Sen. Sue Prentiss

Maddy summarySB 543 establishes the State Environmental Adaptation, Resilience, and Innovation Advisory Council to help New Hampshire prepare for environmental changes like rising sea levels and extreme weather. The council consists of representatives from various state agencies, local governments, and environmental organizations, and it is required to meet at least twice a year. Its primary tasks include creating maps of vulnerable areas, reviewing state plans to ensure they account for climate risks, and developing strategies to protect public health and infrastructure. The bill also directs the council to consider how environmental shifts might disproportionately affect at-risk populations and to promote the efficient use of public funds. Although the bill was vetoed by the governor, the legislature overrode the veto, making the council and its duties official law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would regulate wakeboating and wakesports in New Hampshire by defining specific terms and establishing safety rules for these activities. It prohibits wakesports between sunset and sunrise, on waters smaller than 50 acres, within 500 feet of shorelines, and in areas less than 20 feet deep. The legislation also bans wakesports behind boats with propulsion systems extending beyond the swim platform and requires the state commissioner to create maps identifying legal zones for these activities. Although the bill passed committee review, it was ultimately removed from consideration and did not become law before the legislative session ended.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal preference for keeping children in New Hampshire and placing them with their siblings whenever possible, unless doing so would endanger them. It modifies custody rules for parents not charged with abuse or neglect by creating a rebuttable presumption that they are fit to care for their children, requiring the state to prove unfitness with specific evidence. The legislation also sets a clear order of preference for out-of-home placements, prioritizing relatives, community-based foster homes, and schools of origin over group or residential care. Additionally, it mandates that psychological evaluations be conducted by trauma-specialized psychologists and clarifies that firearm ownership alone does not make a home unsafe if federal and state laws are followed.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes two primary changes to how the Department of Health and Human Services manages funding. First, it allows Medicaid to reimburse ambulance providers for emergency calls where patients receive treatment at the scene without being transported to a hospital, provided specific conditions regarding patient consent and stability are met. Second, it appropriates $500,000 to support recreational activities for adults with developmental disabilities who have exited the school system, covering costs that Medicaid does not currently reimburse. The funds are intended to help these individuals participate in community activities that promote socialization and wellness, with a payment limit of $600 per person and requirements for the department to report on how the money is used.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the disposal of wet-cell batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and electronic devices in New Hampshire's solid waste landfills, incinerators, and composting facilities. To help facilities comply, the law requires them to post informational signs or notify customers about the ban, while also mandating that local governments and waste operators provide educational materials and recycling opportunities. The legislation further clarifies legal definitions for terms like "computer" and "electronic device" to specify which items are covered and which are excluded, such as those built into household appliances. These changes are designed to reduce hazardous waste and promote recycling, with the rules taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis law expands food assistance programs by ensuring eligible families receive summer benefits on EBT cards and simplifying the application process for elderly SNAP recipients. To support these efforts, the state allocates specific funds for administrative, technology, and outreach costs related to the summer programs. Additionally, the bill establishes a new emergency recovery fund to help municipalities quickly access cash after natural disasters, allowing them to secure federal aid and repair infrastructure. The governor is also granted the authority to declare disasters in affected municipalities to trigger these relief measures.

Maddy summaryThis law requires schools with grades 4 through 12 to create detailed emergency plans for handling serious sports injuries. These plans must list trained staff, identify locations of medical equipment like automated external defibrillators, and outline steps for treating heat stroke and other specific health conditions. Schools must also share these plans with local emergency services and keep medical records for student athletes on file while protecting their privacy. The new rules for having CPR-trained supervisors on the field for older students begin in August 2025, while other requirements start in August 2024.

Maddy summaryThis law requires the state to raise Medicaid payment rates for prosthetic and orthotic devices so they are at least 90% of the rates paid by Medicare, starting July 1, 2024. To achieve this, the state will use $620,000 in funding to adjust payments and must report its progress to a health oversight committee by November 1, 2024. An annual review will also be conducted to ensure these rates remain adequate compared to typical market costs and to close any remaining gaps between Medicaid and Medicare payments. The changes directly affect patients who need braces, hearing aids, or other medical devices and the providers who supply them.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for licensing and regulating physicians in New Hampshire, directly affecting medical professionals seeking to practice or renew their licenses. It requires all applicants to submit fingerprints and undergo a criminal history background check, while also allowing the state board to assess civil penalties for unauthorized practice or violations. The legislation streamlines the licensing process by waiving exam requirements for doctors already certified by major national medical boards and clarifies the procedures for issuing various license types, including temporary and training licenses. Additionally, it establishes specific criteria for granting unrestricted permanent licenses and outlines the conditions under which the board can issue restricted or courtesy licenses.