Sen. David Watters

Maddy summarySB 272 allocates state funds to support the installation and operation of electric-vehicle charging stations across the state. It directly affects electric vehicle owners, charging station operators, and local governments seeking to expand infrastructure. The bill establishes a grant program for businesses and public entities to cover a portion of installation costs, prioritizing locations in underserved communities. Key provisions include setting eligibility criteria for applicants and requiring annual reporting on station usage and maintenance. The bill does not create new taxes or alter existing utility regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 211 modifies hunting regulations by expanding the types of game that can be taken with air rifles. It permits the use of air rifles for small game, and now also for moose, bear, or deer. The bill authorizes the executive director to establish specific kinetic energy requirements for air rifles used on these larger animals. Additionally, the executive director will define the methods and manners for using air rifles for small game, moose, bear, or deer through administrative rules. This bill primarily affects hunters and the state's wildlife management agency.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 140 establishes a voluntary "Blue Envelope Program" to improve communication between law enforcement and drivers with autism spectrum or trauma and stressor-related disorders. The Division of Motor Vehicles will design and provide these free envelopes, which include written guidance for effective communication during traffic stops. The envelopes also offer space for a driver's license, registration, emergency contact information, and optional health details. Drivers or their guardians can request an envelope with proof of diagnosis, and it is designed to be displayed on the vehicle's visor for easy access.

Maddy summarySB 171, as amended, proposes to repeal RSA 275:43-a, an existing statute. This law currently mandates that employers pay wages to employees who report to work at the employer's request. If enacted, the bill would remove this specific requirement for wage payment, directly impacting employers and employees by changing the conditions under which wages must be paid for reporting to work.

Maddy summarySB 217 would require cities and towns to post public notices about proposed taxpayer-funded building projects, such as new schools or libraries. These notices would need to be displayed on the front page of official websites and on official social media pages. Each summary would include a statement detailing the average estimated tax impact on residents, calculated per one thousand dollars of equalized valuation. This aims to inform residents about the potential tax implications of new public projects.

Maddy summarySB 228 revises regulations for net energy metering, affecting customer-generators, community solar projects, and municipal entities. It allows customer-generators to participate as group members in net metering arrangements, provided they are not the host. The bill mandates the authorization of at least two new low-moderate income community solar projects annually per utility and triples the aggregate capacity limit for these projects to 18 megawatts. It also refines how group hosts are compensated to ensure payments do not exceed the group's total electricity costs, and expands the definition of "political subdivision" for municipal host eligibility to include nonprofit educational institutions.

Maddy summarySB 230 proposes updates to the legal definitions related to electric utility restructuring and distributed energy resources. The bill establishes a new definition for "Small modular reactors" (SMRs), specifying them as advanced nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 megawatts. It then modifies the definition of "Distributed energy resources" to explicitly include these newly defined SMRs. This change would allow SMRs to be considered among the resources used for strategies like reducing line losses or supporting voltage regulation within the electric distribution system.