Criminal Justice

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1501: limiting judicial immunity.

HB 1501 limits judicial immunity in New Hampshire, allowing criminal prosecution or civil lawsuits against judges and other judicial staff for misconduct. It specifically removes immunity when actions exceed judicial duties, involve criminal conduct, intentional harm, or malicious abuse of authority. The bill affects judges, clerks, and administrative staff within the judicial branch who commit such acts. It does not change immunity for routine judicial decisions but creates new pathways for accountability in clear cases of overreach. The law takes effect upon passage and may require additional legal resources for the Judicial Branch.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates accountability for judicial misconduct, directly enhancing oversight in courts - key to criminal justice reform per topic description.90% confidence

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1248: relative to the penalties for intoxication or under the influence of drug offenses.

HB 1248 modifies New Hampshire's penalties for driving under the influence (DWI) offenses by expanding the definition of qualifying prior convictions. It adds that a prior conviction for a DWI-related offense - where the defendant was sentenced to an alcohol or substance treatment program within 10 years before a subsequent offense - counts as a prior conviction for enhanced penalties. This change directly affects individuals with prior DWI convictions who completed mandated treatment programs, as these will now trigger stricter penalties for repeat offenses. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and has no estimated state or local fiscal impact.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands prior DWI convictions to include treatment completion, increasing mandatory penalties. Aligns with 'oppose' indicators of expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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vetoed · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1422: 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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends deadline for new trial petitions with newly discovered evidence, enabling correction of wrongful convictions - directly aligns with criminal justice reform to protect defendant rights and ensure accuracy.90% confidence

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in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 466: relative to the possession of a firearm without a serial number.

SB 466 makes it a class A felony to alter, remove, or destroy identifying marks (such as the maker's name, model, or serial number) on any firearm. Possessing a firearm with such altered marks is considered evidence that the possessor made the changes. This law directly affects individuals who modify firearm markings or possess firearms with altered identification, raising penalties from a misdemeanor to a felony. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties from misdemeanor to felony for firearm marking alterations, expanding criminalization and raising offense severity in firearm regulation.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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signed · New Hampshire · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 1499: relative to additional grounds for eviction under the landlord and tenant statute, relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, and reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost and making an appropriation therefor.

HB 1499 would expand eviction grounds under New Hampshire's landlord and tenant law by adding three specific conditions: (1) a tenant or occupant being unlawfully present in the U.S., (2) a recent conviction (within 3 years) for certain violent crimes or drug offenses, or (3) being a registered sexual offender under state law. This bill directly affects tenants who meet these criteria, allowing landlords to seek eviction based on these new grounds. The key provision modifies the existing statute to include these three categories as valid reasons for termination of tenancy. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage and does not require new state funding.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands eviction grounds based on criminal history (convictions, sexual offender status), directly aligning with 'expands criminalization' indicator for oppose stance.85% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingExpands eviction grounds for vulnerable tenants (immigrants, convicted individuals), directly weakening tenant protections under housing law.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationExpands eviction grounds for tenants unlawfully present in U.S., restricting housing access for undocumented immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

passed · New Hampshire · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 1240: relative to the apparent use of a deadly weapon during the offense of criminal threatening.

HB 1240 upgrades the penalty for criminal threatening when a victim reasonably believes a deadly weapon is being used. It makes this offense a class B felony under New Hampshire law, directly affecting individuals who threaten others while displaying or using something that appears to be a deadly weapon (as defined in RSA 625:11). The bill amends RSA 631:4 to include the "apparent use" of a deadly weapon as a factor elevating the crime. This change takes effect January 1, 2027, and has no estimated fiscal impact on state or local governments.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeUpgrades criminal threatening penalty to class B felony for apparent deadly weapon use, increasing sentencing severity per RSA 631:4.90% confidence

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 1185: relative to the offense of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.

HB 1185 redefines the crime of endangering a child under 18 or an incompetent person by clarifying that failing to provide necessary care (negligent) is a class A misdemeanor, while knowingly causing danger is a class B felony. A second or subsequent offense automatically becomes a class B felony, and if careless actions cause serious injury or death, the penalty escalates to a class A felony. The law applies to individuals with a duty of care, such as caregivers or guardians, and takes effect January 1, 2027. This bill updates penalties without creating new financial obligations for the state or local governments.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for endangering children, including felony charges for repeat offenses and serious harm, aligning with stricter sentencing indicators.85% confidence

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1239: relative to the offense of loitering or prowling.

HB 1239 prohibits registered Tier II or Tier III sex offenders (for crimes against children under 13) from appearing within 1,000 feet of childcare facilities, churches, schools, or areas where children commonly gather under circumstances that would alarm reasonable people. This directly affects individuals convicted of sexual offenses against children under 13 who are required to register under New Hampshire law. The bill amends existing loitering statutes to add this specific restriction, creating a new criminal violation for such conduct near child-focused locations. It takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state or local cost impact.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by restricting sex offenders' proximity to child gathering areas, increasing loitering penalties under amended statutes.95% confidence

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signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1522: relative to amending and adding definitions related to the protection of persons from domestic violence and relative to the domestic violence fatality review committee.

This bill amends New Hampshire's domestic violence law by adding "coercive control" to the list of behaviors courts can consider when issuing protection orders. Coercive control is defined as a pattern of behavior - including isolating a victim from support, controlling finances, monitoring communications, or threatening harm to pets/children - that causes a reasonable fear for safety. The bill directly affects victims of domestic violence and the courts handling protection order cases by expanding the types of abusive conduct that can be legally recognized. It does not change existing penalties or require new funding, as confirmed by the fiscal note showing no state revenue or expenditure impact.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds coercive control to domestic violence protection orders, strengthening court protections for victims and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

passed both · New Hampshire · House May 21, 2026

HB 1423: relative to the offense of improper influence and making synthetic and semisynthetic kratom illegal to prepare, distribute, manufacture, sell, possess, or advertise, with exceptions made for scientific research.

HB 1423 expands New Hampshire's "improper influence" law to include threats against the immediate family members (spouses, children, parents, siblings, or household members) of public servants, party officials, or voters. It makes threatening harm to these family members a class B felony, imposing mandatory minimum penalties: at least one year in prison and $1,000 in fines for each person threatened. These penalties must be served consecutively for multiple victims and cannot be reduced or suspended. The bill directly affects individuals who attempt to influence public officials' decisions through coercion targeting their families, with no direct state or local cost impact noted.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of threats against family members with mandatory minimums, increasing penalties and restricting defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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