New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 14 R · 2 D cosponsors

SB 448 — modifying the definition of veteran.

Last action — Signed by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 252; Effective 08/31/2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 21, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte (Republican) on July 09, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 17 sponsors

    1 primary, 16 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (14 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill modifies the definition of a veteran.

This legislation changes the existing definition of 'veteran' to possibly include more individuals. The new definition aims to broaden the scope of who qualifies as a veteran.

Summary

(New Title) modifying the definition of veteran.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

59 added · 67 removed

Plain-language change summary

The final version of SB 448 changes the definition of "veteran" to include individuals who were discharged under honorable conditions, including those with a general discharge. This means more people will be eligible for state benefits and programs that require veteran status. It's important because it ensures that a broader group of veterans, who may have served honorably but had a different discharge type, can access support and resources they deserve.

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Latest
SB 448-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 01/29/2026 0061s 03/26/2026 1209s 23Apr2026...
CHAPTER 252 SB 448-FN - FINAL VERSION 01/29/2026 0061s 03/26/2026 1209s 23Apr2026...
SB 448-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 01/29/2026 0061s 03/26/2026 1209s 23Apr2026...
CHAPTER 252 SB 448-FN - FINAL VERSION 01/29/2026 0061s 03/26/2026 1209s 23Apr2026...
1 New Hampshire Veterans' Home;
252:1 New Hampshire Veterans' Home;
2 Preference of Resident Laborers and Veterans;
252:2 Preference of Resident Laborers and Veterans;
3 Property Taxes;
252:3 Property Taxes;
Amend the introductory paragraph in RSA 72:36- a to read as follows:
Amend the introductory paragraph in RSA 72:36-a to read as follows:
4 Reemployment of Veterans;
252:4 Reemployment of Veterans;
SB 448-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 2 - 97:1 Veterans Guaranteed Reemployment.
CHAPTER 252 SB 448-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 2 - 97:1 Veterans Guaranteed Reemployment.
5 Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
252:5 Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
6 Honorable Discharge;
252:6 Honorable Discharge;
275-G:1, II;
275- G:1, II;
7 Honorably Discharged;
252:7 Honorably Discharged;
8 Applicability.
252:8 Applicability.
9 Effective Date.
252:9 Effective Date.
This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage Approved:
LBA 26-2026 04/06/2026 SB 448-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1209s) AN ACT modifying the definition of veteran.
July 02, 2026 Effective Date:
FISCAL IMPACT:
August 31, 2026
The bill standardizes New Hampshire law by broadening and aligning the definition of “veteran” to include individuals discharged under honorable conditions and applying that definition consistently across statutes governing employment, benefits, and other veteran- related provisions.
This bill is not expected to have an impact on state, county, and local revenue or expenditures.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services
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Action History

  1. Signed by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 252; Effective 08/31/2026

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14

  4. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2018e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14

  5. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2018e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14

  6. Sen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

  7. Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1444h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 75

  8. Amendment # 2026-1444h: AA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 75

  9. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1444h 04/10/2026 (Vote 13-0; RC)

  10. Executive Session: 04/10/2026 01:00 pm GP 228

  11. Public Hearing: 04/10/2026 10:45 am GP 228

  12. Introduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs HJ 9 P. 54

  13. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1209s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

  14. Committee Amendment # 2026-1209s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

  15. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1209s, 03/26/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 11

  16. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0061s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

  17. Committee Amendment # 2026-0061s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

  18. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0061s, 01/29/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 3

  19. Hearing: 01/08/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:30 am; SC 46

  20. Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 1

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 16 co-sponsors · 398 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (16)

Not signed on (398)

398 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 398 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 448 do?
(New Title) modifying the definition of veteran.
Who sponsors SB 448?
SB 448 is sponsored by Pat Long (Democrat), Tim McGough (Republican), Mark McConkey (Republican), David Rochefort (Republican), James R Thibault, Keith Murphy (Republican), Alvin See (Republican), John Sellers (Republican), Daryl Abbas (Republican), Howard Pearl (Republican), Juliet Harvey-Bolia (Republican), Daniel Innis (Republican), Bill Gannon (Republican), Ruth Ward (Republican), Kevin Avard (Republican), Sharon Carson (Republican), and Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 448?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 21, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 448?
Track SB 448 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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