A robust crisis care system is necessary to ensure our children receive the support they need. New Hampshire's crisis care system includes:
- Someone To Talk To: The New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point provides 24/7 crisis counseling. The program assisted Granite Staters via call, text, and chat more than 34,600 times in 2023.2
- Someone To Respond: Ten mobile crisis response teams provide rapid on-site assessment and support.
- Somewhere To Go: Crisis stabilization centers in Derry and Laconia offer 23 hours of supervised care.
Despite the growing mental health crisis in our state, New Hampshire’s behavioral health crisis system is funded through a patchwork of sources that do not offer long-term stability.
To address this, the bipartisan Commission on Behavioral Health Crisis Services was created in 2023. This group studied ways to sustainably fund the crisis system and made recommendations that became the basis for 2025 legislation.
About the Bill
Senate Bill 255 proposes a fiscally responsible, commonsense solution that would make some of the bipartisan Commission's recommendations a reality. The "someone to talk to" pillar of the crisis system would be permanently funded using the same proven model that has worked for our 911 system for decades.
The crisis care system protects access to timely and clinically appropriate services while preventing unnecessary and expensive hospitalizations. Access to crisis care reduces uncompensated care and wait times at our local hospitals' emergency departments.3,4
The legislation would protect taxpayers while ensuring our emergency services can respond effectively to all types of crises. Investments in crisis care also lower the burden of local first responders and police by reducing unnecessary 911 calls and dispatches.
Moving to a long-term funding model is critical to ensure the system continues to meet the needs of all Granite Staters.
Take Action
Easy Action Form to Thank Senate Committee
Share Your Story
Attend or Testify at a Public Hearing
Show your support by attending or testifying at the public hearing! New Futures can help you prepare remarks, find the committee room, and offer moral support at the hearing.
Please see the Bill Status section below to see if this bill is currently scheduled for a hearing.
If you are interested in attending a currently scheduled hearing or would like us to let you know when future hearings are scheduled, please fill out the form below.
You can learn more about what to expect on our Ways to Advocate webpage.
Spread the Word: Fact Sheet
Download and share our one-pager:
Spread the Word: Social Media
Check out our social media channels and share our latest posts about Senate Bill 255!
Bill Status
February 6: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 255. You can read the committee report here. 295 people signed in to support the bill, 2 people signed in to oppose, and 3 were neutral.
February 19: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee recommended 5-0 that the full Senate pass the bill.
Next: The bill heads to the Senate floor, where it will be considered as part of the consent calendar.
You can learn more about how New Hampshire's legislative process works on our About the Legislature webpage, or take one of our advocacy trainings.
