Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

SB 140 · 2025 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Domestic violence fatality review committee

AI-generated

establishing a domestic violence fatality review committee.

Establishes a domestic violence fatality review committee within the department of justice to conduct multidisciplinary reviews of domestic violence-related deaths and creates a criminal penalty for improperly disclosing committee records.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill establishes a domestic violence fatality review committee within the department of justice to conduct comprehensive, multidisciplinary reviews of deaths related to domestic violence. This bill also establishes a criminal penalty for intentionally disclosing information or records obtained from committee proceedings. This bill is a request of the department of justice.

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

“For the purpose of this section, a "domestic violence fatality" means a death which arises as a result of domestic violence as defined in RSA 173-B, RSA 631:2-b, or a fatality that, in the sole discretion of the domestic violence fatality review committee, was either directly or indirectly related to domestic violence.”
RSA 21-M:16-a
“The attorney general shall appoint the members of the domestic violence fatality review committee, who shall hold office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the attorney general.”
RSA 21-M:16-a
“The committee may create additional subcommittees as needed to achieve the committee’s mission.”
RSA 21-M:16-a
“These subcommittees shall be subject to the same protections and responsibilities as the committee as established in this section.”
RSA 21-M:16-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Regina BirdsellRPrimeMajority Leader

Public testimony

8 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill is critical to identifying system and communication gaps that contribute to the deaths of domestic violence victims. It will aid in transparency and open multi-disciplinary collaboration to help keep our most vulnerable citizens.”
— Robert Frechette, Straffordsupports

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 6, 2025SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 23, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 8, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 12, 2025HouseVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2721eadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:16:06–1:36:1320m 7slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 9, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety4:32:45–4:49:5017m 5slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:53:34–1:54:551m 21slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2721e — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2721e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 3
  2. Feb 6, 2025Sen==CANCELLED== Hearing: 02/06/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 8
  3. Feb 11, 2025SenHearing: 02/11/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 9
  4. Mar 6, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/06/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 11
  5. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 11 P. 111
  7. Apr 9, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/09/2025 02:30 pm LOB 202-204
  8. Apr 23, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/23/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
  9. Apr 25, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/25/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  10. Apr 23, 2025House: Ought to Pass 04/23/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 23 P. 7
  11. May 8, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 4
  12. Jun 12, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2721e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/12/2025 HJ 17
  13. Jun 12, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2721e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/12/2025); SJ 17
  14. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 58
  15. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  16. Jul 15, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0234; Effective 07/15/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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