Sen. Regina Birdsell

Maddy summarySB 544 prevents health insurance companies from removing drugs from their coverage lists mid-year. It requires insurers to continue covering any prescription drug that was approved under a policy until the enrollee's next plan renewal date, even if the drug is later removed from the formulary. This directly affects individuals enrolled in health benefit plans who rely on specific medications. Changes to drug coverage can only occur at renewal dates and must apply uniformly to all similar plans.

Maddy summarySB 574 establishes a commission to study how New Hampshire school districts (called school administrative units or SAUs) operate, focusing on efficiency and potential consolidation. The commission, made up of 2 senators, 3 representatives, education officials, and school association representatives, will analyze enrollment trends, costs per student, and barriers to merging districts. It will also review how other states restructured school systems and gather input from stakeholders. The commission must submit findings and recommendations to the legislature by November 1, 2026, but the bill itself does not change current school funding or operations.

Maddy summarySB 440 modifies how New Hampshire municipalities can create energy-efficient and clean energy districts. It requires towns without charters (and village districts) to hold at least one public hearing before adopting such districts, with specific notice rules: 10-day advance notice posted in two public locations (including the municipality's website), detailing district boundaries and proposals. The bill also allows 50 registered voters to petition for a town meeting vote on district adoption. These changes streamline the process while adding transparency and community input requirements, directly affecting local governments seeking to establish district-based energy initiatives.

Maddy summarySB 617 requires the New Hampshire State Police to use a rotating list of qualified tow companies for removing abandoned, stolen, disabled, or illegally parked vehicles. The bill mandates that the State Police maintain this list by geographic area (e.g., troop or county) and vehicle type (such as heavy or light-duty tow trucks) to ensure appropriate service for each removal. The list can be adjusted to manage workload and travel distances, and it will specify which tow companies are equipped for specific vehicle classes. This change applies to all vehicle removals conducted under state law, including those obstructing roads, abandoned on private property, or involved in accidents.

Maddy summarySB 430 requires school employees (like teachers) to respond honestly and completely to written requests from parents about their child's education within 10 business days. It directly affects parents seeking information and school staff who must provide it. The bill includes an exception: if full disclosure risks a student's immediate harm, staff must report to child welfare authorities within 48 hours and may withhold only that specific information. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and requires the state board of education to update educator ethics rules by June 2027.

Maddy summarySB 585 allows communications districts in New Hampshire to skip mandatory independent audits if they meet specific revenue thresholds. It directly affects small communications districts with annual revenue under $50,000 or under $2 million that aren't tax authorities (cannot raise funds from municipalities except via voluntary contributions or contracts). The bill requires districts to petition the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) to waive audits, which the DRA must grant if the revenue criteria are met. This change reduces administrative costs for qualifying districts without altering audit requirements for larger entities. The DRA confirmed this would save local governments money but impose no new costs on state agencies.

Maddy summarySB 573 establishes certification standards for facility comfort dogs, their handlers, and the teams they form. It defines a "facility comfort dog" as a specifically trained dog providing emotional support in settings like hospitals, schools, and emergency services (distinct from service dogs), and requires handlers to be emergency response or public safety workers (e.g., police, firefighters, EMTs). The bill sets a framework for certification, including training requirements, to ensure these teams can effectively offer comfort and crisis response in high-stress environments. This applies to organizations such as hospitals, schools, and public safety agencies using comfort dogs for emotional support.

Maddy summarySB 423 reestablishes a commission to study post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders and whether PTSD should be covered under workers' compensation. The bill adds a New Hampshire comfort dog community representative to the commission and specifies its 17-member composition, including officials from labor, safety, and insurance departments, plus representatives from fire, police, medical, and mental health organizations. The commission must study succession planning, standardized peer support programs, and other relevant matters, with an interim report due by November 1, 2026, and a final report by November 1, 2027. This bill directly affects first responders by initiating a formal study of PTSD incidence and potential policy changes, without altering current workers' compensation rules.

Maddy summarySB 586 requires New Hampshire school districts and charter public schools to publish a detailed annual financial audit report by September 1 each year. The report must include receipts, expenditures, assets, liabilities, payroll details, and capital projects. Schools failing to submit the report by the deadline will have state funding withheld until compliance is achieved. This bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends existing law to standardize the submission deadline for all school entities.

Maddy summarySB 492 authorizes New Hampshire's Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services to lease or license property it owns, directly affecting the department and private entities renting that property. The bill requires lessees (unless tax-exempt) to pay local property taxes on the leased property, similar to private owners, and outlines penalties for nonpayment. It creates a dedicated "Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services Property Fund" to manage revenues from leases, which can be used for purchasing, maintaining, or operating department property and projects. The fund ensures these revenues are kept separate and can cover related expenses like property maintenance, administrative costs, or bond payments.