Sen. Bill Gannon

Maddy summaryHB 1191 requires New Hampshire public school districts to email parents copies of all non-academic surveys at least 10 days before administration and obtain written parental consent for student participation. It specifically removes the previous exception that allowed the CDC's youth risk behavior survey to bypass parental consent, now requiring opt-in consent for all such surveys. Non-academic surveys include those about social behavior, family life, religion, politics, sexual orientation, drug use, or other non-academic topics. The bill directly affects parents of public school students and school districts, mandating new notification and consent procedures starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 553 increases penalties for drivers who willfully attempt to evade law enforcement by speeding, turning off headlights while moving, or abandoning their vehicle during a chase. Offenders will face a mandatory 5-day jail term (with no probation or deferred sentencing) and a driver's license suspension of at least six months. This law directly affects individuals who use these specific tactics to avoid police pursuit. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 301 proposes creating a new joint legislative oversight committee. This bill is procedural in nature, focusing solely on establishing the committee structure rather than implementing policy changes. The bill was recently referred to an interim study (scheduled for January 7, 2026), indicating it is still in the early stages of the legislative process. It does not specify which agencies or programs the committee would oversee or directly affect any particular group.

Maddy summaryHB 232 seeks to protect medical professionals' rights to refuse providing certain medical services based on personal beliefs, such as specific procedures or treatments. It directly affects doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who may object to participating in services conflicting with their conscience. The bill would establish legal protections preventing employers or institutions from forcing such professionals to provide those services, while requiring referrals to other providers. This is a policy change focused on expanding professional autonomy in healthcare decision-making.

Maddy summaryHB 121 requires every local school district to establish a parent advisory council for special education. These councils must include parents of students with disabilities and provide input on district special education programs and services. The bill mandates that districts create these councils within 12 months of the law taking effect, ensuring parents directly affected by special education decisions have a formal role in shaping policies. The legislation does not specify council size or meeting frequency but requires districts to adopt procedures for council operations.

Maddy summarySB 211 requires New Hampshire public schools to establish eligibility rules for female-designated sports programs, directly affecting student athletes in those programs. The bill mandates that schools cannot exclude students solely based on transgender status but sets specific criteria: students must identify as female in daily life, not transfer teams mid-season for competitive advantage, and meet other criteria tied to the sport's educational purpose. It also requires all schools to adopt privacy policies by September 2025, allowing any student needing increased privacy (regardless of reason) to access single-stall restrooms or private changing areas. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all public school sports programs in the state.

Maddy summarySB 33, titled the "Right To Challenge Act," requires New Hampshire public school districts to establish policies by September 1, 2026, restricting materials deemed "harmful to minors" in schools. It defines such materials as those depicting nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse in a way that appeals to minors' prurient interest, lacks serious value for them, and is inappropriate for their age. School boards must create complaint procedures allowing parents to submit written concerns about materials, requiring schools to investigate within 10 days and respond in writing within 15 days with their decision. The bill directly affects school districts, educators, and parents seeking to challenge materials in school settings.

Maddy summarySB 34 requires written parental consent for each new medical service (defined by a new ICD code) provided to Medicaid-enrolled students through the Medicaid to Schools program. It mandates an annual report to state lawmakers detailing the program's costs and enrollment. The bill also states the program terminates statewide if federal or state policy opposes parental control over children's medical services, or in a single school district if local policy changes. This directly affects Medicaid-enrolled students and their parents in schools participating in the program.

Maddy summarySB 36 requires health care providers and medical facilities to collect and report standardized abortion statistics to the state health department. It directly affects hospitals, clinics, and physicians performing abortions by mandating specific data collection on procedures, including patient demographics and gestational age. The bill establishes a uniform reporting system to track abortion data, replacing inconsistent current practices. This focuses on improving data accuracy for public health analysis, not altering abortion access or policy.

Maddy summarySB 134 requires New Hampshire Medicaid applicants (specifically those subject to federal work requirements under Public Law 119-21) to provide documentary evidence proving they meet work or community engagement standards at application and quarterly thereafter. It prohibits self-attestation for verification and mandates strict medical exemptions only for conditions certified by healthcare providers (e.g., physical/mental disabilities significantly impacting daily living). Individuals failing to comply face a 30-day notice period before potential disenrollment from Medicaid. The bill aligns state implementation with federal requirements, explicitly stating federal law supersedes state provisions if conflicts arise.