Sen. Regina Birdsell

Maddy summarySB 49 would impose state penalties for drone operators who violate federal drone regulations. First-time violations would be treated as civil offenses, while repeat violations would become misdemeanors. The bill requires compliance with FAA drone rules (14 C.F.R. Part 107) starting July 24, 2025. It directly affects anyone operating drones in New Hampshire, including hobbyists and commercial users.

Maddy summarySB 63 would have allocated funding to the Division of Travel and Tourism, directly affecting state tourism promotion and marketing efforts. The bill proposed specific budget provisions for tourism development programs but did not advance beyond committee. On October 30, 2025, the committee voted unanimously (25-0) to report the bill as "Inexpedient to Legislate," effectively halting its progress without further action.

Maddy summaryHB 482 would increase penalties for drivers convicted of speeding over 100 miles per hour. The bill directly affects individuals found guilty of this specific speeding offense, potentially imposing stricter fines or jail time. It proposed concrete policy changes to the existing traffic penalty structure for high-speed violations. However, the bill was tabled and later deemed "inexpedient to legislate" by the Senate on October 31, 2025, meaning it did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 14 increases penalties for fentanyl-related offenses, imposing mandatory minimum sentences of 3.5 years for 20 grams or more and 7 years for 50 grams or more of fentanyl class drugs. It also creates strict liability for drug distributors causing death (including fentanyl), requiring at least 7 years imprisonment for such cases, while allowing judges to reduce sentences under specific conditions like no prior violent crimes, completion of treatment programs, and providing law enforcement assistance. Additionally, the bill amends penalties to legalize possession and use of psilocybin for adults 18 and older, removing criminal penalties for these activities. These changes directly affect drug offenders, distributors, and individuals using psilocybin, with the fentanyl provisions targeting severe sentencing and the psilocybin provision decriminalizing adult use.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends workers' compensation rules to define a "tobacco free lifestyle" for eligibility purposes. Specifically, it states a person lives tobacco-free if they haven't used tobacco or vaping products (including cigarettes, cigars, or snuff) more than four times weekly in the past six months, excluding religious or ceremonial use. The bill does not address cancer treatment or firefighters directly; it sets a standard for tobacco use that would affect any workers' compensation claim under this section. The title referencing "firefighters with cancer" appears inconsistent with the actual bill text, which focuses solely on tobacco use definitions. Recent actions show committee support but no direct link to cancer-related provisions was found in the bill language.

Maddy summarySB 113 allocates state funding to the Department of Health and Human Services for homeless services and prevention programs. It provides budget resources to support housing assistance, emergency shelters, and outreach efforts for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The bill directly affects homeless residents and families by expanding access to these services through existing state programs. The funding is intended to strengthen current initiatives without creating new ones.

Maddy summarySB 288 creates an advisory council to improve care services for older adults in New Hampshire. The council will meet quarterly to review and recommend changes to the state's "system of care for healthy aging," focusing on reducing wait times for Medicaid long-term care, streamlining hospital discharges for non-acute patients, and addressing gaps in long-term care access. It will specifically examine data on long-term care bed availability, Medicaid waiver services, and workforce challenges for direct care providers. The council's findings will be included in the State Commission on Aging's annual report, with the bill taking effect July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects older adults, their caregivers, and service providers by shaping how care is delivered and accessed.

Maddy summarySB 290 aims to amend the legal definition of "torture" within animal abuse statutes, but the provided context does not include the bill's specific text, provisions, or affected parties. The bill's procedural history shows it was referred to committee, moved to lay on table, and ultimately deemed "inexpedient to legislate" by the Senate on October 31, 2025. No concrete policy changes or key mechanisms are described in the available information. As the context lacks the bill's actual content, a substantive summary cannot be provided.

Maddy summarySB 88 prohibits state government agencies from requiring contractors or grant recipients to include specific clauses related to union agreements in construction contracts or grants. It directly affects state departments issuing construction projects and the contractors or organizations bidding on those projects. The bill removes provisions that would mandate terms about labor organization agreements (like union hiring preferences or fees) from state-funded construction contracts. This changes how state agencies structure contracts by eliminating these specific labor-related requirements.

Maddy summarySB 246 requires New Hampshire Medicaid and private health insurers to cover maternal depression screenings at well-child visits and during prenatal/postpartum care for new mothers. It mandates coverage for screenings at specific intervals (1, 2, 4, and 6 months postpartum) and includes referrals to mental health resources. The bill allocates $275,000 to establish a perinatal psychiatric provider consult line and $75,000 for rural maternal health EMS services. These changes directly affect new mothers and infants in New Hampshire by expanding access to mental health support during the perinatal period.