Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

passed · New Hampshire · House May 5, 2026

HB 1631: relative to the contents of the attorney general's annual report detailing state forfeiture information for the preceding fiscal year.

HB 1631 requires the New Hampshire Attorney General to publish a detailed annual report on the state's property forfeiture activities within 120 days after each fiscal year ends. The report must include specific data for each seizure, such as the law enforcement agency involved, date and location, type and value of property (excluding contraband like drugs), related criminal case details, and outcomes (e.g., conviction or dismissal). Law enforcement agencies must provide this information in disaggregated form to the Attorney General's office. The bill directly affects the Attorney General's office (which must compile and publish the report) and local law enforcement agencies (which must supply the data). This expands reporting requirements beyond current law to increase transparency about how seized property is handled.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires transparency in property forfeiture reporting, enhancing law enforcement accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Tags Data Reporting

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1801: relative to causes of action for wrongful detention, drug forfeiture proceedings, the regulation of law enforcement officers, and the offense of unsworn falsification.

HB 1801 modifies four key areas of law enforcement practice. It requires the state to prove a detention was lawful after a plaintiff shows it was unlawful, with $100 hourly damages (adjusted annually) for wrongful detention. The bill revises drug forfeiture rules to specify which property (like vehicles, money, or real estate) can be seized and adds a lien on seized items. It also mandates new certification requirements for law enforcement officers and creates a violation-level offense for officers who knowingly provide false information in written reports. These changes directly affect individuals claiming unlawful detention, property owners in drug cases, and law enforcement officers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates state prove lawful detention, provides $100/hr damages for wrongful detention, revises drug forfeiture rules, and requires officer certification - enhancing accountability and civil rights in law enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement

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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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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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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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