Rep. Paul Dargie

Maddy summaryHB 1063 reduces the percentage of meals and rooms tax that businesses (like restaurants and hotels) can retain from 3% to 1.5% for returns filed electronically and received on time by the Department of Revenue Administration. This change directly affects operators who collect these taxes, shifting revenue from their retained portion to state funds. The bill amends RSA 78-A:7, III and takes effect July 1, 2026. Based on FY 2025 data, this would increase state revenue by approximately $6.4 million annually, primarily benefiting the General Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1260 allows couples to complete their marriage application worksheet (including personal details like names, birthplaces, and social security numbers) in advance, either online or offline, before their wedding. It requires both the bride and groom to sign this form in person at their town or city clerk's office. The bill also adds a $25 fee for filing a delayed marriage certificate (used when couples don’t receive their certificate immediately after the wedding), payable to the local clerk. This affects prospective married couples and town/city clerks handling marriage registrations. The changes aim to streamline the registration process while adding a small fee for delayed filings.

Maddy summaryHB 1274 increases the base annual dog license fee by $0.25 for most dogs in New Hampshire. The new fee is $4.75 for neutered or spayed dogs 7 months or older and $7.25 for unneutered dogs 7 months or older, while puppies (4-7 months) rise to $4.75. Seniors aged 65 or older will pay $2.00 for their first dog (instead of the previous $1.75 base fee plus $1.75 population fee) and are exempt from the $1.75 population control fee for that dog. All other dog owners, including seniors with additional dogs, must pay the increased base fee plus the $1.75 population control fee.

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 summaryHB 1014 exempts certain retired members of New Hampshire's retirement system from a 28-day waiting period before taking part-time jobs. It specifically applies to retirees working in emergency services (like during declared emergencies or woodland fire control) and those who were already employed part-time with a different employer at the time of retirement. The bill modifies retirement law (RSA 100-A:7-b) to remove the waiting period for these scenarios while maintaining annual hour limits for part-time work. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1660 allows New Hampshire municipalities to use project-based credit enhancement agreements (CEAs) to incentivize specific housing developments without requiring a full tax increment financing (TIF) district. It directly affects municipalities and developers building qualifying housing projects, such as senior housing, skilled care facilities, workforce housing, or other community-identified housing needs. The bill clarifies that housing-related captured tax revenue will be excluded from equalized property valuation calculations, preventing towns from facing artificially inflated state tax bases. This change streamlines support for housing projects while excluding conversions of existing homes, luxury developments, or individually owned units like single-family homes. The law aims to address housing shortages by making municipal financial tools more accessible for housing-focused initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 1429 allows election moderators at polling places to pause ballot counting if it may extend past midnight (after 11:00 p.m.), requiring it to resume the next morning. This directly affects local election officials managing polling places, who must securely store ballots overnight with at least two election officials or one official plus a police officer present, complete chain-of-custody forms, and preserve all materials. The bill also permits up to five public observers during overnight storage, mandates time-stamped audio/video recording of the storage area, and requires live broadcasting if feasible. These provisions aim to address potential delays in vote counting while maintaining security and transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 1461 encourages municipalities with existing sewage systems to extend service to neighboring communities by creating a faster approval process for such projects and giving them priority in state loan and grant programs. It requires that extensions follow regional plans or local master plans and allows municipalities to recover costs through user fees or impact fees charged to the receiving community. The bill also includes a provision allowing state officials to mandate extensions if there’s a public health risk, housing goal barrier, or significant economic harm, while ensuring host municipalities don’t bear extra costs. This primarily affects towns with sewage infrastructure seeking to expand service across town lines, particularly for housing or economic development projects.