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HB 1671 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Protecting vaccine exemptions in Medicaid funding

AI-generated

relative to prohibiting state Medicaid payments to facilities that discriminate against employees, students, or trainees for exercising lawful medical or religious vaccine exemptions.

Prohibits state Medicaid payments to health care facilities that discriminate against employees, students, or trainees for exercising a lawful medical or religious vaccine exemption, and allows suspension from Medicaid as a penalty.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits state Medicaid payments to facilities that discriminate against employees, students, or trainees for exercising lawful medical or religious vaccine exemptions.

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 health care provider shall discharge, threaten, or otherwise discriminate against an employee, student, or trainee regarding the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because the employee, student, or trainee has executed a valid medical or religious vaccine exemption.”
Section 1
“If the department of health and human services determines that a health care provider has acted in violation of this section, the department shall withhold Medicaid reimbursement payments to the provider and shall suspend or terminate the provider from the state Medicaid program pursuant to RSA 167:60.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Linda McGrathRPrime
  • Rep. Sayra DeVitoRClerk· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy

Also: Rep. Susan DeRoyR, Rep. Donald McFarlaneR, Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Paul TerryR, Rep. Jim KofaltR

Public testimony

814 signed in online · 171 wrote testimony

31% support69% oppose0% neutral

ForVaccine mandates violate bodily autonomy and informed consent

AgainstVaccination requirements protect vulnerable patients

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Support - require the state to withhold Medicaid payments from any medical facility who does not accept religious and medical exemptions for employees or students training at the facility. Thank you! -Mrs. Martha Jaquith Kingston , NH”
— Martha Jaquith, Kingstonsupports
“There should be no discrimination against individual's health decisions.”
— Lori Matson, New Ipswichsupports
“The State should withhold Medicaid payments from any medical facility who does not accept religious and medical exemptions for employees or students training at the facility.”
— Susan LaPointe, Eppingsupports
“I write in strong opposition to HB 1671, a bill which would put in danger the most vulnerable of our citizens within the environment where they should receive the greatest protection.…”
— Janet Lucas, Camptonopposes
“relative to prohibiting state Medicaid payments to facilities that discriminate against employees, students, or trainees for exercising lawful medical or religious vaccine exemptions.”
— Richard DeMark, Meredithopposes
“Vaccines save lives. Unvaccinated people are a danger to the public. Responsible people get vaccinated unless they have an underlying health concern that prevents them from doing so.”
— Debora Hatcher, Doveropposes

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 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary16:26–19:002m 34slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamRefer for Interim Study — 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 Judiciary HJ 1 P. 30
  2. Feb 4, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2026 09:30 am GP 230
  3. Feb 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2026 09:30 am GP 230
  4. Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study 02/04/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 7 P. 16
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 27

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

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