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HB 597 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Behavioral health line within 911 system

AI-generated

establishing a designated behavioral health access point within the enhanced 911 system.

Establishes a designated behavioral health access point within the enhanced 911 system to enable transfer of calls involving non-emergent behavioral health crises to appropriate service providers.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · May 21, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill defines the designated behavioral health access point within the enhanced 911 system to enable the division of emergency services and communications to transfer 911 calls from individuals experiencing non-emergent behavioral health crises and mental health needs to appropriate service providers. The bill is a request of the department of safety, division of emergency services and communications.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“"Public safety answering point" means a facility with enhanced 911 capability, operated on a 24-hour basis, assigned the responsibility of receiving 911 calls and transferring or relaying emergency 911 calls to other public safety agencies or private safety agencies, and transferring or relaying non-emergent 911 calls to the designated behavioral health access point.”
Section 35:1
““Designated behavioral health access point” means the centralized crisis operations center, designated by the state, that acts as a statewide point of entry for individuals experiencing a non-emergent behavioral health crisis, including but not limited to mental health crises, suicidal thoughts, substance use disorder crises, or emotional crises.”
Section 35:2
“"Transfer routing" means the method of responding to a telephone request for [emergency service] whereby a public safety answering point transfers the call directly to the appropriate public safety agency or private safety agency for dispatch of an emergency service unit and transfers requests for non-emergency services to the designated behavioral health access point.”
Section 35:4
“The department may provide the following information from the designated behavioral health access point:”
Section 35:5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Bill BoydRPrimeClerk· Public Works and Highways
  • Rep. Peter PetrignoDRanking Member· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Jennifer RhodesRVice Chair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRVice Chair· Health and Human Services
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader

Also: Rep. Julie MilesR, Rep. Adam PresaR, Rep. Jonah WheelerD, Rep. Nancy MurphyD, Sen. Pat LongD, Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

119 signed in online · 17 wrote testimony

98% support2% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Kudos to Rep. Boyd and NH Emergency Services & Communications Director Mark Doyle for bringinging this important bill forward. Great job today! Ready access to the most appropriate behavioral and mental health supports and intervention is key when dealing dealing with crises!…”
— Rep. Nancy Murphy, Merrimack · Town of Merrimack/ Hills. 12supports
“My name is Martha Dickey and I believe this bill has the potential to save lives by allowing 911 calls to be transferred to appropriate service providers to a designated behavioral access programs / points within the enhanced 911 system.”
— Martha Dickey, Tiltonsupports
“This is an important part of the safety net of our state. Please vote Ought to Pass.”
— Krystal Bloom, Francestownsupports
“While I am ambivalent regarding this Bill, why is this up for discussion at all? Seems like the Dept. of Safety can just put this in place. If they want money, the answer should be NO.”
— Gordon Springate, wiltonopposes

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 19, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 17, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 17, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety2:57–9:236m 26slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety20:23–21:301m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 9, 2025Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services3:50:23–4:01:1710m 54slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 17, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 3 P. 18
  2. Feb 6, 2025House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 02/06/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  3. Feb 12, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/12/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  4. Mar 14, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  6. Mar 19, 2025House: Ought to Pass 03/19/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 17 P. 10
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 13
  8. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 10
  9. Apr 9, 2025SenHearing: 04/09/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 16
  10. Apr 17, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/17/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 17
  11. Apr 17, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/17/2025; SJ 10
  12. May 1, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 31
  13. May 1, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/01/2025); SJ 12
  14. May 14, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 05/14/2025; Chapter 35; eff.07/13/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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