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.
SB 491 allows New Hampshire students receiving Education Freedom Account (EFA) funds to use those funds for career and technical education (CTE) programs. It amends state education laws to require the Department of Education to establish separate funding formulas for CTE tuition and transportation costs, and clarifies that EFA grant recipients in grades 9-12 can enroll in CTE programs using their EFA funds. The bill also mandates scholarship organizations to provide students with information about CTE enrollment opportunities. This change takes effect July 1, 2027, and does not require new state revenue or appropriations.
SB 448 modifies New Hampshire's definition of "veteran" to include individuals discharged under honorable conditions (including those with a general discharge under honorable conditions), ensuring they qualify for state benefits. It establishes a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license for state-resident veterans meeting this definition, with a one-time fee adjusted based on the veteran's service-connected disability rating. This replaces annual license fees with a single payment, directly benefiting disabled veterans who previously faced eligibility barriers. The bill also updates multiple state statutes to align with the revised veteran definition, ensuring consistency across programs like employment preferences and tax exemptions.
HB 1115 adds a clear legal definition to New Hampshire state law: "citizen of New Hampshire" means a U.S. citizen who lives in New Hampshire. This definition will apply consistently across all state statutes where the term is used. The bill does not change voting rights, residency requirements, or other policies - it only standardizes the meaning of the term for legal clarity. The definition takes effect January 1, 2027.
This bill removes a requirement that ferrets must have health certificates for transfer. Animal shelters must now maintain microchip scanners and contact owners within 72 hours if an animal is unclaimed or abandoned. Shelters must scan for microchips upon intake, attempt to reunite animals with registered owners, and contact secondary owners via microchip registries if primary owners cannot be reached. These changes apply to all animal shelters transferring dogs, cats, or ferrets in New Hampshire.
