HB 1372 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee
Study on reestablishing state psychiatric hospital
AI-generatedestablishing a commission to study the feasibility of reestablishing a state psychiatric hospital for adults with severe mental illness.
Establishes a commission to study the feasibility of reestablishing a state psychiatric hospital for adults with severe mental illness.AI-generated
Status
Referred to interim study (House) · March 5, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill establishes a commission to study the feasibility of reestablishing a state psychiatric hospital for adults with severe mental illness.
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
“There is established a commission to study the need for, and the feasibility of, reestablishing a state psychiatric hospital for adults with severe and persistent mental illness.”
“The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the clerk of the house, the clerk of the senate, and the governor on or before November 1, 2026.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Joe AlexanderRChair· Housing
- Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
Public testimony
125 signed in online · 20 wrote testimony
4% support95% oppose1% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“My mom died in 2019 because she was 12th in line for a bed at NHH so Exeter Hospital discharged her and Seacoast Mental Health didn’t bother checking on her. She asked for all the help but because there wasn’t a bed for her she got sent home to die.…”
“We've known as a society for many decades now that institutionalization often does more harm that good. Hospital delirium is well known to any health care provider. The goal should always be to shorten stays in institutions, not research ways to extend them.”
“Libraries should be controlled by the people and not by the government--to preserve critical thinking and avoid authoritarianism.”
“This Bill establishes study commission on developing new psychiatric hospital for long-term institutionalization, never a good option.”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 18, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study18–0Overall100% yea
- Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted
Hearings and debates
- Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs5:33:41–5:50:0016m 19slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Feb 18, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; Executive Session
- Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamRefer for Interim Study — adopted, voice vote
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 1 P. 17
- Feb 11, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2026 02:00 pm GP 158
- Feb 18, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2026 02:30 pm GP 158
- Feb 18, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 02/18/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 9 P. 17
- Mar 5, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 20
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.