SB 661 · 2026 · Senate · Finance Committee

Oversight of pooled risk management programs

relative to pooled risk management programs.

Enables the secretary of state to require abatement or seek receivership of a pooled risk management program, requires pro rata assessment of members to cover deficiencies, and sets standards of care and contingency reserves.AI-generated

Status

Vetoed by the governor — the override vote has not been held yet · June 24, 2026

✓Introduced
✓Senate
✓House
Governor
Law

Governor's veto message

“Risk pools are cooperative self-insurance organizations that allow our municipalities, counties, and school districts to manage health care costs and other risks instead of utilizing commercial insurance. Predictability is essential to deliver on this goal, which means reserves driven by actuarial expertise and operations following industry best practices.”

— Gov. Kelly Ayotte · Jun 19, 2026 · excerpt

Governor's press release

A passage from the Governor's veto message, quoted verbatim. The full message enters the record on veto day.

Analysis

This bill: I. Enables the secretary of state to require abatement of insufficient assets or to seek receivership, if necessary, of a pooled risk management program. II. Requires assessment of each participating member of the pooled risk management program on a pro rata basis to satisfy the amount of the deficiency. III. Requires the governing board of the pooled risk management program to use a standard of care, diligence, prudence, and skill in the management of the program. IV. Provides for the assessment of a pooled risk management program’s participating members, if required, after an actuarial calculation. V. Provides for contingency reserve standards depending on the pooled risk management programs line of coverage and requiring a contingency reserve replenishment if a program’s contingency reserves fall below the minimum level. VI. Requires pooled risk management programs to make certain public disclosures to prospective and actual member political subdivisions.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as passed by both chambers.

“Pooled risk management programs established for the benefit of political subdivisions shall make an informational filing, as defined in RSA 5-B:2, II, with the department and shall pay an annual filing fee of $250.”

RSA 5-B:4

Sets the annual filing requirement and a $250 fee for programs regulated under the rewritten chapter.AI-generated

“If a pooled risk management program is determined to be insolvent, financially impaired, or otherwise unable to discharge its claim and administrative losses and liabilities and other legal obligations of the plan, each participating member of the program shall be assessed on a pro rata basis calculated by the amount of its annual contribution to satisfy the amount of the deficiency.”

RSA 5-B:4-b, V

Requires member political subdivisions to cover a deficiency through pro rata assessments if a program cannot meet its obligations.AI-generated

“For a pool providing health line of coverage, the contingency reserve is a minimum of 12 percent and a maximum of 20 percent of member contributions for the current fiscal year.”

RSA 5-B:5, I(f)

Sets specific contingency-reserve floors and ceilings tied to a program's line of coverage.AI-generated

“Any pooled risk management program meeting the standards required under this chapter is not an insurance company, reciprocal insurer, or insurer under the laws of this state, and administration of any activities of the plan shall not constitute doing an insurance business for purposes of regulation or taxation.”

RSA 5-B:6, I

Confirms that compliant pooled programs are exempt from state insurance regulation and taxation.AI-generated

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

5 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

60% support40% oppose0% neutral

ForBill is well drafted by its sponsors

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill is well put together, I believe Senator Carson and Senator Gray did well putting this together. It is important to have these safeguards. It is important to pass SB88. We should pass it.”

— Germano Martins, Hooksettsupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings and debates

Feb 10, 2026Public hearingSenate Finance57:41–2:25:291h 27m 48s
Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floor5:08:28–5:22:2013m 52s
Apr 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs3:20:46–3:40:3019m 44s
Apr 22, 2026Subcommittee work sessionHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs11:20–14:213m 1s
May 6, 2026Subcommittee work sessionHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs9:06–47:0437m 58s
May 6, 2026Executive sessionHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs52:51–54:552m 4s

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

Votes

yeanay

Starting text: Bill as introduced

Mar 26, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1208s5–0
Overall
100% yea
Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1208sadopted
Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1208sadopted
Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
May 6, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass18–0
Overall
100% yea
May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted

Legislative history

Jan 29, 2026SenIntroduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Finance; SJ 3
Feb 10, 2026SenHearing: 02/10/2026, Room 103, SH, 02:30 pm; SC 5
Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1208s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
Mar 26, 2026SenSB 661 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1208s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1208s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
Mar 26, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 9 P. 55
Apr 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/14/2026 01:15 pm GP 229
Apr 22, 2026HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 04/22/2026 10:00 am GP 229
May 6, 2026HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 05/06/2026 10:00 am GP 229
May 6, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 05/06/2026 10:30 am GP 229
May 6, 2026House: Ought to Pass 05/06/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 19 P. 11
May 14, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 11
Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
Jun 19, 2026SenVetoed by Governor 06/19/2026

Coverage

Governor vetoes changes to health-care risk pool oversightUnion Leader · Jun 22, 2026
Gov. Ayotte vetoed SB 661, which would have required pooled risk management programs such as HealthTrust to reduce their reserve levels.AI-generated
HealthTrust Pushes Back on Secretary of State After Comments About Pooled RiskInDepthNH · Jul 22, 2026
The article references SB 661, noting one official supported the governor's veto of a bill that would have set reserve caps without actuarial input.AI-generated
A year after crisis, no clear answers for school district risk poolsNHPR · Jul 23, 2026
The article discusses SB 661, which would require risk pools to maintain contingency reserves between roughly 12% and 20%, with excess funds directed to a stabilization fund for municipalities.AI-generated
New Hampshire risk pool insurance crisis deepensValley News · Jul 25, 2026
The article names SB 661, which would require health care risk pools to maintain contingency reserves between 12% and 20%, with excess funds directed to a municipal stabilization fund.AI-generated
SB 661 (2026)Citizens Count
Citizens Count describes SB 661 as adding state oversight and regulation of pooled risk management programs, particularly when funds are insufficient, a measure vetoed by the governor.AI-generated

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Municipal Risk Pools 101Explainer
Benchmark Analytics — Overview of what municipal risk pools are and how governments band together to share liability, property, and workers' compensation risk.AI-generated
Operations Manual for Public Entity Risk PoolsIndustry
Association of Governmental Risk Pools (AGRiP) — The national pooling association's manual describing how member-governed public risk pools operate and manage surplus and reserves.AI-generated
Coverage & BenefitsNH context — pool's view
Primex (NH Public Risk Management Exchange) — A New Hampshire risk pool's description of the coverage and member-ownership model it offers to towns and schools.AI-generated
How the Local Government Center lost its appealNH context
NH Business Review — Coverage of the state Supreme Court ruling requiring the Local Government Center to return surplus to member towns and schools.AI-generated
State: Primex Deal Possible Game ChangerNH context
New Hampshire Public Radio — Report on a settlement with the Primex risk pool over excess surplus and its implications for oversight of public pools.AI-generated
New Hampshire risk pool insurance crisis deepensNH context
Valley News — Recent reporting on financial strains in New Hampshire's municipal risk pools amid renewed legislative scrutiny.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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