Judiciary

SB 468 allows alternative treatment centers (ATCs) that provide medical cannabis to apply for permission to operate greenhouse cultivation facilities, which typically use less energy than indoor growing. ATCs must submit a detailed plan showing how greenhouse cultivation will lower energy costs and reduce prices for registered qualifying patients. The state department must create rules for greenhouse operations - including security, location, and compliance with local zoning - and seek input from patients, caregivers, and community residents before approving new sites. ATCs will also report annually on greenhouse impacts to energy costs and product prices as part of their required state filings.

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.

HB 1442 requires public schools and municipal buildings to designate bathrooms and locker rooms by biological sex (male/female), rather than gender identity. It redefines "gender identity" to exclude using it for accessing spaces designated for females, and creates "willful trespass" for males entering female-designated facilities (with exceptions for emergencies or supervision). The bill also mandates correctional facilities house inmates by biological sex and limits gender identity protections in civil rights enforcement. It directly affects public school students, municipal building users, correctional facility inmates, and businesses operating public accommodations. The law uses biological sex (based on chromosomes/SRY gene) as the standard for facility access and definitions.

HB 1279 modifies New Hampshire's self-defense law to clarify when physical force can be used against someone committing a felony. It specifies that force is justified if a person reasonably believes another is "likely to use any unlawful force in the commission of a felony" against them or a third person within their vehicle, dwelling, or immediate property (curtilage). The bill expands the legal standard by focusing on the likelihood of a felony occurring, not just an immediate threat. This change directly affects individuals defending themselves or others in their home, car, or nearby property during potential felony crimes. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

HB 1365 limits the information that New Hampshire license applications for carrying a loaded pistol or revolver can request. The bill requires that application forms only collect details included in the state's December 2009 form (DSSP 85), banning questions about employment, employer address, personal references, or consent to disclose medical, psychiatric, or other personal records beyond that standard. This affects all applicants seeking such licenses and the cities/towns processing applications, ensuring forms don’t demand unnecessary disclosures. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and aims to restrict data collection to what was legally required in 2009.