Sen. Debra Altschiller

Maddy summarySB 493 allows New Hampshire village districts to create special funds and partner with towns to address harmful algae blooms (cyanobacteria) and water quality issues. It enables villages to jointly fund projects like erosion control, phosphate reduction, and water treatment through shared agreements and access state/federal grants (e.g., RSA 487:15-25). Village districts managing affected water bodies would directly use these provisions to implement mitigation efforts, with funds limited to 1% of annual budgets for unanticipated expenses. The bill focuses on practical tools for local action, not new environmental standards.

Maddy summarySB 597 caps annual electric utility rate increases at 4% above inflation, preventing excessive hikes for New Hampshire residents. It requires the Public Utilities Commission to develop performance-based incentives tied to specific metrics like service reliability, customer satisfaction, grid modernization, and reducing peak demand. The Commission must complete an initial review within one year to establish these incentives and update them every four years. This bill directly affects electric utilities and their customers in New Hampshire, where high utility costs have been a longstanding concern.

Maddy summaryHB 1538 prohibits vape product marketers from using deceptive tactics to target minors. Specifically, it bans imitating food, school supplies, or clothing (e.g., candy packaging or pencil designs), using minor-appealing characters (like cartoon figures or video game icons), or embedding interactive video game features in vape products. The law directly affects vape manufacturers and retailers who market products through these methods. Violations will be handled as civil infractions by the Liquor Commission, with penalties under existing rules. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 666 requires 60 days' advance notice for major health care ownership changes (like hospital sales or private equity acquisitions), with detailed disclosure of ownership, debt, and financial plans. The state department reviews these transactions to prevent harm to competition, costs, or care access, and can block deals that threaten consumers. It also prohibits private equity owners from interfering with doctors' clinical decisions. Additionally, a new committee will study how health insurance practices affect costs and care for the public.

Maddy summarySB 547 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in New Hampshire to increase transparency and fairness in drug pricing. The bill requires PBMs to act in the best interest of health insurance companies (their clients) and bans them from keeping profits from "spread pricing" - where PBMs charge health plans more than they pay pharmacies for drugs. It defines key terms like "affiliate" and "revenue," and mandates that PBMs pass all rebates from drug manufacturers to health plans rather than retaining them. This directly affects PBMs, health insurers, and pharmacies, aiming to address high drug costs (23% of healthcare spending) and patient cost concerns (25% skip doses due to expense).

Maddy summarySB 551 establishes that every individual in New Hampshire has a fundamental right to reproductive health care services permitted under state law, including abortion, contraception, and pregnancy-related care. The bill prohibits state officials from cooperating with out-of-state investigations into such care, protects health care providers from professional discipline for legally provided services, and bans malpractice insurers from considering protected care when setting premiums. It also blocks enforcement of foreign court judgments related to reproductive health care and prevents extradition for legally protected activities. This law directly affects all residents of New Hampshire, health care providers, licensing boards, and state agencies handling reproductive health services.

Maddy summaryHB 1303 authorizes New Hampshire municipalities to adopt local zoning rules for protecting, managing, or replacing tree canopy. These rules could require developers to retain existing trees during construction, plant new trees when trees are removed, or set long-term goals for tree coverage in community planning. The bill gives municipalities the option to implement such rules but does not require them to do so. This policy change directly affects development projects and land use decisions in towns or cities that choose to adopt these provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Hampshire state and local law enforcement officers who assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the federal 287(g) program to display their name or badge number, refrain from wearing facial coverings, and keep body-worn cameras active during these duties. It mandates that law enforcement agencies establish disciplinary measures for officers who violate these requirements and directs all complaints about violations to the state Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Unit for investigation. The bill applies only to officers participating in the 287(g) program and takes effect 60 days after enactment. It does not alter existing requirements for officers not engaged in federal immigration enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 1107 allows New Hampshire towns and school districts to appoint 1-3 alternate members to their municipal budget committees. These alternates, appointed annually by the committee itself, have the same authority as regular members during meetings. The bill amends existing law to formally permit this structure, which previously required committees to operate without alternates. It directly affects all municipalities that establish budget committees under RSA 32:14-15.

Maddy summaryHB 1020 designates Lake Winnipesaukee as New Hampshire's official state lake. This symbolic recognition formally honors the lake's cultural and recreational significance to the state without changing any laws, regulations, or policies. The bill was introduced by multiple legislators and referred to the Resources, Recreation and Development committee. It has no direct impact on residents, businesses, or government operations.