HB 524-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
7Jan2026... 3021h
2025 SESSION
25-0200
05/02
HOUSE BILL 524-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Belcher, Carr. 4; Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13; Rep. Polozov, Merr. 10; Rep. Sirois, Hills. 32; Rep. Sellers, Graf. 18; Rep. Sabourin, Rock. 30
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill directs the New Hampshire vaccine association to disburse funds collected through assessments by the end of each fiscal year to the extent practicable. The bill also establishes a committee to study the efficacy of the New Hampshire vaccine association.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
7Jan2026... 3021h 25-0200
05/02
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; New Hampshire Vaccine Association; Powers and Duties. Amend RSA 126-Q:5 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
III. Assessments collected by the association, including funds deposited in the state vaccine purchase fund under RSA 141-C:17-a, shall be disbursed by the end of each fiscal year to the extent practicable and not to exceed 90 days thereafter.
2 Vaccine Association; Collection of Assessments. Amend RSA 126-Q:3, V(m) to read as follows:
(m) Collect assessments from assessable entities as calculated under RSA 126-Q:4 and annually deposit said assessments, less the association's administrative costs [annually] and reserves, with the state treasurer [to the credit of] for deposit in the vaccine purchase fund established pursuant to RSA 141-C:17-a. At the written request of the association following a majority vote of the board of directors, any funds forwarded to the state treasurer for the vaccine purchase fund remaining unexpended for childhood vaccines, shall promptly be returned to the association.
I. There is established a committee to study the efficacy of the New Hampshire vaccine association.
II. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
III. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
IV. The committee shall study the efficacy of the New Hampshire vaccine association. The committee may solicit information and testimony from any individual, agency, or entity with experience or expertise relevant to the study.
V. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
VI. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.
I. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
25-0200
Revised 3/5/25
HB 524-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT repealing the New Hampshire vaccine association.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $24 million decrease in NHVA revenue; Indeterminable increase in insurance premium tax revenue | $24 million decrease in NHVA revenue; Indeterminable increase in insurance premium tax revenue | $24 million decrease in NHVA revenue; Indeterminable increase in insurance premium tax revenue | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | NH Vaccine Association revenue; insurance premium tax revenue | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $24 million decrease in existing vaccine payments; approximately $194,000 in new general fund costs | $24 million decrease in existing vaccine payments; approximately $100,000 in new general fund costs | $24 million decrease in existing vaccine payments; approximately $100,000 in new general fund costs | ||
Funding Source(s) | NH Vaccine Association revenue, state general funds | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill repeals RSA 126-Q, the statute establishing the New Hampshire Vaccine Association (NHVA). The Department of Health and Human Services states that the NHVA collects payments from approximately 80 commercial payers and third-party administrators, and uses these funds to reimburse the Department for the non-governmental share (approximately 60 percent) of the state's universal vaccine purchasing program for children. The Department anticipates annual revenue decreases of $24 million as a result of the bill. State expenditures would decrease by the same amount, as provider sites (hospitals, federally-qualified health centers, etc) would then be responsible for privately purchasing, billing and maintaining immunization inventories for privately-insured patients under the age of 19. The Department estimates that it will need one temporary, part-time positions to communicate these changes to providers, at a cost of $44,000 in FY26. In addition, as the Department would no longer receive NHVA reimbursement for immunizations purchased for commercially-insured children, it would need funds to purchase vaccines during public health response activities in case of disease outbreaks, disaster relief efforts, etc. The Department estimates these costs at $150,000 in FY26 and $100,000 annually in subsequent years.
The Insurance Department estimates that payers save approximately 30 percent off the list price of vaccines by participating in the existing program. The Department states that if the NHVA is eliminated, health insurers may lose access to these savings, potentially leading to increased health care costs, as insurers would need to pay more for vaccines. Additionally, insurers might experience increased administrative costs, as they would be required to process claims for the reimbursement of childhood vaccines, which is currently not necessary under the universal purchasing program. These increased costs could exert upward pressure on premiums and, in turn, may increase the amount of insurance premium tax collected.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Departments of Insurance and Health and Human Services
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Nov. 6, 2025 | 2025-3021h |
| Nov. 6, 2025 | 2025-2982h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 12, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 12, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 19, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 18, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| March 25, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Oct. 29, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Oct. 29, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Oct. 29, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Oct. 29, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Oct. 29, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Nov. 4, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
Jan. 7, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-3021h: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1
Jan. 7, 2026: Amendment # 2025-3021h: AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1
Nov. 4, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3021h (NT) 11/04/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 51 P. 18
Oct. 20, 2025: Public Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-3021h: 10/29/2025 10:10 am GP 159
Oct. 15, 2025: ==CANCELLED== Public Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-2982h: 10/29/2025 10:10 am GP159
Oct. 13, 2025: Executive Session: 10/29/2025 10:00 am GP 159
Oct. 13, 2025: Executive Session: 10/29/2025 10:00 am GP 159
Oct. 15, 2025: Public Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-2982h: 10/29/2025 10:00 am GP159
Sept. 16, 2025: ==CANCELLED== Full Committee Work Session: 10/08/2025 10:00 am GP 159
Sept. 16, 2025: Full Committee Work Session: 10/06/2025 10:00 am GP 159
March 27, 2025: Retained in Committee
March 19, 2025: Executive Session: 03/25/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
March 12, 2025: Public Hearing: 03/18/2025 10:30 am LOB 202-204
March 6, 2025: Referred to Ways and Means 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 57
March 6, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA RC 189-181 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 55
March 6, 2025: Lay HB524 on Table (Rep. E. Kelly): MF RC 175-198 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 53
Feb. 26, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Feb. 26, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/19/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 14 P. 22
Feb. 26, 2025: Executive Session: 02/12/2025 10:30 am LOB 301-303
Feb. 5, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/12/2025 10:30 am LOB 301-303
Jan. 14, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 3 P. 14