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HB 1798 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

Medicaid coverage for infant diapers

AI-generated

relative to the coverage of diapers under the state Medicaid plan.

Directs the department of health and human services to seek a Medicaid demonstration waiver covering diapers for an infant's first year of life and appropriates funds for that purpose.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · February 12, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill directs the department of health and human services to submit a demonstration waiver to CMS to provide Medicaid coverage for diapers for the first year of an infant's life. The bill also makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for this purpose.

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

“On or before November 1, 2026, the commissioner of the department of health and human services shall submit a Section 1115 demonstration waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the purpose of providing Medicaid coverage for the cost of 100 diapers a month for the first 12 months of a child’s life.”
RSA 126-A:4-j
“Beginning November 1, 2026, the department shall submit biennial reports to the oversight committee on health and human services, established in RSA 126-A:13, regarding the status of the waiver application.”
RSA 126-A:4-j
“Subject to approval by CMS, the department shall make best efforts to implement the benefit on or before May 1, 2027.”
RSA 126-A:4-j

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Carrie SorensenDPrime
  • Rep. Laura TelerskiDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Rep. Mary Jane WallnerDSenior Democratic Advisor
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader

Also: Rep. Alicia GreggD, Rep. Mark PearsonR, Rep. Lee Ann KlugerD, Rep. Alice WadeD

Public testimony

152 signed in online · 17 wrote testimony

95% support5% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“As a single mother attending school and working, one of my biggest stresses was the extraordinary cost of diapers. Some people overlook the fact that children's health and wellness can be directly affected by how often they can be changed.…”
— Vanessa BLAIS, Manchestersupports
“As a parent of now teens I still remember the cost of diapers when they were young. I wholeheartedly support this bill as an aid for needy families to adequately take care of their young children.”
— Kerstie Hazelbaker, Goffstownsupports
“As someone who has spent time organizing diaper drives for local organizations, such as the Manchester diaper pantry, I am intimately aware with the amount of need in our community for a diapering supplies for infants.…”
— Melissa Gore, Londonderrysupports
“While adult diapers are humiliating, there is some minimal personal maintenance costs which are beyond the scope of government. That is why government does not supply toilet paper.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes
“I feel that Medicaid money is scarce and this could be better funded under a different program such as WIC”
— Roy Schweiker, Concordopposes
“Please deny this bill because it will take up too much tax dollars Parents can buy their own diapers.”
— Julie S, Newportopposes

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
  • Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Feb 12, 2026HouseRoll callLay HB1798 on Table (Rep. Kesselring)Adopted197–158How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    196–0100% yea
    Democrats
    1–1581% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callRemove from Table (Rep. W. Thomas)Failed151–185How they voted
    Overall
    45% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    0–1850% yea
    Democrats
    151–0100% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs4:11:05–4:27:4716m 42slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Feb 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floor3:54:26–3:59:435m 17slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB1798 on Table (Rep. Kesselring) — adopted, roll call 197-158
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:31:50–1:35:243m 34slocated in the stream transcriptRemove from Table (Rep. W. Thomas) — failed, roll call 151-185

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 01:00 pm GP 158
  3. Jan 28, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/28/2026 02:30 pm GP 158
  4. Jan 28, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/28/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 6 P. 14
  5. Feb 3, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0249h
  6. Feb 12, 2026HouseLay HB1798 on Table (Rep. Kesselring): MA RC 197-158 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 38
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseRemove from Table (Rep. W. Thomas): MF RC 151-185 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 75

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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