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HB 1547 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Circuit court appeal election rules

AI-generated

relative to appeals from convictions in circuit court for certain offenses.

Requires defendants charged with certain offenses to elect between proceeding in circuit court with a jury trial waiver or immediately appealing to superior court for a jury trial.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · February 12, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires a defendant charged with certain offenses to elect whether to proceed in circuit court and waive his or her right to a jury trial or to immediately appeal to superior court for a jury trial.

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 any prosecution for a violation of RSA 632-A:4 [involving a victim less than 18 years of age at the time the prosecution is commenced, and] which is brought in the circuit court, the defendant may elect to either:”
RSA 632-A:9-a
“In any prosecution for a violation of RSA 631:2-a or 631:2-b, which is charged as a class A misdemeanor in the circuit court, the defendant may elect to either:”
RSA 631:2-c
“Appeals. – Except as provided in RSA 631:2-c, 632-A:9-a, and 633:3-a, IX a person convicted by a circuit court of a class A misdemeanor, at the time the sentence is declared, may appeal therefrom to obtain a de novo jury trial in the superior court, which shall hear the appeal.”
RSA 599:1
“A circuit court shall not proceed with a trial under subparagraph I(b) unless it has conducted a colloquy with the defendant and finds that the defendant has knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his or her right to a jury trial.”
RSA 632-A:9-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Erik JohnsonDPrime
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Marie Louise BjelobrkRClerk· Municipal and County Government
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Also: Rep. Kelley PotenzaR, Rep. Alicia GreggD, Rep. Loren SeligD, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Zoe ManosD

Public testimony

7 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

29% support71% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I oppose this bill because it reduces transparency or public accountability and does not meaningfully improve outcomes for New Hampshire residents.”
— Tiffany Gladu, Goffstownopposes

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
  • Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study18–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 12, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary1:57:25–2:15:4018m 15slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamRefer for Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

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. 25
  2. Jan 28, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2026 11:30 am GP 230
  3. Jan 28, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/28/2026 11:30 am GP 230
  4. Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study 01/28/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 6 P. 7
  5. Feb 12, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 8

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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