Healthcare (Mental Health)

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

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1070: relative to the involuntary emergency admission process.

HB 1070 mandates that individuals placed in protective custody for suspected mental health crises must be transported by ambulance to a hospital or designated mental health site for evaluation, rather than by law enforcement. This applies directly to people experiencing acute mental health emergencies who are deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill requires emergency medical technicians to provide care during transport, sets a 6-hour limit for protective custody, and allows law enforcement to override ambulance transport only if the individual poses a safety risk to medical personnel. It does not change eligibility criteria for involuntary admission but standardizes the initial transport process for mental health evaluations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeShifts mental health crisis response from law enforcement to medical personnel, reducing criminalization of mental health issues and aligning with reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medical transport (ambulance/EMTs) for mental health crises, sets 6-hour limit, requires medical care during transport, improving access to mental health evaluation and protecting patient rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Hospitals Mental Health

Track

in committee · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1790: relative to involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder.

HB 1790 expands the definition of "mental illness" under New Hampshire law to include impairment primarily caused by substance use disorder (SUD) for involuntary admission purposes. This means individuals with SUD who meet specific danger criteria (such as extreme abnormal behavior or faulty perceptions) could now be subject to involuntary emergency or non-emergency admissions, similar to those with other mental health conditions. The bill explicitly excludes impairment from alcohol dependence, intoxication, epilepsy, or intellectual disability from this expanded definition. It directly affects people with SUD who pose a danger to themselves or others, requiring clinical evaluations and court processes under revised standards. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with potential impacts on healthcare resources and admission systems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands involuntary admission criteria for SUD under mental health services, aligning with mental health protections and improving access to crisis care for substance use disorders.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1812: requiring periodic evaluation of mental health access adequacy by an independent third party.

HB 1812 requires health insurers in New Hampshire to conduct third-party evaluations of mental health network adequacy every three years. These evaluations must measure appointment availability (within 7-14 days), ensure at least 70% of appointments are in-person, and assess provider distribution by specialty (like psychiatry and child services) across the state. The bill directly affects health insurers, mandating they report findings to regulators and the public, with violations subject to administrative fines up to $5,000 per covered person. It aims to ensure mental health services are accessible without unreasonable delays, particularly for vulnerable groups like those with substance use disorders or developmental disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates third-party evaluations of mental health network adequacy to ensure timely appointments (7-14 days), in-person access (70%+), and specialty provider distribution, improving patient access to mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1067: relative to the mental health courts.

HB 1067 establishes a state grant program to fund new mental health courts in New Hampshire, requiring counties, districts, or non-profits to apply through a standardized process managed by the judicial branch's Office of the Statewide Treatment Courts. The bill revises mental health court procedures to allow judges to dismiss charges or withhold prosecution upon successful completion of treatment programs, while mandating risk and clinical assessments for participants. It requires the judicial branch to develop application standards, track outcomes like recidivism, and provide training to ensure program effectiveness. The goal is to reduce incarceration costs and improve treatment access for individuals with mental illness through structured court interventions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes grants for mental health courts, allowing charge dismissal upon treatment completion to reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation through clinical assessments.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health courts via state grants, allowing treatment completion to dismiss charges, directly advancing mental health services and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Mental Health

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 1635: modifying the requirements of suicide prevention education policies in schools.

HB 1635 modifies New Hampshire school suicide prevention training requirements by requiring all school faculty, staff, and contracted personnel to complete suicide awareness training within 30 days of hire and every two years thereafter (replacing the prior annual requirement). The training must cover youth suicide risk factors, warning signs, response procedures, referrals, and community resources, and may use existing professional development programs or self-training materials. School districts determine how to administer the training, including whether it applies to volunteers per district policy. The bill takes effect September 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates staff suicide awareness training to enhance student safety, aligning with protective education policies in K-12 schools.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates suicide prevention training for school staff, enhancing mental health support in schools through risk factor education and referral protocols.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

Track

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 20, 2026

HB 1772: relative to prescribing ibogaine for investigational use only and adopting the physician associate licensure compact.

HB 1772 creates a New Hampshire grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services to fund state participation in a multistate clinical trial consortium studying ibogaine as a potential treatment for substance use disorder and other neurological or mental health conditions. The bill appropriates $1 (likely a typo for $1 million) to support this effort, requiring grant recipients to be New Hampshire-based entities with proven expertise in neurological/mental health research, matching funds from non-state sources, and FDA-approved trial protocols (including an IND application and breakthrough therapy designation request). Entities must submit quarterly progress and financial reports, and the state must verify matching funds before disbursing grant money. This bill directly affects eligible research institutions participating in the consortium, not the general public.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $1 million (likely typo) for a state grant program under HHS, directly funding a new health research initiative through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds clinical trials for ibogaine treatment of substance use disorder and mental health conditions via state grant program, advancing mental health research and treatment options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health Substance Abuse

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

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1281: establishing standards for the training of comfort dogs.

HB 1281 establishes certification standards for "facility comfort dogs" used by public agencies like hospitals, schools, and emergency services to provide emotional support. It requires these dogs to earn an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen certificate by 18 months and complete quarterly training, while banning prong/electronic collars during deployment. Handlers must obtain specific certifications including Mental Health First Aid and Emergency First Aid for Dogs, and agencies must maintain detailed training records. The bill also sets care standards, such as prohibiting raw diets, requiring spaying/neutering, and mandating retirement policies for the dogs. These requirements directly affect public safety agencies, their handlers, and the comfort dogs they deploy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Mental Health First Aid certification for handlers and standardizes comfort dog use in hospitals/schools, directly supporting mental health services in healthcare settings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

failed · New Hampshire · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 646: relative to mental health standards of care.

SB 646 requires New Hampshire insurance companies to provide equal coverage for 9 specific biologically-based mental illnesses (like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression) as they do for physical health conditions. It mandates that coverage terms and reimbursement rates for these mental health services must align with New Hampshire Medicaid's scope and rates, not just federal parity standards. The bill also requires insurers to publicly report comparative analyses of mental health vs. medical provider reimbursements and ensures reimbursement rates for mental health providers are at least as favorable as those for primary care physicians. This applies to all health insurers, nonprofit health service corporations, and health maintenance organizations operating in New Hampshire, with enforcement by the state insurance commissioner. The bill does not provide new state funding for implementation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal insurance coverage for 9 mental illnesses as physical health, aligning with Medicaid standards to strengthen access and parity for mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Primary Care

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