Rep. Keith Erf

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 599 changes how leftover funds from electricity provider payments are used in New Hampshire's renewable energy fund. First, up to $1 million annually must cover administrative costs for the Department of Energy. Remaining funds must then support thermal and electrical renewable energy initiatives, but cannot be used for individual residential solar projects. Any leftover funds after these allocations are transferred to the state general fund. The bill applies to funds collected from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1563 adjusts New Hampshire's special education funding formula to better support school districts serving students with high-cost special education needs. It sets a new $60,000 threshold for aid eligibility (replacing the previous 3.5x average per-pupil cost formula), requiring districts to cover the first $60,000 plus 20% of costs up to $200,000 per student, while the state covers 80% of costs between $60,000-$200,000 and 90% above $200,000 - capping total state aid at $160,000 per student. The bill also creates emergency assistance funds ($250,000 annually for districts under 1,000 residents) to address sudden financial strain from special education costs. This directly affects school districts with students requiring costly specialized services, altering how costs are shared between districts and the state.

Maddy summarySB 530 modifies how New Hampshire's vital records office reports fetal deaths to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It prohibits sharing specific personal details - including the mother's or father's full name, address, medical record numbers, and birth dates - with the CDC. The bill allows the office to share only the parents' birth year and the fetal delivery date. This change affects the state's reporting process for fetal deaths, updating terminology and limiting sensitive data released to federal health agencies. The policy directly impacts the state vital records office and CDC data collection procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 2025 law requiring New Hampshire to sell the Anna Philbrook Center property in Concord by June 2027. The state currently uses the property for adult transitional housing and office space for about 40 state staff. By removing the sales mandate, the bill prevents the state from collecting an expected $5 million in revenue from the sale while avoiding $75,000-$90,000 in costs related to preparing the property for sale and relocating equipment. The repeal keeps the property under state management without changing its current operational use.

Maddy summaryHB 1199 allows New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department to establish a permit and fee system for other state agencies requesting its staff, equipment, or expertise to support their work. The bill requires fees to cover actual department costs, including staff salaries/benefits, vehicle/equipment use, and administrative coordination. All collected fees would be deposited into the Fish and Game fund. This policy change directly affects state agencies needing Fish and Game support, creating a formal reimbursement process for services previously provided without cost recovery.

Maddy summaryHB 1159 updates New Hampshire's definition of the state building code to reference the 2024 editions of key model codes, including the International Building Code and International Plumbing Code, instead of the previous 2021 versions. This change directly affects builders, contractors, architects, and building inspectors who must comply with the updated code standards for new construction and renovations. The bill specifies that the 2024 versions, along with the National Electrical Code 2023, become effective upon legislative ratification and review by the state building code review board. It does not create new requirements but aligns state law with current model code standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1160 amends the structure and responsibilities of New Hampshire's county-state finance commission, which oversees shared funding between counties and the state for programs like Medicaid long-term care. The bill changes commission membership to include specific state agency representatives, county government appointees, and legislative members, while adding six new duties. Key provisions require the commission to review and recommend changes to Medicaid plans, state rate settings for long-term care services, county billing systems, and funding options before they are finalized. This directly affects counties and state agencies managing shared financial obligations for healthcare and social services programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1066 amends New Hampshire municipal laws to clarify and expand how lease agreements are defined and managed. It defines "lease" to include lease-purchase, sale-lease-back, and similar agreements for property, equipment, or facilities under RSA 33:7-e/f. The bill requires public hearings for municipal leases exceeding $100,000 (aligning with existing bond hearing rules) and ensures lease funds remain available until projects are completed, preventing premature budget lapsing. This directly affects towns, cities, and unincorporated areas in New Hampshire that use lease financing for infrastructure or equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 1706 repeals New Hampshire's state-administered refugee resettlement program and prohibits state agencies from using state funds for refugee resettlement activities. The bill specifically requires the Department of Health and Human Services to terminate existing contracts related to refugee resettlement (such as the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program) and bans all state spending - directly or indirectly - on resettlement efforts. It does not affect federal refugee programs or funds, as the state's involvement was limited to administering approximately $4.5 million annually in federal funds. The bill applies solely to state government actions and has no impact on existing refugee services or federal programs.