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HB 1763 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

Study on group home siting rules

AI-generated

(New Title) establishing a committee to study siting and maintenance rules regarding certain intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) and acquired brain disorder (ABD) community residences.

Establishes a committee to study siting and maintenance rules for intellectual and developmental disability and acquired brain disorder community residences.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 24, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill establishes a committee to study siting and maintenance rules regarding certain intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) and acquired brain disorder (ABD) community residences.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted.

“There is established a committee to study siting and maintenance rules applicable to intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) and acquired brain disorder (ABD) community residences, including group homes, that are funded, certified, or overseen by the department of health and human services.”
Section 181:1

What the committee covers: group homes and other community residences funded or overseen by the state.AI-generated

“Study issues associated with the creation of administrative rules and regulations for the siting, operation, and maintenance of community residences within the state. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, building codes, fire codes, conflicts with local land use ordinances and regulations, maintaining the character of a neighborhood, good-neighbor and nuisance rules, and other related codes, rules, and laws. The committee may seek the testimony of any individual or organization it deems appropriate.”
Section 181:3, I

The subject list names the actual friction — building and fire codes against local land use rules and neighborhood character.AI-generated

“Solicit information, testimony, and input from the public, as well as from relevant state agencies, organizations, municipal representatives, providers, advocates, and subject-matter experts, including, but not limited to, the following: (a) The bureau chief of the bureau of developmental services, or a designated representative; (b) A designated representative of the disability rights center of New Hampshire; (c) A designated representative of the New Hampshire developmental services quality council; (d) A representative of the area agency system recommended by the Community Support Network, Incorporated; (e) A representative of residential service providers; (f) An individual with expertise in building or fire safety; and (g) A municipal planning or zoning official.”
Section 181:3, II

Who must be heard from, written into statute: disability advocates, providers, and a municipal zoning official.AI-generated

“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 house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, the executive council, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.”
Section 181:5

The deadline and the audience for the report.AI-generated

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mike DragoRPrimeMajority Whip
  • Rep. Lisa MazurRVice Chair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
  • Rep. Steven BogertRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Liz BarbourRVice Chair· Environment and Agriculture

Also: Rep. Cindy BennettR, Rep. Mary FordR, Rep. Brian NadeauR, Rep. Kristine PerezR

Public testimony

4 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

75% support25% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The identified position applies to both the bill as introduced and the amended version.”
— Marissa Berg, Concord · Community Support Network, Inc.opposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
  • Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs6:13:54–6:15:011m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0193h (NT); Executive Session
  • Feb 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0193h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0193h (NT) — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 18, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services2:11:56–2:20:258m 29slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 16, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1431s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1431s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1431s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor31:06–32:191m 13slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1431s (Reps. W. MacDonald, Janigian) — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2126e — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2126e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled 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 Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 1 P. 35
  2. Jan 21, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2026 01:00 pm GP 158
  3. Jan 28, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/28/2026 02:30 pm GP 158
  4. Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0193h (NT) 01/28/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 6 P. 7
  5. Feb 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0193h (NT): AA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 6
  6. Feb 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0193h: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 6
  7. Feb 12, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 7
  8. Feb 12, 2026HouseReferral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 62
  9. Feb 5, 2026SenIntroduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 4
  10. Mar 18, 2026SenHearing: 03/18/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:45 am; SC 10
  11. Apr 16, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1431s, 04/16/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 14A
  12. Apr 16, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1431s, AA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  13. Apr 16, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1431s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  14. May 7, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1431s (Reps. W. MacDonald, Janigian): MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 5
  15. May 21, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2126e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/21/2026); SJ 14
  16. May 21, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2126e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 40
  17. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  18. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  19. Jun 19, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026; Chapter 181; eff. 06/19/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

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

  • Developmental ServicesState agency

    NH Department of Health and Human Services — How the ten area agencies and the Medicaid waivers fit together — the system the oversight commission reviews.AI-generated

  • Disability Rights Center — New HampshireAdvocacy — NH

    Disability Rights Center-NH — The state's federally designated protection and advocacy agency, named in the notification duties.AI-generated

  • Bureau of Developmental ServicesState agency

    NH Department of Health and Human Services — The bureau named throughout the statute, and the abuse-reporting line for services recipients.AI-generated

  • Report adult abusePrimary source

    NH Department of Health and Human Services — New Hampshire's adult protection reporting duty, which the notification requirements sit on top of.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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