relative to judicial administration.

HB 1274 creates a new Judicial Council to oversee the administration of New Hampshire's courts by expanding the existing body to include representatives from the attorney general's office, court clerks, the Bar Association, and the state legislature. The bill also tightens rules for criminal arrests by requiring most defendants to appear in court within 24 hours and allowing those held under specific bail statutes to request a hearing via telephone. Additionally, it grants courts the authority to appoint contract attorneys for indigent defendants when deemed necessary, while simultaneously increasing the limit on how much money the judicial branch can transfer between its own accounts without legislative approval. The law requires a report on the costs of these new attorney appointments by October 2025 and takes effect immediately upon signing, with one provision regarding attorney appointments delayed until January 2026.