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HB 641 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee

Civil rights lawsuit rights

AI-generated

establishing a private right of action for civil rights violations.

Establishes a private right of action allowing a person subject to a civil rights violation to bring suit and recover punitive damages.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill allows a person who is the subject of a civil rights violation to bring suit and receive punitive damages.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“Any person who has been subjected to, or the target of, the unlawful interference with, or the attempt to interfere with, the rights secured by this chapter, may bring a private action under chapter 354-B. ? II.”
RSA 354-B:2-a
“Any person injured by another's use of any method, act, or practice declared unlawful under this chapter may bring an action for damages and for such equitable relief, including an injunction, as the court deems necessary and proper.”
RSA 354-B:2-a
“If the court or jury finds for the plaintiff, recovery shall be in the amount of actual damages or $10,000, whichever is greater.”
RSA 354-B:2-a
“If the court or jury finds that the use of the method of competition or the act or practice was a willful or knowing violation of this chapter, it shall award as much as 3 times, but not less than 2 times, such amount.”
RSA 354-B:2-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Linda Harriott-GathrightDPrimeRanking Member· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. David MeuseDDeputy Ranking Member· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader

Also: Rep. Mary GeorgesD, Rep. Jean JeudyD, Rep. Lee Ann KlugerD, Rep. Sanjeev ManoharD, Rep. Jodi NewellD, Rep. Buzz ScherrD, Rep. Suzanne VailD, Rep. Jonah WheelerD, Sen. Pat LongD, Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Donovan FentonD

Public testimony

320 signed in online · 35 wrote testimony

93% support7% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am a strong supporter of civil rights as advocated by NEAC NAACP”
— Robert McNaught, Merrimacksupports
“I support personal civil rights - the rights of all in New Hampshire are better when we protect the most vulnerable. Allowing those to file on behalf of themselves makes sense in my state.”
— Jessica Woods, Nashuasupports
“There has been an increasing number of civil rights violation complaints, and people should have the right to take their cases to court.”
— Kathy Grossman, Hollissupports
“This is a waste of time. Individuals already have the right to bring legal action.”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonopposes
“Penalizing towns and cities for rules of general applicability that happen to be inconvenient to religious groups is not religious freedom, it is religious exceptionalism. Religions are not due any more deference than other organizations.”
— Elizabeth Ewing, Hopkintonopposes

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
  • Mar 12, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseDivisionInexpedient to LegislateAdopted195–146
    Overall
    57% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary4:33:07–4:46:4213m 35slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:17:27–4:24:307m 3slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, division 195-146

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 3 P. 20
  2. Feb 19, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/19/2025 01:00 pm LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/12/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 12, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 03/12/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 36
  5. Mar 17, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1022h
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 195-146 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 79

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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