Mid-Session Update on New Futures Campaigns and Priority Legislation
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It’s the end of February, and New Hampshire is just nine weeks into the 2024 legislative session. Each year, New Futures works diligently to solve problems through policy change. So far, we have informed advocates about more than 20 priority bills this session, and our policy team is tracking and informing on nearly 200 additional pieces of legislation.
Read through for updates on our priority bills and their current status, including next steps and how you can take action, or jump to an issue area you care most about: Early Childhood, Children's Behavioral Health, Health, Public Health, Substance Use, Alcohol and Other Drugs, and Healthy Aging.
Child Care for Child Care Teachers (SB 404)
SB 404 addresses the child care staffing shortage by providing early childhood educators with access to the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship, regardless of household income. This would mean that early childhood educators who work more than 25 hours per week would automatically qualify for scholarship.
Status: In Committee (Senate Finance)
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on SB 404 in early January, where over two dozen people testified in support of the bill. The Committee voted 5-0 to support the bill, and it recently passed the Senate floor. SB 404 will head to the Senate Finance Committee next, and a public hearing will be scheduled soon. Stay tuned for more actions you can take, but for now we're collecting stories from current or former child care workers about the struggle to afford child care to share with lawmakers.
Better Supports for Child Care Centers Serving High-Need Children (SB 596)
New Hampshire’s child care centers lack the resources necessary to provide dedicated staff for children with additional developmental and behavioral needs. SB 596 aims to address this issue by providing additional funding to centers catering to high-needs children through the New Hampshire Scholarship Program. This extra funding would enable child care centers to hire paraprofessionals and other support staff to adequately meet the needs of all children and safely maximize enrollment in their facilities. It would also help reduce expulsions of high-needs children.
Status: In Committee (Senate Education)
SB 596 had a public hearing in mid-February and the Senate Education Committee is still reviewing the bill. There is time to email the committee to urge them to support this bill.
Insurance Coverage Mandates for Youth Mental Health Services (SB 411)
Currently, private insurance carriers in New Hampshire are not required to cover mental health services for youth. SB 411 would ensure that all essential mental health services are covered by all insurance carriers in New Hampshire. In addition to wraparound services, SB 411 requires coverage for behavioral or mental health crisis assessments, crisis intervention services, crisis stabilization services, intensive in-home services, residential treatment services, intensive structured outpatient programs, parent and youth peer support services, and partial hospitalization programs. These services are critical to ensuring that the needs of New Hampshire's most vulnerable children are met.
Status: In Committee (Senate Health and Human Services)
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on SB 411 in early January. The committee is still reviewing the bill and there is time to email the committee to urge them to support the bill.
Protecting Social-Emotional Learning in Schools (HB 1473)
HB 1473 would ban social-emotional learning (SEL) in public schools, prohibiting educators from teaching students important life skills like self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success. Removing SEL from schools puts students at risk of losing out on an education that will help them succeed in school and in life.
Status: Awaiting Vote (House)
In mid-February, the House Education Committee voted HB 1473 Inexpedient to Legislate (will not pass) in a vote of 19-1. Next, the bill will go to the House floor for a vote.
This year, a series of over 30 bills targets LGBTQ+ youth and families in New Hampshire. These bills include allowing discrimination in public spaces, censorship in schools, and bans on sports participation and medically necessary care for transgender youth.
Allowing Discrimination in Public Spaces
HB 396 and SB 562 gives any public or private person or organization the ability to discriminate against LGBTQ people by designating which restrooms, locker rooms or sports teams they can use or participate on.
- Status of HB 396: Passed the House; HB 396 was passed by the House in a vote of 192-184. Next, the bill will cross over to the Senate for review.
- Status of SB 562: In Committee (Senate Judiciary); SB 562 had a public hearing in mid-January. The Committee is still reviewing the bill.
Censorship in Schools
HB 1356 bans public school employees from using a student’s preferred name and pronouns without written permission from the student’s parents or guardians.
- Status: Awaiting Vote (House); In mid-February, the House Education Committee voted on a recommendation of Inexpedient to Legislate in a vote of 20-0. This means that they recommend the bill NOT move forward. Next, the bill will go to the House floor for a vote.
HB 1419 bans books, resources and materials referencing gender identity or sexual orientation.
- Status: Defeated in House; The House Education Committee voted without recommendation on the bill, and the bill went to the House floor for a full vote. The House voted to Indefinitely Postpone the bill, meaning that it will not move forward this session.
Bans on Sports Participation for Transgender Youth
HB 1205 bans transgender girls from playing school sports or using female locker rooms.
- Status: In Committee (House Education); The House Education Committee held a public hearing on HB 1205 in late January. The committee is scheduled to hold an executive session and vote on a recommendation for the bill on March 6.
SB 375 bans transgender girls from playing school sports or using female locker rooms.
- Status: In Committee (Senate Education); The Senate Education Committee held a public hearing on SB 375 in late January. The committee is still reviewing the bill.
SB 524 bans transgender girls from playing sports at the interscholastic and collegiate level.
- Status: In Committee (Senate Education); The Senate Education Committee held a public hearing on SB 524 in early February. The committee is still reviewing the bill.
Bans on Medically Necessary Care for Trans Youth
In its amended form, HB 619 would ban surgery for transgender youth and prohibit doctors from referring care for transgender youth to out-of-state doctors.
- Status: Passed by the House; HB 619 in its amended form was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 188-175. The bill will now head to the Senate.
HB 1011 criminalizes medically-necessary care for transgender youth. Further, it adds medically necessary care for transgender to the Child Protection Act, making it child abuse for parents to simply get medical care for their child.
- Status: Defeated in the House; The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted on a recommendation of Inexpedient to Legislate on this bill. In the full House vote, the committee recommendation was upheld, meaning that the bill will not move forward this session.
HB 1660 bans Medicaid insurance plans from covering gender-affirming surgeries.
- Status: Awaiting Vote (House); The House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee held an executive session in mid-February and voted without recommendation for the bill. Next, the bill will go to the House floor for a vote.
Growing New Hampshire’s Health Care Workforce (SB 403)
SB 403 addresses NH’s health care workforce crisis that impacts access to quality and timely care for Granite Staters. It does this by investing in programs that would help attract, train, and retain health care workers across the spectrum of care in New Hampshire.
Status: In Committee (Senate Health and Human Services)
SB 403 had a public hearing in early January. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee is still reviewing the bill. There is time to email the committee to urge them to support this bill.
Preventing Childhood Lead Exposure (SB 399 & SB 392)
SB 399 would help families access lead testing by removing financial barriers. It would require insurance companies to cover the full cost of lead testing at one and two years old, and any follow-up testing needed because of elevated blood lead levels. SB 392 increases efforts to make New Hampshire homes and communities lead-safe. It would do this by allocating additional resources to a fund that helps homeowners and owners of residential properties remove lead hazards from their buildings.
Status of SB 399: Passed the Senate
SB 399 passed the Senate with amendment on February 8. Next, the bill will cross over to the House of Representatives for further review.
Status of SB 392: In Committee (Senate Finance)
SB 392 had a public hearing in early January and the committee is still reviewing the bill. There is time to email the committee to urge them to support the bill.
Ensuring Access to RSV Immunization for NH Children (SB 559)
SB 559 expands the definition of a vaccine under the New Hampshire Vaccine Association law to help ensure that the new RSV immunization for infants will be covered under the Association. The NH Vaccine Association facilitates the universal purchase of vaccines for the children of New Hampshire, making them available to every child regardless of their ability to pay. This bill does not add the RSV immunization to the vaccination schedule, meaning that it remains optional for Granite State families.
Status: Awaiting Vote (Senate)
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted on a recommendation to pass SB 559. Next, the bill will go to the Senate floor for a vote on March 7.
Oversight of Substance Use Treatment System (SB 495)
SB 495 proposes to improve New Hampshire’s substance use treatment system by strengthening patient protections and ensuring high-quality, evidence-based services. It does this by creating a mandatory certification system for treatment providers and a dedicated position to investigate reports of misconduct.
Status: Passed Senate with Amendment
SB 495 was passed by the Senate with an amendment. Next, the bill will go to the Senate Finance Committee for further review.
Responsible Cannabis Policy (HB 1633)
HB 1633, as amended by the House Commerce Committee, is the only bill in the legislature this year attempting to legalize cannabis for adult use. However, the bill falls short of meeting the Principles for Responsible Cannabis Commercialization, particularly when it comes to ensuring appropriate funding from cannabis revenue is directed to reduce the harms of commercializing another addictive product.
Status: Passed House with Amendment, In Committee (House Finance)
HB 1633 passed the House with amendment last week by a vote of 239-141. Next, it will go over to the House Finance Committee. In the meantime, email the committee to urge them to increase the funding directed toward mental health and substance abuse services and programming.
Protecting the Alcohol Fund (HB 1702)
HB 1702 repeals the Liquor Commission Fund and requires all revenue generated by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission to be deposited into the state's general fund. The bill removes the requirement that 5% of gross profits from alcohol sales be deposited into the Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund ('Alcohol Fund') and instead directs the legislature to set an amount based on an appropriation included in the state operating budget. In addition, this bill would also disrupt the funding structure of Medicaid expansion, potentially putting the program's funding, and the health care of thousands of Granite Staters, at risk.
Status: In Committee (House Commerce and Consumer Affairs)
HB 1702 had a public hearing in late January and the committee is still reviewing the bill. There’s time to email the committee to encourage them to oppose the bill.
Limiting Alcohol Advertising to Youth (SB 335)
SB 335 would add responsible labeling and product placement restrictions to current alcohol advertising laws, limiting advertising to NH youth and helping to prevent underage drinking. Specifically, it would prohibit labels and advertisements that are marketed towards minors, and other products that mimic commercially available non-alcoholic products.
Status: Awaiting Vote (Senate)
After originally voting to send SB 335 to interim study, the Senate Commerce Committee will bring a compromise amendment to the floor for a vote on March 7th. Call or email your Senator to urge them to amend and pass SB 335.
Banning Hemp-Derived THC Products (SB 505)
Due to a legal loophole, hemp-derived THC products known as delta-8, delta-9, and delta-10 were sold in New Hampshire until October 2023. A 2023 law banned the products for one year, meaning that without more legislative action, the products could return to shelves in October 2024. SB 505 looks to permanently ban these dangerous and unregulated products.
Status: In Committee (Senate Judiciary)
SB 505 had a public hearing in early January and the committee is still reviewing the bill. There’s time to email the committee to encourage them to support the bill.
Ending Hunger for Older Adults (SB 499)
SB 499 aims to reduce hunger for NH children, older adults, and people with disabilities. Specifically, it includes the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP), which makes it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to access SNAP benefits.
Status: Passed Senate with Amendment
SB 499 was passed by the Senate with amendment. The amendment still includes the ESAP for older adults and people with disabilities. Next, the bill will go to the Senate Finance Committee for further review. To receive updates from NHAHA Advocacy about this bill and others affecting older adults in NH, sign up for their email list.
We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to our wonderful advocates who have shared their stories, testified at public hearings, submitted opinion pieces to local newspapers, and spread the word on social media. Your actions make a difference!
To learn more about the New Hampshire Legislature including how a bill becomes a law, visit our About the NH Legislature page.
