HB 1071 repeals a legal immunity that previously protected healthcare facilities (like hospitals and clinics) when they followed rules or orders issued during New Hampshire's COVID-19 state of emergency. This bill specifically removes the immunity provision found in RSA 21-P:42-a, meaning facilities could now face legal liability for actions taken under those emergency directives. The repeal takes effect upon the bill's passage, directly affecting healthcare providers that operated under pandemic-era mandates. It makes no new rules but changes the legal landscape for facilities complying with past emergency orders.
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.
SB 576 adds clear definitions for key terms in New Hampshire's education freedom account (EFA) program, including "program administrator" (the entity managing the EFA program), "applicant" (a parent or guardian applying for an EFA), and "vendor" (an approved provider of education services). The bill requires the program administrator to submit detailed quarterly reports starting in 2026, covering data like the number of applications, approved students, fund distributions to vendors, student demographics, and expense categories. These reports must be submitted electronically within 30 days after each quarter and made publicly available online to ensure transparency. Failure to submit reports on time could trigger oversight actions by the state education department.
HB 1249 allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense specific medical devices necessary for administering prescribed medications, directly affecting pharmacists and patients who use these devices. Key provisions include authorizing pharmacists to provide inhalation spacers, CPAP supplies, diabetes testing kits, insulin pump supplies, and related items like pen needles. Pharmacists must notify the prescribing provider after dispensing but are not required to do so before. The bill amends pharmacy practice definitions and requires the Board of Pharmacy to adopt implementing rules with medical and nursing boards.
SB 669 allows licensed barbershops and salons (already registered under New Hampshire's professional licensing rules) to serve one alcoholic drink per customer during appointments. It sets specific limits: one 16-ounce drink, 6-ounce wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor per person per visit, requires responsible beverage service training for staff, and mandates recordkeeping for both alcohol service and training. The bill imposes a $480 license fee, prohibits serving alcohol in private residences, and requires minors to be present but not served. It also mandates annual facility inspections and an annual report to the legislature detailing licenses, inspections, and violations.
HB 292 establishes a commission to study school administrative unit (SAU) consolidation in New Hampshire. The commission will examine the financial feasibility of consolidating the state’s 107 SAUs (up from 53 in the 1980s), analyze high administrative costs (ranked second-highest per pupil nationally), and identify potential efficiencies from shared services like transportation and IT. It will gather stakeholder input, study implementation challenges, and propose a consolidation plan by November 2026. The commission includes 15 members representing legislators, educators, administrators, school boards, and parents. This bill does not create new funding or mandate consolidation but directs a study to inform future policy decisions.
This bill requires every New Hampshire school district to establish a special education parent advisory council (DSEPAC) composed of up to 11 parents, with at least one representative from each town in the district. Council members serve two-year terms and must meet quarterly with school administrators to advise on special education programs, policies, and student safety, while facilitating communication between parents and school leaders. Districts must provide resources for the council, host an annual workshop for parents on special education rights, and require the council to submit a public annual report to the school board. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting school districts and parents of students with disabilities.
HB 191 prohibits transporting, recruiting, or harboring a pregnant minor under 18 (unemancipated) within New Hampshire to obtain an abortion without parental permission, imposing criminal penalties. It classifies first offenses as class A misdemeanors and repeat offenses (two prior violations) as class B felonies. Exemptions include parents/guardians, those with written parental consent, common carriers, and emergency medical personnel. The bill also allows civil lawsuits for wrongful death if a violation leads to an abortion, with damages covering economic, noneconomic, and punitive costs. This directly affects individuals assisting minors in accessing abortion services without parental involvement.
HB 510 establishes specific due process protections for students, student organizations, and faculty at New Hampshire's public colleges and universities facing disciplinary actions. It requires written notice of allegations 7 days before hearings, access to evidence 5 days prior, a presumption of innocence (requiring proof a violation occurred), the right to cross-examine witnesses, and an appeal process. The bill ensures these rights apply before any discipline is imposed, except in cases of imminent threat to safety, and clarifies that existing union contracts for faculty remain in effect until expiration. Public institutions must follow these procedures or provide stronger protections, but cannot offer fewer rights than specified.
HB 112 requires students at New Hampshire's public universities and community colleges to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services civics naturalization test (a 128-question test with a 70% passing score) to graduate, starting January 1, 2026. It applies to all students admitted or transferring after that date, excluding exchange students and foreign nationals. Institutions must establish procedures to administer, certify, and track test results, with costs estimated at $200,000-$1,000,000 annually covered by school operating funds. The bill does not provide state funding and exempts non-U.S. students, focusing solely on a graduation requirement for domestic students.
HB 1299 permits public and private entities in New Hampshire to separate individuals by biological sex in three specific settings: multi-user facilities (like bathrooms and locker rooms), athletic competitions where biological males typically have a competitive advantage, and correctional or treatment facilities. The bill defines "biological sex" as the sex listed on an individual’s birth certificate issued near birth. It explicitly states that these sex-based separations do not constitute discrimination under state law. The bill amends New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination statute (RSA 354-A) to create these limited exceptions, affecting how facilities and events are operated in those contexts.
HB 1130 establishes a new program to evaluate judges' performance in New Hampshire's superior and circuit courts. The program requires evaluations every three years using anonymous questionnaires from court participants (like attorneys and jurors), self-evaluations by judges, in-court observations, and analysis of case processing times. Unsatisfactory evaluations trigger a follow-up within 12 months, and annual public reports on the program’s implementation must be published, while individual evaluation details remain confidential except for disciplinary actions or judicial appointments.
