SB 515 · 2026 · Senate · Children and Family Law Committee

Juvenile residential treatment placement rules

relative to judicial determinations related to children placed in a qualified residential treatment program in certain juvenile matters and appointment of counsel in certain circumstances.

Revises juvenile placement statutes for qualified residential treatment programs to align with federal requirements, requiring a qualified assessment within 30 days and court review within 60 days, and allows litigation to proceed when counsel has not yet been secured for a child.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 8, 2026

✓Introduced
✓Senate
✓House
✓Governor
✓Law

Analysis

This bill revises juvenile statutes relative to placements in qualified residential treatment programs to align with federal requirements. The bill directs the department of health and human services to have a qualified assessment of the child conducted within 30 days of placement and the court to review the assessment and placement within 60 days of placement. This bill further allows litigation to continue if, despite a diligent search, counsel has not yet been secured for a child in certain proceedings under the child protection act. The bill is a request of the department of health and human services.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“For any child placed in a qualified residential treatment program, as defined in the federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2017[, the court shall]:”

RSA 169-B:19-d

“The department shall have an assessment [to be] completed within 30 days of placement by a qualified individual as defined by the federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2017; and II.”

RSA 169-C:19-f

“The court shall review the assessment and issue an order approving the placement or changing the placement within 60 days of placement. 126:4 New Subparagraph;”

RSA 169-D:9-d

“The court shall review the assessment and issue an order approving the placement or changing the placement within 60 days of placement. 126:2 Child Protection Act;”

RSA 169-B:19-d

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

9 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

89% support11% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“My name is Kai Berger, and I am the founder of the Hilde B Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to ending domestic violence through prevention, awareness, and systemic change.…”

— Kai Berger, San Ramon · Hilde B Foundationsupports

“Opposition to SB 515-FN Dear Members of the Committee, I respectfully oppose SB 515-FN on constitutional and structural grounds.…”

— MATTHEW RHODES, Unityopposes

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 29, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0129s3–0
Overall
100% yea
Jan 29, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-0129sadopted
Jan 29, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0129sadopted
Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
Mar 31, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass16–0
Overall
100% yea
Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

Jan 15, 2026Public hearingSenate Children and Family Law24:22–26:372m 15slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
Jan 29, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0129s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0129s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-0129s — adopted, voice vote
Mar 24, 2026Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law1:32:14–1:33:1056slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
Mar 31, 2026Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law19:41–23:293m 48slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
May 14, 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

Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 1
Jan 15, 2026SenHearing: 01/15/2026, Room 103, SH, 10:20 am; SC 48
Jan 29, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0129s, 01/29/2026; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 3
Jan 29, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0129s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
Jan 29, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0129s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 5 P. 124
Mar 24, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/24/2026 11:00 am GP 230
Mar 31, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/31/2026 10:00 am GP 230
Mar 31, 2026House: Ought to Pass 03/31/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC)
Apr 23, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 3
May 14, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 154
May 14, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
Jun 5, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 06/05/2026; Chapter 126
Aug 1, 2026SenI. Section 4 Effective 08/01/2026
Aug 1, 2027SenII. Section 5 Effective 08/01/2027
Aug 4, 2026SenIII. Remainder Effective 08/04/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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