Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

SB 22 · 2025 · Senate · Children and Family Law Committee

Criminal background checks for child care licensing

AI-generated

relative to disclosure of criminal history and criminal records to the child care licensing unit of the department of health and human services.

Allows the child care licensing unit of the department of health and human services to obtain an applicant's criminal history directly from the state police to determine eligibility.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill allows the child care licensing unit of the department of health and human services to access directly from the state police an applicant's criminal history and record information and use such information as a factor to determine an applicant's eligibility. The bill is a request of the department of health and human services.

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

“Under the authority of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, the division of state police shall conduct the criminal history records check pursuant to paragraph I-a, through its records and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to include a check of the National Sex Offender Registry file in the National Crime Information Center records.”
Section 80:1
“The department shall make a determination regarding the individual's eligibility for employment no later than 45 days from submission of all required information as described in paragraphs I and I-a.”
Section 80:2
“The department shall maintain the confidentiality of all criminal history records information received.”
Section 80:3
“Any funds remaining in the child care licensing fund, established in RSA 170-E:7-a, on June 30, 2025 shall lapse into the state general fund.”
Section 80:5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Howard PearlRPrimeChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Public testimony

8 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

88% support13% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The Child Care Licensing Unit of NH DHHS has been a terrific partner with the child care community in New Hampshire, working together to determine the best rules, regulations and laws that allow these small businesses to run efficiently while protecting the health and safety of the children.…”
— Jackie Cowell, Newbury · Early Learning NHsupports

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
  • Jan 30, 2025SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 30, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 8, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2025Public hearingSenate Children and Family Law1:16–3:041m 48slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 8, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law7:32–15:107m 38slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 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 8, 2025SenIntroduced 01/08/2025 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 2
  2. Jan 14, 2025SenHearing: 01/14/2025, Room 103, SH, 11:00 am; SC 5
  3. Jan 30, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 01/30/2025; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 7
  4. Jan 30, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/30/2025; SJ 4
  5. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 11 P. 109
  6. Apr 8, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  7. Apr 8, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/08/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  8. Apr 8, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass 04/08/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 22 P. 7
  9. May 1, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 2
  10. May 22, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  11. May 22, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/22/2025); SJ 15
  12. Jun 10, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 06/10/2025; Chapter 0080
  13. Jun 30, 2025SenI. Section 5 Effective 06/30/2025
  14. Jul 1, 2025SenII. Remainder Effective 07/01/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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