Rep. Tanya Donnelly

Maddy summaryHB 1088 transfers funding for New Hampshire's Water Well Board from the general fund to a new special nonlapsing fund. All fees, fines, and civil penalties collected under water well regulations (including a new $100 fee per well report) will now be deposited directly into this dedicated fund instead of the general fund. The fund will cover the board's operational costs, consolidating current revenue streams to provide steady, self-sustaining funding starting July 2026. This change, requested by the Department of Environmental Services, is expected to generate approximately $242,600 annually for board operations.

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 1089 extends the Department of Environmental Services' authorization to evaluate and mitigate contamination risks for new community water systems. It specifically applies to smaller groundwater sources (under 57,600 gallons daily) that could affect existing private wells. The bill requires the department to adopt rules ensuring new water systems don’t cause unmitigated harm to nearby private water supplies. This continuation of existing authority directly affects new community water providers and protects adjacent private well users. The bill does not create new rules but maintains current protections for water safety.

Maddy summaryHB 1425 streamlines wetland permitting for small projects by shortening the review period from 40 to 21 days and creates an emergency permitting process for natural disasters. It modifies existing rules to allow the Department of Environmental Services to approve certain minor projects without full review and authorize immediate protective actions during emergencies. The bill directly affects property owners, developers, and emergency responders needing quick permits for small wetland projects or disaster response. The changes require minimal administrative adjustments, with estimated annual costs under $10,000 for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1093 modifies New Hampshire's building code and school construction funding to treat public charter schools equally with traditional public schools. The bill extends full compliance with state building and fire codes to charter schools (as defined under RSA 194-B) and makes them eligible for the same state construction aid grants as school districts. Specifically, it revises building code language to include charter school facilities and updates funding rules to calculate grants for charters using the same formulas applied to school districts. This change ensures charter schools can access state construction funding and meet the same safety standards as other public schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Hampshire's Exotic Aquatic Weeds and Species Committee to include the study of harmful algal blooms and cyanobacteria alongside exotic aquatic weeds. The committee must now investigate factors contributing to these blooms, such as links between invasive species and nutrient levels in water. It also directs the committee to assist the Department of Environmental Services in controlling and eradicating milfoil, harmful algal blooms, and cyanobacteria. This change updates the committee's responsibilities to address specific water quality concerns affecting the state's surface waters.

Maddy summarySB 513 requires school districts and chartered public schools to hire an owner's project manager (OPM) before submitting applications for school building aid grants, rather than after. This applies specifically to construction, renovation, or reconstruction projects costing $1.25 million or more, unless the commissioner grants a waiver. The bill mandates that the OPM must carry specific insurance coverage and sets requirements for the state board to establish qualification rules. This change shifts the timing of OPM engagement from after application submission to the application phase itself.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (CACR 13) proposes removing all references to the "register of probate" position from New Hampshire's constitution. It would amend Articles 71 and 81 to delete the elected office and its duties, which were already redistributed to circuit court clerks in 2011. The bill does not create or change any current duties but formally eliminates the obsolete constitutional reference. Voters will decide in the November 2026 election whether to approve this change.

Maddy summaryHB 1506 creates a process for New Hampshire state agencies to request exceptions to current restrictions on artificial intelligence use. It requires agency heads to submit written requests specifying their purpose for needing the exception, which must first be reviewed by the Department of Information Technology and then approved by the Executive Council. This bill directly affects state agencies seeking to use AI for specific purposes beyond existing prohibitions, without changing the core restrictions on AI applications.

Maddy summaryHB 1389 establishes strict liability for owners or operators of facilities that release PFAS chemicals into groundwater, triggering cleanup requirements when contamination reaches 500 parts per trillion or higher. It directly affects businesses handling PFAS (like manufacturers or waste facilities) that caused such contamination. The bill mandates compliance with federal cleanup regulations (40 CFR 265.111 and 265.114) for equipment, piping, and building surfaces used with PFAS. This requires facilities to address contamination through closure, decommissioning, or remediation of affected infrastructure.