SB 34 (2026): relative to parental consent for student participation in Medicaid to schools program.

SB 34 (2026)

relative to parental consent for student participation in Medicaid to schools program.

• Status: Died: the chambers did not agree on a version
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Education Policy and Administration
• Senate committee: Education
• Subject: Education - General

The Story

It was introduced on January 8, 2025 and referred to the Senate Education committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 21, 2025. The committee voted 3–2 to recommend that the Senate pass it. On March 6, 2025 the Senate voted to pass it and ordered it to a third reading. It crossed to the House on March 27, 2025 and was referred to the House Education Policy and Administration committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 9, 2025, with 63 people signed in online: 26 in support and 37 in opposition. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee met in executive session on November 5, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-3056h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 10–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-3056h) was adopted on a voice vote on January 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On January 7, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 186–155. On February 5, 2026 the Senate voted to reject the other chamber's changes on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Ruth Ward. On February 5, 2026 the Senate adopted “Special Order to the Present Time, Without Objection”.

Sponsors

• Sen. Ruth Ward (R - SD8) (prime sponsor)
• Sen. Kevin Avard (R - SD12)
• Sen. James Gray (R - SD6)
• Sen. Bill Gannon (R - SD23)
• Sen. Timothy Lang (R - SD2)
• Sen. Daniel Innis (R - SD7)
• Sen. Regina Birdsell (R - SD19)
• Sen. Tim McGough (R - SD11)
• Sen. Victoria Sullivan (R - SD18)
• Sen. David Rochefort (R - SD1)
• Sen. Keith Murphy (R - SD16)
• Sen. Howard Pearl (R - SD17)
• Rep. Glenn Cordelli (R - Carr 7)
• Rep. Jim Kofalt (R - Hills 32)
• Rep. Lorie Ball (R - Rock 25)
• Rep. JD Bernardy (R - Rock 36)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 21, 2025, 9:00 AM: hearing, Senate Education, LOB 101
• March 6, 2025: floor debate, Senate
• April 9, 2025, 9:30 AM: public hearing, House Education Policy and Administration, LOB 205-207
• November 5, 2025, 2:00 PM: executive session, House Education Policy and Administration, GP 232
• January 7, 2026: floor debate, House
• February 5, 2026: floor debate, Senate

Votes

• March 6, 2025, Senate: Ought to Pass — yeas 16, nays 8, passed
• January 7, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 186, nays 155, passed
• February 5, 2026, Senate: Nonconcur with the House Amendment — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 186-C:25
• RSA 200:27-a

Related Bills

• HB 1616 (2024): relative to parental consent for student participation in Medicaid to schools program and establishing a pilot recruitment and retention program within the department of health and human services.

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• SC 6
• SC 11
• HC 51, page 30
• HJ 1, page 151