Wednesday was one of the heaviest days of the session, with 76 recorded events as the House worked through a large batch of Senate bills. The chamber passed insurance coverage for prosthetics and expanded pharmacist prescribing authority, while killing or shelving proposals on prescription drug pricing, GLP-1 medication coverage, biomarker testing, and sunscreen access at schools. A constitutional amendment to require a supermajority vote for new broad-based taxes fell short of the three-fifths threshold needed.
Killed
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SB665 — Would have required pharmacies to charge consumers the lowest available price for prescriptions — whether their insurance copay, cash price, or discount card rate — preventing patients from unknowingly overpaying. Voted down.
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SB455 — Would have addressed health insurance coverage for GLP-1 medications (such as Ozempic and Wegovy) used to treat diabetes and obesity. These drugs can cost over $1,000 per month without coverage. Voted down.
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SB606 — Would have required insurance coverage for biomarker testing, which helps diagnose diseases and guide targeted cancer treatments. Sent to interim study.
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SB432 — Would have allowed students to apply sunscreen at school and summer camp without a doctor’s note, and established a skin cancer prevention education program. Under current rules, sunscreen is treated as a medication requiring medical authorization. Voted down.
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SB480 — Would have reduced prior authorization requirements for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitative services, removing insurance hurdles that delay treatment. Voted down.
17 others killed or shelved today, including measures on mental health standards of care, a prescription drug cooperative purchasing program, legislative ethics reform, AI in licensed professions, and zoning variance criteria.
On the Move
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SB408: Would require health insurance plans to cover prosthetic devices for amputees and people with limb differences — passed the House on a voice vote and heads toward enrollment.
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SB504: Expands what pharmacists can dispense directly, potentially allowing them to provide certain medications without a separate physician visit. Passed 197-145, improving healthcare access particularly in underserved areas.
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SB541: Provides capital funding for regional drinking water infrastructure, addressing aging systems and contamination challenges including PFAS. Passed on a voice vote.
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SB298: Establishes certification and operational standards for sober living houses, addressing quality and safety concerns in recovery housing. Passed on a voice vote.
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SB418: Prohibits municipalities from requiring licenses for homestead food production and sales, allowing residents to sell cottage food products like jams and baked goods without local licensing. Passed on a voice vote.
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SB538: Extends net metering eligibility terms for municipal renewable energy projects, helping towns and cities benefit from solar investments over a longer period. Passed on a voice vote.
Notable Votes
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CACR12 — Constitutional amendment to require a legislative supermajority to enact broad-based taxes like an income or sales tax. The motion passed 193-148, but fell short of the three-fifths majority (approximately 204 votes) required to advance a constitutional amendment. The measure failed.
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SB223 — Passed 187-157 along party lines: prohibits student ID cards from being used as photo identification when obtaining a ballot. Would affect college students at NH’s many campus communities who currently use student IDs to vote.
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SB430 — Passed 193-163: requires school employees to disclose certain information about students to parents and guardians. Critics have raised concerns the bill could require teachers to disclose a student’s gender identity to parents without the student’s consent.
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SB88 — Would have prohibited state government from requiring project labor agreements or union labor provisions in state-funded construction contracts. Voted down 162-167, one of the day’s closest margins.
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SB625 — Creates a study committee for families of homicide victims where prosecutors decline to file charges. A motion to kill the bill failed 146-150 before it ultimately advanced.
To see how your representatives voted, visit nhpolitics.org/find-your-rep.