Sen. Dan Innis

Maddy summarySB 78 amends New Hampshire law to set a specific 45-day deadline for filing appeals to a zoning board of adjustment, replacing the previous vague "reasonable time" standard. This directly affects applicants, property owners (abutters), and local government officials who wish to challenge zoning decisions made by municipal administrative officers. The key provision requires appeals to be filed within 45 days by submitting a notice specifying grounds to both the officer who issued the decision and the zoning board. This change aims to create clearer timelines for appeals while maintaining existing eligibility for those challenging zoning actions.

Maddy summarySB 72 establishes a "Parental Bill of Rights" in New Hampshire law, directly affecting parents of minors (under 18) and public schools. The bill requires schools to provide parents with timely, accurate information about their child's education, health, discipline policies, and assessments, and grants parents specific rights to opt out of health/sex education, surveys, and certain data collection. It prohibits schools or government entities from infringing on parental rights to direct a child's upbringing, education, or health care without demonstrating a compelling state interest and using the least restrictive means. The law aims to clarify parental authority while setting specific disclosure requirements for schools.

Maddy summarySB 25 would permit credit union members to compensate board directors for their services, potentially changing current restrictions on director pay. It also includes provisions addressing blockchain and digital currency disputes, though specific mechanisms are not detailed in the provided context. The bill is currently under consideration in the legislature, with recent amendments and votes recorded (e.g., "Ought to Pass with Amendment" on June 5, 2025). The context does not specify which credit unions or digital currency users would be directly affected, nor does it clarify how the blockchain provisions would operate. Without further details on the bill's full text or current law, concrete policy changes cannot be accurately summarized.

Maddy summarySB 69 primarily requires New Hampshire school boards to publicly discuss and vote on all charitable gifts, donations, or grants before accepting them, with anonymous donations permitted. It also establishes a statewide virtual early childhood literacy program for preschoolers (ages 4-5) to improve kindergarten readiness through online, evidence-based resources, funded by existing grants or donations. The bill adds public vote requirements for gift acceptance across multiple school funding areas (including medical supplies like epinephrine auto-injectors) and references library user privacy protections in its title, though the text does not detail this provision. These changes affect school districts, local boards, and organizations donating to schools, focusing on transparency in gift acceptance rather than new funding mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 263 prohibits AI chat services (like chatbots or character AI) from knowingly facilitating harmful acts with children, such as promoting sexual conduct, drug use, self-harm, or violence. It directly affects providers of AI chat applications designed for open-ended, responsive communication with minors. Key provisions create criminal liability for violations and establish a private right to sue for $1,000 per violation (minimum), plus civil damages, while exempting gaming/AI features integral to interactive entertainment and cloud service providers. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and does not apply to AI used within video games or streaming content.

Maddy summarySB 30 designates the Virginia opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) as New Hampshire’s official state marsupial, amending state law to recognize this species. The bill directly affects New Hampshire residents and state identity by formally naming the opossum as a symbolic representative of the state. Key provisions include updating legal references to identify opossums found in New Hampshire as "New Hampshire opossums." The bill contains no provisions related to fertilizer penalties - the mention of "fertilizers" in the title appears to be an error, as the actual text focuses solely on the marsupial designation. This is a symbolic, non-regulatory change with no practical impact on policy or enforcement.

Maddy summarySB 13 prohibits the renewal or issuance of driver's licenses in New Hampshire to individuals with pending asylum claims, regardless of any temporary work authorization they may hold. It also invalidates out-of-state driver's licenses held by undocumented immigrants. The bill specifically blocks license renewals for people with pending asylum cases and prevents the issuance of new licenses to asylees until they receive permanent residency status, even if they have work permits. These changes directly affect undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers in the state who currently hold or seek driver's licenses.

Maddy summarySB 100 prohibits New Hampshire public school educators from teaching, instructing, or inculcating discrimination targeting specific racial groups (including white people, Black people, or Hispanic/Latino people), while allowing educators to discuss historical discrimination as part of academic instruction. It requires school districts to investigate educator violations under state code and permits civil lawsuits by affected individuals or the attorney general. The law applies specifically to certified educators (teachers, administrators, and specialists) in public schools and explicitly states that discrimination cannot be justified by special considerations for any racial group.

Maddy summaryHB 647 adjusts the fee for newborn lifetime hunting and fishing licenses in New Hampshire. It directly affects newborns and their parents who apply for these licenses, changing the fee amount for the lifetime permit. The bill modifies the existing fee structure without specifying a dollar amount, as the context only confirms the fee adjustment. It became law on June 10, 2025, and takes effect July 10, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 295 creates New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program, allowing parents to use public funds for private school tuition or approved educational expenses. It directly affects eligible K-12 students from households earning up to 350% of the federal poverty level (with income verified only at initial application), prioritizing current EFA students, siblings, students with disabilities, and low-income families. The program sets a 10,000-student enrollment cap for 2025-2026, with potential 25% annual increases if prior-year enrollment exceeded 90% of the cap, and reserves spots for renewing students before new enrollments. The law, signed by the governor on June 10, 2025, is now effective and replaces prior eligibility rules.