Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · New Hampshire · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1547: relative to appeals from convictions in circuit court for certain offenses.

HB 1547 requires defendants charged with specific misdemeanors - including misdemeanor sexual assault involving minors, class A misdemeanor assault, and misdemeanor stalking - to choose within 30 days of arraignment: either appeal to superior court for a jury trial or proceed in circuit court with a waived right to a jury trial. Circuit courts cannot move forward with a trial under the waiver option without confirming the defendant knowingly and voluntarily gave up their jury trial right through a court discussion. The bill applies only to these three offense types and modifies existing appeal rules to clarify that superior courts handle jury trial appeals for these cases. It does not change sentencing or create new costs, as noted in the fiscal impact statement.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts defendant's right to jury trial by mandating waiver or appeal within 30 days for specific misdemeanors, reducing constitutional protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Sentencing

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signed · New Hampshire · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 620: relative to refusal of consent to testing to determine alcohol concentration and penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated.

SB 620 increases license suspension periods for drivers who refuse alcohol testing and modifies penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated (DWI). For a first refusal of testing, license suspension rises from 180 days to 12 months; for repeat offenders with prior DWI convictions or refusals, it increases from 2 to 3 years. The bill also adds new requirements for aggravated DWI convictions, including a mandatory 17-day jail sentence (suspensible), a substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, and installation of an ignition interlock device. These changes directly affect drivers arrested for DWI who refuse testing or are convicted of aggravated DWI offenses. The policy focuses on stricter consequences for refusal and repeat offenses, with court discretion to suspend up to 6 months of license revocation if treatment requirements are met.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases license suspensions and mandates mandatory jail time for DWI offenses, expanding penalties without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1454: relative to the possession of firearms following a court order requiring surrender of firearms and ammunition.

HB 1454 makes it a crime to possess a firearm after a court orders you to surrender all firearms and ammunition you owned or controlled. For a first offense, this is a class A misdemeanor; repeat violations are class B felonies. The bill also specifies that violating this court order counts as a qualifying offense for bail denial if the original court order was a domestic violence protection order (under RSA 173-B) or if the person faces separate domestic violence charges. It directly affects individuals subject to such court orders, particularly in domestic violence cases. The law applies to all firearms and ammunition subject to the court’s surrender requirement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnforces firearm surrender in domestic violence cases, preventing gun access for abusers and enhancing victim safety per RSA 173-B, aligning with criminal justice reform protecting civil rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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failed · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 555: relative to critical risk protection orders.

SB 555 creates "critical risk protection orders" to temporarily restrict access to firearms when someone poses an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. It allows family members, household members, intimate partners, or law enforcement to petition a court for this order, requiring the respondent to surrender firearms and ammunition. The court can issue an emergency order without the respondent's immediate presence, followed by a hearing within 72 hours. This applies only to acute risk situations and excludes cases already covered under domestic violence laws (RSA 173-B or 633:3-a).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates court-ordered firearm restrictions for acute risk situations, preventing harm and enhancing public safety within criminal justice framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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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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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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signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1598: relative to notice and proceedings for tenants and landlords engaged in eviction processes.

HB 1598 creates a streamlined eviction process for landlords seeking to remove tenants who fail to pay rent or breach leases in ways affecting health/safety, criminal activity, or drug-related offenses. It requires landlords to provide a 5-day notice with a clear warning about the expedited timeline, giving tenants only 3 days to respond after court filing. If tenants don’t pay or vacate, courts must issue a writ of possession immediately without a hearing - unless the tenant pays all overdue rent within 48 hours. This process limits defenses to just rent payment or the alleged breach, blocking unrelated claims, and restricts stays of execution except for immediate payment. The bill applies to all landlords and tenants in qualifying eviction cases, effective January 1, 2027.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAccelerates evictions for criminal activity/drug offenses without hearing, expanding enforcement and reducing tenant due process - aligns with 'expands criminalization' oppose indicator.85% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill shortens tenant response time and removes hearings, weakening tenant protections in eviction processes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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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