Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka

Maddy summarySB 146 updates procedures for certifying deaths in Massachusetts by clarifying which medical professionals can issue death certificates and when medical examiners must be involved. It directly affects physicians, medical examiners, and funeral homes handling death records. The bill requires physicians to use standardized medical certification forms and mandates medical examiners to review certain deaths (like unexpected or violent cases) before finalizing records. Signed into law on June 10, 2025, it takes effect August 9, 2025, standardizing death certification across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 602 requires certain convicted offenders to participate in a victim impact program as part of their sentence. The program connects offenders with victims or their families to help them understand the personal harm caused by their actions. This law takes effect on January 1, 2026, after passing unanimously through the legislature and being signed by Governor Ayotte. It directly affects individuals convicted of specific offenses who receive court-ordered participation.

Maddy summarySB 198 designates the third week of September as "New Hampshire Service Dog Week" to recognize service dogs and their handlers. This commemorative resolution directly affects service dog users, handlers, and related organizations across the state by establishing an annual awareness period. The bill does not create new legal requirements or funding but formally acknowledges the role of service dogs in supporting individuals with disabilities. It has been referred to committee and is currently under review.

Maddy summarySB 222 sets the effective date for a state primary date change to January 1, 2027. The bill does not alter the actual primary date or voting rules; it only establishes when the change will take effect. This procedural bill directly affects future election administration timelines but does not impact current voting procedures or voters. The summary is based solely on the bill's text and effective date provision.

Maddy summarySB 243 modifies New Hampshire's child care scholarship program by establishing rules for a temporary pilot program. It allows the Department of Health and Human Services to temporarily suspend the pilot if an active waitlist exists (per administrative code) and requires reinstatement when the waitlist ends. The bill also mandates a detailed report by May 2028 to the legislature, covering program usage, costs, funding needs, and improvements. Additionally, it directs the department to study and simplify the application process by November 2026 to reduce unnecessary paperwork for families seeking child care scholarships. This bill directly affects low-income families applying for child care assistance and providers participating in the scholarship program.

Maddy summarySB 170, if passed, would strengthen housing nondiscrimination protections in New Hampshire by adding gender identity, sexual orientation, and school enrollment status to the list of protected classes under state law. It also limits municipal authority over development by prohibiting cities and towns from imposing stricter septic system, well-siting, or utility placement rules than state standards allow, and requires municipalities to provide written feedback on development plans within 7 days. The bill directly affects housing applicants, developers, and local governments by ensuring equal access to housing and streamlining approval processes for utilities in subdivision buffers (excluding wetlands). The bill would take effect January 1, 2026, pending final legislative approval.

Maddy summarySB 230 proposes updates to the legal definitions related to electric utility restructuring and distributed energy resources. The bill establishes a new definition for "Small modular reactors" (SMRs), specifying them as advanced nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 megawatts. It then modifies the definition of "Distributed energy resources" to explicitly include these newly defined SMRs. This change would allow SMRs to be considered among the resources used for strategies like reducing line losses or supporting voltage regulation within the electric distribution system.

Maddy summaryHB 385 modifies voter ID requirements by replacing the previous "challenged voter affidavit" process with new procedures. It allows voters without photo ID to cast ballots by signing an affidavit, but now requires the poll clerk to take a 2x2 inch photo of the voter (unless religious objections apply, using an existing exemption process). Voters must receive an explanation of ID rules, and election systems must log when voters use this affidavit option instead of presenting ID. The bill directly affects voters who lack photo ID at polling places, particularly those with religious objections to photography. It removes the prior "affidavit ballot" system and adds specific photo documentation steps to the voting process.

Maddy summaryHB 363 establishes six specific criteria that New Hampshire legislators must follow when redrawing state legislative districts. The bill requires districts to comply with federal and state constitutions, be based on total population, maintain geographic integrity of communities, and consider "communities of interest" (like shared cultural or economic ties) without favoring political parties or racial groups. It explicitly prohibits plans that intentionally favor or disfavor any political party, incumbent, or racial/ethnic group. This bill directly affects how New Hampshire's state senate and house districts are drawn, ensuring the process prioritizes fairness and legal compliance over partisan or demographic manipulation.