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Bill

SB 134

relative to work requirements under the state Medicaid program.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jess Edwards and 8 co-sponsors

SB 134 imposes work requirements on New Hampshire Medicaid recipients, requiring beneficiaries to work or participate in work-related activities to maintain health coverage eligibility.

Signed by the Governor on 03/27/2026; Chapter 18; Effective 03/27/2026
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Bill Summary · SB 134

Legislative bill overview

SB 134 establishes or modifies work requirements for individuals receiving benefits under New Hampshire's Medicaid program. The bill passed the House with amendments on January 8, 2026, and the Senate voted to concur with those House amendments on February 5, 2026, moving it toward final enactment.

Why is this important

Work requirements in Medicaid programs directly affect hundreds of thousands of low-income residents' access to healthcare coverage. These requirements determine whether beneficiaries must be employed, in job training, or engaged in other work-related activities to maintain their health insurance, with significant consequences for vulnerable populations including people with disabilities, caregivers, and those in economically distressed areas.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden and compliance: Administrative costs and complexity of verifying work status, with concerns about whether beneficiaries understand requirements and face coverage loss due to paperwork or reporting failures rather than non-compliance
  • Exemption scope: Disagreement over which populations should be exempt (elderly, disabled, pregnant women, caregivers) and whether exemptions are adequately broad to protect vulnerable groups
  • Labor market assumptions: Whether work requirements are practical given New Hampshire's regional job availability, wage levels, childcare costs, and whether they address underlying barriers to employment like transportation and health issues

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

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