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HB 1593 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

State disability nondiscrimination protections

AI-generated

relative to nondiscrimination due to disability.

Codifies into state law the nondiscrimination protections of federal Rehabilitation Act section 504 for individuals with disabilities in programs receiving state or federal financial assistance, and establishes remedies including civil action and attorneys' fees for prevailing parties.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill codifies the language of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination based on disability by recipients and providers of state or federal financial assistance. The bill also codifies remedies available under section 505, which includes reasonable attorneys' fees for certain prevailing parties.

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

“No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in New Hampshire, as defined in RSA 354-A:2, IV, shall solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal or state financial assistance.”
RSA 354-A:16-a
“The remedies, procedures, and rights to bring civil action, obtain an injunction or declaratory relief, right to appeal, and right to attorneys' fees shall be available, with respect to any complaint under RSA 354-A:16-a to any employee or applicant for employment aggrieved by the final disposition of such complaint, or by the failure to take final action on such complaint.”
RSA 354-A:16-b
“The head of each state agency shall promulgate regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.”
RSA 354-A:16-a
“For the purposes of this section, the term ‘‘program or activity’’ means all of the operations of:”
RSA 354-A:16-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Patricia CornellDPrimeRanking Member· Education Policy
  • Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Rep. Muriel HallDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Policy

Also: Rep. Loren SeligD, Rep. Megan MurrayD, Rep. Peggy BalboniD, Rep. Tracy BricchiD, Sen. Pat LongD

Public testimony

313 signed in online · 60 wrote testimony

97% support3% oppose0% neutral

ForPersonal testimony that 504 accommodations enable independence

AgainstClaimed to violate First Amendment religious freedom

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please support this bill to help ensure all children and young adults are able to have equal treatment in a variety of settings across NH. This bill ensures that schools, hospitals, and state-funded programs remain accessible and inclusive for all children.…”
— Carey Greene, Salemsupports
“This important bill will codify Section 504’s anti-discrimination and integration mandate regulations into state law. Would be especially important if lawsuits challenging constitutionality of Section 504 are successful or if the current administration repeals those regulations.”
— Richard DeMark, Meredithsupports
“At its core, this bill is about stability, clarity, and continuity of civil rights protections for Granite Staters with disabilities.…”
— Adam Thompson, Nashuasupports
“My name is Shannon Bouchard, and I respectfully submit this written testimony in opposition to the proposed legislation creating RSA 354-A:16-a and 354-A:16-b relative to disability discrimination.…”
— Shannon Bouchard, Sandownopposes
“I had a spinal injury at age one. I walked with crutches until my early 60’s, Up until then, I thought I understood most of the issues faced by people with physical disabilities.…”
— Deborah Bruss, Concordopposes
“TO: House Judiciary Committee FROM: Rep. Terry W. Roy, Chair of Criminal Justice and Public Safety RE: Opposition to HB 1593 – Relative to Nondiscrimination Due to Disability DATE: February 25, 2026 ?Chairman Lynn and Members of the Judiciary Committee, ?I am writing to…”
— Terry Roy, Deerfieldopposes

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
  • Feb 27, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Refer for Interim Study11–6
    Overall
    65% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 25, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary4:46:32–4:48:191m 47slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Executive Session

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 Judiciary HJ 1 P. 27
  2. Feb 25, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/25/2026 02:00 pm GP 230
  3. Feb 25, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/25/2026 02:00 pm GP 230
  4. Feb 27, 2026HouseMajority : Refer for Interim Study 02/27/2026 (Vote 11-6; RC) HC 10 P. 102
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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