Rep. Debra DeSimone

Maddy summaryHB 1067 establishes a state grant program to fund new mental health courts in New Hampshire, requiring counties, districts, or non-profits to apply through a standardized process managed by the judicial branch's Office of the Statewide Treatment Courts. The bill revises mental health court procedures to allow judges to dismiss charges or withhold prosecution upon successful completion of treatment programs, while mandating risk and clinical assessments for participants. It requires the judicial branch to develop application standards, track outcomes like recidivism, and provide training to ensure program effectiveness. The goal is to reduce incarceration costs and improve treatment access for individuals with mental illness through structured court interventions.

Maddy summaryHB 1454 makes it a crime to possess a firearm after a court orders you to surrender all firearms and ammunition you owned or controlled. For a first offense, this is a class A misdemeanor; repeat violations are class B felonies. The bill also specifies that violating this court order counts as a qualifying offense for bail denial if the original court order was a domestic violence protection order (under RSA 173-B) or if the person faces separate domestic violence charges. It directly affects individuals subject to such court orders, particularly in domestic violence cases. The law applies to all firearms and ammunition subject to the court’s surrender requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill (CACR 22) proposes a constitutional amendment to abolish the fixed annual compensation for New Hampshire legislators. It removes the current $250 per elected term for presiding officers and $200 per term for all other legislators from the state constitution. The amendment would eliminate these specific payment amounts, replacing them with a system that only provides mileage for actual attendance on legislative days (with limits on days and timing). If approved by voters in 2026, this change would take effect, ending the fixed stipends for all state legislators.

Maddy summaryHB 1643 changes how court-appointed child representatives (guardians ad litem) submit reports in family court cases. It removes the requirement for these reports to propose specific parenting arrangements, such as who makes decisions about the child's care, a detailed parenting plan, or a set schedule. Courts can no longer request these proposals unless they explicitly ask for them. This bill affects guardians ad litem and family court proceedings involving children, effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Hampshire's domestic violence law by adding "coercive control" to the list of behaviors courts can consider when issuing protection orders. Coercive control is defined as a pattern of behavior - including isolating a victim from support, controlling finances, monitoring communications, or threatening harm to pets/children - that causes a reasonable fear for safety. The bill directly affects victims of domestic violence and the courts handling protection order cases by expanding the types of abusive conduct that can be legally recognized. It does not change existing penalties or require new funding, as confirmed by the fiscal note showing no state revenue or expenditure impact.

Maddy summarySB 541 appropriates $16.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Services for Phase 2 of the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Project. It directly funds infrastructure (including pumps, storage tanks, and pipelines) to increase water supply by over 2 million gallons daily for towns affected by PFAS contamination and rising demand. The bill requires that no public utility ratepayer face adverse costs from this project. Funds are nonlapsing, meaning they remain available for use beyond the fiscal year without needing annual renewal.

Maddy summaryHB 1323 defines "parental alienation" as a pattern of behavior damaging a child's relationship with a parent - such as disparaging remarks, manipulation, or unjustified interference with parenting time - while excluding protective actions taken in good faith for safety concerns. The bill requires New Hampshire courts to consider parental alienation as a factor in custody, visitation, and parental rights decisions, including joint decision-making and modifications to parenting plans. It establishes a "family access motion" for parents to seek enforcement of parenting plans when alienation occurs and allows courts to order remedies like adjusted schedules. The law also mandates courts to evaluate parental alienation in grandparent visitation cases and requires attorney fee awards in contempt cases involving failure to comply with court orders related to parental alienation.

Maddy summaryHB 1039 requires parenting plans in New Hampshire to include specific agreements about parents sharing a child's images on social media. This bill directly affects parents creating or modifying custody arrangements by mandating this new provision as a required element. The key mechanism adds a new section (f) to the parenting plan requirements, explicitly covering digital image sharing. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to all new or revised parenting plans after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 1710 adopts the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act into New Hampshire law, creating new procedures for courts to address child abduction risks. It requires courts to issue prevention measures - such as travel restrictions or custody adjustments - when a credible risk of abduction is proven, based on specific risk factors like prior abduction attempts or threats. The bill mandates detailed petitions including the child’s location, the respondent’s details, and history of domestic violence or custody disputes. This applies to all courts handling child-custody cases, directly affecting parents, guardians, and legal entities involved in custody proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 1185 redefines the crime of endangering a child under 18 or an incompetent person by clarifying that failing to provide necessary care (negligent) is a class A misdemeanor, while knowingly causing danger is a class B felony. A second or subsequent offense automatically becomes a class B felony, and if careless actions cause serious injury or death, the penalty escalates to a class A felony. The law applies to individuals with a duty of care, such as caregivers or guardians, and takes effect January 1, 2027. This bill updates penalties without creating new financial obligations for the state or local governments.