I'm in support of this bill because it would genuinely change my ability to have another child. Encouraging young families in our state is so important while young people are moving away in droves. Bills like HB 1761 encourage people to want to stay here, start families here, and feel that they and their children will be supported and protected by the great state of New Hampshire. In addition to the clear motivator of making NH more desirable to young families, parental leave allows both parents to bond with their new child, to recover from the physical and mental toll of labor (or the adoptive process!), to ensure that they are in good physical and mental health before returning to work, allowing them to be stronger in the work force after their leave. This would also allow children to remain home with their parents for a longer stretch of time before starting other childcare options, such as daycare. This would help alleviate the long wait lists for childcare centers, and would help families have a few more months before needing to pay the hefty daycare payment each week (Mine is over $1200/month for one child, and it is on the cheap end for my area). Please vote in support of HB 1761 (which costs ZERO DOLLARS so literally why wouldn't you??) to show your commitment to New Hampshire families. Thank you.
HB1761
House · 2026 sessionDemocraticInterim studyExpanding paid family medical leave
AIExpands the existing granite state paid family leave plan into a new publicly administered family and medical leave insurance program.
expanding the New Hampshire paid family and medical leave program.
Status
Referred to interim study (House) · February 17, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Division of testimony
58 submissionsMy name is Charlotte Barrie and I live in Merrimack. I’m here in strong support of HB 1761. Paid family and medical leave is about basic stability. People shouldn’t have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a new baby, a sick loved one, or their own serious health needs. In New Hampshire, we value hard work, personal responsibility, and family. HB 1761 supports all three. It allows people to step away when life demands it and return to work without falling into financial crisis. That’s good for workers, families, and employers. Without paid leave, people delay care, rush back to work too soon, or leave the workforce entirely. That hurts families and costs businesses more in the long run through turnover and burnout. HB 1761 is a practical solution that keeps New Hampshire families economically secure while strengthening our workforce. Please recommend OUGHT TO PASS on HB 1761. Thank you.
It is a good return on investment when support is there for people when they are in extremis -increases the likelihood of more health of the family overall . This would help keep everyone healthier. - Under the expanded program, a person who has been recently separated from employment may utilize paid family and medical leave and insurance benefits to support their own or a family member's serious health condition, including certain mental health care and services.
Dear Chairman Hunt and members of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, Thank you for the opportunity to testify on HB 1761, expanding the NH paid family & medical leave program. This testimony is from the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy. The state's current paid family and medical leave program, created just a few years ago, acknowledges that policy goals come with tradeoffs. Forcing employers to adopt such a program would impose significant costs on New Hampshire businesses. Those costs could discourage employment and business creation. They also would make it harder for employers operating on already small margins to remain financially viable. So the state wisely opted for a voluntary program that allows both employers and individuals access to paid leave without forcing the program on all business regardless of their ability to shoulder the costs. HB 1761 ignores the careful considerations that went into creating the current program and operates under the delusion that a state mandated program will have zero negative effects. It would create an expensive mandate on all employers regardless of all cost considerations. To finance this scheme, HB 1761 would create a new payroll tax to be paid by employers and employees. The bill defines employer as an entity with more than five employees, and states that "each employer shall remit contributions to the family and medical leave insurance fund in the form and manner determined by the department." It further states that "Employers may deduct from employees' wages the employee portion of the contribution up to the percentage allowed by rule." This mandatory payroll tax will reduce incomes of both employers and employees. Though some employees might want this benefit, others might not. They will have their take-home pay reduced to cover a benefit they did not voluntarily choose. The state does not need to decide for employees that they should convert some of their take-home pay into a paid leave benefit. The bill would create this mandatory program without any idea of the cost. Because contribution rates are not set in the bill, there's no way to determine the cost to employers or to estimate whether those costs are worth the benefits. In sum, HB 1761 would create a new payroll tax that will lower employee take-home pay, reduce hiring, and hurt New Hampshire small businesses. These negative effects are exactly why New Hampshire created a voluntary paid leave program to begin with. That voluntary program is a uniquely New Hampshire creation, and something the state should take pride in having created. Giving it time to grow would be a more cost-effective option than replace it with expensive taxes and mandates.
Every future year this bill would cost an additional $5.662 million. NO THANKS.
I strongly support HB 1761 because it creates a fair, reliable, and inclusive paid family and medical leave system that better meets the needs of New Hampshire workers and families. The current voluntary Granite State Paid Family Leave Plan has left many workers uncovered, particularly those in small businesses, low-wage jobs, or caregiving roles. By transitioning to a mandatory, publicly administered program, HB 1761 ensures that all workers can take time to care for a new child, recover from serious illness, or support a loved one without risking financial instability. Paid family and medical leave strengthens workforce retention, supports small businesses by leveling the playing field, and improves long-term health and economic outcomes for families. HB 1761 is a practical step toward a healthier, more resilient New Hampshire economy and community.
I understand and agree with the sentiment behind this bill, however I believe it to be unfair as we can never prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that a person is guilty. This has the potential to cause innocent people to lose their lives.
I strongly support this bill to expand New Hampshire paid family and medical leave program. This bill is critical to help sustaining our workforce in health care in New Hampshire. We can ill afford a loss of out trained workforce in health care due to the multiple constraints people have to navigate when caring for their own health or that of a family member.
Strong family and medical leave programs are defining features of many wealthy nations around the world. The United States and New Hampshire would do well to invest in its people and allow them to take care of themselves and their families when the need arises.
I believe a system of periodically instructing teachers and public school staff on how to identify and seek help for a student or colleague at risk for suicide is a process worth investing in. Francis Hayes, MD ret.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.
Position recorded without written comment.