Legislative Update: Advocating for Justice During the 2026 Session
The New Hampshire Legislature recently concluded its 2026 session. Throughout the session, New Hampshire Legal Assistance (NHLA) worked alongside community partners and advocates to advance policies that support low-income Granite Staters and to oppose proposals that would create additional barriers to housing, safety, and economic security.
Our policy advocacy is grounded in the legal issues our clients face every day, including housing instability, domestic violence, and access to public benefits. While we successfully defeated many harmful proposals this session, in some cases our focus shifted to reducing harm and securing important protections for vulnerable residents.
Local Welfare
One example is HB 348 (regarding eligibility for local welfare assistance). As originally introduced, the bill would have imposed a 90-day residency requirement, significantly restricted acceptable documentation, and capped the amount of assistance individuals could receive. Although the bill was passed, NHLA and our partners secured several important changes: the residency requirement was removed, acceptable forms of documentation were expanded, and the proposed cap on assistance was eliminated.
We also helped establish a fair hearing process to address disputes between municipalities regarding financial responsibility for assistance. While we remain concerned that some vulnerable residents may still face challenges accessing support, we are now focused on helping agencies, advocates, and community members prepare for the changes ahead of the law's implementation on July 21, 2026.
Housing
Housing remained a major focus of our advocacy efforts and three eviction-related bills were among our highest priorities this session: HB 1598 (expedited evictions), HB 1499 (expanded grounds for eviction), and HB 1336 (double security deposits).
NHLA successfully worked to significantly narrow HB 1499 by removing provisions that would have allowed evictions based on certain felony convictions and by limiting any eviction action to the individual involved rather than an entire household. Ultimately, the bill did not advance from the committee of conference, which helped preserve important protections for tenants.
While NHLA was initially opposed to the other two bills, HB 1598 and HB 1336, we changed our position from OPPOSE to NEUTRAL as a condition of the compromises and improvements we secured to both proposals. Nonpayment of rent—the most common issue affecting NHLA clients—was removed from the expedited eviction process established by HB 1598. We also secured an exemption from the double security deposit requirement for individuals with low incomes under HB 1336. Both bills now await action by the Governor for her signature or veto.
Domestic Violence
Protecting survivors of domestic violence was another key priority. At the beginning of the session, NHLA identified 17 bills that could have negatively affected survivors and other vulnerable clients. Thanks to the tireless efforts by our advocates in partnership with allied organizations, none of those bills became law.
The session also brought important advances in domestic violence policy: HB 1651 creates a sexual assault protective order, and HB 1522 adds coercive control to the statutory definition of domestic violence. Both measures represent meaningful steps toward strengthening protections for survivors and are awaiting the Governor's consideration.
Public Benefits
In the area of public benefits and child welfare, NHLA worked with partners to secure passage of HB 661 after years of advocacy. The bill will gradually phase out New Hampshire's practice of retaining certain benefits intended for youth in foster care. We also helped defeat several proposals that would have restricted access to SNAP benefits for low-income residents.
In the months ahead, NHLA will continue working with partners to identify priorities for the next legislative session that expand access to justice and strengthen the safety net for individuals and families across New Hampshire.