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HB 1317 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

Patient data privacy protections

AI-generated

relative to patient privacy protections.

Prohibits state agencies, political subdivisions, contractors, vendors, and grant recipients from collecting, maintaining, or disclosing personally identifiable medical, disability, or mental health data to the federal government or third parties, with limited exceptions permitted under state and federal law.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill provides that no state agency, political subdivision, contractor, vendor, or grant recipient shall collect, maintain, or disclose personally identifiable medical, disability, or mental health data to the federal government or any third party, except in limited circumstances as permitted under state and federal law.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“No state agency, political subdivision, contractor, vendor, or grant recipient shall collect, maintain, or disclose personally identifiable medical, disability, or mental health data to the federal government or any third party, unless one or more of the following conditions apply:”
RSA 126:35
“Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to diminish protections provided under federal or state law, including but not limited to:”
RSA 126:36
“Violations may be subject to civil penalties and corrective action, consistent with state law.”
RSA 126:37
“Agencies shall disclose only the minimum data necessary to comply with the legal requirement;”
RSA 126:35

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Heath HowardDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Rep. Jessica LaMontagneDDeputy Ranking Member· Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs
  • Rep. Nicholas GermanaDDeputy Democratic Floor Leader

Also: Rep. Alice WadeD, Rep. Billie ButlerD, Rep. Chris MunsD, Rep. Toni WeinsteinD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

111 signed in online · 13 wrote testimony

96% support3% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Children who identify as a gender other than those assigned at birth are extremely vulnerable and need supportive adults around them to help them navigate the life-changing decisions they will make.…”
— Steve Varnum, Concordsupports
“Libraries should be controlled by the people and not by the government--to preserve critical thinking and avoid authoritarianism.”
— Marie Nardino, Andoversupports
“I am in full support of this bill and in protecting patient privacy”
— Jennifer legier, Camptonsupports
“I strongly oppose HB 1372. Reestablishing a state psychiatric hospital for long-term institutionalization is not a forward-thinking mental health solution—it is a step backward toward a failed and harmful model of care.…”
— alexadra carter, rochesteropposes
“2/11/26 Good afternoon members of the Health and Human Services Committee. My name is Mo Baxley from Granite State Independent Living. We are a statewide organization whose mission is to promote quality of life with independence for people with disabilities.…”
— Mo Baxley, Concordneutral

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
  • Feb 18, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate11–7
    Overall
    61% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseRoll callLay HB1317 on Table (Rep. Mazur)Adopted183–154How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    181–0100% yea
    Democrats
    2–1541% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionRemove from Table (Rep. H. Howard)Failed130–186
    Overall
    41% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs16:26–25:589m 32slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:50:48–6:55:495m 1slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB1317 on Table (Rep. Mazur) — adopted, roll call 183-154
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor7:03:40–7:04:491m 9slocated in the stream transcriptRemove from Table (Rep. H. Howard) — failed, division 130-186

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. 15
  2. Feb 11, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2026 09:00 am GP 158
  3. Feb 18, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2026 02:30 pm GP 158
  4. Feb 18, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/18/2026 (Vote 11-7; RC) HC 9 P. 40
  5. Feb 25, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseLay HB1317 on Table (Rep. Mazur): MA RC 183-154 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 114
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseRemove from Table (Rep. H. Howard): MF DV 130-186 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 166

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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