Criminal Justice

vetoed · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1184: relative to the issuance of no trespass orders on municipal or school district property.

HB 1184 establishes clear rules for issuing no trespass orders (NTOs) on municipal and school properties in New Hampshire. It requires most NTOs to be approved by a unanimous vote of the governing body (e.g., city council or school board) at a public meeting, and mandates written orders including the reason, property location, duration (max 90 days), and the right to request a hearing. Individuals affected can challenge an NTO through a hearing and appeal to court within 30 days, while existing NTOs over 90 days automatically expire. The bill also limits extensions beyond 90 days to court-issued restraining orders, ensuring procedural safeguards for those subject to NTOs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires due process for no trespass orders (public hearing, written justification, appeal rights), protecting individual rights in enforcement procedures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New Hampshire · House Aug 24, 2026

HB 1587: requiring police body-worn camera footage be subject to the right-to-know law.

HB 1587 requires police body-worn camera footage to be disclosed under New Hampshire's public records law (right-to-know law), ending an existing exemption. It mandates that police departments respond to public requests for footage within 5 business days and remove private details like Social Security numbers, addresses, or images of minors before release. The bill repeals a prior exemption (RSA 91-A:5, X) that kept body camera videos from public access. This policy change applies to all law enforcement agencies in the state starting January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals exemption for body camera footage disclosure, enhancing police accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1070: relative to the involuntary emergency admission process.

HB 1070 mandates that individuals placed in protective custody for suspected mental health crises must be transported by ambulance to a hospital or designated mental health site for evaluation, rather than by law enforcement. This applies directly to people experiencing acute mental health emergencies who are deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill requires emergency medical technicians to provide care during transport, sets a 6-hour limit for protective custody, and allows law enforcement to override ambulance transport only if the individual poses a safety risk to medical personnel. It does not change eligibility criteria for involuntary admission but standardizes the initial transport process for mental health evaluations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeShifts mental health crisis response from law enforcement to medical personnel, reducing criminalization of mental health issues and aligning with reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medical transport (ambulance/EMTs) for mental health crises, sets 6-hour limit, requires medical care during transport, improving access to mental health evaluation and protecting patient rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Hospitals Mental Health

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signed · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 1696: relative to the issuance of a summons instead of arrest.

HB 1696 allows police to issue a written summons instead of arresting someone for certain misdemeanors or violations (excluding abuse, protective order breaches, or stalking cases). It requires people released on summons to "remain of good behavior" - meaning they cannot commit any new felony, misdemeanor, or major traffic offense while awaiting court. Failing to appear or violating this condition becomes a separate misdemeanor offense, punishable by fines and potentially consecutive jail time. This directly affects individuals charged with minor offenses who are released with a summons instead of being jailed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill replaces arrests with summons for minor offenses, reducing pretrial detention and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to minimize unnecessary incarceration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Policing

passed · New Hampshire · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 1216: relative to informed consent for law enforcement searches of houses or other property.

HB 1216 requires law enforcement officers to inform homeowners and property owners of their right to refuse searches before conducting warrantless searches of homes or other real property (like buildings permanently attached to land). The bill mandates officers explain that refusing consent cannot lead to arrest, detention, or criminal charges, and that refusal must end further questioning. It also requires documented consent - via signature on a form or video recording - and makes improperly obtained evidence inadmissible in court. This directly affects residents during police encounters and updates existing vehicle search consent rules to cover homes. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires law enforcement to inform property owners of right to refuse searches, protecting civil rights and enhancing police accountability during warrantless entries.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1608: relative to grand jury minutes and relative to the defense and indemnification of certain government officers and employees.

HB 1608 requires grand juries to appoint a clerk to preserve minutes of their proceedings, ensuring criminal defendants can access relevant grand jury minutes in their cases. It also expands state-funded legal defense and protection for local government attorneys - specifically assistant county attorneys, county attorneys, and municipal prosecutors - when facing complaints or investigations from licensing boards or regulatory agencies. This applies only when these officials act within their official duties, not in reckless or wanton ways. The bill may increase state costs for legal staffing and litigation, with estimated annual expenses ranging from $500,000 to $1 million, though it does not provide new funding.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ensures criminal defendants access to grand jury minutes (enhancing transparency and defendant rights), aligning with criminal justice reform indicators. Legal defense expansion for government attorneys is secondary and neutral.85% confidence

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failed · New Hampshire · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 623: relative to requirements for law enforcement officers assisting in immigration enforcement.

This bill requires New Hampshire state and local law enforcement officers who assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the federal 287(g) program to display their name or badge number, refrain from wearing facial coverings, and keep body-worn cameras active during these duties. It mandates that law enforcement agencies establish disciplinary measures for officers who violate these requirements and directs all complaints about violations to the state Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Unit for investigation. The bill applies only to officers participating in the 287(g) program and takes effect 60 days after enactment. It does not alter existing requirements for officers not engaged in federal immigration enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires transparency and accountability for law enforcement during immigration enforcement, aligning with police accountability indicators in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires transparency during ICE cooperation, enhancing accountability for immigrant enforcement actions.90% confidence

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

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1283: relative to the use of face recognition technology.

HB 1283 prohibits New Hampshire state agencies and law enforcement from using face recognition technology without a warrant supported by probable cause or under specific legal exceptions. It directly affects state departments, police departments, and municipal entities that previously used this technology for identification purposes. The bill makes evidence collected through unauthorized use inadmissible in court and imposes class A misdemeanor penalties for violations. Key provisions require warrants for any state use, ban access to facial databases by third parties, and establish strict evidence rules to prevent misuse. This bill aims to limit surveillance capabilities while protecting privacy rights through clear legal safeguards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts warrantless face recognition use, requiring probable cause and inadmissibility of unauthorized evidence, protecting civil rights and enhancing law enforcement accountability.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits warrantless face recognition use, requires probable cause, and protects data privacy through inadmissible evidence rules and penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing Consumer Data Protection

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1428: relative to the procedure for complaints submitted to the attorney general's office's criminal justice bureau, public integrity unit.

HB 1428 standardizes the process for submitting complaints about potential criminal misconduct by state, county, municipal, or local law enforcement officials to the Attorney General's Public Integrity Unit. It requires written complaints (via mail or email) with sufficient factual details, limits anonymous complaints (though confidentiality may be granted if practical), and mandates that all complaints undergo a preliminary review based on whether they show "reasonable suspicion" of criminal conduct. The bill specifies that complaints lacking adequate facts may be returned, and the unit must notify complainants in writing whether an investigation will proceed or if the matter is referred to another agency. This affects anyone filing such complaints, ensuring consistent handling of allegations against law enforcement officials.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStandardizes complaint process for law enforcement misconduct, requiring factual details and preliminary review for reasonable suspicion, enhancing accountability in criminal justice oversight.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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