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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 insurance department 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 fertility treatments; extends job protections under employer-sponsored family and medical leave insurance plans; 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.

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

Hearings

  • 2025-02-199:00 amSenate Health and Human ServicesSH 100Public hearing

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.