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SB 557 · 2026 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Kratom ban and town meeting rules

AI-generated

(Fourth New Title) making synthetic and semisynthetic kratom illegal to prepare, distribute, manufacture, sell, possess, or advertise, with exceptions made for scientific research, and relative to the official ballot referendum form of town meetings.

Bans preparing, distributing, manufacturing, selling, possessing, or advertising synthetic and semisynthetic kratom products except for scientific research, and changes procedures for adopting official ballot referendum voting at town meetings.AI-generated

Status

Died — the House and Senate did not agree · May 21, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill regulates kratom products and prohibits the sale of such products to anyone under 21 years of age.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Debra AltschillerDPrime
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader

Also: Sen. David WattersD, Rep. Zoe ManosD, Rep. Nancy MurphyD

Public testimony

137 signed in online · 55 wrote testimony

69% support28% oppose2% neutral

ForBill correctly targets synthetic kratom while preserving natural leaf

AgainstBan would function as harm reduction sabotage, pushing users to street drugs

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please protect our youth from the bile habit of making money by destroying our future in our children.”
— Linda Clark, Londonderrysupports
“I am a retired nurse practitioner and a certified prevention specialist. For the past 24 years my husband and I facilitate the weekly FASTER Family Support Group in Manchester for adults with a loved one with Substance Use Disorder.…”
— Susan and Patrick McKeown, Manchestersupports
“My name is Dr. Cynthia Whitaker, and I am a licensed clinical psychologist with 20 years of experience working with individuals and families navigating mental health challenges, substance use, and addiction. I offer this testimony in strong support of this bill.…”
— Cynthia Whitaker, Wearesupports
“SB 557 – Harm Reduction Concerns from a Registered Nurse Dear Committee Members, I am writing as a Registered Nurse to express concern about SB 557 and its potential impact on harm reduction efforts in New Hampshire.…”
— Melanie T., Bedfordopposes
“Kratom and 7-OH products have been a major benefit to me and made a real, positive impact on my daily life.…”
— Vincent Nash, Antiochopposes
“The USA has been ravaged by the opiate epidemic for my entire lifetime. When I graduated college, I sat down with a grade school friend of mine, and we counted friends and acquaintances that had died to opiate overdoses and abuse.…”
— john Dawyot, Gorhamopposes
“NH Voter Supports SB 557 As Written — Protect Natural Leaf Kratom Please Protect (Natural) Kratom Leaf. Differentiating between Synthetic Kratom and non-synthetic Kratom (Natural Kratom Leaf) couldnt be more important.…”
— Nathan Pasquale, Nashuaneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-02-101:00 pmSenate JudiciarySH 100Public hearing
  • 2026-04-0810:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 159Public hearing
  • 2026-04-1410:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 230Public hearing
  • 2026-05-0410:00 amHouse Finance - Division IGP 230Public hearing
  • 2026-05-0510:30 amHouse FinanceGP 230Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 1
  2. Feb 10, 2026SenHearing: 02/10/2026, Room 100, SH, 02:00 pm; SC 5A
  3. Mar 12, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1052s, 03/12/2026, Vote 5-0; SC 9
  4. Mar 12, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1052s, AF, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  5. Mar 12, 2026SenSen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2026-1159s; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  6. Mar 12, 2026SenWithout Objection, Sen. Avard Moved the Question, MA; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  7. Mar 12, 2026SenSen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2026-1159s, AA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  8. Mar 12, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1159s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  9. Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1211s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-2; CC; SC 11
  10. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1211s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  11. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1211s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  12. Mar 26, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 9 P. 54
  13. Apr 8, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2026 11:00 am GP 159
  14. Apr 14, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/14/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  15. Apr 14, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1473h 04/14/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC)
  16. Apr 23, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1473h: AA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 6
  17. Apr 23, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1473h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 6
  18. Apr 23, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 15
  19. May 4, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 05/04/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  20. May 5, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 05/05/2026 10:30 am GP 230
  21. May 5, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1798h 05/05/2026 (Vote 13-11; RC) HC 19 P. 24
  22. May 7, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  23. May 14, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1798h: AF DV 153-180 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 97
  24. May 14, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1971h(NT) (Rep. Pauer): AA RC 171-162 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 97
  25. May 14, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1971h: MA DV 176-157 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 100
  26. May 21, 2026SenSen. Gannon Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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