SB 625 New Hampshire Senate · 2026 Regular Session

establishing a committee to study options for family members of intentional homicide victims where the department of justice does not file charges in a case, repealing the refugee resettlement program in the department of health and human services, and prohibiting expenditure of state funds on refugee resettlement.

SB 625 allows immediate family members (parents, spouses, or children) of homicide victims to request an evidentiary hearing when the Department of Justice (DOJ) does not file criminal charges or seek a retrial after a hung jury in a homicide case. Families must first request a written explanation from the DOJ for not filing charges, and if they believe probable cause exists, they can petition a superior court to review the DOJ’s decision. The court will assess whether the evidence supports charging a suspect, potentially requiring the DOJ to provide investigative reports for private review and holding a hearing to evaluate witness credibility. If the court finds probable cause, it will recommend prosecution to the DOJ but only inform the family that probable cause exists - not the detailed recommendation.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Governor

Introduced Nov 25, 2025 Last action Jun 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by the Senate → As Amended by the House · 5 edits

MODERATE

The House dramatically expanded SB 625 from a single-topic bill establishing a study committee for homicide victims' families into a multi-topic bill that also repeals the state's refugee resettlement program, prohibits state spending on refugee resettlement, and removes Hepatitis B from required childhood immunizations. The original committee provision remains largely unchanged, but three entirely new policy areas were added. This is a significant scope expansion that bundles unrelated issues into one bill.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single narrow topic (a study committee for homicide victims' families) to three unrelated policy areas: the original committee, removal of Hepatitis B from required childhood immunizations, and full termination of the state refugee resettlement program with spending prohibitions.

SCOPE

Added Section 7 terminating the refugee resettlement program administered through the Department of Health and Human Services, prohibiting state agencies from accepting money for refugee resettlement from any source, and prohibiting state spending on refugee resettlement directly or indirectly via payments to towns or nongovernmental organizations.

Added Section 9 repealing RSA 161:2, XVIII, which is the existing New Hampshire refugee resettlement program statute.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 6 removing Hepatitis B from the list of diseases for which childhood immunization is required under RSA 141-C:20-a. Children must still be immunized against diphtheria, mumps, pertussis, poliomyelitis, rubella, rubeola, tetanus, varicella, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).

TIMELINE

Added a staggered effective date: the original committee section takes effect upon passage, while the new immunization and refugee provisions (Sections 6-9) take effect 60 days after passage.

TECHNICAL

Added a severability clause (Section 8) stating that if any provision is held invalid, the remainder of the act is unaffected.

Introduced → As Amended by the Senate · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten from an operational mechanism granting family members of homicide victims direct rights to petition courts for evidentiary hearings into a study committee that will only research and report on options. The original bill would have given families immediate legal tools to challenge DOJ decisions not to file charges; the amended version creates no new rights and instead defers action to a committee report due November 1, 2026.

Scope change

The bill changed from an immediately operative law granting specific procedural rights to family members of homicide victims (written explanations, court petitions, evidentiary hearings) into a non-operative study committee that will only investigate and report on possible options. No new rights are created; the bill merely authorizes research with a November 2026 deadline.

SCOPE

The entire mechanism allowing family members (parent, spouse, or child) to request written explanations from DOJ about why charges were not filed was removed.

The right for family members to petition superior court for review of DOJ's decision not to file charges or seek retrial was removed.

A study committee of 2 senators and 3 house members is established to research options for informing family members of homicide victims when DOJ does not file charges.

The bill's purpose shifted from creating immediate legal rights for victims' families to establishing a preliminary research body that may or may not lead to future legislation.

ENFORCEMENT

The court review process, including the ability to hold hearings, examine witnesses, review investigative reports in camera, and make probable cause determinations, was all removed.

TIMELINE

The committee must report its findings and recommendations to legislative leaders, the governor, and the state library by November 1, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

The committee is tasked with reviewing other states' laws, assessing New Hampshire constitutional compatibility, reviewing current family communication processes, investigating systemic problems in the investigatory process, and examining feasibility of extending the statute of limitations.

Floor votes · House May 14, 2026

How they voted

78–84

Passed · 60 other

Total votes 222

May 14, 2026

D Democratic108

80 Nay 28

74% Nay

I Independent2

1 Yea 1

50% Yea

R Republican112

77 Yea 4 Nay 31

68% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 14

lower

May 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee of Conference Meeting: 05/27/2026, 10:30 am, Room 153, GP

upper

May 21, 2026

Introduced

Sen. Gannon Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13

upper

May 14, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (78-84-60)

house

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1955h and 2026-1956h: MA RC 156-139 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 141

lower

May 6, 2026

Committee

Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 05/05/2026 (Vote 23-0; CC) HC 19 P. 14

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Committee

Referred to Finance 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 15

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Ought to Pass: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 7

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass 04/14/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC)

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Introduced

Introduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 9 P. 55

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1216s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Amendment # 2026-1216s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1216s, 03/26/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 11

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Ought to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/05/2026; SJ 5

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Sen. Birdsell Moved Ought to Pass; 03/05/2026; SJ 5

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Committee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 03/05/2026, Vote 5-0; SC 8

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

Committee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 02/19/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6

upper

Nov 25, 2025

Introduced

Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 1

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors