Sen. Tim Lang

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes that unpaid meals and rooms taxes, along with associated penalties and interest, become a legal lien against all property owned by the business operator responsible for collecting them. The lien attaches to both real and personal property once the tax authority makes a formal demand for payment and remains in effect until the debt is fully satisfied or the claim becomes unenforceable. To ensure clarity, the law defines "operator" to include individuals with managerial or custodial control over tax collection, while explicitly excluding mere owners without such responsibility, and requires any lien on real estate to be recorded at the county registry to be valid.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary committee to study how e-cigarettes and e-liquids are marketed, sold, and taxed within the state. The committee will be composed of one senator and three representatives, who will meet to examine product legality, retail compliance, and tax collection methods. It requires the group to consult with state agencies and private sector stakeholders before submitting a final report with recommendations by November 1, 2024. Once the report is delivered, the committee and the specific section creating it will be dissolved.

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces the physical registration seal system with a digital confirmation number system for tracking wild deer and moose in New Hampshire. It directly affects hunters, requiring them to obtain a unique confirmation number for each animal instead of attaching a physical seal to the carcass or tag. The law mandates that these confirmation numbers accompany the animal during transport, whether by the hunter personally or through a licensed carrier, and establishes specific registration stations to issue these numbers. Once signed into law, the new system will become effective on September 24, 2024, streamlining how the state verifies and monitors harvested game.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially renames a specific stretch of Route 127 in Franklin, New Hampshire, from Central Street to the Sanbornton town line as the Chief Bradley Haas Memorial Highway. The legislation requires the state Department of Transportation to create and install appropriate signs along the designated route, with the design subject to departmental approval. While the City of Franklin is responsible for maintaining these signs, the state covers all costs associated with their design, manufacturing, and installation through general funds. The changes become effective 60 days after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes three new requirements for hunters and fishermen in New Hampshire. It mandates the creation of registration stations to tag bears killed in the state and requires all hunters aged 16 and older to carry a valid federal duck stamp when hunting migratory waterfowl. Additionally, the law introduces a landing license for individuals who transport lobsters and crabs taken outside New Hampshire waters into the state for sale or personal use. These measures aim to improve wildlife tracking, ensure compliance with federal conservation laws, and regulate the importation of shellfish.

Maddy summaryThis law updates the rules for renewing lottery licenses in New Hampshire, requiring the state commission to send renewal notices to license holders at least 45 days before their current license expires. The bill also clarifies that renewal applications must be submitted 15 days prior to expiration, unless the commission grants an exception for a valid reason. Additionally, it strengthens penalties for violations by allowing the commission to suspend or revoke licenses and impose fines, ensuring that anyone whose license is revoked cannot apply for a new one for up to one year. These changes aim to improve the administrative process for lottery operators while maintaining stricter enforcement of existing regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows existing school administrative units to merge their administrative offices to reduce costs, provided the combined unit has only one superintendent. To support these mergers, the state will offer a grant of $200 per student annually for two years, with funding coming from the education trust fund and requiring the merger to be completed by July 1, 2030. The planning committee will evaluate merger proposals using the same process used for reorganizations, and the grant amount will be calculated based on the number of students residing in the district as of October 1st. This law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to all school districts served by the newly merged administrative unit.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new state laws to protect freedom of speech and association at public colleges and universities in New Hampshire. It designates outdoor campus areas as public forums where students and staff can engage in peaceful expression without being forced into designated "free speech zones." The legislation prohibits institutions from discriminating against student groups based on their religious, political, or ideological views and defines specific limits on when speech can be restricted, such as during unlawful fights or harassment. Additionally, the bill creates a legal remedy allowing individuals or groups to sue schools for violations, with a monetary cap on damages adjusted annually for inflation.

Maddy summaryHB 1080 establishes a Legislative Youth Advisory Council in New Hampshire to allow young people to review and offer recommendations on laws affecting their lives. The council will consist of 17 members, including 13 youth aged 14 to 22 and four non-voting legislators, who will focus on issues like education, technology, transportation, labor, and substance misuse. Appointments are made by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President to ensure geographic diversity and representation from various schools and counties, with members serving terms aligned with the legislative cycle. The group is required to meet at least four times annually, conduct leadership training, and submit an annual report with policy suggestions to state officials. While the youth members are not paid, legislative members receive standard mileage reimbursement, and all council meetings and records are open to the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire hunting laws to allow lever-action carbines in areas where only handguns or pistols are typically permitted for game. The legislation specifically authorizes the use of rifles chambered in .357, .44 Magnum, or .45 Colt, as well as straight-walled pistol cartridges of .38 or .357 caliber and greater. These changes take effect on January 1, 2025, and apply to all hunters operating within the state's designated handgun-only hunting zones.