SB 549 New Hampshire Senate · 2026 Regular Session

requiring certain syringe service program entities to provide options for disposal of used syringes and needles and creating reporting requirements for such entities.

SB 549 prohibits state and local governments from using public funds to support organizations that distribute drug paraphernalia, including needles and syringes through syringe service programs (SSPs). It specifically blocks state funds - such as those from opioid settlement money - from being used for SSPs that provide such paraphernalia, except during disease outbreak responses under existing law. The bill affects funding for public health programs by restricting how state and local resources can be allocated to organizations distributing drug-related items. The fiscal note indicates this would reduce annual funding for SSPs by approximately $1.7 million, though it clarifies this does not represent net savings but potential cost shifts to other healthcare services.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Nov 24, 2025 Signed May 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Version adopted by both bodies → CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION · 3 edits

MINOR

No substantive policy changes were made between the version adopted by both bodies and the final chaptered version. The differences are entirely procedural: the bill was assigned Chapter 106, section numbers were updated with the chapter prefix (e.g., '1' became '106:1'), the fiscal note was removed (as it is not part of the enrolled law), and approval/effective dates were added.

TECHNICAL

Section numbers were renumbered with the chapter prefix: section 1 became 106:1 and section 2 became 106:2, which is standard when a bill is enrolled as law.

The fiscal note section (including estimated state and local financial impacts and methodology) was removed, as fiscal notes are legislative process documents not included in the final chaptered law.

TIMELINE

Approval date (May 28, 2026) and effective date (August 26, 2026) were added to the final version, confirming the 90-day effective period specified in the bill.

Introduced → As Amended by the Senate · 10 edits

MAJOR

The Senate completely rewrote SB 549, reversing its purpose from prohibiting government funding and distribution of drug paraphernalia (including needles and syringes) to instead regulating existing syringe service programs by requiring them to provide free disposal options for used syringes and report quarterly on return rates. The amended bill adds a new regulatory framework with compliance reporting, performance targets, corrective action plans, and fines, while preempting local ordinances that would prohibit authorized activities. This represents a fundamental policy shift from restricting syringe service programs to overseeing them.

SCOPE

The original prohibition on state and local governments distributing or funding organizations that distribute drug paraphernalia (including needles and syringes) was entirely removed.

A preemption clause was added stating that no municipality may adopt a local ordinance or rule to prohibit any activity authorized by the new paragraph.

FISCAL

The original restriction preventing use of state funds (including opioid litigation settlement funds) for organizations distributing drug paraphernalia was removed.

The fiscal impact changed from an estimated $1.7 million in savings (from cutting SSP funding) to new state expenditures of approximately $115,000-$126,000 per year funded from the General Fund for administration and oversight.

REQUIREMENT

Syringe service programs that provide sterile needles and syringes must now offer free disposal options for used syringes, needles, and related paraphernalia to the public.

Programs must conduct an annual marketing campaign to inform participants about free disposal options.

ENFORCEMENT

Programs must submit quarterly reports to the department on disposal compliance and calculated syringe return rates, including methodology descriptions and performance narratives.

A 95% syringe return rate target per calendar quarter is established, assessed over rolling 4-quarter periods. Programs below 95% for two consecutive quarters must submit a corrective action plan within 30 days with strategies, timelines, and resource needs.

The department is authorized to adopt rules establishing fines for failure to file required reports or implement corrective action plans.

TIMELINE

The effective date changed from 60 days after passage to 90 days after passage.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 29, 2026

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor on 05/28/2026; Chapter 106; Effective 08/26/2026

upper

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Ought to Pass: MA DV 186-152 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 60

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Committee

Referral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 72

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Committee

Referred to Finance 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 60

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 04/15/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC)

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Introduced (in recess of) 03/12/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 8 P. 114

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Ought to Pass with Amendments #2026-1040s and #2026-1162s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/12/2026; SJ 6

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Sen. Murphy Floor Amendment # 2026-1162s, AA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Amendment # 2026-1040s, AA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1040s, 03/12/2026, Vote 5-0; SC 9

upper

Nov 24, 2025

Introduced

Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1

upper

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors