Sen. Bill Gannon

Maddy summaryHB 560 is a multi-topic bill that bundles four distinct policy proposals. It would allow parents access to their minor children's medical records, impose penalties for refusing alcohol concentration testing, define how pre-sequestration timber tax revenue is handled, and establish a moratorium on carbon sequestration projects in New Hampshire forests while creating a commission to study their impact on tax revenue and the logging industry. The bill does not create a single unified policy but combines these separate provisions. Key mechanisms include new parental access rules for medical records, penalties for refusing alcohol tests, and a temporary pause on carbon sequestration projects with a mandated study. This bill directly affects parents, healthcare providers, drivers facing alcohol testing, and entities involved in forestry and carbon sequestration in New Hampshire.

Maddy summaryHB 421 requires town officials or offices to provide specific notice regarding tax exemption filings. It directly affects local municipal staff who process tax-exempt status applications. The bill establishes clear procedures for notifying applicants about filing requirements and deadlines. This is a procedural change focused on improving transparency in local tax exemption processes. (Note: The bill's specific notice requirements are described only in its title; no detailed provisions are provided in the context.)

Maddy summaryHB 138 requires towns and cities to clearly state "multi-year tax impact" in warrant articles when a proposed tax measure affects budgets across multiple years. This applies directly to local governments preparing town meeting ballots, ensuring voters understand if a tax vote will impact future budgets. The key provision mandates adding this specific notation to warrant articles, making the long-term financial effect transparent. The bill was signed into law by Governor Ayotte on July 1, 2025, and takes effect August 30, 2025. It does not change tax rates or policies, only the required disclosure language for multi-year tax proposals.

Maddy summarySB 292 revises New Hampshire's funding formula for special education costs, providing state aid to school districts when their special education expenses exceed 3.5 times the state's average per-pupil cost for the prior school year. Districts are responsible for costs up to 3.5 times the average plus 20% of additional costs (capped at 10 times the average), with the state covering the rest through automatic entitlement. The bill allocates $250,000 annually for emergency aid to small districts (under 1,000 residents) facing financial harm from special education costs, and specifies that unused emergency funds must support broader special education cost increases. It takes effect August 24, 2025, and is funded from the state education trust fund.

Maddy summaryHB 64 extends hiring preferences for military members and their spouses to both state government positions and private businesses. It also establishes purchase preferences for disabled veterans and military spouses when the state makes supply purchases. The bill directly affects veterans, military families, and employers by requiring state agencies and private businesses to prioritize these groups in hiring and procurement decisions. Signed into law on June 23, 2025, it takes effect August 22, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 206 requires all public school districts and chartered public schools in New Hampshire to create and implement policies banning student use of personal cell phones and electronic devices during instructional hours - from the first bell until the dismissal bell. The policy must include approved exceptions for medical needs (like insulin pumps), disabilities (per IEPs or 504 plans), or language support programs for multilingual students. Schools must develop these policies with input from parents and teachers and review them annually. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 210 primarily creates a statewide open enrollment system, allowing New Hampshire parents to transfer children to any public school district within the state without tuition fees. It amends residency rules to clarify legal residence for school attendance and requires districts to publicly report school capacities and enrollment decisions. The bill establishes that military-connected students receive admission preference over non-residents and mandates districts to post capacity data monthly. The bill’s title mentions bullying prevention, but the text contains no actual provisions addressing bullying; the focus is solely on expanding school choice through open enrollment mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 96 requires New Hampshire school employees (like teachers) to respond in writing to parent inquiries about their child within 5 school days, answering completely and honestly where permitted by law. School districts may withhold information only if disclosure could cause abuse, neglect, or abandonment (with written documentation), but must otherwise provide full responses. This directly affects parents seeking information about their child’s education and school staff who must follow these communication rules. Violations would be treated as breaches of educator conduct standards. The bill is currently pending in committee.

Maddy summarySB 141 extends the deadline for criminal defendants to petition for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence or forensic testing. It allows petitions up to 3 years after conviction, with exceptions for cases involving new forensic methods, scientific understanding, or evidence not available at trial. To qualify, petitioners must prove innocence under penalty of perjury and demonstrate how the new evidence would exonerate them. The bill directly affects incarcerated individuals convicted of felonies who seek to challenge their convictions using evidence unavailable at trial. It does not address library records, as the title's mention of "library cards" appears inconsistent with the bill's actual content.

Maddy summarySB 60 addresses two separate policy areas: it modifies rules for "advanced deposit account wagering" (a form of online gambling) and clarifies the Department of Health and Human Services' authority to set immunization requirements. The bill directly affects gambling operators subject to these wagering rules and healthcare providers or facilities that must follow immunization regulations. Key provisions include updating gambling regulations and explicitly defining the Department's rulemaking power for immunization standards. The bill appears to bundle these unrelated topics into a single legislative measure. (Note: The title suggests these are distinct provisions within the same bill, but the context does not detail specific mechanisms or affected groups beyond the general scope.)