by News Release, InDepthNH.org
May 16, 2025

by News Release, InDepthNH.org
May 16, 2025

CONCORD, NH – This week, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the following bills into law:

• HB 98 – Relative to professional limited liability company (PLLC) assistant manager status.
• HB 99 – Relative to a waiver from property taxes for disabled veterans.
• HB 122 – Relative to payment of claims arising out of actions or activities of the New Hampshire national guard.
• HB 140 – Establishing a voluntary “blue envelope” program for drivers with autism spectrum disorders and trauma and stressor-related disorders.
• HB 150 – Enabling homestead operations to use commercial kitchen equipment in preparing food for sale.
• HB 167 – Prohibiting the sale of ski, boat, and board waxes that contain intentionally added per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances.
• HB 192 – Relative to recommendations of the joint committee on employee classification.
• HB 211 – Relative to the use of air rifles for hunting game.
• HB 231 – Prohibiting school district personnel from transporting students to medical or mental health appointments, visits, or procedures without parental consent.
• HB 261 – Relative to election audits.
• HB 267 – Relative to animal chiropractors.
• HB 269 – Relative to the date for correction of the voter checklist.
• HB 271 – Relative to initial license requirements for licensed social work associates.
• HB 277 – Relative to the use of the term “foal” and “colt.”
• HB 304 – Relative to labeling requirements for food produced in homestead kitchens.
• HB 370 – Reestablishing the commission to study the delivery of behavioral crisis services to individuals with mental illness with an impairment primarily due to intellectual disability.
• HB 426 – Relative to property tax exemptions for charitable organizations for the prior tax year.
• HB 478 – Establishing a foster care oversight subcommittee within the oversight commission on children’s services.
• HB 507 – Relative to the timeline for credentialing of mental health care providers.
• HB 508 – Relative to decreasing assessment rates for entities providing VoIP and IP-enabled services, as well as certain local exchange carriers and their affiliates.
• HB 513 – Allowing the department of transportation to execute a right-of-way use agreement, subject to Federal Highway Administration approval, for snowmobile operation along Interstate 89 in the town of Sutton, from NH Route 114, traveling south for one mile.
• HB 597 – Establishing a designated behavioral health access point within the enhanced 911 system.
• HB 745 – Naming a bridge in the city of Keene after Charles Redfern.

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A New Hampshire Senate panel has advanced a House-passed bill to decriminalize the use and possession of psilocybin by adults.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Verville (R), cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 3-2 vote on Tuesday. It previously passed the full House of Representatives in March.

Before approving the legislation, members of the Senate panel attached an amendment that would enact mandatory minimum sentences for certain fentanyl-related offenses and for distribution of drugs that result in a user’s death.

Sen. Tara Reardon (D) asked colleagues if the idea is that “we’re trading” the House-favored move to reduce psilocybin penalties in exchange “for enhanced penalties” on fentanyl that were contained in a separate bill that passed the Senate in January and has since remained pending before the House Judiciary Committee for months.

“One might say that, yes,” replied Chairman Bill Gannon (R).

Under the psychedelic-focused provisions of HB 528, a first psilocybin offense would be a violation, subject to a fine of $100 or less.

Second and third psilocybin offenses, meanwhile, would be class B misdemeanors, carrying fines of up to $500 and $1,000, respectively, but with no risk of jail time. Fourth and subsequent offenses would remain classified as felonies.

Sales and distribution of the substance would still be illegal, as the reform would apply only to “a person 18 years of age or older who obtains, purchases, transports, possesses, or uses psilocybin.”

As originally introduced, the legislation would have completely removed penalties around obtaining, purchasing, transporting, possessing or using psilocybin, effectively legalizing it on a noncommercial basis. However a House committee amended the bill before unanimously advancing it in March.

Verville previously told Marijuana Moment that the House’s passage of his psilocybin bill was “an historic, albeit small first step on our journey to correct 60 years of demonstrably failed policy on psychedelics.”

“This bipartisan, common sense legislation will end the decades long terror of becoming a felon for possession of mushrooms that grow naturally in New Hampshire, North America, and across the globe,” he said. “Our fight is far from over. Our attention will now turn to the NH Senate, in hopes of having them concur with the position of the House, and then beseech our governor to allow the bill to pass into law.”

The measure now proceeds to the floor of the Senate, which has historically resisted House-passed drug policy reform measures, including those to legalize marijuana, where its fate is uncertain. If approved there, it would return to the House in its amended form, where representatives would need to decide whether to accept the newly added fentanyl penalties.

Meanwhile, recent state polling suggests New Hampshire residents strongly legalizing marijuana. Late last month, a Granite State Poll, from the University of New Hampshire’s States of Opinion Project, found 70 percent support for the reform, including majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents.

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