Sen. Keith Murphy

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 summarySB 586 requires New Hampshire school districts and charter public schools to publish a detailed annual financial audit report by September 1 each year. The report must include receipts, expenditures, assets, liabilities, payroll details, and capital projects. Schools failing to submit the report by the deadline will have state funding withheld until compliance is achieved. This bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends existing law to standardize the submission deadline for all school entities.

Maddy summarySB 487 amends New Hampshire law to allow credit unions to pay their board members for serving on the board, which is currently prohibited. The bill removes the existing restriction preventing such payments, enabling credit union members (the owners) to set the compensation amount at an annual meeting. This change directly affects credit unions and their board members by making board service compensable, rather than requiring it to be voluntary. The law now permits credit unions to establish board compensation as part of their operational structure.

Maddy summarySB 507 limits school districts' financial responsibility for continuing education services for students expelled due to assaulting school staff. It requires districts to cover only the average per-pupil cost for such students, rather than full educational expenses. The bill does not change expulsion rules or relieve parents of their obligation to educate their children. This applies specifically to students expelled for assault against staff and takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 464 changes New Hampshire's civil rights enforcement standard by requiring that prohibited conduct (like threats or violence) be "substantially motivated by hostility" toward a victim's protected characteristic - such as race, gender identity, or disability - to be considered a civil rights violation. This applies directly to enforcement agencies and courts when investigating or prosecuting civil rights cases. The bill modifies RSA 354-B:1 to clarify that conduct must be clearly driven by bias, not just coincidental, to trigger civil rights protections. It takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state or local cost impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1460 prohibits companies and services that collect children's data from selling their location or other sensitive information. It directly affects businesses operating apps, websites, or platforms that gather data from minors, banning the sale regardless of parental consent. The bill amends New Hampshire's data privacy law (RSA 507-H) by adding a new requirement that covered entities cannot sell children's data, building on existing federal COPPA rules. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, without new state funding or positions.

Maddy summarySB 655 requires employee leasing companies and their client companies to ensure leased workers have workers' compensation coverage. It mandates that either the leasing company or client company must purchase and maintain this insurance, with options for one policy (voluntary market) or two policies (one voluntary, one residual market). The bill clarifies that both parties share the same legal protections under workers' compensation law and neither is vicariously liable for the other's workplace actions. This directly affects employee leasing businesses and their client employers in New Hampshire. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 595 creates a path for community water systems to return to standard testing schedules after being required to test more frequently due to missing or late water tests. It directly affects water systems sanctioned by the Department of Environmental Services for these violations. The key provision requires such systems to submit six consecutive timely water test results to revert to the original testing frequency. This bill modifies existing rules to provide a clear remediation process without changing overall testing requirements. The change applies only to systems that have corrected their testing compliance.

Maddy summarySB 619 establishes a 14-day deadline for courts to hold status hearings after animals are confiscated due to alleged cruelty, prioritizing these cases on court calendars. It requires courts to limit hearings to whether the confiscation was authorized, allows bonds up to $1,000 per animal (or equitable transfer if co-owned), and prohibits using hearing outcomes in related criminal cases. The bill directly affects animal owners, courts, and animal control agencies by creating faster resolution pathways while ensuring animal welfare considerations. The fiscal impact is minimal, costing less than $10,000 annually for the Judicial Branch through 2029.

Maddy summarySB 578 requires all public schools to provide daily recess for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, expanding current requirements. It mandates play-based learning for kindergarten through third grade and explicitly prohibits withholding recess as punishment for misbehavior or incomplete schoolwork. The bill defines recess as unstructured outdoor play (when safe), separate from physical education classes. This law applies to all public schools in the state, directly affecting K-8 students and school policies.