This bill, titled the Protection of Women's Sports Act, establishes rules for interscholastic and intercollegiate athletic teams in New Hampshire by categorizing them based on the biological sex listed on athletes' birth certificates. It mandates that teams designated for females be open only to students identified as female at birth, while teams for males may include students of any sex, and requires separate locker room facilities for each group. The legislation also creates a legal pathway for athletes to sue schools or organizations if they experience harm or retaliation related to these sex-based designations, though it explicitly excludes K-5 schools and intramural or club sports from its requirements.
SB 321 establishes a rule requiring courts to detain defendants who have failed to appear in court three or more times for serious offenses within the past three years, or twice on the current charge. Under this provision, a judge must presume that releasing such individuals would not ensure they return for their trial, though the defendant still has the right to present evidence to try to overcome this presumption. The law applies specifically to cases involving felonies, class A misdemeanors, and driving under the influence charges, both in New Hampshire and equivalent out-of-state crimes. If a defendant successfully rebuts the presumption during a bail hearing, the court may then decide whether to release them pending trial. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2025.
This bill requires manufacturers and testing facilities in New Hampshire to publicly report their use of animals for product testing starting in 2026. The annual reports must be posted on company websites and include details such as the number and species of animals used, the specific products tested, and the number of times alternative testing methods were applied or waived. These disclosures apply only to testing done for commercial products rather than biomedical research, aiming to increase transparency without changing how the testing itself is conducted.
This bill allows drivers and non-driver ID holders in New Hampshire to receive a temporary proof of license or identification immediately after their online renewal is approved, rather than waiting for the physical card to arrive. The temporary document is valid for up to 60 days or until the new card is issued, whichever comes first, and can be used for all legal purposes except voting. Drivers must carry this temporary proof along with their expired card to avoid penalties if stopped by law enforcement, and they have 48 hours to show proof of a valid license if challenged. The law also clarifies that licenses expire on the fifth anniversary of the holder's birth date and expands the definition of a license to include these temporary proofs.
This bill requires therapeutic cannabis oversight boards to develop and update product labels and educational materials regarding cannabis risks for qualifying patients. It also prohibits the sale of hemp-derived products that contain more than 0.03% THC, including specific variants like delta-8 and delta-9. The changes apply to alternative treatment centers and certifying medical providers, with the law taking effect 60 days after passage.
Interim Study Report: Not Recommended for Future Legislation (Vote 15-0)
This bill updates New Hampshire laws to formally include harm reduction strategies in the state's plan for preventing and treating substance misuse. It defines "drug misuse" as using substances outside legal or medical guidelines and establishes a specific definition for harm reduction that focuses on preventing overdose and disease while connecting people to care. The legislation also requires physicians to complete specific continuing education on pain management or addiction disorders as part of their license renewal. These changes aim to broaden the scope of care available across the substance use continuum without limiting necessary medical treatments for chronic pain or hospice patients.
HB 1383 updates the rules for how members of cooperative school boards are selected in New Hampshire. The bill requires these boards to choose one of five specific methods for electing members, such as dividing the district into equal population areas, ensuring proportional representation, or having members represent their original local districts. It also sets a maximum term limit of three years for board members and mandates the use of an official non-partisan ballot system for these elections. This legislation directly affects cooperative school districts by standardizing their election processes and limiting how long individual board members can serve.
HB 1595 updates the state's child support guidelines to more accurately reflect parenting time, medical expenses, and child care costs. The bill defines "parenting time" as the total number of days a child spends with each parent and introduces a calculation factor that adjusts support amounts based on how much time each parent has, capping the adjustment at a maximum value. It also modifies how income is calculated by allowing parents to deduct actual child care and medical support payments from their gross income before determining their share of the support obligation. These changes apply to new child support orders issued on or after January 1, 2025, while existing orders remain unchanged until their next scheduled review.
This bill modifies an existing law to clarify that primary care physicians are not required to use a specific behavioral health care model. Instead, it mandates that insurance companies must cover services provided when a primary care provider voluntarily chooses to implement this model. The changes apply immediately to insurance coverage rules and take effect 60 days after the bill is passed into law.
SB 458 would allow licensed health care professionals to dispense up to a 60-day supply of noncontrolled oral anti-cancer medications under a provider's supervision. This change expands the current rules that generally limit pharmacy dispensing to 30-day supplies for such drugs. The bill specifically targets patients requiring long-term cancer treatment by permitting authorized professionals to provide these medications directly. Although the legislation was recently reviewed by committees, it was ultimately not recommended for further action in the 2024 session.
This bill updates New Hampshire insurance laws to ensure coverage for autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome under the state's mental health and developmental disability mandates. It achieves this by renaming the existing category for autism from "pervasive developmental disorder" to "autism spectrum disorder" and adding Down syndrome as a distinct condition requiring coverage. Additionally, the legislation removes previous limits on the amount of insurance coverage available for these conditions. These changes directly affect insurance companies and policyholders by expanding the scope of covered services and eliminating financial caps on treatment costs.
