SB 570 amends New Hampshire's legislative ethics rules by clarifying key definitions related to conflicts of interest for legislators. It defines "public at large" to include groups like professions or property owners affected by laws, and creates a new "direct benefit" standard that excludes financial impacts from normal marketplace participation. The bill also revises recusal rules to clarify that registered lobbyists do not automatically "exercise substantial influence" over organizations. These changes directly affect legislators and their household members when voting on bills that could impact their personal finances. The amendments aim to make conflict-of-interest determinations more precise without altering the legislative ethics committee's structure.
SB 542 reduces the maximum number of game dates charities can use at gaming facilities from ten to seven per year. It requires each gaming facility to contract with two charitable organizations for every game date and mandates that game operators hold exactly seven annual game dates for the host community. Charities will now be limited to seven game dates per calendar year under the revised licensing rules, with 35% of daily gross revenues distributed equally to partnering charities or the host community.
SB 467 increases penalties for fentanyl distribution by establishing mandatory minimum prison sentences: 3.5 years for 20 grams or more and 7 years for 50 grams or more (including mixtures). It also mandates a life sentence or long prison term for distributing non-fentanyl controlled drugs that cause death. Courts may reduce these sentences if defendants meet specific conditions, such as having no recent violent felony convictions, not using violence, and completing drug treatment or education. If reduced, defendants must serve at least 3 years of probation with drug testing, treatment, community service, and a suspended prison sentence.
SB 410 authorizes New Hampshire law enforcement agencies to possess portions of human remains (such as tissue or bone) for training cadaver detection dogs, directly affecting law enforcement, funeral homes, and mortuaries. The bill requires written consent from next of kin or the deceased’s prior donation authorization, specifies the exact portions to be used, and mandates documentation retention. After training, all remains must be returned to a New Hampshire institution of higher education or a licensed medical waste disposal company. Agencies must also develop written policies covering consent, handling, storage, and final disposition, all to be submitted to the police standards council. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.
SB 256 requires health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to cover clinician-administered drugs (CADs) - outpatient medications that patients cannot safely self-administer and are typically given by healthcare professionals in clinics or hospitals - without requiring prior authorization. It prohibits HMOs from mandating that pharmacies dispense CADs directly to patients for them to transport to a healthcare setting for administration. The bill mandates HMOs to use the lowest-cost reimbursement method for covered CADs and ensures coverage aligns with medical standards of care. This directly affects patients needing CADs (like IV therapies) and HMOs operating in New Hampshire, effective January 1, 2026.
SB 247 allows community pharmacies to decline filling prescriptions when a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) offers reimbursement below the pharmacy’s actual drug cost, without facing network exclusion. Pharmacies must inform patients to contact their insurer for alternative pharmacy options. The bill also requires pharmacy administrative organizations (PSAOs) to share PBM contracts and payment details with pharmacies within 3 days and prohibits PSAOs from forcing pharmacies to buy drugs from specific suppliers. This applies to independent pharmacies and takes effect January 1, 2026.
SB 498 creates the New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Association to fund mental health services for children under 18. The association will collect mandatory assessments (fees) from insurance companies, stop-loss carriers, and third-party administrators covering children in the state, excluding Medicaid recipients. Funds gathered will be deposited into a dedicated fund managed by the insurance commissioner and used to pay care management entities providing specific services like intensive in-home therapy, structured outpatient programs, and care coordination. This directly affects insurers (who pay assessments), care management organizations (who receive payments), and children under 18 with covered health plans (who gain access to funded services).
SB 606 requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases when the test has clinical utility and is supported by evidence like FDA approvals, drug labels, or medical guidelines. It applies to all health benefit plans issued on or after January 1, 2027, and mandates Medicaid coverage under similar standards. The bill limits disruptions in care (e.g., requiring multiple biopsies) and sets strict timelines for prior authorization decisions - 72 hours for urgent cases and 14 days for non-urgent requests. It also ensures patients and providers have a clear, accessible process to appeal coverage denials through health insurers' websites.
SB 647 authorizes New Hampshire's Department of Insurance to join a cooperative group with other states to secure lower prices on prescription drugs through a discount program. The bill enables the department to form an intergovernmental agreement for this purpose, requiring approval from the governor and executive council. This would directly affect the Department of Insurance's operations and potentially reduce prescription drug costs for state residents. The program would take effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 1219 prevents foster family homes from imposing immunization requirements on children or foster parents that are stricter than those in RSA 141-C:20-a. Specifically, it prohibits requirements exceeding the standard for vaccine type, number of doses, or exemption policies already established for the general population. This bill directly affects foster children and foster parents by aligning their immunization standards with statewide requirements. The law amends RSA 170-E:27-b to ensure foster homes cannot mandate additional or more stringent vaccinations than what is required for children in public schools or the general community.
SB 464 changes New Hampshire's civil rights enforcement standard by requiring that prohibited conduct (like threats or violence) be "substantially motivated by hostility" toward a victim's protected characteristic - such as race, gender identity, or disability - to be considered a civil rights violation. This applies directly to enforcement agencies and courts when investigating or prosecuting civil rights cases. The bill modifies RSA 354-B:1 to clarify that conduct must be clearly driven by bias, not just coincidental, to trigger civil rights protections. It takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state or local cost impact.
HB 1448 prohibits New Hampshire public schools from including any educational materials created or provided by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in their curricula. The bill amends state education law to explicitly ban WEF lectures, lesson plans, and other educational content from being used in classroom instruction. This directly affects all public school districts and educators in New Hampshire who develop or select curriculum materials. The law requires schools to exclude all WEF-provided materials while maintaining local control over curriculum choices as outlined in existing law.
