{"id": "SB498", "year": 2026, "term": "2025-2026", "title": "relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.", "narrative": "It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the Senate Health and Human Services committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 11, 2026. The committee voted 4\u20131 to recommend that the Senate pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On March 5, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote, then referred it on to the Senate Finance committee. The committee voted unanimously, 7\u20130, to recommend that the Senate pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On March 26, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. It crossed to the House on March 26, 2026 and was referred to the House Children and Family Law committee. The House withdrew that referral and sent the bill to the Commerce and Consumer Affairs committee instead. The committee held a public hearing on April 16, 2026, with 230 people signed in online: 227 in support and 3 in opposition. The committee held work sessions on April 22, 2026 and April 28, 2026. The committee met in executive session on April 29, 2026 and May 6, 2026. The committee held a work session on May 6, 2026. The majority recommended that the House study it after the session ends, and the minority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1757h), by a vote of 14\u20134. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On May 14, 2026 the House voted to study it after the session ends on a division vote 188\u2013164. On May 14, 2026 the House failed \u201cReconsider Interim Study\u201d on a roll call 162\u2013183, on a motion by Rep. Christine Seibert. The committee held work sessions on September 9, 2026 and October 7, 2026. The committee met in executive session on October 14, 2026 to vote on its recommendation.", "stages": [{"label": "Senate Committee (Health and Human Services)", "hand": "S:committee", "text": "It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the Senate Health and Human Services committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 11, 2026. The committee voted 4\u20131 to recommend that the Senate pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar.", "notes": ["A committee decides whether its report goes on the consent calendar, and can send it there even when its members divided on the recommendation itself. The chamber adopts all the reports on its consent calendar in one vote, without floor debate, unless a bill is taken off it first."]}, {"label": "On the Senate Floor", "hand": "S:floor", "text": "On March 5, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote, then referred it on to the Senate Finance committee.", "notes": []}, {"label": "Senate Committee (Finance)", "hand": "S:committee", "text": "The committee voted unanimously, 7\u20130, to recommend that the Senate pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar.", "notes": []}, {"label": "On the Senate Floor", "hand": "S:floor", "text": "On March 26, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading.", "notes": []}, {"label": "House Committee (Children and Family Law)", "hand": "H:committee", "text": "It crossed to the House on March 26, 2026 and was referred to the House Children and Family Law committee.", "notes": []}, {"label": "House Committee (Commerce and Consumer Affairs)", "hand": "H:committee", "text": "The House withdrew that referral and sent the bill to the Commerce and Consumer Affairs committee instead. The committee held a public hearing on April 16, 2026, with 230 people signed in online: 227 in support and 3 in opposition. The committee held work sessions on April 22, 2026 and April 28, 2026. The committee met in executive session on April 29, 2026 and May 6, 2026. The committee held a work session on May 6, 2026. The majority recommended that the House study it after the session ends, and the minority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1757h), by a vote of 14\u20134. The report was placed on the regular calendar.", "notes": ["In practice this often ends a bill's progress for the term."]}, {"label": "On the House Floor", "hand": "H:floor", "text": "On May 14, 2026 the House voted to study it after the session ends on a division vote 188\u2013164. On May 14, 2026 the House failed \u201cReconsider Interim Study\u201d on a roll call 162\u2013183, on a motion by Rep. Christine Seibert.", "notes": []}, {"label": "House Committee (Commerce and Consumer Affairs)", "hand": "H:committee", "text": "The committee held work sessions on September 9, 2026 and October 7, 2026. The committee met in executive session on October 14, 2026 to vote on its recommendation.", "notes": []}], "story_people": [{"text": "Rep. Christine Seibert", "label": "Rep. Christine Seibert (D - Hills 21)", "slug": "christine-seibert-hills-21"}], "notes": [], "vote_note": "3 of the floor votes on this bill were voice or division votes, which do not record how individual legislators voted.", "events": [{"date": "2026-01-07", "text": "Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 1", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2001%20January%207%2C%202026.PDF", "plain": "Introduced and referred to Health and Human Services"}, {"date": "2026-02-11", "text": "Hearing: 02/11/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am", "routine": false, "cite": "SC 5", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2005%20February%205%202026.pdf", "plain": "Public hearing, 9:30 a.m., Room 100, State House"}, {"date": "2026-03-05", "text": "Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/05/2026; Vote 4-1; CC", "routine": false, "cite": "SC 8", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2008%20February%2026%202026.pdf", "plain": "Committee report: pass the bill, 4\u20131, for the consent calendar"}, {"date": "2026-03-05", "text": "Ought to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/05/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 5", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2005%20March%205%2C%202026.PDF", "plain": "Bill passed, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-03-26", "text": "Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/26/2026; Vote 7-0; CC", "routine": false, "cite": "SC 11", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2011%20March%2019%202026.pdf", "plain": "Committee report: pass the bill, 7\u20130, for the consent calendar"}, {"date": "2026-03-26", "text": "Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 7", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2007%20March%2026%2C%202026.PDF", "plain": "Bill passed, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-03-26", "text": "Introduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Children and Family Law", "routine": false, "cite": "HJ 9, page 54", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2009%20March%2026%2C%202026.pdf", "plain": "Introduced and referred to Children and Family Law"}, {"date": "2026-03-27", "text": "Vacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Rep. Telerski): MA VV (in recess of) 03/26/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "HJ 9, page 55", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2009%20March%2026%2C%202026.pdf", "plain": "Moved to another committee, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-04-16", "text": "Public Hearing: 04/16/2026 01:30 pm GP 229", "routine": false, "testimony": {"date": "2026-04-16", "total": 230, "support": 227, "oppose": 3, "neutral": 0, "dated": true}}, {"date": "2026-04-22", "text": "Subcommittee Work Session: 04/22/2026 10:00 am GP 229", "routine": false}, {"date": "2026-04-28", "text": "Subcommittee Work Session: 04/28/2026 10:00 am GP 229", "routine": false}, {"date": "2026-04-29", "text": "Executive Session: 04/29/2026 10:00 am GP 229", "routine": false}, {"date": "2026-05-06", "text": "Executive Session: 05/06/2026 10:30 am GP 229", "routine": false}, {"date": "2026-05-06", "text": "Subcommittee Work Session: 05/06/2026 10:00 am GP 229", "routine": false}, {"date": "2026-05-06", "text": "Majority Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study 05/06/2026 (Vote 14-4; RC)", "routine": false, "cite": "HC 19, page 17", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=calendars%5C2026%5CNo19%20May%2008%202026.pdf", "plain": "Majority committee report: send the bill to interim study, 14\u20134"}, {"date": "2026-05-07", "text": "Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1757h", "routine": false}, {"date": "2026-05-14", "text": "Refer for Interim Study: MA DV 188-164 05/14/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "HJ 13, page 27", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2013%20May%2014%2C%202026.pdf", "plain": "Sent to interim study, 188\u2013164 on a division vote"}, {"date": "2026-05-14", "text": "Reconsider Interim Study (Rep. Seibert): MF RC 162-183 05/14/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "HJ 13, page 50", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2013%20May%2014%2C%202026.pdf", "plain": "Earlier vote stands, 162\u2013183 on a roll call"}, {"date": "2026-09-09", "text": "Subcommittee Work Session: 09/09/2026 10:00 am GP 229", "routine": false}, {"date": "2026-10-07", "text": "Subcommittee Work Session: 10/07/2026 10:00 am GP 229", "routine": false}, {"date": "2026-10-14", "text": "Executive Session: 10/14/2026 10:00 am GP 229", "routine": false}], "next_step": "House: INTERIM STUDY \u00b7 Senate: PASSED/ADOPTED", "status_source": "General Court bill status page", "chapter": "", "journey": {"steps": [{"date": "2026-03-05", "body": "S", "act": "referred", "mark": "h", "text": "Approved and sent to Finance on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-03-26", "body": "S", "act": "passed", "mark": "p", "text": "Passed on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-05-14", "body": "H", "act": "study", "mark": "s", "text": "Sent to interim study, 188\u2013164"}, {"date": "2026-08-19", "body": "H", "act": "died", "mark": "x", "text": "In interim study: the committee studies the subject in the fall of 2026; the bill goes no further"}], "rail": [{"stop": "Introduced", "mark": "p", "date": "2026-01-07", "say": "Introduced"}, {"stop": "Senate", "mark": "p", "date": "2026-03-26", "say": "Passed on a voice vote"}, {"stop": "House", "mark": "s", "date": "2026-05-14", "say": "Sent to interim study, 188\u2013164"}, {"stop": "Governor", "mark": "-", "date": "", "say": "Never reached"}, {"stop": "Law", "mark": "x", "date": "2026-08-19", "say": "Did not become law"}]}, "text_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?id=1253&txtFormat=html&sy=2026", "facts": {"lsr": "2064", "body": "S", "local": "N", "gen_status": "HOUSE", "house_status": "INTERIM STUDY", "senate_status": "PASSED/ADOPTED", "date_introduced": "1/7/2026", "floor_date": "3/26/2026", "committee_code": "H43"}, "sponsors": [{"member_id": "926", "name": "Birdsell, Regina", "party": "R", "chamber": "S", "label": "Sen. Regina Birdsell (R - SD19)", "sequence": 0, "prime": true, "role": "Prime", "county": "Rock", "district": "13", "display_plain": "Sen. Regina Birdsell", "display": "Sen. Regina Birdsell (R)", "display_full": "Sen. Regina Birdsell (R - SD19)", "district_label": "SD19", "sort": "birdsell, regina", "slug": "regina-birdsell-sd-19"}], "rollcalls": [{"date": "2026-03-05", "body": "S", "question": "Ought to Pass", "mover": "", "yeas": null, "nays": null, "passed": true, "vote_kind": "VV", "vote_kind_label": "voice vote", "threshold_note": null, "tally": {}, "members": [], "amendment": null, "mk": "otp", "mf": {}}, {"date": "2026-03-26", "body": "S", "question": "Ought to Pass", "mover": "", "yeas": null, "nays": null, "passed": true, "vote_kind": "VV", "vote_kind_label": "voice vote", "threshold_note": null, "tally": {}, "members": [], "amendment": null, "mk": "otp", "mf": {}}, {"date": "2026-05-14", "body": "H", "question": "Refer for Interim Study", "mover": "", "yeas": 188, "nays": 164, "passed": true, "vote_kind": "DV", "vote_kind_label": "division vote", "threshold_note": null, "tally": {}, "members": [], "amendment": null, "mk": "is", "mf": {}, "mrec": "Refer for Interim Study"}, {"date": "2026-05-14", "body": "H", "question": "Reconsider", "yeas": 162, "nays": 183, "passed": false, "threshold_note": null, "amendment": null, "threshold_needed": null, "threshold_rule": null, "tally": {"R": {"Yea": 43, "Nay": 146, "Not Voting/Not Excused": 9, "Presiding": 1, "Not Voting/Excused": 16}, "D": {"Yea": 119, "Nay": 37, "Not Voting/Not Excused": 4, "Not Voting/Excused": 17}, "I": {"Not Voting/Not Excused": 1}}, "members": [{"n": "Rep. Phyllis Katsakiores (R)", "s": "katsakiores, phyllis", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D)", "s": "wallner, mary jane", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. John Hunt (R)", "s": "hunt, john", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Janet Wall (D)", "s": "wall, janet", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Wayne Burton (D)", "s": "burton, wayne", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Gary Gilmore (D)", "s": "gilmore, gary", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Kenneth Weyler (R)", "s": "weyler, kenneth", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Gary Daniels (R)", "s": "daniels, gary", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Sherman Packard (R)", "s": "packard, sherman", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. John Sytek (R)", "s": "sytek, john", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. John Cloutier (D)", "s": "cloutier, john", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. James MacKay (D)", "s": "mackay, james", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Susan Almy (D)", "s": "almy, susan", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Joseph Guthrie (R)", "s": "guthrie, joseph", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Peter Leishman (D)", "s": "leishman, peter", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Marjorie Smith (D)", "s": "smith, marjorie", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Michael Harrington (R)", "s": "harrington, michael", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Charles McMahon (R)", "s": "mcmahon, charles", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Maureen Mooney (R)", "s": "mooney, maureen", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Peter Schmidt (D)", "s": "schmidt, peter", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Ralph Boehm (R)", "s": "boehm, ralph", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Jordan Ulery (R)", "s": "ulery, jordan", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Thomas Buco (D)", "s": "buco, thomas", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Jean Jeudy (D)", "s": "jeudy, jean", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Lucy Weber (D)", "s": "weber, lucy", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Debra DeSimone (R)", "s": "desimone, debra", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Larry Gagne (R)", "s": "gagne, larry", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Timothy Horrigan (D)", "s": "horrigan, timothy", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Rick Ladd (R)", "s": "ladd, rick", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Carol McGuire (R)", "s": "mcguire, carol", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Timothy Soucy (D)", "s": "soucy, timothy", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Susan DeLemus (R)", "s": "delemus, susan", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Jack Flanagan (R)", "s": "flanagan, jack", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Gregory Hill (R)", "s": "hill, gregory", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. David Lundgren (R)", "s": "lundgren, david", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Dan McGuire (R)", "s": "mcguire, dan", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Jeanine Notter (R)", "s": "notter, jeanine", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Bill Ohm (R)", "s": "ohm, bill", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mark Proulx (R)", "s": "proulx, mark", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Brian Seaworth (R)", "s": "seaworth, brian", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Steven Smith (R)", "s": "smith, steven", "p": "R", "v": "Presiding"}, {"n": "Rep. Marc Tremblay (R)", "s": "tremblay, marc", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mark Warden (R)", "s": "warden, mark", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Dick Ames (D)", "s": "ames, dick", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Paul Berch (D)", "s": "berch, paul", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Peter Bixby (D)", "s": "bixby, peter", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Efstathia Booras (D)", "s": "booras, efstathia", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Michael Cahill (D)", "s": "cahill, michael", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Karel Crawford (R)", "s": "crawford, karel", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Linda DiSilvestro (D)", "s": "disilvestro, linda", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Karen Ebel (D)", "s": "ebel, karen", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Linda Harriott-Gathright (D)", "s": "harriott-gathright, linda", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Martin Jack (D)", "s": "jack, martin", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Aboul Khan (R)", "s": "khan, aboul", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Dennis Malloy (D)", "s": "malloy, dennis", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. David Milz (R)", "s": "milz, david", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Chris Muns (D)", "s": "muns, chris", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Skip Rollins (R)", "s": "rollins, skip", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Thomas Schamberg (D)", "s": "schamberg, thomas", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Joe Sweeney (R)", "s": "sweeney, joe", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. George Sykes (D)", "s": "sykes, george", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Suzanne Vail (D)", "s": "vail, suzanne", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Thomas Walsh (R)", "s": "walsh, thomas", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Gerald Ward (D)", "s": "ward, gerald", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Glen Aldrich (R)", "s": "aldrich, glen", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Keith Ammon (R)", "s": "ammon, keith", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Lino Avellani (R)", "s": "avellani, lino", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Russell Dumais (R)", "s": "dumais, russell", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Thomas Kaczynski (R)", "s": "kaczynski, thomas", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mark McLean (R)", "s": "mclean, mark", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Jason Osborne (R)", "s": "osborne, jason", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. John Potucek (R)", "s": "potucek, john", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Katherine Prudhomme-O'Brien (R)", "s": "prudhomme-o'brien, katherine", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Kimberly Rice (R)", "s": "rice, kimberly", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. James Spillane (R)", "s": "spillane, james", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Douglas Thomas (R)", "s": "thomas, douglas", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Len Turcotte (R)", "s": "turcotte, len", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Peter Varney (R)", "s": "varney, peter", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Michael Vose (R)", "s": "vose, michael", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Patricia Cornell (D)", "s": "cornell, patricia", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Linda Gould (R)", "s": "gould, linda", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Christopher Herbert (D)", "s": "herbert, christopher", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. David Luneau (D)", "s": "luneau, david", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Alexis Simpson (D)", "s": "simpson, alexis", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Thomas Southworth (D)", "s": "southworth, thomas", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Michael Edgar (D)", "s": "edgar, michael", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Michael Moffett (R)", "s": "moffett, michael", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Barry Faulkner (D)", "s": "faulkner, barry", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Barbara Comtois (R)", "s": "comtois, barbara", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Jim Fedolfi (R)", "s": "fedolfi, jim", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Gerald Griffin (R)", "s": "griffin, gerald", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Lisa Freeman (R)", "s": "freeman, lisa", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Richard Lascelles (R)", "s": "lascelles, richard", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Kevin Scully (R)", "s": "scully, kevin", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Andrew Prout (R)", "s": "prout, andrew", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. John Leavitt (R)", "s": "leavitt, john", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Kevin Verville (R)", "s": "verville, kevin", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Jess Edwards (R)", "s": "edwards, jess", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Richard Tripp (R)", "s": "tripp, richard", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. John Janigian (R)", "s": "janigian, john", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Cathryn Harvey (D)", "s": "harvey, cathryn", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Mark MacKenzie (D)", "s": "mackenzie, mark", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Sue Newman (D)", "s": "newman, sue", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Catherine Sofikitis (D)", "s": "sofikitis, catherine", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Beth Richards (D)", "s": "richards, beth", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Ellen Read (D)", "s": "read, ellen", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Julie Gilman (D)", "s": "gilman, julie", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Kate Murray (D)", "s": "murray, kate", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mark Pearson (R)", "s": "pearson, mark", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Kris Schultz (D)", "s": "schultz, kris", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Charlie St. Clair (D)", "s": "st. clair, charlie", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Brian Sullivan (D)", "s": "sullivan, brian", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Anita Burroughs (D)", "s": "burroughs, anita", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Stephen Woodcock (D)", "s": "woodcock, stephen", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. John MacDonald (R)", "s": "macdonald, john", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Jerry Stringham (D)", "s": "stringham, jerry", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Sallie Fellows (D)", "s": "fellows, sallie", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Laurel Stavis (D)", "s": "stavis, laurel", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Keith Erf (R)", "s": "erf, keith", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Nancy Murphy (D)", "s": "murphy, nancy", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Rosemarie Rung (D)", "s": "rung, rosemarie", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Wendy Thomas (D)", "s": "thomas, wendy", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Ray Newman (D)", "s": "newman, ray", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Fred Davis (D)", "s": "davis, fred", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Laura Telerski (D)", "s": "telerski, laura", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Matthew Wilhelm (D)", "s": "wilhelm, matthew", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Connie Lane (D)", "s": "lane, connie", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Gary Woods (D)", "s": "woods, gary", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Tom Dolan (R)", "s": "dolan, tom", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. David Love (R)", "s": "love, david", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Stephen Pearson (R)", "s": "pearson, stephen", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Mark Vallone (D)", "s": "vallone, mark", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Robert Harb (R)", "s": "harb, robert", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Charles Melvin (R)", "s": "melvin, charles", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Gaby Grossman (D)", "s": "grossman, gaby", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Jim Maggiore (D)", "s": "maggiore, jim", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Jaci Grote (D)", "s": "grote, jaci", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. David Meuse (D)", "s": "meuse, david", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Terry Roy (R)", "s": "roy, terry", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Cassandra Levesque (D)", "s": "levesque, cassandra", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Judy Aron (R)", "s": "aron, judy", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Megan Murray (D)", "s": "murray, megan", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Kat McGhee (D)", "s": "mcghee, kat", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Joe Alexander (R)", "s": "alexander, joe", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Paul Dargie (D)", "s": "dargie, paul", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Peter Petrigno (D)", "s": "petrigno, peter", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Tom Ploszaj (R)", "s": "ploszaj, tom", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mike Bordes (R)", "s": "bordes, mike", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Juliet Harvey-Bolia (R)", "s": "harvey-bolia, juliet", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Douglas Trottier (R)", "s": "trottier, douglas", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Jonathan Smith (R)", "s": "smith, jonathan", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Chris McAleer (D)", "s": "mcaleer, chris", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Dru Fox (D)", "s": "fox, dru", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Lucius Parshall (D)", "s": "parshall, lucius", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. James Qualey (R)", "s": "qualey, james", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Jennifer Rhodes (R)", "s": "rhodes, jennifer", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Arnold Davis (R)", "s": "davis, arnold", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Lex Berezhny (R)", "s": "berezhny, lex", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mary Hakken-Phillips (D)", "s": "hakken-phillips, mary", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Russell Muirhead (D)", "s": "muirhead, russell", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Jim Kofalt (R)", "s": "kofalt, jim", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Lisa Post (R)", "s": "post, lisa", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Ted Gorski (R)", "s": "gorski, ted", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Daniel Veilleux (D)", "s": "veilleux, daniel", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Vanessa Sheehan (R)", "s": "sheehan, vanessa", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Diane Kelley (R)", "s": "kelley, diane", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Diane Pauer (R)", "s": "pauer, diane", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. James Creighton (R)", "s": "creighton, james", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Ross Berry (R)", "s": "berry, ross", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Louise Andrus (R)", "s": "andrus, louise", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Tony Caplan (D)", "s": "caplan, tony", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Jose Cambrils (R)", "s": "cambrils, jose", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Eric Gallager (D)", "s": "gallager, eric", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Matthew Pitaro (R)", "s": "pitaro, matthew", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Stephen Boyd (R)", "s": "boyd, stephen", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Paul Tudor (R)", "s": "tudor, paul", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Erica Layon (R)", "s": "layon, erica", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Julius Soti (R)", "s": "soti, julius", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Bob Lynn (R)", "s": "lynn, bob", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Susan Vandecasteele (R)", "s": "vandecasteele, susan", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Melissa Litchfield (R)", "s": "litchfield, melissa", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. JD Bernardy (R)", "s": "bernardy, jd", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mark Paige (D)", "s": "paige, mark", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Glenn Bailey (R)", "s": "bailey, glenn", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Aidan Ankarberg (I)", "s": "ankarberg, aidan", "p": "I", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Walter Spilsbury (R)", "s": "spilsbury, walter", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Wayne MacDonald (R)", "s": "macdonald, wayne", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Paul Terry (R)", "s": "terry, paul", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Bill Boyd (R)", "s": "boyd, bill", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Muriel Hall (D)", "s": "hall, muriel", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Catherine Rombeau (D)", "s": "rombeau, catherine", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Jodi Nelson (R)", "s": "nelson, jodi", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Cyril Aures (R)", "s": "aures, cyril", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Deborah Aylward (R)", "s": "aylward, deborah", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Peggy Balboni (D)", "s": "balboni, peggy", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Heather Baldwin (D)", "s": "baldwin, heather", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Lorie Ball (R)", "s": "ball, lorie", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Luz Bay (D)", "s": "bay, luz", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Steven Bogert (R)", "s": "bogert, steven", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Bill Bolton (D)", "s": "bolton, bill", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Richard Brown (R)", "s": "brown, richard", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Claudine Burnham (R)", "s": "burnham, claudine", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Matthew Coker (R)", "s": "coker, matthew", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Rich\u00e9 Colcombe (R)", "s": "colcombe, rich\u00e9", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Travis Corcoran (R)", "s": "corcoran, travis", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Thomas Cormen (D)", "s": "cormen, thomas", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Hope Damon (D)", "s": "damon, hope", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Will Darby (D)", "s": "darby, will", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. William Dolan (D)", "s": "dolan, william", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Tanya Donnelly (R)", "s": "donnelly, tanya", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Mike Drago (R)", "s": "drago, mike", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Margaret Drye (R)", "s": "drye, margaret", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Ron Dunn (R)", "s": "dunn, ron", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Susan Elberger (D)", "s": "elberger, susan", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Charles Foote (R)", "s": "foote, charles", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Loren Foxx (D)", "s": "foxx, loren", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Nicholas Germana (D)", "s": "germana, nicholas", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Merryl Gibbs (D)", "s": "gibbs, merryl", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Michael Granger (R)", "s": "granger, michael", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Alicia Gregg (D)", "s": "gregg, alicia", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Jessica Grill (D)", "s": "grill, jessica", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Linda Haskins (D)", "s": "haskins, linda", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Matthew Hicks (D)", "s": "hicks, matthew", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Molly Howard (D)", "s": "howard, molly", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Heath Howard (D)", "s": "howard, heath", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Allan Howland (D)", "s": "howland, allan", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Philip Jones (D)", "s": "jones, philip", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Louis Juris (D)", "s": "juris, louis", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Catherine Kenny (R)", "s": "kenny, catherine", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Seth King (R)", "s": "king, seth", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Allison Knab (D)", "s": "knab, allison", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Katelyn Kuttab (R)", "s": "kuttab, katelyn", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Jessica LaMontagne (D)", "s": "lamontagne, jessica", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Nicole Leapley (D)", "s": "leapley, nicole", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Daniel LeClerc (D)", "s": "leclerc, daniel", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Christal Lloyd (D)", "s": "lloyd, christal", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Peter Lovett (D)", "s": "lovett, peter", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Tom Mannion (R)", "s": "mannion, tom", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Dennis Mannion (R)", "s": "mannion, dennis", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Zoe Manos (D)", "s": "manos, zoe", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Lisa Mazur (R)", "s": "mazur, lisa", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Valerie McDonnell (R)", "s": "mcdonnell, valerie", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Alissandra Murray (D)", "s": "murray, alissandra", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. David Nagel (D)", "s": "nagel, david", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Jodi Newell (D)", "s": "newell, jodi", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Kristin Noble (R)", "s": "noble, kristin", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mike Ouellet (R)", "s": "ouellet, mike", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. David Paige (D)", "s": "paige, david", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. William Palmer (D)", "s": "palmer, william", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Stephanie Payeur (D)", "s": "payeur, stephanie", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Kristine Perez (R)", "s": "perez, kristine", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Katy Peternel (R)", "s": "peternel, katy", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Yury Polozov (R)", "s": "polozov, yury", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Daniel Popovici-Muller (R)", "s": "popovici-muller, daniel", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Susan Porcelli (R)", "s": "porcelli, susan", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Kelley Potenza (R)", "s": "potenza, kelley", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Heather Raymond (D)", "s": "raymond, heather", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Ned Raynolds (D)", "s": "raynolds, ned", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. James Roesener (D)", "s": "roesener, james", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Linda Ryan (D)", "s": "ryan, linda", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Alvin See (R)", "s": "see, alvin", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Christine Seibert (D)", "s": "seibert, christine", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Loren Selig (D)", "s": "selig, loren", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. John Sellers (R)", "s": "sellers, john", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Shane Sirois (R)", "s": "sirois, shane", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Geoffrey Smith (D)", "s": "smith, geoffrey", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Carry Spier (D)", "s": "spier, carry", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Kathy Staub (D)", "s": "staub, kathy", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Jared Sullivan (D)", "s": "sullivan, jared", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. James Summers (R)", "s": "summers, james", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Trinidad Tellez (D)", "s": "tellez, trinidad", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Jeffrey Tenczar (R)", "s": "tenczar, jeffrey", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Eric Turer (D)", "s": "turer, eric", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. David Walker (R)", "s": "walker, david", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Lilli Walsh (R)", "s": "walsh, lilli", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D)", "s": "wheeler, jonah", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Robert Wherry (R)", "s": "wherry, robert", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Clayton Wood (R)", "s": "wood, clayton", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Dick Thackston (R)", "s": "thackston, dick", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. James Tierney (R)", "s": "tierney, james", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Brian Cole (R)", "s": "cole, brian", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mike Belcher (R)", "s": "belcher, mike", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Marc Plamondon (D)", "s": "plamondon, marc", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. David Fracht (D)", "s": "fracht, david", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Paige Beauchemin (D)", "s": "beauchemin, paige", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Sean Durkin (R)", "s": "durkin, sean", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Michael Murphy (R)", "s": "murphy, michael", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Erik Johnson (D)", "s": "johnson, erik", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Jennifer Mandelbaum (D)", "s": "mandelbaum, jennifer", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Michael Aron (R)", "s": "aron, michael", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Liz Barbour (R)", "s": "barbour, liz", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Joseph Barton (R)", "s": "barton, joseph", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Calvin Beaulier (R)", "s": "beaulier, calvin", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Cindy Bennett (R)", "s": "bennett, cindy", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Dan Bergeron (D)", "s": "bergeron, dan", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Marie Louise Bjelobrk (R)", "s": "bjelobrk, marie louise", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Tracy Bricchi (D)", "s": "bricchi, tracy", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Nicholas Bridle (R)", "s": "bridle, nicholas", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Pam Brown (R)", "s": "brown, pam", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Scott Bryer (R)", "s": "bryer, scott", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Suraj Budathoki (D)", "s": "budathoki, suraj", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Manoj Chourasia (D)", "s": "chourasia, manoj", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Suzanne Chretien (D)", "s": "chretien, suzanne", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Eleana Colby (D)", "s": "colby, eleana", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Erica de Vries (D)", "s": "de vries, erica", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Denise DeDe-Poulin (R)", "s": "dede-poulin, denise", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Susan DeRoy (R)", "s": "deroy, susan", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Sayra DeVito (R)", "s": "devito, sayra", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Ricky Devoid (R)", "s": "devoid, ricky", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Matt Drew (R)", "s": "drew, matt", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Dillon Dumont (R)", "s": "dumont, dillon", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Pierre Dupont (R)", "s": "dupont, pierre", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Myles England (D)", "s": "england, myles", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Samuel Farrington (R)", "s": "farrington, samuel", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mary Ford (R)", "s": "ford, mary", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Lily Foss (D)", "s": "foss, lily", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Linda Franz (R)", "s": "franz, linda", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Mary Georges (D)", "s": "georges, mary", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Henry Giasson (R)", "s": "giasson, henry", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Dale Girard (R)", "s": "girard, dale", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Ernesto Gonzalez (R)", "s": "gonzalez, ernesto", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. George Grant (R)", "s": "grant, george", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. James Gruber (D)", "s": "gruber, james", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Stephanie Grund (D)", "s": "grund, stephanie", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. James Guzofski (R)", "s": "guzofski, james", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Robley Hall (R)", "s": "hall, robley", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Joseph Hamblen (R)", "s": "hamblen, joseph", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Tim Hartnett (D)", "s": "hartnett, tim", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Karen Hegner (D)", "s": "hegner, karen", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Wayne Hemingway (R)", "s": "hemingway, wayne", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Samantha Jacobs (D)", "s": "jacobs, samantha", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Sly Karasinski (R)", "s": "karasinski, sly", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Eileen Kelly (D)", "s": "kelly, eileen", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Erin Kerwin (D)", "s": "kerwin, erin", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Steven Kesselring (R)", "s": "kesselring, steven", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Lee Ann Kluger (D)", "s": "kluger, lee ann", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Lori Korzen (R)", "s": "korzen, lori", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Brian Labrie (R)", "s": "labrie, brian", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. John Larochelle (D)", "s": "larochelle, john", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Patrick Long (D)", "s": "long, patrick", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Darrell Louis (R)", "s": "louis, darrell", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Janet Lucas (D)", "s": "lucas, janet", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Amy Malone (D)", "s": "malone, amy", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Tim Mannion (R)", "s": "mannion, tim", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Sanjeev Manohar (D)", "s": "manohar, sanjeev", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Jay Markell (R)", "s": "markell, jay", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Rita Mattson (R)", "s": "mattson, rita", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Donald McFarlane (R)", "s": "mcfarlane, donald", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Linda McGrath (R)", "s": "mcgrath, linda", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Peter Mehegan (R)", "s": "mehegan, peter", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Julie Miles (R)", "s": "miles, julie", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Seth Miller (D)", "s": "miller, seth", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Laurence Miner (R)", "s": "miner, laurence", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Sheri Minor (R)", "s": "minor, sheri", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Pete Morency (R)", "s": "morency, pete", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Bryan Morse (R)", "s": "morse, bryan", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Jonathan Morton (R)", "s": "morton, jonathan", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Mary Murphy (R)", "s": "murphy, mary", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Denis Murphy (R)", "s": "murphy, denis", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Brian Nadeau (R)", "s": "nadeau, brian", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Rich Nalevanko (R)", "s": "nalevanko, rich", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. James Newsom (D)", "s": "newsom, james", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Terri O'Rorke (D)", "s": "o'rorke, terri", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Thomas Oppel (D)", "s": "oppel, thomas", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Kathleen Paquette (R)", "s": "paquette, kathleen", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Wayne Pearson (D)", "s": "pearson, wayne", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Raymond Peeples (R)", "s": "peeples, raymond", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Raymond Plante (R)", "s": "plante, raymond", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Adam Presa (R)", "s": "presa, adam", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Sherri Reinfurt (R)", "s": "reinfurt, sherri", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Ellen Rockmore (D)", "s": "rockmore, ellen", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Matt Sabourin dit Choini\u00e8re (R)", "s": "sabourin dit choini\u00e8re, matt", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Santosh Salvi (D)", "s": "salvi, santosh", "p": "D", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Gregory Sargent (D)", "s": "sargent, gregory", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Buzz Scherr (D)", "s": "scherr, buzz", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. John Schneller (R)", "s": "schneller, john", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Donald Selby (R)", "s": "selby, donald", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Jeremy Slottje (R)", "s": "slottje, jeremy", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Jim Snodgrass (D)", "s": "snodgrass, jim", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Carrie Sorensen (D)", "s": "sorensen, carrie", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Terry Spahr (D)", "s": "spahr, terry", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. John Stone (D)", "s": "stone, john", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Not Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. John Suiter (R)", "s": "suiter, john", "p": "R", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Dale Swanson (D)", "s": "swanson, dale", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Brian Taylor (R)", "s": "taylor, brian", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. James Thibault (R)", "s": "thibault, james", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Travis Toner (R)", "s": "toner, travis", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Alice Wade (D)", "s": "wade, alice", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Toni Weinstein (D)", "s": "weinstein, toni", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}, {"n": "Rep. Vicki Wilson (R)", "s": "wilson, vicki", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Rep. Billie Butler (D)", "s": "butler, billie", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. Bobbi Boudman (D)", "s": "boudman, bobbi", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Rep. David Preece (D)", "s": "preece, david", "p": "D", "v": "Not Voting/Excused"}], "mk": "reconsider", "mf": {}}], "stations": [{"when": "2026-02-11", "time": "09:30", "what": "hearing", "committee": "Health and Human Services", "body": "S", "venue": "SH 100", "video_id": "VdjMKUAq5Tc", "watch": null, "predicted": 1949.0, "start": 5537.9, "state": "stated", "tolerance": 5, "short": false, "end": 12782.7, "end_stated": false, "end_from": "last mention of the bill", "candidate": null, "start_stated": true, "said_how": "number", "end_stated_cluster": true, "reports": [{"committee": "Senate Health and Human Services Committee", "heard": "2026-02-11", "opened": "10:29 a.m.", "closed": "12:29 p.m.", "present": "Senators Rochefort, Avard, Birdsell, Prentiss and Long", "absent": "None", "positions": [["Who supports the bill", "196 people signed in support of the bill."], ["Who opposes the bill", "8 people signed in opposition to the bill."], ["Who is neutral on the bill", "2 people signed in neutral on the bill."]], "completed": "2026-02-17", "sections": [{"label": "Summary of testimony presented", "side": "all", "speakers": [{"who": "Senator Regina Birdsell, Senate District 19", "points": ["This bill involves the FAST Forward program and establishes New Hampshire\u2019s Children\u2019s Behavioral Health Association for the purpose of collecting assessments from insurance carriers, so that services currently covered by the state can be covered and paid for.", "Senator Birdsell\u2019s understanding is that the state is paying approximately $2 million every biennium for a portion of the FAST Forward program.", "There are a few children in this program who have commercial insurance coverage, but do not receive coverage for these services. This means the state must cover that portion.", "Senator Birdsell explained that the Insurance Department is working on an amendment between the carriers and Care Management Entities (CMEs). She asked for more time to work this out before the bill goes to the House."], "member": {"label": "Senator Regina Birdsell", "party_code": "R", "slug": "regina-birdsell-sd-19"}}, {"who": "Keith Nyhan and Jennifer Smith, New Hampshire Insurance Department", "points": ["Deputy Commissioner Nyhan read a statement on behalf of Commissioner Bettencourt.", "Commissioner Bettencourt supports the underlying objectives of this legislation. He described this as both sound public policy and a practical necessity.", "Early intervention and coordinated care models can improve outcomes, reduce system strain, and provide meaningful stability for families facing complex challenges.", "The Insurance Department remains committed to working with the legislature and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to advance sustainable and durable solutions.", "The current structural and financing arrangements of this program\u2019s operations is placing strain on the DHHS Medicaid budget.", "Commissioner Bettencourt acknowledged that the assessment mechanism is not his preferred approach in addressing this issue. He has concerns about assessments because they ultimately flow the market and cause secondary implications for consumer premiums and cost transparency.", "This proposal does contain features that distinguish it from other assessment constructs. It includes a defined and controlled aggregate cost cap, therefore making the state\u2019s fiscal exposure contained and predictable.", "While the assessment mechanism is not favored by Commissioner Bettencourt, this concern is not a basis for the Department to oppose this legislation at this time.", "Commissioner Bettencourt noted that alternative approaches were explored, including proposals developed by the Department. These proposals remain viable from a regulatory and actuarial perspective.", "Stakeholder discussions are ongoing and it is Commissioner Bettencourt\u2019s impression that they are proceeding in good faith.", "Senator Birdsell asked for an update on what has transpired with the potential amendment.", "Ms. Smith explained that conversations have been underway since this past fall. The Department crafted an amendment that is still being fine-tuned that would move away from the assessment and move toward CMEs billing commercial insurance.", "The amendment is trying to unbundle the payment for these services, while keeping the bundled services intact.", "Most of the providers are not in-network with insurance carriers, so they would be reimbursed at the qualified payment amount, which is normally higher than the out-of-network reimbursement rate.", "By doing this, it will help bridge a gap in which there is no claims data to know the costs of these services. If there are parts of the bundled services that are normally not covered, the state can continue to fund that small set of services.", "The Department also thinks there may be an opportunity to utilize grant funding to assist CMEs with the process of billing.", "The number of children who have commercial coverage and utilize these services is a small enough amount for carriers to try to get in-network with providers. Work on the amendment has paused to allow CMEs and carriers to discuss if they could get in-network and address this issue.", "Senator Prentiss asked if carriers are supposed to have network adequacy for certain behavioral and mental health services.", "Deputy Commissioner Nyhan confirmed that all of the carriers meet network adequacy, but not all providers are in network with carriers.", "Senator Prentiss asked if this is throughout the state and what we would do if a provider is not in-network.", "Ms. Smith explained that the amendment is drafted to give CMEs an alternate route and receive something higher than the out-of-network rate. She emphasized that coming into network can be a nuanced process for CMEs and explained that while there is an adequate network, these providers are just not in it.", "Senator Prentiss asked if there are any points in which there are zero providers offering care within networks.", "Ms. Smith said she does not believe so for these particular services. The Department looks to clinical services in terms of network adequacy, but some other parts of the bundle are not necessarily thought of as reimbursable through traditional insurance. That is why the Department is trying to build an amendment in a way that they are not excluded.", "Senator Prentiss noted that there seems to be a level of optimism about this amendment and asked about what would happen when providers meet their coverage limits and if the state would be responsible.", "Ms. Smith confirmed that anything not covered would be going to the state. She explained that the stakeholders do not want to unbundle these services, so the amendment is seeking to only unbundle the payment to see what can be reimbursed by commercial insurance. She acknowledged that there will be a delta of services that are not traditionally covered by carriers. Once the billing starts, we will have a more accurate estimate on the need for state reimbursement. She noted that CMEs may get reimbursed at a higher rate than what they are getting from the state.", "Senator Prentiss asked if there are any other models similar to this, and Deputy Commissioner Nyhan said he is not aware of any.", "Senator Avard asked if moving away from the assessment model would have an impact on the fiscal note.", "Ms. Smith said she believes it would bring the fiscal note down and noted that the Department can complete a fiscal analysis on the amendment.", "Senator Avard inquired about the grant money.", "Ms. Smith explained that the Department was considering utilizing grant money to assist CMEs get set up to bill insurance to ensure that the costs are not coming out of their operating budgets.", "Senator Avard asked if this will affect any compliance issues.", "Deputy Commissioner Nyhan said there are none that he is aware of, but there has been a lot of collaborative work done to bridge gaps.", "Senator Birdsell asked how much has been recently done on this, noting that there was a lot of interaction in the end of last year.", "Ms. Smith said her understanding is that there is no stalemate. The Department has taken a step back to allow the CMEs and Anthem to work together on potentially coming in-network. Her understanding is that those conversations have been going forward. She noted that while this may seem slow, it has been accelerated from a contracting perspective.", "Senator Rochefort agreed that Anthem has been responsive in general."]}, {"who": "Jenny O\u2019Higgins, Morissa Henn, & Daryll Tenney, Department of Health and Human Services", "points": ["Deputy Commissioner Henn stated that the Department is not taking a position on the bill at this time.", "FAST Forward is New Hampshire\u2019s high fidelity wraparound program for children and youth with the most complex mental and behavioral health needs.", "These are children who are truly struggling. They often have significant trauma, home life issues, and have not been successful with traditional outpatient services. They are also at risk of being placed in costly institutional care.", "FAST Forward is not a collection of discrete services. It is a bundled, team and community based approach driven by the needs and preferences of the youth and family.", "Deputy Commissioner Henn emphasized that the bundle is what makes this so efficacious.", "FAST Forward is a game changer both in New Hampshire and nationally. Thanks to this program, the Department has been able to prevent institutional care for vulnerable children and families.", "This program strengthens families, saves state resources, and treats underlying issues.", "The Department reduced the number of children served at the Sununu Youth Services Center from 75 to 12 in 5 years utilizing this type of program.", "Deputy Commissioner Henn stated that the Department must use general funds to cover about 20% of children in the FAST Forward program. While the majority of kids are on Medicaid, there is still about $2 million in taxpayer money every year that the Department must use to cover children with commercial insurance in the program.", "CMEs offering these servings are being forced to cut back on services because of the lack of sustainable funding.", "The Department is fairly agnostic about how this gets done, but they would like to see carriers and CMEs come together and work this out. Deputy Commissioner Henn emphasized that this is an emergency.", "Senator Prentiss asked what the specific cost difference is between inpatient care and community-based services.", "Mr. Tenney explained that inpatient psychiatric hospitalization is usually around $1,500 per night, while FAST Forward can be anywhere between $45,000-$65,000 per year. The daily rate for the bundled service is around $77 per day for care coordination with the additions of family and youth peer support. He noted that the range of costs for FAST Forward is so wide because it is such an individualized program.", "Deputy Commissioner Henn explained that it is not uncommon for out-of-state residential treatment to cost around $500,000 per year or more.", "Senator Prentiss said she is hearing the real need is to fund FAST Forward because it is a more cost efficient, community based model and our current situation is costing the state more than it would cost to implement FAST Forward.", "Deputy Commissioner Henn said there are two ways to think about costs from a public standpoint. There is a real return on investment with FAST Forward because underlying needs are being addressed. Many children who go to residential or inpatient psychiatric treatment will cycle through many times. There is also a value in avoiding high-intensity care, as we want families to be served in the context of their home and community.", "Senator Avard asked how many children are being sent out of state for treatment.", "Deputy Commissioner Henn stated that there are 6 youth currently being served out of New England. The Department is soon going to be announcing an initiative to reduce this number even further.", "Senator Avard asked if this will be affecting any compliance issues with the federal government.", "Mr. Tenney said his understanding is that there will be no impact on compliance.", "Senator Avard confirmed that 6 youth are currently being treated out of region for about $500,000 each, while this bill is looking to fund $2.5 million for FAST Forward.", "Ms. O\u2019Higgins explained that the inpatient care is separate because it is what happens when we are unable to get children into FAST Forward and crises continue. Without having scalable and sustainable funding for this program, the ability for it to keep succeeding in reducing the need for inpatient care will decrease over time. If those needs increase because less children have access to a program like this, the cost to the state will continue to increase.", "The number in the fiscal note is specific to the number of children receiving FAST Forward services. Of all of the children receiving FAST Forward, approximately 20% have commercial insurance. Approximately 70% of that 20% qualify for Medicaid coverage through the Home Care for Children with Severe Disabilities (HCCSD) program. Approximately $2 million is being covered annually by state general funds for the group of children who have commercial insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid.", "Senator Avard asked how this would affect the 6 children in out of state care.", "Ms. O\u2019Higgins explained that those children are being paid for to receive out of state care. If children had access to this program, earlier intervention would have had a better outcome for them. The Department is trying to reduce the number of children who reach that high level of care.", "Deputy Commissioner Henn explained that this is also how we can get children home from inpatient care. It is often that we don\u2019t have a way to get children home from these settings because of their home life. FAST Forward allows us to step kids down from these levels of treatment.", "Mr. Tenney explained that the number of children in out of state care has been significantly reduced over time because of programs like this.", "Deputy Commissioner Henn noted that there are also approximately 200 children who are also out of home receiving inpatient care in the region.", "Senator Birdsell asked if those 6 children would not be in out-of-state treatment if FAST Forward had more space.", "Mr. Tenney stated that the primary goal of FAST Forward is to prevent youth from needing those higher levels of care.", "Senator Prentiss asked for clarification on the percentages of children who have commercial insurance.", "Ms. O\u2019Higgins explained that of the 20% of kids who have commercial insurance, about 70% of them qualify for the HCCSD Medicaid. But there is still the 30% of those who do not qualify and receive the general funds to pay for care.", "Deputy Commissioner Henn estimated that there about 60 kids per year who need FAST Forward, have commercial insurance, and cannot be covered by Medicaid.", "Ms. O\u2019Higgins emphasized that all of the kids still have access to the program, but the budget constraints are a concern because the state is picking up kids with general funds, expanded Medicaid access, and regular Medicaid. If the children with commercial insurance had expanded coverage for these services, it would reduce the burden on the state.", "Senator Prentiss confirmed that the additional coverage is what the bill is trying to redirect and find a way to fund.", "Deputy Commissioner Henn confirmed and explained it comes out to about 50-60 kids per year.", "Senator Prentiss asked if there are any other clinical services like this that also have the same gap in which the state is picking up coverage.", "Deputy Commissioner Henn said there is not any that she is aware of."]}, {"who": "Sam Hawkins, NAMI New Hampshire", "points": ["Mr. Hawkins stated that he is speaking in support of the bill.", "As a provider of family peer support services through this program, NAMI can attest to its positive impact.", "Commercially insured youth are currently not able to access coverage for these services through their private plans. While there may be similar sounding services offered through their plans, there is no true comparison to the quality and fidelity of services they would receive through FAST Forward.", "These youth and families are essentially left to wait until their condition declines for the state and taxpayers to pick up the tab. Mr. Hawkins emphasized that this is both a funding and access issue.", "Mr. Hawkins referenced the potential amendment and emphasized that these services need to be covered in the full bundled suite. Allowing plans to pick and choose which services they will cover is no different than the status quo.", "Senator Long asked if there are certain areas of the state in which more youth do not have access to FAST Forward.", "Mr. Hawkins explained that New Hampshire has two CMEs that work through the FAST Forward program covering different areas of the state, so there is coverage for these services throughout multiple regions. The issue is that commercially insured youth cannot pay for these services until their condition worsens and the state pays for it.", "Senator Birdsell referenced the amendment and asked Mr. Hawkins if he agrees that stakeholders are trying to keep the bundles together.", "Mr. Hawkins said he would have to see the amendment to know definitively. He emphasized that if the state were to continue paying for the services that commercial carriers refuse to, it would not be substantially different from the current situation."]}, {"who": "Dennis Calcutt, Connected Families New Hampshire", "points": ["Mr. Calcutt stated that Connected Families New Hampshire is one of the two CMEs.", "New Hampshire children and families are suffering. The outcomes for children with serious mental health issues and the outcomes for children with cancer are similar if left untreated.", "Connected Families New Hampshire provides an intensive care coordination service that enables them to bring a team together and help families.", "There are children awaiting care in emergency departments and in residential treatment. Mr. Calcutt believes those children are there because we do not have enough in the continuum of care.", "The goal of this work is to keep youth in the community and connected to the supports around them.", "CMEs are contracted through the Bureau for Children\u2019s Behavioral Health in DHHS. Mr. Calcutt emphasized that this is an evidence-based approach, intersecting between research, what\u2019s in the literature, clinical expertise, and family values.", "Over the last 15 years, this process has been developed with initial funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It is now a life changing service for families."]}, {"who": "Luke Reynard, North American Family Institute North", "points": ["Dr. Reynard stated that North American Family Institute North (NFI North) is the other CME in New Hampshire.", "Dr. Reynard explained that the validity of the program seems to be accepted among stakeholders, but the issue is financing it.", "NFI North is a statewide program serving every county. Over the past couple of years, the percentage of families seeking this care without Medicaid coverage is increasing. Four years ago it was approximately 20% and this past year it was 31%.", "NFI North has a number of painful decisions to make as this proportion continues to grow disproportionately.", "NFI North has worked collaboratively with insurance companies, particularly Anthem. NFI North has 31 people with Anthem coverage who have come to them in the past six months. Dr. Reynard emphasized that there is a disconnect in committing to a bundle and in the contractual process of negotiating a rate. He noted that while there is still a lot of progress to be made, this is the farthest we have come so far.", "Senator Avard inquired about the specific social services not being covered.", "Dr. Reynard explained that in discussions with insurance companies, they look at clinical and medical services versus more social services. Peer support, which is billed in 15 minute increments, is something that could be considered a more social service. While there may not be a clinical background, the social benefit is big. There are also other components of the wraparound model that are not provided by licensed clinicians."]}, {"who": "Katie Lyon Pingree", "points": ["Ms. Lyon Pingree stated that she is speaking in support of the bill.", "This bill would ensure that children and families with private insurance have access to wraparound supports that are designed to help and guide them in facilitating an environment for healing to take place.", "The reality is that this is not the current mental health system we have in place. We have a frustrating and confusing system that people struggle to navigate.", "Ms. Lyon Pingree told a personal story about her son who struggled with mental health until his death at age 18. Their family had to search for anything that might help him without knowing what their options were.", "If the FAST Forward program was available to them as a privately insured family, they would have had a case coordinator to help them navigate the system and additional family and peer supports. All of these services would have also been available to them at home, helping them avoid inpatient stays.", "Ms. Lyon Pingree\u2019s family paid almost $120,000 in out-of-pocket expenses in a two-year time span."]}, {"who": "Andrea Brochu", "points": ["Ms. Brochu stated that she is speaking in support of this bill.", "She told a personal story about her child struggling with mental health.", "Before they had access to FAST Forward, their family was lost trying to navigate this system.", "Ms. Brochu is an educated professional who has spent years working in non-profits and social systems. Despite this, she was still lost and overwhelmed.", {"t": "Once the situation deteriorated, Ms. Brochu was forced to place her son in residential care in a different state and paid over $100,000 for this placement.", "sub": ["Ms. Brochu emphasized that her son was failed by the medical system, school system, and local resources, but he was saved by FAST Forward.", "The only way for them to access these services was to apply for Medicaid. She emphasized that they should not have to use funds from another system to access this care, as they pay for private insurance.", "Ms. Brochu questioned why a program that serves families across income levels and communities is being funded exclusively by Medicaid.", "Senator Rochefort asked if Ms. Brochu\u2019s family would have been willing to pay more in premiums if they knew these services would be covered, and Ms. Brochu confirmed."]}]}, {"who": "Kristen Sheppard", "points": ["Ms. Sheppard stated that she is speaking in support of this bill.", "Passing this bill will allow families with any type of insurance to be provided with the opportunity to work with this important service.", "Ms. Sheppard told a personal story about her son struggling with mental health issues. They were in a cycle of going to the emergency room and being released because there were not enough available mental health beds in the state until her son eventually went into out-of-state residential care.", "During this time, her family was able to get FAST Forward services because her son was on Medicaid from his adoption.", "Accessing FAST Forward was the first time Ms. Sheppard\u2019s family felt connected to something that could truly help.", "As a social worker, Ms. Sheppard knows this field well. Yet, when her son began struggling it was very difficult.", "Ms. Sheppard emphasized that FAST Forward saved both her son\u2019s life and her family.", "She emphasized that mental health services should not be defined by the type of insurance someone has."]}, {"who": "Cheryl Guerin", "points": ["Ms. Guerin shared a personal story about her son\u2019s struggle with mental health.", "She spent four years navigating the mental health system, seeking support and services. During this time, her family faced emergency room boarding twice, a two-week stay at Hampstead Hospital, among other processes. Meanwhile, her family was not receiving the support they needed.", "Ms. Guerin\u2019s family was eventually able to access the FAST Forward program. Participation in this program was the key turning point in her son\u2019s recovery.", "Even though Ms. Guerin had employer-sponsored health insurance, her family was only able to access these services once her son\u2019s condition worsened to the point of eligibility for state dollars. Ms. Guerin emphasized that it should not have taken years of struggle before things improved.", "Care coordination services and peer support are necessary, life saving services that should be available to all families before they are in crisis."]}, {"who": "Paula Rogers, America\u2019s Health Insurance Plans", "points": ["Ms. Rogers stated that this program make sense.", "While the conversation has been productive in some ways, it has been unproductive in others.", "Ms. Rogers\u2019 understanding is that the FAST Forward program does not align with commercial coverage in its coverage extension.", "Ms. Rogers referenced a bulletin from the Insurance Department clarifying what is likely to be covered by insurance for providers.", "When Medicaid coverage is bumping up against commercial insurance, the commercial insurance carrier is the first payer before Medicaid. However, the CMEs do not seem to be presently billing.", "After last year\u2019s hearing, the carriers discussed the situation with DHHS, so we now have statistics and know what the problem is. Anthem is taking the lead on negotiations with CMEs, as they have the most members in CMEs. These negotiations are to see if they can come in network or provide an appropriate compensation for a portion of the bundle of services."]}, {"who": "Sabrina Dunlap, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield", "points": ["Ms. Dunlap stated that she is speaking in opposition to this bill. Anthem does not think it is necessary and it raises policy concerns as drafted.", "FAST Forward is a DHHS program designed specifically for high-risk youth receiving publicly funded behavioral health services. Historically, commercial carriers have had no role or visibility into this program or with CMEs.", "Ms. Dunlap emphasized that the fact that commercial carriers have historically not been part of this program does not mean there is a gap in children\u2019s behavioral health coverage between Medicaid and commercial insurance.", "FAST Forward is one program among many in addressing the behavioral health needs of children in New Hampshire.", "Anthem wants their members to have the right care at the right place and at the right time. They provide coverage for a variety of services through providers in their network.", "Ms. Dunlap emphasized that the issue is that entities administering the FAST Forward program are out-of-network. This issue is currently being worked on outside of the legislative setting.", "When the issue of commercial insurance and CMEs first arose, the carriers asked for data on how many members were going to CMEs. Ms. Dunlap\u2019s data says there were 37 total members, and as Anthem is the largest carrier, they agreed to take the lead in discussions.", "Anthem is actively engaged with the CMEs on whether network participation makes sense. Contracting can take time, especially when an entity has no history of working with commercial standards. Ms. Dunlap emphasized that safeguards are in place for a reason and progress is being made.", "Senator Rochefort asked if there is an expected trajectory on coming to a resolution.", "Ms. Dunlap explained that it is hard to specify a firm date and emphasized that there is a large team at Anthem working as quickly as possible. These processes normally take 3-6 months with entities that are used to dealing with commercial insurance, which is not the case here. Ms. Dunlap believes they are in the middle of the process and noted that there are still questions about services and what they can cover. She emphasized that they are working in good faith and can figure out how to fund the services for this small amount of kids.", "Senator Avard asked if Ms. Dunlap was part of the amendment conversation, and she confirmed that she was in the conversation when they learned of the proposal from the Insurance Department. She noted that there are some operational challenges with the amendment, but Anthem is not opposed to working on an amendment.", "Senator Prentiss said she has a level of faith and optimism based on previous experience and asked if Ms. Dunlap feels the same way.", "Ms. Dunlap said she shares that level of optimism. Now that there is a better understanding of the issue, Ms. Dunlap does not think there is a need for legislation.", "Senator Prentiss referenced parity and noted that this seems to be a unique situation. She asked if the specific services not being covered have been identified and if carriers are looking to cover them to bring some parity.", "Ms. Dunlap explained that commercial insurance has moved closer to covering almost 100% of what Medicaid covers, although they are different programs. Health insurance has not historically covered things that are not clinical. She emphasized that it is not a judgement on the service, but rather a practical and operational issue. Those things are being discussed, and carriers would like to see if they can be covered through existing codes."]}, {"who": "Cam Lapine & Margaret Reynolds, Cigna", "points": ["Mr. Lapine noted that while Anthem has around 30 members connected to this program, Cigna has 4. He explained that it may not make sense to enter into a formal contract for such a small number of members and noted that individual case agreements may work better.", "Ms. Reynolds asked the Committee to consider having the assessments be limited to children based on their carrier for plans in New Hampshire.", "Ms. Reynolds asked that any hiring contracts this association might have in excess of $10,000 go before the Executive Council for approval. She emphasized that any excess assessment dollars should go back to the carriers that paid the assessment.", "Ms. Reynolds asked the Committee to consider changing the effective date to allow for more preparation time.", "Senator Prentiss asked what Cigna\u2019s perception of the amendment is at this point.", "Mr. Lapine explained that they looked at the framework of the amendment in early December aligning with what the Department has described. They have some operational concerns with what was presented, but they are happy to continue working on this.", "Ms. Reynolds emphasized that Cigna looks forward to working with CMEs to address this issue with a potentially non-legislative solution.", "Senator Rochefort clarified that Cigna has 4 kids that would be covered by this, and Mr. Lapine emphasized that the DHHS data presented to stakeholders in December identified 4 children connected with Cigna involved in the FAST Forward Program.", "Senator Rochefort asked why Cigna would not pay for only 4 kids.", "Mr. Lapine explained that Cigna cannot pay if the CMEs are not billing."]}, {"who": "Peter Bragdon, Harvard-Pilgrim", "points": ["Mr. Bragdon noted that DHHS data shows 4 children connected to Harvard-Pilgrim utilizing FAST Forward services. He emphasized that payment for these kids comes down to the issue of network.", "A couple years ago, the Insurance Department directed carriers to reach out to CMEs about coming into network. Mr. Bragdon explained that one CME did not return phone calls or emails and the other was not interested.", "Mr. Bragdon said he believes the contract between the CMEs and DHHS requires them to send bills to insurance, but Harvard-Pilgrim has not received any.", "Now that stakeholders have come to together and there is a better sense of the issue, Mr. Bragdon is optimistic that an agreement can be reached. He emphasized that while the amendment seems to be better than the underlying bill, he believes a non-legislative solution is possible.", "Mr. Bragdon expressed concern about section 3 of the bill. Federal law currently requires reporting on mental health parity with the state, and this bill significantly expands that requirement. He emphasized that this would be a tremendous amount of work and that the Insurance Department has broad authority to determine what needs to be reported. He noted that dividing up data can also impact its meaning and usefulness.", "Senator Rochefort said his takeaway is that Harvard-Pilgrim is going to get the CMEs into network to pay for these 4 kids, and Mr. Bragdon said Harvard-Pilgrim will work with them to get them in-network."]}, {"who": "Michele Merritt, New Futures", "points": ["Ms. Merritt stated that she is speaking in support of the bill.", "She has been working on this issue since February 2021, at which time 51 children were boarding in emergency rooms. There are currently only a handful of kids in this situation now, thanks to programs like FAST Forward.", "Ms. Merritt emphasized that progress on this issue has been painfully slow, with still no commitment from carriers to pay for these bundled services.", "No carriers are currently paying for FAST Forward or high fidelity wraparound in New Hampshire. CMEs cannot submit bills for these services because there are no contracts, and there is no claims data because these services are not being covered. Ms. Merritt emphasized that CMEs have been responsive and trying to address this issue.", "Ms. Merritt referenced the amendment and noted that it pertains to a qualified payment amount for these services. New Futures currently does not find that to be a reasonable solution to the issue because it would only apply to the fully insured market, while an assessment would equitably distribute responsibility among all carriers.", "Ms. Merritt emphasized that these services are already being paid for utilizing general fund taxpayer dollars. This means the question should not be if there should be a tax, but rather who should pay it."]}]}]}]}, {"when": "2026-03-05", "time": null, "what": "consent calendar", "committee": "Senate", "venue": null, "video_id": "XJsE-D96t2w", "watch": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJsE-D96t2w&t=0s", "predicted": null, "start": null, "debate_end": null, "window_start": null, "motions": ["Ought to Pass"], "tallies": [], "state": "consent", "candidate": null}, {"when": "2026-03-26", "time": null, "what": "consent calendar", "committee": "Senate", "venue": null, "video_id": "-IqRWnHKSlQ", "watch": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IqRWnHKSlQ&t=0s", "predicted": null, "start": null, "debate_end": null, "window_start": null, "motions": ["Ought to Pass"], "tallies": [], "state": "consent", "candidate": null}, {"when": "2026-04-16", "time": "13:30", "what": "public hearing", "committee": "Commerce and Consumer Affairs", "body": "H", "venue": "GP 229", "video_id": "PqDxaC0CLWc", "watch": null, 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This is part of an ongoing effort to address the fiscal situation regarding the FAST Forward program and commercially insured youth."}], "cite": "SC 8", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2008%20February%2026%202026.pdf"}, {"bill": "SB498", "body": "S", "title": "", "source": "Senate committee report, released 2026-03-19", "date": "2026-03-26", "dated": "signed", "calendar": "Consent Calendar", "majority_recommendation": "OUGHT TO PASS", "minority_recommendation": "", "reports": [{"side": "Committee", "author": "Senator Regina Birdsell", "committee": "Finance", "vote_yeas": 7, "vote_nays": 0, "amendment": "", "text": "SB 498-FN creates an association for the purpose of collecting assessments to fund payments to care management entities for the provision of childhood behavioral health services."}], "cite": "SC 11", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2011%20March%2019%202026.pdf"}, {"bill": "SB498", "title": "relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger", "majority_recommendation": "REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY", "minority_recommendation": "OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT", "reports": [{"side": "Majority", "author": "Rep. John Hunt", "committee": "Commerce and Consumer Affairs", "vote_yeas": 14, "vote_nays": 4, "text": "This bill would create a new quasigovernmental entity without meaningful legislative oversight to assess a new assessment (tax) on commercial insurance policies to fund a specific program within the Department of Health and Human Services, known as FAST Forward. FAST Forward was established within the Medicaid program, originally only available to children with Medicaid eligibility. It is only offered by two providers through contracts with DHHS, and is governed by RSA 135-F, a Medicaid statute. The contracted price is $50,000 per child. This is called \"capitation.\" In 2020, the Executive Council approved new contracts with the providers which allowed children with commercial health insurance to enter the FAST Forward program. Stakeholders were working towards a nonlegislative solution that would equitably address the cost of clinical services for commercially insured children enrolled in the FAST Forward program. The goal is that providers will bill the child's insurance policy for the clinical services rendered. We were close to a compromise, with ensuring the services provided by mental health counselors were being paid by insurance companies. We have no idea, and nor do insurance companies and Medicaid, if contracted medical providers are being paid anyway, even though the appointment was made by a Fast Forward care manager. The problem is that Medicaid uses capitation and insurance companies do not. The two care manager providers here in New Hampshire need to change their billing to a \"fee for service.\" The question that needs to be resolved is how do you bill if the care manager is only texting the child/parent weekly? Finally, we insist that there is proper oversight of billing. Taxing every health \"insurance plan\" sold in New Hampshire to offset the cost of DHHS's decision not to use \"fee for service\" when providing the FAST Forward program for private insurance is the problem. This tax/assessment would have cost impacts. It is inappropriate, inequitable, unconstitutional, and would invite costly litigation against the state. The Interim Study motion will allow the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee and the New Hampshire Insurance Department more time to work with all stakeholders over the summer. In September we will have a non-legislative solution. There will be a thorough cost analysis of a potential future mandate to cover the non-clinical aspects of the FAST Forward program."}, {"side": "Minority", "author": "Rep. Julie Miles", "committee": "Commerce and Consumer Affairs", "text": "The minority believes this bill with the bipartisan ammendment (2026-1757h) addresses a critical need within New Hampshire's children's behavioral health system by strengthening access to coordinated, community-based services for children with significant mental health and trauma-related challenges. Testimony before the committee demonstrated the FAST Forward program has been successful in stabilizing families, reducing unnecessary institutionalization, and helping children remain safely in their homes and communities. The minority further supports the committee amendment, which reflects substantial collaboration among providers, insurers, advocates, and state agencies to create a more balanced and sustainable funding structure. The amendment improves upon the original bill by better integrating commercial insurance participation and supporting appropriate reimbursement mechanisms for care management entities, and preserves the wrap-around model of care central to the program's effectiveness. Members of the minority were persuaded by testimony showing that early intervention and coordinated behavioral health services improve long-term outcomes while reducing reliance on costly inpatient and outof-state placements. The minority also recognizes the current imbalance in which state general funds are frequently used to cover services for commercially insured children when adequate coverage is unavailable. The amended bill takes reasonable steps toward aligning financial responsibility more appropriately while maintaining continuity of care for vulnerable children and families. It also establishes a pathway toward improved cost transparency and long-term sustainability without disrupting existing services. For these reasons, the minority believes this bill, as amended, represents a thoughtful and practical approach to strengthening New Hampshire's behavioral health system and respectfully recommends Ought to Pass with Amendment."}], "source": "House Calendar 19, 2026", "date": "2026-05-06", "dated": "signed", "cite": "HC 19", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=calendars%5C2026%5CNo19%20May%2008%202026.pdf"}], "docket_reports": [], "report_actions": [], "veto_message": null, "bill_note": null, "subject": "Public and Mental Health", "subject_source": "general court", "house_committee": "Commerce and Consumer Affairs", "senate_committee": "Health and Human Services", "lsr": "2026-2064", "docket_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=2064&sy=2026&txtsessionyear=2026&txtbillnumber=sb498&sortoption=billnumber", "documents": [{"label": "Bill text", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?id=1253&txtFormat=html&sy=2026", "kind": "text"}, {"label": "Bill status page", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/Bill_status.aspx?lsr=2064&sy=2026&txtsessionyear=2026&txtbillnumber=sb498&sortoption=billnumber", "kind": "status"}, {"label": "Docket", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=2064&sy=2026&txtsessionyear=2026&txtbillnumber=sb498&sortoption=billnumber", "kind": "docket"}, {"label": "SJ 1", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2001%20January%207%2C%202026.PDF", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SC 5", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2005%20February%205%202026.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SC 8", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2008%20February%2026%202026.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SJ 5", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2005%20March%205%2C%202026.PDF", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SC 11", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2011%20March%2019%202026.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SJ 7", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2007%20March%2026%2C%202026.PDF", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "HJ 9, pages 54 and 55", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2009%20March%2026%2C%202026.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "HC 19, page 17", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=calendars%5C2026%5CNo19%20May%2008%202026.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "HJ 13, pages 27 and 50", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2013%20May%2014%2C%202026.pdf", "kind": "record"}], "amendments": [], "billtext": {"version": "AS INTRODUCED", "title": "AN ACT relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.", "analysis": "This bill establishes the New Hampshire children's behavioral health association for the purpose of collecting assessments to fund payments to care management entities for the provision of childhood behavioral health services. The association is authorized to collect assessments from insurance carriers, stop loss carriers, and third-party administrators for fully insured and self-funded health plans. The assessment base would include covered lives in the state employee health plan, as well as pooled risk management programs under RSA 5-b. The funds provided for this purpose would be deposited in a dedicated fund administered by the insurance commissioner.", "fiscal": {"lead": "This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.", "tables": [{"caption": "Estimated State Impact", "years": ["FY 2026", "FY 2027", "FY 2028", "FY 2029"], "rows": [{"label": "Revenue", "values": ["$0", "Indeterminable Increase > $2.5 million", "Indeterminable Increase > $2.5 million", "Indeterminable Increase > $2.5 million"], "span": false}, {"label": "Revenue Fund(s)", "values": ["General Fund Insurance Premium Tax, Health Insurance Assessment, Childhood Behavioral Health Services Fund"], "span": true}, {"label": "Expenditures*", "values": ["$0", "Indeterminable Increase > $2.5 million", "Indeterminable Increase > $2.5 million", "Indeterminable Increase > $2.5 million"], "span": false}, {"label": "Funding Source(s)", "values": ["General Fund Insurance Premium Tax, Health Insurance Assessment, Childhood Behavioral Health Services Fund"], "span": true}, {"label": "Appropriations*", "values": ["$0", "$0", "$0", "$0"], "span": false}, {"label": "Funding Source(s)", "values": ["None"], "span": true}], "footnote": "*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill"}, {"caption": "Estimated Political Subdivision Impact", "years": ["FY 2026", "FY 2027", "FY 2028", "FY 2029"], "rows": [{"label": "County Revenue", "values": ["$0", "$0", "$0", "$0"], "span": false}, {"label": "County Expenditures", "values": ["$0", "Indeterminable", "Indeterminable", "Indeterminable"], "span": false}, {"label": "Local Revenue", "values": ["$0", "$0", "$0", "$0"], "span": false}, {"label": "Local Expenditures", "values": ["$0", "Indeterminable", "Indeterminable", "Indeterminable"], "span": false}]}]}, "body": "Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:\n1 New Subdivision; System of Care for Children's Mental Health; New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Association. Amend RSA 135-F by inserting after section 9 the following new subdivision:\nNew Hampshire Children's Mental Health Association\n135-F:10 Definitions. In this chapter:\nI. \"Assessable coverage\" means:\n(a) Health coverage as defined in RSA 420-G:2, IX;\n(b) Stop loss coverage that conforms with RSA 415-H:3, or other group excess loss insurance purchased against the risk that any particular claim, or total liability, will exceed a specified dollar amount; or\n(c) Group health plan, as defined by 42 U.S.C. section 300gg-91(a).\nII. \"Assessable entity\" means any:\n(a) Health maintenance organization, as defined by RSA 420-B:1, VI.\n(b) Third party administrator, as defined by RSA 402-H:1, I.\n(c) Entity providing administrator services and required to register with the insurance commissioner under RSA 402-H:11-a or RSA 402-H:11-b.\n(d) Insurance company licensed pursuant to RSA 401:1, IV.\n(e) Health service corporation, as defined by RSA 420-A:1, III.\nIII. \"Assessable lives\" means all children under 19 years of age residing in the state who have assessable coverage written or administered by an assessable entity, with the exception of children whose childhood behavioral health services are paid for under Medicaid.\nIV. \"Assessment\" means the assessable entity's liability with respect to the childhood behavioral health services determined in accordance with this chapter. For purposes of rate setting and medical loss ratio calculations, all association assessments are considered pharmaceutical or medical benefit costs and not regulatory costs. In the event of any insolvency or similar proceeding affecting any payer, assessments shall be included in the highest priority of obligations to be paid by or on behalf of such payer.\nV. \"Association\" means the New Hampshire children's behavioral health association.\nVI. \"Board\" means the board of directors of the New Hampshire children's behavioral health association.\nVII. \"Care management entity\" means an organizational entity that serves as a centralized entity to coordinate all care for youth with complex behavioral health challenges who are involved in multiple systems and their families, as defined in RSA 135-F:4.\nVIII. \"Childhood behavioral health services\" mean any of the following services:\n(a) Behavioral health intensive in-home services, which are therapeutic interventions delivered to children and families in their homes and other community settings to improve child and family functioning and prevent out-of-home placement. The components of intensive in-home services include, but are not limited to individual and family therapy, skills training and behavioral interventions, functional supports, and family support and training.\n(b) Behavioral health intensive structured outpatient programs, which include short-term, clinically intensive, structured day or evening service for a child with a behavioral health disorder, and provides multidisciplinary treatment to address the subacute needs of children and youth, while allowing them to continue to work or attend school and be part of family life.\n(c) Intensive care coordination, including but not limited to evidence based approaches like a high-fidelity wraparound for children and youth with significant behavioral health conditions, which includes assessment and service planning, accessing and arranging for services, coordinating multiple services, including access to crisis services. Assisting the child and family to meet basic needs, advocating for the child and family, and monitoring progress are also included. The wraparound \"facilitator\" is the intensive care coordinator who organizes, convenes, and coordinates this process.\n(d) Parent and youth peer support services provided by trained peer support specialists.\nIX. \"Commissioner\" means the commissioner of the department of health and human services.\nX. \"Estimated cost\" means the estimated cost to the state over the course of a state fiscal year to reimburse the care management entities for provision of the childhood behavioral health services they provide to assessable lives.\nXI. \"Provider\" means a person licensed or certified by this state, or otherwise qualified to provide health care services to persons or a partnership or corporation made up of those persons.\nXII. \"Total non-federal program cost\" means the estimated childhood behavioral health services cost less the amount of federal revenue available to the state for the administration and provision of childhood behavioral health services.\n135-F:11 New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Association Established. There is hereby created a nonprofit corporation to be known as the New Hampshire children's behavioral health association. The association is formed to assess assessable entities for the cost of childhood behavioral health services provided to certain children in New Hampshire.\n135-F:12 Membership, Powers, and Duties of the New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Association.\nI. The New Hampshire children's behavioral health association shall be comprised of all assessable entities.\nII. The New Hampshire children's behavioral health association shall be a not-for-profit, voluntary corporation under RSA 292 and shall possess all general powers of a not-for-profit corporation.\nIII. The board of directors shall include:\n(a) Three representatives selected from the assessable entities currently writing, maintaining, or administering assessable coverage through a voting process where votes are based on assessable lives. The plan of operation shall provide details for this selection process.\n(b) Two health care provider representatives appointed by the commissioner.\n(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, who shall serve as an ex officio member.\n(d) The commissioner of the department of insurance who shall serve as an ex-officio member.\n(e) One member appointed by the governor and council who shall represent self-insured entities.\n(f) One public member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.\n(g) One public member appointed by the president of the senate.\nIV. The directors' terms and appointments shall be specified in the plan of operation adopted by the New Hampshire children's behavioral health association.\nV. The board of directors of the association shall:\n(a) Prepare and adopt articles of association and bylaws.\n(b) Prepare and adopt a plan of operation.\n(c) Submit the plan of operation to the commissioner of insurance for approval after the consultation with the commissioner.\n(d) Conduct all activities in accordance with the approved plan of operation.\n(e) On an annual basis, no later than November 1 of each year, establish the amount of the assessment for the succeeding year.\n(f) Enter into contracts as necessary or proper to collect and disburse the assessment.\n(g) Enter into contracts as necessary or proper to administer the plan of operation.\n(h) Sue or be sued, including taking any legal action necessary or proper for the recovery of any assessment for, on behalf of, or against members of the association or other participating person.\n(i) Appoint from among its directors, committees as necessary to provide technical assistance in the operation of the association, including the hiring of independent consultants as necessary.\n(j) Determine an assessment amount and collect payments from assessed entities in accordance with RSA 135-F:13.\n(k) Submit an annual report to the commissioner of insurance, in a manner and form determined by the commissioner, listing the association membership base, providing a count of assessable lives by assessable entity, identifying changes in assessable lives by assessable entity, describing the collection of assessments, listing payment delinquencies, and containing such other related information as the commissioner may require.\n(l) Allow each assessable entity up to 45 days after the closing of each calendar quarter to report its assessable lives and remit its corresponding assessment amount as calculated pursuant to RSA 135-F:13.\n(m) Collect assessments from assessable entities as calculated under RSA 135-F:13 and deposit said assessments less the association's administrative costs annually and reserves with the state treasurer to the credit of the childhood behavioral health services fund established pursuant to RSA 135-F:19. At the written request of the association following a majority vote of the board of directors, any funds forwarded to the state treasurer for the childhood behavioral health services fund remaining unexpended for childhood behavioral health services, shall promptly be returned to the association.\n(n) Be authorized to enter into one or more agreements with other applicable authorities in surrounding states to reduce the risk of duplicate assessments and to assure provision of childhood behavioral health services for children who are residents of this state but who receive childhood behavioral health services in other states. Any costs relating to any such agreement shall be considered additional childhood behavioral health services costs of the program for purposes of determining the association's assessments.\n(o) Adopt procedures by which affiliated assessable entities calculate their assessment on an aggregate basis and procedures to ensure that no assessable life is counted more than once. Unless otherwise determined by the board, the assessable entity responsible for the payment of the provider's administrative costs for childhood behavioral health services shall be the entity responsible for reporting assessable lives and payment of the corresponding assessment.\n(p) Submit an annual report regarding the association's activities and its financial reports adopted by the department of health and human services to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor.\n(q) Perform any other functions as may be necessary or proper to carry out the plan of operation.\n135-F:13 Assessment Determination.\nI. The board shall determine an assessment for each assessable entity in accordance with this section. An assessment determination made pursuant to this section is a medical benefit cost and not a regulatory cost for purposes of calculating the carrier's medical loss ratio.\nII. In determining the assessment amount, the board shall:\n(a) Estimate the total non-federal program cost for the succeeding year;\n(b) Add its anticipated operating costs for the succeeding year and such additional working capital reserves as may be established by the board from time to time;\n(c) Add a reserve of up to 10 percent of the anticipated cost under subparagraph (a) for unanticipated costs associated with providing childhood behavioral health services to children covered; and\n(d) Subtract the amount of any unexpended assessments collected in the preceding year along with any unexpended interest accrued to the fund during the preceding year.\nIII. The board shall include in its plan of operations, details regarding the timing for assessment collections, and the form and format assessable entities shall use to calculate assessments.\nIV. The board shall include in its plan of operation details regarding payment due dates, grace periods, late payment fees, interest, and other details regarding the collection of assessments.\nV. The board may determine an interim assessment for new childhood behavioral health services or unanticipated shortfalls in the association's ability to meet childhood behavioral health services funding needs. The board shall calculate the interim assessment in accordance with paragraph II, and the interim assessment is payable the calendar quarter that begins no less than 30 days following the establishment of the interim assessment. The board shall not impose more than one interim assessment per year.\nVI. In the event that the association discontinues operation for any reason, any unexpended assessments, including unexpended funds from prior assessments in the state vaccine purchase fund, shall be refunded to payees in proportion to the respective assessment payments by payees over the most recent 8 quarters prior to discontinuation of association operations.\n135-F:14 Powers and Duties. In addition to the duties and powers enumerated elsewhere in this chapter:\nI. The commissioner of insurance shall, after notice from the association, issue a show cause order to any assessable entity that fails to comply with the association's plan of operation. In addition to late fees and other penalties imposed by the association, assessable entities may, after a finding of just cause, be subject to a minimum fine of $5,000, a maximum fine of 25 percent of the total amount of delinquent assessments, and licensure suspension.\nII. The insurance commissioner shall annually review the assessment report required under RSA 135-F:12, V(k) to ensure that all assessable entities are participating in the association and that all assessable entities have accurately reported assessable lives. The association shall remedy any problem identified by the commissioner with respect to assessable entities and assessable lives.\nIII. The commissioner of insurance may adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, as necessary to carry out the purposes of this subdivision.\n135-F:15 Examinations and Annual Reports. The board of directors shall submit to the commissioner, no later than 120 days after the close of the association's fiscal year, a financial report in a form approved by the commissioner.\n135-F:16 Exemption From Taxes. The association shall be exempt from payment of all fees and all taxes levied by this state or any of its subdivisions, except taxes levied on real property.\n135-F:17 Immunity from Liability. There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against any association member or its agents or employees, the association or its agents or employees, members of the board of directors, or the commissioner or the commissioner's representatives, for any action or omission by them in the performance of their powers and duties under this chapter.\n135-F:18 Severability of Chapter. If any provisions of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.\n135-F:19 Childhood Behavioral Health Services Fund. There is hereby established a childhood behavioral health services fund for the payment to the care management entities for the provision of childhood behavioral health services. Any funds provided to the department for this purpose and deposited in the fund shall not be used for any other purpose. Moneys in the fund shall be continually appropriated to the commissioner.\n2 New Subparagraph; State Treasurer; Application of Receipts. Amended RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (410) the following new subparagraph:\n(411) Moneys deposited in the childhood behavioral health services fund established in RSA 135-F:19.\n3 Insurance; Coverage for Certain Biologically-Based Mental Illnesses. Amend RSA 417-E:1, V-a to read as follows:\nV-a. The commissioner shall periodically require health insurers, health service corporations, and health maintenance organizations to submit the comparative analysis described in 42 U.S.C. section 300gg-26(a)(8)(A) for review to ensure compliance with this chapter and with the Act. These comparative analyses shall also include specific comparative data for medical/surgical benefits and mental health and substance use disorder benefits available to consumers by age group including ages 0-5 years and 18 years and younger, and including services available, coverage guidelines, denial rates, complaints about lack of services, network capacity data, provider qualifications and restrictions for comparable services, and other factors that indicate whether there are barriers to care that affect parity. To the extent allowable under state and federal law, such analysis shall be made public.\n4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.\nLBA\n26-2064\n11/18/25\nSB 498-FN- FISCAL NOTE\nAS INTRODUCED\nAN ACT relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.\nMETHODOLOGY:\nThis bill creates an association for the purpose of collecting assessments to fund payments to care management entities for the provision of childhood behavioral health services. The Association is authorized to collect assessments from insurance carriers, stop loss carriers, and third-party administrators for fully insured and self-funded health plans. The assessment base would include covered lives in the state employee health plan, as well as pooled risk management programs under RSA 5-b. The funds provided for this purpose would be deposited in the Childhood Behavioral Health Services Fund created by the bill.\nThe fiscal analysis that follows is based on information provided by the Insurance and Health and Human Services Departments in response to an equivalent bill from the 2025 legislative session.\nThe Insurance Department (NHID) estimates that the number of covered lives will be approximately 160,000. The NHID states that the assessment amount is indeterminable, as it is based primarily on an estimate of the cost of reimbursing care management entities for the provision of childhood behavioral health services they provide to assessable lives. The NHID assumes this refers to costs currently covered by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for the Medicaid population. In addition to program costs, the assessment would also cover administrative costs, as well as maintain a 10 percent reserve. The NHID estimates the administrative costs would be approximately $175,000 and would likely increase with inflation.\nThe NHID assumes the assessment in the bill would exert upward pressure on premiums and increase costs for self-funded plans, including the state employee health plan and municipal pooled risk management programs. Any increases to premiums would increase the corresponding premium tax dollars collected. However, a significant rise in health insurance premiums could also cause consumers to purchase cheaper, less benefit rich plans or forgo the purchase of health insurance altogether, which could have a negative impact on the premium tax collected. County and local government expenditures for health insurance could be impacted. The NHID notes the assessment amount would also be subject to retaliatory taxes by other states which would cause NH domestic insurers\u2019 tax base in other states to rise as well.\nThe NHID assumes the total assessment, administrative cost and 10% reserve percentage would likely be greater the $2.5 million per year and that it would likely be able to absorb any additional responsibilities within its current budget. The NHID notes that it is possible the legality of this proposed assessment could be challenged, which could result in additional litigation costs for the State.\nThe Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) assumes the money in the dedicated Childhood Behavioral Health Services Fund would not lapse, though the language as written does not currently indicate that, so if enacted as proposed, the funds would lapse at the end of each fiscal year. The DHHS assumes the expenses to support the New Hampshire Children's Mental Health Association operation would also be funded from this revenue source and suggests this be clarified in proposed RSA 135-F:13. The DHHS anticipates the bill would result in an indeterminable increase in state revenues and expenditures. The estimated range of impact would likely be $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 per fiscal year. In the last three calendar years, the Care Management Entity billing for these services, paid for with State funds, ranged from $1.1 million to $2 million. The range estimated was determined utilizing this actual data as a base, with additional amounts added in consideration of the assessment determination outlined in Section 135-F:13, such as the reserve of up to 10 percent of the anticipated cost, additional working capital reserves as may be established by the board from time to time, and the board\u2019s operations.\nThe DHHS notes a possible error in Section 135-F:13 VI, as it references the \u201cstate vaccine purchase fund\u201d and not the \u201cChildhood Behavioral Health Services Fund.\u201d\nIt is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2026.\nAGENCIES CONTACTED:\nDepartments of Insurance and Health and Human Services", "in_text": [], "chars": 23213}, "nver": 1, "namd": 6, "rsa": {"RSA 135-F": "/laws/135-f", "RSA 420-G:2": "/laws/420-g#s2", "RSA 415-H:3": "/laws/415-h#s3", "RSA 420-B:1": "/laws/420-b#s1", "RSA 402-H:1": "/laws/402-h#s1", "RSA 402-H:11-a": "/laws/402-h#s11-a", "RSA 402-H:11-b": "/laws/402-h#s11-b", "RSA 401:1": "/laws/401#s1", "RSA 420-A:1": "/laws/420-a#s1", "RSA 135-F:4": "/laws/135-f#s4", "RSA 292": "/laws/292", "RSA 135-F:13": "/laws/135-f", "RSA 135-F:19": "/laws/135-f", "RSA 135-F:12": "/laws/135-f", "RSA 541-A": "/laws/541-a", "RSA 6:12": "/laws/6#s12", "RSA 417-E:1": "/laws/417-e#s1", "RSA 5-b": "/laws/5-b"}, "amends": {"RSA 135-F": "/laws/135-f", "RSA 417-E:1": "/laws/417-e#s1"}, "related": [{"g": 0, "o": "2025-2026/HB2", "n": "HB 2-FN-A-LOCAL", "t": "relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.", "y": 2025, "c": "Became Law", "s": "Its language was offered as amendment 2025-2637s to {b}; the Senate adopted it."}, {"g": 0, "o": "2025-2026/HB1323", "n": "HB 1323-FN", "t": "relative to parental alienation, limiting certain prior authorization requirements for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and similar rehabilitative services, relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.", "y": 2026, "c": "Died", "s": "Its language was offered as amendment 2026-1981s to {b}; the Senate adopted it."}, {"g": 2, "o": "2025-2026/SB128", "n": "SB 128-FN", "t": "relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.", "y": 2025, "c": "Died", "s": "This term's {b} has the same text."}, {"g": 2, "o": "2025-2026/HB1323", "n": "HB 1323-FN", "t": "relative to parental alienation, limiting certain prior authorization requirements for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and similar rehabilitative services, relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.", "y": 2026, "c": "Died", "s": "Its text is also in {b}, a longer bill."}]}