HB 1323 · 2026 · House · Children and Family Law Committee

Parental alienation and therapy prior authorization

(New Title) relative to parental alienation, limiting certain prior authorization requirements for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and similar rehabilitative services, relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.

Defines parental alienation and establishes standards for courts to consider claims of parental alienation in cases involving children and parental rights.AI-generated

Status

Died — conference committee did not agree · June 2, 2026

✓Introduced
✓House
✕Senate
Governor
Law

Analysis

This bill defines parental alienation to mean a pattern of behavior, conduct, or speech which would damage the relationship of the child and a parent, resulting in the child’s fear, negative perception, rejection, or hostility toward their other parent, and adds standards for considering claims of parental alienation in certain cases involving children and parental rights.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

20 signed in online · 7 wrote testimony

40% support60% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of HB 1323. I am a father who has experienced firsthand how a child’s relationship with a loving, involved parent can be gradually dismantled through repeated interference and negative influence, even while court proceedings are ongoing.…”

— Dylan Goodwin, Rochestersupports

“(Submitted this online as I came down with the flu and could not attend in person.) Hello. My name is Debra Childs, and I’m here speaking in strong support of HB 1323 to define and recognize Parental Alienation in NH statutes. I am here as a child of divorce. As a mother.…”

— Debra Childs, Doversupports

“Relative to Parental Alienation Children and Family Law Committee January 13, 2026 Chairwoman DeSimone and Members of the Committee, Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in strong support of HB 1323. I am writing as a parent and step-parent who has been…”

— Cassandra Knapp, Rochestersupports

“This type of legislature around parental alienation, a debunked concept created by a child pedophile, has been beaten dead year after year, often pushed by the same folks in NH's legislature and judiciary.…”

— Sarah Heidebrecht, Hanoveropposes

“This Bill as written has no limiting language. As written it says that anyone who makes a pattern of speech or conduct is guilty of parental alienation--it does not tie the conduct to either parent of the subject child.…”

— Melissa Penson-Mesa, Merrimackopposes

“I oppose HB1323 because it disrupts current law making family law cases more complex and more likely to be filed in the already overburdened courts. Let the existing law stand.”

— Mary Hakken-Phillips, Hanoveropposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

2026-01-1310:30 amHouse Children and Family LawGP 230Public hearing
2026-01-2710:00 amHouse Children and Family LawGP 230Public hearing
2026-03-199:30 amSenate Children and Family LawSH 100Public hearing

Legislative history

Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 1 P. 15
Jan 13, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/13/2026 10:30 am GP 230
Jan 27, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/27/2026 10:00 am GP 230
Jan 27, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 01/27/2026 (Vote 9-6; RC) HC 6 P. 10
Feb 2, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
Feb 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 197-157 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 9
Feb 12, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 12
Feb 12, 2026HouseReferral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 62
Feb 5, 2026SenIntroduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 4
Mar 19, 2026SenHearing: 03/19/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:50 am; SC 10
Apr 16, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1339s, 04/16/2026; Vote 2-1; CC; SC 14
Apr 16, 2026SenHB 1323 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
Apr 16, 2026SenSpecial Order to the Next Session, Without Objection, MA; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
Apr 23, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1339s, 04/23/2026, Vote 2-1; SC 15
Apr 23, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1339s, AA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1339s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
May 14, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1849s, 05/14/2026; Vote 6-1; CC; SC 18
May 14, 2026SenHB 1323 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 14, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1849s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 14, 2026SenSen. Prentiss Floor Amendment # 2026-1982s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 14, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-1981s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2026-1849s and #2026-1982s and #2026-1981s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 14, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1339s 2026-1849s 2026-1982s and 2026-1981s and Requests CofC (Rep. DeSimone): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 148
May 14, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Rice, Nelson, Hunt, Osborne 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 148
May 21, 2026SenSen. Abbas Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
May 21, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Birdsell, Carson, Prentiss; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
May 26, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 01:00 pm GP 232
May 21, 2026HouseConferee Change: Rep. Ammon Replaces Rep. Hunt 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 32
Jun 2, 2026SenConference Committee Report; Not Signed Off; SJ 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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