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HB 392

directing the dissolution of the department of health and human services' office ofhealth access and the department of environmental services' functions for environmental justice.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Alexander and 4 co-sponsors

The bill would dissolve the NH Office of Health Access and dissolve or transfer environmental justice functions within the DES, restructuring governance and reallocating related du

Inexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 392

Summary of HB 392 (New Hampshire, 2026 Session)

Overview

  • Bill: HB 392
  • Session/Jurisdiction: New Hampshire, 2026
  • Title: Directing the dissolution of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Health Access and the Department of Environmental Services’ functions for environmental justice.
  • Current status: Inexpedient to Legislate (killed) in the Senate, as of the 2026-02-24 action. Earlier committee activity included discussions and hearings; the bill did not advance to passage.

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill proposes dissolving two existing statutory/operational units: 1) The Office of Health Access within the Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS). 2) Specific functions of the Department of Environmental Services (DES) designated for environmental justice.
  • The intended outcome appears to be restructuring governance and operational responsibilities related to health access and environmental justice by eliminating these units/functions rather than reforming them.

Key Provisions (as indicated by summary and title)

  • Abolishment/Shutdown: Establishes procedures to dissolve the Office of Health Access within NH DHHS.
  • Reallocation of Functions: Transfers or terminates the environmental justice-related functions currently housed within DES.
  • Administrative Adjustments: Likely requires transition plans, potential reallocations of staff, funds, and duties associated with these units, and guidance for the affected agencies.
  • Compliance and Oversight: May mandate timelines, reporting, or sunset mechanisms associated with the dissolution.

Note: The available material emphasizes dissolution and reallocation, but exact statutory language (e.g., what entities absorb the functions, what programs are maintained or terminated, and how funding flows would change) is not provided in the summary.

Who/What is Affected

  • State Agencies:
    • Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS): Office of Health Access would be dissolved.
    • Department of Environmental Services (DES): Environmental justice-related functions would be dissolved or transferred.
  • Agency Personnel: Staff assigned to the dissolved Office of Health Access and to the environmental justice functions would be affected; potential reassignment, layoff, or migration to other units or agencies depending on the final organizational plan.
  • Programs/Programs’ Beneficiaries: Programs centered on health access initiatives and environmental justice initiatives would undergo changes in administration, funding, and oversight.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Referral: Introduced January 7, 2026; referred to Executive Departments and Administration (and earlier to Finance).
  • Committee Process:
    • Hearing held February 18, 2026 (Room 103, SH).
    • Committee Report (February–March 2026): “Inexpedient to Legislate” with a 4-0 vote reported by SC (Senate Committee) on February 19, 2026.
    • Final disposition: The bill was marked as “Inexpedient to Legislate” and effectively killed on February 24, 2026 (SJ 5).
  • Earlier activity: There were prior committee considerations, including a major committee report in November 2025 with a mixed vote on the companion actions (9-8 in favor of “Ought to Pass” vs. “Inexpedient to Legislate”).

Practical Impact if Enacted (Hypothetical)

  • Short-Term: Dissolution would terminate the current governance structure for health access and environmental justice functions, requiring a rapid realignment of duties, personnel, and budgets.
  • Medium-Term: Possible reallocation of programs to other offices or agencies; potential gaps in oversight or service delivery during transition unless temporary administration plans are enacted.
  • Long-Term: The intended policy trajectory would shift from maintaining dedicated offices/functions to integrating those responsibilities under different organizational frameworks, potentially affecting policy focus, grant administration, and equitable access initiatives.

Notes

  • The bill is currently not moving forward due to “Inexpedient to Legislate” status, meaning it did not advance to passage.
  • For stakeholders, ongoing advocacy would have been to preserve or modify the existing offices/functions or propose alternative restructuring that aligns with stated goals.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language comparison of the existing structure versus the proposed dissolution, or track related amendments and outcomes from subsequent sessions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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