New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 7 D · 3 R cosponsors

SB 515 — relative to judicial determinations related to children placed in a qualified residential treatment program in certain juvenile matters and appointment of counsel in certain circumstances.

Last action — III. Remainder Effective 08/04/2026

  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 June 08, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

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

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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.

  • 10 sponsors

    1 primary, 9 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (7 D · 3 R) — 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 addresses judicial processes for children in residential treatment programs and appoints counsel in specific cases.

This legislation outlines how courts should make decisions regarding children placed in certain treatment programs and when to appoint legal counsel for them. It aims to ensure that children's needs are considered in juvenile matters.

Summary

relative to judicial determinations related to children placed in a qualified residential treatment program in certain juvenile matters and appointment of counsel in certain circumstances.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

58 added · 62 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Bill SB 515 clarifies the timeline for reviewing placements of children in qualified residential treatment programs. It now requires that a qualified assessment of the child must be conducted within 30 days of their placement, with the court reviewing this assessment and the placement itself within 60 days. Additionally, the bill allows legal proceedings to move forward even if a child has not yet been assigned a lawyer, ensuring that their case can continue without unnecessary delays. These changes are important as they enhance the protection and timely consideration of children's needs in the legal system.

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SB 515-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 01/29/2026 0129s SESSION 26-2068 09/08 SENATE BILL 515-FN AN ACT relative to judicial determinations related to children placed in a qualified residential treatment program in certain juvenile matters and appointment of counsel in certain circumstances.
CHAPTER 126 SB 515-FN - FINAL VERSION 01/29/2026 0129s SESSION 26-2068 09/08 SENATE BILL 515-FN AN ACT relative to judicial determinations related to children placed in a qualified residential treatment program in certain juvenile matters and the appointment of counsel in certain circumstances.
This bill further allows litigation to continue if despite a diligent search, counsel has not yet been secured for a child in certain proceedings under the child protection act.
This bill further allows litigation to continue if, despite a diligent search, counsel has not yet been secured for a child in certain proceedings under the child protection act.
SB 515-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 01/29/2026 0129s 26-2068 09/08 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to judicial determinations related to children placed in a qualified residential treatment program in certain juvenile matters and appointment of counsel in certain circumstances.
CHAPTER 126 SB 515-FN - FINAL VERSION 01/29/2026 0129s 26-2068 09/08 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to judicial determinations related to children placed in a qualified residential treatment program in certain juvenile matters and the appointment of counsel in certain circumstances.
1 Delinquent Children;
126:1 Delinquent Children;
2 Child Protection Act;
126:2 Child Protection Act;
3 Children in Need of Services;
126:3 Children in Need of Services;
and SB 515-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 2 - II.
and II.
4 New Subparagraph;
CHAPTER 126 SB 515-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 2 - 126:4 New Subparagraph;
(f) In any action in which, despite diligent efforts to secure counsel, an attorney is not available for appointment, litigation may proceed until an attorney becomes availaIn such cases, the court shall, where possible, prioritize consideration of legal issues that do not affect the child's expressed interests until an attorney becomes available.
(f) In any action in which, despite diligent efforts to secure counsel, an attorney is not available for appointment, litigation may proceed until an attorney becomes available.
5 Repeal.
In such cases, the court shall, where possible, prioritize consideration of legal issues that do not affect the child's expressed interests until an attorney becomes available.
126:5 Repeal.
6 Effective Date.
126:6 Effective Date.
The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage Approved:
LBA 26-2068 03/19/2026 SB 515-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-0129s) AN ACT relative to judicial determinations related to children placed in a qualified residential treatment program in certain juvenile matters and appointment of counsel in certain circumstances.
June 05, 2026 Effective Date:
FISCAL IMPACT:
I.
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill has no fiscal impact on state, county and local expenditures or revenue.
Section 4 effective August 1, 2026 II.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Section 5 effective August 1, 2027 III.
Judicial Branch and Department of Health and Human Services
Remainder effective August 4, 2026
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Action History

  1. III. Remainder Effective 08/04/2026

  2. II. Section 5 Effective 08/01/2027

  3. I. Section 4 Effective 08/01/2026

  4. Signed by the Governor on 06/05/2026; Chapter 126

  5. Enrolled (in recess of) 05/14/2026 HJ 13

  6. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13

  7. Ought to Pass: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11

  8. Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/31/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC)

  9. Executive Session: 03/31/2026 10:00 am GP 230

  10. Public Hearing: 03/24/2026 11:00 am GP 230

  11. Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 5 P. 124

  12. Committee Amendment # 2026-0129s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

  13. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0129s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

  14. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0129s, 01/29/2026; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 3

  15. Hearing: 01/15/2026, Room 103, SH, 10:20 am; SC 48

  16. Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 1

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 9 co-sponsors · 405 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (9)

Not signed on (405)

405 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 405 →

"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

public-safety civil-rights education
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 515 do?
relative to judicial determinations related to children placed in a qualified residential treatment program in certain juvenile matters and appointment of counsel in certain circumstances.
Who sponsors SB 515?
SB 515 is sponsored by Pat Long (Democrat), Victoria Sullivan (Republican), Debra Altschiller (Democrat), Donovan Fenton (Democrat), Suzanne Prentiss (Democrat), Cindy Rosenwald (Democrat), Kevin Avard (Republican), Regina Birdsell (Republican), David Watters (Democrat), and Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 515?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 21, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 515?
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