SB 252 allows doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners (APRNs) to prescribe certain highly regulated prescription drugs - including opioids - from Schedules II through IV via telemedicine. It requires an initial in-person patient visit before telemedicine prescribing begins and mandates an annual in-person follow-up evaluation for all such prescriptions. The law applies specifically to drugs in Schedules II-IV (tightly controlled medications) and requires all telemedicine prescriptions to comply with federal and state regulations. The bill takes effect August 23, 2025.
SB 92 updates New Hampshire's birth worksheet requirements to include current and prior names of parents and standardized Apgar scores at 1, 5, and 10 minutes for newborns. It directly affects parents, newborns, and the Vital Records Administration by restricting the personal information shared with the CDC - banning names, birth dates of parents, medical IDs, and addresses - but allowing release of parents' birth years and the baby's birth date. The bill's key mechanism requires the Vital Records Administration to omit specific identifiers when sending birth data to the CDC for public health reporting. The changes take effect June 30, 2026.
SB 179 reorganizes New Hampshire's State Council on Housing Stability. It replaces the council's membership requirement to include two landlord appointees by the governor and adds a new duty for the council to compile information on federal housing programs (like HUD) and assist state agencies in preparing required reports for submission to the federal government. The bill also changes the council's facilitation to be jointly managed by four state agencies (Health and Human Services, Business and Economic Affairs, Housing Finance Authority, and Community Development Finance Authority) and repeals a prior requirement for a biennial housing plan. This bill directly affects the council members, state housing agencies, and local governments managing federal housing funds. The changes take effect August 23, 2025.
This bill (SB 190) amends the title of an existing health advisory council to clarify its focus on the "state health assessment and state health improvement plan." It removes two existing sections and renumbers the remaining section to simplify the council's structure. The bill does not create new policies or affect specific groups; it only adjusts the council's formal title and internal section numbering. It became law on June 24, 2025, after being signed by the governor.
SB 206 requires all public school districts and chartered public schools in New Hampshire to create and implement policies banning student use of personal cell phones and electronic devices during instructional hours - from the first bell until the dismissal bell. The policy must include approved exceptions for medical needs (like insulin pumps), disabilities (per IEPs or 504 plans), or language support programs for multilingual students. Schools must develop these policies with input from parents and teachers and review them annually. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 210 primarily creates a statewide open enrollment system, allowing New Hampshire parents to transfer children to any public school district within the state without tuition fees. It amends residency rules to clarify legal residence for school attendance and requires districts to publicly report school capacities and enrollment decisions. The bill establishes that military-connected students receive admission preference over non-residents and mandates districts to post capacity data monthly. The bill’s title mentions bullying prevention, but the text contains no actual provisions addressing bullying; the focus is solely on expanding school choice through open enrollment mechanisms.
SB 96 requires New Hampshire school employees (like teachers) to respond in writing to parent inquiries about their child within 5 school days, answering completely and honestly where permitted by law. School districts may withhold information only if disclosure could cause abuse, neglect, or abandonment (with written documentation), but must otherwise provide full responses. This directly affects parents seeking information about their child’s education and school staff who must follow these communication rules. Violations would be treated as breaches of educator conduct standards. The bill is currently pending in committee.
SB 302 combines two unrelated provisions. First, it requires background checks for owners of solid waste and hazardous waste facilities, temporarily suspends the Department of Environmental Services from issuing new solid waste permits, and creates a site evaluation committee. Second, it mandates that animal abuse suspects or defendants have animals confiscated by authorities, and establishes a committee to study animal cruelty statutes. The bill directly affects waste facility owners, environmental regulators, and law enforcement handling animal abuse cases. As of the latest update, it is pending in conference committee with no final vote.
SB 141 extends the deadline for criminal defendants to petition for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence or forensic testing. It allows petitions up to 3 years after conviction, with exceptions for cases involving new forensic methods, scientific understanding, or evidence not available at trial. To qualify, petitioners must prove innocence under penalty of perjury and demonstrate how the new evidence would exonerate them. The bill directly affects incarcerated individuals convicted of felonies who seek to challenge their convictions using evidence unavailable at trial. It does not address library records, as the title's mention of "library cards" appears inconsistent with the bill's actual content.
SB 19 permits hotels, motels, and similar lodging establishments to deny rental agreements to guests under 21 years of age without violating public accommodation laws. The bill amends New Hampshire law by adding a specific provision stating that such age-based policies are not prohibited. This directly affects lodging businesses that currently implement minimum age requirements for guests and guests under 21 seeking accommodations. The law became effective immediately upon the governor's signature on June 19, 2025.
SB 285 changes New Hampshire's official terminology by replacing "physician assistant" with "physician associate" in all relevant state statutes. It amends hundreds of legal references across healthcare laws, including licensing, practice regulations, and penalty provisions (such as RSA 328-D:13). The bill is purely a technical update to terminology with no changes to professional practice standards or responsibilities. It does not alter how these healthcare professionals operate or their scope of practice. The law became effective June 17, 2025, with some sections delayed until January 1, 2027.
SB 160 establishes administrative rules for conducting raffles in the state. It directly affects nonprofit organizations, charities, and event organizers who host raffles as fundraising activities. The bill sets specific requirements for raffle operations, including licensing, prize disclosure, and reporting procedures. Signed into law on June 17, 2025, it becomes effective July 1, 2025, replacing previous administrative guidelines.
