Sen. Regina Birdsell

Maddy summarySB 510 requires state-operated public spaces (like government buildings, parks, or facilities open to visitors) that permit smoking to provide designated smoking areas where smoke is not detectable by sight or smell in public or common areas. This applies only to publicly accessible locations, excluding state-controlled areas not open to the public. The bill mandates physical containment measures, such as enclosed or specially engineered structures, to prevent smoke from escaping into shared spaces. It does not require smoking to be allowed in these areas but sets standards for smoke containment if permitted. The fiscal note estimates construction costs of about $2,600 per location for initial setup, with additional maintenance expenses, though the bill does not allocate state funding for these costs.

Maddy summarySB 465 classifies xylazine - a veterinary sedative sometimes misused in illicit drug mixtures - as a Schedule III controlled substance under New Hampshire law. This change permanently places xylazine in Schedule III (a category for drugs with moderate abuse potential and accepted medical uses) via statutory amendment, overriding the commissioner’s authority to schedule it through rulemaking. It directly affects individuals and entities handling xylazine in New Hampshire, including healthcare providers, law enforcement, and pharmacies. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state revenue or expenditure impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits lobbyists from receiving any compensation for lobbying on behalf of designated foreign adversaries, which include specific countries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela under Maduro, Syria) and their agencies. It defines "foreign adversary client" to include government officials, political parties, and certain entities related to these countries. Lobbyists would face civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation and must disgorge any compensation received for such lobbying activities. The law applies to any lobbying activity on behalf of these designated foreign adversaries or their designated clients.

Maddy summarySB 559 lowers the minimum speed limit on locally controlled roads from 25 mph to 20 mph in certain areas, including outside urban districts and within business or urban residential zones. Local authorities must base any speed limit reduction on engineering or traffic studies before implementing it. The bill does not require new funding or change existing enforcement, as it only modifies the minimum limit threshold in state law. This affects municipalities and town officials responsible for setting speed limits on local roads.

Maddy summarySB 620 increases license suspension periods for drivers who refuse alcohol testing and modifies penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated (DWI). For a first refusal of testing, license suspension rises from 180 days to 12 months; for repeat offenders with prior DWI convictions or refusals, it increases from 2 to 3 years. The bill also adds new requirements for aggravated DWI convictions, including a mandatory 17-day jail sentence (suspensible), a substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, and installation of an ignition interlock device. These changes directly affect drivers arrested for DWI who refuse testing or are convicted of aggravated DWI offenses. The policy focuses on stricter consequences for refusal and repeat offenses, with court discretion to suspend up to 6 months of license revocation if treatment requirements are met.

Maddy summarySB 659 defines what constitutes an "adequate education" for New Hampshire public schools by listing 11 required subject areas, including English, math, science, civics, arts, health, physical education, and computer science. It establishes that the state must determine the cost of this defined education for each municipality based on student enrollment. The bill directly affects all public elementary and secondary schools in New Hampshire by setting mandatory curriculum standards for funding and accountability. It replaces previous definitions with specific, measurable learning areas that school districts must provide.

Maddy summarySB 476 requires hospitals to follow federal price transparency rules and provides a "good faith estimate" safe harbor, protecting them from penalties if cost estimates differ due to clinical changes or outside factors. It mandates health insurers to give personalized, pre-service cost estimates for scheduled services through their existing federal tools (Transparency in Coverage APIs), accessible via the state's HealthCost portal. The bill expands the state's health data system (CHIS/APCD) to power consumer cost comparisons for uninsured and out-of-network care without building new IT infrastructure. These changes directly affect hospitals, insurers, and consumers by making upfront health care costs clearer before treatment.

Maddy summarySB 49 creates new criminal penalties for the unlawful operation of small drones (unmanned aircraft systems) in New Hampshire. It makes it a misdemeanor to interfere with emergency services (like police or fire response) or airport operations, and increases penalties to a felony if drone use causes damage to aircraft, disrupts flights, or delivers contraband into correctional facilities. The bill also prohibits possessing or operating drones equipped to cause harm (e.g., firing projectiles), with exemptions for bomb squads and law enforcement using drones for safety purposes. These rules apply to anyone operating small drones, effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 466 makes it a class A felony to alter, remove, or destroy identifying marks (such as the maker's name, model, or serial number) on any firearm. Possessing a firearm with such altered marks is considered evidence that the possessor made the changes. This law directly affects individuals who modify firearm markings or possess firearms with altered identification, raising penalties from a misdemeanor to a felony. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 493 allows New Hampshire village districts to create special funds and partner with towns to address harmful algae blooms (cyanobacteria) and water quality issues. It enables villages to jointly fund projects like erosion control, phosphate reduction, and water treatment through shared agreements and access state/federal grants (e.g., RSA 487:15-25). Village districts managing affected water bodies would directly use these provisions to implement mitigation efforts, with funds limited to 1% of annual budgets for unanticipated expenses. The bill focuses on practical tools for local action, not new environmental standards.