Criminal Justice (Courts)

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1637: relative to the scheduling of hearings on certain motions to modify or revoke bail.

HB 1637 requires courts to schedule hearings on bail modification or revocation motions within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) in domestic violence, stalking, and harassment cases. Before any hearing can occur, the party filing the motion must provide the court with certified copies of the complaint, affidavit, warrant, bail slip, and related court orders. The bill also mandates that in cases where a district court has found a person poses a danger, the superior court must hold a hearing and issue written findings when reviewing bail changes. This law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires expedited bail hearings (72h) in domestic violence cases with document mandates, improving court efficiency and victim safety while maintaining procedural safeguards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1236: relative to the use of body-worn cameras in county departments of corrections.

HB 1236 requires law enforcement to electronically record all police questioning of individuals in custody (custodial interrogations) in New Hampshire. Unrecorded statements from such interrogations would generally be excluded as evidence in criminal or juvenile court cases, unless police provide a documented, reasonable justification for not recording. The bill creates a clear rule: recordings must be complete, and unrecorded statements are inadmissible unless courts approve specific justifications. It takes effect January 1, 2027, impacting police departments, defendants, and courts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates electronic recordings of custodial interrogations, excluding unrecorded statements without justification, enhancing police accountability and protecting defendant rights per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Policing

died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1641: relative to petitions for certain orders of protection where the subject of the order is either released on bail or on probation.

HB 1641 requires court clerks to send domestic violence, stalking, and civil restraining orders to prosecutors and probation officers within 24 hours when the person subject to the order is on bail or probation. This directly affects individuals under court supervision (bail or probation) who are named in such protection orders. The key mechanism mandates this rapid transmission to ensure law enforcement and probation officials are promptly notified. The bill would require 43 new full-time court positions for implementation, costing an estimated $1.76 million annually starting in 2027, though it does not provide funding for these positions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates rapid notification of protection orders to probation/prosecutors for individuals on bail/probation, enhancing oversight and victim safety in criminal justice context92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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failed · New Hampshire · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 1173: relative to post-secondary education opportunities for inmates.

HB 1173 allows New Hampshire's commissioner of corrections to release inmates from state prison at any time during their sentence to attend community college or university programs for which they've been accepted. This directly affects incarcerated individuals in New Hampshire state prisons who are accepted into post-secondary education. The bill requires the commissioner to notify the sentencing court and prosecutor before release, who may object within 10 days; if objected to, a court hearing determines approval. Time spent in education outside prison counts fully toward the inmate's sentence, and the commissioner may recall the inmate if community safety is threatened.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables inmate education programs to reduce recidivism, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform by expanding post-secondary opportunities in state prisons.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands post-secondary education access for incarcerated individuals by enabling prison release for college programs, directly advancing educational opportunity for a marginalized group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole Higher Education

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1203: relative to the return of firearms following a not guilty verdict or dismissal of the proceeding.

HB 1203 requires courts to immediately order the return of firearms or ammunition seized during a criminal case when the case ends in a not guilty verdict or is dismissed by the state. It mandates that law enforcement agencies must return the property within 24 hours of the court order, eliminating the need for background checks in these specific situations. The bill directly affects individuals whose firearms were temporarily seized as part of a criminal proceeding that did not result in a conviction. This policy change ensures a streamlined process for returning property without additional screening once a case concludes without a guilty finding.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects defendant rights by requiring immediate firearm return after not guilty verdict, eliminating unnecessary background checks, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Law Enforcement

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died · New Hampshire · House Mar 4, 2026

CACR 23: relative to legislative oversight of the judicial branch.establishing legislative oversight of the judicial branch.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to establish legislative oversight of New Hampshire's judicial branch. It would create a commission (primarily composed of state legislators) with authority to investigate complaints against judges, hold hearings, recommend disciplinary actions (including censure, suspension, or removal), and publish annual performance reports. The measure directly affects judges and the judicial branch by shifting oversight from the current system (where the judiciary self-regulates, with impeachment as the sole remedy) to legislative authority. If approved by voters in the 2026 election, it would amend the state constitution to grant the general court this new power. The amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote in the election to take effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates legislative oversight commission for judges, enhancing accountability within courts (a criminal justice component) by enabling investigations and disciplinary actions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1651: establishing sexual assault orders of protection and relative to sexual assault survivors' rights.

HB 1651 establishes sexual assault protective orders, allowing survivors to file civil petitions in circuit court to obtain court-issued orders for their safety. These orders, modeled after existing protective orders under RSA 173-B, can last up to one year initially and be extended for up to five years with court approval, requiring annual safety reviews. The bill also updates survivors' rights by guaranteeing free preservation of sexual assault evidence kits for up to 20 years (or the statute of limitations, whichever is longer), disclosure of kit results without compromising investigations, and written information about kit handling procedures. It directly affects sexual assault survivors and defendants facing these orders, while clarifying that attorneys may contact survivors under strict conditions for legitimate legal purposes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes sexual assault protective orders and guarantees 20-year evidence preservation, directly strengthening survivor protections and victim rights within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Violent Crime

died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1067: relative to the mental health courts.

HB 1067 establishes a state grant program to fund new mental health courts in New Hampshire, requiring counties, districts, or non-profits to apply through a standardized process managed by the judicial branch's Office of the Statewide Treatment Courts. The bill revises mental health court procedures to allow judges to dismiss charges or withhold prosecution upon successful completion of treatment programs, while mandating risk and clinical assessments for participants. It requires the judicial branch to develop application standards, track outcomes like recidivism, and provide training to ensure program effectiveness. The goal is to reduce incarceration costs and improve treatment access for individuals with mental illness through structured court interventions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes grants for mental health courts, allowing charge dismissal upon treatment completion to reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation through clinical assessments.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health courts via state grants, allowing treatment completion to dismiss charges, directly advancing mental health services and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Mental Health

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vetoed · New Hampshire · House Aug 19, 2026

HB 1766: relative to cruelty to livestock.

HB 1766 limits when animals can be taken from livestock owners during cruelty investigations. It requires the state veterinarian to accompany officers in livestock cases to confirm if immediate danger exists before confiscation, and prohibits taking animals unless someone is charged with cruelty or the animal faces imminent harm. The bill also mandates a court hearing within 14 days of confiscation, protects ownership rights for non-accused owners, and requires convicted individuals to cover costs for animal care during legal proceedings. This directly affects livestock owners, law enforcement, courts, and state veterinarians by setting clear rules for animal seizure and custody.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates court hearings, vet oversight, and protects ownership rights during cruelty investigations, enhancing procedural safeguards in law enforcement actions.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1116: relative to judicial privilege and relative to the litigation of small claims.

HB 1116 modifies two areas of New Hampshire law. It removes a judge's ability to refuse to testify in criminal cases when they have firsthand knowledge of relevant facts, after a court determines the testimony is material. The bill also requires courts to send written notice of small claims cases to defendants within 10 days of filing, by mail to their last known address, with a 30-day response window. These changes directly affect judges who might be subpoenaed for criminal testimony and defendants in small claims cases. The bill aims to improve transparency in criminal proceedings and streamline small claims litigation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves judicial privilege to refuse testimony in criminal cases with firsthand knowledge, enhancing transparency in criminal proceedings per criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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