SB 182 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES

7Jan2026... 2328h

03/12/2026   1180EBA

2025 SESSION

25-1108

05/09

SENATE BILL 182

AN ACT relative to the maternal mortality review panel.

SPONSORS: Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Rep. Hakken-Phillips, Graf. 12; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill revises membership and responsibilities of the maternal mortality review panel.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

7Jan2026... 2328h

03/12/2026   1180EBA 25-1108

05/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT relative to the maternal mortality review panel.

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

1  New Subparagraph; Maternal Mortality Review Panel.  Amend RSA 132:30, I by inserting after subparagraph (i) the following new subparagraph:

(j)  A representative of the department of corrections, appointed by the commissioner of the department of corrections.

2  Maternal Mortality Review Panel.  Amend RSA 132:30, IV to read as follows:

IV.  The commissioner may delegate to [the Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network (NNEPQIN)] New Hampshire perinatal quality collaborative (NHPQC) affiliated with Dartmouth Health the functions of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating maternal mortality information, organizing and convening meetings of the panel, and other substantive and administrative tasks as may be incident to these activities.  The activities of [NNEPQIN] NHPQC and its employees or agents shall be subject to the same confidentiality provisions as those that apply to the panel.

3  Public Health; Maternal Mortality Review Panel Established. Amend RSA 132:30, VI(b) to read as follows:

(b)  Each [member of the panel shall be responsible for the dissemination of panel recommendations to his or her respective institutions and professional organizations] panel meeting shall conclude with the development of panel recommendations with members responsible for the dissemination of recommendations to their respective institutions

or professional organizations.  All such information shall be disseminated through each participant's quality assurance program in order to protect the confidentiality of all participants and patients involved in any incident.

4  Public Health; Maternal Mortality Review Panel Established.  Amend RSA 132:30, VII to read as follows:

VII.  The commissioner of the department of health and human services, with the advice and recommendation of a majority of members of the panel, shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the following:

(a)  The system for identifying and reporting maternal [deaths] mortalities to the commissioner, or designee.

(b)  The form and manner through which the program may acquire information under RSA 132:31.

(c)  The protocol to be used in carefully and sensitively contacting [a] family [member] members and close contacts of the deceased woman for a discussion of the events surrounding the death, allowing grieving family members to refuse such an interview.

(d)  Assuring de-identification of all individuals and facilities involved in the panel review of cases.

5  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.