A busy Thursday saw the governor sign seven bills into law covering first-responder protections, prescription drug rules, and animal licensing. One notable energy bill — which would have opened the door to advanced nuclear power in New Hampshire — died without becoming law.
Signed into Law
- HB 59 — Strengthens criminal penalties for assaulting firefighters, EMTs, and law enforcement officers while on duty.
- HB 126 — Updates prescribing rules for certain controlled substances, adjusting procedures to balance patient access with abuse prevention.
- HB 348 — Modifies eligibility requirements for local welfare assistance programs.
- HB 1157 — Updates licensing requirements for pet vendors in New Hampshire.
- HB 1161 — Removes the requirement for municipalities to maintain an advisory board for development districts.
- HB 1274 — Updates dog licensing requirements, likely modernizing the administrative process.
- HB 1366 — Requires New Hampshire to recognize and enforce military protective orders, extending domestic violence protections to military families.
Killed
HB 221 — Would have allowed New Hampshire electric utilities to invest in and operate advanced nuclear resources, including small modular reactors, and updated rules around power purchase agreements. The bill had passed the Senate but did not survive the full legislative process.
On the Move
Four education-related bills moved from the Senate queue back to active status, suggesting Senate action is pending:
- HB 656 — Clarifies local school districts’ authority to accept federal grants.
- HB 1051 — Expands criminal background check requirements for school bus drivers and transportation personnel.
- HB 1495 — Allows school districts to use reimbursement anticipation notes as collateral to manage cash flow while awaiting state education funding.
- HB 1529 — Repeals the state’s reading recovery training program, which critics say relies on methods not aligned with current reading science.
Also active: HB 1425, which directs the state to build an online wetlands permit processing system, moved to active status in the Senate.
To see how your representatives voted on these bills, visit nhpolitics.org/find-your-rep.