Healthcare

HB 1754 repeals the statewide requirement for New Hampshire schools to use the multi-tiered system of supports for behavioral health and wellness (MTSS-B), a tiered approach to student mental health support. The bill directly affects public schools across New Hampshire by removing this mandated framework from state law. It eliminates the legal obligation under RSA 135-F:3, III(l) for schools to implement MTSS-B as part of their mental health care systems for students. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment, shifting oversight of student mental health support to local school districts.

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.

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.

HB 1313 repeals New Hampshire's current law (RSA 132:37-40) that prohibited people from entering or remaining on public sidewalks adjacent to reproductive health care facilities. This directly affects individuals and groups seeking to engage in free speech activities - such as handing out literature or speaking - near clinic entrances. The key provision removes the buffer zone restriction, allowing people to approach sidewalks without legal penalty. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and has no estimated fiscal impact on state or local governments.

HB 1811 repeals all state-mandated vaccination requirements for children in New Hampshire, removing legal obligations for schools and childcare agencies to require immunizations or maintain related records. The bill eliminates provisions for religious and medical exemptions, attendance rules during outbreaks, and reporting requirements to health authorities. It replaces mandatory vaccination with advisory recommendations from health officials, stating schools and agencies cannot deny enrollment based on vaccination status. This directly affects parents, schools, childcare providers, and public health officials by ending the state’s enforcement of childhood immunization rules. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.