Week of April 29, 2024

The end of the legislative session is nearly in sight, but there are still plenty of opportunities left to act for mental health and suicide prevention.

Read on for opportunities in the following areas:

• Public Hearings:
• Support the mental health of trans youth — Oppose HB 1205
• Support competency restoration services in the state — Support HB 1020
• Support the mental health workforce — Support SB 556
• Support emergency mental health services for youth — Support SB 411

• Full House Votes:
• Support the mental health of trans youth — Oppose SB 375
• Expand resources for individuals receiving services at CMHCs — Support SB 387
• Create voluntary certification for Community Health Workers — Support SB 403
• Ensure proper oversight for out-of-home placements — Support SB 417



• Bill Updates

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

Public Hearings

HB 1205 – relative to women's school sports.

NAMI NH Opposes

April 30th, 9:00am

Legislative Office Building Room 101

Senate Education Committee

HB 1205 would negatively impact the mental well-being of trans and nonbinary youth by limiting their access to affirmation and social support in athletics.

HB 1020 – establishing a committee to study restoration of competency.

NAMI NH Supports

April 30th, 1:15pm

State House Room 100

Senate Judiciary Committee

Currently, New Hampshire lacks a formal statewide process to restore competency when an individual is found not competent to stand trial. HB 1020 establishes a committee to study much-needed competency restoration programs and services within the state.

SB 556 – prohibiting health carriers from establishing payment or reimbursement provisions based solely on a participating provider’s licensure.

NAMI NH Supports

May 1st, 10:30am

Legislative Office Building Rooms 302-304

House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee

SB 556 would support equivalent reimbursement for services across provider types, rather than being based on one's specific licensure, supporting the mental health workforce in the Granite State.

SB 411 – establishing a committee to study emergency mental health services for persons 21 years of age and younger in New Hampshire.

NAMI NH Supports

May 1st, 2:00 pm

Legislative Office Building Rooms 210-211

House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee

SB 411 establishes a committee to study the state of emergency mental health services for persons 21 years of age and younger in New Hampshire, seeking to assess and address where gaps in insurance coverage and parity for behavioral health services exist.

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!

Full House Votes

SB 375 – relative to biological sex in student athletics.

NAMI NH Opposes

May 2nd, 10:00am

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. Contact your representative and ask them to oppose SB 375.

SB 387 –  relative to a state parks pass pilot program for recovery centers and community mental health centers.

NAMI NH Supports

May 2nd, 10:00am

Research overwhelmingly shows that outdoor nature-based activities improve mental health outcomes across all populations. SB 387 would create a state parks pass pilot program for community mental health centers, thereby positively impacting the mental health of those receiving services at the CMHCs. Contact your representative and ask them to support SB 387.

SB 403 – relative to the health care workforce.

NAMI NH Supports

May 2nd, 10:00am

SB 403 establishes voluntary certification for Community Health Workers, which would go a long way in building the CHW workforce. CHWs employ a deep understanding of the communities they work with, often sharing language, socioeconomic status, and lived experience. CHWs reach out and work with populations experiencing homelessness who have a higher rate of serious mental illness than the general population. As a result, expanding the CHW workforce would go far in addressing the mental health workforce shortage and connecting vulnerable and marginalized populations with the services they need. Contact your representative and ask them to support SB 403.

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

May 2nd, 10:00am

SB 417, as it was passed by the Senate, revised criteria for out-of-home placement of children under the Child Protection Act and other juvenile statutes and established an order of preference based on placement with the child's siblings when possible, and proximity to the child's community of origin, promoting better mental health outcomes for NH’s youth requiring out-of-home placements. The bill was amended in the House Children and Family Law Committee, jeopardizing its efficacy. Contact your representative and ask them to support SB 417 as passed by the Senate without the House amendment.

Bill Updates

HB 396, permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances (NAMI NH Opposes), was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now awaiting a recommendation from the committee.

HB 619, to require a person to attain the age of majority for genital gender reassignment surgery (NAMI NH Opposes), was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now awaiting a recommendation from the committee.

HB 1109, relative to requiring student identification cards to include the helpline for the National Alliance for Eating Disorders and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (NAMI NH Supports), was unanimously recommended Ought to Pass by the Senate Education Committee. It will be voted on in the full Senate on May 2nd.

HB 1168, establishing a committee to study the impact of the housing crisis on people with disabilities (NAMI NH Supports), was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and recommended Ought to Pass. It will be voted on in the full Senate on May 2nd on the consent calendar.

HB 1190, relative to adopting the interstate social work licensure compact (NAMI NH Supports), was passed by the full House, had a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and was unanimously recommended Ought to Pass by the committee. It will be voted on in the full Senate on May 2nd.

HB 1199, relative to services of the office of the child advocate for youth experiencing homelessness and making an appropriation therefor (NAMI NH Supports), was voted Indefinitely Postpone in the full House and will no longer go forward.

HB 1205, relative to women’s school sports (NAMI NH Opposes), will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on April 30th.

HB 1589, establishing a veterans treatment court (NAMI NH Supports), was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now awaiting a recommendation from the committee.

HB 1711, authorizing the state to report mental health data for firearms background check purposes and providing for processes for confiscation of firearms following certain mental health-related court proceedings and for relief from mental health-related firearms disabilities (NAMI NH Supports), was passed by the full House and heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee. It is now awaiting a recommendation from the committee.

SB 367, reestablishing the commission to study the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder in first responders (NAMI NH Supports), was heard in the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee and was recommended Ought to Pass. It will be voted on in the full House on May 2nd on the consent calendar.

SB 375, relative to biological sex in student athletics (NAMI NH Opposes), passed the full Senate and was heard in the House Education Committee, where it was recommended Refer to Interim Study. It will be voted on in the full House on May 2nd.

SB 387, relative to a state parks pass pilot program for recovery centers and community mental health centers (NAMI NH Supports), was heard in the House Resources, Recreation, and Development Committee and was recommended Refer for Interim Study. It will be voted on in the full House on May 2nd.

SB 403, relative to the health care workforce (NAMI NH Supports), was heard in the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee and received no recommendation. It is now awaiting a vote in the full House.

SB 410, making appropriations to the department of health and human services to support community and transitional housing through community mental health centers (NAMI NH Supports), was tabled in the Senate.

SB 411, establishing a committee to study emergency mental health services for persons 21 years of age and younger in New Hampshire (NAMI NH Supports), was passed by the full Senate and will be heard in the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee on May 1st.

SB 417, relative to out-of-home placements for children (NAMI NH Supports as Passed by the Senate), was heard in the House Children and Family Law Committee. The committee adopted an amendment that NAMI NH does not support, altering crucial provisions. The bill will be voted on in the full House on May 2nd.

SB 495, relative to certification of alcohol and other drug use treatment facilities (NAMI NH Supports), was heard in the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee and was recommended Refer for Interim Study. It will be voted on in the full House on May 2nd on the consent calendar.

SB 499, relative to reduction of hunger for children, older adults, and people with disabilities (NAMI NH Supports), passed the full Senate and was heard in the House Finance Committee. It is now awaiting a recommendation from the committee.

SB 524, relative to women's sports (NAMI NH Opposes), was voted Refer for Interim Study in the full Senate and will no longer go forward.

SB 561, relative to prior authorizations for health care (NAMI NH Supports), was heard in the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee and is now awaiting a recommendation from the committee.

SB 562, relative to state recognition of biological sex (NAMI NH Opposes), was tabled in the Senate.