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SB 47 · 2025 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee

Newborn coverage under birth mother's insurance

AI-generated

requiring certain health insurance policies of a birth mother to provide coverage for a newly born child from the moment of birth.

Makes a birth mother's health insurance policy the primary coverage for a newborn from the moment of birth, unless the mother is uninsured or covered only through an employer-sponsored plan.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill makes a birth mother's health insurance policy the primary policy for a newborn child's health care unless the mother has no insurance or coverage under an employer-sponsored health plan. This bill is at the request of the insurance department.

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

“The policy of the birth mother shall always be primary, and benefits paid for the newly born child shall not be subject to any additional cost sharing.”
RSA 415:22
“Services for the newly born child shall only be covered under the policy of the other parent in the event the birth mother does not have health insurance or coverage for the newly born child under an employer-sponsored health plan.”
RSA 415:22
“Coverage for newly born children shall [consist of coverage of injury or sickness] be the same as provided by the policy for other covered persons including the necessary care and treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects and birth abnormalities.”
RSA 415:22
“If payment of a specific premium or subscription fee is required to provide coverage for a child, the policy or contract may require that notification of birth of a newly born child and payment of the required premium or fee must be furnished to the insurer or nonprofit service or indemnity corporation within 31 days after the date of birth in order to have the coverage continue beyond such 31-day period.”
RSA 415:22

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Regina BirdsellRPrimeMajority Leader

Public testimony

21 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This cuts down on red tape for new parents to make sure their children are insured.”
— Megan Kilar, Candiasupports

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 report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0056s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 30, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-0056sadopted
  • Jan 30, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0056sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 27, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2025Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services1:01:42–1:18:3116m 49slocated in the stream transcript==ROOM CHANGE== Hearing
  • Apr 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs5:55–10:164m 21slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • May 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs3:32–4:401m 8slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session
  • May 27, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 26, 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, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 3
  2. Jan 22, 2025Sen==ROOM CHANGE== Hearing: 01/22/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:45 am; SC 6
  3. Jan 30, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0056s, 01/30/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 7
  4. Jan 30, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0056s, AA, VV; 01/30/2025; SJ 4
  5. Jan 30, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0056s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/30/2025; SJ 4
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 11 P. 110
  7. Apr 23, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/23/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  8. May 7, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 05/07/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  9. May 27, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/27/2025 01:15 pm LOB 302-304
  10. May 27, 2025House: Ought to Pass 05/27/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 27 P. 6
  11. Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 3
  12. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 59
  13. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  14. Jul 15, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0218; Effective 01/01/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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