Rep. Jeanine Notter

Maddy summaryHB 1572 modifies licensing requirements for three professions in New Hampshire: master licensed alcohol and drug counselors, recreational therapists, and speech-language assistants. It adds a new education path requiring 60 hours of graduate coursework (in fields like clinical psychology or social work) plus five years of existing New Hampshire licensure for alcohol/drug counselors. For recreational therapists, it specifies that a baccalaureate degree must include "therapeutic recreation" as a major. Speech-language assistants can now qualify with an accredited associate's degree program equivalent to a speech-language pathology program. These changes directly affect individuals seeking or renewing licenses in these occupations.

Maddy summaryHB 1176 removes New Hampshire's requirement for vehicles to display a front license plate, affecting all registered vehicles in the state. The bill amends RSA 261:75, II to eliminate the language requiring plates to be displayed "on the rear of the vehicle" (previously mandating both front and rear plates). This change directly impacts approximately 194,000 vehicles registered annually with new plate types, reducing state revenue by about $776,000 and expenditures by $679,000 yearly based on current plate production costs. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1436 establishes legal property rights for personal digital information stored in cloud services, such as emails, photos, or documents. It presumes that individuals retain ownership of their unpublished digital data (including cloud-stored files) and creates a legal presumption of bailment when third parties hold this information. The bill requires government entities to obtain a warrant for searches or seizures of such digital records, treating them as protected "papers" under constitutional and state law. It directly affects consumers whose personal data is stored with cloud providers, distinguishing private digital content from public information while exempting certain public or emergency uses.

Maddy summaryHB 1643 changes how court-appointed child representatives (guardians ad litem) submit reports in family court cases. It removes the requirement for these reports to propose specific parenting arrangements, such as who makes decisions about the child's care, a detailed parenting plan, or a set schedule. Courts can no longer request these proposals unless they explicitly ask for them. This bill affects guardians ad litem and family court proceedings involving children, effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1565 makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally file false reports of child abuse or neglect with New Hampshire's Division for Children, Youth, and Families. It directly affects individuals who submit false reports (subject to criminal penalties) and people harmed by such reports (who can sue for civil damages). The bill clarifies that reports may include the reporter's name and creates a legal pathway for victims to seek monetary compensation through civil court. This changes existing law by adding specific criminal penalties for false reports and establishing a private right to sue, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1735 expands New Hampshire's Right to Try Act to allow patients with "qualifying severe illness" (defined as chronic and debilitating conditions meeting federal standards) to access investigational treatments, in addition to those with terminal illnesses. The bill amends definitions to include this new category, requiring patients to have exhausted standard FDA-approved treatments and be unable to join clinical trials. It maintains existing requirements like physician oversight, patient consent, and no direct manufacturer compensation for providers. This change directly affects patients with severe chronic conditions who currently lack access to investigational therapies under state law. The bill does not alter cost-sharing or data collection requirements for manufacturers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 615) changes how New Hampshire administers SNAP benefits (food stamps) through EBT cards. It requires the state to seek a federal waiver to block SNAP use for candy and soft drinks, strengthens work requirements for eligible adults, and mandates data-sharing with state agencies (like lottery, employment, and corrections) to verify recipient eligibility more rigorously. The bill also prohibits the state from applying more lenient SNAP rules than federal law allows. These changes directly affect SNAP recipients and the state’s health and human services department, which must implement the new verification processes.

Maddy summaryHB 1537 allows school bus operators to install high-resolution cameras on stop bars (the flashing arms extending from school buses) to capture drivers who run school bus stop lights. The cameras must clearly identify faces, include digital timestamps and tamper-proof video markers, and only activate when stop bars are extended during student loading/unloading. Videos must be preserved for up to 4 years if injuries occur, but deleted after 7 days if unused for investigations. School bus operators may choose to install the cameras but are not required to do so.

Maddy summaryHB 1742 protects customers who generate their own electricity (like solar panel owners) from being accidentally enrolled in third-party power programs without their consent. It requires utilities to investigate such cases within 10 business days and restore affected customers to their standard utility service within 5 days if confirmed. For up to six months prior to restoration, utilities must apply retroactive net metering credits for electricity they exported to the grid but weren't credited for during the incorrect enrollment. This ensures customers aren't financially penalized for errors in enrollment.

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.