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SB 498 · 2026 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee

Children's behavioral health funding association

AI-generated

relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.

Establishes the New Hampshire children's behavioral health association to collect assessments from insurance carriers and other payers to fund payments to care management entities providing childhood behavioral health services.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · May 14, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill establishes the New Hampshire children's behavioral health association for the purpose of collecting assessments to fund payments to care management entities for the provision of childhood behavioral health services. The association is authorized to collect assessments from insurance carriers, stop loss carriers, and third-party administrators for fully insured and self-funded health plans. The assessment base would include covered lives in the state employee health plan, as well as pooled risk management programs under RSA 5-b. The funds provided for this purpose would be deposited in a dedicated fund administered by the insurance commissioner.

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

“"Assessable lives" means all children under 19 years of age residing in the state who have assessable coverage written or administered by an assessable entity, with the exception of children whose childhood behavioral health services are paid for under Medicaid.”
RSA 135-F:10
“There is hereby created a nonprofit corporation to be known as the New Hampshire children's behavioral health association.”
RSA 135-F:11
“The New Hampshire children's behavioral health association shall be comprised of all assessable entities.”
RSA 135-F:12
“The board shall determine an assessment for each assessable entity in accordance with this section.”
RSA 135-F:13

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Regina BirdsellRPrimeMajority Leader

Public testimony

230 signed in online · 41 wrote testimony

99% support1% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am a psychiatric provider. Too many times my patients have a mental health crisis, re-stabilize in the hospital, and then are left afloat without support to return to the community once they discharge.…”
— Aslynn Romano, Concordsupports
“I am a mental health provider, a clinical social worker, and have worked with teens for the last 30 years. I strongly support all families having this option of wrap around services.”
— Beth Salvi-Hudgins, Newmarketsupports
“Having a 41 year career as a pediatric nurse practitioner, I know the importance of this bill addressing the comprehensive needs of children for them and their families. Behavioral issues comprise a huge amount of time and energy, in addition to expense, that stress our families.…”
— Susan McKeown, Manchestersupports
“Appears to be a way to charge insurance companies more, which would further increase rates for everyone”
— Cory Stone, DOVERopposes

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
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass7–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Mar 26, 2026HouseVoice voteVacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Rep. Telerski)adopted
  • May 6, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Refer for Interim Study14–4
    Overall
    78% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseDivisionRefer for Interim StudyAdopted188–164
    Overall
    53% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseRoll callReconsider Interim Study (Rep. Seibert)Failed162–183How they voted
    Overall
    47% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    43–14623% yea
    Democrats
    119–3776% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services1:31:59–2:01:5930mlocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamIntroduced (in recess); Vacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Rep. Telerski) — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 16, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs6:08:25–6:21:5313m 28slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Apr 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs1:40:34–2:04:4324m 9slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session
  • Apr 29, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs15:47–18:262m 39slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • May 6, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs45:59–47:561m 57slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study — roll call; Subcommittee Work Session; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floor19:36–26:296m 53slocated in the stream transcriptRefer for Interim Study — adopted, division 188-164; Reconsider Interim Study (Rep. Seibert) — failed, roll call 162-183

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, 09:30 am; SC 5
  3. Mar 5, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/05/2026; Vote 4-1; CC; SC 8
  4. Mar 5, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  5. Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/26/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 11
  6. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  7. Mar 26, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 9 P. 54
  8. Mar 26, 2026HouseVacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Rep. Telerski): MA VV (in recess of) 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 55
  9. Apr 16, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/16/2026 01:30 pm GP 229
  10. Apr 22, 2026HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 04/22/2026 10:00 am GP 229
  11. Apr 28, 2026HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 04/28/2026 10:00 am GP 229
  12. Apr 29, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 04/29/2026 10:00 am GP 229
  13. May 6, 2026HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 05/06/2026 10:00 am GP 229
  14. May 6, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 05/06/2026 10:30 am GP 229
  15. May 6, 2026HouseMajority : Refer for Interim Study 05/06/2026 (Vote 14-4; RC) HC 19 P. 17
  16. May 7, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1757h
  17. May 14, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA DV 188-164 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 27
  18. May 14, 2026HouseReconsider Interim Study (Rep. Seibert): MF RC 162-183 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 50

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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