Sen. Keith Murphy

Maddy summaryHB 632 allows health care providers affiliated with the Veterans Administration (VA) to certify medical accommodations for veterans living in New Hampshire. This directly affects New Hampshire veterans who receive VA care, eliminating the need for separate certifications from local providers to access accommodations like modified work schedules or housing adjustments. The bill streamlines the process by authorizing VA-affiliated providers to handle these certifications, removing a barrier for veterans seeking support. It became law on June 23, 2025, and takes effect August 23, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 105 allows New Hampshire towns to adopt a budget cap that limits annual spending increases. The cap sets a maximum total budget equal to the previous year's per-resident spending multiplied by the town's population, plus an annual inflation adjustment using either the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics index or the Municipal Cost Index. Towns can override the cap with a 3/5 majority vote at a special ballot vote (not on officer election ballots), but must reduce spending if the override fails. Adoption requires a 3/5 vote of residents on a specific ballot question, with public hearing requirements, and applies to towns using annual town meetings for budgeting.

Maddy summarySB 262 increases penalties for trafficking individuals under 18 years old by reclassifying the offense as a felony instead of a misdemeanor. This bill directly affects individuals convicted of trafficking minors, imposing stricter criminal consequences. The key provision raises the maximum penalty for this crime, enhancing legal accountability for traffickers. The bill was signed into law on June 24, 2025, and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 173 modifies the rules governing legal agreements (covenants) that restrict how residential properties financed through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program can be managed. It directly affects developers and property managers of LIHTC housing by changing how long certain restrictions on these properties can remain in place. The bill establishes new requirements for updating or removing these covenants, aiming to provide more flexibility in property management while maintaining affordability commitments. This law took effect on July 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 96 requires New Hampshire school employees (like teachers) to respond in writing to parent inquiries about their child within 5 school days, answering completely and honestly where permitted by law. School districts may withhold information only if disclosure could cause abuse, neglect, or abandonment (with written documentation), but must otherwise provide full responses. This directly affects parents seeking information about their child’s education and school staff who must follow these communication rules. Violations would be treated as breaches of educator conduct standards. The bill is currently pending in committee.

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 285 changes New Hampshire's official terminology by replacing "physician assistant" with "physician associate" in all relevant state statutes. It amends hundreds of legal references across healthcare laws, including licensing, practice regulations, and penalty provisions (such as RSA 328-D:13). The bill is purely a technical update to terminology with no changes to professional practice standards or responsibilities. It does not alter how these healthcare professionals operate or their scope of practice. The law became effective June 17, 2025, with some sections delayed until January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 78 amends New Hampshire law to set a specific 45-day deadline for filing appeals to a zoning board of adjustment, replacing the previous vague "reasonable time" standard. This directly affects applicants, property owners (abutters), and local government officials who wish to challenge zoning decisions made by municipal administrative officers. The key provision requires appeals to be filed within 45 days by submitting a notice specifying grounds to both the officer who issued the decision and the zoning board. This change aims to create clearer timelines for appeals while maintaining existing eligibility for those challenging zoning actions.

Maddy summarySB 60 addresses two separate policy areas: it modifies rules for "advanced deposit account wagering" (a form of online gambling) and clarifies the Department of Health and Human Services' authority to set immunization requirements. The bill directly affects gambling operators subject to these wagering rules and healthcare providers or facilities that must follow immunization regulations. Key provisions include updating gambling regulations and explicitly defining the Department's rulemaking power for immunization standards. The bill appears to bundle these unrelated topics into a single legislative measure. (Note: The title suggests these are distinct provisions within the same bill, but the context does not detail specific mechanisms or affected groups beyond the general scope.)

Maddy summarySB 72 establishes a "Parental Bill of Rights" in New Hampshire law, directly affecting parents of minors (under 18) and public schools. The bill requires schools to provide parents with timely, accurate information about their child's education, health, discipline policies, and assessments, and grants parents specific rights to opt out of health/sex education, surveys, and certain data collection. It prohibits schools or government entities from infringing on parental rights to direct a child's upbringing, education, or health care without demonstrating a compelling state interest and using the least restrictive means. The law aims to clarify parental authority while setting specific disclosure requirements for schools.