CHAPTER 239
HB 1705-FN - FINAL VERSION
19Feb2026... 0531h
26Mar2026... 1202h
05/14/2026 1926s
2026 SESSION
26-2393
06/07
HOUSE BILL 1705-FN
AN ACT establishing an employee assistance program for small town and volunteer first responders.
SPONSORS: Rep. Selig, Straf. 10; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Drye, Sull. 7; Rep. Newell, Ches. 4; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a fund to cover the costs of enrolling and supporting first responders from small communities into the state-provided employee assistance program (EAP) and outlines eligibility, enrollment, and reporting requirements for the department of health and human services. Implementation of the program is contingent upon receipt of funding.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
19Feb2026... 0531h
26Mar2026... 1202h
05/14/2026 1926s 26-2393
06/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT establishing an employee assistance program for small town and volunteer first responders.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
239:1 New Sections; State-Funded Employee Assistance Program for Small Communities; Establishment of Fund. Amend RSA 281-A by inserting after section 17-f the following new sections:
281-A:17-g First Responders Support Fund. There is established a first responders support fund, which shall be administered by the department of health and human services. This fund shall be used for costs incurred to enroll and administer volunteer first responders and full-time first responders from towns with 5 or fewer full-time, paid first responders into the state-provided employee assistance program (EAP). All fees, monetary grants, gifts, donations, or interest generated by these funds shall be deposited with the state treasurer in a special nonlapsing fund to be known as the first responders support fund and shall be continually appropriated to the department for the administration of this section.
281-A:17-h Eligibility and Enrollment.
I. Volunteer first responders and full-time first responders from towns with 5 or fewer full-time, paid first responders shall be eligible for the employee assistance program for small communities.
II. The department of health and human services shall ensure that these first responders are enrolled in the state-provided employee assistance program (EAP), which offers comprehensive support services, including those for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress (PTS).
III. The department of health and human services shall develop and implement guidelines for the administration of the fund, including the process for enrollment and provision of services.
IV. The department shall submit an annual report to the legislature detailing the usage of the fund, the number of first responders served, and the outcomes of the program.
V. Implementation of the employee assistance program for small communities established in this section shall be contingent upon funding. The department shall indicate the availability of such funding in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph IV, provided that program implementation shall begin upon receipt of such funding, with the initial report submitted shortly thereafter.
239:2 New Subparagraph; New Funding. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (410) the following new subparagraph:
(411) Moneys deposited in the first responders support fund as established in RSA 281-A:17-g.
239:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2027.
Approved: July 02, 2026
Effective Date: July 01, 2027
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 11, 2026 | 2026-0531h |
| March 19, 2026 | 2026-1202h |
| May 12, 2026 | 2026-1926s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 3, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 10, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 17, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| April 8, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 7, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| May 14, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
July 10, 2026: Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 239; eff. 7/1/2027
June 23, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
June 23, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
May 21, 2026: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1926s (Reps. Creighton, Weyler): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14
May 13, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1926s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 13, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1926s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 12, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1926s, 05/14/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 18A
May 5, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 27, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
April 1, 2026: Hearing: 04/08/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:30 am; SC 13
March 30, 2026: Introduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 7
March 26, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1202h: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 37
March 26, 2026: Amendment # 2026-1202h (NT): AA DV 299-49 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 36
March 26, 2026: Refer for Interim Study: MF DV 167-181 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 36
March 19, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1202h (NT)
March 19, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study 03/17/2026 (Vote 14-10; RC)
March 13, 2026: Executive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
March 9, 2026: Division III Work Session: 03/13/2026 09:00 am GP 234
Feb. 19, 2026: Referred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 95
Feb. 19, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0531h: MA RC 194-154 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 93
Feb. 19, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0531h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 93
Feb. 19, 2026: Refer for Interim Study: MF DV 167-174 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 93
Feb. 11, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0531h
Feb. 11, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study 02/10/2026 (Vote 11-9; RC) HC 7 P. 36
Feb. 5, 2026: Executive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 159
Jan. 28, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/03/2026 01:30 pm GP 159
Dec. 12, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services HJ 1 P. 32