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HB 1443 · 2026 · House · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Deferring retiree medical benefits to spouse

AI-generated

allowing retired state employees to defer earned retirement medical benefits to their surviving spouse.

Clarifies that the state's payment of a premium or partial premium for retiree medical coverage applies to each Medicare-eligible retired employee and the employee's spouse.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 12, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill clarifies that the state’s payment of a premium or partial premium for retiree medical coverage applies to each Medicare-eligible retired employee and/or the employee’s spouse.

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

“Retired employees who are eligible for Medicare may voluntarily cease participation in plan benefits at any time and may reenroll without restriction.”
Section 1

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreRPrime
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip

Public testimony

4 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

25% support75% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Testimony in Support of HB 1443 I strongly support House Bill 1443, which allows retired state employees to defer earned retirement medical benefits to their surviving spouses.…”
— Georgina Lambert, Belmontsupports

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
  • Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 12, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:15:26–1:16:331m 7slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 1 P. 20
  2. Jan 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/14/2026 11:10 am GP 231
  3. Jan 21, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/21/2026 11:10 am GP 231
  4. Jan 21, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/21/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 6 P. 5
  5. Feb 12, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 4

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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