Upcoming Committee Hearings

HB 539 (Rep. Kofalt) – The bill prohibits a public elementary or secondary school from conducting a vaccination clinic during school hours.

NHPHA Position - Oppose

Details

Date: Tuesday, February 7

Time: 1:45 PM

Committee: House Education

Location: NH Legislative Office Building, Room 205-207

HB 32 (Rep. Shurtleff) – The bill is relative to the possession or discharge of a firearm in a safe school zone.

NHPHA Position - Support

Date: Wednesday, February 8

Time: 9:00 AM

Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Location: NH State House, Room Representatives Hall

SB 175 (Sen. Whitley) – The bill mandates that the DHHS extend Medicaid coverage for pregnant women to 12 months postpartum; establishes minimum workplace supports for nursing mothers; appropriates money to the DHHS to support healthy outcomes for caregivers and children; establishes a commission to study home visiting programs for all parents of newborns and young children; and mandates the DHHS establish a network of early childhood behavioral health supports.

NHPHA Position - Support

Date: Wednesday, February 8

Time: 9:45 AM

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Location: Legislative Office Building, Room 101

HB 59 (Rep. Smith) – This bill requires a background check prior to any commercial firearm sale.

NHPHA Position - Support

Date: Wednesday, February 8

Time: 9:45 AM

Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Location: NH State House, Room Representatives Hall

HB 76 (Rep. Kenney) – The bill imposes a waiting period between the purchase and delivery of a firearm.

NHPHA Position - Support

Date: Wednesday, February 8

Time: 10:30 AM

Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Location: NH State House, Room Representatives Hall

HB 351 (Rep. Meuse) – The bill requires a locking safety device accompany all private and commercial firearms transactions and expands the criminal penalties for negligent storage of firearms.

NHPHA Position - Support

Date: Wednesday, February 8

Time: 1:45 PM

Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Location: NH State House, Room Representatives Hall

Bill Overview

SB 181 (Sen. Perkins Kwoka) – The bill is relative to access to abortion care and codifies women’s right to abortion without state interference up to 24 weeks.

NHPHA Position - Monitor

Hearing Update

The bill received partisan support from democrats and opposition from republican members of the Judiciary Committee. The bill is supported by a cross-section of 30 faith leaders who signed a letter to the committee, PP of NH. The fate of the bill looks to fall along partisan lines.

HB 282 (Rep. Shapiro) – The bill is relative to including certain children and pregnant women in Medicaid and the children's health insurance program.

NHPHA Position - Support

The bill is supported by NHPHA, Building Community In New Hampshire, and the Diocese of Manchester, to name a few. The NH DHHS Division of Medicaid leaned in favor as long as the condition precedent (woman and/or child was Medicaid eligible). There seemed to be some confusion as to defining the immigration status of the individuals. Bill will be executed (OTP or ITL) next week.

HB 598-FN (Rep. Edwards) – The bill is relative to funding maternal mortality reviews.

NHPHA Position - Oppose

The bill would create a dedicated fund for maternal mortality reviews, which has enough support to pass. The NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence opposed the bill would redirect funds traditionally dedicated to their work. Increasing the fines for domestic violence – fines usually tough to collect – is not a stable funding source. If this were to pass, the funding element needs to be addressed.

This bill would negatively impact the funding the Coalition’s 12 crisis centers receive under the Domestic Violence Prevention Program. This funding helps ensure that survivors have access to life-saving services and that our crisis centers are able to keep their doors open.

SB 86 (Sen. Rosenwald) – This bill directs the DHHS to increase Medicaid provider rates and makes an appropriation for this purpose; it establishes a community health worker certification program in the office of professional licensure and certification and makes an appropriation to the office for this purpose; and directs the DHHS to issue an RFP to expand access to health services in rural and underserved areas of the state and makes appropriations to the department for this purpose.

NHPHA Position - Support

The bill received a very favorable hearing with broad support from Hospital Association, NH Healthcare Association, and Catholic Charities and Rural Health Association. If this bill passes HHS, the cost of the bill will be taken up by Finance Committee.

HB 574 (Rep. Wolf) – The bill re-establishes the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

NHPHA Position - Support

100% federally funded program allowing recipients to use money at local markets. An amendment may be forthcoming if the federal funding is lost, the program ends, and it doesn’t become a state-funded program.

HB 565 (Rep. Murray) – The bill is relative to expanding Medicaid to include certain postpartum health care services.

NHPHA Position - Support

The bill would extend postpartum healthcare services, currently 60 days; this bill would extend to 12 months. The DHHS testified in support. The Diocese of Manchester supports New Futures supports.

HB 580 (Rep. Hakken-Phillips) – The bill establishes a children's vision screening initiative within the state Medicaid program.

NHPHA Position - Support

The bill targets children aged 0-6 with "lazy eyes." The screening is opt-out, and referrals are made for a comprehensive vision for children if the issue is determined. DHHS Director Lipman recommends continued study.