Sen. Debra Altschiller

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 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 summaryThis bill creates a legislative study committee to examine school bullying prevention strategies. The committee, composed of one Senate member (appointed by the Senate President) and three House members (appointed by the Speaker), will study bullying issues and potential solutions. It must submit findings and recommendations to legislative leaders and the governor by November 1, 2026. The bill does not enact new laws but sets a process for future policy decisions.

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.

Maddy summarySB 490 establishes a task force to study the feasibility of building housing on vacant property at Great Bay Community College within the Pease development area. The task force will examine military/student housing models, funding sources, operational plans, and resident needs, specifically for students, faculty, staff, and New Hampshire National Guard personnel. The bill authorizes the college to develop housing on this property, subject to coordination with state agencies. The task force must submit recommendations by December 30, 2026, to the governor and legislature.

Maddy summarySB 577 prohibits public schools in New Hampshire from using specific artificial color additives, such as FD&C Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 5, in school meals and competitive foods served to students. The ban applies to all public elementary and secondary schools and takes effect on January 1, 2028. Schools must adjust food procurement and preparation to avoid these additives, which are listed by the FDA in the bill. The legislation directly changes school food standards without mandating specific alternative foods or ingredients.

Maddy summarySB 523 establishes a registration and oversight system for residential builders in New Hampshire who are not already licensed professionals. It requires these builders (defined as individuals, partnerships, or LLCs working on residential properties with $5,000+ annual revenue) to register, complete 8 hours of approved safety and code training, and renew registration biennially. The bill creates a Board of Builder Registration within the Department of Labor, which will set rules, handle complaints, and oversee a nonprofit administrator (RPA) managing applications and education. This directly affects unlicensed residential construction businesses, adding registration requirements and oversight while excluding those already licensed under existing state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 2025 law requiring New Hampshire to sell the Anna Philbrook Center property in Concord by June 2027. The state currently uses the property for adult transitional housing and office space for about 40 state staff. By removing the sales mandate, the bill prevents the state from collecting an expected $5 million in revenue from the sale while avoiding $75,000-$90,000 in costs related to preparing the property for sale and relocating equipment. The repeal keeps the property under state management without changing its current operational use.