Week of April 22, 2024

There's a busy week ahead in Concord, with lots of opportunities to make your voice heard and advance mental health and suicide prevention in the Granite State.

Read on for opportunities in the following areas:

• Public Hearings:
• Support the mental health of trans youth — Oppose SB 375, HB 396, and HB 619
• Improve oversight of out-of-state placements for youth — Support SB 417
• Reduce barriers to mental healthcare — Support SB 561
• Establish a veterans treatment court — Support HB 1589
• Improve mental health services in county corrections facilities — Support SB 508

Click here to read NAMI NH's testimony and explore advocacy in support of Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide.

Questions? Don't hesitate to reach out: advocacy@NAMINH.org

There is no health care without mental health care, yet health insurance often covers mental health care differently. Parity — covering mental health and addiction care at the same level as other health care — has been a priority issue throughout NAMI’s history. Despite laws requiring it, a new report confirms that the promise of true parity has not yet been achieved.

Public Hearings

SB 375 – relative to biological sex in student athletics.

NAMI NH Opposes

April 22nd, 10:45 am

Legislative Office Building Rooms 205-207

House Education Committee

SB 375 would negatively impact the mental well-being of trans and nonbinary youth by limiting their access to affirmation and social support in athletics.

SB 417 – relative to out-of-home placements for children.

NAMI NH Supports

April 23rd, 2:00 pm

Legislative Office Building Rooms 206-208

House Children and Family Law Committee

SB 417 revises criteria for out-of-home placement of children under the Child Protection Act and other juvenile statutes and establishes an order of preference based on placement with the child's siblings when possible, and proximity to the child's community of origin. Children have much better developmental and mental health outcomes when treatment is provided as close to their family and community of origin as possible where family connections can be preserved. They also experience better health and social outcomes when out-of-home placements are not in institutional settings. SB 417 promotes better mental health outcomes for NH’s youth requiring out-of-home placements. 

SB 561 – relative to prior authorizations for health care.

NAMI NH Supports

April 23rd, 2:45 pm

Legislative Office Building Rooms 302-304

House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee

This bill establishes criteria for prior authorization required by insurers offering managed care health benefit plans. Prior authorizations are generally a barrier to people receiving the mental health care they need. SB 561 will help to alleviate this barrier. 

HB 1589 – establishing a veterans treatment court.

NAMI NH Supports

April 23rd, 2:00 pm

State House Room 100

Senate Judiciary Committee

HB 1589 establishes specialty veterans treatment courts within the judicial system to adjudicate certain cases involving veterans impacted by mental illness, substance use, and other factors, integrating treatment and mental health services within the justice system proceedings for these cases.

SB 508 – relative to the duties of the superintendent of the county department of corrections concerning mental health and substance use disorder screening of inmates and coordination for services upon reentry into the community.

NAMI NH Supports

April 24th, 10:00 am

Legislative Office Building Rooms 202-204

House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Despite court mandates, there is a significant lack of access to adequate mental health care in incarcerated settings. Over 60% of people with a history of mental illness do not receive mental health treatment while incarcerated in state and federal prisons. NAMI NH believes that all people with mental health conditions who are incarcerated deserve access to quality mental health and substance use disorder treatment. SB 508 requires the superintendent of the county department of corrections to have their contracted behavioral health treatment providers use validated screening tools for mental health and substance use disorder. It would also allow county corrections facilities to permit licensed community-based treatment providers to access the facility to coordinate services upon reentry into the community. 

HB 396 – permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances.

NAMI NH Opposes

April 25th, 9:00 am

State House Room 100

Senate Judiciary Committee

Freedom from stigma and discrimination is crucial to the mental health of trans individuals. HB 396 would enable both public and private entities to classify based on sex-assigned-at-birth for bathrooms, locker rooms, sporting events and competitions, and facilities such as prisons and mental health hospitals. This bill would negatively impact the mental health of trans and nonbinary individuals in New Hampshire. 

HB 619 – to require a person to attain the age of majority for genital gender reassignment surgery.

NAMI NH Opposes

April 25th, 9:15 am

State House Room 100

Senate Judiciary Committee

HB 619 jeopardizes the mental health of trans youth and impedes the freedom of medical professionals by prohibiting access to, and referrals for, certain medical care.

How to Submit Remote Testimony

Looking to sign in to support or oppose one of the bills highlighted above? Follow these easy steps to register your opinion on the official record online:

1. Access the Sign-In Form: House Sign-In | Senate Sign-In
2. Select the date of the hearing
3. Select the committee the bill is assigned to
4. Choose the bill
5. Select that you are a member of the public and representing yourself
6. Choose your position on the bill
7. If you are submitting to the House, you may type or upload written testimony to be added to the record.
8. If you are submitting to the Senate and wish to provide written testimony, you will have to email it to the committee separately.
9. Press continue/submit, and you're finished!