New Hampshire HB 621: establishing a road usage fee and making an appropriation therefor.

Bill Text

HB 621-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2025 SESSION

 25-0658

 05/11

HOUSE BILL 621-FN

AN ACT allowing the birth mother to opt out of sharing certain information from the birth worksheet with state agencies.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bolton, Graf. 8; Rep. Lynn, Rock. 17; Rep. M. Smith, Straf. 10; Rep. Lovett, Graf. 8; Rep. Fellows, Graf. 8; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

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ANALYSIS

 This bill allows the birth mother to opt out of sharing certain information from the birth worksheet with state agencies. The bill also directs the department of health and human services and the division of vital records to update the memorandum of understanding regarding information sharing to reflect this practice.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 25-0658

 05/11

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT allowing the birth mother to opt out of sharing certain information from the birth worksheet with state agencies.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 New Paragraph; Birth Worksheet for Hospital or Institutional Birth; Opportunity to Limit Disclosure of Personal Information. Amend RSA 5-C:19 by inserting after paragraph XI the following new paragraph:

 XII. The birth mother shall receive written notice that information from the birth worksheet is shared with the department of health and human services and other state agencies. The notice shall describe the purposes for which such information is shared and shall give the birth mother the opportunity to limit disclosure to the minimum amount necessary for vital records and public health. If the birth mother elects to limit disclosure of personal information from the birth worksheet, her election shall be recorded in the medical record at the hospital and all personal identifiers shall be redacted before the minimum amount of statistical information is shared with the department of health and human services. 

 2 Bureau of Health Statistics and Data Management and Vital Records Privacy Board for Health-Related Research. Amend RSA 126:24-cc to read as follows:

 126:24-cc Memorandum of Understanding. The commissioner and secretary of state shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to address the role of each agency in maintaining the state's vital records system. The memorandum shall facilitate a working relationship between the 2 agencies in meeting their respective responsibilities under this chapter and RSA 5-C. The memorandum shall be reviewed annually and may be modified at the request of either agency. On or before November 1, 2026, the agencies shall amend the memorandum of understanding to ensure that the minimum amount of personal information from birth worksheets is shared by the agencies and that the notice and consent requirements described in RSA 5-C:19, XII are implemented.

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 LBA

 25-0658

 Revised 3/4/25

HB 621-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT allowing the birth mother to opt out of sharing certain information from the birth worksheet with state agencies.

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

Indeterminable Decrease 

Indeterminable Decrease 

Indeterminable Decrease

 Funding Source(s)

General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

METHODOLOGY:

This bill allows the birth mother to opt out of sharing certain information from the birth worksheet with state agencies. The bill also directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Division of Vital Records to update the memorandum of understanding regarding information sharing to reflect this practice.

The Department of State indicates the bill would require the Division of Vital Records to supply written information to all mothers that give birth letting them know the information they provide on the birth worksheet is shared with the DHHS and other state agencies. The Division would coordinate with DHHS on the language of the notice and expects the development, printing, and shipping of notices would be approximately $10,000 per year. The bill also requires the Division to amend its memorandum of understanding to ensure the minimum amount of personal information is shared by the agencie