Sen. Regina Birdsell

Maddy summarySB 273 requires drivers approaching highway emergencies involving stopped or standing vehicles to take specific safety actions, such as slowing down, changing lanes if safe, and activating hazard lights. It directly affects all motorists traveling on highways in Massachusetts when encountering emergency situations like disabled vehicles or accidents. The law mandates these proactive steps to protect emergency responders and other motorists at the scene. Signed into law on July 15, 2025, it becomes effective September 13, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 12 expands eligibility for state disability placards to include veterans with service-connected disabilities who previously did not qualify under existing criteria. This directly affects veterans with documented service-related disabilities that limit mobility, allowing them to obtain temporary or permanent disability placards. The bill modifies current eligibility rules to explicitly include this veteran group without requiring additional medical documentation beyond their service-connected disability status. The law takes effect September 13, 2025, after being signed by the governor on July 15, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 98 extends the program allowing private donations to regional career and technical education centers. This bill directly affects these centers by maintaining their access to private funding streams without altering eligibility or donation rules. The extension preserves the existing donation framework, ensuring continued support for workforce training programs. It became law on July 15, 2025, and takes effect September 13, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 140 creates a Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee to examine deaths related to domestic violence in the state. The committee, composed of state agency representatives, will review cases to identify patterns and improve responses. This law directly affects state agencies involved in domestic violence investigations and services, requiring them to participate in the review process starting July 15, 2025. The bill establishes a formal mechanism for analyzing fatalities to inform future prevention efforts.

Maddy summarySB 165 revises audit requirements for consumer cooperative associations in the state, directly affecting these member-owned businesses. The bill changes the audit standard from requiring an independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to allowing internal auditors to conduct annual financial reviews. This policy change simplifies compliance for co-ops while maintaining financial oversight, effective September 13, 2025. The bill passed unanimously through committees and was signed into law by the governor on July 15, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 292 revises New Hampshire's funding formula for special education costs, providing state aid to school districts when their special education expenses exceed 3.5 times the state's average per-pupil cost for the prior school year. Districts are responsible for costs up to 3.5 times the average plus 20% of additional costs (capped at 10 times the average), with the state covering the rest through automatic entitlement. The bill allocates $250,000 annually for emergency aid to small districts (under 1,000 residents) facing financial harm from special education costs, and specifies that unused emergency funds must support broader special education cost increases. It takes effect August 24, 2025, and is funded from the state education trust fund.

Maddy summarySB 248 creates a legislative committee to study New Hampshire's current palliative and hospice care systems. The committee will examine how these services operate, including access, quality, and patient needs across the state. This bill does not change existing laws or provide new funding; it only establishes a formal process for gathering information. The committee's findings may inform future legislative decisions, but the bill itself only creates the study mechanism. It became law on June 23, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 250 requires pharmacies to be paid separately for administering long-acting injectable drugs, not just for the medication itself. This directly affects pharmacists who provide these injections in community settings. The key change amends state law to mandate reimbursement for the administration service in addition to the drug cost. The law takes effect on August 23, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 206 requires all public school districts and chartered public schools in New Hampshire to create and implement policies banning student use of personal cell phones and electronic devices during instructional hours - from the first bell until the dismissal bell. The policy must include approved exceptions for medical needs (like insulin pumps), disabilities (per IEPs or 504 plans), or language support programs for multilingual students. Schools must develop these policies with input from parents and teachers and review them annually. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 96 requires New Hampshire school employees (like teachers) to respond in writing to parent inquiries about their child within 5 school days, answering completely and honestly where permitted by law. School districts may withhold information only if disclosure could cause abuse, neglect, or abandonment (with written documentation), but must otherwise provide full responses. This directly affects parents seeking information about their child’s education and school staff who must follow these communication rules. Violations would be treated as breaches of educator conduct standards. The bill is currently pending in committee.