Sen. Regina Birdsell

Maddy summarySB 285 changes New Hampshire's official terminology by replacing "physician assistant" with "physician associate" in all relevant state statutes. It amends hundreds of legal references across healthcare laws, including licensing, practice regulations, and penalty provisions (such as RSA 328-D:13). The bill is purely a technical update to terminology with no changes to professional practice standards or responsibilities. It does not alter how these healthcare professionals operate or their scope of practice. The law became effective June 17, 2025, with some sections delayed until January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 161 strengthens New Hampshire's preference for placing children in foster care within the state by requiring courts to make specific written findings before approving out-of-state placements. It mandates that out-of-state placements must offer specialized services unavailable in-state, be licensed and certified, prioritize proximity to the child's family, limit placement duration, and require approval from the Division for Children, Youth and Families director for placements outside New England. This bill directly affects children in foster care, courts making placement decisions, and child welfare agencies by changing how out-of-state placements are authorized and monitored. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 196 raises the exemption threshold for state agency projects from competitive bidding requirements from $500,000 to $1,000,000. This means state agencies can now bypass competitive bidding for projects costing up to $1 million, directly affecting agencies managing such projects. The key provision modifies existing law to increase the cost limit for automatic exemption, streamlining procurement for smaller projects. The bill became law on June 17, 2025, and takes effect August 16, 2025. It does not alter bidding rules for projects exceeding $1 million.

Maddy summarySB 18 allows existing pediatric intermediate care facilities (established before the law's effective date) to temporarily add up to 2 beds beyond their licensed capacity, starting July 1, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2026. The commissioner of health and human services may assess facility needs and request additional beds from the fiscal committee of the legislature if necessary. If approved, the commissioner can increase a facility’s licensed bed count through formal committee approval. This directly affects pediatric facilities serving children in intermediate care, providing temporary flexibility while requiring legislative oversight for permanent capacity changes.

Maddy summarySB 72 establishes a "Parental Bill of Rights" in New Hampshire law, directly affecting parents of minors (under 18) and public schools. The bill requires schools to provide parents with timely, accurate information about their child's education, health, discipline policies, and assessments, and grants parents specific rights to opt out of health/sex education, surveys, and certain data collection. It prohibits schools or government entities from infringing on parental rights to direct a child's upbringing, education, or health care without demonstrating a compelling state interest and using the least restrictive means. The law aims to clarify parental authority while setting specific disclosure requirements for schools.

Maddy summarySB 30 designates the Virginia opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) as New Hampshire’s official state marsupial, amending state law to recognize this species. The bill directly affects New Hampshire residents and state identity by formally naming the opossum as a symbolic representative of the state. Key provisions include updating legal references to identify opossums found in New Hampshire as "New Hampshire opossums." The bill contains no provisions related to fertilizer penalties - the mention of "fertilizers" in the title appears to be an error, as the actual text focuses solely on the marsupial designation. This is a symbolic, non-regulatory change with no practical impact on policy or enforcement.

Maddy summarySB 13 prohibits the renewal or issuance of driver's licenses in New Hampshire to individuals with pending asylum claims, regardless of any temporary work authorization they may hold. It also invalidates out-of-state driver's licenses held by undocumented immigrants. The bill specifically blocks license renewals for people with pending asylum cases and prevents the issuance of new licenses to asylees until they receive permanent residency status, even if they have work permits. These changes directly affect undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers in the state who currently hold or seek driver's licenses.

Maddy summarySB 100 prohibits New Hampshire public school educators from teaching, instructing, or inculcating discrimination targeting specific racial groups (including white people, Black people, or Hispanic/Latino people), while allowing educators to discuss historical discrimination as part of academic instruction. It requires school districts to investigate educator violations under state code and permits civil lawsuits by affected individuals or the attorney general. The law applies specifically to certified educators (teachers, administrators, and specialists) in public schools and explicitly states that discrimination cannot be justified by special considerations for any racial group.

Maddy summarySB 146 updates procedures for certifying deaths in Massachusetts by clarifying which medical professionals can issue death certificates and when medical examiners must be involved. It directly affects physicians, medical examiners, and funeral homes handling death records. The bill requires physicians to use standardized medical certification forms and mandates medical examiners to review certain deaths (like unexpected or violent cases) before finalizing records. Signed into law on June 10, 2025, it takes effect August 9, 2025, standardizing death certification across the state.

Maddy summarySB 28 simplifies workers' compensation claims for emergency responders (like police, firefighters, and EMTs) diagnosed with acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from their job duties. The bill creates a legal presumption that such mental health conditions are work-related, eliminating the need for responders to prove a specific incident caused their condition. This change directly affects emergency responders seeking benefits, making it easier for them to access compensation without extensive documentation. The policy becomes effective August 9, 2025, after the bill was signed into law on June 10, 2025.