Bill > SB441

This bill requires municipalities in New Hampshire that want to transport a homeless individual or person with substance use disorder to another municipality for treatment or shelter to first establish a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the receiving municipality. The MOU must specify the types of services to be provided, any financial contributions from the sending municipality, and other mutually agreed-upon conditions such as the number of individuals to be transferred and coordination protocols. The bill exempts emergency medical transfers, law enforcement transfers, and voluntary relocations from this requirement. Additionally, the bill allows municipalities to develop criteria for treatment and recovery organizations operating under the opioid abatement trust fund, including what messaging and harm reduction materials can be distributed. Municipalities can also require these organizations to offer recovery pathways and may even disallow them from operating within their jurisdiction. If a municipality violates these requirements, they will be subject to a $5,000 fine payable to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department is also tasked with adopting rules to implement and enforce these provisions, including guidelines for transportation and MOU enforcement. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and is intended to create more structured and accountable processes for transporting individuals seeking substance use disorder treatment between municipalities.

Health and Social Services

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1211&inflect=2