CHAPTER 126
SB 515-FN - FINAL VERSION
01/29/2026 0129s
2026 SESSION
26-2068
09/08
SENATE BILL 515-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill revises juvenile statutes relative to placements in qualified residential treatment programs to align with federal requirements. The bill directs the department of health and human services to have a qualified assessment of the child conducted within 30 days of placement and the court to review the assessment and placement within 60 days of placement. This bill further allows litigation to continue if, despite a diligent search, counsel has not yet been secured for a child in certain proceedings under the child protection act.
The bill is a request of the department of health and human services.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
01/29/2026 0129s 26-2068
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
126:1 Delinquent Children; Placement in a Qualified Residential Treatment Program. Amend RSA 169-B:19-d to read as follows:
169-B:19-d Placement in a Qualified Residential Treatment Program.
For any child placed in a qualified residential treatment program, as defined in the federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2017[, the court shall]:
I. [Order] The department shall have an assessment [to be] completed within 30 days of placement by a qualified individual as defined by the federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2017; and
II. [Review] The court shall review the assessment and issue an order approving the placement or changing the placement within 60 days of placement.
126:2 Child Protection Act; Placement in a Qualified Residential Treatment Program. Amend RSA 169-C:19-f to read as follows:
169-C:19-f Placement in a Qualified Residential Treatment Program.
For any child placed in a qualified residential treatment program, as defined in the federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2017[, the court shall]:
I. [Order] The department shall have an assessment [to be] completed within 30 days of placement by a qualified individual as defined by the federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2017; and
II. [Review] The court shall review the assessment and issue an order approving the placement or changing the placement within 60 days of placement.
126:3 Children in Need of Services; Placement in a Qualified Residential Treatment Program. Amend RSA 169-D:9-d to read as follows:
169-D:9-d Placement in a Qualified Residential Treatment Program.
For any child placed in a qualified residential treatment program, as defined in the federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2017[, the court shall]:
I. [Order] The department shall have an assessment [to be] completed within 30 days of placement by a qualified individual as defined by the federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2017; and
II. [Review] The court shall review the assessment and issue an order approving the placement or changing the placement within 60 days of placement.
126:4 New Subparagraph; Attorneys and Guardians Ad Litem. Amend RSA 169-C:10, II by inserting after subparagraph (e) the following new subparagraph:
(f) In any action in which, despite diligent efforts to secure counsel, an attorney is not available for appointment, litigation may proceed until an attorney becomes available. In such cases, the court shall, where possible, prioritize consideration of legal issues that do not affect the child's expressed interests until an attorney becomes available.
126:5 Repeal. RSA 169-C:10, II(f), relative to attorneys and guardians ad litem, is repealed.
I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect August 1, 2026.
II. Section 5 of this act shall take effect August 1, 2027.
III. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage
Approved: June 05, 2026
Effective Date:
I. Section 4 effective August 1, 2026
II. Section 5 effective August 1, 2027
III. Remainder effective August 4, 2026
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 2026 | 2026-0129s |
| Jan. 22, 2026 | 2026-0115s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 15, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Jan. 29, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| March 24, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| March 31, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 31, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
June 8, 2026: III. Remainder Effective 08/04/2026
June 8, 2026: II. Section 5 Effective 08/01/2027
June 8, 2026: I. Section 4 Effective 08/01/2026
June 8, 2026: Signed by the Governor on 06/05/2026; Chapter 126
May 21, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 21, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 21, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 05/14/2026 HJ 13
April 23, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11
April 6, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/31/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC)
March 25, 2026: Executive Session: 03/31/2026 10:00 am GP 230
March 17, 2026: Public Hearing: 03/24/2026 11:00 am GP 230
Feb. 26, 2026: Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 5 P. 124
Jan. 29, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0129s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
Jan. 29, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-0129s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
Jan. 22, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0129s, 01/29/2026; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 3
Dec. 30, 2025: Hearing: 01/15/2026, Room 103, SH, 10:20 am; SC 48
Nov. 21, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 1