Sen. David Watters

Maddy summarySB 633 creates a voluntary $0.50-per-ticket surcharge for New Hampshire performing arts venues with 100-2,500 seats that choose to participate. Venues can add this to ticket prices, and all collected funds will go into a dedicated account managed by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The money supports the Division of Arts and State Council on Arts through grants, administrative costs, and program funding - no other uses are allowed. The program is optional for venues, requires no taxpayer money, and has minimal fiscal impact (under $10,000 annually).

Maddy summarySB 421 amends New Hampshire's trauma medical review committee membership and adds an annual reporting requirement. The bill specifies that the committee must include representatives from all trauma hospital levels (I-IV), emergency medical services groups, trauma nurses, fire services, and a trauma survivor. It also requires the committee to annually report to the governor on trauma hospital locations and levels, committee recommendations for system improvement, and data on leading causes of injury and death from both intentional and unintentional causes. This bill directly affects trauma hospitals, medical providers, emergency services, and injury prevention stakeholders in New Hampshire.

Maddy summarySB 515 requires that children placed in specialized treatment facilities (qualified residential treatment programs) receive a qualified assessment within 30 days and have their placement reviewed by a court within 60 days. It directly affects children in juvenile court cases involving such placements, their families, and the courts handling these matters. The bill also allows court proceedings to continue if a child’s legal counsel cannot be secured after diligent efforts, while prioritizing issues not affecting the child’s expressed interests. These changes align state law with federal requirements under the Family First Prevention Services Act and aim to ensure timely oversight of children’s care. The bill has no fiscal impact on state or local government.

Maddy summaryHB 1091 requires New Hampshire towns and cities to offer nonmonetary penalties (such as community service) as an alternative to fines for violations of local rules prohibiting sleeping or camping outdoors. It directly affects individuals cited under municipal ordinances for outdoor sleeping or camping, replacing the current option of only financial penalties. The bill mandates that towns must include this nonmonetary penalty choice in their enforcement of such ordinances, while still allowing fines as an option. This change applies to all relevant local rules and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1494 increases the maximum allowable amounts for three optional local tax credits in New Hampshire: the veterans' credit ($750 → $1,000), combat service credit ($500 → $750), and surviving spouse credit ($2,000 → $2,500). These credits directly affect eligible veterans, active-duty service members in combat roles, and surviving spouses of service members killed in action. Municipalities must adopt the updated credit amounts (replacing the standard credits), and the surviving spouse credit now covers all property types (real and personal) in the resident's municipality. The changes take effect April 1, 2027, with no requirement for local re-adoption.

Maddy summarySB 460 prohibits registered sex offenders required to register under RSA 651-B for sexual offenses against children under 13 from knowingly appearing within 1,000 feet of certain locations - such as childcare facilities, churches, schools, or areas where children gather - when circumstances would alarm nearby residents. The law applies specifically to tier II and tier III offenders and takes effect January 1, 2027. It creates a new criminal violation for these prohibited appearances, with no direct state or local funding impacts identified. The bill was requested by the Department of Safety and aligns with existing registration requirements for sex offenders.

Maddy summarySB 512 requires courts to waive the $125 filing fee for individuals seeking to annul criminal records related to charges that resulted in a not-guilty verdict, case dismissal, or lack of prosecution. It directly affects people with unresolved criminal charges that didn’t lead to conviction, removing a financial barrier to clearing their records. The bill amends state law to mandate fee waivers when petitioners provide proof of these outcomes, streamlining the annulment process. The change takes effect January 1, 2027, and aims to support rehabilitation by reducing costs for affected individuals.

Maddy summarySB 473 defines "field officers" in the Army National Guard as officers holding the rank of lieutenant colonel or colonel for promotion and appointment purposes. This bill directly affects National Guard officers seeking advancement within those specific ranks. It amends state law to clarify the term, ensuring consistent application during promotion processes. The bill is procedural, with no substantive policy changes beyond the definition. It takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 642 repeals New Hampshire's Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects and its associated rulemaking authority. The bill ends a committee responsible for overseeing research involving human participants, requested by the Department of Health and Human Services. This repeal will save approximately $59,000 annually by ending a $63,000 yearly contract with the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, while retaining $4,000 for federal record-keeping compliance. The change affects administrative functions related to human subjects research oversight but does not alter research regulations.

Maddy summarySB 472 removes the maximum age limit (currently 65 years) for the deputy adjutant general position within New Hampshire's Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services. This change directly affects the deputy adjutant general, who oversees state military operations and must have prior National Guard or military service. The bill amends RSA 110-B:8-b by deleting the phrase "or until the officer has reached the age of 65 years" from the tenure provisions. The change allows the appointee to serve beyond age 65, subject to reappointment and other existing requirements like minimum rank and service history. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.