Sen. Tim Lang

Maddy summarySB 549 prohibits state and local governments from using public funds to support organizations that distribute drug paraphernalia, including needles and syringes through syringe service programs (SSPs). It specifically blocks state funds - such as those from opioid settlement money - from being used for SSPs that provide such paraphernalia, except during disease outbreak responses under existing law. The bill affects funding for public health programs by restricting how state and local resources can be allocated to organizations distributing drug-related items. The fiscal note indicates this would reduce annual funding for SSPs by approximately $1.7 million, though it clarifies this does not represent net savings but potential cost shifts to other healthcare services.

Maddy summarySB 512 requires courts to waive the $125 filing fee for individuals seeking to annul criminal records related to charges that resulted in a not-guilty verdict, case dismissal, or lack of prosecution. It directly affects people with unresolved criminal charges that didn’t lead to conviction, removing a financial barrier to clearing their records. The bill amends state law to mandate fee waivers when petitioners provide proof of these outcomes, streamlining the annulment process. The change takes effect January 1, 2027, and aims to support rehabilitation by reducing costs for affected individuals.

Maddy summarySB 641 modifies New Hampshire's chiropractor licensure exam requirements. It requires applicants licensed after January 1, 1990, to pass parts 1, 2, and 3 of the national chiropractic exam, while those licensed or applying after January 1, 1996, must pass parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 plus the clinical competency exam. All applicants must still pass New Hampshire's separate ethics and jurisprudence exam. These changes directly affect chiropractor license applicants based on their licensure date, updating the national exam requirements previously in law. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage with minimal fiscal impact.

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 summarySB 608 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval to add family caregiver support services - including counseling, training, and peer support - to the Acquired Brain Disorder (ABD) and Choices for Independence (CFI) home-care programs. It also eliminates all co-payments for child care scholarships when children are in the care of relatives (like grandparents or other legal guardians), removing financial barriers for kinship caregivers. The bill directly affects family caregivers enrolled in ABD/CFI waiver programs and kinship caregivers receiving child care assistance through state programs. These changes aim to reduce financial burdens for caregivers supporting children at home.

Maddy summarySB 622 expands New Hampshire's identity fraud law to explicitly protect businesses, government agencies, and other organizations (referred to as "entities") alongside individuals. It adds a clear definition of "entity" to include corporations, trusts, government bodies, and their departments, and updates the offense to cover fraud committed against these entities. The bill makes it a crime to obtain or use someone's personal information (like account numbers or passwords) without authorization to impersonate an entity or assist others in doing so. This change directly affects organizations that could face financial harm from identity fraud targeting their accounts or data. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state or local cost impact.

Maddy summarySB 653 allows counties to adjust their biennial budget cycles to align with state election years, directly affecting county governments. It requires county commissioners to first vote (by majority) to put the change on the ballot, with notice given 15-60 days prior via local media and public postings. Voters then decide at the November state election whether to shift the county’s budget cycle to start in a specified year. The bill establishes a clear process for this timing change but does not mandate it, taking effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 643 requires cities and towns to hold a public hearing with at least 30 days' notice and a 60-minute public comment period before voting to override a local tax or spending cap. It mandates a roll call vote for the override, recording each council member's vote, and requires publishing the results (including each member's name and vote) on the next property tax bill. This bill does not change existing requirements for supermajority votes or voter approval to override caps but adds transparency measures to inform taxpayers about how officials vote on tax increases. The law directly affects municipalities seeking to raise taxes or spending above locally adopted limits.