This bill, SB 118-FN, proposes significant amendments to existing laws concerning nursing home residents, health services funding, and the cultivation of therapeutic cannabis. One of the key changes is the annual adjustment of the personal needs allowance for nursing home residents, replacing the previous five-year adjustment cycle. The bill allocates $160,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services for retention payments for temporary staff at the Hampstead hospital and establishes a capital investment fund for the facility, mandating that revenue from specific agreements be deposited into this fund for maintenance and capital investments.

In terms of therapeutic cannabis, the bill allows qualifying patients and designated caregivers to cultivate cannabis on privately-owned property with the owner's written permission and establishes a confidential registry for cultivation locations. It also clarifies legal protections for patients and caregivers, including provisions that prevent arrest for possession on laboratory premises and limit the number of seedlings that can be obtained from alternative treatment centers. The bill introduces stricter penalties for violations of cannabis regulations and mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services update the personal needs allowance annually, which may increase state expenditures. The effective dates for various sections of the bill range from January 1, 2026, to July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 167:27-a
As Amended by the Senate: 167:27-a, 126-A:5, 6:12
As Amended by the Senate (2nd): 167:27-a, 126-A:5, 6:12
As Amended by the House: 126-A:5, 6:12, 126-X:1, 126-X:2, 126-X:3, 126-X:4, 126-X:5, 126-X:8, 126-X:6