This bill updates safety rules for motorboats towing water skiers and inflatable tubes in New Hampshire. It limits the number of people allowed on a single inflatable to six and restricts towing to a maximum of two inflatables at once, while also capping the number of skiers or other devices at two per boat unless a special permit is obtained. To ensure safety, the law requires additional observers on the boat depending on the number of inflatables being towed, with all observers needing to be at least 13 years old. These regulations take effect on August 13, 2024, and apply to anyone operating a motorboat for recreational towing in the state.
This bill removes specific rules that required pharmacies in New Hampshire to maintain detailed continuous quality improvement programs beyond simply having them in place. By repealing sections of the state pharmacy law, the legislation reduces the administrative obligations placed on licensed pharmacies regarding these internal review processes. The change takes effect immediately upon passage and applies directly to all pharmacies operating under the state's regulations.
This bill creates a new process allowing litigants to challenge court rulings if they believe a judge's misconduct directly caused an unfavorable decision. To qualify for relief, a party must file a petition within three years of the ruling and 180 days after the misconduct finding is made public, provided they have not already lost a similar legal battle on this issue. A senior judge will review the petition to decide if there is a reasonable likelihood that the misconduct influenced the outcome, with the power to dismiss the case or vacate the ruling and send it for a rehearing by a different judge. The decision by the senior judge on whether misconduct was causal is final and cannot be appealed, though any new ruling resulting from a rehearing can be appealed normally.
This bill updates the definition of New Hampshire's state fire code and officially ratifies amendments approved by the state board of fire control as of September 20, 2023. It changes the required edition of the National Fire Protection Association codes from 2018 to 2021 for both the Life Safety Code and the Uniform Fire Code. The law ensures that any other national standards referenced within these codes are also included unless specifically amended by the state board. These changes apply to all individuals and entities subject to the state fire code, including building owners, managers, and safety inspectors. The new requirements will become effective 60 days after the bill is passed.
This bill designates a specific stretch of Route 111 in Hudson as the Senator Robert E. Clegg Jr. Memorial Highway to honor the late legislator. It requires the Department of Transportation to install a memorial marker in the right-of-way and allows the department to direct the design and placement of any associated signage. The legislation explicitly states that the costs for creating and maintaining these markers will not be funded by the state.
This bill updates the fine amounts for driving off-road vehicles and snowmobiles with a suspended or revoked license. It sets a minimum penalty of $250 for a first offense and $500 for repeat offenses, while also classifying a second or later violation as a misdemeanor if the person has prior convictions within the last seven years. The changes apply to both types of vehicles and take effect on January 1, 2025.
This bill extends the validity period of criminal background checks for teacher credentialing applicants from three years to four years. The change directly affects individuals seeking teaching credentials by allowing their existing background check results to remain valid for an additional year. Once passed, the new rule will take effect 60 days after the legislation is signed into law.
This bill requires probation and parole officers to review their caseloads annually to recommend eligible parolees for a reduction in their maximum sentence. The law allows the parole board to grant a sentence reduction equal to one-third of the time a person has spent on parole, provided they meet specific criteria. When making these decisions, the board must consider factors such as the parolee's risk of reoffending, their compliance with supervision rules, and input from victims or survivors. The changes apply to individuals currently on parole from state prison and take effect on January 1, 2025.
HB 1270 updates the laws governing protective custody for individuals in New Hampshire who are intoxicated or incapacitated due to alcohol or drug use. The bill clarifies that peace officers may take these individuals into custody to ensure public safety and then assist them with consent to return home, contact a responsible adult for release, or hold them in a correctional facility for up to 24 hours until they are no longer intoxicated. It specifically addresses the handling of minors by requiring immediate notification of parents or guardians and mandates that they be held separately from adults in any facility. Additionally, the legislation establishes that taking someone into protective custody is not considered an arrest, though officers retain the authority to obtain identification and conduct safety-related searches.
This bill requires New Hampshire high schools to provide students with information and access to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) starting in the 2024-2025 school year. Schools must offer guidance on financial aid eligibility, application deadlines, and the benefits of early submission, while also making the FAFSA form available upon request. The legislation mandates that schools handle any shared personal information in compliance with privacy laws and removes a previous requirement for schools to report on how many students completed the form.
This bill creates a dedicated administrative fund to cover the costs of running New Hampshire's Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) savings account program, which helps individuals with disabilities save money for qualified expenses. The fund will be financed through fees charged to participants and by accepting cash gifts, grants, and donations, ensuring that no money from the state's general budget is used for these expenses. State officials will manage the program and use the collected funds to pay for necessary administrative and promotional activities.
This bill clarifies that the state's standardized testing program will only cover reading and language arts, mathematics, and science, while leaving history, government, geography, civics, and economics as required subjects to be taught but assessed locally. Under the new rules, local school boards must ensure their own tests for these non-tested subjects align with state standards and local learning goals. The legislation also specifies that statewide exams should focus on measuring student understanding of key concepts and skills rather than broad content coverage. These changes take effect on August 13, 2024, and directly impact how schools in the state evaluate student performance in various academic areas.
