Tremendous thanks to all of the mental health advocates who showed up for the 2025 NH Legislative Session – we are heartened by your stories, letters, phone calls, emails, and testimony. Collectively, you left no doubt in legislators’ minds that mental health matters to Granite Staters. Though many of the policies passed by the NH legislature will present challenges for individuals and families in the years to come, we must not lose sight of the strength of our advocacy. Our voices were essential in mitigating harm, ensuring accountability, and continuing the call of mental health for all.
Throughout the entire session, mental health advocates fought hard for a state budget to serve the needs of all Granite Staters. This advocacy directly resulted in increased funding for community mental health programs and the reversal of drastic cuts to Medicaid provider rates and mental health funding. Further, crucial policies to support maternal mental health from Momnibus 2.0 were included in the budget. We are disappointed and deeply concerned about the budget provisions for Medicaid that implement premiums, increase medication copayments, and create work requirements for enrollees. Such policies will not yield savings, and will likely lead to Granite Staters losing access to essential health care coverage and result in higher utilization of emergency departments.
Beyond the budget, we saw legislation advance to support New Hampshire’s mental health system. The legislature passed a bill enabling transfers between 911 and 988, ensuring people in mental health crisis are met with an appropriate crisis response. Further legislation was passed extending the work of the Commission to Study Telehealth Services, as well as a bill improving the credentialing timeline for mental health providers. Additionally, though legislation strengthening the state’s competency restoration system did not pass, it will be worked on in committee over the fall and acted upon next legislative session. Altogether, these policies are a step in the right direction to strengthen access to mental health services.
Though we are grateful for these successes, we are disappointed by the failure of many policies intended to bolster access to mental health services. Unfortunately, legislation providing long-term financial stability for 988 call centers and FAST Forward wraparound services was voted down this session. Though these services will continue over the next biennium, this legislation presented a proactive opportunity to ensure stable funding for years to come. As awareness of these policies grows, we hope they will advance next session.
Multiple bills that will harm the mental health of LGBTQ+ Granite Staters passed in the 2025 session – including policies jeopardizing youth safety and privacy in schools and a ban on essential healthcare for transgender and nonbinary youth. If signed into law, these policies will cause harm to many. The powerful work of LGBTQ+ advocates resulted in an important amendment protecting continuing care for youth already receiving treatment, as well as the veto of a bill that would have rolled back the state’s laws against discrimination. As a community, we remain steadfast in our advocacy and work to challenge or reverse these harmful policies in the years to come.
Thanks to the NAMI NH community’s direct advocacy, some harmful legislation was successfully defeated this session – including a bill that sought to discriminate against parents with mental health conditions. Alongside our partners, we also successfully stopped legislation that would have eliminated the state’s Office of Health Equity. Finally, our collective advocacy resulted in the veto of a bill that would have jeopardized the state’s youth mental health initiatives by limiting participation in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
While the 2025 session had significant disappointments alongside the wins, we remain steadfast in our advocacy to improve access to services and eliminate stigma and discrimination. These times are challenging, but we are endlessly grateful for the advocacy of the mental health community. Thank you for sharing your stories, lending your strength, and holding onto hope for one another. Together, we will build a better tomorrow for all.
We are already looking at priorities for the 2026 legislative session! Reach out to advocacy@naminh.org to get involved.
