Rep. Judy Aron

Maddy summaryHB 1616 prohibits New Hampshire state agencies and local governments (like cities and towns) from using public funds to advertise vaccines. It bans both direct advertising by these entities and payments to contractors for vaccine promotion. The law specifically targets spending from state or local budgets on vaccine-related advertising, including through federal immunization grants. This bill does not affect vaccine access, safety, or public health programs - only the use of public funds for promotional activities.

Maddy summaryHB 1766 limits when animals can be taken from livestock owners during cruelty investigations. It requires the state veterinarian to accompany officers in livestock cases to confirm if immediate danger exists before confiscation, and prohibits taking animals unless someone is charged with cruelty or the animal faces imminent harm. The bill also mandates a court hearing within 14 days of confiscation, protects ownership rights for non-accused owners, and requires convicted individuals to cover costs for animal care during legal proceedings. This directly affects livestock owners, law enforcement, courts, and state veterinarians by setting clear rules for animal seizure and custody.

Maddy summarySB 535 defines two key terms for animal transfer regulations: a "residential breeder" (an individual breeding dogs/cats at home, raising litters as part of the household, transferring no more than 50 animals yearly, and not importing animals) and an "imported animal" (the offspring of an animal imported while pregnant). These definitions apply specifically to animal transfers within New Hampshire, clarifying which operations fall under certain regulations. The bill directly affects home-based breeders and animal transfer operations by setting clear boundaries for their activities. It becomes effective 60 days after passage, with no additional policy changes beyond these definitions.

Maddy summaryHB 1511 removes a representative from the Granite State Dairy Promotion from the Agriculture in the Classroom committee. The bill amends state law by repealing the specific provision that required this dairy industry representative to serve on the committee. This change directly affects the committee's membership composition but does not alter the committee's duties, funding, or other operational aspects. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a requirement that ferrets must have health certificates for transfer. Animal shelters must now maintain microchip scanners and contact owners within 72 hours if an animal is unclaimed or abandoned. Shelters must scan for microchips upon intake, attempt to reunite animals with registered owners, and contact secondary owners via microchip registries if primary owners cannot be reached. These changes apply to all animal shelters transferring dogs, cats, or ferrets in New Hampshire.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits municipalities from requiring licenses for the production and sale of homegrown food products that are already exempt from certain regulations under state law. It directly affects small-scale food producers (like those selling homemade goods) and local governments that previously could impose such licensing rules. The key provision amends state law to explicitly ban municipal license requirements for these exempt products. The change applies statewide and takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Hampshire's dog control law to explicitly allow dogs to guard crops without being restrained (e.g., leashed or confined), provided the owner can see, hear, or has reasonable knowledge of the dog's location. It directly affects farmers and agricultural property owners who use dogs for crop protection, such as deterring wildlife. The key provision clarifies that "guarding crops" is a permitted use under existing law, removing ambiguity about owner supervision requirements. The change takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for businesses repeatedly violating laws governing the sale of seeds, plants, and nursery stock in New Hampshire. It establishes a three-tier penalty system for "habitual offenders": a six-month sales ban at the violation location for a second offense, a one-year ban for a third offense, and permanent prohibition for a fourth violation. The Department of Agriculture will define "habitual violation" through rules, and penalties apply specifically to the business location where violations occur. These changes take effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting sellers of agricultural products who face repeated enforcement actions.

Maddy summaryHB 1468 allows New Hampshire municipalities to voluntarily include flood resilience planning in their master plans, without imposing new state mandates or costs. The bill amends state law to require municipalities to identify flood risks and propose mitigation measures in their natural hazards sections (Section 2), and adds an optional coastal/inland flood resilience section addressing storm surge, riverine flooding, erosion, and infrastructure protection (Section 3). It also expands state housing planning grants to cover flood hazard mitigation and related land use updates. Municipalities may choose whether to adopt these provisions, with the law taking effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 644 requires background checks for individuals seeking permits to operate solid waste and hazardous waste facilities in New Hampshire. Specifically, it mandates criminal history checks - including fingerprint-based national database searches - for owners, officers, directors, partners, and managers of these facilities during the permit application process. The law applies to all facility owners (including partners in partnerships and managers/members in LLCs) and covers both new permits and ownership transfers. These checks must be conducted through the state police and FBI databases, with applicants submitting authorization forms and fingerprints to the Department of Environmental Services.