SB 454 New Hampshire Senate · 2026 Regular Session

requiring the department of health and human services to update existing relevant public health outreach programs by incorporating information to aid public understanding and awareness of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

SB 454 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to update existing public health outreach programs with specific information about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It directs the department to incorporate content for the public on early signs, early detection benefits, links to other health conditions, and brain-healthy lifestyle tips, while also adding provider-focused materials on cognitive assessments, Medicare wellness visits, and FDA-approved treatments. The bill mandates biennial reports starting in 2027 to track implementation progress. This update applies to current outreach programs without creating new initiatives, with minimal estimated costs under $10,000 annually.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Jan 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Nov 21, 2025 Signed Jun 8, 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 changes are entirely technical: the bill was renumbered from generic section numbers (1, 2) to its permanent RSA citation (125:1, 125:2), the fiscal note was removed (as it is not part of enacted law), and approval/effective dates were added. The actual policy content regarding Alzheimer's disease public health outreach remains identical.

TECHNICAL

Section numbers changed from '1' and '2' to '125:1' and '125:2', reflecting the bill's assignment as Chapter 125 in the state's codified statutes.

The fiscal note section (estimating less than $10,000 annual impact for FY2026-2029) was removed, as fiscal notes are informational documents not included in the final enacted law.

TIMELINE

Approval date (June 05, 2026) and effective date (August 04, 2026) were added to the final version, confirming the governor signed the bill and it takes effect 60 days later as specified in the text.

Introduced → As Amended by the Senate · 6 edits

MODERATE

The Senate amendment significantly softened the bill's mandate by adding a 'subject to available resources' qualifier, narrowed delivery to electronic formats, and expanded the scope of required outreach content (adding biomarker tests, FDA-approved treatments, caregiver resources, and chronic disease connections). It also added new accountability mechanisms including a biennial reporting requirement and a legislative intent provision encouraging pursuit of federal funding.

Scope change

The bill shifted from a firm requirement to update outreach programs to a resource-dependent directive with expanded content scope. The addition of 'subject to available resources' makes compliance conditional rather than mandatory, while the new reporting requirement and funding intent provision add accountability and financial planning dimensions not present in the original.

REQUIREMENT

Added 'Subject to available resources' at the start of subsection (a), converting what was an unconditional mandate into a conditional one that depends on the department having sufficient resources.

SCOPE

Specified that information must be incorporated 'electronically' into outreach programs, narrowing the delivery method from any format to electronic only.

Added new required content in subsection (a): the relationship between Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and other chronic health conditions, and expanded 'steps to reduce risk' to 'lifestyle interventions that promote brain health.'

Expanded subsection (b) for health care provider education: added 'risk reduction' to early detection language, added biomarker tests alongside validated cognitive assessment tools, merged Medicare wellness visit and billing code items, and added two new items covering FDA-approved treatments and resources for individuals with dementia and their families/caregivers.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new subsection (c) requiring the bureau to compile a biennial report on incorporation of Alzheimer's and dementia into state public outreach programs, submitted to the subcommittee established in RSA 126-A:15-a, with first report due September 1, 2027.

FISCAL

Added new subsection (d) expressing legislative intent that the department apply for federal or private funds when appropriate, referencing the CDC's Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map, and directing that any federal funds obtained be used to integrate brain health into public-health practice.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 8, 2026

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor on 06/05/2026; Chapter 125; Effective 08/04/2026

upper

May 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Ought to Pass: MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 30

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass 04/15/2026 (Vote 14-4; RC) HC 18 P. 13

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 5 P. 124

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Amendment # 2026-0211s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0211s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0211s, 01/29/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 3

upper

Nov 21, 2025

Introduced

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

upper

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors