Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

SB 246 · 2025 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee

Maternal health screening and support

AI-generated

(New Title) providing maternal depression screening for new mothers; increasing access to health care services for new mothers; enabling new parents to attend infant pediatric medical appointments; and developing a plan for perinatal peer support certification.

Requires maternal depression screening for new mothers, appropriates funds for perinatal support services, mandates insurance coverage for perinatal home visiting, and expands employee leave to attend infant medical appointments.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill provides maternal depression screening for new mothers; makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for a perinatal psychiatric provider consult line and to the department of safety for rural maternal health EMS services; directs the department of health and human services to study barriers to independent birth centers; requires insurance coverage for perinatal home visiting services; expands employee protection to attend medical appointments for postpartum care and an infants medical appointments; and directs the department of health and human services to develop a plan for a perinatal peer support certification program.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The department of health and human services shall cover maternal depression screenings at well-child visits under the state Medicaid program.”
RSA 126-A:101-a
“Each health carrier that issues or renews any group policy, plan, or contract of accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses, shall provide to certificate holders of such insurance coverage for maternal depression screening.”
RSA 417-D:2-d
“Any group health plan or health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage, that provides benefits with respect to mental health and substance use disorders treatment furnished to a perinatal individual enrolled under such plan or coverage, may choose to waive copayment for such services.”
RSA 417-D:2-e
“Each health carrier that issues or renews any group policy, plan, or contract of accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses, shall provide certificate holders of such insurance coverage for home visiting services for pregnant and postpartum women who do not otherwise qualify.”
RSA 417-D:2-f

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Denise RicciardiRPrimeDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Rep. Katy PeternelRVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary

Also: Sen. Donovan FentonD, Rep. Kelley PotenzaR, Rep. Catherine RombeauD

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0534s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0534s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0534s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateSenate floor3:49:50–3:51:071m 17slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Pearl Moved Laid on Table — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 3
  2. Feb 19, 2025SenHearing: 02/19/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:00 am; SC 10
  3. Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0534s, 03/06/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
  4. Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0534s, AA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  5. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0534s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  6. Mar 27, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/27/2025, Vote 7-0; SC 14
  7. Mar 27, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
  8. Mar 27, 2025SenSen. Pearl Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
  9. Mar 27, 2025SenPending Motion OT3rdg; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
  10. 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.