Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

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: I. Makes synthetic and semisynthetic kratom illegal to prepare, distribute, manufacture, sell, possess, or advertise, with exceptions made for scientific research. II. Amends the method of adopting official ballot referendum form of meeting.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill As Amended by the House (2nd committee). Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“No licensee shall use, or allow to be used, their premises for any purpose contrary to law.”
RSA 179:50
“No licensee shall permit or allow the on-premises ingestion, inhalation, smoking, or vaping of any unauthorized kratom products, as defined by RSA 175:1, LXIV -h, on any licensed premises.”
RSA 179:50
“No licensee shall sell, distribute, furnish, offer for sale, advertise, manufacture, or possess any unauthorized kratom products as defined by RSA 175:1, LXIV-h.”
RSA 179:50
“The penalty for violations of paragraph II or paragraph III shall be determined by the state liquor commission in accordance with rules adopted under RSA 541-A.”
RSA 179:50

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary2:03:28–2:09:065m 38slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateSenate floor3:25:55–3:33:217m 26slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1052s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1159s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1052s — failed, voice vote
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1211s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1211s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1211s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:01:15–1:11:5810m 43slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety26:24–27:311m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1473h; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1473h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1473h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • May 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I48:26–50:121m 46slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • May 5, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance36:50–42:175m 27slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1798h — roll call; Executive Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:07:47–6:30:5123m 4slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1971h — adopted, division 176-157; Amendment # 2026-1798h — failed, division 153-180; FLAM # 2026-1971h(NT) (Rep. Pauer) — adopted, roll call 171-162
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:12:12–1:13:0856slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Gannon Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment — 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 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.

Background reading

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

Documents (PDF)

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