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HB1797 Relative to eligibility for public assistance, including the New Hampshire employment program, family assistance program, and SNAP.

Healthcare Dead Auto-scored

Relative to eligibility for public assistance, including the New Hampshire employment program, family assistance program, and SNAP.

Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?

4

Overall Impact Score

Concerning

Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)

4
💰

Your Wallet

Tightening eligibility could cut off assistance for families in need, increasing food insecurity and emergency service costs.

3
🏘️

Your Community

Restricting public assistance eligibility can push vulnerable families deeper into poverty and increase demand on food banks and emergency services.

4
⚖️

Your Freedom

Additional requirements and restrictions reduce access to safety net programs for eligible residents.

Status

Refer to Interim Study, Motion Adopted, Voice Vote; 05/07/2026; Senate Journal 11

Voted Yes

0 R

Voted No

0 R

R Yes D Yes R No D No

Sponsor

Jim Kofalt (R)

The Short Version

Would modify eligibility requirements for public assistance programs including SNAP and family assistance, likely adding restrictions or work requirements. Passed House 172-161 with amendment, advancing through Senate.

Who's Behind This Bill?

Who Benefits

  • ▲ Those who believe tighter eligibility reduces program misuse

Who Pays the Price

  • ▼ Low-income families losing benefits
  • ▼ Children in food-insecure households
  • ▼ Community social services absorbing unmet needs

Roll Call Detail (1 vote)

Every recorded floor vote on this bill, with each legislator's individual vote. Click a name to see that rep's full record.

Who actually supports this bill?

Across the 1 recorded vote on this bill — counting each legislator's net direction and treating kill motions as opposing the bill — Republicans supported it ( 172 for , 7 against ) , and Democrats opposed it ( 154 against ) .

"Supporting" means voting for passage OR voting against a kill motion. "Opposing" is the inverse. Concurs and amendment-only votes don't count.

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-03-11
Passed

YES = Pass the bill with the attached amendment. NO = Reject the bill (as amended).

172R
Voted to Pass (172)
7R + 154D
Voted Against (161)
38
Absent
21
Not voting
Show all 392 individual votes

Voted Yea (172)

Republicans (172)

Voted Nay (161)

Republicans (7)
Democrats (154)
Absent (38)

Brian Seaworth (R) , Charles Melvin (R) , Cindy Bennett (R) , Dale Girard (D) , Dale Swanson (D) , David Lundgren (R) , Denise DeDe-Poulin (R) , Dick Thackston (R) , Gaby Grossman (D) , Geoff Smith (D) , Jaci Grote (D) , James Gruber (D) , Jay Markell (R) , Jeanine Notter (R) , Jennifer Rhodes (R) , Jim Fedolfi (R) , John Janigian (R) , Jonathan Smith (R) , Jose Cambrils (R) , Karel Crawford (R) , Kristine Perez (R) , Louise Andrus (R) , Marc Plamondon (D) , Mark Warden (R) , Mary Ford (R) , Matthew Hicks (D) , Mike Bordes (R) , Mike Drago (R) , Molly Howard (D) , Myles England (D) , Paul Terry (R) , Peggy Balboni (D) , Peter Lovett (D) , Peter Varney (R) , Terry Roy (R) , Thomas Buco (D) , Tom Dolan (R) , Wayne Hemingway (R)

Read the Actual Bill → See All Bills

Bill statuses as of May 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.