Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 1422 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Extended deadline for new trial petition

AI-generated

relative to the time to petition for a new trial.

Allows additional time to petition for a new trial in certain circumstances.AI-generated

Status

Vetoed by the governor — the override vote has not been held yet · July 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Governor's veto message

“As a murder prosecutor and former Attorney General, I understand the need to pursue and deliver justice. We do not need to create a novel approach to allow defendants to seek a new trial. Those seeking a new trial already have a statutory pathway to seek a new trial as well as the ability to file a writ of habeas corpus or a writ of coram nobis, options that are well established in New Hampshire case law. For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 1422.”
— Gov. Kelly Ayotte · Jul 2, 2026 · excerpt
Governor's press release

A passage from the Governor's veto message, quoted verbatim. The full message enters the record on veto day.

Analysis

This bill allows additional time to petition for a new trial in certain circumstances.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as passed by both chambers.

“A new trial shall not be granted unless the petition is filed within [three] 3 years after the rendition of the judgment complained of, or the failure of the suit.”
RSA 526:4, I

This is the general three-year deadline that the bill preserves before adding exceptions.AI-generated

“The petitioner seeks a new trial in a criminal case that resulted in a conviction of a felony or a class A misdemeanor;”
RSA 526:4, II

It is one of four conditions that together lift the time limit for certain criminal petitions.AI-generated

“"newly discovered evidence" includes evidence that can be subjected to new or additional forensic testing, evidence that can be subjected to new scientific understanding, or evidence that was not available at the time of trial but is available at the time the petition is filed.”
RSA 526:4, III

This definition broadens what counts as newly discovered evidence to include new testing methods and scientific understanding.AI-generated

“the state shall, upon request, reactivate victim services for the victim of the crime being reinvestigated during the reinvestigation of the case”
RSA 526:4, VI

It requires reactivation of victim services when a criminal conviction is reinvestigated on a new-trial petition.AI-generated

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Tom MannionRPrimeAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Paul BerchDDeputy Ranking Member· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Travis CorcoranR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR

Public testimony

46 signed in online · 6 wrote testimony

28% support72% oppose0% neutral

ForExtended time allows the wrongly convicted to clear their name

AgainstBathroom restrictions cannot be enforced without invasive checks

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support HB1422. Justice is blind, and law slow. Neither is accommodating of changing evidence and circumstances. Those who have the ability to clear their name should be allowed to do so. I urge the committee to vote Ought to Pass.”
— ST LU, Merrimacksupports
“I vehemently oppose any attempt to keep people from going the bathroom of the gender with which they identify. They are not "men" trying to use the ladies' rooms. They are women or girls wanting only to go to the bathroom.…”
— Rachael Booth, LANDAFFopposes
“Bathroom bills cannot be enforced, they are silly and based on transphobia.”
— Kathleen Farrell, Boscawenopposes
“This is an incredible overreach of government authority. Not only is this entire bill pretty much unenforceable without incredibly invasive questioning practices at best, or "gender checks" at worst, this also does nothing to protect women.…”
— Lauren Blanchette, Concordopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings and debates

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 25, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0871h17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0871hadopted
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0871hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026HouseVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2137eadopted

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 19
  2. Feb 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/20/2026 02:30 pm GP 231
  3. Feb 25, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/25/2026 02:30 pm GP 231
  4. Feb 25, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0871h 02/25/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 10 P. 26
  5. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0871h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 54
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0871h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 54
  7. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  8. Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:35 pm; SC 13
  9. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
  10. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  11. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2137e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  12. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2137e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  13. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  14. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  15. Jul 2, 2026HouseVetoed by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026

Coverage

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

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