HB 1706-FN (2026): repealing the refugee resettlement program in the department of health and human services and prohibiting expenditure of state funds on refugee resettlement.

HB 1706-FN (2026)

repealing the refugee resettlement program in the department of health and human services and prohibiting expenditure of state funds on refugee resettlement.

• Status: Killed
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
• Senate committee: Health and Human Services
• Subject: State Government

The Story

It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 24, 2026, with 1,419 people signed in online: 180 in support and 1,239 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on March 4, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it, and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 10–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On March 11, 2026 the House rejected a motion to kill it and bar the subject for the rest of the term on a roll call 158–169, on a motion by Rep. Wendy Thomas. On March 11, 2026 the House failed “Lay HB1706 on Table” on a roll call 161–170, on a motion by Rep. Nicholas Germana. On March 11, 2026 the House voted to pass it on a roll call 170–164. It crossed to the Senate on March 12, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services committee. The committee held public hearings on April 1, 2026 and April 2, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate kill it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On April 16, 2026 the Senate voted to kill it on a voice vote.

Sponsors

• Rep. Travis Corcoran (R - Hills 28) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Joe Alexander (R - Hills 29)
• Rep. Mike Belcher (R - Carr 4)
• Rep. Ross Berry (R - Hills 44)
• Rep. Matt Drew (R - Hills 19)
• Rep. Keith Erf (R - Hills 28)
• Rep. Donald McFarlane (R - Graf 18)
• Rep. Kristin Noble (R - Hills 2)
• Rep. Jason Osborne (R - Rock 2)
• Rep. James Spillane (R - Rock 2)
• Sen. Ruth Ward (R - SD8)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 24, 2026, 1:00 PM: public hearing, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, GP 158
• March 4, 2026, 9:00 AM: executive session, House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs, GP 158
• March 11, 2026: floor debate, House
• April 1, 2026, 9:45 AM: hearing, Senate Health and Human Services, SH 100
• April 2, 2026, 2:30 PM: hearing, Senate Health and Human Services, SH 103
• April 16, 2026: consent calendar, Senate

Votes

• March 11, 2026, House: Indefinitely Postpone — yeas 158, nays 169, failed
• March 11, 2026, House: Lay on Table — yeas 161, nays 170, failed
• March 11, 2026, House: Ought to Pass — yeas 170, nays 164, passed
• April 16, 2026, Senate: Inexpedient to Legislate — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 161:2

Related Bills

• SB 625-FN (2026): establishing a committee to study options for family members of intentional homicide victims where the department of justice does not file charges in a case, repealing the refugee resettlement program in the department of health and human services, and prohibiting expenditure of state funds on refugee resettlement.
• SB 625-FN (2026): establishing a committee to study options for family members of intentional homicide victims where the department of justice does not file charges in a case, repealing the refugee resettlement program in the department of health and human services, and prohibiting expenditure of state funds on refugee resettlement.

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HJ 1, page 32
• HC 10, page 51
• HJ 7, pages 195, 198 and 200
• SJ 7
• SC 12
• SC 14
• SJ 9
• This page’s data as JSON