Sen. Pat Long

Maddy summarySB 618 requires drivers with repeated speeding violations - such as those suspended for excessive speeding (over 100 mph on highways or 50+ mph over limits on other roads) or multiple tickets - to install a GPS-based speed-limiting device (called an "intelligent speed assistance" or ISA device) as a condition for regaining their driver’s license. The device must actively prevent speeding by restricting vehicle speed to posted limits and cannot be tampered with, with data shared only under strict court or legal requirements. Offenders must pay for the device unless they qualify for affordability programs (e.g., low-income status via TANF, SNAP, or 150% of federal poverty level), and the device must remain active for at least 12 months after license reinstatement. This bill directly affects repeat speeding offenders in New Hampshire, focusing on behavioral correction through technology rather than new fines or jail time.

Maddy summarySB 636 creates tax credits for small businesses facing increased costs due to federal tariffs. Qualifying businesses - manufacturers with fewer than 50 employees or non-manufacturers with average annual revenue under $500,000 - can claim a credit equal to 25% of documented tariff-related costs (e.g., via invoices or supplier certifications), up to $7,500 per business annually. The total state spending on these credits is capped at $8 million per fiscal year, with applications processed in order of receipt and prorated if the cap is exceeded. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to three years, but credits are non-refundable and applied first against business profits tax.

Maddy summaryThis New Hampshire bill requires employers of licensed physicians, advance practice nurses, and physician assistants to provide mandatory training on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect to those staff members who care for people under 18. The training must consist of at least two hours of accredited instruction, which can be completed online or in person, and must be finished within 90 days of employment. Additionally, the training must be renewed every two years to ensure healthcare providers stay updated on their reporting obligations. The law aims to improve the identification of abused or neglected children by healthcare professionals and takes effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal preference for keeping children in New Hampshire and placing them with their siblings whenever possible, unless doing so would endanger them. It modifies custody rules for parents not charged with abuse or neglect by creating a rebuttable presumption that they are fit to care for their children, requiring the state to prove unfitness with specific evidence. The legislation also sets a clear order of preference for out-of-home placements, prioritizing relatives, community-based foster homes, and schools of origin over group or residential care. Additionally, it mandates that psychological evaluations be conducted by trauma-specialized psychologists and clarifies that firearm ownership alone does not make a home unsafe if federal and state laws are followed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a committee to examine how nonprofit organizations contract with the Department of Health and Human Services for children's services. The committee is tasked with investigating these arrangements and developing any necessary legislative recommendations. It must submit its final findings and suggestions to state leaders and the state library by November 1, 2024. This measure focuses on creating a review process rather than immediately changing existing contracts or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a specific criminal offense for assaulting or harassing sports officials, such as referees, umpires, or timers, while they are working at a sports event. It applies to anyone who commits acts of violence or threats against these officials in designated areas like the field, parking lots, or spectator zones, treating these actions with the same legal penalties as standard assault charges. Additionally, the law allows courts to ban convicted individuals from participating in sports events for a set period, up to life for repeat offenses but no more than 12 months for a first violation. The legislation is designed to protect both paid and volunteer officials who enforce rules during organized amateur or professional athletic contests.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to check for and apply for Social Security and veterans benefits for children entering foster care within 60 days. If the department becomes the official payee for these funds, it is prohibited from using the money to cover the child's care costs but may use it to meet unmet needs while establishing special accounts to save for the child's future. The law also mandates that the department notify parents and guardians about benefit decisions, conduct annual reviews to identify new eligibility, and return any remaining funds to the child or their responsible adult when the child leaves the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the legal authority of family courts to make support and maintenance orders for minors receiving special education services beyond their 18th birthday. Specifically, it allows courts to retain jurisdiction until a student graduates, turns 21, or exits special education, with the option to extend coverage until age 22 if the student remains in special education programs. The legislation also applies these extended timelines to cases involving neglected, abused, or at-risk children who are still enrolled in school or receiving special education services. Additionally, the bill appropriates $3 million to the Department of Health and Human Services to fund the implementation of these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the minimum legal age for marriage in New Hampshire from 16 to 18 years old. It directly affects all individuals by making any marriage entered into by a person under 18 automatically invalid and prohibiting town clerks and religious officials from issuing licenses or performing such ceremonies. The law also removes special exceptions that previously allowed minors to marry with parental consent or court approval, while simultaneously banning marriages by proxy. Finally, the legislation repeals several older statutes that governed the process for minors seeking marriage permits and annulments.