Maddy summarySB 570 amends New Hampshire's legislative ethics rules by clarifying key definitions related to conflicts of interest for legislators. It defines "public at large" to include groups like professions or property owners affected by laws, and creates a new "direct benefit" standard that excludes financial impacts from normal marketplace participation. The bill also revises recusal rules to clarify that registered lobbyists do not automatically "exercise substantial influence" over organizations. These changes directly affect legislators and their household members when voting on bills that could impact their personal finances. The amendments aim to make conflict-of-interest determinations more precise without altering the legislative ethics committee's structure.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 661 defines key terms and sets financial standards for New Hampshire's pooled risk management programs (which cover health, workers' compensation, and property/casualty insurance for political subdivisions like cities and towns). It requires programs to maintain minimum reserve levels (4% of annual health claims or 10% of annual contributions for workers' comp), triggers mandatory assessments if reserves fall below these thresholds, and mandates annual audits and actuarial reviews. The bill also establishes a "health care stabilization fund" requirement for health coverage members to cover potential future assessments. These provisions directly affect participating political subdivisions by setting clear financial safeguards and accountability measures for the pooled programs.
Maddy summarySB 434 requires New Hampshire school districts to adopt and publicly post policies for handling parent or guardian complaints about school materials deemed harmful to minors, age-inappropriate, or offensive. It mandates a specific 25-day timeline for school principals to investigate written complaints, make decisions about material access (keeping, removing, or restricting it), and provide written explanations. Parents can appeal decisions to the school board within 30 days, with all decisions and communications becoming public records. The bill directly affects school districts, educators, and parents filing complaints, setting clear procedural requirements for addressing concerns about classroom materials.
Maddy summarySB 469 allows the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) director to create rules permitting electronic signatures on vehicle-related documents. It specifically removes the requirement for notarized signatures when transferring vehicle ownership to an insurer after a claim payment, permitting electronic signatures and printed hard copies instead. This applies to supporting documents like title forms, odometer statements, and power of attorney. The bill directly affects vehicle owners, insurers, and DMV staff handling title transfers, streamlining processes for claims-related vehicle ownership changes.
Maddy summarySB 526 creates a New Hampshire-Greece trade council to strengthen economic ties between the state and Greece. The council, composed of state officials, business representatives, and academic leaders, will promote trade, investment, and cultural exchanges. It can raise funds through donations and grants, with a dedicated non-lapsing fund in the state treasury to cover administrative costs. The council aims to build on New Hampshire's historic Greek-American connections and its status as a top U.S. trade partner for Greece.
Maddy summaryHB 1598 creates a streamlined eviction process for landlords seeking to remove tenants who fail to pay rent or breach leases in ways affecting health/safety, criminal activity, or drug-related offenses. It requires landlords to provide a 5-day notice with a clear warning about the expedited timeline, giving tenants only 3 days to respond after court filing. If tenants don’t pay or vacate, courts must issue a writ of possession immediately without a hearing - unless the tenant pays all overdue rent within 48 hours. This process limits defenses to just rent payment or the alleged breach, blocking unrelated claims, and restricts stays of execution except for immediate payment. The bill applies to all landlords and tenants in qualifying eviction cases, effective January 1, 2027.
Maddy summarySB 534 requires campaign committees supporting constitutional amendments or local ballot questions to certify under penalty of perjury that no foreign national funded their activities or influenced decisions. It mandates that committees return foreign contributions within 10 business days and disgorge funds if violations are found, with committee leaders held personally liable. The bill also prohibits foreign nationals from directing or soliciting contributions for these campaigns. These rules apply to all committees and independent spenders involved in covered ballot measures, with records maintained for four years and certifications published online.
Maddy summarySB 670 establishes a Developmental Services Oversight Commission to monitor health and safety for individuals receiving home and community-based developmental services in New Hampshire. The commission, composed of 15 members including legislative representatives, agency staff, service providers, parents, and people receiving services, will review data from the Department of Health and Human Services and make recommendations to improve outcomes. Key duties include analyzing satisfaction surveys, training requirements, licensing data, and waiver performance measures, with annual reports due starting November 2026. The bill also creates a new $52,000 position to support the commission and amends related reporting requirements for vulnerable adult fatality reviews and child deaths in residential care.
Maddy summarySB 486 clarifies key definitions in New Hampshire's rulemaking process under the Administrative Procedure Act. It updates terms like "form" (requiring blank spaces for public use, not just agency-labeled documents) and "final legislative action" (defining when rulemaking fails). These changes affect state agencies creating rules and the public interacting with them during rulemaking. The bill makes procedural language clearer without altering substantive rulemaking requirements. It is a technical clarification to the existing Administrative Procedure Act.
Maddy summarySB 448 modifies New Hampshire's definition of "veteran" to include individuals discharged under honorable conditions (including those with a general discharge under honorable conditions), ensuring they qualify for state benefits. It establishes a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license for state-resident veterans meeting this definition, with a one-time fee adjusted based on the veteran's service-connected disability rating. This replaces annual license fees with a single payment, directly benefiting disabled veterans who previously faced eligibility barriers. The bill also updates multiple state statutes to align with the revised veteran definition, ensuring consistency across programs like employment preferences and tax exemptions.