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HB 1705-FN

(New Title) establishing an employee assistance program for small town and volunteer first responders.

Filed 2026 · Signed into law · Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services · Employment

Official record at gencourt.state.nh.us ↗

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On the record

Quoted from the General Court bill status page, not worked out from the docket.

StatusSIGNED BY GOVERNOR
In the SenatePASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
Introduced1/7/2026
Floor date5/21/2026
LSR number2393
Chapter0239
Local government impactno
Committee codeH34

Bill text (PDF) ↗

Where it stands

Senate: PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT

6 of the floor votes on this bill were voice or division votes, which do not record how individual legislators voted.

In practice this often ends a bill's progress for the term.

A bill goes on the consent calendar when the committee vote was unanimous or nearly so, and any members who dissented did not object to placing it there. It then passes without floor debate. Ten members may file a petition to pull a bill off the consent calendar and have it debated and voted on separately.

Sponsors

Selig, Loren(D) Straf 10, Damon, Hope(D) Sull 8, Drye, Margaret(R) Sull 7, Newell, Jodi(D) Ches 4, Prentiss, Suzanne(D) Graf 5
Prime sponsor in bold. From the General Court sponsor file.

What happened

Every action recorded in the official docket, in order. Each line ends with the journal or calendar that recorded it; where we have the document, that citation links to it.

Votes

Roll call tallies and individual votes from the General Court roll call files. Presiding, excused and absent are shown separately: one member presides over each House roll call and does not vote except to break a tie.

Ought to Pass with Amendment

February 19, 2026 · House · 194–154, adopted

Votes by party
PartyYesNoPresidingExcusedAbsent
Republican341541207
Democrat16000124
Independent00001
Total19415413212
Yes — 194
  • Almy, Susan(D) Graf 17
  • Ames, Dick(D) Ches 13
  • Aron, Judy(R) Sull 4
  • Aron, Michael(R) Sull 8
  • Balboni, Peggy(D) Rock 38
  • Baldwin, Heather(D) Graf 4
  • Ball, Lorie(R) Rock 25
  • Barton, Joseph(R) Graf 1
  • Bay, Luz(D) Straf 21
  • Beauchemin, Paige(D) Hills 3
  • Berch, Paul(D) Ches 6
  • Bergeron, Dan(D) Hills 16
  • Bixby, Peter(D) Straf 13
  • Bolton, Bill(D) Graf 8
  • Booras, Efstathia(D) Hills 8
  • Bordes, Mike(R) Belk 5
  • Boyd, Bill(R) Hills 12
  • Bricchi, Tracy(D) Merr 15
  • Bridle, Nicholas(R) Rock 29
  • Bryer, Scott(R) Rock 1
  • Burroughs, Anita(D) Carr 2
  • Burton, Wayne(D) Straf 10
  • Butler, Billie(D) Straf 12
  • Cahill, Michael(D) Rock 10
  • Caplan, Tony(D) Merr 8
  • Chourasia, Manoj(D) Hills 11
  • Chretien, Suzanne(D) Hills 19
  • Cloutier, John(D) Sull 6
  • Coker, Matthew(R) Belk 2
  • Cormen, Thomas(D) Graf 15
  • Cornell, Patricia(D) Hills 22
  • Damon, Hope(D) Sull 8
  • Darby, Will(D) Hills 11
  • Dargie, Paul(D) Hills 43
  • Davis, Fred(D) Hills 3
  • DiSilvestro, Linda(D) Hills 17
  • Dolan, William(D) Hills 9
  • Drye, Margaret(R) Sull 7
  • Dunn, Ron(R) Rock 16
  • Ebel, Karen(D) Merr 7
  • Edgar, Michael(D) Rock 29
  • Elberger, Susan(D) Hills 5
  • Faulkner, Barry(D) Ches 10
  • Fellows, Sallie(D) Graf 8
  • Foote, Charles(R) Rock 13
  • Foss, Lily(D) Hills 41
  • Fox, Dru(D) Ches 2
  • Foxx, Loren(D) Hills 2
  • Fracht, David(D) Graf 16
  • Franz, Linda(R) Graf 6
  • Gallager, Eric(D) Merr 20
  • Georges, Mary(D) Hills 23
  • Germana, Nicholas(D) Ches 15
  • Gibbs, Merryl(D) Merr 23
  • Gilman, Julie(D) Rock 11
  • Gilmore, Gary(D) Straf 16
  • Girard, Dale(R) Sull 6
  • Grill, Jessica(D) Hills 18
  • Grote, Jaci(D) Rockingham 24
  • Gruber, James(D) Ches 16
  • Grund, Stephanie(D) Hills 34
  • Guthrie, Joseph(R) Rock 15
  • Hakken-Phillips, Mary(D) Graf 12
  • Hall, Muriel(D) Merr 9
  • Hamblen, Joseph(R) Carr 3
  • Harriott-Gathright, Linda(D) Hills 10
  • Hartnett, Tim(D) Hillsborough 41
  • Haskins, Linda(D) Rockingham 11
  • Hegner, Karen(D) Hills 41
  • Herbert, Christopher(D) Hills 24
  • Hicks, Matthew(D) Merr 24
  • Horrigan, Timothy(D) Straf 10
  • Howard, Heath(D) Straf 4
  • Howard, Molly(D) Hills 31
  • Howland, Allan(D) Straf 20
  • Jack, Martin(D) Hills 10
  • Jeudy, Jean(D) Hills 23
  • Johnson, Erik(D) Straf 11
  • Jones, Philip(D) Ches 3
  • Juris, Louis(D) Hills 7
  • Katsakiores, Phyllis(R) Rock 13
  • Kelly, Eileen(D) Merr 8
  • Kerwin, Erin(D) Hills 40
  • Khan, Aboul(R) Rock 30
  • Kluger, Lee Ann(D) Hills 6
  • Knab, Allison(D) Rock 12
  • LaMontagne, Jessica(D) Straf 17
  • Lane, Connie(D) Merr 16
  • Larochelle, John(D) Straf 19
  • Lascelles, Richard(R) Hills 14
  • LeClerc, Daniel(D) Hills 34
  • Leapley, Nicole(D) Hills 22
  • Leishman, Peter(D) Hills 33
  • Levesque, Cassandra(D) Straf 4
  • Lloyd, Christal(D) Hills 8
  • Long, Patrick(D) Hills 26
  • Lovett, Peter(D) Graf 8
  • Lucas, Janet(D) Graf 7
  • Luneau, David(D) Merr 9
  • MacDonald, John(R) Carr 6
  • MacKenzie, Mark(D) Hills 40
  • Maggiore, Jim(D) Rock 23
  • Malloy, Dennis(D) Rock 24
  • Mandelbaum, Jennifer(D) Rock 21
  • Manohar, Sanjeev(D) Hills 9
  • Manos, Zoe(D) Rock 12
  • McAleer, Chris(D) Carr 2
  • McGhee, Kat(D) Hills 35
  • Meuse, David(D) Rock 37
  • Miller, Seth(D) Straf 21
  • Minor, Sheri(R) Belk 5
  • Muirhead, Russell(D) Graf 12
  • Muns, Chris(D) Rock 29
  • Murphy, Nancy(D) Hills 12
  • Murray, Alissandra(D) Hills 20
  • Murray, Kate(D) Rockingham 22
  • Murray, Megan(D) Hills 37
  • Nagel, David(D) Belk 6
  • Nalevanko, Rich(R) Ches 9
  • Newell, Jodi(D) Ches 4
  • Newman, Ray(D) Hills 4
  • Newman, Sue(D) Hills 4
  • Newsom, James(D) Merr 9
  • O'Rorke, Terri(D) Ches 7
  • Oppel, Thomas(D) Grafton 9
  • Paige, David(D) Carr 1
  • Paige, Mark(D) Rock 11
  • Palmer, William(D) Sull 2
  • Panek, Sandra(R) Hillsborough 1
  • Parshall, Lucius(D) Ches 8
  • Payeur, Stephanie(D) Merr 8
  • Pearson, Mark(R) Rock 34
  • Pearson, Stephen(R) Rock 13
  • Perez, Kristine(R) Rock 16
  • Petrigno, Peter(D) Hills 43
  • Plamondon, Marc(D) Hills 3
  • Ploszaj, Tom(R) Belk 1
  • Porcelli, Susan(R) Rock 19
  • Preece, David(D) Hills 17
  • Proulx, Mark(R) Hills 15
  • Prudhomme-O'Brien, Katherine(R) Rock 13
  • Raymond, Heather(D) Hills 5
  • Raynolds, Ned(D) Rock 39
  • Richards, Beth(D) Merr 17
  • Rockmore, Ellen(D) Graf 12
  • Roesener, James(D) Merr 22
  • Rollins, Skip(R) Sull 3
  • Rombeau, Catherine(D) Hills 2
  • Rung, Rosemarie(D) Hills 12
  • Ryan, Linda(D) Hills 4
  • Salvi, Santosh(D) Hills 9
  • Sargent, Gregory(D) Merr 7
  • Schamberg, Thomas(D) Merr 6
  • Scherr, Buzz(D) Rock 26
  • Schmidt, Peter(D) Straf 14
  • Seibert, Christine(D) Hills 21
  • Selig, Loren(D) Straf 10
  • Simpson, Alexis(D) Rock 33
  • Smith, Geoffrey(D) Straf 21
  • Smith, Marjorie(D) Straf 10
  • Snodgrass, Jim(D) Merr 28
  • Sorensen, Carrie(D) Rock 28
  • Southworth, Thomas(D) Straf 11
  • Spahr, Terry(D) Graf 12
  • Spier, Carry(D) Hills 6
  • St. Clair, Charlie(D) Belknap 5
  • Staub, Kathy(D) Hills 25
  • Stone, John(D) Straf 12
  • Stringham, Jerry(D) Graf 3
  • Sullivan, Brian(D) Sull 1
  • Sullivan, Jared(D) Graf 2
  • Swanson, Dale(D) Hills 5
  • Sykes, George(D) Graf 14
  • Telerski, Laura(D) Hills 11
  • Tellez, Trinidad(D) Hills 40
  • Thackston, Dick(R) Ches 12
  • Thomas, Wendy(D) Hills 12
  • Turer, Eric(D) Rock 6
  • Vail, Suzanne(D) Hillsborough 6
  • Vallone, Mark(D) Rock 5
  • Veilleux, Daniel(D) Hills 34
  • Vose, Michael(R) Rockingham 5
  • Wade, Alice(D) Straf 15
  • Wall, Janet(D) Straf 11
  • Wallner, Mary Jane(D) Merr 19
  • Walsh, Lilli(R) Rock 15
  • Ward, Gerald(D) Rock 27
  • Weber, Lucy(D) Ches 5
  • Weinstein, Toni(D) Rock 10
  • Wheeler, Jonah(D) Hills 33
  • Wilhelm, Matthew(D) Hills 21
  • Woodcock, Stephen(D) Carr 1
  • Woods, Gary(D) Merr 30
  • de Vries, Erica(D) Rock 29
No — 154
  • Aldrich, Glen(R) Belk 6
  • Alexander, Joe(R) Hills 29
  • Ammon, Keith(R) Hills 42
  • Andrus, Louise(R) Merr 5
  • Aures, Cyril(R) Merr 13
  • Avellani, Lino(R) Carr 4
  • Aylward, Deborah(R) Merr 5
  • Bailey, Glenn(R) Straf 2
  • Barbour, Liz(R) Hills 35
  • Beaulier, Calvin(R) Graf 1
  • Bennett, Cindy(R) Rock 4
  • Berezhny, Lex(R) Graf 11
  • Bernardy, JD(R) Rock 36
  • Berry, Ross(R) Hills 44
  • Bjelobrk, Marie Louise(R) Graf 5
  • Boehm, Ralph(R) Hills 38
  • Bogert, Steven(R) Belk 5
  • Boyd, Stephen(R) Merr 10
  • Brown, Pam(R) Rock 14
  • Cambrils, Jose(R) Merr 4
  • Colcombe, Riché(R) Hills 30
  • Corcoran, Travis(R) Hills 28
  • Crawford, Karel(R) Carr 3
  • Creighton, James(R) Hills 30
  • Daniels, Gary(R) Hills 43
  • Davis, Arnold(R) Coos 2
  • DeDe-Poulin, Denise(R) Straf 6
  • DeLemus, Susan(R) Straf 1
  • DeRoy, Susan(R) Straf 3
  • DeSimone, Debra(R) Rock 18
  • DeVito, Sayra(R) Rock 8
  • Devoid, Ricky(R) Merr 1
  • Dolan, Tom(R) Rock 16
  • Donnelly, Tanya(R) Rock 25
  • Drago, Mike(R) Rock 4
  • Drew, Matt(R) Hills 19
  • Dumont, Dillon(R) Hills 13
  • Dupont, Pierre(R) Hills 20
  • Durkin, Sean(R) Coos 1
  • Edwards, Jess(R) Rock 31
  • Erf, Keith(R) Hills 28
  • Farrington, Samuel(R) Straf 8
  • Ford, Mary(R) Rock 3
  • Freeman, Lisa(R) Belk 8
  • Gagne, Larry(R) Hills 16
  • Giasson, Henry(R) Hills 29
  • Gonzalez, Ernesto(R) Merr 3
  • Gorski, Ted(R) Hills 2
  • Gould, Linda(R) Hills 2
  • Granger, Michael(R) Straf 2
  • Grant, George(R) Sull 5
  • Griffin, Gerald(R) Hills 42
  • Guzofski, James(R) Rock 1
  • Hall, Robley(R) Straf 1
  • Harb, Robert(R) Rock 20
  • Hemingway, Wayne(R) Sull 6
  • Hill, Gregory(R) Merr 2
  • Janigian, John(R) Rock 25
  • Kaczynski, Thomas(R) Straf 5
  • Karasinski, Sly(R) Ches 10
  • Kelley, Diane(R) Hills 32
  • Kenny, Catherine(R) Hills 13
  • Kesselring, Steven(R) Hills 18
  • King, Seth(R) Coos 4
  • Kofalt, Jim(R) Hills 32
  • Korzen, Lori(R) Coos 7
  • Kuttab, Katelyn(R) Rock 17
  • Labrie, Brian(R) Hills 2
  • Ladd, Rick(R) Graf 5
  • Layon, Erica(R) Rock 13
  • Litchfield, Melissa(R) Rock 32
  • Louis, Darrell(R) Graf 1
  • Love, David(R) Rock 13
  • Lundgren, David(R) Rock 16
  • Lynn, Bob(R) Rock 17
  • MacDonald, Wayne(R) Rock 16
  • Mannion, Dennis(R) Rock 25
  • Mannion, Tom(R) Hills 1
  • Mattson, Rita(R) Ches 18
  • Mazur, Lisa(R) Hills 44
  • McDonnell, Valerie(R) Rock 25
  • McFarlane, Donald(R) Graf 18
  • McGrath, Linda(R) Rock 40
  • McGuire, Carol(R) Merr 27
  • McGuire, Dan(R) Merr 14
  • McLean, Mark(R) Hills 15
  • Mehegan, Peter(R) Merr 12
  • Melvin, Charles(R) Rock 20
  • Miles, Julie(R) Hills 12
  • Milz, David(R) Rock 13
  • Miner, Laurence(R) Rock 7
  • Moffett, Michael(R) Merr 4
  • Mooney, Maureen(R) Hills 12
  • Morency, Pete(R) Coos 5
  • Morton, Jonathan(R) Hillsborough 39
  • Murphy, Denis(R) Ches 11
  • Murphy, Mary(R) Hills 27
  • Nadeau, Brian(R) Rock 4
  • Nelson, Jodi(R) Rock 13
  • Noble, Kristin(R) Hills 2
  • Notter, Jeanine(R) Hills 12
  • Ohm, Bill(R) Hills 10
  • Osborne, Jason(R) Rock 2
  • Ouellet, Mike(R) Coos 3
  • Paquette, Kathleen(R) Hills 25
  • Pauer, Diane(R) Hills 36
  • Peeples, Raymond(R) Hills 14
  • Peternel, Katy(R) Carr 6
  • Pitaro, Matthew(R) Merr 11
  • Plante, Raymond(R) Merr 27
  • Polozov, Yury(R) Merr 10
  • Popovici-Muller, Daniel(R) Rock 17
  • Post, Lisa(R) Hills 42
  • Potenza, Kelley(R) Straf 19
  • Potucek, John(R) Rock 13
  • Presa, Adam(R) Hills 12
  • Qualey, James(R) Ches 18
  • Reinfurt, Sherri(R) Hills 29
  • Rhodes, Jennifer(R) Ches 17
  • Sabourin dit Choinière, Matt(R) Rock 30
  • Schneller, John(R) Hills 2
  • Scully, Kevin(R) Hills 8
  • Seaworth, Brian(R) Merr 12
  • See, Alvin(R) Merr 26
  • Selby, Donald(R) Rock 9
  • Sellers, John(R) Graf 10
  • Sheehan, Vanessa(R) Hills 43
  • Sirois, Shane(R) Hills 32
  • Slottje, Jeremy(R) Hills 13
  • Smith, Jonathan(R) Carr 5
  • Soti, Julius(R) Rock 35
  • Spilsbury, Walter(R) Sull 3
  • Summers, James(R) Rock 20
  • Sweeney, Joe(R) Rock 25
  • Sytek, John(R) Rock 25
  • Taylor, Brian(R) Carr 8
  • Tenczar, Jeffrey(R) Hills 1
  • Terry, Paul(R) Belk 7
  • Thibault, James(R) Merr 25
  • Thomas, Douglas(R) Rock 16
  • Toner, Travis(R) Belk 4
  • Tremblay, Marc(R) Coos 5
  • Tripp, Richard(R) Rock 13
  • Tudor, Paul(R) Rock 1
  • Turcotte, Len(R) Straf 4
  • Ulery, Jordan(R) Hills 13
  • Verville, Kevin(R) Rock 2
  • Walker, David(R) Straf 19
  • Walsh, Thomas(R) Merr 10
  • Warden, Mark(R) Hills 39
  • Weyler, Kenneth(R) Rock 14
  • Wherry, Robert(R) Hills 13
  • Wilson, Vicki(R) Rock 9
  • Wood, Clayton(R) Merr 13
Presiding — 1
  • Smith, Steven(R) Sull 3
Excused — 32
  • Belcher, Mike(R) Carr 4
  • Brown, Richard(R) Carr 8
  • Burnham, Claudine(R) Straf 2
  • Colby, Eleana(D) Merr 9
  • Cole, Brian(R) Hills 26
  • Comtois, Barbara(R) Belk 7
  • England, Myles(D) Straf 12
  • Fedolfi, Jim(R) Hills 30
  • Flanagan, Jack(R) Hills 45
  • Gregg, Alicia(D) Hills 7
  • Grossman, Gaby(D) Rock 11
  • Harrington, Michael(R) Straf 18
  • Harvey, Cathryn(D) Ches 6
  • Hunt, John(R) Ches 14
  • Jacobs, Samantha(D) Ches 15
  • Leavitt, John(R) Merr 10
  • Mannion, Tim(R) Hills 1
  • Markell, Jay(R) Rock 18
  • McMahon, Charles(R) Rock 17
  • Murphy, Michael(R) Coos 6
  • Pearson, Wayne(D) Straf 12
  • Prout, Andrew(R) Hills 13
  • Read, Ellen(D) Rock 10
  • Rice, Kimberly(R) Hills 38
  • Roy, Terry(R) Rock 31
  • Schultz, Kris(D) Merr 29
  • Sofikitis, Catherine(D) Hills 7
  • Soucy, Timothy(D) Merr 21
  • Stavis, Laurel(D) Graf 13
  • Suiter, John(R) Hills 36
  • Tierney, James(R) Coos 1
  • Vandecasteele, Susan(R) Rock 25
Absent — 12
  • Ankarberg, Aidan(I) Straf 7
  • Buco, Thomas(D) Carr 1
  • Budathoki, Suraj(D) Hillsborough 40
  • Dumais, Russell(R) Belk 6
  • Harvey-Bolia, Juliet(R) Belk 3
  • MacKay, James(D) Merr 18
  • Malone, Amy(D) Straf 9
  • Morse, Bryan(R) Merr 3
  • Packard, Sherman(R) Rock 16
  • Spillane, James(R) Rock 2
  • Trottier, Douglas(R) Belk 8
  • Varney, Peter(R) Belk 7

Refer for Interim Study

February 19, 2026 · House · 167–174, failed

Decided on a division vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1202h

March 26, 2026 · House · None–None, adopted

Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Refer for Interim Study

March 26, 2026 · House · 167–181, failed

Decided on a division vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Ought to Pass

May 7, 2026 · Senate · None–None, adopted

Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1926s

May 14, 2026 · Senate · None–None, adopted

Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1926s (Reps. Creighton, Weyler)

May 21, 2026 · House · None–None, adopted

Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Committee reports

Reproduced from the House Calendar in the committee’s own words.

Majority — REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY

Rep. Michael Granger

This bill is an incredibly well-intentioned bill that aims to assist volunteer first responders handle some of the weight of their service, especially in regard to mental health treatment and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is the opinion of the majority that this bill, as written, would not accomplish its stated goals, but that the purpose of the bill is so important that it deserves special consideration over the summer to find a way to truly get a solution to our amazing volunteer first responders. We understand the purpose of the bill is to provide access to volunteers and small town first responders to the employee assistance program, however in discussion with Health and Human Services it seems that it would actually expand access to not just those groups but totally unrelated groups, and for totally unrelated purposes. The language we have also contains technical issues where it ends up being in labor statutes despite having basically nothing to do with employer/employee relations. It is the view of the majority of the committee that while this bill is unworkable in its current form, the sponsors’ stated intent is important enough to justify a study on the matter allowing us to bring back a bill for next year that does it right and does it in a way that ensures that no volunteer first responder is ever left abandoned after they choose to run toward danger when the call comes. Our duty to our first responders and volunteers is such that the majority of the committee is emboldened to aggressively pursue action on this to accomplish the noble goal of the sponsors. Vote 11-9.

Minority — OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT

Rep. Brian Sullivan

This bill as amended provides access to an employee assistance program (EAP) to volunteer first responders and towns with five or fewer full-time paid first responders. This is the same EAP that is provided to other state employees and operated under the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The objective of the sponsors is to provide access to early intervention for the small town volunteers to mental health supports through the EAP. First responders often face traumatic experiences while providing support to victims of accidents and fires. Over time this can lead to the development of post traumatic stress disorders. The minority feels that the early intervention under the EAP could help avoid more involved treatment. The EAP can also provide referrals to providers who can provide more treatment. This would likely be covered by workers’ compensation, but it is hoped that early intervention by the EAP might reduce or eliminate treatment under workers’ compensation. The minority does not feel that Interim Study is warranted and that an Ought to Pass with Amendment motion is preferred.

Hearings and recordings

Recordings are the General Court’s own, on YouTube. Start times are estimates unless stated otherwise, and the player opens early.

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