Rep. Lisa Post

Maddy summaryHB 652 abolishes the family division of the circuit court and creates a new Office of Family Mediation to handle family-related cases through voluntary mediation. The bill reassigns jurisdiction for divorce, child custody, support, and paternity cases to this new office, where parties may choose to use mediation services before going to court. If mediation does not fully resolve all issues, the unresolved matters would be referred to the superior court for adjudication. The bill also amends various statutes to remove references to the "family division" and update jurisdictional assignments.

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 1384 requires commercial litigation financiers to disclose certain information about their funding agreements for civil lawsuits. The bill defines "commercial litigation financing agreements" as third-party funding arrangements that create a financial interest in case proceeds, while excluding contingency fee agreements between lawyers and clients, health insurance arrangements, and standard loans. It also restricts funding from "foreign entities of concern" as defined by U.S. sanctions lists. The legislation aims to increase transparency around who is financing lawsuits and under what terms. This would affect law firms, claimants, and third-party financiers entering into such agreements.

Maddy summarySB 614 establishes shared insurance programs (pooled risk management) for child care centers and foster family homes to reduce their insurance costs. It requires at least 10 facilities to form a pool, allowing them to collectively manage risks like liability, property damage, and workers' compensation. The program must operate as a legal entity under New Hampshire law, undergo annual financial audits, and be exempt from standard state insurance regulation and taxation. This directly affects child care centers and foster family homes by providing a lower-cost alternative to traditional insurance through collective risk-sharing.

Maddy summarySB 610 revises New Hampshire's long-term care insurance regulations by moving the insurance commissioner's rulemaking authority for loss ratio standards into a new section of the law. It allows the commissioner to approve innovative long-term care policies if they benefit the public and offer reasonable value relative to premiums, while updating criteria for disapproving insurance forms (e.g., removing unreasonable benefits or deceptive pricing). The bill also permits public hearings on form and rate filings, with the commissioner able to limit disclosure of sensitive details during these hearings. These changes directly affect insurers, the insurance commissioner, and long-term care policyholders by streamlining approvals and clarifying regulatory processes.

Maddy summaryHB 1206 clarifies which cases the family court (formerly judicial branch family division) can handle under equity jurisdiction. It explicitly states the court has equity powers for family law matters like divorce, child custody, alimony, and support when subject matter jurisdiction applies, removing ambiguous language from existing law. The bill does not create new authority but makes clear that these cases can be resolved through oral testimony, depositions, or consent without requiring a jury trial. It affects family court judges and individuals involved in family law proceedings in New Hampshire. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1713 establishes new standards for affordable housing development in New Hampshire by revising zoning laws. It defines "eligible housing" for low-income (80% or less of median area income) and moderate-income (80%-140% of median area income) residents, and authorizes the transfer of surplus state-owned property to the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority for affordable housing projects. The bill requires affordability restrictions on housing developed on transferred properties, including rules for occupancy, resale, and mixed-income housing. This directly affects state agencies managing surplus property, the Housing Finance Authority, and low/moderate-income residents seeking affordable housing options.

Maddy summaryHB 1291 would make it a class A misdemeanor to operate a small drone without permission over large public gatherings (like sports events, concerts, or festivals) or over critical infrastructure, such as power plants, water treatment facilities, military sites, or government buildings. The bill defines "critical infrastructure" to include specific facilities like petroleum refineries, electric substations, and public safety buildings. This law would take effect on January 1, 2027, and applies to all drone users who fly without prior authorization in these scenarios. The bill does not require new funding but may impact law enforcement and court processes if violations occur.

Maddy summaryHB 1585 requires New Hampshire's state and local public retirement systems to prioritize only financial factors when making investment decisions, excluding environmental, social, or political considerations. The bill directly affects retirement systems managing state pension funds, mandating that fiduciaries (like investment managers) act solely in the financial interest of participants and beneficiaries. Key provisions prohibit considering factors such as climate policies (e.g., restricting fossil fuel investments), diversity criteria, abortion access, or firearm industry engagement when managing assets. The law explicitly states that investment decisions must not be influenced by "environmental, social, political, or ideological interests," even if tied to corporate practices. This shifts focus entirely to financial returns and risk, eliminating ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria from retirement fund strategies.

Maddy summaryHB 1289 makes it illegal to use small drones (unmanned aircraft systems) to secretly record people engaging in private activities - like at home, with family, or in other settings where they reasonably expect privacy - without permission. It creates a class A misdemeanor for capturing such images and a class B felony for sharing them publicly. Law enforcement can still use drones for investigations into suspected illegal activity, as specified in the bill. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with no expected state or local costs.