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HB 1784 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

Changes to health care protection fund

AI-generated

relative to the health care consumer protection trust fund.

Modifies administration of the health care consumer protection trust fund by removing executive council approval, restricting grants to non-state entities, limiting funded projects to those with measurable patient-outcome objectives, and prohibiting academic research funding.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill modifies the statute governing administration of the health care consumer protection trust fund to: I. Remove the executive council approval for expenditures while retaining approval by the advisory commission and the governor. II. Prohibit grants or contracts to New Hampshire state agencies, including subgrants or pass-throughs to such entities. III. Limit funded projects to those that directly benefit New Hampshire health care consumers through defined, measurable patient-outcome objectives, with milestone-based disbursements and clawbacks. IV. Prohibit funding of academic research while allowing incidental evaluation necessary to verify outcomes.

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

“"Acquisition transaction" or "acquisition" means transfer of control, direct or indirect, of a health care organization, or of 25 percent or more of the assets thereof, including, but not limited to, purchases, mergers, leases, gifts, consolidations, exchanges, joint ventures, or other transactions involving transfer of control or of 25 percent or more of assets.”
RSA 7:6-g
“"Health care organization" means an entity organized to provide health care services including, but not limited to, hospitals, community health services, and medical-surgical or other diagnostic or therapeutic facilities or services, or an entity operating as a health insurer or health maintenance organization.”
RSA 7:6-g
“The general court finds that proceeds from acquisition transactions involving health care organizations shall be used solely for projects that measurably improve health outcomes for New Hampshire consumers through direct services and implementations, and not for academic research activities.”
RSA 7:6-g
“There is hereby established in the state treasury, the health care consumer protection trust fund that shall be kept separate and distinct from all other funds.”
RSA 7:6-g

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Julie MilesRPrime

Rep. Lilli WalshR, Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

11 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

18% support82% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I was recently appointed by Governor Ayotte, to serve as a public member on the New Hampshire Healthcare Consumer Protection Advisory Commission.…”
— Mitchell Cohen, Hollisopposes
“Rationale for this bill: "There's no need for regulation that protects the public, nor studies that demonstrate effective reduction in prices and improvement in care!…”
— Kenneth Dolkart, Granthamopposes

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 11, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study18–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs3:38:30–4:12:1033m 40slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; 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 Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 1 P. 36
  2. Jan 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/14/2026 11:30 am GP 158
  3. Feb 11, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2026 02:30 pm GP 158
  4. Feb 11, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 02/11/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 7 P. 13
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 21

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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