Sen. Howard Pearl

Maddy summarySB 491 allows New Hampshire students receiving Education Freedom Account (EFA) funds to use those funds for career and technical education (CTE) programs. It amends state education laws to require the Department of Education to establish separate funding formulas for CTE tuition and transportation costs, and clarifies that EFA grant recipients in grades 9-12 can enroll in CTE programs using their EFA funds. The bill also mandates scholarship organizations to provide students with information about CTE enrollment opportunities. This change takes effect July 1, 2027, and does not require new state revenue or appropriations.

Maddy summarySB 448 modifies New Hampshire's definition of "veteran" to include individuals discharged under honorable conditions (including those with a general discharge under honorable conditions), ensuring they qualify for state benefits. It establishes a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license for state-resident veterans meeting this definition, with a one-time fee adjusted based on the veteran's service-connected disability rating. This replaces annual license fees with a single payment, directly benefiting disabled veterans who previously faced eligibility barriers. The bill also updates multiple state statutes to align with the revised veteran definition, ensuring consistency across programs like employment preferences and tax exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a requirement that ferrets must have health certificates for transfer. Animal shelters must now maintain microchip scanners and contact owners within 72 hours if an animal is unclaimed or abandoned. Shelters must scan for microchips upon intake, attempt to reunite animals with registered owners, and contact secondary owners via microchip registries if primary owners cannot be reached. These changes apply to all animal shelters transferring dogs, cats, or ferrets in New Hampshire.

Maddy summarySB 574 establishes a commission to study how New Hampshire school districts (called school administrative units or SAUs) operate, focusing on efficiency and potential consolidation. The commission, made up of 2 senators, 3 representatives, education officials, and school association representatives, will analyze enrollment trends, costs per student, and barriers to merging districts. It will also review how other states restructured school systems and gather input from stakeholders. The commission must submit findings and recommendations to the legislature by November 1, 2026, but the bill itself does not change current school funding or operations.

Maddy summarySB 530 modifies how New Hampshire's vital records office reports fetal deaths to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It prohibits sharing specific personal details - including the mother's or father's full name, address, medical record numbers, and birth dates - with the CDC. The bill allows the office to share only the parents' birth year and the fetal delivery date. This change affects the state's reporting process for fetal deaths, updating terminology and limiting sensitive data released to federal health agencies. The policy directly impacts the state vital records office and CDC data collection procedures.

Maddy summarySB 440 modifies how New Hampshire municipalities can create energy-efficient and clean energy districts. It requires towns without charters (and village districts) to hold at least one public hearing before adopting such districts, with specific notice rules: 10-day advance notice posted in two public locations (including the municipality's website), detailing district boundaries and proposals. The bill also allows 50 registered voters to petition for a town meeting vote on district adoption. These changes streamline the process while adding transparency and community input requirements, directly affecting local governments seeking to establish district-based energy initiatives.

Maddy summarySB 430 requires school employees (like teachers) to respond honestly and completely to written requests from parents about their child's education within 10 business days. It directly affects parents seeking information and school staff who must provide it. The bill includes an exception: if full disclosure risks a student's immediate harm, staff must report to child welfare authorities within 48 hours and may withhold only that specific information. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and requires the state board of education to update educator ethics rules by June 2027.

Maddy summarySB 585 allows communications districts in New Hampshire to skip mandatory independent audits if they meet specific revenue thresholds. It directly affects small communications districts with annual revenue under $50,000 or under $2 million that aren't tax authorities (cannot raise funds from municipalities except via voluntary contributions or contracts). The bill requires districts to petition the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) to waive audits, which the DRA must grant if the revenue criteria are met. This change reduces administrative costs for qualifying districts without altering audit requirements for larger entities. The DRA confirmed this would save local governments money but impose no new costs on state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits municipalities from requiring licenses for the production and sale of homegrown food products that are already exempt from certain regulations under state law. It directly affects small-scale food producers (like those selling homemade goods) and local governments that previously could impose such licensing rules. The key provision amends state law to explicitly ban municipal license requirements for these exempt products. The change applies statewide and takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 524 allows restaurants with liquor licenses to deliver alcohol to customers only when the customer has ordered a meal for home delivery. It requires restaurants to obtain a $250 annual "restaurant delivery license" and mandates that all alcohol deliveries must include food ordered by the customer, be made during business hours by employees over 21, and use sealed containers labeled with the restaurant's name. Deliveries cannot occur at schools, parks, or libraries, and must include a signed receipt from the customer. This bill directly affects restaurants seeking to expand delivery services while adding specific safety and operational requirements.