Sen. David Watters

Maddy summarySB 587, the "Fair Maps Act," establishes new requirements for public input during New Hampshire's redistricting process for congressional, state senate, state house, and executive council districts. The bill mandates at least 10 public hearings before a redistricting plan is proposed and at least 3 additional hearings after a plan is proposed but before voting, with specific rules for scheduling, location, and remote participation. Hearings must occur in convenient times and locations, include at least one per county, prioritize areas with significant population shifts, and allow remote public testimony. All public comments on proposed plans must be made available online for transparency, with duplicative or inappropriate content excluded.

Maddy summarySB 419 expands the "housing champion" designation to include local governments that adopt zoning rules allowing child care centers near jobs (like on commercially zoned land without special permits, meeting health department standards). It allocates $5 million to the housing champion program fund and $10 million to the affordable housing fund for the 2026-2027 biennium, both non-lapsing. These funds will support affordable housing projects and local efforts to improve housing access. The bill directly affects towns and cities that change zoning to integrate childcare with commercial development.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates existing premiums for New Hampshire's Medicaid programs (Granite Advantage for adults and CHIP for children) and limits any cost-sharing fees under expanded Medicaid to $5 per service. It repeals current premium requirements that generated approximately $16 million annually in state revenue, requiring a $16 million appropriation in FY2027 to offset this loss. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, with the $5 cost-sharing cap applying starting October 1, 2028. The bill directly affects current Medicaid recipients by removing premium payments and modifies state budgeting for the Medicaid program.

Maddy summaryHB 1198 establishes a program to manage paint consumers no longer want (postconsumer paint) by requiring paint manufacturers to create and fund a stewardship plan. The plan must detail how to collect, recycle, or responsibly dispose of unused paint, include a fee added to each paint purchase, and cover consumer education. Manufacturers must submit their approved plans to the state environmental agency within 12 months, and retailers can only sell paint if the manufacturer has an approved plan. This directly affects paint manufacturers, retailers, and voluntary collection sites that participate.

Maddy summarySB 604 appropriates $14 million to New Hampshire's University System for fiscal year 2027 to restore funding reduced in 2025, and $3.5 million to the Community College System to maintain a freeze on credit-hour tuition rates. The bill directly affects public universities and community colleges in the state, providing concrete funding for operations and tuition stability. It authorizes the governor to draw these funds from the General Fund, effective July 1, 2026, with no additional revenue impact.

Maddy summarySB 437 requires election officials to add a new line to their voter registration reports that tracks how many people were denied registration due to missing required documents, such as proof of age, citizenship, or residency. Officials would also note whether the denial specifically related to inability to prove age, citizenship, domicile, or identity. This bill does not change voter registration rules but mandates this standardized reporting for transparency. The requirement applies to all election officials submitting these reports under New Hampshire law.

Maddy summaryHB 1664 directs New Hampshire’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to remove the Hannah Duston Memorial and its historic marker in Boscawen. The bill states the memorial distorts history by not acknowledging Native American perspectives and glorifies the violent act of scalping and killing 10 Native people (including six children), as described in the memorial’s legend. The department must remove the memorial and marker, with options to destroy them or store them for potential future display in an accurate, objective manner that respects all historical participants. This bill specifically targets the physical memorial site, not broader historical narratives or policies.

Maddy summarySB 189 updates New Hampshire's requirements for documenting and reporting fetal deaths. The bill mandates that hospitals and medical providers file electronic fetal death reports for deaths occurring in facilities, or paper worksheets for non-facility deaths, with specific details including fetal information, maternal health history, and disposition methods. It revises procedures for completing paternity affidavits to add fathers' names to records and updates burial permit requirements for fetal remains. These changes affect hospitals, healthcare providers, and the Division of Vital Records, streamlining documentation while adding standardized data collection. The bill was requested by the secretary of state to modernize existing procedures.

Maddy summarySB 651 would legalize cannabis use for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire, requiring businesses to obtain licenses and follow regulations similar to alcohol, including age verification for purchases, product testing, and labeling. It establishes a new cannabis tax fund, with revenue from sales allocated to support substance abuse prevention, treatment, and education programs through a dedicated fund managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. These programs would cover evidence-based initiatives, mental health services for dual-diagnosis cases, and public education campaigns about cannabis risks for both youth and adults. The bill mandates annual reporting on fund usage and ensures tax revenue directly supports state efforts to address substance misuse.

Maddy summarySB 186 is a procedural bill authorizing the joint legislative historical committee to accept and hang a portrait of Senator Jeb Bradley in the New Hampshire State House. The bill specifically addresses a gift of Senator Bradley's portrait and does not establish a general rule about portraits (contrary to the misleading title). It requires no changes to existing law beyond this single exception for Senator Bradley's portrait. The bill is sponsored by multiple senators and would take effect upon passage.