Legislative Updates, 5/27/25
It’s the last week of May, and all eyes in New Hampshire are on the Senate Finance Committee. The committee will likely wrap up its work and vote on its final draft of the budget late within the next week. The budget proposal will then go to a vote in the full Senate in early June. As is often the case in a budget year, several of our priority bills are not advancing traditionally and have instead been absorbed into the budget process.
Thus far, the Finance Committee has supported several of our priorities, including maintaining the current Alcohol Fund structure, supporting New Hampshire’s Rapid Response Access Point, care coordination mental health services for youth, and streamlining the Child Care Scholarship program. However, they have not yet acted on several critical proposals, including expanding the Medicare Savings Program for older adults.
Further, the Finance Committee has voted to undermine the health of our state by defunding the NH Commission on Aging, repealing the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and instituting work requirements for our Medicaid expansion program.
State Budget Updates
The Senate Finance Committee has been working diligently to review funding for critical programs that impact the health and well-being of Granite Staters.
Currently in the budget proposal
So far, the committee has initially proposed including the following pieces in its budget plan:
Momnibus 2.0: Senate Bill 246, also known as New Hampshire Momnibus 2.0, will improve maternal mental health, strengthen workforce protections, expand family supports, and support moms across New Hampshire. The Senate Finance Committee plans to include funding and legislation for SB 246 in its amendments to the state budget bills.
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Access to Child Care: Senate Bill 243 streamlines the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship program for parents and providers and will help more families access affordable child care in New Hampshire. The House of Representatives voted to table SB 243 last week, but today, the Senate Finance Committee added funding for the bill in its amendments to the state budget bills.
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Medicaid Reimbursement Rates: Appropriate Medicaid reimbursement rates help health care providers keep their doors open and serve patients across all areas, including primary care, preventive services, behavioral health, and emergency care. The House-passed budget proposal included a 3% cut to Medicaid reimbursement rates, but the Senate added an amendment to their budget proposal to restore the cuts.
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Alcohol Fund: The Alcohol Fund supports hundreds of statewide prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and is administered through the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs. The House-passed budget proposal funded the Alcohol Fund with the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund dollars, which would have limited the scope of the Alcohol Fund to opioid-related work only. However, the Senate Finance Committee plans to restore the Alcohol Funding structure to normal in its final budget proposal.
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Strengthening Crisis Care: The NH Rapid Response Access Point provides 24/7 counseling via call, text, and chat for those experiencing mental health or substance use crises. Back in March, SB 255, a fiscally responsible, bipartisan plan to permanently fund the Access Point, was tabled on the Senate floor for possible inclusion in the Senate’s version of the NH state budget. Last week, the Senate Finance Committee voted to include the language from the bill in the budget proposal.
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Coverage for Children's Behavioral Health Care Coordination: Senate Bill 128 would require private health insurance companies to help pay for enhanced care coordination mental health services for youth, which will help all New Hampshire children get the care they need, no matter their insurance type. Two months ago, SB 128 was passed on the Senate floor and then tabled for possible inclusion in the Senate’s version of the NH state budget. On Friday, the Senate Finance Committee voted unanimously to include this policy in their version of the state budget.
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Medicaid Premiums and Cost-Sharing: Introducing premiums and cost-sharing for some Medicaid enrollees would shift more costs to families and low-wage individuals, creating financial burdens that can limit access to care. The House-passed budget included premiums and cost-sharing measures for some Medicaid expansion and CHIP enrollees, and the Senate Finance Committee has kept these changes in its budget proposal.
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Medicaid Expansion Work Requirements: Adding burdensome work requirements for Medicaid expansion would create unnecessary barriers to care and put thousands of low-wage Granite Staters at risk of losing their health care coverage. Last week, the Senate Finance Committee passed an amendment to the budget proposal that includes Medicaid expansion work requirements.
Take action: Email Senate Finance: Oppose Work Requirements
Not yet included in the budget proposal
The Senate Finance Committee has not yet considered the following issues or decided whether to include them in its budget proposal:
Medicare Savings Programs: New Hampshire’s Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) pay for uncovered Medicare costs, but far too many low-income older adults still don’t qualify for assistance. Senate Bill 122 would enhance eligibility for MSPs to ensure that more older adults have access to affordable health care, while allowing them to preserve limited resources for expenses that help them remain living at home. The Senate passed and then tabled the bill for possible inclusion in the budget, but has not yet considered it during budget meetings.
Take action: Email Senate Finance: Enhance Eligibility for MSPs
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Caregiver Relief and Senior Volunteer Programs: Funding caregiver respite and senior volunteer programs strengthens New Hampshire communities and creates a more supportive and resilient LTSS system. Funding for these existing, high-impact programs was not included in the House-passed budget, but a proposed amendment that would increase funding for the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) respite program will be heard by the Senate Finance Committee.
Take action: Email Senate Finance: Support Caregiver Respite and Senior Volunteers
Not funded enough in the budget proposal
The Senate Finance Committee has worked on the following issues, and has not included adequate funding in its budget proposal:
Prescription Drug Affordability Board: New Hampshire’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) is our strongest effort to address rising prescription costs, providing vital oversight to ensure life-saving medications remain within reach for Granite Staters. Last Friday, the Senate Finance Committee determined not only that it will not include funding for the PDAB in its budget proposal, but that it will repeal the board entirely.
Take action: Email Senate Finance: Save the Prescription Drug Affordability Board
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The NH Commission on Aging: By 2030, 27% of New Hampshire's population is projected to be over 65 years old. The Commission is essential in preparing the state for this rapid demographic shift, ensuring all of our residents are supported as we age. Last week, a Senate Finance Committee proposal included $1 in funding for the Commission on Aging. This would effectively defund the program for the next two years while maintaining the Commission’s existence in law.
Take action: Email Senate Finance: Save the NH Commission on Aging
Bills Heading to the Governor
Protecting Teen Voices and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a completely anonymous, optional survey that allows teens to privately share their experiences so parents, schools, and communities can prevent unsafe and unhealthy behaviors. House Bill 446 would require families to opt-in to the survey rather than opt-out, which would significantly reduce participation and make it impossible to learn how to keep Granite State youth safe and healthy. Unfortunately, last week the Senate overturned the committee’s recommendation, passing HB 446 along party lines, and sending the bill to Governor Ayotte’s desk.
Take action: Contact the Governor: Veto HB 446
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Removing Anti-Discrimination Protections: It's important for all Granite Staters to feel safe and have privacy in the places we visit every day, like hospitals, workplaces, libraries, and shops. Unfortunately, House Bill 148 would make life harder and less safe for transgender Granite Staters by rolling back discrimination protections in restrooms and locker rooms. While claiming to protect safety, the bill ignores current laws making it illegal to harm or harass anyone in these spaces. Last week, the Senate voted 16-8 along party lines to send this bill to the governor.
Take action: Contact the Governor: Veto HB 148
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From Last Week
Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Requirements: SB 14 and SB 15 would require mandatory minimum sentences for some fentanyl-related offenses. Mandatory minimum sentences remove individuals from their communities, restrict access to needed treatment, and weaken our state’s efforts to overcome the ongoing addiction crisis. The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted on a recommendation to pass SB 14 with an amendment that includes language from SB 15 as well as other provisions. Next, the bill will go to the House floor for a House vote. Email your Representatives to urge them to oppose mandatory minimums using ACLU NH’s easy email form.
For more information about these issues, other priority legislation, and the state budget process, please visit our Current Legislation page and State Budget Page.
Originally published by New Futures