Healthcare

passed · New Hampshire · Senate Aug 21, 2026

SB 498: relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.

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).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates mandatory funding for children's mental health services via insurance assessments, directly advancing healthcare access for minors under 18.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

vetoed · New Hampshire · House Aug 19, 2026

HB 232: relative to the rights of conscience for medical professionals.

HB 232 protects New Hampshire healthcare providers' right to refuse participation in abortions, sterilizations, or artificial contraception based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. It requires health care institutions to prominently post notices about these rights and prohibits discrimination against providers who conscientiously object. Violations by institutions carry civil fines ($1,000-$10,000 per occurrence), while providers denied employment or other benefits due to objections may seek triple damages plus attorney fees. The law applies to all medical professionals in New Hampshire, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and students, and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill permits providers to refuse abortion/contraception services, directly limiting patient access to these healthcare options, aligning with 'restricts health coverage' indicator.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 20, 2026

HB 1584: directing the department of health and human services to provide notice of medical and religious exemptions from immunization requirements and relative to notice of drug pricing options.

HB 1584 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to prominently display notices about medical and religious immunization exemptions on all vaccination-related materials, such as websites, brochures, or social media posts. It specifies that the notice must appear as visibly as main content - like a headline - and not just in footnotes. The bill also allows parents to use any written statement (not a specific form) to claim religious exemptions for their children's vaccinations. Additionally, the department must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing all promotional materials, compliance with the notice requirement, and any penalties assessed for noncompliance. This bill directly affects the Department of Health, schools, and healthcare providers distributing immunization information.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill simplifies religious exemption process (any written statement) and requires prominent notice, potentially increasing vaccine avoidance and weakening public health program effectiveness.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 155: relative to business enterprise tax returns and appropriating funds to the department of health and human services for licensed nursing facilities.

HB 155 reduces New Hampshire's business enterprise tax (BET) rate from 0.55% to 0.50% for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2026. This directly affects businesses that pay the BET, calculated on their taxable enterprise value. The rate change takes effect July 1, 2025, applying permanently to all future tax periods meeting the end-date requirement. The bill does not alter other tax provisions but will decrease state revenue from this tax, with estimated impacts of $4.3 million in fiscal year 2026.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesReduces business tax rate, decreasing state revenue by $4.3M, weakening fiscal management. Direct tax cut without offsetting funding or program protection.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates funds to the Department of Health and Human Services specifically for licensed nursing facilities, directly funding healthcare infrastructure.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1469: relative to the licensing requirements for massage therapy establishments.

HB 1469 requires massage therapy businesses employing more than one therapist to obtain a state license and undergo regular inspections by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). The bill establishes new health and safety standards for these businesses, including requirements for direct supervision by licensed therapists and procedures for license renewal and disciplinary actions. It also adds compensation for members of the massage therapists' advisory board and creates a new investigative paralegal position within the OPLC, with funding provided for this role. This legislation directly affects massage therapy businesses, the OPLC, and the advisory board by expanding regulatory oversight and operational requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly makes an appropriation for OPLC inspections and advisory board compensation, directly funding new regulatory requirements under licensing provisions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates massage therapy businesses with health/safety standards, enhancing service quality and client safety in healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires health/safety standards for massage therapy workplaces, directly improving workplace safety regulations for employees.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1735: relative to the practice of pharmacy, the dispensing of certain medications by pharmacists, and permitting treatment of certain severe illness under the right to try act.

HB 1735 expands New Hampshire's Right to Try Act to allow patients with "qualifying severe illness" (defined as chronic and debilitating conditions meeting federal standards) to access investigational treatments, in addition to those with terminal illnesses. The bill amends definitions to include this new category, requiring patients to have exhausted standard FDA-approved treatments and be unable to join clinical trials. It maintains existing requirements like physician oversight, patient consent, and no direct manufacturer compensation for providers. This change directly affects patients with severe chronic conditions who currently lack access to investigational therapies under state law. The bill does not alter cost-sharing or data collection requirements for manufacturers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient access to investigational treatments for non-terminal severe illnesses, improving access to care when standard options fail per Right to Try Act.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1245: relative to voluntary portable benefits plans for independent contractors.

HB 1245 establishes a voluntary framework for independent contractors in New Hampshire to access portable benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, or disability coverage through designated providers. Hiring parties (businesses or platforms) can voluntarily contribute to these plans or withhold a portion of payment from the contractor, with the contractor’s written consent. Crucially, participation in these plans cannot be used to reclassify a worker as an employee under state law, preserving current independent contractor status. The bill requires clear opt-in agreements and has no estimated state or local cost impact.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes voluntary framework enabling independent contractors to access health insurance as portable benefits, expanding coverage options for a vulnerable workforce.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates voluntary portable benefits framework for independent contractors, expanding benefit access for a worker segment often excluded from traditional employment benefits.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1705: establishing an employee assistance program for small town and volunteer first responders.

HB 1705 establishes a First Responders Support Fund to cover enrollment costs for small town and volunteer first responders into the state’s existing Employee Assistance Program (EAP). It directly affects first responders in communities with no more than 5 full-time paid staff, including volunteer departments. The fund, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, uses state appropriations (initially $1 for FY 2026-2027) and accepts gifts, grants, or donations to cover EAP enrollment fees. The EAP provides mental health support, including services for PTSD, with the department required to report annually on fund usage and program outcomes. This bill does not create new services but expands access to an existing state EAP for eligible small-community responders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds EAP enrollment for first responders, providing mental health support access via state healthcare program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides funding for first responders' access to Employee Assistance Program, enhancing workplace mental health support and benefits for workers.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Hampshire · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 360: prohibiting public schools from performing surgical procedures or prescribing pharmaceutical drugs, relative to licensing requirements for health care facilities established within a 15 mile radius of a critical access hospital, and relative to the administration of prescription medication to minors by youth camp staff.

HB 360 prohibits public schools in New Hampshire from performing diagnostic tests, surgical procedures, or prescribing pharmaceutical drugs. It directly affects school nurses and school physicians by removing their authority to conduct these medical activities within school settings. The bill amends RSA 200:27 to explicitly state that school health services may not include these medical functions. This policy change takes effect 60 days after enactment, limiting school-based medical interventions to non-invasive care.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts school-based medical services by prohibiting surgical procedures and drug prescriptions, limiting healthcare access in schools per bill's explicit language.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Hampshire · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 1323: relative to parental alienation, limiting certain prior authorization requirements for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and similar rehabilitative services, relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.

HB 1323 defines "parental alienation" as a pattern of behavior damaging a child's relationship with a parent - such as disparaging remarks, manipulation, or unjustified interference with parenting time - while excluding protective actions taken in good faith for safety concerns. The bill requires New Hampshire courts to consider parental alienation as a factor in custody, visitation, and parental rights decisions, including joint decision-making and modifications to parenting plans. It establishes a "family access motion" for parents to seek enforcement of parenting plans when alienation occurs and allows courts to order remedies like adjusted schedules. The law also mandates courts to evaluate parental alienation in grandparent visitation cases and requires attorney fee awards in contempt cases involving failure to comply with court orders related to parental alienation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens children's mental health services by requiring courts to consider parental alienation in custody decisions, protecting access to care.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare