HB 1640 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3043
07/09
HOUSE BILL 1640
AN ACT relative to consent for school billing purposes.
SPONSORS: Rep. M. Murray, Hills. 37
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill directs department of education and the insurance department to adopt rules relative to signature requirements for school billing.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3043
07/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to consent for school billing purposes.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Public Safety and Welfare; Single Signature Medicaid Requirement. Amend RSA 167 by inserting after section 34 the following new section:
167:34-a Single Signature Medicaid Requirement. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the department of education and the insurance department shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to requiring school districts to obtain a yearly consent form from parents authorizing them to access their Medicaid insurance. The departments shall specifically issue rules relative to the following:
I. A yearly one-time permissive billing release by a parent or legal guardian's signature shall be sufficient for any and all allowable Medicaid and/or expanded Medicaid direct-to-schools services relative to a child's individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan, bill reimbursement efforts pertaining to a school district or community based provider or a district's designee, and shall be adapted to meet the needs of the signor.
II. A school district shall obtain written parental consent, after providing notification to the child’s parent or legal guardian, prior to accessing a child’s or parent’s public benefits or insurance for the first time. Assessments of public benefits under this act shall be taken consistent with rules relative to Medicaid, expanded Medicaid, and school's reimbursement eligibility adopted by the department of education and the department of health and human services pursuant to RSA 541-A.
III. Should a child move out of one school district and into another, a new signature shall be sought by the new resident-district via the procedures identified in paragraph I. A dated permissive billing release may be allowed in paper format or digital/electronic format.
IV. A school district shall obtain a dated, written parental consent after providing any notification to the child’s parent or legal guardian prior to accessing a child’s or parent’s public benefits or insurance for the first time.
V. The department of education and the department of health and human shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to special education services, Medicaid, and expanded Medicaid as they pertain to reimbursements to schools by a district or its designee.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 14, 2026 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/14/2026 10:10 am GP 232
Dec. 10, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration