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HB 661 · 2026 · House · Children and Family Law Committee

Managing foster children's federal benefits

AI-generated

relative to the department of health and human services management of social security payments, supplemental security income payments, and veterans benefits for children in foster care.

Establishes requirements for the department of health and human services to manage federal benefits for children in foster care, provides for appointment of a representative payee, directs establishment of ABLE accounts, and phases in the percentage of benefits conserved beginning July 1, 2028.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 16, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill clarifies the obligation of the department of health and human services to ensure that social security payments, supplemental security income payments, and veterans benefits for children in the care of the department be held securely until the child has reached the age of majority or is no longer in the care of the department. The bill makes an appropriation to the department for this purpose.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mary Jane WallnerDPrimeRanking Member· Finance
  • Rep. Debra DeSimoneRChair· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services

Also: Rep. Maureen MooneyR, Sen. Pat LongD

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Hearings

  • 2025-02-1110:00 amHouse Children and Family LawLOB 206-208Public hearing
  • 2025-03-0411:00 amHouse Children and Family LawLOB 206-208Public hearing
  • 2025-03-1710:00 amHouse Finance - Division IIILOB 210-211Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-04-0110:00 amHouse FinanceLOB 210-211Public hearing
  • 2025-09-2910:00 amHouse Finance - Division IIIGP 230Public hearing
  • 2025-10-3010:00 amHouse FinanceGP 230Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2026-02-0910:00 amHouse Finance - Division IIIGP 230Public hearing
  • 2026-02-139:00 amHouse Finance - Division IIIGP 230Public hearing
  • 2026-02-202:30 pmHouse FinanceGP 230Public hearing
  • 2026-03-259:00 amSenate Health and Human ServicesSH 100Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 3 P. 21
  2. Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 01:00 pm LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 4, 2025House: Ought to Pass 03/04/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC)
  5. Mar 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 3
  6. Mar 13, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 3
  7. Mar 17, 2025HouseDivision III Work Session: 03/17/2025 10:00 am LOB 210-211
  8. Apr 1, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/01/2025 10:00 am LOB 210-211
  9. Apr 2, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  10. Sep 29, 2025HouseDivision III Work Session: 09/29/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  11. Oct 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 10/30/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  12. Oct 30, 2025HouseMajority : Refer for Interim Study 10/30/2025 (Vote 14-11; RC) HC 51 P. 36
  13. Nov 7, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3055h
  14. Jan 8, 2026HouseRecommit (Rep. Seaworth): MA VV 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 10
  15. Feb 9, 2026HouseDivision III Work Session: 02/09/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  16. Feb 13, 2026HouseDivision III Work Session: 02/13/2026 09:00 am GP 230
  17. Feb 20, 2026House==CANCELLED== Division III Work Session: 02/20/2026 09:00 am GP 234
  18. Feb 20, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/20/2026 02:30 pm GP 230
  19. Feb 20, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0821h 02/20/2026 (Vote 13-12; RC) HC 10 P. 46
  20. Mar 3, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study
  21. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0821h: AA DV 321-4 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 171
  22. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0821h: MA DV 309-19 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 172
  23. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 7
  24. Mar 25, 2026SenHearing: 03/25/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:00 am; SC 11
  25. Apr 16, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1425s, 04/16/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 14A
  26. Apr 16, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1425s, AA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  27. Apr 16, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1425s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  28. May 14, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1854s, 05/14/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 18
  29. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1854s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  30. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1854s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  31. May 14, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1854s and 2026-1425s and Requests CofC (Reps. Weyler, DeSimone): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 149
  32. May 14, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. DeSimone, Rice, Nelson, Mooney 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 149
  33. May 14, 2026SenSen. Rochefort Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  34. May 14, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Rochefort, Lang, Rosenwald; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  35. May 26, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 11:00 am GP 231
  36. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2061c; 06/04/2026
  37. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2061c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  38. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2061c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  39. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2171e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  40. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2171e: AA VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  41. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  42. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
  43. Jul 10, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 287; eff. I. Sec 1 eff 7/1/2027 II. Sec 2 eff 1/1/2028 III. Sec 3 eff 7/10/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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