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HB 1576 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Stronger enforcement of criminal restitution

AI-generated

relative to the enforcement of criminal restitution obligations.

Establishes new mechanisms for enforcing criminal restitution obligations, including mandatory financial reevaluation and additional penalties for noncompliance.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill provides for new mechanisms for the enforcement of criminal restitution obligations, including mandatory financial reevaluation and additional penalties for noncompliance.

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

“These reforms are remedial in nature and shall apply to both current and future restitution orders, so that all victims may benefit from the protections herein provided.”
Section 233:1
“The time and method of restitution payments or performance of restitution services shall be specified by the department of corrections.”
Section 233:2
“The department of corrections shall conduct a mandatory reevaluation of each offender’s financial ability to pay restitution at least once every 12 months.”
Section 233:3
“The provisions of this section are remedial in nature and shall apply to all existing restitution orders as of the effective date of this section, as well as to all future restitution orders.”
Section 233:4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kathleen PaquetteRPrime
  • Rep. Brian ColeRVice Chair· Housing
  • Rep. Larry GagneRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Finance
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Also: Rep. Pierre DupontR, Rep. Steven KesselringR, Rep. Lori KorzenR, Rep. Linda McGrathR, Rep. Mark McLeanR, Rep. Jonathan MortonR, Rep. Jessica GrillD

Public testimony

24 signed in online · 6 wrote testimony

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I recently had a chance to review HB 1576, as introduced, and am writing to support this bill.…”
— Paul Halvorsen, Concord · Office of the Merrimack County Attorneysupports
“I support this bill. I have been in victim services in prosecution for 34 years. I have seen firsthand the devastation that financial consequences of crime and leave on a victim's life. Picking up the pieces can be insurmountable.…”
— Nancy Harris, Greenlandsupports
“HB1576 makes necessary updates to New Hampshire’s criminal restitution statute, ensuring that victims receive timely notification and that payment obligations are met.…”
— Amy Vorenberg, Concordsupports

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 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0366h13–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0366hadopted
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0366hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Mar 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass25–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass7–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2132eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:38:09–1:44:596m 50slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:10:40–1:11:551m 15slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0366h; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0366h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0366h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 13, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I1:02:58–1:11:238m 25slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance22:24–24:181m 54slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 7, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:01:15–1:15:1514mlocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • 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 # 2026-2132e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2132e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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 Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 26
  2. Jan 22, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2026 11:30 am GP 159
  3. Feb 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  4. Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0366h 02/04/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 7 P. 7
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0366h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 8
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0366h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 8
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 39
  8. Mar 13, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/13/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  9. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  10. Mar 17, 2026House: Ought to Pass 03/17/2026 (Vote 25-0; RC)
  11. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 24
  12. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  13. Apr 7, 2026SenHearing: 04/07/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:35 pm; SC 13
  14. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15A
  15. Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  16. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/07/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 17
  17. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  18. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2132e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  19. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2132e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  21. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  22. Jul 2, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 233; eff. 6/1/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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