Healthcare

passed · New Hampshire · Senate Aug 21, 2026

SB 498: relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.

SB 498 creates the New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Association to fund mental health services for children under 18. The association will collect mandatory assessments (fees) from insurance companies, stop-loss carriers, and third-party administrators covering children in the state, excluding Medicaid recipients. Funds gathered will be deposited into a dedicated fund managed by the insurance commissioner and used to pay care management entities providing specific services like intensive in-home therapy, structured outpatient programs, and care coordination. This directly affects insurers (who pay assessments), care management organizations (who receive payments), and children under 18 with covered health plans (who gain access to funded services).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates mandatory funding for children's mental health services via insurance assessments, directly advancing healthcare access for minors under 18.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1317: relative to patient privacy protections.

HB 1317 strengthens patient privacy protections in New Hampshire by prohibiting state agencies, contractors, vendors, and grant recipients from sharing personally identifiable medical, disability, or mental health data with the federal government or third parties - unless specific conditions apply. These exceptions include obtaining an individual’s written consent, complying with existing law or court orders, or disclosing data to provide necessary health care services. The bill also requires that any permitted disclosure share only the minimum necessary data and prioritize de-identified information when possible. It explicitly affirms that these state rules do not override federal privacy laws like HIPAA or the ADA, and violations could result in civil penalties enforced by the attorney general.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens patient privacy protections for medical, disability, and mental health data, directly advancing healthcare rights and confidentiality standards.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits sharing health data with federal government, limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement, supporting immigrant privacy and safety.80% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens health data privacy by prohibiting unauthorized sharing, directly aligning with tech policy focus on data privacy protections.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1798: relative to the coverage of diapers under the state Medicaid plan.

HB 1798 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to apply for a federal waiver by November 1, 2026, to add diaper coverage under Medicaid for infants' first year of life. The bill directly affects Medicaid-eligible infants (approximately 4,000 annually) and their families, providing coverage for 100 diapers per month during the child's first 12 months. It appropriates $100,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to fund the program, with federal matching funds expected to cover most costs. Implementation depends on federal CMS approval, with a target start date of May 1, 2027, if approved.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $100,000 for Medicaid diaper coverage, funding an essential public service for vulnerable families.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage to include diapers for infants, increasing access to essential health-related supplies under public health program.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · New Hampshire · Senate Aug 20, 2026

SB 520: relative to breast surgeries for minors.

SB 520 allows physicians to perform breast surgery on minors for non-medical reasons, expanding existing exceptions. It adds a new provision permitting the procedure "at the election of the minor in consultation with her primary care physician," removing prior restrictions that limited surgery to medical conditions like gynecomastia or congenital deformities. The bill directly affects minors seeking breast reduction or reconstruction surgery who do not qualify under existing medical necessity exceptions. It requires the minor’s consent and physician consultation but does not mandate parental consent. The change modifies New Hampshire law to include this patient-choice option for breast surgeries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves medical necessity restrictions for minors' breast surgery, expanding access to healthcare services through patient choice and physician consultation.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 20, 2026

HB 1584: directing the department of health and human services to provide notice of medical and religious exemptions from immunization requirements and relative to notice of drug pricing options.

HB 1584 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to prominently display notices about medical and religious immunization exemptions on all vaccination-related materials, such as websites, brochures, or social media posts. It specifies that the notice must appear as visibly as main content - like a headline - and not just in footnotes. The bill also allows parents to use any written statement (not a specific form) to claim religious exemptions for their children's vaccinations. Additionally, the department must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing all promotional materials, compliance with the notice requirement, and any penalties assessed for noncompliance. This bill directly affects the Department of Health, schools, and healthcare providers distributing immunization information.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill simplifies religious exemption process (any written statement) and requires prominent notice, potentially increasing vaccine avoidance and weakening public health program effectiveness.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1469: relative to the licensing requirements for massage therapy establishments.

HB 1469 requires massage therapy businesses employing more than one therapist to obtain a state license and undergo regular inspections by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). The bill establishes new health and safety standards for these businesses, including requirements for direct supervision by licensed therapists and procedures for license renewal and disciplinary actions. It also adds compensation for members of the massage therapists' advisory board and creates a new investigative paralegal position within the OPLC, with funding provided for this role. This legislation directly affects massage therapy businesses, the OPLC, and the advisory board by expanding regulatory oversight and operational requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly makes an appropriation for OPLC inspections and advisory board compensation, directly funding new regulatory requirements under licensing provisions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates massage therapy businesses with health/safety standards, enhancing service quality and client safety in healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires health/safety standards for massage therapy workplaces, directly improving workplace safety regulations for employees.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1735: relative to the practice of pharmacy, the dispensing of certain medications by pharmacists, and permitting treatment of certain severe illness under the right to try act.

HB 1735 expands New Hampshire's Right to Try Act to allow patients with "qualifying severe illness" (defined as chronic and debilitating conditions meeting federal standards) to access investigational treatments, in addition to those with terminal illnesses. The bill amends definitions to include this new category, requiring patients to have exhausted standard FDA-approved treatments and be unable to join clinical trials. It maintains existing requirements like physician oversight, patient consent, and no direct manufacturer compensation for providers. This change directly affects patients with severe chronic conditions who currently lack access to investigational therapies under state law. The bill does not alter cost-sharing or data collection requirements for manufacturers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient access to investigational treatments for non-terminal severe illnesses, improving access to care when standard options fail per Right to Try Act.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1705: establishing an employee assistance program for small town and volunteer first responders.

HB 1705 establishes a First Responders Support Fund to cover enrollment costs for small town and volunteer first responders into the state’s existing Employee Assistance Program (EAP). It directly affects first responders in communities with no more than 5 full-time paid staff, including volunteer departments. The fund, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, uses state appropriations (initially $1 for FY 2026-2027) and accepts gifts, grants, or donations to cover EAP enrollment fees. The EAP provides mental health support, including services for PTSD, with the department required to report annually on fund usage and program outcomes. This bill does not create new services but expands access to an existing state EAP for eligible small-community responders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds EAP enrollment for first responders, providing mental health support access via state healthcare program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides funding for first responders' access to Employee Assistance Program, enhancing workplace mental health support and benefits for workers.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed both · New Hampshire · House May 21, 2026

HB 1449: limiting times vaccine clinics may operate at schools, with certain exceptions.

HB 1449 prohibits vaccination clinics from operating at public elementary or secondary schools during school hours and requires a parent or legal guardian to be present with their child during any vaccination administered at such a clinic. The bill directly affects students receiving school-based vaccines, parents/guardians, and school staff coordinating these clinics. Key provisions include banning school-hour clinics and mandating parental accompaniment for immunizations, while exempting school nurses' existing duties under RSA 200:38. This policy change modifies how school vaccination events are scheduled and administered, without altering vaccine requirements or eligibility.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts school-based vaccine access by banning school-hour clinics and requiring parental presence, limiting public health program participation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · New Hampshire · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 504: relative to the practice of pharmacy and the dispensing of certain medications by pharmacists, authorizing the establishment of experimental treatment centers, and permitting treatment of certain severe illness under the right to try act.

SB 504 allows licensed healthcare providers to dispense up to a 30-day supply of certain cancer medications directly to patients under a doctor's supervision, requiring clinics to maintain a full-time pharmacist available for consultation. It removes the requirement for pharmacists' names on controlled drug labels and permits advanced pharmacy technicians to perform remote medication processing. The bill updates the definition of "practice of pharmacy" to include modern services like medication therapy management and collaborative care. These changes streamline access to cancer medications while maintaining safety protocols for pharmacy operations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables direct dispensing of cancer meds under supervision, requires pharmacist consultation, and streamlines pharmacy processes to improve patient access and safety in medication management.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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