Priority Bills
Community Bridges, in partnership with CSNI and other Area Agency Legislative Liaisons, monitor legislation that could impact the lives and services of those connected to our organizations.
We are here to support your advocacy by keeping you informed of legislative activities, educating legislators, and offering guidance and support in your self-advocacy.
Community Bridges is actively monitoring the following bills this legislative session.
*Updated 01/26/2026
*The priority of bills is subject to change throughout the legislative session as more information becomes available.
Why Your Participation Is Important
Committees rely on community members' input to understand how proposed legislation will affect people in real life. Hearing directly from individuals, families, providers, and advocates helps lawmakers:
- Understand real-world impact
- Identify unintended consequences
- Improve or strengthen proposed legislation
Lived experience is especially valuable—no legal or policy background is required.
How You Can Get Involved
You can participate in the legislative process by:
- Submitting written testimony on a bill
- Attending or speaking at a public hearing
- Contacting committee members to share your perspective
Visit our Tips for Testifying page to learn more about how to get involved.
Your voice helps ensure that policy decisions reflect the needs, experiences, and priorities of our community.
ANCOR Update on Federal Legislation
- Congressional leaders released a four-bill "minibus" package, which includes funding for Labor-HHS, Defense, Homeland Security, and HUD-Transportation. The minibus package passed the House yesterday, with the DHS funding bill separated and passed individually. The remaining three appropriations bills (Financial Services, General Government, and State/Foreign Operations) head to a Senate vote next week.
Key Items for Disability & Community Services
- CMS budget maintained at FY 2025 level: $4.1B (no cuts).
- ACL budget increased by $17M to $2.5B.
- Positive inclusion: removal of the Medicaid Buy-In age limit (65)—a long-sought policy goal.
- Overall: The bill maintains stability with no harmful restructuring for community services.
- ANCOR provided comments to the Center for Medicaid Services' (CMS) new reporting template for state plan amendments that intend to restructure or reduce Medicaid fee-for-service rates.
ANCOR comments emphasized:
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- Need for transparency in how states justify reductions.
- Require full reporting of stakeholder complaints (not summaries).
- Ensure states examine system-wide impacts before cutting rates.
- President Trump issued a new executive order, Stopping Wall Street From Competing with Main Street Homebuyers, in support of the administration's policy "that large institutional investors should not buy single-family homes that could otherwise be purchased by families."
- Five new cosponsors on the SOC bill this week: Rep Bonamici (D-OR), Rep Mackenzie (R-PA), Rep Scanlon (D-PA), Rep Ciscomani (R-AZ), and Rep Stefanik (R-NY). Please take our action alert to urge more cosponsors today!
The SOC Bill:
H.R. 6137/S. 3211: Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act.
The bill urges the Office of Management and Budget to establish a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).
Updated 01/26/2026 Courtesy of CSNI
Visit the Call to Action page for upcoming NH Legislative Hearings.
Special Education Bills – Informational Resource
The bills listed in the link below include proposed legislation related to special education that may impact students, families, and school communities. These bills are shared as an informational resource for families who may be affected.
Community Bridges is not actively advocating for or against the bills in this section. We are providing this information to support awareness and understanding, and to help families access timely, relevant details as they navigate potential changes. Families are encouraged to review the full bill language and engage in the legislative process in ways that feel appropriate for them.
The Center for Nonprofits has created a guide to help in understanding Legislative Language and Acronyms.
2026 HOUSE DEADLINES
Second Year Session Deadlines
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Last day to introduce House Bills
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Last day to report House Bills going to a second committee
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Last day to act on House Bills going to a second committee
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Last day to report House Bills not in a second committee
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Last day to act on House Bills not in a second committee
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Last day to report all House Bills
Thursday, March 26, 2026 CROSSOVER
Last day to act on all House Bills
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Last day to report Senate Bills going to a second committee
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Last day to act on Senate Bills going to a second committee
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Last day to report all Senate Bills
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Last day to act on all Senate Bills
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Last day to form committee of conference
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Last day to sign committee of conference reports (4:00 p.m.)
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Last day to act on committee of conference reports
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
First day for incumbents running for re-election to file LSRs with complete information
Friday, September 11, 2026
Last day prior to the General Election for incumbents running for re-election to file LSRs with complete information
Friday, October 23, 2026
Last day to file 2026 Interim Study reports
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 First day for all Representatives to file LSRs with complete information
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Last day to file LSRs with complete information (4:00 p.m.)
Ten-day signoff begins
Tuesday, January 5, 2027
Last day to sign off on all LSRs (4:00 p.m.)
Friday, January 15, 2027
Last day to introduce House Bills
Last day to amend House Rules by majority vote
SENATE SCHEDULE
Thursday, January 01, 2026
New Year’s Day (State Holiday)
Wednesday, January 07, 2026
Convening Day
Monday, January 19, 2026
Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day (State Holiday)
Monday, February 16, 2026
President’s Day (State Holiday)
Monday, February 23, 2026 - Friday, February 27, 2026
SENATE BREAK
Thursday, March 05, 2026
Deadline for Policy Committees to ACT on all Senate bills with a fiscal impact, except bills exempted pursuant to Senate Rule 4-5.
Thursday, March 26, 2026 CROSSOVER
Deadline to ACT on all Senate bills.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Deadline for Policy Committees to ACT on all House bills with a fiscal impact, except bills exempted pursuant to Senate Rule 4-5.
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Deadline to ACT on all House bills.
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Deadline to FORM Committees of Conference.
Monday, May 25, 2026
Memorial Day (State Holiday)
Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
Deadline to SIGN Committee of Conference Reports.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
Deadline to ACT on Committee of Conference Reports.
Friday, July 03, 2026
Independence Day (Observed) (State Holiday)
Monday, September 07, 2026
Labor Day (State Holiday)
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Veterans’ Day (State Holiday)
Thursday, November 26, 2026
Thanksgiving Day (State Holiday)
Friday, November 27, 2026
Day after Thanksgiving (State Holiday)
Friday, December 25, 2026
Christmas Day (State Holiday)
