Sen. David Watters

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special committee to study emergency mental health services for people aged 21 and under in New Hampshire. The committee, made up of five state legislators, will review current laws, insurance coverage, and claims data to identify gaps in behavioral health care for youth. It will also gather expert testimony and assess whether insurance plans are following fairness rules regarding mental health coverage. By November 1, 2024, the group must submit a report with its findings and any suggested new laws to state leaders and the governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies to cover prosthetic devices, including specialized ones for specific activities, for children under 19 living in the state. The law ensures that these devices come with necessary materials, training, and repairs without annual dollar limits, though it allows insurers to cap the number of activity-specific devices covered per year. Coverage applies to most group and individual health plans but excludes those offered through the Small Business Health Options Program. The changes are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis New Hampshire bill prohibits health insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers, and other payers from treating entities differently because they participate in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. Specifically, the law forbids these payers from imposing stricter network rules or lower reimbursement rates for drugs covered under the program compared to those offered to other providers. The measure directly affects hospitals and clinics that use the 340B program to purchase discounted medications, ensuring they face the same terms as other healthcare entities. By banning discrimination based on this specific federal participation, the bill aims to maintain equal access to reimbursement and network participation for all covered entities in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $672,672.99 from the education trust fund to repair and replace the ventilation and exhaust fan system at the teaching kitchen of the Wilbur H. Palmer Regional Career and Technical Education Center. The funding is specifically designated for the culinary arts program located at Alvirne High School in Hudson. The money will be used for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, and the act becomes effective on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new definitions and rules for prior authorization processes used by health insurance carriers and utilization review entities in New Hampshire. It requires these organizations to create written clinical review criteria based on current medical standards and to update them at least every two years with input from practicing providers. The law mandates that prior authorization requirements be clearly published on carrier websites in plain language and that providers receive at least 60 days' notice before any new restrictions take effect. Additionally, the bill ensures that medical necessity decisions are made by qualified health care providers under the direction of a licensed medical director.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire to submit hate crime reports to the state police at least twice a year. The reports must detail the number of offenses and arrests, and the state police will publish these statistics on their website every 45 days. A hate crime is defined as any offense where an officer suspects the crime was motivated by bias against characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. The law takes effect on September 1, 2024, and applies to all police departments operating within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Hampshire's wastewater engineering laws to clarify how the state funds sewage treatment projects and regulates professional certifications. It expands state financial support to cover engineering services and allows municipalities to receive state contributions for construction costs even without federal grants. The legislation also adjusts fees for reviewing engineering plans and renewing professional certificates, while establishing new rules for prequalifying consulting engineering firms. These changes directly affect local governments, wastewater treatment facilities, and licensed engineering professionals in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for inspecting state dams and creates a new committee to study how to better fund their upkeep. It requires the Department of Environmental Services to regularly inspect dams that could threaten public safety and sets specific conditions under which a dam previously classified as safe must be re-evaluated. The legislation also directs that money earned from leasing or selling state dams be used to pay off existing debt and repair other dams, while establishing a committee of legislators to review current funding methods and propose new solutions by November 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Hampshire residents who will be away from their home for less than six months to designate a mailing address outside the state for receiving correspondence from the Department of Motor Vehicles. To use this option, individuals must submit a specific request form approved by the director, and the department will not mail original driver licenses or ID cards to these out-of-state locations. The change aims to ensure that temporary residents can still receive necessary mail without needing to update their legal residence address.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires applicants seeking permits for solid waste management facilities in New Hampshire to undergo criminal background checks. Under the new rules, the Department of Environmental Services can request that the Attorney General investigate the criminal records and performance history of the applicant, its officers, directors, and any individuals with managerial or decision-making authority. The cost of these investigations will be paid by the facility applicants rather than the state. This change aims to ensure that those responsible for managing solid waste operations have no disqualifying criminal history before a permit is granted.