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HB 226 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Legalizing drug checking equipment

AI-generated

relative to the use of drug checking equipment.

Amends and adds definitions to the Controlled Drug Act to exclude drug checking equipment from the definition of drug paraphernalia and authorizes its use.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · November 3, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill amends and adds definitions to the Controlled Drug Act to exclude drug checking equipment from being considered drug paraphernalia and authorizes the use of drug checking equipment.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The state may authorize use of state or state-administered funds including, but not limited to, funds in the New Hampshire opioid litigation settlement proceeds fund for eligible drug checking activities.”
RSA 318-B:2-f
“No person shall prohibit another person from using federal funds for eligible drug checking activities, provided the use of the federal funds is consistent with federal law and any rules governing use of the funds.”
RSA 318-B:2-f
“No person shall be arrested, charged, prosecuted, subject to revocation of probation, parole, or pre-trial release; subject to civil, disciplinary, or administrative action; subject to the loss of one or more dependents; subject to the loss of housing; or result in any other punitive action or penalty taken against the person for engaging in any act authorized under this section.”
RSA 318-B:2-f
“The results from a drug checking analysis shall not be used by any person for a treatment or other clinical decision, in any criminal investigation, or as evidence in a criminal case or administrative action.”
RSA 318-B:2-f

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jodi NewellDPrime
  • Rep. David MeuseDDeputy Ranking Member· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Ellen ReadDDeputy Ranking Member· Housing
  • Rep. Christine SeibertDRanking Member· State, Federal, and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Mark ProulxR, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

109 signed in online · 19 wrote testimony

90% support10% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Due to an increased flow of fentanyl into New Hampshire, overdose deaths from opioids have reached levels not seen since 2015. Adopting evidence-based harm reduction strategies to save lives is the correct thing to do.…”
— Cora QUISUMBING-KING, Doversupports
“Due to the increase in access to these lethal drugs, like fentanyl, I feel that anything we can do on the ground level to fight the spike in opioid death is critical.…”
— Laurie But’s-Meyerrose, Keenesupports
“This bill provides the tools to address drug overdose deaths I support it %100 and urge the committee to do likewise.”
— Luke Gagne, Manchestersupports
“We have been through all this many times before. Besides, Gov Ayotte will veto.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes
“I have worked and interacted with various people that that utilize illicit substances. I also work in the counseling profession and have supported individuals with diverse disabilities, struggles, and addictions.…”
— Jonathan Belmont, Bedfordopposes
“As a physician, I have also interacted with various people involved in the harm-reduction movement. I believe that while there may be intent to help individuals, a much greater concern is the promotion and condonation of illicit substance use under the guise reducing harm.…”
— Judson Belmont, Auburnopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 5, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate9–7
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateFailed140–196How they voted
    Overall
    42% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    135–5471% yea
    Democrats
    5–1423% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0624hadopted
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0624hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateRoll callSen. Gannon Moved Laid on TableAdopted14–8How they voted
    Overall
    64% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    14–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety5:25:00–5:38:4413m 44slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety58:18–59:471m 29slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor30:44–38:247m 40slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — failed, roll call 140-196; Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0624h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0624h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 15, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary54:59–58:353m 36slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:31:21–1:33:252m 4slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Pending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; Sen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table — adopted, roll call 14-8

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 2 P. 11
  2. Jan 23, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2025 02:30 pm LOB 202-204
  3. Mar 5, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/05/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  4. Mar 5, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 03/05/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 17 P. 27
  5. Mar 18, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0624h
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MF RC 140-196 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 48
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0624h: AA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 50
  8. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0624h: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 50
  9. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  10. Apr 15, 2025SenHearing: 04/15/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 17
  11. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 05/01/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 19
  12. May 1, 2025SenSen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table, RC 14Y-8N, MA; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  13. May 1, 2025SenPending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  14. Oct 31, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, Senate Rule 3-23, 10/31/2025; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.