Sen. David Watters

Maddy summaryHB 1123 requires companies with 50 or more employees in New Hampshire to list both the minimum and maximum annual salary ranges, along with a general description of benefits, in all public job postings. Employers must provide concrete salary figures (not vague terms like "competitive") and cannot use open-ended ranges. If an employer does not negotiate salaries for a position, they must state a fixed pay rate. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 406 appropriates $20 million from the state General Fund to the city of Nashua for purchasing the former Daniel Webster College property. The bill states this property, currently owned by a foreign entity near Nashua's airport (deemed critical infrastructure), must be acquired to prevent foreign ownership near sensitive infrastructure. The funds are designated for the 2026-2027 biennium and will be drawn directly from the state treasury. This is a direct funding mechanism with no revenue impact on the state.

Maddy summarySB 637 creates a tax credit for New Hampshire grocery stores that purchase at least 10% of their products from registered local farms, requiring them to reduce prices on those items by 10%. The credit equals 10% of qualifying purchases and can offset the store’s business profits tax liability, with unused portions carryable for up to five years. Grocery stores must verify purchases from farms in a voluntary state registry and provide proof of price discounts. This policy directly affects grocery stores and supports New Hampshire farms by incentivizing local sourcing.

Maddy summaryHB 1796 creates a regulated program allowing the therapeutic use of psilocybin in clinical settings to treat specific medical conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, and end-of-life care. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a regulatory board and license qualified medical providers, cultivation facilities, and testing laboratories. It sets standards for administration sessions (including preparation, the session itself, and integration) and mandates reporting of adverse events. This program will make psilocybin treatment available to eligible patients under medical supervision in approved settings.

Maddy summarySB 123 requires New Hampshire's Medicaid program to cover ear acupuncture as a treatment for substance misuse, including during detox and for opioid addiction or other substance use disorders. This policy change directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries diagnosed with substance use disorders who choose this treatment option. The bill mandates adding ear acupuncture to the list of covered services under the state Medicaid plan, with implementation required by January 1, 2026. The state will cover the cost through existing Medicaid funding streams, with federal funds covering most expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Hampshire towns and cities to collect a fee of up to $2 per day on hotel and room rentals priced above $40 per night, for up to 184 consecutive days per stay. Municipalities must hold a public hearing and obtain voter approval through a town meeting or city council vote before implementing the fee. Revenues must be deposited into a dedicated tourism or capital improvement fund to support services related to increased tourism and transient traffic, and cannot be used as general fund surplus. The fee applies only to rentals exceeding $40 daily, with no fee collected on lower-priced stays.

Maddy summarySB 618 requires drivers with repeated speeding violations - such as those suspended for excessive speeding (over 100 mph on highways or 50+ mph over limits on other roads) or multiple tickets - to install a GPS-based speed-limiting device (called an "intelligent speed assistance" or ISA device) as a condition for regaining their driver’s license. The device must actively prevent speeding by restricting vehicle speed to posted limits and cannot be tampered with, with data shared only under strict court or legal requirements. Offenders must pay for the device unless they qualify for affordability programs (e.g., low-income status via TANF, SNAP, or 150% of federal poverty level), and the device must remain active for at least 12 months after license reinstatement. This bill directly affects repeat speeding offenders in New Hampshire, focusing on behavioral correction through technology rather than new fines or jail time.

Maddy summarySB 471 allows New Hampshire municipalities to impose fees on new developments (like subdivisions or buildings) that don’t meet local affordable housing requirements. These fees must be kept separate from general funds and spent *only* on affordable housing projects through specific entities like the NH Housing Finance Authority or local housing authorities. Fees are collected when planning approvals or building permits are issued, and municipalities must report annual spending. The bill requires fees to directly address local affordable housing needs without altering existing planning board authority.

Maddy summarySB 636 creates tax credits for small businesses facing increased costs due to federal tariffs. Qualifying businesses - manufacturers with fewer than 50 employees or non-manufacturers with average annual revenue under $500,000 - can claim a credit equal to 25% of documented tariff-related costs (e.g., via invoices or supplier certifications), up to $7,500 per business annually. The total state spending on these credits is capped at $8 million per fiscal year, with applications processed in order of receipt and prorated if the cap is exceeded. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to three years, but credits are non-refundable and applied first against business profits tax.

Maddy summarySB 638 establishes a small business tariff stabilization fund to provide financial assistance to New Hampshire small businesses affected by reduced revenue from tariffs and trade disruptions. The fund, initially funded with $2.5 million from the General Fund, will distribute grants to support businesses facing supply chain issues or increased costs due to tariffs, specifically targeting those committed to avoiding layoffs. It directly benefits small businesses (defined per U.S. Small Business Administration standards) operating primarily in New Hampshire that have experienced revenue declines linked to lower exports to Canada and tourism impacts. The fund is separate from other state funds, non-lapsing, and will be managed by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs starting January 1, 2027.