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HB 1071 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

COVID directive immunity repeal

AI-generated

repealing immunity afforded health care facilities when following directives adopted in response to the COVID-19 state of emergency.

Repeals immunity granted to health care facilities for following directives adopted in response to the COVID-19 state of emergency.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 8, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill repeals immunity afforded health care facilities when following directives adopted in response to the COVID-19 state of emergency.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“RSA 21-P:42-a, relative to immunity granted to health care facilities following rules or orders issued during the COVID-19 state of emergency, shall be repealed upon the passage of this act.”
Section 1
“RSA 21-P:42-a, relative to immunity granted to health care facilities following rules or orders issued during the COVID-19 state of emergency, is repealed.”
Section 2
“The repeal of RSA 21-P:42-a shall apply only to actions or omissions that occur after the effective date of this section, and this repeal shall not be construed to remove the immunity from liability for any person or entity that was entitled to such immunity prior to the effective date of this act.”
Section 3
“Any person or entity that complied with any rules or orders issued pursuant to RSA 21-P:42-a shall be entitled to immunity from prosecution as a result of the repeal of RSA 21-P:42-a.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Tom MannionRPrimeAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy

Also: Rep. Aidan AnkarbergI, Rep. Susan DeRoyR, Rep. Linda McGrathR, Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Matt DrewR, Rep. Jeffrey TenczarR

Public testimony

152 signed in online · 24 wrote testimony

85% support15% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support this bill to end immunity from prosecution for the medical industrial complex. This is the only way to preserve our rights, Sue those who violate them.…”
— tom luther, claremontsupports
“I believe I should have the right to make my own decisions .”
— Michelle Slack, Hudsonsupports
“You all may not like what I am going to say but this the facts. We as citizen of the great country are the sovereign, we elect you to follow the rules of the road that is our state Constitution and or Federal Constitution.…”
— LAWRENCE HURD, Plaistowsupports
“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I for o e would rather n ot live through another pandemic where we are guessing g and hoping for the best as far as how to engage Healthcare practices. Evidence based practices should always be the standard of care.”
— Kimberlee Braught, Keeneopposes
“The research by credible psychiatric scientists shows that such involuntary hospitalizations for people with substance abuse disorders do not help the patient or the public health needs of the community. Francis Hayes, MD ret.”
— Francis Hayes, Canterburyopposes
“Repealing liability protections for health care facilities that acted in good faith and in accordance with public health guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic would set a deeply troubling precedent for how we respond to future public health emergencies.…”
— Cynthia Whitaker, Weareopposes

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 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1006h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-1006hadopted
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionLay HB1071 on Table (Rep. Beauchemin)Failed148–171
    Overall
    46% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1006hAdopted183–146
    Overall
    56% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 14, 2026SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 24, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs2:11:51–2:20:418m 50slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs13:18–19:175m 59slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1006h — roll call; Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor8:06:12–8:14:488m 36slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1006h — adopted, division 183-146; Amendment # 2026-1006h — adopted, voice vote; Lay HB1071 on Table (Rep. Beauchemin) — failed, division 148-171
  • Apr 16, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services33:33–41:568m 23slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 1 P. 5
  2. Feb 23, 2026House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 02/23/2026 11:30 am GP 158
  3. Feb 24, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/24/2026 11:00 am GP 158
  4. Mar 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2026 09:00 am GP 158
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1006h 03/04/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 49
  6. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1006h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 182
  8. Mar 11, 2026HouseLay HB1071 on Table (Rep. Beauchemin): MF DV 148-171 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 182
  9. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1006h: MA DV 183-146 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 182
  10. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 7
  11. Apr 16, 2026SenHearing: 04/16/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 14
  12. May 14, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/14/2026; SC 18
  13. May 14, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/14/2026; SJ 12

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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