HB 164 requires New Hampshire municipalities to store local government records electronically on a publicly accessible website designated by the state archivist, eliminating the need for physical copies if free public access is provided. It creates a funded position for a local government records manager (previously unfilled since 2002) to develop and maintain this website, with $150,000 appropriated for the 2026 fiscal year to cover setup, maintenance, and staffing. The bill directly affects all municipal governments by changing how they manage and provide public access to electronic records, while ensuring transparency through free online access. Key provisions include allowing digital storage without duplicate paper copies and mandating that public bodies provide website links instead of physical records upon request. This policy change streamlines public access to local government records while shifting management responsibilities to the state archives office.
HB 131 requires New Hampshire school boards to create and adopt policies governing student cell phone use during school hours. The policy must restrict personal phone use in classrooms without teacher approval, while allowing exceptions when teachers use devices for lessons or when students with disabilities need devices for learning as outlined in their IEP or 504 plan. This bill directly affects all public school districts and students in New Hampshire. It takes effect 60 days after enactment. The legislation does not address bullying prevention, as the title incorrectly states.
SB 223 changes New Hampshire's voter ID rules by removing college and university student identification cards from the list of acceptable photo IDs for obtaining a ballot. This affects college students who previously could use their campus ID to vote. The bill amends RSA 659:13 to require voter ID to be issued by a New Hampshire high school (public or accredited private) instead. The change directly impacts students at New Hampshire colleges who relied on their student ID for voting access.
SB 569 requires hearing officers in New Hampshire's Department of Labor to be licensed attorneys with relevant adjudicative experience. This applies specifically to officers handling workers' compensation cases. The bill mandates that hearing officers must be in good standing with the bar, have experience conducting administrative hearings, and complete 15 hours of annual continuing education plus 15 hours of training with the attorney general's office. It also requires the commissioner to establish a code of ethics for these officers.
SB 486 clarifies key definitions in New Hampshire's rulemaking process under the Administrative Procedure Act. It updates terms like "form" (requiring blank spaces for public use, not just agency-labeled documents) and "final legislative action" (defining when rulemaking fails). These changes affect state agencies creating rules and the public interacting with them during rulemaking. The bill makes procedural language clearer without altering substantive rulemaking requirements. It is a technical clarification to the existing Administrative Procedure Act.
SB 453 allows advanced practice registered nurses and physician associates to certify two specific medical needs currently only permitted for physicians. It extends vehicle equipment waivers for people with disabilities from 2 to 4 years when such nurses or associates certify "lasting medical necessity." It also permits these professionals to exempt children from certain immunizations if they certify that a specific vaccine could harm the child’s health. These changes update existing laws (RSA 266:61-a and RSA 141-C:20-c) to expand who can make these certifications, directly affecting disabled drivers seeking vehicle modifications and parents navigating school immunization requirements.
SB 540 defines "portable solar generation devices" as movable solar units under 1,200 watts that plug into standard home outlets to offset personal electricity use. The bill exempts these devices from utility interconnection rules and net metering requirements, while requiring safety standards like anti-islanding protection (UL 1741/IEEE 1547) and compliance with building codes. Electric utilities cannot demand approval, fees, or extra equipment for compliant devices, and the bill limits utility liability for customer-installed devices. This directly affects homeowners using small portable solar systems, simplifying their installation without utility oversight.
SB 408 requires health insurance policies in New Hampshire to cover prosthetic devices for adults over 19, expanding existing coverage that previously applied only to children under 19. The bill mandates coverage for activity-specific prosthetics (like those for sports) but limits this to one device every five years. It also requires insurers to cover necessary materials, instruction, and repairs for medically needed prosthetics, without annual limits. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to most group health insurance plans, excluding Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) plans.
This bill creates a legislative study committee to examine school bullying prevention strategies. The committee, composed of one Senate member (appointed by the Senate President) and three House members (appointed by the Speaker), will study bullying issues and potential solutions. It must submit findings and recommendations to legislative leaders and the governor by November 1, 2026. The bill does not enact new laws but sets a process for future policy decisions.
SB 544 prevents health insurance companies from removing drugs from their coverage lists mid-year. It requires insurers to continue covering any prescription drug that was approved under a policy until the enrollee's next plan renewal date, even if the drug is later removed from the formulary. This directly affects individuals enrolled in health benefit plans who rely on specific medications. Changes to drug coverage can only occur at renewal dates and must apply uniformly to all similar plans.
SB 550 requires group health insurance policies issued in New Hampshire to cover services provided by licensed naturopathy providers when the same type of service would be covered if performed by another healthcare provider. This applies directly to insurers offering group health plans and patients seeking naturopathy care. The bill mandates that insurers cannot apply higher copays, deductibles, or coinsurance for these services compared to other covered treatments. It takes effect 60 days after passage and does not require insurers to cover new services, only those already covered under equivalent provider types. The fiscal note indicates potential small premium increases but no determinable state or local cost impact.
SB 438 (2026 Session) enables the Department of Safety and Secretary of State to create a secure process for sharing photo images and U.S. citizenship information from REAL ID applicants who are applying for an *enhanced* identification card. This information would be used by election officials to verify voter identity at polling places, satisfying existing proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting. Applicants can opt out or withdraw consent at any time, and the system must be operational by January 1, 2027. The bill specifically affects applicants for enhanced REAL ID cards, not all voters, and does not impact voter registration status.
