more than 0.03% THC, including specific variants like delta-8 and delta-9. The changes apply to alternative treatment centers and certifying medical providers, with the law taking effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 458 would allow licensed health care professionals to dispense up to a 60-day supply of noncontrolled oral anti-cancer medications under a provider's supervision. This change expands the current rules that generally limit pharmacy dispensing to 30-day supplies for such drugs. The bill specifically targets patients requiring long-term cancer treatment by permitting authorized professionals to provide these medications directly. Although the legislation was recently reviewed by committees, it was ultimately not recommended for further action in the 2024 session.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire insurance laws to ensure coverage for autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome under the state's mental health and developmental disability mandates. It achieves this by renaming the existing category for autism from "pervasive developmental disorder" to "autism spectrum disorder" and adding Down syndrome as a distinct condition requiring coverage. Additionally, the legislation removes previous limits on the amount of insurance coverage available for these conditions. These changes directly affect insurance companies and policyholders by expanding the scope of covered services and eliminating financial caps on treatment costs.

Maddy summarySB 425 increases the fee for bail commissioners from $40 to $60. This change applies to individuals who act as bail commissioners in criminal cases, though those who are already full-time, salaried law enforcement officers or court staff will not receive the fee unless they are working outside their regular duties. The bill also specifies that the collected fees should be sent to the local town or city if the commissioner is a government employee, and it maintains the existing rule that fees must be waived for indigent defendants.

Maddy summarySB 522 establishes a new Early Childhood Education Account program in New Hampshire designed to help families cover pre-kindergarten costs for eligible children aged 3 to 5. The bill creates a dedicated fund financed by transfers from the education trust, general appropriations, and voluntary contributions from individuals and businesses, with unused funds rolling over annually. Eligible families can use these grant funds to pay for licensed childcare, public or private pre-kindergarten programs, educational materials, and specialized therapies, provided the services meet specific quality standards. The legislation also outlines a process for selecting a third-party organization to manage the distribution of grants and requires staff training on the new reimbursement rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $2,000,000 from the state's General Fund to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The funds are designated to repair off-highway vehicle and snowmobile trails that were damaged by weather events in 2023. The money will be distributed through an existing grant-in-aid process and is classified as nonlapsing, meaning the funds remain available until fully spent. The legislation also authorizes the governor to issue a warrant to access these funds from the treasury.