HB 348 (2026): relative to eligibility for local assistance.

HB 348 (2026)

relative to eligibility for local assistance.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Municipal and County Government
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Welfare/Medicare/Medicaid
• Chapter law: 81

The Story

It was introduced on January 8, 2025 and referred to the House Municipal and County Government committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 23, 2025, with 134 people signed in online: 12 in support and 122 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on January 30, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee met in executive session on September 24, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-0154h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 9–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-0154h) was adopted on a voice vote on January 8, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On January 8, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 190–157. It crossed to the Senate and was referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 3, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1207s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1207s) was adopted on a voice vote on March 26, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 26, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On April 9, 2026 the House adopted “House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1207s” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Diane Pauer. The bill was enrolled on May 7, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2026-1673e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on May 22, 2026, making it Chapter 81 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Jennifer Rhodes (R - Ches 17) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Bob Lynn (R - Rock 17)
• Rep. Donald McFarlane (R - Graf 18)
• Rep. Jason Osborne (R - Rock 2)
• Rep. Joe Sweeney (R - Rock 25)
• Rep. Ross Berry (R - Hills 44)
• Rep. Steven Bogert (R - Belk 5)
• Rep. Terry Roy (R - Rock 31)
• Sen. Bill Gannon (R - SD23)
• Sen. Daniel Innis (R - SD7)
• Sen. Daryl Abbas (R - SD22)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 23, 2025, 11:15 AM: public hearing, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301-303
• January 30, 2025, 2:00 PM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301-303
• September 24, 2025, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, GP 154
• January 8, 2026: floor debate, House
• March 3, 2026, 9:30 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 122-123
• March 26, 2026: consent calendar, Senate
• April 9, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

• January 8, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 190, nays 157, passed
• March 26, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1207s — voice vote, passed
• April 9, 2026, House: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1207s — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 165:1
• RSA 165
• RSA 165:2-a

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 51, page 42
• SJ 2
• HJ 2, page 60
• SC 7
• SC 11
• SJ 7
• HJ 10, page 8
• SJ 11
• HJ 11, page 84
• SJ 12
• HJ 12, page 40