Sen. Regina Birdsell

Maddy summarySB 649 increases fines for drivers using handheld mobile phones while operating a vehicle. It raises penalties for first offenses from $100 to $250 (or $500 if contributing to a crash), second offenses from $250 to $500 (or $750 with a crash), and third+ offenses to $750 with up to 30 days of license suspension (or $1,000 and 60 days if a crash occurs). The bill applies directly to drivers convicted of this violation, with enhanced penalties when the distraction causes a collision. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 642 repeals New Hampshire's Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects and its associated rulemaking authority. The bill ends a committee responsible for overseeing research involving human participants, requested by the Department of Health and Human Services. This repeal will save approximately $59,000 annually by ending a $63,000 yearly contract with the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, while retaining $4,000 for federal record-keeping compliance. The change affects administrative functions related to human subjects research oversight but does not alter research regulations.

Maddy summarySB 568 clarifies that the Department of Safety's commissioner may appoint specific staff members - including assistant commissioners, division directors, or bureau chiefs - to verify background checks for employee candidates. The bill explicitly defines eligible designees and requires the department to maintain strict confidentiality of all background check records. It also permits electronic submission of fingerprint information, following procedures established by the division of state police. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 591 allows New Hampshire electric utilities to own or build power generation facilities under specific conditions, directly affecting utility companies and their customers (ratepayers). The bill requires approval from the Public Utilities Commission, limits new facilities to 400 megawatts, and mandates that projects must serve the public interest while benefiting ratepayers and taxpayers. Utilities may also enter 20-year power agreements for these facilities, subject to environmental and permitting rules. This policy change modifies existing law to permit limited utility reentry into power generation, aiming to support energy reliability and economic needs.

Maddy summaryHB 1366 requires law enforcement officers to notify military agencies when they have probable cause to believe a service member violated a military protection order. This directly affects active-duty military members (including National Guard personnel) and the law enforcement agencies handling such cases. The key provision mandates that officers must inform the military agency that entered the protection order into the federal database if a service member is suspected of violating it. The bill amends two state statutes to establish this notification requirement, ensuring military and civilian authorities coordinate on protection order enforcement. It takes effect 180 days after passage with no estimated state or local cost impact.

Maddy summarySB 461 updates New Hampshire's legal definition of "hemp" to require that the total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration - including tetrahydrocannabolic acid (THCA) - must not exceed 0.3% on a dry weight basis. This change directly affects hemp farmers, product manufacturers, and state regulators by establishing a clear standard for legal hemp under state law. The bill modifies existing law to align with the federal definition of hemp, which includes THCA in THC calculations, ensuring consistency for businesses selling hemp-derived products. The law will take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 400 requires New Hampshire's Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board to review medical and scientific evidence about qualifying conditions for medical cannabis every two years. The board must also submit an annual report by January 1st, including specific citations to the evidence reviewed. This directly affects the oversight board, mandating structured updates to their review process and reporting transparency. The bill focuses on ensuring the board's decisions are consistently supported by current medical research.

Maddy summarySB 503 amends New Hampshire's building code to allow New Hampshire-grown spruce-pine-fir-south (SPFS) lumber - currently graded as a separate, slightly weaker classification - to be used interchangeably with Canadian-sourced spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber in construction. This directly affects local sawmills, loggers, and builders who previously faced higher costs and logistical hurdles when using New Hampshire wood, as it was often exported, regraded as SPF in Canada, and reimported. The key provision requires building codes to accept SPFS lumber (harvested and milled in New Hampshire) wherever SPF is specified, using published SPFS design values for structural calculations. This removes an artificial barrier based on political borders, recognizing that New Hampshire's climate and wood quality are comparable to Canadian SPF. The bill does not change grading standards but ensures local wood meets code requirements without requiring re-importation.

Maddy summarySB 665 requires pharmacies to charge consumers the lowest available price for prescription drugs at the point of sale, directly affecting patients purchasing medications and pharmacies. The bill defines "lowest available price" as the minimum of the pharmacy’s cash price, the consumer’s insurance cost-sharing amount, or any available discount price at the time of transaction. Pharmacists must determine and disclose this price before completing the sale, and insurers cannot penalize pharmacies for doing so. Violations could result in disciplinary action by the pharmacy board or civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, with the law taking effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 88 prohibits New Hampshire state government entities from requiring or banning contractors from having agreements with labor organizations in public construction contracts or grants. It directly affects state agencies awarding construction projects (like roads or buildings) and the contractors bidding on those projects. The bill removes language from contracts that could force or block labor organization agreements, ensuring contractors aren't discriminated against based on such agreements. Exceptions apply only to avoid immediate threats to public health or safety, and the bill does not stop voluntary labor agreements or affect federal labor law.