Sen. Regina Birdsell

Maddy summarySB 198 designates the third week of September as "New Hampshire Service Dog Week" to recognize service dogs and their handlers. This commemorative resolution directly affects service dog users, handlers, and related organizations across the state by establishing an annual awareness period. The bill does not create new legal requirements or funding but formally acknowledges the role of service dogs in supporting individuals with disabilities. It has been referred to committee and is currently under review.

Maddy summarySB 54 mandates annual firearms safety education for all K-12 students in New Hampshire public schools, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. The bill requires age-appropriate curriculum focused on safe handling, storage, and legal responsibilities - avoidance for grades K-5 and expanded topics including mechanics for grades 6-12 - delivered through health, PE, or civics classes without live firearms. Parents may opt their child out via existing procedures under RSA 186:11, IX-c. The Department of Education must develop the free curriculum by January 2026, with school districts reporting compliance annually.

Maddy summaryHB 390 adds retired fire trucks (fire apparatus) to the list of vehicles eligible for antique vehicle exemptions. This change directly affects owners of retired fire trucks who previously did not qualify for the tax or registration benefits associated with antique vehicle status. The bill modifies existing law by explicitly including "retired fire apparatus" in the definition of antique vehicles under the exemption rules. The law became effective on July 28, 2025, after being signed by Governor Ayotte.

Maddy summaryHB 777 codifies the structure and duties of the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission into permanent statute, turning existing administrative procedures into formal law. It directly affects law enforcement agencies that seek or maintain accreditation and the commission itself, which oversees this process. Key provisions establish the commission's permanent composition, authority to set accreditation standards, and procedures for reviewing agencies. The bill became law on May 29, 2025, and takes effect July 28, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 37 amends New Hampshire's licensing rules for residential care and health facilities. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate complaints about facility violations, post investigation and annual inspection results on its website (excluding certain privacy laws), and use civil fines collected from facilities in a dedicated account to protect resident health and property. The bill also mandates dementia-specific training for direct care staff (6 hours initial, 4 hours annually) and updates patient visitation policies to clarify facility rules. These changes directly affect licensed residential care facilities, health facilities, and their staff, focusing on transparency, resident safety, and staff training requirements.

Maddy summarySB 62 restricts local law enforcement agencies from participating in federal immigration enforcement programs, such as the 287(g) program, which allows state officers to assist with federal immigration detainers. It directly affects municipal and county police departments by prohibiting them from cooperating with federal immigration authorities on immigration-related matters. The bill’s key provision bans state and local law enforcement from using state resources to enforce federal immigration law or share information about individuals solely based on immigration status. This law takes effect on January 1, 2026, and applies to all state and local law enforcement agencies within the jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryHB 553 amends New Hampshire's child abuse and neglect laws by updating definitions and establishing a rebuttable presumption that family unity is in a child's best interest. The bill requires courts to presume family unity is appropriate unless proven otherwise, while mandating removal only when a child's physical, emotional, or psychological welfare is at risk. It revises definitions of "abandoned" (excluding cases due to lack of mental health services) and "abuse" (including sexual abuse and intentional physical injury). The law also emphasizes trauma-informed care, prioritizes placing children with kin or in community settings, and requires frequent reviews to return children home as quickly as possible. This directly affects child welfare courts, families involved in abuse/neglect cases, and child protective services.