HB 1635 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3018
12/07
HOUSE BILL 1635
AN ACT modifying the requirements of suicide prevention education policies in schools.
SPONSORS: Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. Drye, Sull. 7; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Nelson, Rock. 13; Rep. Rice, Hills. 38
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
The bill requires that suicide prevention training occur within 30 days of personnel being hired as well as every 2 years thereafter.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3018
12/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT modifying the requirements of suicide prevention education policies in schools.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Suicide Prevention Education; Required Hours Removed; Annual Requirement Modified. Amend RSA 193-J:2, II to read as follows:
II. Each school district and chartered public school shall [, within 9 months of the effective date of this chapter,] require all school faculty and staff, including contracted personnel, to receive [at least 2 hours of] training in suicide awareness and prevention [annually] within 30 days of being hired and every 2 years thereafter. Such training may include, but not be limited to, youth suicide risk factors, warning signs, protective factors, response procedures, referrals, post-intervention, and resources available within the school and community. The training may be accomplished within the framework of existing in-service training programs or offered as part of ongoing professional development activities. School districts and chartered public schools shall allow the use of self-training materials in fulfilling the annual training requirements of this paragraph and each school district and chartered public school may determine how to both administer the annual training requirements and ensure that such training requirements are met. This paragraph may apply to all or some school volunteers in accordance with school district policy.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect September 1, 2026.
Dec. 10, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration