Rep. Megan Murray

Maddy summaryHB 1834 sets a fixed enrollment cap of 10,000 students for New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, instead of allowing the cap to increase to 12,500 under current law. This directly affects families applying for EFA funds to cover private school costs and participating private schools. The bill freezes the cap until 2028, requiring any future increase only if enrollment exceeds 90% of the prior year's cap. The fiscal note estimates this change would save approximately $6.3 million in state spending for fiscal year 2027 by limiting enrollment to 11,250 students instead of 12,500. The bill does not alter eligibility rules or funding per student.

Maddy summaryHB 1264 modifies the purpose and requirements of New Hampshire's Education Freedom Savings Account (EFA) Oversight Committee. The bill expands the committee's duties to specifically review student data, eligibility rules, and EFA fund expenditures, while requiring monthly meetings that must be live-streamed and recorded on the state website. It also mandates that all committee agendas, minutes, and reports be posted online. These changes aim to increase transparency and oversight of the EFA program, which directly affects students and families using education savings accounts.

Maddy summaryHB 1653 requires freestanding hospital emergency facilities (FHEFs) to allow patients receiving emergency care to choose their transfer destination hospital, rather than being limited to the parent hospital that owns or operates the FHEF. The bill mandates that FHEFs provide this choice when a transfer is medically necessary and the selected hospital can treat the patient's condition, while prohibiting practices like conditioning treatment on transfers to affiliated hospitals or steering patients toward the parent facility. It also requires FHEFs to document the patient's transfer preference and forbids exclusive contracts with emergency medical services that restrict transfer options. These provisions aim to protect patient autonomy, prevent anti-competitive behavior, and ensure continuity of care during emergency transfers.

Maddy summaryHB 1640 requires New Hampshire school districts to obtain a yearly written consent form from parents or legal guardians before accessing a child's Medicaid or expanded Medicaid benefits for school-related services. This applies specifically to students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 plans, covering all allowable Medicaid billing for the child's education services. The bill mandates a single annual signature (in paper or digital format) that suffices for all relevant billing, eliminating the need for repeated consents for different services. Schools must also obtain new consent when a student transfers to a new district.

Maddy summaryHB 1578 adds specific definitions (like "program administrator," "applicant," and "vendor") and mandates quarterly reporting for New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program. It requires program administrators to submit detailed reports to state education officials, including data on applications, approvals, student demographics (race, grade level, prior school type), vendor distributions, and expense categories. These reports, due within 30 days of each quarter-end, must be publicly posted on the state education department's website. The bill directly affects program administrators managing EFAs, parents/guardians applying for accounts, and vendors receiving funds, aiming to increase transparency and accountability in the EFA program.

Maddy summaryHB 1019 would increase the New Hampshire Water Well Board from seven to eight members by adding a public member with demonstrated knowledge of water resources management. The board currently includes the commissioner of environmental services, state geologist, two water well contractors, and other professionals; the new member would be appointed by the governor following the same process as existing board members. This change does not alter the board’s duties but expands its composition to include a dedicated public representative. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the size of New Hampshire's State Veterans Council from 4 to 5 members. The council will now consist of 4 veterans (as defined by state law) and 1 family member of a veteran or currently serving military member, all appointed by the governor. Council members must meet at least twice yearly to provide guidance on veterans' programs, make recommendations for improvements, and oversee the "New Hampshire first for veterans" initiative. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, and align with the Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services' organizational structure.

Maddy summaryHB 1364 requires counties, municipalities, and other local political subdivisions in New Hampshire that have entered into federal 287(g) agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to submit quarterly reports to the state Attorney General. These reports must include specific data on detained individuals (by immigration violation, state offense, or field stops), their locations, detention lengths, and racial data where available. The Attorney General must then consolidate and submit these reports quarterly to state officials and local governing bodies starting in early 2027. The bill does not provide new funding but estimates minimal costs for the Attorney General’s office (around $63,000 annually) and local governments to compile the required data.

Maddy summaryHB 1129 allows school superintendents or their designees to approve students' limited use of personal laptops and tablets for specific educational activities during school hours, under direct teacher supervision. This use would be exempt from existing school policies that typically prohibit personal electronic devices like cell phones. The bill does not change the general rule banning personal devices but creates a clear exception for learning purposes when approved by school leadership. It directly affects students and schools in New Hampshire by modifying cell phone policy frameworks to support educational technology use.

Maddy summaryHB 1398 creates a committee to study state resources for responding to air quality incidents, such as smoke or pollution events. The committee - composed of three House members (appointed by the Speaker) and one Senate member (appointed by the President) - will examine necessary equipment, required funding, and needed legal changes to help municipalities access response resources. It must submit findings and recommendations to state leaders by November 1, 2026. This procedural bill does not change laws but sets up a study to inform future policy.