SB 441 New Hampshire Senate · 2026 Regular Session

relative to the financial responsibility for local assistance and enabling municipalities to request a hearing regarding the residency of an assisted person.

SB 441 requires any New Hampshire municipality planning to transport homeless individuals or those needing substance use disorder treatment to another municipality to first establish a written agreement (Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU) with the receiving municipality. The MOU must detail services provided, financial responsibilities (including potential payments for treatment), transfer limits, and reporting requirements. This applies to non-emergency transports for housing, shelter, or treatment, but excludes emergency medical transfers, court-ordered moves, or voluntary relocations. Violations carry a $5,000 fine payable to the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill aims to ensure coordinated care and financial clarity between municipalities handling vulnerable residents.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Nov 21, 2025 Last action Apr 23, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced As Amended by the Senate · 2 edits
MINOR
The Senate amendment made two substantive changes to Section I of the bill. First, it added an exclusion so that the MOU requirement does not apply when a transport is related to the person's own request or application for general assistance under the chapter. Second, it broadened the scope to cover not just transporting someone for services but also simply placing a person within another municipality's jurisdiction. The remaining sections (II through VII) are unchanged in substance.
SCOPE

Added an exclusion: the MOU requirement no longer applies when the transport is related to the person's own request or application for general assistance under this chapter. This means if a person themselves asks to be moved or applies for services that involve relocation, the sending municipality does not need a prior MOU.

Broadened the trigger for the MOU requirement: it now applies not only when a municipality transports someone to another municipality for housing, shelter, treatment, or related services, but also when it simply places that person within another municipality's jurisdiction. This closes a potential loophole where a municipality could drop off a person in another town without formally 'transporting' them for services.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
6
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study 04/15/2026 (Vote 17-1; CC)
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Introduced
Introduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 9 P. 54
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1245s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Introduced
Sen. Sullivan Floor Amendment # 2026-1245s, RC 16Y-8N, AA; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment # 2026-0841s, AF, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0841s, 03/26/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 11
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0841s, 03/19/2026; Vote 3-2; CC; SC 10
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0841s, 03/05/2026; Vote 3-2; CC; SC 8
upper
Nov 21, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors