Sen. Daryl Abbas

Maddy summaryHB 585 would have modified property tax exemption rules for religious organizations, potentially affecting how such entities qualify for tax relief on their properties. The bill did not advance, as the committee voted 20-0 on October 16, 2025, to declare it "Inexpedient to Legislate." This means the committee determined the bill should not move forward to the full chamber. The measure remains inactive and has no current legislative effect.

Maddy summaryHB 776 designates the Virginia opossum as New Hampshire's official state marsupial (correcting the title's reference to "Virginia" as a drafting error). The bill contains no substantive policy changes to criminal law, despite the misleading title mentioning "aggravated driving while intoxicated." It became law on August 1, 2025 (Chapter 290), taking effect on January 1, 2026, for the marsupial designation, with the effective date for related provisions expiring September 30, 2025. This is a symbolic, non-substantive legislative measure.

Maddy summarySB 291 expands New Hampshire's property tax exemption for religious organizations to include convents, monasteries, and their associated lands and buildings. It allows these properties - owned, used, and occupied directly for religious training or worship by recognized religious groups - to qualify for the exemption, aligning them with existing church and parish properties. The bill specifically covers properties leased for pastor housing allowances and personal property used for religious purposes. This change directly affects religious institutions operating convents or monasteries in New Hampshire that meet the state's incorporation and recognition requirements. The law became effective July 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 218 requires state law enforcement agencies to provide crime victims with a free copy of the police investigation report upon request. This directly affects individuals who have been victims of crime in the state, eliminating fees they previously might have had to pay for these reports. The bill mandates that agencies must issue these reports at no cost within a specified timeframe after a report is filed. It became law on July 22, 2025, and takes effect September 13, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 310 establishes a commission in New Hampshire to study how to create regulations for stable tokens (digital currencies tied to real assets), tokenized real-world assets (like property or commodities represented on blockchain), and blockchain-based trusts. The commission will examine potential regulatory frameworks and make recommendations to the state legislature. The bill was signed into law on July 15, 2025, with its key provisions taking effect on November 1, 2026, allowing time for the commission's work. This bill does not create immediate regulations but sets the stage for future policy decisions on these emerging financial technologies.

Maddy summarySB 24 allows students under age 21 to taste wine during approved educational programs, such as culinary or viticulture classes at schools or colleges. It directly affects students enrolled in these specific educational settings and requires participating institutions to follow state guidelines for wine tasting activities. The bill amends state alcohol laws to create an exception for supervised educational tasting, prohibiting consumption beyond tasting and requiring educational context. The law takes effect on September 13, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 151 updates New Hampshire's accessible parking rules to prevent fraud. It requires that only individuals with valid disability permits (or those transporting permit holders) may use designated parking spaces marked with the accessibility symbol. The bill significantly increases penalties for misuse: a $1,000 fine for first-time use of a counterfeit or stolen permit, rising to $1,500 for repeat offenses. It also clarifies that fines for unauthorized use of accessible spaces now start at $500 (with 50% going to the local town/city), and mandates that free parking privileges for permit holders must be used only when the permit holder is being transported to/from the parking spot. This directly affects drivers using accessible parking and local municipalities collecting enforcement fines.

Maddy summarySB 72 establishes a "Parental Bill of Rights" in New Hampshire law, directly affecting parents of minors (under 18) and public schools. The bill requires schools to provide parents with timely, accurate information about their child's education, health, discipline policies, and assessments, and grants parents specific rights to opt out of health/sex education, surveys, and certain data collection. It prohibits schools or government entities from infringing on parental rights to direct a child's upbringing, education, or health care without demonstrating a compelling state interest and using the least restrictive means. The law aims to clarify parental authority while setting specific disclosure requirements for schools.

Maddy summarySB 209 requires school districts or charter public schools receiving state school building aid for construction projects costing $1.25 million or more to hire an owner's project manager. This manager must carry specific insurance (liability, auto, workers' comp, professional) and the state board of education must establish rules for their qualifications and duties. The law applies directly to school districts and charter schools managing large construction projects funded by state aid. It aims to ensure project managers act in the best interests of school owners during construction or renovation.

Maddy summarySB 30 designates the Virginia opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) as New Hampshire’s official state marsupial, amending state law to recognize this species. The bill directly affects New Hampshire residents and state identity by formally naming the opossum as a symbolic representative of the state. Key provisions include updating legal references to identify opossums found in New Hampshire as "New Hampshire opossums." The bill contains no provisions related to fertilizer penalties - the mention of "fertilizers" in the title appears to be an error, as the actual text focuses solely on the marsupial designation. This is a symbolic, non-regulatory change with no practical impact on policy or enforcement.