A busy signing day added 13 new laws covering elections, child care, environmental monitoring, and criminal penalties. One bill protecting students during legal questioning died in the Senate. Two housing and property bills moved back to active status.
Signed into Law
Elections
- HB 1309 — Modifies the formal notice requirements for town meeting warrants, which inform voters what will be decided at town meetings.
- HB 1325 — Allows supervisors of the checklist to correct voter rolls on any day of the week, rather than on designated days only.
- HB 1247 — Requires the Secretary of State to post and distribute public notices of proposed constitutional amendments.
Child Care and Family
- HB 1771 — Makes permanent the child care staffing ratio rules and accompanying waiver system that were set to expire.
- HB 1039 — Modifies what must be included in parenting plans during custody proceedings.
Environment
- HB 1148 — Expands the exotic aquatic weeds committee’s scope to include cyanobacteria and algae blooms, which have closed beaches and threatened drinking water across the state.
Public Safety and Criminal Law
- HB 1172 — Establishes confidentiality protections for National Guard sexual assault prevention and response personnel.
- HB 1730 — Increases criminal penalties for certain sexual offenses.
- HB 1444 — Regulates government purchase of drones, targeting national security concerns around foreign-manufactured unmanned aircraft systems.
- HB 1059 — Establishes rules for how automated license plate readers can be used in New Hampshire.
Taxes and Veterans
- HB 1494 — Raises the maximum veterans’, combat service, and surviving spouse tax credits that municipalities may offer.
Infrastructure and Boating
- HB 1435 — Updates the Winnipesaukee River Basin replacement fund, which supports wastewater infrastructure in the Lakes Region.
- HB 1837 — Updates regulations governing the NH Marine Patrol.
Killed
- HB 1267 — Would have required a parent or guardian to be present when school district attorneys or non-school personnel question students. The bill died in the Senate Education committee.
On the Move
- SB 564 — A bill prohibiting certain municipal development restrictions moved from committee back to active status.
- SB 481 — Legislation addressing the sale of the former Sununu Youth Services Center property also returned to active status.
- SB 625 — A bill creating a study committee for families of homicide victims when prosecutors decline to file charges moved into committee.
To see how your representatives voted on these bills, visit nhpolitics.org/find-your-rep.