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CACR 7 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee

Constitutional presumption of innocence

AI-generated

relating to the presumption of innocence. Providing that in all cases and suits of the state against one of the people, the defendant shall be innocent unless proven guilty.

Amends the state constitution to require that a defendant in cases brought by the state against a person be presumed innocent unless proven guilty.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 20, 2025
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. On the ballot

Analysis

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution would amend the New Hampshire constitution to require that in all cases and suits of the state against a person the defendant shall be innocent unless proven guilty.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kelley PotenzaRPrime
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Kristin NobleRChair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Andrew ProutR, Rep. Paul TerryR

Public testimony

17 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

88% support12% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

I support CACR 7  and the renewal of basic civil rights in New Hampshire. /s/ Andrew Cullen
Andrew Cullen, Marlboroughsupports
This is to make it harder for women to get divorced when they come for divorce next. Only criminals and scammers and people who victimize others need it to be harder for victims to prove they’ve been victimized.
Margaret Konze, Pembrokeopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-02-039:30 amHouse JudiciaryLOB 206-208Public hearing
  • 2025-03-0310:00 amHouse JudiciaryLOB 206-208Public hearingrescheduled

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 3 P. 25
  2. Feb 3, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2025 09:30 am LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 3, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 3, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/03/2025 (Vote 16-2; CC)
  5. Mar 20, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 17

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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