HB 1794 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to study how recent Medicaid changes affect residents' healthcare access. The department must prepare a report detailing impacts on covered individuals, healthcare providers (including hospitals and community clinics), timely care access, waiver program participants, and state budget effects. The report must cover specific areas like the number of affected residents and potential facility closures, with an interim version due November 1, 2026, and a final report by July 1, 2027. This bill directly affects New Hampshire residents relying on Medicaid and healthcare organizations providing services to them. It mandates a factual assessment of existing changes without altering Medicaid policy itself.
HB 1375 prohibits landlords from charging more than one application fee per tenant within any 12-month period, regardless of how many rental units the tenant applies for or leases under the same landlord or agent. It specifically covers all fees related to processing rental applications, including background checks, credit checks, and administrative costs. This law directly affects tenants seeking rental housing and landlords managing applications. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment, ensuring tenants pay only one fee for multiple applications to the same landlord within a year.
HB 1432 clarifies how condominium associations in New Hampshire must handle electricity billing for shared residential services like septic systems and well pumps. It requires associations to split these costs equally among the residential units sharing a single meter, regardless of the association’s billing arrangement with the utility. Condo associations without commercial use can request that utilities apply the standard residential rate for these specific services, effective in the next billing cycle after the request. Utilities are not required to verify whether the association meets the requirements or confirm the meter’s residential use. This bill directly affects residential condo associations managing shared utility infrastructure.
HB 1343 allows condominium associations' governing bodies (like boards of directors) to hold meetings remotely or in hybrid formats, including via video or phone. It explicitly states that electronic participation counts toward quorum requirements, meaning meetings can proceed if enough members join online. The bill requires associations to provide access information for remote attendees and ensure they can hear proceedings and ask questions. It also permits electronic voting on association matters, with results counted using standard ballot procedures. This change directly affects condo associations and their unit owners by modernizing meeting protocols.
HB 1028 updates New Hampshire's legal definition of "renewable generation facility" to explicitly include energy produced from bio-oil, bio-synthetic gas, and biodiesel (as defined in RSA 362-A:1-a). This change directly affects renewable energy projects seeking tax benefits under RSA 72:73, particularly those using these biofuels. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, clarifying which facilities qualify for related tax provisions.
HB 1804 consolidates school administrative units (merging smaller school districts) and makes the position of chief school administrator an elected role rather than an appointed one. It defines specific education roles for school administrators and requires school boards to develop and evaluate curricula. The bill amends several state laws to update compensation structures, reporting requirements, and duties for county-level school officials. These changes directly affect school districts, county school conventions, and chief administrators across New Hampshire. The policy focuses on restructuring school governance and increasing local community input through elections.
HB 1334 repeals a section of New Hampshire law (RSA 194-F:2, II(o)) that previously gave the Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) scholarship organization authority to approve certain educational expenses for scholarship recipients. This bill removes the organization's decision-making power over which expenses - such as textbooks, supplies, or fees - qualify for EFA scholarships. The change shifts this authority away from the scholarship organization and directly to the legal framework governing EFA programs. The bill takes effect upon passage and does not alter scholarship eligibility or funding amounts.
HB 1613 directs New Hampshire's Department of Business and Economic Affairs to produce a report by November 1, 2026, on methods to encourage financial institutions to increase lending for housing developments designed for people with disabilities. The report must identify specific incentives like tax credits, loan guarantees, and regulatory strategies, after consulting with at least five lenders (including community banks) and disability advocates. It does not create new laws or provide funding but will recommend legislative changes to support accessible housing development. The bill affects housing developers seeking financing and lenders through potential future policy adjustments based on the report's findings.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring New Hampshire's governor to obtain the Executive Council's approval before deploying the National Guard. Currently, the governor has sole authority to call up the National Guard without needing the Council's consent. If approved by voters in November 2026, the amendment would change the state constitution to mandate this approval process for National Guard deployments. The measure directly affects the governor's executive powers and the Executive Council's role in military decisions.
HB 1165 removes the "X" or "other" gender designation option from all New Hampshire state-issued identification cards and driver's licenses. The bill amends multiple sections of state law (RSA 260:21, 260:21-a, 263:5, 263:40, 263:90, and 263:91) to delete the bracketed phrase "or 'X' for 'other,'" leaving only "M" for male or "F" for female. This change directly affects all New Hampshire residents applying for or renewing state IDs, including transgender and non-binary individuals who previously used the "X" option. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.
HB 1277 requires absentee ballot applicants in New Hampshire to include their New Hampshire driver's license number or nondriver's identification number on their application form. This change directly affects voters requesting absentee ballots, as it adds a new field (line 35-36) to the standard application. The bill amends RSA 657:4 to mandate this identification detail be provided when submitting an absentee ballot request. It does not alter eligibility rules but adds a verification step for absentee ballot applications.
HB 1320 establishes a temporary committee to study funding sources for New Hampshire's State Council on the Arts. The committee, composed of three House members and one Senate member, will analyze past, current, and potential future funding options. It must submit a report with findings and recommendations to state leaders by November 1, 2026, but does not allocate funds or make policy changes itself. This is a procedural bill focused solely on gathering information for future consideration.
