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HB 580 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Ban on retaliatory defamation lawsuits

AI-generated

relative to retaliatory defamation in domestic violence and sexual violence cases.

Prohibits retaliatory defamation against a victim who reports sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or domestic abuse.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · January 7, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits retaliatory defamation against a victim reporting sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or domestic abuse.

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

“Defamation claims, where the alleged perpetrator is publicly named by a victim reporting sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or abuse under RSA 173-B, shall be reserved for cases where the plaintiff's complaint establishes, by pleading particular facts and not a general claim, one or both of the following:”
RSA 507:15-c
““Report” or “reporting” means disclosures to authorities, human resources, speaking to the press, publishing on social media, or telling another person.”
RSA 507:15-c
“A victim who prevails in a retaliatory defamation case at any point in the proceedings shall be awarded court costs and reasonable attorneys fees, and shall be eligible to receive punitive damages in addition to treble compensatory damages.”
RSA 507:15-c

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Anita BurroughsDPrimeRanking Member· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Rep. Paul BerchDDeputy Ranking Member· Judiciary
  • Rep. Carry SpierDDeputy Ranking Member· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader

Also: Rep. Alicia GreggD, Rep. Dick ThackstonR, Sen. Debra AltschillerD

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Sep 10, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendarCommittee report: Refer for Interim Study15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary2:16:08–2:16:4537slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Public Hearing
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary1:09:12–1:13:444m 32slocated in the stream transcript==CONTINUED== Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Sep 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary47:47–49:461m 59slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 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 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 3 P. 17
  2. Feb 19, 2025House==RECESSED== Public Hearing: 02/19/2025 11:15 am LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 12, 2025House==CONTINUED== Public Hearing: 03/12/2025 10:15 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/12/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  5. Mar 17, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  6. Sep 10, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 09/10/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  7. Sep 10, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 09/10/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  8. Sep 10, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study 09/10/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 51 P. 14
  9. Jan 7, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 75

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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