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SB 452 · 2026 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee

Alternative health care service providers

AI-generated

enabling health care providers to offer certain complementary and alternative health care services.

Allows individuals to offer certain complementary and alternative health care services to patients without state licensing, provided they disclose their qualifications and obtain informed consent, subject to certain conduct restrictions.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · February 12, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill enables an individual to offer certain complementary and alternative health care services to patients notwithstanding state licensing requirements, provided that the individual does not engage in certain conduct, and the individual discloses their qualifications and obtains informed consent from the patient for such services.

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

“This chapter may be cited as the "Complementary and Alternative Health Care Practice Act".”
RSA 310-D:1
“"Complementary and alternative health care services" means health care and healing methods, modalities, treatments, procedures, or protocols that have not been generally adopted by a profession, or that are not generally considered to be within the prevailing standards of care of a profession.”
RSA 310-D:2
“Notwithstanding New Hampshire licensing laws related to health care occupations and services, a person who provides complementary and alternative health care services and who is not licensed by the state of New Hampshire to practice a health care occupation shall not violate any New Hampshire licensing law relating to health care occupations and services unless that individual:”
RSA 310-D:3
“Except for persons acting pursuant to the direction of licensed health care facilities or licensed health care providers while working within the scope of their employment or direction, a complementary and alternative health care practitioner shall do all of the following:”
RSA 310-D:5

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Ruth WardRPrimeDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRVice Chair· Health and Human Services
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services

Also: Sen. Pat LongD

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services55:58–1:08:4712m 49slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1
  2. Feb 11, 2026SenHearing: 02/11/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:15 am; SC 5
  3. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 02/19/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6
  4. Feb 19, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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