Rep. Timothy Soucy

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1193) names the new 911 call service center in Laconia, New Hampshire (located at 311 Meredith Center Road) the "Bruce Cheney 911 Service Center" in recognition of Bruce G. Cheney's role in developing New Hampshire's statewide 911 emergency call system. It does not change any laws or policies - it is a commemorative act honoring Cheney's contributions. The naming takes effect 60 days after the bill is passed. This bill directly affects the facility's official designation and serves as a tribute to Cheney.

Maddy summarySB 423 reestablishes a commission to study post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders and whether PTSD should be covered under workers' compensation. The bill adds a New Hampshire comfort dog community representative to the commission and specifies its 17-member composition, including officials from labor, safety, and insurance departments, plus representatives from fire, police, medical, and mental health organizations. The commission must study succession planning, standardized peer support programs, and other relevant matters, with an interim report due by November 1, 2026, and a final report by November 1, 2027. This bill directly affects first responders by initiating a formal study of PTSD incidence and potential policy changes, without altering current workers' compensation rules.

Maddy summaryHB 282 increases the maximum retirement benefits for first responders (like police, firefighters, and EMTs) critically injured in the line of duty. It adjusts how these benefits are calculated within the state retirement system by linking them to the formula used for education adequacy grants. The bill phases in these benefit increases over time, with full implementation starting January 1, 2026, and subsequent adjustments through 2034. This change directly affects eligible first responders and modifies retirement benefit calculations without altering education funding levels.

Maddy summarySB 28 simplifies workers' compensation claims for emergency responders (like police, firefighters, and EMTs) diagnosed with acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from their job duties. The bill creates a legal presumption that such mental health conditions are work-related, eliminating the need for responders to prove a specific incident caused their condition. This change directly affects emergency responders seeking benefits, making it easier for them to access compensation without extensive documentation. The policy becomes effective August 9, 2025, after the bill was signed into law on June 10, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises the process for addressing unlicensed dogs, affecting dog owners and local municipalities. It outlines steps for local officials to identify and issue civil forfeiture notices to owners of unlicensed dogs. A key provision sets the maximum cost for serving these notices, whether by certified mail, in-hand delivery, or leaving it at the owner's home, to not exceed the U.S. Postal Service rate for certified mail with return receipt. The bill also requires a written warning before an unlicensed dog can be seized and details the process for reclaiming a seized dog.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers and sellers of firefighting gear to inform buyers whether the equipment contains PFAS chemicals, a specific class of fluorinated compounds. Starting in 2020, these notices must be included in employee files and given directly to firefighters, while records of the disclosure must be kept for three years. The state safety department is tasked with encouraging the purchase of PFAS-free gear, and fire departments are directed to prioritize safer alternatives when they become available. By 2025, the law prohibits departments from offering or allowing the use of firefighter uniforms that include intentionally added PFAS chemicals.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers to continue paying health insurance premiums for emergency response and public safety workers who are appealing a denial of a workers' compensation claim based on a presumptive condition. The coverage must be maintained at the value of a single employee premium for up to 18 months while the claim is being reviewed. Eligibility for this benefit begins at the start of employment and lasts for 20 years after the worker separates from service.