Rep. Lisa Freeman

Maddy summaryHB 1184 establishes clear rules for issuing no trespass orders (NTOs) on municipal and school properties in New Hampshire. It requires most NTOs to be approved by a unanimous vote of the governing body (e.g., city council or school board) at a public meeting, and mandates written orders including the reason, property location, duration (max 90 days), and the right to request a hearing. Individuals affected can challenge an NTO through a hearing and appeal to court within 30 days, while existing NTOs over 90 days automatically expire. The bill also limits extensions beyond 90 days to court-issued restraining orders, ensuring procedural safeguards for those subject to NTOs.

Maddy summaryHB 1105 changes the term length for certain Belknap County elected officials (including county attorney, sheriff, treasurer, register of deeds, and register of probate) from two years to four years. It directly affects voters in Belknap County and those officials by altering when they are elected, effective starting with the 2026 general election. The bill amends existing state law to specify that Belknap County voters will elect these officials for four-year terms instead of two-year terms.

Maddy summarySB 434 requires New Hampshire school districts to adopt and publicly post policies for handling parent or guardian complaints about school materials deemed harmful to minors, age-inappropriate, or offensive. It mandates a specific 25-day timeline for school principals to investigate written complaints, make decisions about material access (keeping, removing, or restricting it), and provide written explanations. Parents can appeal decisions to the school board within 30 days, with all decisions and communications becoming public records. The bill directly affects school districts, educators, and parents filing complaints, setting clear procedural requirements for addressing concerns about classroom materials.

Maddy summaryHB 1772 creates a New Hampshire grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services to fund state participation in a multistate clinical trial consortium studying ibogaine as a potential treatment for substance use disorder and other neurological or mental health conditions. The bill appropriates $1 (likely a typo for $1 million) to support this effort, requiring grant recipients to be New Hampshire-based entities with proven expertise in neurological/mental health research, matching funds from non-state sources, and FDA-approved trial protocols (including an IND application and breakthrough therapy designation request). Entities must submit quarterly progress and financial reports, and the state must verify matching funds before disbursing grant money. This bill directly affects eligible research institutions participating in the consortium, not the general public.

Maddy summaryHB 1268 modifies New Hampshire's home education law by adding definitions for terms like "child," "parent," and "resident district," and removing specific notification and assessment requirements. It eliminates the requirement for parents to notify school officials when starting a home education program, withdrawing a child from public school, or terminating a program. Parents must still notify their resident district superintendent if they want their child to participate in public school activities or use district assessments. The bill simplifies administrative steps for homeschooling families while maintaining core requirements for program documentation. This change directly affects parents educating children at home in New Hampshire.

Maddy summaryHB 1573 allows New Hampshire public and charter school students to have absences excused for attending civic events (like government meetings or community hearings) or career/technical education (CTE) events (such as FFA, SkillsUSA, or DECA competitions). Schools must excuse up to two absences per 45-day period for these activities, requiring parental notice at least two school days in advance (except for election days) and proof of attendance. The bill also directs the state board of education to develop rules for awarding alternative academic credit toward graduation requirements for participation in these events. This applies specifically to students in grades K-12 at public and charter schools.

Maddy summaryHB 1099 establishes a committee to examine how private businesses providing special education and behavioral services interact with school districts, particularly regarding reimbursement. The committee - composed of one Senate member and four House members - will study specific issues like whether districts get reimbursed when businesses use their resources, residency rules for students in business-provided housing, funding when parents live in different districts, and reimbursement for non-profits paying in lieu of taxes. It will also assess state-placed children in private facilities and report findings by November 1, 2026. This bill does not change current law but directs a study to inform future policy on special education funding.

Maddy summarySB 578 requires all public schools to provide daily recess for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, expanding current requirements. It mandates play-based learning for kindergarten through third grade and explicitly prohibits withholding recess as punishment for misbehavior or incomplete schoolwork. The bill defines recess as unstructured outdoor play (when safe), separate from physical education classes. This law applies to all public schools in the state, directly affecting K-8 students and school policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1444 requires New Hampshire state agencies and local governments (counties, cities, towns) to stop purchasing or acquiring drones not on an official "cleared list" after January 1, 2028. The bill mandates the Department of Safety to create and maintain a public list of security-compliant drones by that date, including models cleared by the Defense Department, meeting federal security standards, or proven incapable of unauthorized data transmission. All state and local procurement must prioritize drones on this list, with contracts for non-listed drones deemed void. The bill has no new funding impact, as noted in its fiscal analysis.

Maddy summaryHB 1795 requires all current educators in New Hampshire - such as teachers, administrators, school nurses, and paraprofessionals - to submit a criminal history release form to the Department of Education when renewing their teaching license every three years, at least 60 days before expiration. The bill expands existing checks to include "neglect" in criminal history screenings and defines "educator" broadly to cover all license holders under the state board of education. It becomes effective July 1, 2027, and mandates a secure system for processing these checks. The law directly affects all licensed educators renewing credentials after this date, with no specified fiscal impact noted for the Department of Safety.