HB 1315 imposes fines on individuals under 21 who violate tobacco and nicotine product laws. It directly affects minors (ages 12-20) who use, possess, or purchase these products in violation of existing regulations. The bill creates a civil penalty of up to $100 per offense, or up to 20 hours of community service, or mandatory education programs for underage violations. This replaces previous juvenile justice classifications for these offenses, treating them as minor violations rather than delinquency cases. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
This constitutional amendment (CACR 10) would require any bill establishing or increasing a state tax to pass with at least two-thirds of members present and voting in both legislative chambers. Currently, tax bills only need a majority vote to pass. If approved by voters in November 2026, this change would apply to all state tax legislation originating in the House of Representatives. The amendment would raise the voting threshold for tax bills from majority to supermajority, affecting how legislators vote on tax policy.
HB 1185 redefines the crime of endangering a child under 18 or an incompetent person by clarifying that failing to provide necessary care (negligent) is a class A misdemeanor, while knowingly causing danger is a class B felony. A second or subsequent offense automatically becomes a class B felony, and if careless actions cause serious injury or death, the penalty escalates to a class A felony. The law applies to individuals with a duty of care, such as caregivers or guardians, and takes effect January 1, 2027. This bill updates penalties without creating new financial obligations for the state or local governments.
SB 666 requires 60 days' advance notice for major health care ownership changes (like hospital sales or private equity acquisitions), with detailed disclosure of ownership, debt, and financial plans. The state department reviews these transactions to prevent harm to competition, costs, or care access, and can block deals that threaten consumers. It also prohibits private equity owners from interfering with doctors' clinical decisions. Additionally, a new committee will study how health insurance practices affect costs and care for the public.
HB 463 prohibits candidates for select board or school board positions from serving on election recount boards during the same election cycle. This applies directly to candidates running for these local offices in towns where recount boards are formed. The law explicitly states that no recount board member may be a candidate for the office being recounted or have authority over ballot materials. The change aims to prevent conflicts of interest in election recounts for these specific local positions.
HB 709 would allow parents or guardians to enroll their children in any New Hampshire public school district where they (the parents/guardians) pay property or school district taxes, regardless of the child's residence. This changes current rules by basing school attendance eligibility on where the parent pays taxes, rather than the child's or parent's physical address. The bill does not require school districts to provide transportation for students attending a district outside their usual attendance area. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all school districts statewide.
SB 509 prevents municipalities from restricting the length of dead-end roads or cul-de-sacs in new subdivisions or building permits, provided the road design meets state fire code requirements. It directly affects developers seeking approval for new residential areas and local governments reviewing subdivision plans or building permits. The bill amends state laws to explicitly prohibit length-based denials when fire access compliance is certified, removing existing municipal restrictions. This creates a clear standard: if a dead-end road passes fire code checks, local governments cannot block development solely due to its length. The policy change applies immediately upon passage, with no additional cost or process for developers.
SB 546 requires health insurance carriers offering commercial plans in New Hampshire to implement annual secret shopper audits starting January 2027. These audits, conducted by independent third parties, assess whether providers in carriers' networks are accessible and accepting new patients, following federal CMS guidelines for health benefit exchanges. Carriers must submit results by May 31 each year, with penalties for failing to report, confirming fewer than 80% of providers as in-network, or not meeting network access standards. Noncompliant carriers face fines, must reimburse enrollees for out-of-network claims, and may be required to create corrective action plans. The law directly affects all health insurers selling commercial coverage in New Hampshire.
SB 547 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in New Hampshire to increase transparency and fairness in drug pricing. The bill requires PBMs to act in the best interest of health insurance companies (their clients) and bans them from keeping profits from "spread pricing" - where PBMs charge health plans more than they pay pharmacies for drugs. It defines key terms like "affiliate" and "revenue," and mandates that PBMs pass all rebates from drug manufacturers to health plans rather than retaining them. This directly affects PBMs, health insurers, and pharmacies, aiming to address high drug costs (23% of healthcare spending) and patient cost concerns (25% skip doses due to expense).
SB 485 establishes rules for hemp-derived products containing cannabinoids (like delta-8 THC) by defining them and setting a strict limit: products must contain no more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis. It creates a licensing system through the Liquor Commission for businesses selling these products, requiring retailers, suppliers, and wholesalers to obtain licenses. The bill also imposes a tax on wholesale sales of these products and prohibits sales of any hemp-derived product exceeding the 0.3% THC threshold. This directly affects hemp product businesses and the Liquor Commission, which will enforce licensing, regulations, and tax collection under existing law.
SB 403 requires all public and private schools in New Hampshire to begin the school year on or after the day following Labor Day. This law directly affects school boards statewide by prohibiting them from scheduling the start of classes before Labor Day. The key provision amends state law to establish a new requirement that schools must begin no earlier than the day after Labor Day, as defined by existing law. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, with no exceptions specified.
SB 537 repeals a specific law (RSA 374:3-a) that allowed New Hampshire's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to approve alternative regulatory approaches for utility companies. This bill directly affects the PUC and regulated utilities by removing the PUC's authority to approve non-traditional regulatory methods. The key provision simply eliminates this existing option, requiring utilities to follow standard regulatory processes instead of potential alternative arrangements. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
