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HB 1422 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Extended deadline for new trial petition

AI-generated

relative to the time to petition for a new trial.

Allows additional time to petition for a new trial in certain circumstances.AI-generated

Status

Passed over the governor’s veto (override succeeded) · August 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Governor's veto message

“As a murder prosecutor and former Attorney General, I understand the need to pursue and deliver justice. We do not need to create a novel approach to allow defendants to seek a new trial. Those seeking a new trial already have a statutory pathway to seek a new trial as well as the ability to file a writ of habeas corpus or a writ of coram nobis, options that are well established in New Hampshire case law. For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 1422.”
— Gov. Kelly Ayotte · Jul 2, 2026 · excerpt
Governor's press release

The House voted 314–7 on the override (Aug 19, 2026); the Senate voted 18–6 on the override (Aug 19, 2026) — clearing the two-thirds required, so the veto was overridden. See the roll calls.

A passage from the Governor's veto message, quoted verbatim. The full message enters the record on veto day.

Analysis

This bill allows additional time to petition for a new trial in certain circumstances.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted.

“A new trial shall not be granted unless the petition is filed within [three] 3 years after the rendition of the judgment complained of, or the failure of the suit.”
RSA 526:4, I

This is the general three-year deadline that the bill preserves before adding exceptions.AI-generated

“The petitioner seeks a new trial in a criminal case that resulted in a conviction of a felony or a class A misdemeanor;”
RSA 526:4, II

It is one of four conditions that together lift the time limit for certain criminal petitions.AI-generated

“"newly discovered evidence" includes evidence that can be subjected to new or additional forensic testing, evidence that can be subjected to new scientific understanding, or evidence that was not available at the time of trial but is available at the time the petition is filed.”
RSA 526:4, III

This definition broadens what counts as newly discovered evidence to include new testing methods and scientific understanding.AI-generated

“the state shall, upon request, reactivate victim services for the victim of the crime being reinvestigated during the reinvestigation of the case”
RSA 526:4, VI

It requires reactivation of victim services when a criminal conviction is reinvestigated on a new-trial petition.AI-generated

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Tom MannionRPrimeAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Paul BerchDDeputy Ranking Member· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Travis CorcoranR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR

Public testimony

46 signed in online · 6 wrote testimony

28% support72% oppose0% neutral

ForExtended time allows the wrongly convicted to clear their name

AgainstBathroom restrictions cannot be enforced without invasive checks

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support HB1422. Justice is blind, and law slow. Neither is accommodating of changing evidence and circumstances. Those who have the ability to clear their name should be allowed to do so. I urge the committee to vote Ought to Pass.”
— ST LU, Merrimacksupports
“I vehemently oppose any attempt to keep people from going the bathroom of the gender with which they identify. They are not "men" trying to use the ladies' rooms. They are women or girls wanting only to go to the bathroom.…”
— Rachael Booth, LANDAFFopposes
“Bathroom bills cannot be enforced, they are silly and based on transphobia.”
— Kathleen Farrell, Boscawenopposes
“This is an incredible overreach of government authority. Not only is this entire bill pretty much unenforceable without incredibly invasive questioning practices at best, or "gender checks" at worst, this also does nothing to protect women.…”
— Lauren Blanchette, Concordopposes

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 25, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0871h17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0871hadopted
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0871hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2137eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted
  • Aug 19, 2026HouseRoll callOverride the veto — shall the bill become law notwithstanding the objectionsAdopted314–7How they voted
    Overall
    98% yea
    Republicans
    171–697% yea
    Democrats
    143–199% yea
  • Aug 19, 2026SenateRoll callOverride the veto — shall the bill become law notwithstanding the objectionsAdopted18–6How they voted
    Overall
    75% yea
    Republicans
    10–663% yea
    Democrats
    8–0100% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 20, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary6:04:46–6:41:2536m 39s
  • Feb 25, 2026Executive sessionHouse Judiciary2:36:33–2:41:124m 39s
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0871h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0871h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary55:00–1:38:4043m 40s
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2137e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2137e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)
  • Aug 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:23:37–1:25:161m 39slocated in the stream transcriptNotwithstanding the Governor's Veto, Shall HB 1422 Become Law — roll call 18-6
  • Aug 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:56:21–2:02:366m 15slocated in the stream transcriptVeto Overridden — roll call 314-7

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 19
  2. Feb 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/20/2026 02:30 pm GP 231
  3. Feb 25, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/25/2026 02:30 pm GP 231
  4. Feb 25, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0871h 02/25/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 10 P. 26
  5. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0871h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 54
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0871h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 54
  7. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  8. Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:35 pm; SC 13
  9. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
  10. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  11. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2137e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  12. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2137e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  13. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  14. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  15. Jul 2, 2026HouseVetoed by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026
  16. Aug 19, 2026HouseVeto Overridden 08/19/2026: RC 314-7 by Required Two-Thirds Vote HJ 16
  17. Aug 19, 2026SenNotwithstanding the Governor's Veto, Shall HB 1422 Become Law: RC 18Y-6N, Veto Overridden by necessary two-thirds vote; 08/19/2026; SJ 15
  18. Jan 1, 2027HouseEnacted in accordance with Article 44 PartII of the N.H. Constitution without the signature of the governor. Chapter 342;eff. 01/01/2027

Coverage

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

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