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SB 441 · 2026 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee

Municipal homeless transport agreements

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the financial responsibility for local assistance and enabling municipalities to request a hearing regarding the residency of an assisted person.

Requires a municipality transporting a homeless individual to another municipality for shelter or substance use disorder treatment to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the receiving municipality beforehand, and directs the department of health and human services to adopt related rules.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · April 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires a municipality that intends to transport a homeless individual to another municipality for shelter and substance use disorder treatment to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the receiving municipality prior to transport. The bill also requires the department of health and human services to adopt rules regarding application and enforcement of such MOUs.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The MOU shall specify the types of services to be provided by the receiving municipality, any financial contributions to be made by the sending municipality, which may include payment for some or all treatment or service costs, and any other conditions mutually agreed upon by the municipalities, including limits on the number of individuals to be transferred, coordination protocols, and reporting requirements.”
RSA 165:2-d
“This section shall not apply to emergency medical transfers, transfers by law enforcement when complying with a court order, or voluntary relocation by an individual without the assistance, arrangement, or sponsorship of a municipality or their representative.”
RSA 165:2-d
“Each municipality may develop criteria for treatment or recovery organizations that operate under the opioid abatement trust fund, established in RSA 126-A:86, or syringe service programs, established under RSA 318-B:43, on what messaging and harm reduction materials may be distributed, as well as the time and location of their distribution.”
RSA 165:2-d
“Organizations working under RSA 126-A:86 or RSA 318-B:43 within a municipality may be required to offer a pathway to recovery and include literature against the use of drugs and promoting respite and recovery programs.”
RSA 165:2-d

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Victoria SullivanRPrimeVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRVice Chair· Health and Human Services
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law

Also: Rep. Mark McLeanR, Rep. Kathleen PaquetteR, Rep. Mark WardenR, Rep. Steven KesselringR

Public testimony

95 signed in online · 15 wrote testimony

1% support99% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill requires a municipality that intends to transport a person needing substance use disorder treatment and other support services to have a memorandum of understanding with the receiving municipality prior to transport. This bill should not pass.…”
— Germano Martins, Hooksettopposes
“People will suffer and/or die without access to harm reduction services. Please kill this bill immediately, it is so harmful and bad for NH.”
— Sayre Moskwa, Concordopposes
“New Hampshire's largest cities shouldn't be expected to shoulder a disproportionate share of the responsibility to ensure Granite Staters are able to access basic necessities like shelter and health care.…”
— Jillian Dubois, Concordopposes

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
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0841s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • Mar 19, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0841s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0841s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-0841sfailed
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateRoll callSen. Sullivan Floor Amendment # 2026-1245sAdopted16–8How they voted
    Overall
    67% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    16–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1245sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 15, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study17–1
    Overall
    94% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services1:52:24–2:04:4812m 24slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:36:34–1:40:303m 56slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0841s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1245s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-0841s — failed, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs2:59:33–3:01:071m 34slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs3:40–5:291m 49slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 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

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1
  2. Jan 21, 2026SenHearing: 01/21/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 2
  3. Mar 5, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0841s, 03/05/2026; Vote 3-2; CC; SC 8
  4. Mar 5, 2026SenSB 441 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  5. Mar 19, 2026SenSpecial Order to 03/19/2026, Without Objection, MA; 03/05/2026 SJ 5
  6. Mar 19, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0841s, 03/19/2026; Vote 3-2; CC; SC 10
  7. Mar 26, 2026SenSpecial Order to 03/26/2026, Without Objection, MA; 03/12/2026 SJ 6
  8. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0841s, 03/26/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 11
  9. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0841s, AF, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  10. Mar 26, 2026SenSen. Sullivan Floor Amendment # 2026-1245s, RC 16Y-8N, AA; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  11. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1245s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  12. Mar 26, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 9 P. 54
  13. Apr 8, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2026 11:30 am GP 158
  14. Apr 15, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/15/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  15. Apr 15, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 04/15/2026 (Vote 17-1; CC)
  16. Apr 23, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 10

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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