Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

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.

In the bill's words

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

“To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2025 session of the general court shall be approved.”
From the bill
“That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot with other constitutional questions or on the official ballot.”
From the bill
“The ballot containing the question shall include 2 ovals next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no oval is marked, the ballot shall not be counted on the question.”
From the bill
“The outside of the ballot shall be the same as the regular official ballot except that the words “Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2025 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.”
From the bill

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 3, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–2
    Overall
    89% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary19:51–21:311m 40slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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. 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.