Huge Steps Forward in Our AARP NH Legislative Wrap Up 2024

AARP New Hampshire is a strong advocate for Granite Staters 50-plus and their families. We work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support legislation and issues that make our state a great place to live for people of all ages.

The New Hampshire legislature finished the 2024 session having passed several key wins for older adults in the state. AARP is proud that our lobbying efforts and the engagement of our members and volunteers helped to achieve policy changes that fulfill AARP’s mission: to empower people to choose how they live as they age.

Our priorities for the 2024 legislative session include advocating for policies that help prevent fraud, support family caregivers, address the rising costs of prescription drugs, and help older adults live safely and independently in their communities.

Between our Capital City Task Force volunteers and e-activists, AARP NH engaged our elected officials by phone, email, in-person, letters to the editor, testimony and at hearings throughout the legislative session to advocate for priorities important to Granite Staters age 50-plus.

One key action from this session was the legislative luncheon we hosted at the State House where over 40 AARP volunteers showed up to talk directly with hundreds of lawmakers about our priority issues.

Below is a summary of our 2024 state legislative priorities and the session outcomes. AARP New Hampshire appreciates the bipartisan efforts that resulted in the passage of many key priorities during the 2024 Legislative Session, including these highlights:

Fraud Prevention
AARP NH makes it a priority to help protect consumers against the dangers of fraud and encourages lawmakers to conduct robust oversight related to scams and fraud and should consider enacting new protections on gift cards, cryptocurrencies, and electronic payments to prevent fraud.

To this end, AARP NH has advocated in favor of Senate Bill 515 which is a fraud prevention bill related to extended warranty contracts. This is an area where consumers are at risk and we are encouraged by the protections for consumers this bill includes. The bill would outlaw marketing flyers that don’t have the name of the company selling the extended warranty, ensure that all warranty contracts be registered with the state, and it would give the state department more authority to take action against companies selling phony warranties.

THE OUTCOME & WHAT IT MEANS FOR GRANITE STATERS: The NH State Senate and House passed this bill unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Sununu.

Rx DRUG AFFORDABILITY
AARP NH urges legislators to ensure prescription drug prices are reasonable, justified, and support improved consumer access and affordability. One way to accomplish this is through our support of NH’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). NH’s PDAB is broadly tasked with ensuring medications are affordable and accessible to patients, employers, and taxpayers and is charged with recommending strategies to accomplish that goal, so no one has to make trade-offs between affording their medicines or putting food on the table.

In addition to our support of NH’s PDAB, we have advocated in support of Senate Bill 560 which would establish a committee to study the impact of pharmacy benefit manager operations on cost, administration, and distribution of prescription drugs. We support this bill because creating a committee to study the role pharmacy benefit managers in our prescription drug system will provide additional transparency over the process in which consumers purchase prescription drugs. We hope this committee can serve as another resource for NH in helping to lower prescription drug prices for Granite State patients.

THE OUTCOME & WHAT IT MEANS FOR GRANITE STATERS: The NH State Senate and House passed this bill unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Sununu.

CREATING LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
AARP NH calls on lawmakers to help older adults live safely and independently in their communities. Providing more transportation options, affordable housing, and safer streets can all make communities more livable for people of all ages.

To help achieve this goal, AARP NH testified in support of House Bill 1291 which is a housing bill relating to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that would effectively make it easier for Granite Staters to have accessory dwelling units on their property.

AARP NH supports this bill because ADUs:

• Help older adults age in place
• Can provide an additional stream of income
• Provide an opportunity for caregivers to live with their loved ones

THE OUTCOME & WHAT IT MEANS FOR GRANITE STATERS: While HB1291 was passed the NH House by a margin of 220-143, it stalled in the NH State Senate. AARP NH has already re-engaged housing stakeholders from across the state and is committed to continue working on this issue in the 2025 legislative session.

 If you are interested in getting involved in AARP NH’s advocacy work or have any questions, please contact Mike Padmore, AARP NH’s Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach at mpadmore@aarp.org.

In addition to our advocacy work, we are committed to providing valuable information and resources through a wide variety of free educational, interactive, and fun events. Explore our in-person and virtual offerings at www.aarp.org/nh and stay informed by signing up for our emails. Are you interested in bringing our free events to your community?

You Can Make a Difference. Join AARP’s Mobile Activist Team!
AARP New Hampshire advocates on issues like Social Security, caregiving, financial security, independent living, health care, utilities and internet access, age discrimination, prescription drug prices and more. We can’t do it without people just like you who share an aspiration to make a difference and improve the quality of life for residents of all ages. Join a team where you can make an impact in your community. Discover how you can become a volunteer at www.aarp.org/iwanttovolunteer. In addition, text JOIN to 22777 to subscribe to recurring text messages from AARP to stay up-to-date with advocacy information and alerts.