Criminal Justice

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1576: relative to the enforcement of criminal restitution obligations.

HB 1576 modernizes New Hampshire's criminal restitution system by requiring annual financial reviews of offenders to ensure payments align with their current ability to pay. It mandates automatic payment increases when offenders gain income (e.g., raises, inheritances) and retroactively applies these changes, with victims notified immediately. The bill adds enforcement tools like wage garnishment, tax refund interception, and license suspension for nonpayment, plus interest and penalties for intentional avoidance. Victims must receive quarterly payment updates and written notice of any delays or enforcement actions, with restitution funds disbursed within 45 days of receipt. This directly affects offenders ordered to pay restitution, victims awaiting payments, and the Department of Corrections as the enforcement agency.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeModernizes restitution enforcement to ensure victim payments align with offender ability, adding wage garnishment and automatic adjustments - protects victims' rights in criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Victims' Rights

died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1322: reestablishing the judicial conduct commission.

HB 1322 reestablishes a Judicial Conduct Commission to investigate complaints about judges and clerks (including court staff like clerks of court and registrars) and recommend to the legislature whether impeachment or removal actions are warranted. The commission will operate concurrently with the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s existing disciplinary authority, meaning it does not replace the court’s power to discipline judges but provides a structured process for handling complaints. Key provisions include defining "judge" and "clerk" broadly, establishing an executive director to manage operations, and ensuring recommendations align with constitutional separation of powers. This bill restores a mechanism for judicial accountability that was lost after the previous commission was repealed in 2024.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReestablishes judicial oversight commission to investigate judge misconduct, enhancing accountability within courts - key criminal justice component.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

Track

failed · New Hampshire · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 488: enabling the governor to declare a state of emergency due to the failure of the legislature to pass a budget or continuing resolution to fund the New Hampshire state government by July 1 of the first year of a biennium.

This bill, SB 488, allows New Hampshire's governor to declare a state of emergency if the legislature fails to pass a budget or continuing resolution funding state government by July 1 of the first year of a biennium. During such an emergency, the governor must fully fund essential state services at the previous year's level, including the legislative and judicial branches, public safety, corrections, transportation maintenance, health care services, veterans' programs, and critical infrastructure operations. The emergency lasts 60 days initially but can be renewed up to three times for a total of 240 days. This ensures continuity of core government functions during budget delays without requiring legislative action.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates governor to maintain essential services at prior year funding levels during budget impasse, preventing defunding of critical programs like public safety and health care.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly mandates funding for corrections services during budget impasse, preventing defunding of criminal justice infrastructure per summary.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates continued funding for transportation maintenance during budget emergencies, preventing defunding of essential infrastructure services.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly requires maintaining full funding for veterans' programs at previous levels during budget emergencies, preventing defunding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1595: establishing a domestic violence program and relative to orders of protection, stalking offenses, and annulment of criminal records.

This bill establishes a statewide domestic violence program within the judicial branch to improve handling of civil domestic violence cases. It requires judges and court staff to complete specialized training on domestic violence dynamics, lethality assessment, and victim safety, and mandates law enforcement to use a standardized lethality assessment form in suspected cases. The bill also allows victims to submit safety affidavits when filing family court petitions, updates stalking laws to include installing electronic devices on a person as a stalking offense, and expands annulment eligibility for violent crimes while requiring courts to notify and seek input from victims before granting annulment. These changes directly affect domestic violence victims, law enforcement, courts, and individuals seeking annulment of criminal records.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates specialized court training, standardized lethality assessments, and victim safety protocols for domestic violence cases, directly improving judicial handling of criminal justice matters.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

Track

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jun 8, 2026

SB 515: relative to judicial determinations related to children placed in a qualified residential treatment program in certain juvenile matters and appointment of counsel in certain circumstances.

SB 515 requires that children placed in specialized treatment facilities (qualified residential treatment programs) receive a qualified assessment within 30 days and have their placement reviewed by a court within 60 days. It directly affects children in juvenile court cases involving such placements, their families, and the courts handling these matters. The bill also allows court proceedings to continue if a child’s legal counsel cannot be secured after diligent efforts, while prioritizing issues not affecting the child’s expressed interests. These changes align state law with federal requirements under the Family First Prevention Services Act and aim to ensure timely oversight of children’s care. The bill has no fiscal impact on state or local government.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates timely assessments/reviews for children in treatment programs, enhancing juvenile justice oversight and protections within the criminal justice system.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates timely assessments and court reviews for children in specialized treatment programs, ensuring access to mental health services within juvenile court system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Substance Abuse

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

died · New Hampshire · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1061: establishing a commission to study alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders who are primary caregivers.

HB 1061 establishes a commission to study alternatives to prison for nonviolent offenders who are primary caregivers, such as parents of young children. The commission, made up of lawmakers, state agency representatives, and community experts (including formerly incarcerated individuals), will examine current sentencing impacts on families and identify community-based options like home confinement or treatment programs. It must submit a report with recommendations by November 1, 2026, but the bill itself does not change current laws or policies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill studies alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent primary caregivers, promoting reform to reduce prison reliance and support family stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

Track

signed · New Hampshire · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 411: relative to the procedure concerning search warrant inventories.

SB 411 revises the procedure for creating inventories of property seized under search warrants in New Hampshire. It requires that the inventory be made in the presence of the person from whom property was taken (if present) or, if they are not present, in the presence of at least one neutral third-party witness. For electronic searches, officers may skip the witness requirement if they personally attest to the inventory's accuracy. This change applies to all law enforcement officers executing search warrants and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires witness presence during search warrant inventories, enhancing transparency and accountability in law enforcement procedures per bill language.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

died · New Hampshire · House Feb 24, 2026

HB 1142: relative to requirements for law enforcement officers assisting in immigration enforcement.

HB 1142 requires state, county, and local law enforcement officers participating in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program to identify themselves by name, badge number, and agency while operating under that agreement, and to remain unmasked during such operations. The bill directly affects officers in New Hampshire who assist with federal immigration enforcement through the 287(g) program. It establishes procedural requirements for transparency and accountability during these operations but does not change immigration enforcement policies or practices. The bill amends RSA 106-P and takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires transparency in immigration enforcement operations, enhancing police accountability per 287(g) program85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires transparency in 287(g) enforcement, limiting secret operations and protecting immigrant rights during federal cooperation95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

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