Five NHID legislative requests signed into law as department also helps shape four additional insurance measures
The New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) said all five of its department-requested legislative measures were enacted during the 2026 legislative session, advancing initiatives involving health care transparency, insurance regulation, property resiliency, and access to insurance information.
According to the department, three legislative requests submitted for the 2026 session and two measures carried over from the 2025 session were approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kelly Ayotte.
“The Department’s success this session reflects the careful research, collaboration, and sustained legislative engagement that went into each proposal,” Insurance Commissioner D.J. Bettencourt said. “These new laws will strengthen New Hampshire’s insurance markets, improve transparency, and deliver meaningful protections and benefits for Granite Staters.”
Five department-requested measures enacted
The legislation signed into law includes:
- House Bill 297, which gives self-funded employer health benefit plans access to their claims data to help employers better understand health care utilization and costs. The bill was signed June 19 and takes effect Aug. 18.
- House Bill 705, which advances health care cost transparency. Certain provisions took effect when the bill was signed March 16, while the remaining provisions will become effective following the finalization of applicable federal rules.
- House Bill 1194, which establishes credits for certain assessments paid by insurers and makes related changes concerning the application of criminal gambling statutes. The bill was signed July 15 and takes effect Sept. 13.
- House Bill 1197, which makes technical corrections to New Hampshire insurance laws to improve statutory clarity, consistency and administration. The bill was signed July 2 and takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
- Senate Bill 562, which creates a home damage mitigation and resiliency program intended to strengthen properties against damage and support a more resilient insurance market. The bill was signed July 2 and takes effect Aug. 31.
Department also helped revise additional insurance legislation
The NHID also said it worked with lawmakers to revise and strengthen several other insurance-related bills during the legislative process.
Those measures include:
- Senate Bill 548, establishing standards for contracts between health carriers and providers.
- Senate Bill 610, authorizing the Insurance Commissioner to approve innovative short-term or long-term care insurance policies.
- Senate Bill 614, establishing multiple-caregiver self-insured risk coverage arrangements for nonprofit and for-profit providers and servicers.
- House Bill 1268, addressing pharmacy benefit managers, managed care laws, prescription drug pricing options, and pharmacy benefit manager business practices.
“These accomplishments demonstrate the value of working constructively with legislators, consumers, providers, employers, and the insurance industry,” Deputy Insurance Commissioner Keith Nyhan said. “The resulting laws provide clearer standards, expand opportunities for innovation, and reinforce the NHID’s commitment to transparent and effective insurance regulation for Granite Staters.”
