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.
HB 1356 extends the statute of limitations for minors to sue providers for violating laws prohibiting gender-altering medical procedures. It changes the deadline from 2 years to 10 years after a minor turns 18 to file a private lawsuit. This directly affects minors who received such medical treatments before age 18 and wish to pursue legal action. The bill modifies RSA 332-N:3, II, which governs when claims for violations of the gender-procedure ban must be filed. The fiscal note indicates no state or local cost impact.
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.
HB 1449 prohibits vaccination clinics from operating at public elementary or secondary schools during school hours and requires a parent or legal guardian to be present with their child during any vaccination administered at such a clinic. The bill directly affects students receiving school-based vaccines, parents/guardians, and school staff coordinating these clinics. Key provisions include banning school-hour clinics and mandating parental accompaniment for immunizations, while exempting school nurses' existing duties under RSA 200:38. This policy change modifies how school vaccination events are scheduled and administered, without altering vaccine requirements or eligibility.
HB 1378 would require healthcare providers to give parents or legal guardians full access to their minor child's electronic medical records (including online patient portals), except in three specific cases: 1) when the minor can legally consent to treatment without parents (e.g., certain reproductive or mental health services), 2) when a protective order or court ruling prohibits access, or 3) when a provider documents in writing that disclosure could cause abuse or neglect. This bill directly affects parents, guardians, and healthcare providers by changing how medical records are shared. It aims to support parental involvement in children’s healthcare decisions while preserving existing legal protections for minors in sensitive situations. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 1022 standardizes the form parents or guardians must use to claim a religious exemption from childhood immunization requirements for schools or childcare. The form must include a specific statement: "I, [parent/guardian name], hereby attest that I sincerely hold religious beliefs that dictate the refusal to accept the required vaccination(s)," followed by their signature and date. This bill directly affects parents or guardians seeking to exempt their children from immunization mandates based on religious beliefs. It specifies the exact wording for the exemption form without changing the existing policy on religious exemptions.
HB 1719 removes Hepatitis B from the list of diseases for which childhood immunization is required in New Hampshire. This change directly affects children enrolled in schools or childcare programs, as parents will no longer be required to ensure their children receive the Hepatitis B vaccine for enrollment. The bill amends state law by deleting "Hepatitis B" from the mandated immunization list, which includes diseases like measles and polio. This policy shift is expected to reduce state vaccine purchase costs by approximately $20,000 in the first year and $82,000 annually thereafter, as the requirement is eliminated. The Hepatitis B vaccine would remain available on a voluntary basis for parents who choose to use it.
SB 545 removes the asset limit (resource test) for New Hampshire's Medicare Savings Program, allowing seniors previously denied due to savings or assets to qualify. It also seeks federal approval to extend the low-income Medicare Part D subsidy, helping residents cover prescription drug costs. The bill directly affects approximately 2,033 additional seniors who were previously ineligible under the asset rule. This change would make program eligibility solely based on income, not savings or assets, with estimated annual state costs of $2.3 million from general funds.
SB 543 establishes provisional eligibility for Medicaid nursing facility services in New Hampshire, directly affecting long-term care applicants and nursing facilities. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to grant temporary coverage within 90 days of application submission if a facility agrees to comply with program terms, without waiting for full application completion. This provisional status lasts up to 18 months or until a final eligibility decision, with facilities receiving payments during this period and required to reimburse funds if final approval is denied. The bill appropriates $1 for the 2026-2027 biennium to fund this program and creates two new positions within the department to manage it (per RSA 167:8).
HB 1635 modifies New Hampshire school suicide prevention training requirements by requiring all school faculty, staff, and contracted personnel to complete suicide awareness training within 30 days of hire and every two years thereafter (replacing the prior annual requirement). The training must cover youth suicide risk factors, warning signs, response procedures, referrals, and community resources, and may use existing professional development programs or self-training materials. School districts determine how to administer the training, including whether it applies to volunteers per district policy. The bill takes effect September 1, 2026.
