HB 661-FN (2026): relative to the department of health and human services management of social security payments, supplemental security income payments, and veterans benefits for children in foster care.

HB 661-FN (2026)

relative to the department of health and human services management of social security payments, supplemental security income payments, and veterans benefits for children in foster care.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Children and Family Law
• Senate committee: Health and Human Services
• Subject: Children
• Chapter law: 287

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Children and Family Law committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 11, 2025, with 223 people signed in online: 218 in support and 5 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on March 4, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted unanimously, 16–0, to recommend that the House pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On March 13, 2025 the House voted to pass it on a voice vote. On March 13, 2025 the bill was referred to the Finance committee. The committee held a work session on March 17, 2025. The committee met in executive session on April 1, 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 held a work session on September 29, 2025. The committee met in executive session on October 30, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House study it after the session ends, and the minority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-3055h), by a vote of 14–11. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On January 8, 2026 the House adopted “Recommit” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Brian Seaworth. The committee held work sessions on February 9, 2026 and February 13, 2026. The committee met in executive session on February 20, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-0821h), and the minority recommended that the House study it after the session ends, by a vote of 13–12. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-0821h) was adopted on a division vote 321–4 on March 11, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 11, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a division vote 309–19. It crossed to the Senate on March 12, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 25, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 4–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1425s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1425s) was adopted on a voice vote on April 16, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On April 16, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote, then referred it on to the Senate Finance committee. The committee voted unanimously, 7–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1854s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1854s) was adopted on a voice vote on May 14, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On May 14, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 14, 2026 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1854s and 2026-1425s and Requests CofC (Reps. Weyler, DeSimone)” on a voice vote. On May 14, 2026 the Senate adopted “Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. David Rochefort. A committee of conference met on May 26, 2026 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. The Senate adopted the conference report (2026-2061c) on a voice vote. On June 4, 2026 the House adopted the conference report (2026-2061c) on a voice vote. The bill was enrolled on June 4, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2026-2171e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on July 10, 2026, making it Chapter 287 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D - Merr 19) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Maureen Mooney (R - Hills 12)
• Rep. Debra DeSimone (R - Rock 18)
• Rep. Kimberly Rice (R - Hills 38)
• Sen. Cindy Rosenwald (D - SD13)
• Sen. Pat Long (D - SD20)
• Sen. David Rochefort (R - SD1)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 11, 2025, 1:00 PM: public hearing, House Children and Family Law, LOB 206-208
• March 4, 2025, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Children and Family Law, LOB 206-208
• March 13, 2025: floor debate, House
• March 17, 2025, 10:00 AM: work session, House Finance, LOB 210-211
• April 1, 2025, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Finance, LOB 210-211
• September 29, 2025, 10:00 AM: work session, House Finance, GP 230
• October 30, 2025, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Finance, GP 230
• January 8, 2026: floor debate, House
• February 9, 2026, 10:00 AM: work session, House Finance, GP 230
• February 13, 2026, 9:00 AM: work session, House Finance, GP 230
• February 20, 2026, 2:30 PM: executive session, House Finance, GP 230
• March 11, 2026: floor debate, House
• March 25, 2026, 9:00 AM: hearing, Senate Health and Human Services, SH 100
• April 16, 2026: consent calendar, Senate
• May 14, 2026: consent calendar, Senate
• May 26, 2026, 11:00 AM: committee of conference, GP 231

Votes

• March 13, 2025, House: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed
• January 8, 2026, House: Recommit — voice vote, passed
• March 11, 2026, House: Adopt Committee Amendment — yeas 321, nays 4, passed
• March 11, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0821h — yeas 309, nays 19, passed
• April 16, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1425s — voice vote, passed
• May 14, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1854s — voice vote, passed
• May 14, 2026, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1854s and 2026-1425s and Requests CofC (Reps. Weyler, DeSimone) — voice vote, passed
• May 14, 2026, Senate: Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
• May 29, 2026, Senate: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed
• June 4, 2026, House: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 126-A
• RSA 126-A:6-a

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 51, page 36
• HJ 2, page 10
• HC 10, page 46
• HJ 7, pages 171 and 172
• SJ 7
• SC 11
• SC 14A
• SJ 9
• SC 18
• SJ 12
• HJ 13, page 149
• SJ 13
• SJ 14
• HJ 15, pages 15, 48 and 56
• SJ 15
• House Calendar 15, 2025, committee report