Sen. Denise Ricciardi

Maddy summarySB 243 modifies New Hampshire's child care scholarship program by establishing rules for a temporary pilot program. It allows the Department of Health and Human Services to temporarily suspend the pilot if an active waitlist exists (per administrative code) and requires reinstatement when the waitlist ends. The bill also mandates a detailed report by May 2028 to the legislature, covering program usage, costs, funding needs, and improvements. Additionally, it directs the department to study and simplify the application process by November 2026 to reduce unnecessary paperwork for families seeking child care scholarships. This bill directly affects low-income families applying for child care assistance and providers participating in the scholarship program.

Maddy summarySB 171, as amended, proposes to repeal RSA 275:43-a, an existing statute. This law currently mandates that employers pay wages to employees who report to work at the employer's request. If enacted, the bill would remove this specific requirement for wage payment, directly impacting employers and employees by changing the conditions under which wages must be paid for reporting to work.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates state laws to require drivers to slow down and give a wide berth to stopped vehicles, emergency responders, and people in the roadway when approaching highway emergencies or traffic stops. It mandates that motorists obey directions from authorized personnel and clear blocked lanes as soon as possible, while removing a specific provision that previously required giving a wide berth to vehicles with emergency lights. The changes aim to improve safety by standardizing driver behavior around stationary vehicles and incidents, and the law would have taken effect 60 days after passing.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, or distribution of lithium-ion batteries and electric scooters in New Hampshire unless they are certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. The law requires that certified products display the laboratory's logo or name on the packaging, documentation, or the device itself, with specific exceptions for second-hand sales where such documentation is absent. Additionally, the legislation bans the assembly, reconditioning, or sale of second-use batteries intended for electric bicycles and scooters, while allowing these devices if they are registered with the state motor vehicle division. Violations of these safety standards can result in civil fines of up to $250 for a first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill outlines rules for how the state's Public Deposit Investment Pool must manage its money, specifically requiring an investment advisor to keep at least 30 percent of funds in insured or collateralized deposits and to maintain the highest possible credit rating for the pool. It grants the state treasurer and an advisory committee the authority to select an investment advisor through a competitive process and to create detailed rules regarding disclosure, investment limits, and administrative practices. The legislation also repeals previous investment advisor obligations and sets an effective date of December 30, 2030, for the repeal provision, while other parts of the bill take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows drivers and non-driver ID holders in New Hampshire to receive a temporary proof of license or identification immediately after their online renewal is approved, rather than waiting for the physical card to arrive. The temporary document is valid for up to 60 days or until the new card is issued, whichever comes first, and can be used for all legal purposes except voting. Drivers must carry this temporary proof along with their expired card to avoid penalties if stopped by law enforcement, and they have 48 hours to show proof of a valid license if challenged. The law also clarifies that licenses expire on the fifth anniversary of the holder's birth date and expands the definition of a license to include these temporary proofs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits companies owned or controlled by the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing, leasing, or controlling agricultural land and land essential to critical industries like technology, manufacturing, and healthcare. It defines these entities broadly to include various business structures and government agencies within China, ensuring that any such acquisition or lease is illegal. Violations of this rule are classified as felonies, and the law is set to take effect on January 1, 2025.