Sen. Donna Soucy

Maddy summaryThis bill requires dogs, cats, and ferrets entering the state to be held for at least 48 hours at a licensed facility or a veterinarian's separate area before they can be transferred. The law allows the state veterinarian to create rules permitting littermates of certain ages to share enclosures during this holding period. Additionally, it sets limits on the daily boarding and care costs for animals that are confiscated by animal control officers. These measures aim to standardize how animals are quarantined and cared for after crossing state lines.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules and funding for the Youth Development Center settlement fund, which provides compensation to former residents who experienced abuse while in state care. It updates legal definitions to clearly specify what counts as sexual, physical, or other abuse and introduces a new category for "egregious sexual abuse" that may qualify for additional compensation. The legislation establishes an independent, neutral attorney as the administrator to oversee the claims process, while ensuring the fund remains separate and is continually funded until 2032.

Maddy summarySB 354 requires health insurance companies to apply money from independent charity patient assistance programs toward an enrollee's cost-sharing obligations, such as copayments and deductibles. This rule applies to group accident and health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs, but it excludes drugs that have generic or other covered alternatives available. The law also mandates that insurers receive specific details about assistance payments made on behalf of patients, while exempting high-deductible and catastrophic health plans from these requirements until the enrollee's annual deductible is met. Taking effect on January 1, 2026, the bill aims to streamline how charitable funds interact with insurance billing processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without charging patients any deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. The law specifically mandates that these services be provided free of cost-sharing for individuals who have met their annual deductible, while also ensuring that preventive care screenings are covered even before the deductible is met. Diagnostic examinations are defined as medically necessary tests for evaluating abnormalities found during routine screenings, whereas supplemental examinations are for high-risk individuals who have no current abnormalities but need screening based on their personal or family history. Effective January 1, 2025, this legislation removes financial barriers for New Hampshire residents accessing these specific breast health services.

Maddy summaryThis law requires a legislative committee studying New Hampshire's adult parole system to submit a second report by November 1, 2024, in addition to an earlier one due in 2023. The additional report must include findings and any recommendations for new laws and will be sent to state officials including the governor and legislative leaders. The bill also officially repeals the original 2023 law that established the committee and sets the effective date for these changes to January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "child" in child sexual abuse image laws to include images that portray a person as under 18 years old and are indistinguishable from a real child. It clarifies that these protections apply to digital images, computer-generated pictures, and modified photos where the subject appears to be a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The legislation also specifies that these rules cover various forms of visual media, such as photographs and videos, while excluding drawings, cartoons, sculptures, or paintings. The changes take effect on January 1, 2025, and aim to close legal gaps regarding how such imagery is identified and prosecuted.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Corrections Education and Vocational Planning Group to design and oversee career and educational programs within New Hampshire state prisons. The group will include representatives from corrections, higher education, community colleges, and formerly incarcerated individuals to assess labor market needs, plan curriculum, and address barriers to reentry. Key tasks include creating credit transfer agreements with colleges, evaluating facility resources, and exploring funding options to support inmates pursuing degrees. The group is required to submit annual reports to state officials starting in December 2024 to track its progress and recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for pre-trial competency evaluations in New Hampshire to ensure defendants are assessed by qualified professionals before facing trial. It allows courts to order evaluations by state or private psychiatrists or psychologists and expands where these exams can take place, including secure units, local clinics, or even remotely via electronic means, provided no party objects to the remote format. The law sets strict deadlines for completing these exams, requiring them within 45 days for incarcerated individuals and 90 days for others, while also mandating that courts review bail status or schedule status conferences if the evaluation is delayed. Additionally, the bill requires courts to provide forensic examiners with relevant medical and mental health records from the past three years and establishes that defendants must participate in the evaluation or face potential court sanctions.