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SB 640 · 2026 · Senate · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Restricting AI for licensed professional services

AI-generated

relative to the use of artificial intelligence to provide services requiring a professional license.

Prohibits providing services requiring a professional license through artificial intelligence unless a licensed person provides them, allows the licensing office to collect enforcement fees, and sets specific AI-use requirements for psychologists and mental health and substance-use professionals.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 14, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Prohibits the use of artificial intelligence or other means to provide services requiring a professional license unless those services are provided by someone with such a license. II. Allows the office of professional licensure and certification to collect fees for the costs of enforcement of the prohibition on unlicensed practice. III. Establishes specific requirements for the use of artificial intelligence for psychologists, mental health practitioners, and alcohol and other drug use professionals.

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

“After providing notice and opportunity to be heard in accordance with RSA 310:10, and upon making an affirmative finding of unlawful practice, the office shall impose a civil penalty of $10,000 per violation.”
RSA 310:13
“The board, the attorney general, or a prosecuting attorney of any county or municipality where the act of unlawful practice takes place may maintain an action to enjoin any person or entity from continuing to do acts of unlawful practice.”
RSA 310:13
“For any order issued in resolution of a disciplinary proceeding by the board, where the board has found unlawful practice, the board may require the respondent who is the subject of such finding to pay the office the reasonable cost of investigation and prosecution of the proceeding, but which shall not exceed $10,000.”
RSA 310:13
“This sum may be imposed in addition to any otherwise authorized administrative fines levied by the board as part of the penalty.”
RSA 310:13

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Howard PearlRPrimeChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Bill GannonRVice Chair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Rep. Michael MoffettRChair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Also: Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Tim McGoughR, Rep. Peter SchmidtD

Public testimony

113 signed in online · 19 wrote testimony

74% support25% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am in favor os this bill, as it: I. Prohibits the use of artificial intelligence or other means to provide services requiring a professional license unless those services are provided by someone with such a license. II.…”
— Germano Martins, Hooksettsupports
“I am a licensed mental health professional who practices in New Hampshire. I have studied the research and practice implications of therapy bots and am pleased to see New Hampshire leading the way in this area.”
— David Prescott, Middleburysupports
“AI bots are designed to support your ideas. Therapy is not blanket support for ideas/actions. We have already seen cases of AI triggering psychosis and leading to suicides. There must be human oversight of anything related to mental health.”
— Veronica Joyce, Manchestersupports
“This bill will not adequately protect consumers because it will not adequately regulate AI chatbots. It will create inconsistencies across healthcare systems because it does not clearly define which licensed professional are subject to the bill.…”
— Cheryl Withka, Newtonopposes
“What an absolutely insane idea to replace competent, caring health or mental health professionals with AI!…”
— Meredith Jordan, Exeteropposes
“I am strongly opposed to this bill because it does not adequately address consumer protection, Will create inconsistency across the healthcare system, and it will exacerbate workforce shortages.…”
— Sheila Gardner, Doveropposes

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 # 2026-1051s4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1051sadopted
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1051sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 29, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate11–1
    Overall
    92% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration5:07:04–5:15:548m 50slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1051s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1051s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1051s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration33:56–43:049m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:09:03–1:10:351m 32slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2026-1522h
  • Apr 29, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:19:20–1:20:381m 18slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Full Committee Work Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — 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 Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 1
  2. Jan 14, 2026SenHearing: 01/14/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 1
  3. Mar 12, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1051s, 03/12/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 9
  4. Mar 12, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1051s, AA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  5. Mar 12, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1051s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  6. Mar 12, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/12/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 8 P. 114
  7. Apr 15, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/15/2026 11:10 am GP 231
  8. Apr 29, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/29/2026 01:00 pm GP 231
  9. Apr 22, 2026HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2026-1522h: 04/22/2026 11:00 am GP 231
  10. Apr 29, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 04/29/2026 (Vote 11-1; CC) HC 19 P. 14
  11. May 14, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 24

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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