HB1038 Establishing a committee to study raising awareness of the law providing immunity from liability in certain cases involving drug overdoses.
Establishing a committee to study raising awareness of the law providing immunity from liability in certain cases involving drug overdoses.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
The bill authorizes only mileage reimbursement for committee members and does not commit state funding, though it may recommend future spending on awareness campaigns.
Your Community
Increased awareness of Good Samaritan protections could encourage overdose victims' contacts to seek emergency help without fear of prosecution, potentially reducing deaths and community harm from opioid use.
Your Freedom
Better public knowledge of existing liability protections expands residents' ability to act in emergencies without legal fear, effectively increasing practical freedom even without changing the underlying law.
Status
Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Voice Vote 02/19/2026 House Journal 5 P. 28
Sponsor
Lily Foss (D)
The Short Version
This bill creates a study committee to investigate how to better publicize New Hampshire's drug overdose Good Samaritan law, which grants immunity from liability to people who seek medical help for overdose victims. The committee will examine awareness gaps, identify effective outreach methods, and recommend whether state funding should support public education efforts, with findings due by November 2026.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ People who use drugs and their family members/contacts who may hesitate to call for emergency aid due to fear of legal consequences
- ▲ Communities with high overdose rates who could see reduced mortality if awareness increases emergency help-seeking behavior
- ▲ First responders and emergency services who benefit from earlier medical intervention
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Taxpayers funding the study committee and any subsequent awareness campaign if recommended and approved
- ▼ Minimal: only committee mileage reimbursement is immediately committed
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.