NHADACA Legislative Policy Tracker
This tracker is designed to provide updates on policies that may impact our constituents, while also offering education and raising awareness about current legislative bills.
Support
SB 620- relative to refusal of consent to testing to determine alcohol concentration and penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated.
Position: Support
Justification: This bill supports public safety by strengthening accountability measures for individuals who refuse alcohol testing and for those convicted of aggravated driving while intoxicated. By increasing penalties and requiring substance use disorder evaluations, it emphasizes both deterrence and the importance of identifying and addressing underlying substance use issues.
SB 624- restricting access to certain hemp-derived products.
Position: Support / Monitor
Justification: By setting THC limits, defining product standards, and implementing age restrictions, it aims to reduce potential risks associated with unregulated or high-potency products.
SB 557- making synthetic and semisynthetic kratom illegal to prepare, distribute, manufacture, sell, possess, or advertise, with exceptions made for scientific research.
Position: Support
Justification: These measures help protect young people and ensure consumers have access to safe, properly labeled products. The proposed amendment further strengthens the bill by improving oversight, product standards, and enforcement.
HB 1630- prohibiting the sale of nitrous oxide and certain inhalants for recreational purposes.
Position: Support
Justification: By prohibiting unlawful sales while allowing for legitimate medical, industrial, and commercial uses, it strikes a balance between prevention and appropriate access. The inclusion of age restrictions and clear penalties helps reduce youth access and discourage harmful behaviors.
HB 1790 - relative to involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder.
Position: Support / Monitor
Justification: This bill represents an effort to address the serious risks associated with substance use disorder by expanding the criteria for involuntary admission when individuals pose a danger to themselves or others. By recognizing substance use disorder within the broader framework of mental illness, it may help ensure that individuals in acute crisis can access necessary care and stabilization.
HB 1538 - preventing vape products from being marketed towards minors
Position: Support
Justification: This bill helps protect youth by explicitly prohibiting the marketing of vape products in ways that appeal to minors, such as using candy-like packaging, school-themed designs, or popular media characters. By targeting these marketing tactics, it reduces the likelihood that young people will be enticed to experiment with vaping, which is linked to long-term health risks. The inclusion of provisions against interactive features like video game capabilities further limits the appeal of these products to a younger audience.
SB 461- relative to the definition of hemp.
Position: Support
Justification: This bill provides a clear and comprehensive definition of hemp by including all parts of the Cannabis sativa L. plant, its seeds, derivatives, and extracts, ensuring consistency across legal and regulatory frameworks. By introducing total THC concentration, including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), it captures the full spectrum of compounds relevant to compliance and consumer safety. Overall, the bill strengthens clarity in the hemp industry while maintaining alignment with federal thresholds and industry best practices.
HB 1328- relative to alcohol and other drug use professionals and relative to the qualifications to obtain certain occupational licenses.
Position: Support with Amendments
Justification: The structure of the board aligns with current trends in credentialing and workforce development, helping ensure standards remain relevant and responsive to community needs.
SB 470 - relative to the expungement of certain disciplinary matters.
Position: Support
Justification: This bill promotes fairness and professional rehabilitation by allowing qualified licensees to petition for the expungement of certain disciplinary records, recognizing that past mistakes do not always reflect current competency. By establishing clear criteria—such as a clean disciplinary history and good standing—it balances the opportunity for rehabilitation with public safety. Granting expungement for minor actions like reprimands or fines helps remove unnecessary barriers to career advancement while maintaining accountability.
SB 465- classifying xylazine as a schedule III controlled drug.
Position: Support
Justification: This bill enhances public safety by formally classifying xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance, ensuring stricter oversight and regulatory control over its distribution and use.
SB 298- relative to sober living house certification and operational standards.
Position: Support
Justification: By setting clear operational criteria, requiring resident rights postings, and providing formal complaint procedures, it ensures safer and more supportive environments for individuals in recovery. The certification process also promotes consistency and professionalism across recovery residences, helping residents and families make informed choices.
Oppose
SB 441 - requiring a municipality that intends to transport a person needing substance use disorder treatment and other support services to have a memorandum of understanding with the receiving municipality prior to transport.
Position: Oppose
Justification: This bill creates barriers to timely access to substance use disorder treatment by requiring municipalities to establish memorandums of understanding before transporting individuals in need of care.
HB 1052 - relative to qualifications for licensure as a LADC, or licensed alcohol and drug counselor.
Position: Oppose
Justification: This bill may create unintended loopholes in the licensure process by allowing individuals to qualify for LADC licensure without meeting existing higher education standards. Expanding eligibility to include the internationally certified alcohol and drug counselor credential without a degree requirement could diminish the consistency and rigor of New Hampshire’s licensing framework. Additionally, differences in requirements across states participating in the IC&RC may allow entry into the field without comparable educational preparation. This could negatively impact insurance reimbursement rates and reduce available resources for treatment services, ultimately affecting the quality and sustainability of care.
HB 529 - relative to the liquor commission
Position: Oppose
Justification: This bill may increase the risk of alcohol misuse by expanding home delivery access, potentially reducing oversight of who is receiving alcoholic beverages. Allowing restaurant deliveries could make it more difficult to enforce responsible service practices and age verification, particularly in private settings. Additionally, this expansion may create challenges for public safety and enforcement without clear evidence that it provides significant public or economic benefit.
CACR19 - relative to the personal possession of cannabis. Providing that adults 21 years of age or older shall have the right to possess a modest amount of cannabis intended for their personal consumption.
Position: Oppose
Justification: This proposed constitutional amendment may limit the state’s ability to adapt cannabis policies over time by embedding possession rights into the constitution rather than statute. It could reduce flexibility for policymakers to respond to evolving public health, safety, and regulatory considerations. Additionally, expanding access without a comprehensive regulatory framework in place may raise concerns about oversight and potential unintended impacts.
SB 452- enabling health care providers to offer certain complementary and alternative health care services.
Position: Oppose
Justification: This bill could pose significant risks to public health by allowing individuals to provide complementary and alternative health care services without state licensure or oversight. Without proper regulation, there is a higher likelihood of unqualified practitioners delivering treatments that may be ineffective or potentially harmful. The lack of licensing requirements also reduces accountability and consumer protections, making it difficult to enforce safety standards or respond to complaints.
Monitoring
SB 624- restricting access to certain hemp-derived products.
Position: Support / Monitor
Justification: By setting THC limits, defining product standards, and implementing age restrictions, it aims to reduce potential risks associated with unregulated or high-potency products.
HB 751- establishing a committee to study licensure of outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities, authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state and creating a limited exemption from parental consent required for certain recordings under the parental bill of rights.
Position: Monitor
Justification: Monitoring this aspect is important to understand how potential new licensing or oversight requirements could impact access to care, service quality, and the operational capacity of providers. The committee’s findings may shape future policy decisions that affect the balance between regulation and accessibility within the recovery support system. We are monitoring rather than supporting due to the inclusion of other items in this bill.
HB 1790 - relative to involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder.
Position: Support / Monitor
Justification: This bill represents an effort to address the serious risks associated with substance use disorder by expanding the criteria for involuntary admission when individuals pose a danger to themselves or others. By recognizing substance use disorder within the broader framework of mental illness, it may help ensure that individuals in acute crisis can access necessary care and stabilization.
HB 186- relative to the legalization and regulation of cannabis and making appropriations therefor.
Position: Neutral / Monitor
Justification: This bill proposes a comprehensive framework for the legalization, regulation, and taxation of cannabis for adults aged 21 and older, while maintaining key public safety protections such as prohibiting sales to minors and driving under the influence. By establishing licensing standards, product testing, and labeling requirements, it aims to ensure consumer safety and consistency in the marketplace.
HB 1235 – Legalizing Certain quantities of cannabis
Position: Monitor
Justification: This bill could significantly change the legal landscape around cannabis in New Hampshire by permitting adult possession and use within defined limits while maintaining penalties for underage use. It may reduce arrests and criminal justice involvement for low-level possession, while shifting enforcement toward regulation and public health considerations. The bill could also impact workplaces, law enforcement practices, and the court system, with potential cost implications related to changes in penalties and case processing.
SB 640 - relative to the use of artificial intelligence to provide services requiring a professional license.
Position: Monitor
Justification: By requiring licensed professionals to maintain oversight, review AI-generated outputs, and obtain client consent, it emphasizes accountability and client safety. The legislation also clarifies appropriate AI applications, limiting its use to administrative or supportive tasks while excluding certain non-licensed services.
SB 549 - requiring certain syringe service program entities to provide options for disposal of used syringes and needles and creating reporting requirements for such entities
Position: Neutral
Justification: It reflects an effort to balance concerns about the use of public funds with the need to address health and safety issues associated with substance use. At the same time, it may raise questions about how communities can continue to effectively prevent the spread of infectious diseases without consistent support for syringe service programs.
SB 450- relative to a state parks pass pilot program for recovery centers and community mental health centers.
Position: Neutral / Monitor
Justification: This bill establishes a pilot program to provide state park passes to community mental health centers, potentially increasing access to outdoor recreational opportunities for individuals in recovery and those receiving mental health services. By creating a structured, time-limited pilot, it allows for evaluation of the program’s impact and feasibility before broader implementation.
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