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HB 132 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee

Eliminating relative support liability

AI-generated

(Second New Title) eliminating liability for support and recovery over certain indigent relations.

Changes the legal standard governing relatives' responsibility to support indigent family members.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · August 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill changes the standard of responsibility of relatives to support poor persons.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The relation of any poor person in the line of father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, son, daughter, husband, or wife shall assist or maintain such person when in need of relief.”
RSA 165:19
“Said relation [shall] may be deemed able to assist such person if [his] their weekly income is more than sufficient to provide a reasonable subsistence compatible with decency and health.”
RSA 165:19
“If, after hearing, it is found that the alleged poor person is in need of assistance, and that the relation is able to render such assistance, the court shall enter a decree accordingly and shall fix the amount and character of the assistance which the relation shall furnish.”
RSA 165:19
“Aid to a person who is otherwise eligible for assistance under this chapter shall not be withheld due to the failure of a legally liable relative to respond to the welfare administrator or their refusal to provide aid.”
RSA 165:19

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Rick LaddRPrimeChair· Education Funding

Public testimony

8 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

63% support38% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill should not be repealed. We may need it someday when the welfare budget becomes uncontrollable.”
— Russell Hodgkins, Amherstsupports
“I don't support this without a new bill addressing that the community has a responsibility to its members to help in times of need.…”
— Heather Fritchy, DERRYopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary5:35:12–5:36:531m 41slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary3:55:21–3:58:273m 6slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0927h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0927h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0927h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 24, 2025Public hearingSenate Children and Family Law59:54–1:00:2228slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:16:19–1:18:161m 57slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2046s; Ought to Pass with Amendments #2025-2046s and #2025-2144s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-2046s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2046s 2025-2144s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Lynn, Kuttab, D. Mannion, Turer
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Abbas Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Abbas, Sullivan, Long; (In Recess
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2787c; Conference Committee Report # 2025-2787c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2025-2787c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 2 P. 7
  2. Mar 5, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/05/2025 02:30 pm LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/12/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 12, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0927h (NT) 03/12/2025 (Vote 13-5; RC) HC 17 P. 33
  5. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0927h: AA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 69
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0927h: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 69
  7. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 10
  8. Apr 24, 2025SenHearing: 04/24/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:50 am; SC 17
  9. May 15, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2046s, 05/15/2025, Vote 3-0; SC 21A
  10. May 15, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-2046s, AA, VV; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  11. May 15, 2025SenSen. Sullivan Floor Amendment # 2025-2144s, AA, VV; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  12. May 15, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2025-2046s and #2025-2144s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  13. May 22, 2025HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2046s 2025-2144s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne): MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  14. May 22, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Lynn, Kuttab, D. Mannion, Turer 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  15. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Abbas Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  16. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Abbas, Sullivan, Long; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  17. Jun 16, 2025HouseConference Committee Meeting: 06/16/2025 02:30 pm LOB 206-208
  18. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2787c; 06/26/2025
  19. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report # 2025-2787c, Adopted, VV; 06/26/2025; SJ 17
  20. Jun 26, 2025HouseConference Committee Report 2025-2787c: Adopted, VV 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 18
  21. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  22. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 63
  23. Aug 1, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 08/01/2025; Chapter 267; eff.01/01/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.