Maddy summaryThis bill establishes stricter rules for placing children in state care into residential facilities, prioritizing placement with relatives or in foster homes as the first options. It mandates that residential care be used only as a last resort for children aged 12 and older, unless there is a specific medical or therapeutic need, and requires all such facilities to meet new state certification standards before receiving funding. To enforce these standards, the Department of Health and Human Services will create a team to inspect and certify programs, conduct regular unannounced visits, and report quarterly on their oversight activities and spending. Additionally, the bill requires special approval from the state director before placing any child in a facility outside of New England.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire's safe haven laws to allow parents to anonymously surrender infants up to 61 days old, matching the age limits of other New England states. It expands the definition of safe haven devices to include containers installed in hospitals, police stations, and fire departments, provided they are staffed around the clock and have alarms. The legislation also clarifies that parents who surrender a baby cannot be prosecuted solely based on evidence found during that surrender, while still permitting investigations into other crimes not directly linked to the act of surrendering the child.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal process for the Department of Environmental Services to transfer ownership of state-owned dams to local municipalities or other interested groups before removing them. Under the new rules, the department must offer the dam and its associated rights to the local municipality at least one year in advance, providing detailed information on the dam's condition and repair costs. If the municipality declines or cannot afford the necessary debt, the offer extends to associations of landowners or other public entities capable of maintaining the structure. The department may only proceed with dam removal if no party accepts the transfer, provided the dam is not in imminent danger of failure or removal does not serve a compelling environmental interest.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a faster approval process for modifying existing energy facilities, such as adding battery storage or changing fuel types, without requiring a full new siting review. To qualify for this expedited track, the facility must already be approved, connected to the grid, and located on the same land, while the changes must improve health and safety and stay within current grid capacity limits. The process requires state agencies to complete their reviews within 90 days and mandates a 30-day deadline for the site evaluation committee to determine if an application is complete. Local communities are still informed through public notices and sessions, ensuring that municipal concerns are addressed alongside the streamlined state procedures.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Bradley Haas Act, provides a one-time death benefit of $100,000 to the family of a New Hampshire hospital security officer who is killed while performing their duties. The legislation specifically allocates these funds to the beneficiaries of Bradley Haas, who was fatally shot at a hospital in 2023, and distributes the money according to existing state rules for law enforcement death benefits. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "police officer" for death benefit purposes to include security officers employed directly by the state of New Hampshire. This change ensures that state-employed security guards are eligible for the same financial support as other sworn law enforcement officers if they die in the line of duty.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the state Department of Energy to study whether a standardized formula can replace the current multi-part legal test for setting rates charged to companies that attach equipment to utility poles. If the study concludes that such a formula would fairly cover costs, treat all users equally, and be clear to everyone, the department must create and finalize it by January 1, 2026, followed by a formal rulemaking process to adopt it. To support this work, the bill grants the department authority to require public utilities to keep detailed records of their pole assets and to share this data with the department and other attaching entities. Utilities that have already settled their rates before July 1, 2024, will keep those arrangements in place until the new formula is developed and approved. The law takes effect immediately upon signing.
Maddy summaryThis law updates rules to help preserve available phone numbers within New Hampshire's area code 603. It requires the state Department of Energy to actively manage numbering resources and ensure all phone companies, including modern internet-based services, follow federal pooling guidelines. The bill also mandates that internet voice service providers register with the state before requesting new numbers and allows the department to charge them fees for related investigations. By clarifying that these rules apply to all types of telecommunications carriers, the legislation aims to prevent the exhaustion of local phone number supplies.
Maddy summaryThis bill officially renames a specific stretch of Route 127 in Franklin, New Hampshire, from Central Street to the Sanbornton town line as the Chief Bradley Haas Memorial Highway. The legislation requires the state Department of Transportation to create and install appropriate signs along the designated route, with the design subject to departmental approval. While the City of Franklin is responsible for maintaining these signs, the state covers all costs associated with their design, manufacturing, and installation through general funds. The changes become effective 60 days after the bill is signed into law.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for plumbing apprenticeships in New Hampshire by limiting each plumbing license holder to employing a maximum of two apprentices. It clarifies that a master plumber is not required to register an apprentice in a state-approved program, though such registration is still permitted if the program meets federal Department of Labor standards. The law defines a plumbing apprentice as someone learning to install plumbing and drainage systems under the supervision of a licensed professional. These changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Disproportionate Share Hospital Fund within the Department of Health and Human Services to manage funds designated for hospitals that serve a high volume of low-income and uninsured patients. The law requires that all revenue collected for this specific purpose be placed into a separate account that cannot be used for other expenses. These nonlapsing funds will be continuously allocated to the department to distribute money between hospitals, ensuring they can meet federal requirements for examining their financial status related to uncompensated care. Once signed into law, the fund operates immediately to support the redistribution of resources among eligible healthcare facilities.