Rep. Jon Stone

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal process for the Department of Environmental Services to transfer ownership of state-owned dams to local towns or groups of landowners before the dams are removed. Under the new rules, the department must offer the dams to affected municipalities first, providing them with detailed information about the dam's condition and estimated repair costs, and only proceed with removal if no one accepts the transfer within a set timeframe. To support these transfers and future maintenance, the legislation creates a loan program funded by a state dam maintenance fund, offering 20-year loans at a 5 percent interest rate to towns or associations that take ownership. The bill also mandates that any loans taken must be repaid using local budget appropriations or property taxes from areas bordering the impoundment, with a cap of 50 percent of those taxes. Additionally, the process includes an exemption for dams deemed to be in imminent danger of failure, allowing the state to remove them immediately without offering a transfer.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to how New Hampshire administers its refugee resettlement program by prioritizing state funding for the social determinants of health for U.S. citizens first. Under the new rules, government resources for refugees could only be used after the department confirms that all eligible citizens have been served and removed from waitlists for state-funded services. The legislation would take effect 60 days after passing, though recent committee reviews have recommended against further legislative action on this measure.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Hampshire law to streamline the process for individuals to retrieve firearms and ammunition seized due to restraining orders or other court orders. It establishes that courts are not required to conduct background checks before returning property, though they may choose to do so if they wish. If a court does order a check, the law sets strict deadlines for the state to complete the review and outlines specific procedures for denying returns, including the requirement for a hearing and the burden of proof to be on the state. The legislation also provides a clear path for individuals to appeal unfavorable decisions directly to the state supreme court without paying fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as "Bradley's Law," authorizes New Hampshire courts and the Department of Safety to report specific mental health records to the federal background check system when individuals are involuntarily committed or found not guilty by reason of insanity. The legislation mandates that law enforcement confiscate firearms owned by these individuals within 48 hours of a qualifying court order and allows them to petition the court for relief from this disability after a set waiting period. It explicitly excludes information about people seeking voluntary treatment or those hospitalized only for assessment, ensuring that only specific legal dispositions trigger firearm prohibitions. By creating a new process for reporting these records and establishing a timeline for challenging the loss of firearm rights, the bill aims to align state procedures with federal requirements while providing a path for individuals to regain those rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new privacy protections for firearm purchasers by prohibiting payment processors and networks from requiring gun stores to use a specific "firearms code" for credit or debit card transactions. Instead, the law mandates that retailers selling guns, ammunition, and accessories must use the same general merchant codes applied to other retail stores to prevent their purchase history from being separately flagged in financial data. The Attorney General is empowered to investigate violations, issue notices to correct errors within 30 days, and pursue civil penalties or court injunctions against entities that intentionally fail to comply. These rules take effect on January 1, 2025, aiming to keep firearm purchase records separate from other consumer spending data in electronic payment systems.