Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Hampshire towns and cities to collect a fee of up to $2 per day on hotel and room rentals priced above $40 per night, for up to 184 consecutive days per stay. Municipalities must hold a public hearing and obtain voter approval through a town meeting or city council vote before implementing the fee. Revenues must be deposited into a dedicated tourism or capital improvement fund to support services related to increased tourism and transient traffic, and cannot be used as general fund surplus. The fee applies only to rentals exceeding $40 daily, with no fee collected on lower-priced stays.

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 summarySB 638 establishes a small business tariff stabilization fund to provide financial assistance to New Hampshire small businesses affected by reduced revenue from tariffs and trade disruptions. The fund, initially funded with $2.5 million from the General Fund, will distribute grants to support businesses facing supply chain issues or increased costs due to tariffs, specifically targeting those committed to avoiding layoffs. It directly benefits small businesses (defined per U.S. Small Business Administration standards) operating primarily in New Hampshire that have experienced revenue declines linked to lower exports to Canada and tourism impacts. The fund is separate from other state funds, non-lapsing, and will be managed by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs starting January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 366 modifies the ranking system for school building aid grants in New Hampshire. It removes two priority rules: projects that didn’t receive funding the previous year (if construction hadn’t started) and projects with "critical needs" as defined by the department. Applications will now be ranked solely based on the established scoring criteria in RSA 198:15-c, II(b), including factors like unsafe conditions, ADA compliance, overcrowding, and fiscal capacity. This change affects all public school districts and chartered public schools applying for state building grants.

Maddy summarySB 208 requires local school boards and public libraries to adopt written policies for selecting and organizing materials (like books and digital resources). These policies must address how materials are chosen, reviewed, and made available to the public. The bill directly affects school districts and public library systems across the state, mandating a formal process for material curation. As of March 2025, the bill was referred to committee but ultimately deemed "Inexpedient to Legislate" by the committee, meaning it did not advance further.

Maddy summarySB 150 defines what constitutes an electric vehicle (EV) charging station and requires operators to pay an annual fee for testing by the Division of Weights and Measures to ensure accuracy. This bill directly affects EV charging station businesses, mandating they cover the cost of annual calibration checks. The key provision establishes a fee structure for these mandatory tests, administered by the Division of Weights and Measures. The bill was retained in committee and later reported as "Inexpedient to Legislate" by both majority and minority committees on November 18, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 197 would require the state to pay a portion of retirement system contributions for local government employers (such as cities, counties, and school districts). This directly affects political subdivisions that administer retirement systems for their employees. The bill's key provision is shifting a share of these employer contribution costs from local entities to the state treasury. This would reduce financial burdens on local governments managing retirement plans. The bill is currently stalled in committee after a majority committee report deemed it "inexpedient to legislate."

Maddy summaryHB 65 requires landlords to offer tenants the option of having their rent payments reported to credit bureaus. This directly affects landlords who would need to provide this option and tenants who could use rent payments to build credit. The key provision mandates landlords to inform tenants about this reporting opportunity, making it a choice for tenants rather than an automatic requirement. The bill is currently in committee review, having been referred for interim study with a 16-0 committee vote. It does not require landlords to report payments, only to offer the option to tenants.

Maddy summarySB 182 amends the structure of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee by adding a new member position to its composition. This change directly affects the committee's operational capacity as it reviews cases of maternal death to identify causes and recommend healthcare system improvements. The bill modifies the committee's membership requirements without altering its core function or creating new healthcare mandates. As a procedural amendment, it focuses on strengthening the committee's makeup rather than implementing new policies.