Sen. Keith Murphy

Maddy summarySB 27 allows state officials to waive certain construction standards for repairs or expansions of structures over water (like docks or piers) under specific conditions. It applies only if the work improves public water or environmental protection and doesn’t convert recreational water activities into land-based uses. The waiver requires no increase in the structure’s physical size, a net reduction in bathroom/kitchen space, and no new water penetrations. This directly affects owners of water-based structures seeking renovations while prioritizing environmental safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 417 would repeal the communications services tax, which currently applies to providers of internet, phone, and similar telecommunications services. This repeal would eliminate a tax obligation for companies offering these services, potentially affecting their operational costs. The bill's key provision is removing this tax requirement from state law. As of the latest action, the bill was referred to committee for interim study with no further legislative action taken.

Maddy summaryHB 224 establishes a renewable energy fund to support solar, thermal, electrical, and offshore wind initiatives in New Hampshire. Any excess funds in the renewable energy fund - after covering program costs, administrative expenses, and specific initiatives like offshore wind development - must be rebated to all electricity customers in the state. The rebates are calculated based on each customer’s kilowatt-hour usage and distributed promptly. This policy directly affects all residential and commercial electricity ratepayers by returning unused program funds to their bills. The bill modifies existing law to ensure continuous funding for renewable programs and automatic rebates when surplus funds exist.

Maddy summaryHB 470 regulates the use of general anesthesia, deep sedation, and moderate sedation during dental procedures. It directly affects dentists performing complex treatments and their patients requiring sedation. The bill would establish specific guidelines for when each sedation level may be used, ensuring patient safety during dental care. It does not change current dental licensing requirements but sets new standards for sedation administration practices. The bill is currently under review by the relevant committee.

Maddy summaryHB 701 allows terminally ill patients in New Hampshire to access experimental medical treatments that have not yet received full FDA approval. The bill directly affects patients with terminal illnesses who have exhausted all approved treatment options and seek unapproved drugs or devices through clinical trials or compassionate use programs. Key provisions remove state-level barriers to accessing these treatments by requiring healthcare providers to offer information about experimental options and limiting liability for providers who facilitate such access. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, after being signed by Governor Ayotte on August 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 103 requires New Hampshire towns and cities to provide at least one polling place for every 15,000 registered voters in presidential elections, unless they submit and get approval for a detailed plan addressing potential voter delays. The plan must cover traffic flow, parking, staffing levels, equipment availability (like electronic poll books), and other operational factors specified by the Secretary of State and Attorney General. Approval of such plans is conditional on meeting specific measures to prevent delays, and the officials may request additional information before granting approval. This bill directly affects local election planning for all towns and cities holding presidential elections.

Maddy summaryHB 71 prohibits public school facilities from being used to house non-citizens and requires health department contracts to align with this restriction. It also mandates that local governments provide public notice before reassessing property values for tax purposes. The bill directly affects school districts, health agencies, and property owners who may face new administrative requirements. These provisions focus on restricting shelter use in schools and ensuring transparency in property tax assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 273 grants parents the right to access their minor child's library records at public libraries. The bill directly affects parents of minors and public libraries that maintain such records. It requires libraries to provide parents with access to their child's borrowing history and other library records upon request. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, after being signed by Governor Ayotte on August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 428 clarifies how New Hampshire local governments interact with the state building and fire codes. It allows municipalities to handle permit issuance and fee collection for building projects under the state code, provided their local rules are at least as strict as the state standards. The bill updates definitions to clarify that local enforcement agencies (like building inspectors) can operate under state code while ensuring local rules don't weaken state requirements. It also specifies that technical code changes (like safety standards) remain the state's responsibility, not local governments. This primarily affects local building officials, contractors, and municipalities managing construction oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 712 restricts certain gender-affirming medical procedures for minors (including chest reconstruction, commonly referred to in medical contexts as "breast surgeries" but not the precise term used in legislation) in residential care facilities and health facilities. The bill requires facilities to obtain parental consent for these procedures and prohibits them without such consent for minors under 18. It also includes unrelated provisions requiring health care providers to collect and report abortion statistics, though this element appears misplaced in the bill's title. The law affects minors receiving care in residential facilities and medical providers operating within those settings. Note: The bill's title inaccurately describes the medical procedures; it targets gender-affirming care, not general breast surgeries.