Rep. Paige Beauchemin

Maddy summaryHB 1761 establishes a publicly administered Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) program to expand New Hampshire's existing paid family and medical leave system. The program will provide wage replacement benefits for eligible employees and self-employed individuals who meet income requirements during a defined base period, covering leave for qualifying family or medical reasons. It creates clear definitions for key terms like "covered individual," "application year," and "average weekly wage" to determine eligibility and benefit amounts. The Department of Insurance will administer the program and enforce protections against interference with leave rights.

Maddy summaryHB 1114 requires New Hampshire legislative committees to preserve all written public comments received on bills - including those submitted via in-person hearings, written submissions, and the state's remote sign-in system - and to create reports explaining how these comments influenced their recommendations. Committees must detail in these reports why specific arguments from public comments were or were not considered when forming their bill recommendations. The reports, overseen by committee leadership, must be submitted to the legislative clerk and retained in the bill’s permanent record, with exclusions allowed for duplicate, out-of-state, lobbyist-submitted, or erroneous comments. This bill increases transparency in how public input shapes legislative decisions without altering policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 1641 requires court clerks to send domestic violence, stalking, and civil restraining orders to prosecutors and probation officers within 24 hours when the person subject to the order is on bail or probation. This directly affects individuals under court supervision (bail or probation) who are named in such protection orders. The key mechanism mandates this rapid transmission to ensure law enforcement and probation officials are promptly notified. The bill would require 43 new full-time court positions for implementation, costing an estimated $1.76 million annually starting in 2027, though it does not provide funding for these positions.

Maddy summaryHB 1656 requires all health insurance plans in New Hampshire to cover pelvic-floor physical therapy (PFPT) as a standard benefit for specific conditions, including urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, postpartum recovery, and pelvic pain. It mandates coverage for up to 12 weeks of supervised therapy, pre-surgery preparation (prehab), and post-surgery rehabilitation without prior authorization for initial evaluations. Insurers must report on this coverage data annually, and the insurance department will publish an annual report on insurer compliance. This directly affects residents with pelvic floor dysfunction, ensuring access to evidence-based treatments currently often excluded from coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 1637 requires courts to schedule hearings on bail modification or revocation motions within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) in domestic violence, stalking, and harassment cases. Before any hearing can occur, the party filing the motion must provide the court with certified copies of the complaint, affidavit, warrant, bail slip, and related court orders. The bill also mandates that in cases where a district court has found a person poses a danger, the superior court must hold a hearing and issue written findings when reviewing bail changes. This law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1091 requires New Hampshire towns and cities to offer nonmonetary penalties (such as community service) as an alternative to fines for violations of local rules prohibiting sleeping or camping outdoors. It directly affects individuals cited under municipal ordinances for outdoor sleeping or camping, replacing the current option of only financial penalties. The bill mandates that towns must include this nonmonetary penalty choice in their enforcement of such ordinances, while still allowing fines as an option. This change applies to all relevant local rules and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1249 allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense specific medical devices necessary for administering prescribed medications, directly affecting pharmacists and patients who use these devices. Key provisions include authorizing pharmacists to provide inhalation spacers, CPAP supplies, diabetes testing kits, insulin pump supplies, and related items like pen needles. Pharmacists must notify the prescribing provider after dispensing but are not required to do so before. The bill amends pharmacy practice definitions and requires the Board of Pharmacy to adopt implementing rules with medical and nursing boards.

Maddy summaryHCR 12 is a New Hampshire legislative resolution urging the state's federal congressional delegation to support Medicare for All. It requests federal lawmakers pursue legislation establishing universal health coverage through Medicare, including comprehensive benefits like dental, vision, and prescription drugs without deductibles, and transitioning current Medicaid recipients into the program. The resolution outlines six key provisions for such a system, emphasizing preventive care, provider choice, cost controls, and quality oversight. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change federal law but expresses the legislature's position on health care policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1663 protects employment for New Hampshire state legislators who work for private employers. It requires employers with 25+ employees to allow legislators to leave work for voting sessions without penalty, provided they give advance notice of session attendance. Employers may require use of accrued paid leave for these absences, but must grant unpaid leave if no leave is available. The law prohibits firing legislators for attending sessions and imposes civil penalties for violations, enforced by the labor commissioner.

Maddy summaryHB 1684 establishes a Free Speech Advisory Commission to address complaints about conduct that suppresses free speech. The commission will review complaints regarding coercive actions that chill speech, refer potential legal violations to the Department of Justice, and provide educational resources to public entities on lawful speech protections. It will consist of nine members: two legislative appointees (one from the House majority, one from the Senate minority) and seven experts appointed by the Governor, including a first amendment specialist, law enforcement officer, civil liberties expert, and representatives from higher education and local government. The commission must annually report its findings and activities to the Governor and legislative leaders, but it has no enforcement power. This bill directly affects the public (who can file complaints), the Department of Justice (which receives referrals), and public entities (which may receive educational outreach).