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HB 592 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Bail standards and magistrates reform

AI-generated

relative to magistrates and the standards applicable to and the administration of bail.

Amends the standards and administration of bail and repeals the establishment of magistrates, including a related appropriation.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Makes various amendments governing the standards to and the administration of bail. II. Repeals the establishment of magistrates and makes other amendments to reflect that repeal, including the repeal of an appropriation.

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

“A judicial training coordinator position shall be created on or before July 1, 2025, to work under the direction of the chief justice of the supreme court.”
RSA 490-K:1
“Any person who holds the position of judge [or magistrate] in this state, and all nonjudicial employees of the judicial branch with a hire date on or after July 1, 2025, shall complete an orientation and training program within 3 months of hire, as directed by the chief justice of the supreme court.”
RSA 490-K:2
“Any person who holds the position of judge, [magistrate,] court administrator, clerk, or director of the administrative office of the court in this state, shall be required to complete continuing education as the chief justice of the supreme court directs. 3:2 Arrests in Criminal Cases;”
RSA 490-K:3
“Except as provided in paragraph III or VIII, upon the appearance before the court of a person charged with an offense, the court shall issue an order that, pending arraignment or trial, the person be:”
RSA 597:2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ross BerryRPrimeChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Brian ColeRVice Chair· Housing

Also: Rep. Mike BordesR, Rep. Steven KesselringR, Rep. Jonathan MortonR

Public testimony

94 signed in online · 12 wrote testimony

4% support96% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill will undo much of the hard work that has been put into bail reform.”
— Patricia Anastasia, Londonderryopposes
“I am opposed to bill HB476 that would further restrict abortion, reproductive healthcare, in New Hampshire.…”
— Joan Tulk, NOTTINGHAMopposes
“The system is working. Children should not be seduced into marriage before they are old enough to understand what it means.”
— Susan Almy, Lebanonopposes

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
  • Feb 28, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0448h9–7
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-0448hAdopted209–167
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseDivisionFloor amendment 2025-0939h (Rep. Scherr)Failed171–209
    Overall
    45% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseDivisionFloor amendment 2025-0940h (Rep. Roy)Adopted206–173
    Overall
    54% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseDivisionLay HB 592 on Table (Rep. N. Germana)Failed177–202
    Overall
    47% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0448h 2025-0940hAdopted204–175
    Overall
    54% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateRoll callOught to PassAdopted23–0How they voted
    Overall
    100% yea
    Republicans
    15–0100% yea
    Democrats
    8–0100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 29, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety5:07:56–5:14:026m 6slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:12:13–1:13:221m 9slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Feb 26, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety13:30–14:391m 9slocated in the stream transcript==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:24:44–1:32:598m 15slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0448h 2025-0940h — adopted, division 204-175; Amendment # 2025-0448h — adopted, division 209-167; FLAM # 2025-0939h (Rep. Scherr) — failed, division 171-209
  • Mar 18, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:06:22–1:40:0533m 43slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateSenate floor22:41–31:318m 50slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, roll call 23-0; HB 592-FN was Removed from the Consent Calendar

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 Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 3 P. 17
  2. Jan 29, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/29/2025 02:00 pm LOB 202-204
  3. Feb 21, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/21/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  4. Feb 26, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/26/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  5. Feb 28, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0448h 02/28/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC)
  6. Mar 3, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0596h
  7. Mar 13, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0448h: AA DV 209-167 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 29
  8. Mar 13, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-0939h (Rep. Scherr): AF DV 171-209 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 31
  9. Mar 13, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-0940h (Rep. Roy): AA DV 206-173 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 32
  10. Mar 13, 2025HouseLay HB 592 on Table (Rep. N. Germana): MF DV 177-202 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 33
  11. Mar 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0448h 2025-0940h: MA DV 204-175 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 33
  12. Mar 13, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 33
  13. Mar 13, 2025HouseReferral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 88
  14. Mar 13, 2025SenIntroduced 03/13/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  15. Mar 18, 2025SenHearing: 03/18/2025, Room 100, SH, 02:00 pm; SC 14
  16. Mar 20, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/20/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 14
  17. Mar 20, 2025SenHB 592-FN was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  18. Mar 20, 2025SenSpecial Order to the Beginning of the Regular Calendar, Without Objection; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  19. Mar 20, 2025SenOught to Pass: RC 23Y-0N, MA; OT3rdg; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  20. Mar 20, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, 03/20/2025 SJ 8
  21. Mar 20, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 03/20/2025 HJ 10 P. 35
  22. Mar 25, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 03/25/2025; Chapter 3; eff. 9/21/25

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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