[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6630519,"mediaKeyId","2691839-7368eb39eda4f8159255d1534d4601c1","parentId",2691839,"title","Committee votes: summary of actions on health and elderly affairs bills","audioSeconds",6586,"startMs",2279000,"endMs",8865000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2691839-7368eb39eda4f8159255d1534d4601c1&start=2279&end=8865","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2691839-7368eb39eda4f8159255d1534d4601c1/thumbnail_2279000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6630519/New-Hampshire/Committee-votes-summary-of-actions-on-health-and-elderly-affairs-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630519-9125bfb30fb6cdd4524f05a1fe347c17/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136731&Signature=W3QiVgcDuK6uaecujFdkw~ljIjpGCeQ0Yj86w72xoaCRDAWIvjF1ps2bnHO5MEHE~6LuOmCzKMbJp02LljmcCtNCtMhIYfOZDPa69XvsxVkkoJF74U6ujCkaWzUhNSZz4ekGgFhn77wTb917uuqZoKx93OzBIZqW7jlo3LhRpF7TBRw-i4vuUWn0pzIV9FQUuaiDhpxLndKe7EuM4eVr1Gi-aVpa4-9cnhI13HLcLBFlw5zbZ5ZwdTjFGi91Tn1NRzvMb-JFOfonfhAHmQbCx6VnFAhGSaAwtKxz7sntj53c6H9v2lWrIJQyZRNTqo6TCEPw8CnzOBLIBqx-PvJUIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-03-19T16:41:35.943Z","article","The House Committee on Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs took formal action on a number of bills during the session. Below is a concise list of motions, outcomes and key context recorded in committee.

Votes at a glance

- HB 70 FN (physician administrative burdens): Motion “ought to pass” adopted unanimously, 18–0. Supporters said the bill reduces electronic medical record burdens for physicians.

- HB 548 FN (direct‑pay facilities for health care operations): An amendment excluding nursing homes passed 16–2; the bill as amended passed narrowly, 10–8. Sponsors said the bill would enable price‑transparent direct‑pay health facilities; opponents raised concerns about cherry‑picking patients and impacts on critical access hospitals and FQHCs.

- HB 559 (emergency medical services staffing flexibility): Committee passed motion “ought to pass” 10–8. Supporters said the bill provides staffing flexibility for ambulance services in understaffed areas; opponents from EMS and clinical leaders argued single‑provider transports could increase risk and burnout.

- HB 606 (consent/waiver for certain reproductive or surgical procedures): Committee passed 15–3. Sponsors said the bill protects patients seeking medically indicated procedures; some members called for further study and retention but the committee advanced the bill.

- HB 621 FN: Retained in committee (vote 18–0). Chair and sponsors said the measure requires additional study and interacts with other pending legislation.

- HB 636 FM (community mental health services): Motion to Inexpedient To Legislate (ITL) passed 18–0. Multiple advocates and clinicians urged caution, saying the bill would weaken community mental health center operations and create risks of “cherry‑picking” paying patients.

- HB 664A (vaccine‑related mandate question): Motion to ITL passed 18–0. Members said the bill needed further research on scientific standards and testing approaches referenced in testimony.

- HB 679 (statutory standard that state‑mandated vaccines must be shown to prevent transmission): Committee passed “ought to pass” 10–8. Debate centered on whether vaccine mandates require demonstrated prevention of transmission; public‑health witnesses and clinicians testified that many vaccine approvals are not designed or tested primarily to measure transmission.

- HB 701 FN (access to investigational / “right to try” style treatments): Committee adopted amendments and passed the bill unanimously, 18–0. The bill and its amendments clarify eligibility, telehealth access and facility/physician definitions; committee debated liability language and retained the ordinary limitation of willful misconduct after rejecting a proposed expansion to ordinary negligence liability.

- HB 712 FN (elective procedures for minors): Passed as amended, 10–8. See separate article for fuller coverage.

- HB 731 FN (housing exemptions for certain disability service arrangements): Committee adopted an amendment clarifying certification vs. licensure and passed the bill 18–0.

What to expect next: Several bills (including HB 548, HB 559, HB 679 and HB 712) advanced by narrow margins and drew promises of minority reports; they may face review on the House calendar and potential floor debate. Bills that were ITL or retained will not move forward this session without further action.

This roundup reflects roll‑call outcomes and the committee’s stated positions during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (03/19/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","A roundup of the committee’s votes and outcomes on multiple bills ranging from physician administrative relief to vaccine policy, emergency medical staffing, and investigational‑treatment access.","taxTitle","Public Works and Highways, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17759,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630526,"Committee advances HB 712 restricting certain elective procedures for minors; amendment adopted",623,7719000,8342000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2691839-7368eb39eda4f8159255d1534d4601c1&start=7719&end=8342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2691839-7368eb39eda4f8159255d1534d4601c1/thumbnail_7719000.jpg","/articles/6630526/New-Hampshire/Committee-advances-HB-712-restricting-certain-elective-procedures-for-minors-amendment-adopted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630526-c5ee1bfb1b60e51d38482c2ada062d3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136731&Signature=Z4yXOrp9A0pk0vgeNJvYGsrXwI31sKHB13MhibkN3vjQFWV3qv~OaXLKt~2Vt8J7-KyZIeUHCV7-sjAODJsX8AdXTDVFBLWFiQUKp6hfu8EFKLXFf8qkQEyD7IOWE-iGGH9O2VBWLYuwhxAXYxhjmkh~ycnGFPvwaU8D9QkFTrU9FEoloeHC0nExbKbXfNW7nx3pbVmVStIkunQMAJywhqNVNyjs42usspaAAuNqGrzEVA~aQtpdDsjIiJYdKTYTk1JnRLR0CrK1NlmVVuwqLP17hkgGbKe2j0zArkWMUDV0TuEenFIOT04O43WCL5xj9Iw~nO16OcoPA5Zkerlp1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs voted to advance HB 712 after adopting two amendments. Sponsors described the bill as narrowly focused on preventing irreversible elective surgeries on minors, while opponents argued the measure was discriminatory and could invite legal challenges.

Representative Mazur introduced and the committee adopted a housekeeping amendment that added clarifications and technical fixes, including a reference to lymph node concerns raised in testimony. Representative Markel later offered an amendment that established a liability standard for violations; that amendment passed after debate.

Proponents argued the bill protects children from irreversible procedures absent strong medical justification, and supporters cited international medical guidance and recent institutional policy shifts restricting some pediatric gender‑affirming interventions. Opponents said the bill singled out a specific group and would have disproportionate effects on transgender youth; Representative Lamontagne called parts of the legislation “discriminatory” and raised concerns about likely litigation and fiscal exposure.

On a final committee roll call, HB 712 as amended passed 10–8. The committee designated members to write the majority and minority reports. The chair said the bill will proceed to the next legislative step.

The committee record shows two adopted amendments (technical fixes and a liability provision) and the final committee passage by a narrow margin. Committee debate repeatedly juxtaposed parental discretion, medical standards and the potential for costly legal challenges.","The committee voted 10–8 to advance HB 712, which places limits on specified elective surgical procedures for minors while carving out narrowly defined medical exceptions; members debated discrimination concerns and potential legal exposure.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6630527,"House committee approves bill limiting some medical transition treatments for minors after contentious debate",1917,259000,2176000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2691839-7368eb39eda4f8159255d1534d4601c1&start=259&end=2176","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2691839-7368eb39eda4f8159255d1534d4601c1/thumbnail_259000.jpg","/articles/6630527/New-Hampshire/House-committee-approves-bill-limiting-some-medical-transition-treatments-for-minors-after-contentious-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630527-6d294852a744345163531695cea1dad1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136731&Signature=oFZAUm4MlB-a8mDPeCtRBE1FAFWBl8stCI5YCUwWEcUYFwSRjxe6fnNaIAS1DMYJj36pxP2lMF7j2Ha40Fl52K8WvaLAiYicjCxkIi2WYLzAFD4ehvEgSyQLMATBgq1lznAGuYr-L9DMkNInoGOuPBU9lceASiVbDfaDhUtDgyT04hYflDdntJuExsg7krbtElaDE2GlCGSQqhsguFI4DfKEuH3fdgz9i~WQiNcbCBYcYLmrJ9XL0N3WsTwkaf0hfQgK5i2mNJwfO3~aDedsOrhE7HOzGSh2XyzdbWnIlp0PjhPciQnkjGcxah5Qy9BhAKL8OejXT6HJI~vL99KsrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs voted to advance HB 377 as amended, a bill that would restrict access to certain puberty‑blocking and cross‑sex hormone treatments for minors. The committee adopted an amendment that provides a transition period for minors already on such treatments, but rejected an amendment that would have exempted more existing cases.

Committee members debated the bill for more than an hour, with supporters saying it protects children from long‑term medical decisions they may later regret and opponents saying it unduly intrudes on parents and the practice of medicine. Representative Mazur, sponsor of the bill, said the legislation is aimed at protecting minors and noted the committee had considered multiple amendments to address practical concerns. Representative Weber, who proposed an amendment to grandfather minors already on a course of medical treatment, argued that stopping treatment would be “an unreasonable intrusion into the practice of medicine and an unreasonable intrusion into the right of parents.” Weber urged a positive vote on his amendment but that proposal failed on a roll call vote.

A second amendment, introduced by Representative Mesa, allowed providers to continue transition‑related hormone treatments that had already begun and to complete a tapering period after the bill’s effective date; that amendment passed on a 15–3 vote. After procedural votes to reconsider an earlier amendment, the committee ultimately voted 10–8 to advance HB 377 as amended.

Opponents repeatedly framed the issue as one of parental rights and medical judgment. Representative Woods said “parents’ rights are supreme” and urged consistency with other bills addressing parental decision‑making. Representative McGrath, a pharmacist, stressed the need for caution about powerful drugs, citing past medical practices later revised for safety reasons. Supporters pointed to international and recent reviews and to testimony from constituents. Representative Weber and others argued that restricting these treatments is discriminatory toward a distinct class of minors and an unwarranted intrusion into medical practice.

The committee record shows several procedural steps: an initial amendment offered by Representative Weber was defeated 7–11; Mesa’s amendment providing a post‑enactment tapering period passed 15–3; a motion to reconsider a previously adopted amendment passed unanimously, but a re‑adoption vote of that reconsidered amendment later failed 0–18; the final committee motion to advance HB 377 as amended passed 10–8. The committee chair said a minority report would be submitted.

The bill now moves to the next stage of legislative consideration. Because the committee adopted an amendment that allows a tapering period for existing patients, providers and families would have a limited window to adjust care if the statute takes effect.","The House Committee on Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs advanced HB 377, which restricts certain puberty-blocking and cross-sex hormone treatments for minors, after votes on competing amendments and extended debate about parental rights, medical practice and patient safety.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee votes: summary of actions on health and elderly affairs bills

Committee advances HB 712 restricting certain elective procedures for minors; amendment adopted

House committee approves bill limiting some medical transition treatments for minors after contentious debate