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HB 1378 · 2026 · House · Children and Family Law Committee

Parental access to medical records

AI-generated

relative to parental access to a minor child's electronic medical records.

Entitles parents and legal guardians to full access to their minor child's medical records, with exceptions for certain minor-consent treatments, active protective orders, or a provider's determination that disclosure risks abuse or neglect.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 provides parents of minor children full access to their minor children's medical record except under certain circumstances.

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

“For the purposes of this section, "medical records" means physical medical records and electronic medical records, including records available via online patient portals.”
RSA 332-I:1-a
“A parent or legal guardian of a minor child shall be entitled to have full access to the medical records of their minor child or ward, except:”
RSA 332-I:1-a
“When the records are records of treatment that a minor may consent to pursuant to a specific statute under state or federal law without parental consent or the consent of a legal guardian;”
RSA 332-I:1-a
“A health care provider who makes this determination shall document in the medical record of the minor child all facts upon which he or she relied in making the determination.”
RSA 332-I:1-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Melissa LitchfieldRPrime
  • Rep. Katy PeternelRVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Sayra DeVitoRClerk· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Children and Family Law

Also: Rep. David LoveR, Rep. Donald McFarlaneR, Rep. Henry GiassonR, Rep. Laurence MinerR, Rep. Lori KorzenR, Rep. Yury PolozovR

Public testimony

233 signed in online · 51 wrote testimony

87% support13% oppose0% neutral

ForParents are responsible for their child, should have access

AgainstConfidentiality preserves trust in adolescent care

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“When my son turned 12 I could no longer see his post-visit reports or his prescriptions in the DH portal. I could also no longer see his prescriptions in the Walgreens portal.…”
— Danielle Evansic, Bedfordsupports
“If a parent is parenting, then there is no reason to not grant access to the child’s full medical records. That’s the only way a parent can parent.”
— Georgia Loney, Portsmouthsupports
“Allowing parents to access their children’s medical records is common sense. Parents are responsible for their children’s wellbeing and they can’t take the best care of them without knowing their medical history. Please vote OTP on HB1378 to protect parents and kids.”
— Beth Scaer, Nashuasupports
“I strongly oppose HB 1378. Parents already have full access to their minor child's medical records except for certain protected classes.…”
— Doris Dawkins, Bowopposes
“This exception is a deal killer: "When the records are records of treatment that a minor may consent to pursuant to a specific statute under state or federal law without parental consent or the consent of a legal guardian"”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes
“I oppose this bill and hope you'll recommend ITL. There is appropriate access to minors' medical records already.”
— Mary Jenkins, Goffstownopposes

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 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Without Recommendation8–8
    Overall
    50% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted175–149How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    170–995% yea
    Democrats
    5–1403% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 24, 2026Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law2:09:58–2:31:2421m 26slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law1:05:47–1:06:561m 9slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session; Committee Report: Without Recommendation — roll call
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor29:50–33:524m 2slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 175-149
  • Apr 15, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services1:59:01–2:05:286m 27slocated 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 Children and Family Law HJ 1 P. 17
  2. Feb 24, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/24/2026 11:00 am GP 230
  3. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  4. Mar 3, 2026House: Without Recommendation 03/03/2026 (Vote 8-8; RC) HC 10 P. 29
  5. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 175-149 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 63
  6. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 7
  7. Apr 15, 2026SenHearing: 04/15/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 14
  8. May 14, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/14/2026; SC 18
  9. May 14, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/14/2026; SJ 12

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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