Sen. David Watters

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $500,000 in state funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to support community and transitional housing for individuals served by state-designated community mental health centers. The money can be used to create new housing units or retain existing ones, with grants capped at $25,000 per bed, and the department must begin accepting applications by December 1, 2024. Recipients are required to prioritize assistance for veterans in need while being prohibited from using the funds to provide aid to individuals not legally present in the United States. The funding is intended to cover non-billable services for supported housing programs and remains available for future use if not spent in the current fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to include a plan for safety improvements on Route 101 within the state's 10-year transportation improvement plan. The legislation specifically targets the stretch of road from Bedford to Milford, requiring the implementation of physical barriers to separate opposing traffic lanes and the adoption of limited access design principles to reduce severe crashes. While the bill mandates these planning steps, it does not provide direct funding, instead requesting that the department seek approximately $7 million annually from federal sources to cover the estimated costs of construction and environmental permitting.

Maddy summarySB 307 allows New Hampshire electric distribution utilities to recover the costs of long-term transmission service agreements through retail rates. These agreements would cover projects in New England that have received funding or capacity contracts from the U.S. Department of Energy, with limits set at a total of 120 megawatts and a maximum duration of 30 years. The bill requires utilities to review proposals within three months and mandates that the Public Utilities Commission approve the agreements based on factors like benefits to ratepayers, price stability, and system reliability. If approved, utilities would pass any associated costs or savings directly to their customers through annual adjustments in retail rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of dogs to hunt coyotes in New Hampshire. It directly affects hunters by adding a new rule that makes hounding coyotes with dogs illegal. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and requires no significant funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $250,000 from the state's general fund to the Department of Business and Economic Affairs to hire and train small business development counselors specifically for rural areas of New Hampshire. The funds are designated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and are authorized to remain available until June 30, 2026, allowing the department to draw on the money over that period. The department will use these resources to support existing small business development centers by expanding their staff with counselors trained to assist rural entrepreneurs.

Maddy summaryThis bill would restrict how alcohol is packaged and marketed in New Hampshire to prevent products from appealing to minors or confusing consumers with non-alcohol items. It prohibits using cartoons, toys, or other child-friendly imagery on alcohol packaging and bans designs that mimic trademarked non-alcohol products like logos or brand sounds. Additionally, the bill requires that coupons for alcohol products clearly state they are only for adults of legal drinking age. The state liquor commission would be responsible for creating rules to enforce these new restrictions, and a specific appeal process has been established for disputes regarding these decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Modern Economy Act, would require most group health insurance plans to cover up to six rounds of intrauterine insemination for certificate holders each year, even without a formal infertility diagnosis. It also expands legal protections against sex discrimination to explicitly include pregnancy-related conditions and fertility treatments, mandating that employers allow time off for IVF follow-ups and postpartum care. However, the legislation excludes insurance plans available through the Small Business Health Options Program and those in transition to Affordable Care Act compliance. The measure was ultimately not passed, as it was laid on the table by the House in May 2024 and died when the legislative session ended later that year.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow the state's fish and game commission to establish a special season for hunting coyotes at night, specifying rules on how, when, and where such hunting can occur. It also adds a protection period from April 1 through July 31 to prevent hunting during the time coyote pups are being raised. The legislation does not change existing laws regarding hunting coyotes during the day or in baited areas. Although the bill was introduced, it was ultimately set aside and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have allowed New Hampshire to issue driver's licenses to noncitizens who are legally residing in the state, including those with temporary work or study visas, as well as their spouses and children. Under the proposed rules, applicants would need to provide proof of their legal status, undergo standard driving tests, and submit documentation such as a foreign driving record or social security number if available. The licenses would be valid for no more than five years and would expire when the holder's legal status in the United States ends. Once issued, license holders would be subject to the same traffic laws and regulations as all other drivers. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the governor and the veto was sustained by the state legislature, meaning it did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a report detailing how to expand access to the medications mifepristone and misoprostol. The report must identify potential ways to protect and increase access, outline methods for better public education on these drugs, and list any obstacles currently preventing their availability. The legislation requires the report to be submitted to state legislative leaders by November 1, 2024, without using state general funds, and notes that the department must not violate existing state or federal laws while conducting this study.