Maddy summaryHB 1309 requires New Hampshire towns to clearly state the "intent and effect" of every item on town meeting warrants, eliminating deceptive or ambiguous language. This directly affects all towns holding meetings by mandating that each warrant article explicitly explains what the proposal does and its expected outcome. The bill amends RSA 39:2 to require that "the intent and effect of each warrant article shall be stated without deception or deliberate ambiguity," ensuring voters understand what they are voting on. It applies to all town meeting business, including budget items, though it allows towns to adjust specific funding amounts within existing budget constraints. This change aims to improve transparency in local governance without altering voting procedures or creating new financial obligations.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 549 prohibits state and local governments from using public funds to support organizations that distribute drug paraphernalia, including needles and syringes through syringe service programs (SSPs). It specifically blocks state funds - such as those from opioid settlement money - from being used for SSPs that provide such paraphernalia, except during disease outbreak responses under existing law. The bill affects funding for public health programs by restricting how state and local resources can be allocated to organizations distributing drug-related items. The fiscal note indicates this would reduce annual funding for SSPs by approximately $1.7 million, though it clarifies this does not represent net savings but potential cost shifts to other healthcare services.
Maddy summarySB 512 requires courts to waive the $125 filing fee for individuals seeking to annul criminal records related to charges that resulted in a not-guilty verdict, case dismissal, or lack of prosecution. It directly affects people with unresolved criminal charges that didn’t lead to conviction, removing a financial barrier to clearing their records. The bill amends state law to mandate fee waivers when petitioners provide proof of these outcomes, streamlining the annulment process. The change takes effect January 1, 2027, and aims to support rehabilitation by reducing costs for affected individuals.
Maddy summarySB 568 clarifies that the Department of Safety's commissioner may appoint specific staff members - including assistant commissioners, division directors, or bureau chiefs - to verify background checks for employee candidates. The bill explicitly defines eligible designees and requires the department to maintain strict confidentiality of all background check records. It also permits electronic submission of fingerprint information, following procedures established by the division of state police. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.
Maddy summaryHB 1734 authorizes New Hampshire to establish experimental treatment centers that provide medical treatments using investigational drugs, biologics, or devices that have completed Phase 1 clinical trials but are not yet FDA-approved for general use. These centers must be approved by the Department of Health and Human Services and can only treat eligible patients who have a physician's recommendation, provided written informed consent (including discussion of alternative FDA-approved treatments and potential costs), and understand insurance may not cover the treatment. The bill creates a new legal framework distinct from existing medical licensing, requiring centers to follow specific consent protocols and safety standards documented by qualified medical institutions. It directly affects patients seeking innovative treatments, healthcare providers, and manufacturers of investigational medical products.
Maddy summarySB 643 requires cities and towns to hold a public hearing with at least 30 days' notice and a 60-minute public comment period before voting to override a local tax or spending cap. It mandates a roll call vote for the override, recording each council member's vote, and requires publishing the results (including each member's name and vote) on the next property tax bill. This bill does not change existing requirements for supermajority votes or voter approval to override caps but adds transparency measures to inform taxpayers about how officials vote on tax increases. The law directly affects municipalities seeking to raise taxes or spending above locally adopted limits.
Maddy summaryHB 1793 prohibits New Hampshire public colleges and universities from restricting the possession or carrying of firearms and non-lethal weapons (like pepper spray or stun guns) on campus. It directly affects public institutions of higher education and any student, faculty, staff, or visitor who lawfully carries such items under state law. The bill requires schools to allow constitutional carry without requiring permits or licenses and permits individuals harmed by school policies to sue for at least $10,000 in damages. This law takes effect January 1, 2027, aligning with New Hampshire’s existing constitutional carry framework.
Maddy summarySB 503 amends New Hampshire's building code to allow New Hampshire-grown spruce-pine-fir-south (SPFS) lumber - currently graded as a separate, slightly weaker classification - to be used interchangeably with Canadian-sourced spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber in construction. This directly affects local sawmills, loggers, and builders who previously faced higher costs and logistical hurdles when using New Hampshire wood, as it was often exported, regraded as SPF in Canada, and reimported. The key provision requires building codes to accept SPFS lumber (harvested and milled in New Hampshire) wherever SPF is specified, using published SPFS design values for structural calculations. This removes an artificial barrier based on political borders, recognizing that New Hampshire's climate and wood quality are comparable to Canadian SPF. The bill does not change grading standards but ensures local wood meets code requirements without requiring re-importation.
Maddy summarySB 640 prohibits using artificial intelligence to provide services requiring a professional license (such as psychology, mental health, or substance abuse counseling) unless those services are delivered by a licensed professional. The bill specifically bans AI from replacing human professionals in direct client interactions, though it allows AI for administrative tasks like scheduling or billing. It also authorizes the Office of Professional Licensure to collect fees to cover enforcement costs for violations. This applies to all licensed professions in New Hampshire, with additional specific rules for psychologists and mental health practitioners.
Maddy summarySB 508 requires all grounds for appealing zoning board decisions to be stated in the initial appeal notice, directly affecting applicants, municipalities, and planning boards. It adds a new provision mandating that cities and towns must stamp and accept revised zoning plans within 3 business days of submission, provided the revisions address specific comments from the initial review. The bill also limits applicants to one revision round unless original comments were unaddressed, preventing repeated requests for changes beyond the initial review conditions. These changes aim to streamline the zoning approval process by setting clear timelines and revision limits. The bill applies to all municipalities in New Hampshire with zoning boards of adjustments.