Sen. Regina Birdsell

Maddy summarySB 621 establishes a cold case commission to serve as a middle person between New Hampshire's Department of Justice Cold Case Unit and families of homicide victims in unresolved cases. The commission, made up of two Department of Justice staff, two family members of victims (appointed by the governor), and one representative from a missing/murdered persons coalition, handles communications about case status to families and the public. It cannot investigate cases or access information protected by law, but requires the Department of Justice to share sufficient details to fulfill its communication role. The bill does not create new investigations but aims to improve transparency and support for families in long-unresolved homicide cases.

Maddy summaryHB 1474 changes how New Hampshire distributes revenue from its meals and rooms tax to local governments. It creates a new "meals and rooms municipal revenue fund" and establishes a formula that prioritizes towns, cities, and unincorporated areas with an average property value per adjusted resident of $500,000 or less. The formula adjusts population by excluding residents in exempt housing (like colleges, prisons, and nursing homes), then calculates distributions based on how far each community’s property value per person falls below $500,000. This replaces the previous distribution method without changing the total tax revenue amount. The new system takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 474 changes the effective date for New Hampshire's law requiring the collection and reporting of abortion statistics from January 1, 2027, to July 1, 2027. The bill amends RSA 329:49-a, which governs how the state collects and reports abortion data. This adjustment directly affects the Department of Health and Human Services, the agency responsible for implementing the reporting requirements. The change was requested by the Department to provide additional time for necessary preparations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide domestic violence program within the judicial branch to improve handling of civil domestic violence cases. It requires judges and court staff to complete specialized training on domestic violence dynamics, lethality assessment, and victim safety, and mandates law enforcement to use a standardized lethality assessment form in suspected cases. The bill also allows victims to submit safety affidavits when filing family court petitions, updates stalking laws to include installing electronic devices on a person as a stalking offense, and expands annulment eligibility for violent crimes while requiring courts to notify and seek input from victims before granting annulment. These changes directly affect domestic violence victims, law enforcement, courts, and individuals seeking annulment of criminal records.

Maddy summarySB 556 amends New Hampshire's solid waste management laws to include used syringes and similar medical devices in the definition of "special waste." It makes improper disposal of this waste a felony, with individuals facing a class B felony charge and organizations facing a standard felony charge. The law directly affects healthcare facilities, clinics, and any entity handling medical waste, requiring proper disposal through designated channels. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not impose direct state or local costs but may impact judicial and correctional systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires schools to obtain written parental consent for each new medical service provided to students enrolled in the Medicaid to schools program. It defines "each new service" as any new Medicaid diagnostic code (ICD code), meaning consent must be renewed for each distinct health service. The bill directly affects students receiving school-based Medicaid health services and their parents or legal guardians. Schools must implement this consent process starting January 1, 2026, and the state must submit annual reports on program costs and participation to legislative committees.

Maddy summaryHB 1289 makes it illegal to use small drones (unmanned aircraft systems) to secretly record people engaging in private activities - like at home, with family, or in other settings where they reasonably expect privacy - without permission. It creates a class A misdemeanor for capturing such images and a class B felony for sharing them publicly. Law enforcement can still use drones for investigations into suspected illegal activity, as specified in the bill. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with no expected state or local costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1625 requires New Hampshire's Office of Planning and Development to produce an annual report on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), including data on their type (attached/detached), occupancy (owner, tenant, vacant), use as short-term rentals, affordability status, and conversions from existing structures. The report must include specific metrics to help state and local governments plan for housing growth and development. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not change ADU construction rules or funding requirements. The state anticipates the reporting system will require new staff and cost between $100,000 and $500,000 annually.

Maddy summarySB 436 updates rules for zoning board members in New Hampshire by requiring recusal whenever a member’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned. This replaces the previous standard with a broader conflict of interest rule, specifically including cases where a member previously participated in similar decisions as a voting member of another board. The bill directly affects local zoning board members who may face conflicts of interest in specific land-use cases. The key change ensures boards avoid decisions where a member’s prior involvement could undermine public trust in the process.

Maddy summarySB 553 increases penalties for drivers who willfully attempt to evade law enforcement by speeding, turning off headlights while moving, or abandoning their vehicle during a chase. Offenders will face a mandatory 5-day jail term (with no probation or deferred sentencing) and a driver's license suspension of at least six months. This law directly affects individuals who use these specific tactics to avoid police pursuit. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.