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SB 615 · 2026 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee

Commission to study SNAP program

AI-generated

(New Title) establishing a commission to study the use and regulation of SNAP in New Hampshire.

Establishes a commission to study the use and regulation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in New Hampshire.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill establishes a commission to study the use and regulation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in New Hampshire.

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

“There is established a commission to study the use and regulation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in New Hampshire.”
RSA 161:15
“Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except that legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.”
RSA 161:15
“The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.”
RSA 161:15
“The commission shall submit an interim report with its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.”
RSA 161:15

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Victoria SullivanRPrimeVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Daryl AbbasRPresident Pro Tempore
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Jeanine NotterRAssistant Majority Leader
  • Rep. Lisa MazurRVice Chair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Also: Rep. Samuel FarringtonR, Rep. Mark McLeanR

Public testimony

60 signed in online · 6 wrote testimony

55% support45% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I SUPPORT SB 615, the SNAP BILL to study the SNAP program. know that a hungry child cannot learn which is why I strongly support SB 615. We must ensure our state’s nutrition programs are working effectively to reach the 1 in 7 New Hampshire children facing food insecurity.…”
— Kathleen Malsbenden, Newmarketsupports
“I work at the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter and we wrote testimony against the original SB615 bill.…”
— June Lemen, Nashuasupports
“This is an OK idea, but we are putting the cart before the horses. in New Hampshire (and every state), SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy toilet paper or diapers.…”
— Germano Martins, Hooksettopposes
“I am an independent voter. I was opposed to the original iteration of this bill, which I saw as an attempt to deny SNAP benefits to people in our community through the creation of impossible "work requirements" and hard to police limits on what food SNAP recipients are allowed to purchase.…”
— Debora Hatcher, Doveropposes
“Corporate welfare is where you should be looking, wealth discrepancy is off the charts, and you want to worry about these pennies, this is a dog whistle to try to make life more difficult for those we should be supporting, every dollar that goes to the poor and working class goes right back into the economy.…”
— David Holt, Somersworthopposes

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 12, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1045s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1045sadopted
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1045sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass7–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 15, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • May 7, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislatefailed
  • May 7, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 21, 2026HouseVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2031eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2031eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Servicesfrom 7:32:16located in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateSenate floor4:46:57–4:49:192m 22slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1045s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1045s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1045s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs4:38:13–4:46:127m 59slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs1:13:17–1:14:461m 29slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor2:17:07–2:19:572m 50slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — failed, voice vote; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2031e — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2031e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled 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 14, 2026SenHearing: 01/14/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:45 pm; SC 47
  3. Mar 12, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1045s, 03/12/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 9
  4. Mar 12, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1045s, AA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  5. Mar 12, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1045s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  6. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/26/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 11
  7. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  8. Mar 26, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 9 P. 55
  9. Apr 8, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2026 01:30 pm GP 158
  10. Apr 15, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/15/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  11. Apr 15, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 04/15/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 18 P. 14
  12. Apr 22, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  13. May 7, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MF VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 36
  14. May 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 36
  15. May 21, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2031e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 37
  16. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2031e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  17. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  18. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  19. Jun 19, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 06/19/2026; Chapter 200
  20. Nov 1, 2027SenI. Section 2 Effective 11/01/2027
  21. Jun 19, 2026SenII. Remainder Effective 06/19/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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