Sen. Regina Birdsell

Maddy summarySB 618 requires drivers with repeated speeding violations - such as those suspended for excessive speeding (over 100 mph on highways or 50+ mph over limits on other roads) or multiple tickets - to install a GPS-based speed-limiting device (called an "intelligent speed assistance" or ISA device) as a condition for regaining their driver’s license. The device must actively prevent speeding by restricting vehicle speed to posted limits and cannot be tampered with, with data shared only under strict court or legal requirements. Offenders must pay for the device unless they qualify for affordability programs (e.g., low-income status via TANF, SNAP, or 150% of federal poverty level), and the device must remain active for at least 12 months after license reinstatement. This bill directly affects repeat speeding offenders in New Hampshire, focusing on behavioral correction through technology rather than new fines or jail time.

Maddy summarySB 152 authorizes the sale of turnpike toll credits to create a dedicated "noise barrier construction fund" for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to design and build highway noise barriers meeting specific federal criteria. The fund would receive revenue from selling up to $10 million annually in toll credits, subject to federal match requirements and legislative approvals, with funds restricted solely for noise barrier projects. NHDOT must follow established guidelines for Type II noise barriers and consult affected communities on project eligibility. The bill's fiscal impact is indeterminable, as the Department of Transportation notes no existing market or federal authority for toll credit sales, making implementation uncertain.

Maddy summarySB 41 increases penalties for drivers exceeding 100 miles per hour. It creates a separate offense for driving at or above 100 mph, raising the minimum fine for a first offense from $500 to $750 and increasing license revocation from 60 days to 90 days. For subsequent offenses, fines rise to $1,000 minimum and license revocation extends to 90 days up to one year. The bill directly affects drivers who speed at 100+ mph, as specified in New Hampshire law, and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 34 requires written parental consent for each new medical service (defined by a new ICD code) provided to Medicaid-enrolled students through the Medicaid to Schools program. It mandates an annual report to state lawmakers detailing the program's costs and enrollment. The bill also states the program terminates statewide if federal or state policy opposes parental control over children's medical services, or in a single school district if local policy changes. This directly affects Medicaid-enrolled students and their parents in schools participating in the program.

Maddy summarySB 36 requires health care providers and medical facilities to collect and report standardized abortion statistics to the state health department. It directly affects hospitals, clinics, and physicians performing abortions by mandating specific data collection on procedures, including patient demographics and gestational age. The bill establishes a uniform reporting system to track abortion data, replacing inconsistent current practices. This focuses on improving data accuracy for public health analysis, not altering abortion access or policy.

Maddy summarySB 15 proposes a sentencing option called "hard labor" for individuals convicted of capital murder or severe sexual assault on children under 13, correcting a mismatched title referencing drug distribution. The bill requires a separate jury sentencing hearing where 9 of 12 jurors must unanimously agree the crime was "especially heinous" or involved deliberate cruelty, before imposing life imprisonment at hard labor. Hard labor would involve 8+ hours daily of physically demanding tasks like construction or farming, with strict medical exemptions for documented health conditions requiring independent review. The bill also mandates prison staff training on constitutional standards and annual reporting on exemption requests, but remains pending committee approval.

Maddy summarySB 162 requires anyone leasing or buying property within 10 miles of a military installation to file a notarized affidavit confirming they are not a foreign government, foreign entity, or agent. This applies to all property transactions, with the affidavit due within one business day of closing or key delivery. Failure to file incurs a $500 civil penalty, with a 60-day cure period for individuals (no cure period for entities). The bill also mandates that sellers/landlords provide written notice of this requirement to buyers/tenants before signing agreements.

Maddy summarySB 149, titled "relative to the crime of aggravated driving while intoxicated," did not advance beyond the committee stage. The bill was reported as "Inexpedient to Legislate" by the committee on October 22, 2025, with a unanimous 16-0 vote. No specific provisions or policy changes were enacted, as the bill was effectively tabled without further legislative action. The committee's decision indicates no immediate plans to modify the legal framework around aggravated DWI offenses.

Maddy summarySB 71 allows New Hampshire counties to hold individuals detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for up to 48 additional hours (excluding weekends and holidays) after resolving local state charges, provided the county and ICE have a written agreement. This bill directly affects county correctional facilities and ICE, establishing clear limits on how long local jails can detain immigration enforcement detainees. The key provision requires counties to have a formal written agreement with ICE to use this 48-hour extension, and it specifies that counties cannot hold individuals solely for immigration enforcement without addressing state charges first. The bill aims to clarify cooperation protocols between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.