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SB 464 · 2026 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Overhauling civil rights enforcement

AI-generated

relative to civil rights enforcement.

Repeals and replaces the state's civil rights enforcement law to create civil liability for acts of violence, property damage, or threats motivated by hostility toward a person's race, religion, sex, or other protected characteristics.AI-generated

Status

Became law without signature · June 24, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill changes the standard for civil rights enforcement.

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

“In this section, “threatening to commit” means the communication, by physical conduct or by declaration, of an intent to inflict harm or damage to a person or property that, taken in the context of surrounding circumstances, would convey to a reasonable person that the actor has the apparent ability to carry out the threat and the real possibility that such harm or damage may occur.”
RSA 354-B:1
“Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any conduct or speech that is protected under the United States Constitution or the New Hampshire constitution.”
RSA 354-B:1
“It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere or attempt to interfere with the rights secured by this chapter. 204:2 Effective Date.”
RSA 354-B:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Daryl AbbasRPrimeVice Chair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Rep. Keith AmmonRMajority Floor Leader

Public testimony

405 signed in online · 72 wrote testimony

0% support100% oppose0% neutral

AgainstRaises burden of proof, making violations hard to establish

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“AFT-NH opposes SB 464 because it weakens New Hampshire’s civil rights law by making it much harder to prove discrimination or bias based harm, by requiring showing that harmful conduct was substantially motivated by hostility toward a protected group.…”
— Debrah Howes, Bow · American Federation of Teachers - NHopposes
“This bill weakens the standard for civil rights enforcement. We need to protect New Hampshire citizens. This bill provides harm without benefit.”
— Karin Como, Meredithopposes
“This unnecessary change creates an additional burden on prosecutors pursing action against those who have committed civil rights offenses. This weakens the ability to apply civil rights protections and enforcement within the state. This is not who we are.”
— Angela Brown, Randolphopposes

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
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyfailed
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 8, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1369h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2026-1369hAdopted178–150
    Overall
    54% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseDivisionFloor amendment 2026-1572h (Rep. Lynn)Adopted329–9
    Overall
    97% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1369h and 2026-1572hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendmentadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • May 21, 2026HouseVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2009eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2009eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 12, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary24:32–27:533m 21slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floor2:14:40–2:16:502m 10slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — failed, voice vote; Sen. Abbas Moved Ought to Pass
  • Apr 8, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary1:37:36–1:41:223m 46slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1369h — roll call; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:27:47–4:28:541m 7slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1369h and 2026-1572h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1369h — adopted, division 178-150; FLAM # 2026-1572h (Rep. Lynn) — adopted, division 329-9
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floor18:45–19:3348slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2009e — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2009e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 1
  2. Feb 12, 2026SenHearing: 02/12/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 5
  3. Mar 12, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 03/12/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 9
  4. Mar 12, 2026SenSB 464 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  5. Mar 26, 2026SenSpecial Order to 03/26/2026, Without Objection, MA; 03/12/2026 SJ 6
  6. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 03/26/2026, Vote 5-0; SC 11
  7. Mar 26, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MF, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  8. Mar 26, 2026SenSen. Abbas Moved Ought to Pass; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  9. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  10. Mar 26, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 9 P. 54
  11. Apr 8, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2026 10:30 am GP 230
  12. Apr 8, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/08/2026 10:30 am GP 230
  13. Apr 8, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1369h 04/08/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC)
  14. Apr 15, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  15. Apr 23, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1369h: AA DV 178-150 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 62
  16. Apr 23, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1572h (Rep. Lynn): AA DV 329-9 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 62
  17. Apr 23, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1369h and 2026-1572h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 63
  18. May 7, 2026SenSen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  19. May 21, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2009e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 37
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2009e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  21. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  22. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  23. Jun 20, 2026SenLaw Without Signature 06/20/2026; Chapter 204; Effective 01/01/2027; Art 44, Pt II, NH Constitution

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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