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HB 1372 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

Study on reestablishing state psychiatric hospital

AI-generated

establishing a commission to study the feasibility of reestablishing a state psychiatric hospital for adults with severe mental illness.

Establishes a commission to study the feasibility of reestablishing a state psychiatric hospital for adults with severe mental illness.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill establishes a commission to study the feasibility of reestablishing a state psychiatric hospital for adults with severe mental illness.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Joe SweeneyRPrimeDeputy Majority Leader
  • Rep. Joe AlexanderRChair· Housing
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law

Public testimony

125 signed in online · 20 wrote testimony

4% support95% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“My mom died in 2019 because she was 12th in line for a bed at NHH so Exeter Hospital discharged her and Seacoast Mental Health didn’t bother checking on her. She asked for all the help but because there wasn’t a bed for her she got sent home to die.…”
— Margaret Konze, Pembrokesupports
“We've known as a society for many decades now that institutionalization often does more harm that good. Hospital delirium is well known to any health care provider. The goal should always be to shorten stays in institutions, not research ways to extend them.”
— Alyssa Goss, Hennikeropposes
“Libraries should be controlled by the people and not by the government--to preserve critical thinking and avoid authoritarianism.”
— Marie Nardino, Andoveropposes
“This Bill establishes study commission on developing new psychiatric hospital for long-term institutionalization, never a good option.”
— Richard DeMark, Meredithopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-02-119:00 amHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly AffairsGP 158Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2026-02-182:30 pmHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly AffairsGP 158Public hearingrescheduled

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 1 P. 17
  2. Feb 11, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2026 02:00 pm GP 158
  3. Feb 18, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2026 02:30 pm GP 158
  4. Feb 18, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 02/18/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 9 P. 17
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 20

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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