New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 8 R · 7 D cosponsors

SB 402 — eliminating certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.

Last action — Enrolled (in recess of) 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 82

  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 18, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte (Republican) on May 12, 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.

  • 17 sponsors

    1 primary, 16 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (8 R · 7 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 removes certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.

This legislation eliminates specific non-compete clauses that restrict physician associates from working in similar roles after leaving a job. It aims to improve job mobility for these healthcare professionals.

What this means for you
  • Workers: Workers in healthcare will have more freedom to switch jobs without facing restrictive agreements.
  • Healthcare: This change allows physician associates greater job flexibility and opportunities in the healthcare field.

Summary

eliminating certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

22 added · 27 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill SB 402 clarify that any contract restricting a physician associate's ability to practice medicine after leaving an employer is unenforceable. This means that physician associates are now free to work in any area without being limited by previous agreements, ensuring more job opportunities for them. The changes apply only to new contracts or renewals after the bill takes effect in July 2026, which helps to level the playing field for these professionals in the healthcare sector.

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Latest
SB 402-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES SESSION 26-2148 07/06 SENATE BILL 402-FN AN ACT eliminating certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.
CHAPTER 55 SB 402-FN - FINAL VERSION SESSION 26-2148 07/06 SENATE BILL 402-FN AN ACT eliminating certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.
SB 402-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 26-2148 07/06 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT eliminating certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.
CHAPTER 55 SB 402-FN - FINAL VERSION 26-2148 07/06 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT eliminating certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.
1 New Section;
55:1 New Section;
Physician AssociateAmend RSA 328-D by inserting after section 19 the following new section:
Physician Associates.
Amend RSA 328-D by inserting after section 19 the following new section:
2 Effective Date.
55:2 Effective Date.
LBA 26-2148 10/7/25 SB 402-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS INTRODUCED AN ACT eliminating certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.
Approved:
FISCAL IMPACT:
May 08, 2026 Effective Date:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
July 07, 2026
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
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Action History

  1. Enrolled (in recess of) 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 82

  2. Signed by the Governor on 05/08/2026; Chapter 55; Effective 07/07/2026

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 04/23/2026); SJ 11

  4. Ought to Pass: MA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 12

  5. Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/18/2026 (Vote 12-0; CC)

  6. Executive Session: 03/18/2026 10:10 am GP 231

  7. Public Hearing: 03/18/2026 10:10 am GP 231

  8. Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 5 P. 124

  9. Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

  10. Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 01/29/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 3

  11. Hearing: 01/21/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:40 am; SC 2

  12. 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

healthcare labor
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 402 do?
eliminating certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.
Who sponsors SB 402?
SB 402 is sponsored by Victoria Sullivan (Republican), Tara Reardon (Democrat), Tim McGough (Republican), David Rochefort (Republican), Jennifer Mandelbaum (Democrat), Howard Pearl (Republican), Donovan Fenton (Democrat), Suzanne Prentiss (Democrat), Cindy Rosenwald (Democrat), Bill Gannon (Republican), Kevin Avard (Republican), Regina Birdsell (Republican), Michael Vose (Republican), Kenneth L Weyler, David Watters (Democrat), Pat Long (Democrat), and William A. Pearson.
What is the current status of SB 402?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 18, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 402?
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