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HB 611 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Repayment rules for indigent defense counsel

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to repayment regarding appointed counsel for indigent criminal defendants.

Revises the requirements and process for repayment of appointed counsel fees by indigent criminal defendants, reverting to a prior standard under which repayment may be required regardless of conviction.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · January 7, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill amends the requirements and process for the repayment of counsel fees for indigent criminal defendants, reverting to a prior version of the law under which the repayment may be required regardless of conviction.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The state may collect from the defendant a service charge of up to 10 percent of the total amount of fees and expenses owed by such defendant.”
Section 1
“All petitions for court appointed counsel shall bear the following words in capital letters:”
Section 2
“When the court appoints counsel to represent a defendant in a proceeding under this section, the court shall grant the defendant relief from the obligation to repay the state for appointed counsel fees under [RSA 604-A:9, I(b)] RSA 604-A:9, I-b, if the court determines that the defendant is financially unable to repay.”
Section 3
“At no time shall the defendant be required to repay, for legal services, an amount greater than the state's flat rate for a contract attorney as established contractually pursuant to RSA 604-B.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Buzz ScherrDPrime
  • Rep. Terry RoyRChair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Marjorie SmithDRanking Member· Judiciary
  • Rep. Paul BerchDDeputy Ranking Member· Judiciary
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Finance

Also: Rep. Eric TurerD, Sen. Donovan FentonD

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 3, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0638h (NT)10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-0638hAdopted197–163
    Overall
    55% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-0611hFailed165–196
    Overall
    46% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0638hAdopted199–163
    Overall
    55% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Oct 30, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate25–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciaryfrom 6:28:08located in the stream transcript==CANCELLED== Public Hearing; Public Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary46:54–48:562m 2slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0638h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floor5:42:01–5:49:137m 12slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0638h — adopted, division 199-163; Amendment # 2025-0638h (NT) — adopted, division 197-163; Amendment # 2025-0611h — failed, division 165-196
  • Mar 24, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I5:38:41–5:40:141m 33slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance47:27–49:482m 21slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Oct 2, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I40:16–42:482m 32slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Oct 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance1:22:45–1:24:311m 46slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — 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. 18
  2. Feb 19, 2025House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 02/19/2025 09:45 am LOB 206-208
  3. Feb 19, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/19/2025 03:15 pm LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 3, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  5. Mar 3, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0638h (NT) 03/03/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC)
  6. Mar 5, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0611h
  7. Mar 13, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0638h (NT): AA DV 197-163 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 80
  8. Mar 13, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0611h: AF DV 165-196 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 81
  9. Mar 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0638h: MA DV 199-163 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 81
  10. Mar 13, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 81
  11. Mar 24, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/24/2025 09:00 am LOB 212
  12. Apr 1, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/01/2025 10:00 am LOB 210-211
  13. Apr 2, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  14. Oct 2, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 10/02/2025 01:00 pm GP 230
  15. Oct 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 10/30/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  16. Oct 30, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 10/30/2025 (Vote 25-0; CC) HC 51 P. 11
  17. Jan 7, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 72

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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