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HB 1771 · 2026 · House · Children and Family Law Committee

Child care staffing ratio waivers

AI-generated

(New Title) removing the prospective repeal of child care staffing ratios and the associated waiver system and requiring the department of health and human services to provide certain notice regarding availability of the waiver.

Repeals the prospective repeal of child care staffing ratios and the associated waiver system and requires the department of health and human services to provide annual notice to child care providers about requesting a staffing waiver.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 1, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill repeals the prospective repeal of child care staffing ratios and the associated waiver system. The bill also requires the department of health and human services to provide annual notice to child care providers of the option to request a waiver of the child care staffing requirements.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The department shall provide an annual notice to licensed child care providers of the option to request a waiver of the child care staffing requirements established under this subparagraph.”
Section 98:1
“Repeal. 2024, 197:3, I, relative to the prospective repeal on December 31, 2026, of RSA 170-E:11, I(c), relative to child care staffing ratios and the waiver system, is repealed.”
Section 98:2
“The department shall make an interim report to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate on the number of waivers applied for, granted, and denied by November 1, 2025.”
Section 98:1
“The department shall make a [final] report on the number of waivers applied for, granted, denied, and renewed by November 1, 2026 and annually thereafter.”
Section 98:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Katy PeternelRPrimeVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Margaret DryeRClerk· Education Policy and Administration

Public testimony

4 signed in online

25% support75% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionOught to PassAdopted331–2
    Overall
    99% yea
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1795eadopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 24, 2026Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law4:33:05–4:34:121m 7slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law2:17:52–2:19:011m 9slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor57:44–1:00:032m 19slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, division 331-2
  • Mar 25, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services1:23:04–1:28:285m 24slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 9, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1795e Adopted — voice vote
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1795e — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled 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. 35
  2. Feb 24, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/24/2026 02:30 pm GP 230
  3. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  4. Mar 3, 2026House: Ought to Pass 03/03/2026 (Vote 16-0; RC) HC 10 P. 30
  5. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA DV 331-2 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 66
  6. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 7
  7. Mar 25, 2026SenHearing: 03/25/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:45 am; SC 11
  8. Apr 9, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/09/2026; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 13
  9. Apr 9, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
  10. May 7, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1795e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  11. May 7, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1795e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 40
  12. May 14, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  13. May 14, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 147
  14. May 28, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 05/28/2026; Chapter 98; eff.07/27/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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