Sen. Denise Ricciardi

Maddy summarySB 206 requires all public school districts and chartered public schools in New Hampshire to create and implement policies banning student use of personal cell phones and electronic devices during instructional hours - from the first bell until the dismissal bell. The policy must include approved exceptions for medical needs (like insulin pumps), disabilities (per IEPs or 504 plans), or language support programs for multilingual students. Schools must develop these policies with input from parents and teachers and review them annually. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 210 primarily creates a statewide open enrollment system, allowing New Hampshire parents to transfer children to any public school district within the state without tuition fees. It amends residency rules to clarify legal residence for school attendance and requires districts to publicly report school capacities and enrollment decisions. The bill establishes that military-connected students receive admission preference over non-residents and mandates districts to post capacity data monthly. The bill’s title mentions bullying prevention, but the text contains no actual provisions addressing bullying; the focus is solely on expanding school choice through open enrollment mechanisms.

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 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 29 updates the structure and responsibilities of the Health Care Workplace Safety Commission and modifies reporting requirements for healthcare facilities under their workplace violence prevention program. The bill changes commission membership rules and clarifies its jurisdiction, while simplifying the reporting process healthcare facilities must follow to document workplace violence incidents. It directly affects hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities required to submit these reports, as well as the commission managing the program. The law, signed by the governor on June 10, 2025, becomes effective August 9, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 168 expands the types of public infrastructure projects eligible for impact fee assessments. It allows cities and towns to include municipal public works facilities - such as water treatment plants, fire stations, or public transportation hubs - in the calculation of fees charged to new development projects. This change requires developers to pay impact fees for these specific municipal facilities, directly affecting local governments and new construction projects. The law takes effect on August 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 602 requires certain convicted offenders to participate in a victim impact program as part of their sentence. The program connects offenders with victims or their families to help them understand the personal harm caused by their actions. This law takes effect on January 1, 2026, after passing unanimously through the legislature and being signed by Governor Ayotte. It directly affects individuals convicted of specific offenses who receive court-ordered participation.

Maddy summaryHB 76 requires the Department of Education to establish a centralized system for tracking all special education complaints filed by parents or students. This directly affects schools, parents, and students in special education programs by creating a standardized way to monitor complaint types, timelines, and resolutions. The key provision mandates that the system collect specific data points (like complaint category and resolution status) to improve transparency and accountability. The bill became law on June 2, 2025, and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 222 sets the effective date for a state primary date change to January 1, 2027. The bill does not alter the actual primary date or voting rules; it only establishes when the change will take effect. This procedural bill directly affects future election administration timelines but does not impact current voting procedures or voters. The summary is based solely on the bill's text and effective date provision.

Maddy summaryHB 390 adds retired fire trucks (fire apparatus) to the list of vehicles eligible for antique vehicle exemptions. This change directly affects owners of retired fire trucks who previously did not qualify for the tax or registration benefits associated with antique vehicle status. The bill modifies existing law by explicitly including "retired fire apparatus" in the definition of antique vehicles under the exemption rules. The law became effective on July 28, 2025, after being signed by Governor Ayotte.