2026 Legislative Breakfast

Bills

OPPOSE SB549 prohibiting the state or local government from distributing or funding organizations that distribute drug paraphernalia.

SUPPORT without Amendment HB 751 originally sought to protect patients by strengthening protections and ensuring there are high-quality substance use disorder treatment services here in the Granite State. The bill included two key parts:

1. Licensing: Outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities would be licensed by the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services and meet established treatment standards so patients receive safe, effective care.
2. Investigations of Misconduct: Aims to make it easier for patients, families, and staff to report concerns by creating a special position at the NH Department of Health and Human Services dedicated to investigating reports of abuse or misconduct by treatment providers.

SUPPORT SB 298 would require all recovery housing to meet statewide certification standards, ensuring protection for residents so they have access to safe housing that supports their recovery journey. By creating consistent standards, this bill would strengthen the recovery housing system across our state.

SUPPORT SB 498 close the private health insurance coverage gap for children’s behavioral health care coordination. This bill was designed to:

• Protect taxpayers by preventing state general funds from subsidizing private health insurance corporations.
• Require private health insurance companies to help pay for these mental health services, creating a partnership between public and private insurers.
• Allow Tier 3 of the Children’s System of Care to work as intended for the first time.
• Help New Hampshire children get needed care, no matter what type of insurance they have.
• Contribute to more Granite State children and youth access the right care at the right time.

Call to Action: Limit Addictive products aimed at youth

SUPPORT HB 1630: Nitrous Oxide (Whippits) Nitrous oxide sold for recreational inhalation has no restrictions despite documented brain damage, suffocation deaths, and targeted marketing to teens. HB 1630 prohibits the sale of nitrous oxide for recreational purposes, especially flavored products marketed to youth, while protecting legitimate uses (medical, food service, automotive).

SUPPORT SB 557: Kratom Regulation 

Kratom is an addictive opioid-like substance that has no age restrictions or safety standards in New Hampshire. Gas stations and convenience stores sell it to minors with zero oversight. SB 557 establishes a 21+ age requirement, prohibits child-targeted packaging, requires warning labels, mandates licensing, and bans synthetic versions.  

SUPPORT HB 1538: Deceptive Vape Marketing 

Vaping companies disguise nicotine products as highlighters, USB drives, smartwatches, and candy to hide use from parents and teachers. HB 1538 prohibits marketing vapes that imitate non-vape products, using child-appealing characters, or include video game features.

SUPPORT SB 624: Hemp-Derived THC Products

Companies sell THC products by labeling them "hemp-derived" instead of "cannabis," exploiting a technicality in federal law. Hemp-derived products are already banned in New Hampshire, but SB 624 prohibits the sale of any hemp-derived THC products to anyone under 21 and strengthens penalties for licensed establishments that continue to sell these products.

SUPPORT SB 461: Total THC Measurement

Companies sell high-potency hemp-derived THC products labeled as "compliant" by measuring only one form of THC and ignoring other potent forms that convert to THC when consumed. SB 461 requires measuring total THC concentration, including all forms that become psychoactive, just like we measure total alcohol content in beverages.

SUPPORT

• HB 1357 – Permits Modern Manufactured Housing by Right
  • Would require that modern manufactured homes be permitted where other single-family homes are allowed.
• HB 1103 - Community Revitalization Tax Relief Credits Expanded
  • Allows municipalities to utilize community revitalization tax relief credits (RSA 70-E) on a wider variety of properties and structures.
• HB 1726 – Surplus State Property for Affordable Housing
  • Each agency must identify unused or underutilized real estate that may be suitable for development or redevelopment as affordable housing.
• SB 415 - Condominium Exemption Expansion
  • Amends the Condominium Act in New Hampshire (RSA 356-B:49) by changing a unit count threshold related to exemptions. Specifically, the bill increases the number of condominium units eligible for a statutory exemption from 10 units to 50 units.

OPPOSE

• HB 348 – Eligibility for Local Assistance and Residency Requirements
  • Would allow municipalities to adopt a residency requirement of up to 90 days before an individual can receive local general assistance, which often includes emergency housing support and rental assistance
• HB 1598 – Expedites The Eviction Process
  • Would shorten the eviction process for nonpayment or lease breaches, potentially limiting tenant due process.
• HB 1336 – Increases Security Deposit Limits
  • Proposal would allow landlords to require up to two months’ security deposit.
• HB 1499 - Additional Grounds for Eviction
  • Adds new grounds under RSA 540:2 for eviction if:
  • The tenant or any occupant of the rented unit is unlawfully present in the United States,
  • The tenant or occupant has, within 3 years prior to the eviction notice, been convicted of certain violent or serious crimes
  • The tenant or any occupant is a registered sexual offender as defined under state law.

Call to Action: Protect SNAP and ensure access to food for NH Children & Families

SUPPORT HB 1750 would make sure that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has the dollars to keep SNAP running. Without this bill, over 76,000 New Hampshire residents will lose access to SNAP – and to food. We must make the necessary state investment to ensure that SNAP remains fully operational. This bill is being heard by the House Finance Committee.

OPPOSE SB 615 threatens food security. It cuts eligibility for SNAP, adds layers of bureaucracy, and will cause thousands of our neighbors — including children, older adults, and veterans — to lose access to essential food.

SUPPORT SB 517 increases income eligibility for free school meals to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, giving more kids access to the food they need to learn and helping working families succeed. This bill is being heard by the Senate Education Committee.

OPPOSE SB 615 + HB 1797 would cut 6,000 children and 9,000 adults from SNAP and cause thousands of our neighbors to lose access to essential food. The bills would sharply increase costs for the state, cause unnecessary stigma, and could cause retailers to stop accepting SNAP entirely.

OPPOSE HB 1773 would restrict what food people can buy with their SNAP cards, and not improve their health. This bill would cause unnecessary stigma, hurt our local economies and businesses, and waste taxpayer dollars.

SUPPORT SB 545would help more older adults afford their health care by removing the financial savings limit on Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). Right now, people are denied help if they have more than $9,950 in savings (or $14,910 for a married couple)²—regardless of how little income they have.

SUPPORT SB 647would bring a free prescription discount card program to New Hampshire. This program would offer significant cost savings and nationwide pharmacy access to Granite Staters, without selling their personal data. It would also help local, independent pharmacies stay in business, while generating revenue for the state. By helping New Hampshire address rising prescription costs while putting the savings directly into the pockets of Granite Staters, this program benefits everyone.

SUPPORT SB 546would use "secret shopper" audits to verify patients with private insurance can actually access care. These audits work simply: independent reviewers anonymously call doctors, just like a real patient would, to check whether doctors are available and accepting new patients. This same method is already used by the federal government for Medicaid and Marketplace plans because it's an effective, low-cost way to see what patients actually experience when trying to get care. The audits would then be reported to the New Hampshire Insurance Department, which works to ensure a fair health insurance market. By extending this oversight tool to private insurance coverage, we can help ensure every New Hampshire patient can get the care they need when they need it.

OPPOSE HB 524would end our state's current system for providing access to vaccines for children. Currently, insurance companies pay money into a central fund (run by the NH Vaccine Association) that buys vaccines for all children in the state. If this bill passes, doctors' offices would need to buy immunizations upfront and then bill insurance companies directly for children with private insurance. Families will face an increase in fees and insurance premiums. Additionally, immunizations will be harder to find, as small practice providers will be unable to afford the expenses associated with maintaining their own inventories.

OPPOSE SB 506-N - directs DHHS to establish community engagement and work requirements for NH’s Medicaid expansion program.

OPPOSE SB 441-N - requiring a municipality that intends to transport a person needing substance use disorder treatment and other support services to have a memorandum of understanding with the receiving municipality prior to transport.

OPPOSE HB1191 relative to restricting the way our Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is administered in NH schools.

more coming soon