Sen. David Watters

Maddy summarySB 608 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval to add family caregiver support services - including counseling, training, and peer support - to the Acquired Brain Disorder (ABD) and Choices for Independence (CFI) home-care programs. It also eliminates all co-payments for child care scholarships when children are in the care of relatives (like grandparents or other legal guardians), removing financial barriers for kinship caregivers. The bill directly affects family caregivers enrolled in ABD/CFI waiver programs and kinship caregivers receiving child care assistance through state programs. These changes aim to reduce financial burdens for caregivers supporting children at home.

Maddy summarySB 657 creates an AI Analyst position within New Hampshire's Attorney General's office to monitor AI development and investigate deceptive uses, with $150,000 annually allocated for this role. It also establishes an AI Oversight Commission to study AI's impact on labor, health, education, and political campaigns, and to recommend policies. The bill adds civil penalties for businesses or entities using AI deceptively - such as generating misleading content without disclosure - allowing victims to seek damages of $1,000-$25,000 per violation. This directly affects consumers (protected from deceptive AI marketing), workers (monitored for wage or discrimination risks), and businesses (required to disclose AI use in commercial or political contexts).

Maddy summarySB 557 bans the sale of kratom products to anyone under 21 years old and establishes a regulatory framework for businesses selling kratom in New Hampshire. It directly affects retailers, distributors, and manufacturers who must obtain licenses from the Department of Health and Human Services and follow specific rules for product safety and labeling. Key provisions include defining "kratom products," prohibiting sales of kratom as food or beverages, and creating a dedicated fund to support regulation. The bill also clarifies that "contraband" products include those containing harmful substances or misleading labels.

Maddy summarySB 425 lowers the retirement age for the adjutant general and deputy adjutant general from 65 to 64. It changes the adjutant general's term to a maximum of 5 years or until age 64 (previously age cap alone) and sets the deputy adjutant general's term at 4 years or until age 64. The bill also creates a new appointment process for the commandant of the New Hampshire veterans' home, requiring nomination by the home's board of managers and appointment by the governor and council for a 4-year term. These changes directly affect leadership roles in the New Hampshire National Guard and the veterans' home.

Maddy summarySB 503 amends New Hampshire's building code to allow New Hampshire-grown spruce-pine-fir-south (SPFS) lumber - currently graded as a separate, slightly weaker classification - to be used interchangeably with Canadian-sourced spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber in construction. This directly affects local sawmills, loggers, and builders who previously faced higher costs and logistical hurdles when using New Hampshire wood, as it was often exported, regraded as SPF in Canada, and reimported. The key provision requires building codes to accept SPFS lumber (harvested and milled in New Hampshire) wherever SPF is specified, using published SPFS design values for structural calculations. This removes an artificial barrier based on political borders, recognizing that New Hampshire's climate and wood quality are comparable to Canadian SPF. The bill does not change grading standards but ensures local wood meets code requirements without requiring re-importation.

Maddy summaryHB 1190 allows New Hampshire's Division of Motor Vehicles to issue temporary traditional driver's licenses to young drivers (ages 18-20) whose current youth operator licenses expire within 30 days of turning 21. The temporary license is valid for driving only until the driver's 21st birthday, and remains valid for up to 60 days after the expiration of their youth license. Drivers can use a website renewal receipt with their existing license as temporary proof of valid registration during this transition period. This change applies specifically to youth operators transitioning to full driver's licenses upon reaching age 21, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 665 requires pharmacies to charge consumers the lowest available price for prescription drugs at the point of sale, directly affecting patients purchasing medications and pharmacies. The bill defines "lowest available price" as the minimum of the pharmacy’s cash price, the consumer’s insurance cost-sharing amount, or any available discount price at the time of transaction. Pharmacists must determine and disclose this price before completing the sale, and insurers cannot penalize pharmacies for doing so. Violations could result in disciplinary action by the pharmacy board or civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, with the law taking effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 480 prohibits health insurers from requiring prior authorization for the first 12 visits of physical therapy, occupational therapy, or similar rehabilitative services for each new health condition or condition not treated within the previous 60 days. Patients seeking these therapies and their insurers are directly affected by this change. Insurers may still deny coverage if treatment is determined not to be medically necessary. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 640 prohibits using artificial intelligence to provide services requiring a professional license (such as psychology, mental health, or substance abuse counseling) unless those services are delivered by a licensed professional. The bill specifically bans AI from replacing human professionals in direct client interactions, though it allows AI for administrative tasks like scheduling or billing. It also authorizes the Office of Professional Licensure to collect fees to cover enforcement costs for violations. This applies to all licensed professions in New Hampshire, with additional specific rules for psychologists and mental health practitioners.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students in New Hampshire public schools and camps to use over-the-counter sunscreen without a doctor's note or prescription. School and camp staff may assist with application upon parental permission, and the law requires schools to implement age-appropriate skin cancer prevention education covering UV risks and protective measures like sunscreen and sun-protective clothing (e.g., hats). It also protects staff from liability when following these guidelines, addressing current barriers where some schools prohibited sunscreen due to "medication bans."