HB 1422 New Hampshire House · 2026 Regular Session

relative to the time to petition for a new trial.

HB 1422 extends the deadline for filing a petition for a new trial beyond the standard three years in specific criminal cases. It applies to individuals convicted of a felony or class A misdemeanor who are incarcerated, subject to sentence terms, or facing collateral consequences, provided they allege newly discovered evidence and innocence. The petition must detail the new evidence, including results from new forensic testing or scientific analysis not available at trial. Courts must first verify the petition meets these conditions before granting a hearing, and the state must reactivate victim services during the case review.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Vetoed
Aug 2026
Introduced Dec 4, 2025 Vetoed Aug 19, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Version adopted by both bodies CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION · 2 edits
MINOR
No substantive policy changes were made between the version adopted by both bodies and the final chaptered version. The bill was assigned Chapter 342 with section numbers 342:1 and 342:2, and formal enactment language was added noting that the governor vetoed the bill on July 2, 2026 and the veto was overridden on August 19, 2026. All remaining differences are formatting and line-wrapping adjustments.
TECHNICAL

Chapter number 342 and section numbers 342:1 and 342:2 were assigned to the bill's sections during the chaptering process.

Formal enactment language was added at the end of the document, recording that the governor vetoed the bill on July 2, 2026, the veto was overridden on August 19, 2026, and the act was approved without the governor's signature in accordance with Article 44, Part II of the New Hampshire Constitution.

Floor votes · House Aug 19, 2026

How they voted

1775
Passed · 32 other
Total votes 214
Aug 19, 2026
D Democratic101
86 Yea 1 Nay 14
85% Yea
I Independent2
1 Yea 1
50% Yea
R Republican111
90 Yea 4 Nay 17
81% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
6
Committee
4
Amendments
3
Aug 19, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (177-5-32)
house
Aug 19, 2026
Vetoed
Notwithstanding the Governor's Veto, Shall HB 1422 Become Law: RC 18Y-6N, Veto Overridden by necessary two-thirds vote; 08/19/2026; SJ 15
upper
Aug 19, 2026
Vetoed
Veto Overridden 08/19/2026: RC 314-7 by Required Two-Thirds Vote HJ 16
lower
Jul 10, 2026
Vetoed
Vetoed by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026
lower
Jun 10, 2026
Introduced
Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2137e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
lower
Jun 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2137e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
upper
May 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Introduced
Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0871h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 54
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Introduced
Amendment # 2026-0871h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 54
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0871h 02/25/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 10 P. 26
lower
Dec 4, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 19
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors