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HB 1740 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Strengthening domestic violence protections

AI-generated

relative to the protection of persons from domestic violence.

Rewrites the state's domestic violence protection law to require mandatory law enforcement response and arrest procedures, revise protective order standards, and create a domestic violence law enforcement training and support fund.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill revises the standards and processes for the issuance of orders of protection in domestic violence, law enforcement response, and relationship to criminal proceedings. This bill further establishes a domestic violence law enforcement training and support fund.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreRPrime
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Shane SiroisRClerk· Legislative Administration

Also: Rep. Mike BelcherR, Rep. Barbara ComtoisR, Rep. Susan DeRoyR, Rep. Diane KelleyR, Rep. Kristine PerezR

Public testimony

374 signed in online · 106 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

ForBill addresses a gap in current protections

AgainstRequiring criminal charges first would block many survivors

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill establishes more protection by addressing a gap in the state law. As an Executive Committee member of the GFWC NH, with over 800 members in NH, we work to support survivors of sexual assault and have a particular focus on child survivors.”
— Mary Ryan, Hamptonsupports
“Even when it’s in criminal court the abusers don’t show up, and if they’re on PR bail they just get PR bail again, and they still don’t show up. And when victims call the prosecutor to tell them where the perpetrator is so the arrest can happen they don’t arrest them.…”
— Margaret Konze, Pembrokesupports
“Removing confidentiality and requiring reports to law enforcement will make survivors less safe. This bill will significantly restrict access to civil protection, increase danger for victims, and undermine decades of evidence-based domestic violence policy in our state.…”
— Jessica Vaughn-Martin, Litchfieldopposes
“This bill would significantly impact survivors of intimate partner violence, teen dating violence, and domestic violence and there are many considerations/implications of this bill that must be carefully considered.…”
— Rebecca LeBlanc, Laconiaopposes
“This bill would make it harder for women to get protective orders and create barriers for women seeking relief. This is a step backwards”
— Gail Gentes, Hanoveropposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-1610:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 159Public hearing
  • 2026-02-0410:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 159Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 33
  2. Jan 16, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/16/2026 10:30 am GP 159
  3. Feb 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  4. Feb 4, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/04/2026 (Vote 12-1; CC) HC 7 P. 8
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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