Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka

Maddy summaryHB 1195 requires New Hampshire municipalities to allow child care centers (such as group centers, preschools, and school-age programs) to operate on commercially zoned land without special permits, provided they meet state licensing standards set by the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill defines "child care center" to exclude family day care homes (run from residences) and specifies that municipalities cannot impose additional zoning rules beyond state requirements. It also exempts centers from certain building restrictions when converting existing structures (without altering size) and permits local restrictions in industrial zones if child care conflicts with existing uses. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 670 establishes a Developmental Services Oversight Commission to monitor health and safety for individuals receiving home and community-based developmental services in New Hampshire. The commission, composed of 15 members including legislative representatives, agency staff, service providers, parents, and people receiving services, will review data from the Department of Health and Human Services and make recommendations to improve outcomes. Key duties include analyzing satisfaction surveys, training requirements, licensing data, and waiver performance measures, with annual reports due starting November 2026. The bill also creates a new $52,000 position to support the commission and amends related reporting requirements for vulnerable adult fatality reviews and child deaths in residential care.

Maddy summarySB 663 creates a working group within New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to study Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes. The group, including state officials and healthcare associations, will examine issues like access to care, staffing needs, infrastructure costs, and fair rate adjustments during ownership changes. It also allocates $5 million for a one-time payment to licensed nursing facilities serving Medicaid patients that saw their daily reimbursement rates drop below 95% of 2025 rates as of January 1, 2026. The working group must submit recommendations by December 2026, with the department having sole discretion over distributing the funds.

Maddy summarySB 453 allows advanced practice registered nurses and physician associates to certify two specific medical needs currently only permitted for physicians. It extends vehicle equipment waivers for people with disabilities from 2 to 4 years when such nurses or associates certify "lasting medical necessity." It also permits these professionals to exempt children from certain immunizations if they certify that a specific vaccine could harm the child’s health. These changes update existing laws (RSA 266:61-a and RSA 141-C:20-c) to expand who can make these certifications, directly affecting disabled drivers seeking vehicle modifications and parents navigating school immunization requirements.

Maddy summarySB 540 defines "portable solar generation devices" as movable solar units under 1,200 watts that plug into standard home outlets to offset personal electricity use. The bill exempts these devices from utility interconnection rules and net metering requirements, while requiring safety standards like anti-islanding protection (UL 1741/IEEE 1547) and compliance with building codes. Electric utilities cannot demand approval, fees, or extra equipment for compliant devices, and the bill limits utility liability for customer-installed devices. This directly affects homeowners using small portable solar systems, simplifying their installation without utility oversight.

Maddy summarySB 408 requires health insurance policies in New Hampshire to cover prosthetic devices for adults over 19, expanding existing coverage that previously applied only to children under 19. The bill mandates coverage for activity-specific prosthetics (like those for sports) but limits this to one device every five years. It also requires insurers to cover necessary materials, instruction, and repairs for medically needed prosthetics, without annual limits. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to most group health insurance plans, excluding Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) plans.

Maddy summarySB 438 (2026 Session) enables the Department of Safety and Secretary of State to create a secure process for sharing photo images and U.S. citizenship information from REAL ID applicants who are applying for an *enhanced* identification card. This information would be used by election officials to verify voter identity at polling places, satisfying existing proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting. Applicants can opt out or withdraw consent at any time, and the system must be operational by January 1, 2027. The bill specifically affects applicants for enhanced REAL ID cards, not all voters, and does not impact voter registration status.

Maddy summarySB 448 modifies New Hampshire's definition of "veteran" to include individuals discharged under honorable conditions (including those with a general discharge under honorable conditions), ensuring they qualify for state benefits. It establishes a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license for state-resident veterans meeting this definition, with a one-time fee adjusted based on the veteran's service-connected disability rating. This replaces annual license fees with a single payment, directly benefiting disabled veterans who previously faced eligibility barriers. The bill also updates multiple state statutes to align with the revised veteran definition, ensuring consistency across programs like employment preferences and tax exemptions.

Maddy summarySB 614 establishes shared insurance programs (pooled risk management) for child care centers and foster family homes to reduce their insurance costs. It requires at least 10 facilities to form a pool, allowing them to collectively manage risks like liability, property damage, and workers' compensation. The program must operate as a legal entity under New Hampshire law, undergo annual financial audits, and be exempt from standard state insurance regulation and taxation. This directly affects child care centers and foster family homes by providing a lower-cost alternative to traditional insurance through collective risk-sharing.

Maddy summarySB 415 amends New Hampshire law to increase the maximum number of units eligible for a specific condominium exemption from 10 to 50 units. This change directly affects condominium associations with 11-50 units that previously did not qualify under the exemption, while explicitly excluding time-sharing condominiums from this provision. The bill modifies RSA 356-B:49, section (a), to reflect the updated unit limit. It will take effect 60 days after enactment.