New Hampshire Lawmakers Move to Address Abuse and Neglect in Disability Care System
Recent reporting has uncovered troubling patterns of abuse, neglect, and systemic failures within New Hampshire’s intellectual and developmental disability care system, prompting legislative action aimed at strengthening protections for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-01-06/legislation-aims-to-address-reports-of-abuse-and-neglect-in-nhs-disability-care-system
In January 2026, State Senator David Rochefort, R-Littleton, confirmed that he and legislative staff are drafting a late session bill designed to respond to a series of investigations that exposed repeated instances of mistreatment in the care system overseen by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
The reporting that catalyzed this legislative push showed that between January 2023 and mid-2025, state records documented 467 credible reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation against people receiving care, and 119 deaths happened within the system over that same period. These figures, alongside family accounts and advocacy voices, highlighted serious gaps in oversight, communication, and follow-up actions by both contracted agencies and state officials.
Senator Rochefort has said the proposed legislation will focus on strengthening oversight mechanisms and improving data-sharing so that officials can better identify patterns of concern and respond more quickly to reports of harm. The bill also seeks to change the composition of the state’s Incapacitated and Vulnerable Adults Fatality Review Committee, enhancing representation from affected communities and people with relevant expertise.
Advocates and families argue that reform is long overdue. In several high-profile cases previously reported — including the deaths of Stephen Weidlich Jr. and Christine Marie Bill — systemic lapses in communication and oversight meant that fatal outcomes were not fully reviewed by state committees responsible for preventing similar incidents.
While details of the bill are not yet finalized, bipartisan support appears to be growing. Senator Rochefort emphasized that lawmakers from both parties recognize the urgency of addressing these longstanding problems.
Why this matters now
The fight against physician assisted suicide is not abstract or ideological. It is grounded in real conditions, real people, and real risks. The NH Bulletin report makes clear that New Hampshire’s disability care system still has significant work to do to ensure safety, dignity, and accountability.
Strengthening protections, investing in care, and listening to families and disability advocates are the path forward. Anything less risks compounding harm—and undermining the very values of equity, justice, and public health that New Hampshire claims to uphold.