Sen. Sue Prentiss

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 establishes a pilot program to offer free early cancer screening tests to active and retired firefighters in New Hampshire. The state will provide $5 million to cover costs for optional screenings that may include blood tests, ultrasounds, and lung CT scans, with a preference for vendors capable of detecting multiple cancer types. A committee of firefighter representatives and officials will create a plan to organize these screenings, track results, and report findings to the legislature after 12 and 24 months. Additionally, firefighters who paid for their own screenings after January 1, 2024, may receive reimbursement of up to $1,300. The program is designed to run for up to two years starting July 1, 2024, with all personal data kept confidential.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits healthcare providers from charging patients more than their insurance plan requires for emergency services and certain non-emergency care received at participating facilities. It specifically bans balance billing when a patient receives emergency treatment at an out-of-network hospital or sees an out-of-network doctor, ensuring patients only pay their standard copay or deductible. For non-emergency services at in-network hospitals, the ban applies unless the provider follows specific notice and consent rules to inform the patient about costs beforehand. The legislation also establishes a dispute resolution process to determine fair payment amounts when providers and insurers disagree on costs and adds balance billing violations to the list of unlawful acts under state consumer protection laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state's Injury Prevention Center to issue special multi-use decal plates for motor vehicles. The change allows the center to distribute these plates directly, expanding its ability to provide identification or benefits to eligible drivers. The new plates will become available for use starting on September 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state laws governing the licensing of residential care and health facilities in New Hampshire. It specifically allows a pediatric intermediate care facility that was established before July 1, 2023, to accept two additional residents beyond its current licensed capacity. This temporary authorization remains in effect until June 30, 2026, providing the facility with a limited extension to house more children. The change applies only to this specific type of facility and does not alter the general moratorium on increasing capacity for other nursing or rehabilitation homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of a school transportation vehicle to include private passenger cars used by contracted companies to transport students to public and private schools. It allows school districts and private schools to hire these providers, provided the vehicles are approved by the Department of Safety and driven by certified school bus operators. The legislation also requires stricter background checks for drivers, including criminal history reviews, and mandates that all drivers maintain specific qualification files accessible to the state department. Additionally, the state director gains the authority to inspect these vehicles before they are used to ensure they are fit for transporting children.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians from being fired or disciplined if they miss work to respond to an emergency they witness or encounter while driving to their job. It requires employers to accept a signed statement from the fire or ambulance department chief confirming the employee's response time and return time, though no pay is owed for the missed hours. If an employer violates these rules by terminating or punishing an employee, the law mandates immediate reinstatement with full pay, seniority, and benefits restored. The protection applies to all volunteer, reserve, and intermittent personnel who have not worked more than 975 hours in the previous six months.

Maddy summarySB 354 requires health insurance companies to apply money from independent charity patient assistance programs toward an enrollee's cost-sharing obligations, such as copayments and deductibles. This rule applies to group accident and health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs, but it excludes drugs that have generic or other covered alternatives available. The law also mandates that insurers receive specific details about assistance payments made on behalf of patients, while exempting high-deductible and catastrophic health plans from these requirements until the enrollee's annual deductible is met. Taking effect on January 1, 2026, the bill aims to streamline how charitable funds interact with insurance billing processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without charging patients any deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. The law specifically mandates that these services be provided free of cost-sharing for individuals who have met their annual deductible, while also ensuring that preventive care screenings are covered even before the deductible is met. Diagnostic examinations are defined as medically necessary tests for evaluating abnormalities found during routine screenings, whereas supplemental examinations are for high-risk individuals who have no current abnormalities but need screening based on their personal or family history. Effective January 1, 2025, this legislation removes financial barriers for New Hampshire residents accessing these specific breast health services.