Rep. Linda Massimilla

Maddy summaryThis bill would require fiber optic internet providers to fix service outages for public safety and public health organizations before addressing commercial or residential customers. The rule applies specifically to disruptions in communication and internet access caused by damage to fiber optic cables. If passed, the law would become active 60 days after its enactment. However, a recent interim study recommended against moving forward with this legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the distribution of artificial intelligence-generated media that falsely depicts a specific person without their consent and without a clear label indicating the content is synthetic. It applies to anyone who shares such misleading text, images, videos, or audio with the intent to deceive others about what the person actually did. The law creates a stricter penalty for content used near elections or intended to harm a candidate, classifying those offenses as felonies in repeat cases or when violence is provoked. Violations of the general rule are punishable as misdemeanors, while election-related violations carry heavier penalties under specific circumstances. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 1597 proposes to change how a person's weekly unemployment benefit is calculated by adjusting the amount of earned wages that are subtracted from the maximum benefit. Under the bill, the reduction applied to a claimant's benefit would increase from 30 percent to 40 percent of their weekly earnings, meaning they would receive a smaller portion of their previous wages while unemployed. The legislation also clarifies which types of payments count as wages for this calculation and sets a 60-day period after passage for the law to take effect. This change directly affects individuals filing for unemployment benefits in the state by altering the formula used to determine their weekly payment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a financial incentive program for the New Hampshire National Guard to encourage enlistment and reenlistment. Under the new rules, current or former Guard members can receive cash bonuses of up to $1,000 for recruiting new recruits and up to $6,000 for their own reenlistment if they do not qualify for a federal bonus. The legislation also creates a dedicated fund to cover these payments and requires the Adjutant General to manage the program. Additionally, the bill allows the Department of Transportation to continue offering recruitment and retention bonuses to its winter maintenance staff, including referral fees for employees who recommend new hires. These transportation incentives are designed to reduce turnover and ensure adequate staffing for critical safety services, with all expenditures subject to approval by the state's fiscal committee.

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits individuals, corporations, and political committees from distributing artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes of candidates within 90 days of an election unless they include a clear disclosure stating the media was manipulated. The required label must specify whether the content is an image, video, or audio and must be displayed prominently for the entire duration of the media or read aloud at regular intervals. Exceptions exist for bona fide news reports that acknowledge the material's questionable authenticity, interactive computer service providers, and satire or parody that does not rely on AI. Candidates whose images are used in deceptive deepfakes can seek legal relief, including injunctions to stop publication and financial damages against the creator. The bill took effect on August 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local municipalities to add a specific section to their land use master plans dedicated to waste reduction. The new provision requires these plans to outline strategies for lowering solid waste disposal through methods like recycling, composting, and managing hazardous or electronic waste. Communities can implement these strategies by conducting needs analyses, organizing town waste committees, seeking grant funding, and collaborating with neighboring regions. The law takes effect 60 days after it is passed, giving towns time to update their existing planning documents.

Maddy summaryHB 1490 updates the Solid Waste Management Act by clarifying legal definitions and strengthening permit oversight for solid waste facilities. The bill explicitly defines "abutters" as property owners adjacent to or across from waste facilities and specifies which vehicles count as "end-of-life" for disposal purposes. It grants the state department authority to terminate permits when a facility closes and requires that all permits be continuous in duration unless revoked for cause. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the department must wait 30 days after a public hearing before issuing final permit decisions to ensure public concerns are fully considered.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year pilot program in New Hampshire to help school districts buy local food by reimbursing them for purchases from New Hampshire and New England producers. Only schools participating in the National School Lunch Program can apply, and the state aims to award grants to one district in each county to support buying dairy, meat, produce, and other eligible items. The program provides a 33.3% reimbursement on food costs, with funds managed through a selection committee that ensures diverse participation across different school sizes and regions. Any leftover money after the pilot ends will return to the state's general fund, and the program will be evaluated annually to track its impact on local farms and school nutrition.

Maddy summaryHB 1620 would have paused the issuance of permits for new landfills in New Hampshire until July 1, 2031, to ensure future sites are chosen carefully and align with state waste management goals. While the bill would stop approvals for entirely new facilities, it allowed existing landfills permitted before December 1, 2022, to expand or modify their operations on the same property. The Department of Environmental Services would have continued to review applications but would not have been required to make final decisions within standard time limits during the suspension. Ultimately, the bill did not become law because the House voted to kill it on May 15, 2024.