New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 6 D · 2 R cosponsors

SB 608 — relative to family caregiver support in certain programs and child care support for kinship caregivers.

Last action — II. Remainder Effective 05/28/2026

  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 25, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte (Republican) on May 29, 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.

  • 9 sponsors

    1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 D · 2 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 supports family caregivers and kinship caregivers in accessing child care.

This bill enhances support for family caregivers and provides child care assistance for kinship caregivers. It aims to improve the resources available to those taking care of family members and relatives.

What this means for you
  • Workers: Workers who are caregivers may have improved access to programs that assist with their caregiving responsibilities.
  • Families: This means that families with caregivers can expect better support and resources for child care.
  • Consumers: {}

Summary

relative to family caregiver support in certain programs and child care support for kinship caregivers.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

73 added · 118 removed

Plain-language change summary

The final version of SB 608 introduces new provisions allowing family caregiver support services to be covered under Medicare and Medicaid waiver programs, helping families who care for loved ones with acquired brain disorders and those using the Choices for Independence program. Additionally, it eliminates the cost share for childcare scholarships for children in kinship care, making it easier for relatives raising kids to access financial support. These changes are significant as they aim to provide better support for family caregivers and enhance the welfare of children in non-traditional family arrangements.

→
Previous
Latest
SB 608-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 01/29/2026 0210s 03/12/2026 1050s 9Apr2026...
CHAPTER 109 SB 608-FN - FINAL VERSION 01/29/2026 0210s 03/12/2026 1050s 9Apr2026...
SB 608-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 01/29/2026 0210s 03/12/2026 1050s 9Apr2026...
CHAPTER 109 SB 608-FN - FINAL VERSION 01/29/2026 0210s 03/12/2026 1050s 9Apr2026...
1 New Section;
109:1 New Section;
2 Child Care Support for Kinship Caregivers.
109:2 Child Care Support for Kinship Caregivers.
Beginning July 1, 2021, child care providers who contract with SB 608-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 2 - the department to provide preventive and protective child care services shall be trained in evidence- based trauma-informed care at no cost to the provider.
Beginning July 1, 2021, child care providers who contract with the department to provide preventive and protective child care services shall be trained in evidence-based trauma-informed care at no cost to the provider.
3 New Hampshire Employment Program and Family Assistance Program;
CHAPTER 109 SB 608-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 2 - 109:3 New Hampshire Employment Program and Family Assistance Program;
4 New Subparagraph;
109:4 New Subparagraph;
5 Contingency.
109:5 Contingency.
6 Fiscal Committee Approval.
109:6 Fiscal Committee Approval.
SB 608-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 3 - 7 Effective Date.
109:7 Effective Date.
LBA 26-2173 Revised 3/19/26 SB 608-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1050s) AN ACT relative to family caregiver support in certain programs and child care support for kinship caregivers.
Approved:
FISCAL IMPACT:
May 28, 2026 Effective Date:
This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
I.
Estimated State Impact FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 Revenue Fund(s) None Expenditures* $0 Indeterminable Indeterminable Indeterminable Funding Source(s) General Funds, Federal Funds $0 (Although the bill allows the Fiscal Appropriations* $0 $0 $0 Committee to authorize funding) Funding Source(s) General Funds, pending Fiscal Committee authorization *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill METHODOLOGY:
Sections 3+4 effective as provided in section 5.
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to seek approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to include family caregiver support services under the Acquired Brain Disorder (ABD) the Choices for Independence (CFI) waiver programs.
II.
In addition, the bill eliminates the child care scholarship cost share for children in kinship care.
Remainder effective May 28, 2026.
As amended, the bill requires the Department to seek Fiscal Committee approval for funding relative to the components of the bill that are expected to have a fiscal impact.
Since any expenditures will be determined by this subsequent action of the Fiscal Committee, they are identified as indeterminable in the table above.
The Department has provided the following cost estimates.
· The addition of family caregiver support services is anticipated to cost $226,000 in the first year, increasing to $232,000 in the second.
The Department assumes that coverage of these services will go into effect in FY28, as time will be needed for implementation.
These services will be covered with 50 percent general funds and 50 percent federal funds.
· Systems changes to the New Heights eligibility system will cost $310,000 in FY27, and be fully generally funded.
· The requirement that cost share be eliminated for children in kinship care is expected to decrease revenue (indirectly increasing general fund costs) by $10,000 per year.
In addition to the changes above, the bill adds retirement as an activity that counts toward the child care scholarship work requirement.
In response to the bill as introduced, the Department noted that these provisions may run afoul of federal regulations, potentially jeopardizing federal funds.
As amended, however, the bill makes enactment of the provisions contingent upon federal approval.
For this reason, these components of the bill are expected to have no fiscal impact.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (6)

Action History

  1. II. Remainder Effective 05/28/2026

  2. I. Sections 3 and 4 of this act shall take effect as provided in Section 5

  3. Signed by the Governor on 05/28/2026; Chapter 109

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

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

  6. Sen. Rochefort Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9

  7. Referral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 20

  8. Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1263h: MA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 16

  9. Amendment # 2026-1263h: AA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 16

  10. Referred to Finance 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 17

  11. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1263h 03/31/2026 (Vote 15-0; RC)

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

  13. Public Hearing: 03/24/2026 11:30 am GP 230

  14. Introduced (in recess of) 03/12/2026 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 8 P. 114

  15. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1050s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/12/2026; SJ 6

  16. Committee Amendment # 2026-1050s, AA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6

  17. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1050s, 03/12/2026; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 9

  18. Committee Amendment # 2026-0210s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

  19. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0210s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

  20. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0210s, 01/29/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 3

  21. Hearing: 01/14/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 47

  22. Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 406 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (406)

406 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 406 →

"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 health-insurance
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 608 do?
relative to family caregiver support in certain programs and child care support for kinship caregivers.
Who sponsors SB 608?
SB 608 is sponsored by Debra Altschiller (Democrat), Donovan Fenton (Democrat), Timothy Lang (Republican), Cindy Rosenwald (Democrat), Kevin Avard (Republican), Mary Jane Wallner (Democrat), David Watters (Democrat), Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (Democrat), and Kimberly A. Rice.
What is the current status of SB 608?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 25, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 608?
Track SB 608 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 608

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 608

Last checked for changes about 2 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →