Rep. Mark Warden

Maddy summaryHB 1072 requires New Hampshire's Department of Labor to provide employers with at least 30 days' written notice before conducting inspections or requesting documents/interviews. The notice must specify the inspection's purpose, whether it relates to a complaint, and any alleged labor law violations. Employers would then have 30 days to respond to such requests, regardless of whether a complaint was filed. Exceptions allowing shorter notice require attorney general approval only for recent violations (within 36 months), imminent health/safety risks, or evidence destruction concerns.

Maddy summaryHB 1168 extends the time employers have to respond to wage claims from 10 days to 30 days after receiving notice. This change directly affects employers who receive claims from employees alleging unpaid wages. The bill modifies RSA 275:51 by updating the deadline for employers to file written objections to such claims. If employers don't respond within the new 30-day window, the commissioner may order payment without further delay. This is a procedural adjustment to the existing wage enforcement process.

Maddy summaryHB 639, titled "The Blockchain Basic Laws," establishes legal protections for blockchain technology and digital assets in New Hampshire. It prohibits government restrictions on using digital assets for purchases, self-custody of digital assets, and payments using digital assets without additional taxes. The bill protects home digital asset mining (within noise ordinances) and digital asset mining businesses (in industrial zones), prevents discriminatory electricity rates for mining, and creates a specialized "blockchain dispute docket" in superior courts to handle blockchain-related legal matters. It also recognizes smart contract-based trusts as legally valid and protects private keys from being compelled in legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 1269 updates New Hampshire's acupuncture licensing rules to make practice more accessible. It revises educational requirements to allow an associate's degree or 60 college credits instead of a bachelor's degree for licensure, and permits out-of-state practitioners with comparable qualifications to practice. The bill adds a certified acupuncture detoxification specialist to the licensing board and requires annual supervision via phone or electronic means (not in-person) for these specialists during their first two years of certification. These changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1245 establishes a voluntary framework for independent contractors in New Hampshire to access portable benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, or disability coverage through designated providers. Hiring parties (businesses or platforms) can voluntarily contribute to these plans or withhold a portion of payment from the contractor, with the contractor’s written consent. Crucially, participation in these plans cannot be used to reclassify a worker as an employee under state law, preserving current independent contractor status. The bill requires clear opt-in agreements and has no estimated state or local cost impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits municipalities from requiring licenses for the production and sale of homegrown food products that are already exempt from certain regulations under state law. It directly affects small-scale food producers (like those selling homemade goods) and local governments that previously could impose such licensing rules. The key provision amends state law to explicitly ban municipal license requirements for these exempt products. The change applies statewide and takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1043 allows employers to create their own pay policies for employees who report to work at the employer's request, making the existing statutory minimum pay requirement (2 hours' pay at regular rate) apply only if the employer has no alternative policy. It directly affects most private-sector employees who report to work, excluding county/municipal employees and ski resort instructors who receive equivalent alternative compensation. The bill does not change the minimum pay standard but gives employers flexibility to set higher or different policies that meet or exceed the baseline. Employers who make a good-faith effort to notify employees not to report to work are not liable for pay under this section. The bill amends RSA 275:43-a and takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 441 requires any New Hampshire municipality planning to transport homeless individuals or those needing substance use disorder treatment to another municipality to first establish a written agreement (Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU) with the receiving municipality. The MOU must detail services provided, financial responsibilities (including potential payments for treatment), transfer limits, and reporting requirements. This applies to non-emergency transports for housing, shelter, or treatment, but excludes emergency medical transfers, court-ordered moves, or voluntary relocations. Violations carry a $5,000 fine payable to the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill aims to ensure coordinated care and financial clarity between municipalities handling vulnerable residents.

Maddy summaryHB 1562 exempts membership-based health care facilities (which charge direct patient payments without insurance reimbursement) from certain licensing rules, including a moratorium on new licenses and bed capacity increases under RSA 151:2. The bill also requires these facilities to adopt a patient bill of rights covering dignity, privacy, and clear admission information, while directing the Department of Health and Human Services to study direct-pay models. It directly affects facilities operating under membership or direct-payment structures, removing them from standard licensing requirements in RSA 151:2-f and RSA 151:2, VI(a). The key change is creating a tailored regulatory framework for these facilities while maintaining core patient rights protections.

Maddy summaryHB 1619 establishes new protections for property owners by prohibiting rent controls, limiting municipal zoning authority to basic health/safety needs, and requiring prompt permit processing. It repeals the InvestNH Program (which provided grants for affordable housing) and the New Hampshire Housing Champion designation. The bill prohibits government takings for private development without just compensation and bans municipal subsidies for specific housing types. These changes directly affect property owners, municipalities, and housing developers by reducing government regulation in housing markets.