Rep. Sherri Reinfurt

Maddy summaryHB 1267 requires school districts to create a policy that prevents school attorneys, law enforcement, and other non-school staff from questioning minor students (under 18) without written permission from a parent or guardian. For students aged 18 or older, the policy must ask if they want their parents notified before questioning, and if they consent, parents can be present. The policy also ensures parents or guardians can attend questioning and bring their own attorney, with exceptions only for child welfare investigations by designated social services. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1720 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to notify licensed child care providers electronically within 3 business days when a family applies for a child care scholarship naming that provider. The notice must include the child's name, anticipated start date (if provided), and the application's pending status. It also mandates follow-up electronic notifications within 3 business days if the application is approved, denied, or withdrawn. This bill directly affects licensed child care providers and the state agency managing the scholarship program, streamlining communication about scholarship applications. The law specifies secure electronic transmission and does not alter funding or eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 1336 allows landlords to charge a security deposit of up to two months' rent for rental applicants who don't meet standard approval criteria (like low credit scores under 650, insufficient income below 3x rent, eviction history, unpaid judgments, or no rental history). It directly affects landlords setting rental terms and tenants who may be denied standard housing due to these factors. Key provisions require landlords to disclose unmet criteria upfront, provide written notice of the higher deposit reason, and allow tenants to request a re-screening at their expense once every six months to potentially remove the extra deposit. The bill clarifies that landlords aren't forced to accept higher deposits or approve applicants who still don't meet standards, and it has no estimated state or local cost impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1442 requires public schools and municipal buildings to designate bathrooms and locker rooms by biological sex (male/female), rather than gender identity. It redefines "gender identity" to exclude using it for accessing spaces designated for females, and creates "willful trespass" for males entering female-designated facilities (with exceptions for emergencies or supervision). The bill also mandates correctional facilities house inmates by biological sex and limits gender identity protections in civil rights enforcement. It directly affects public school students, municipal building users, correctional facility inmates, and businesses operating public accommodations. The law uses biological sex (based on chromosomes/SRY gene) as the standard for facility access and definitions.

Maddy summaryHB 1376 prevents courts and child welfare agencies from considering a parent's decision to raise a child consistent with their biological sex as child abuse, endangerment, or a basis for negative legal actions. The bill specifically removes such parenting practices - like using a child's biological sex for pronouns or medical decisions - from definitions of "abused child," "endangering child welfare," and "best interests of the child" determinations. It also prohibits adoption agencies and courts from treating a parent's refusal to support gender transition or their choice to raise a child according to biological sex as grounds for denying adoption, removing a child, or terminating parental rights. The law applies directly to parents, guardians, child-placing agencies, and courts handling family law matters.

Maddy summaryHB 1681 establishes clear rules for tiny houses, tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), and yurts as legal housing options in New Hampshire. It defines these structures (capping tiny houses at 400 square feet, requiring compliance with building codes, and distinguishing them from recreational vehicles), mandates inspections similar to standard homes, and allows them to be used as primary or accessory dwellings on single-family lots. Municipalities must assess property taxes for these structures after 180 days of permanent placement, and the bill regulates their transport and grey water systems. This directly affects homeowners, developers, and local governments by creating standardized pathways for these innovative housing types.

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 summaryHB 1140 allows disabled individuals with specific physical conditions - such as paraplegia, loss of both lower extremities, or other disabilities approved by the executive director - to hunt from motor vehicles with a special permit. To qualify, hunters must hold a current hunting license, apply for the permit (with a $10 fee), and carry it while hunting. The permit permits hunting from motor vehicles, including off-highway vehicles, snowmobiles, and terrain vehicles, but prohibits carrying loaded firearms while the vehicle is moving. This change modifies existing hunting regulations to accommodate certain disabled hunters under strict safety and licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1308 increases penalties for drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus in New Hampshire. It makes sworn testimony from bus drivers or witnesses sufficient evidence for violations, allows bus camera footage to be used as proof (but only for legal proceedings), and adds specific penalties: a $300 fine plus a 7-day license suspension for a first offense, escalating to a $750 fine plus 15 days in jail and indefinite license revocation for a third offense. This bill directly affects drivers who fail to stop for school buses, particularly those with prior violations. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1363 amends New Hampshire law to allow the Department of Safety commissioner to designate an authorized person (not just the commissioner) to receive criminal conviction information from background checks for employee candidates. This directly affects state agencies and employers conducting background checks, streamlining how they receive sensitive criminal history data. The bill permits electronic fingerprint submissions and requires strict confidentiality for all criminal history records, while maintaining the existing process for state and federal background checks through the Division of State Police. The change aims to provide flexibility for employers without altering the core background check procedures.