HB 1116 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee
Judicial privilege and small claims notice
AI-generatedrelative to judicial privilege and relative to the litigation of small claims.
Bars state judges from claiming judicial privilege to avoid testifying in criminal proceedings where they have firsthand knowledge of material facts, and requires courts to send small claims notice within 10 days of filing.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill: I. States that a New Hampshire state judge may not claim judicial privilege to refuse to testify in a criminal proceeding where they have firsthand knowledge of material facts. II. Requires the court in small claims litigations to send notice of the claim within 10 days of its filing.
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
“In this section, "judge" means any full-time or part-time judge of the supreme, superior, or circuit court; a retired judge who is recalled to judicial service; a full-time marital master; and any referee or special master who is an officer of the judicial system and who performs judicial functions.”
“If a court finds, based on a proffer from the subpoenaing party, that a judge possesses firsthand knowledge of any material fact that is relevant and admissible in a criminal proceeding, the judge shall not be entitled to refuse to testify due to a claim of judicial privilege.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
Public testimony
9 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony
89% support11% oppose0% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“I strongly support this bill. The only people who should be making decisions regarding their children's' health / immunization are the parents or legal guardians. Thank you for supporting this bill.”
“Why are so many in law enforcement given special rules to follow? They should be treated exactly the same as every other citizen. If I can't, they can't.”
“I support Judges being able to testify in criminal cases if they are privy to firsthand knowledge pertaining to said criminal cases to protect citizens from outside jurisdiction so long as it remains within code of conduct of pre existing rights, reaponsibilities, and protections…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate18–0Overall100% yea
- Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
- Feb 13, 2026Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
- Mar 5, 2026Floor 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
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 7
- Feb 4, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2026 01:30 pm GP 230
- Feb 13, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/13/2026 10:00 am GP 158
- Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/13/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 9 P. 17
- Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 20
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.