HB 1465 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee
Reporting judicial civil rights violations
AI-generatedestablishing mandatory reporting of civil rights violations committed by members of the judiciary.
Establishes mandatory reporting requirements for certain individuals regarding civil rights violations committed by members of the judicial branch and establishes a penalty for failure to comply.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill creates mandatory reporting for certain individuals of any civil rights violations committed by members of the judicial branch, and establishes a penalty for failure to comply.
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
“If any mandatory reporter as defined in paragraph I has reasonable cause to believe that there may be a violation of a right or code of conduct as described in paragraph I, the mandatory reporter shall as soon as practicable make a report to the attorney general's office.”
“As used in this paragraph, "reasonable cause to believe" shall include any suspected violations made in the mandatory reporter's presence or reported to them verbally or in writing.”
“The attorney general's office shall forward all notices received pursuant to paragraph II to the administrative office of the court, the appropriate county sheriff, and the chief justice of the New Hampshire supreme court.”
“Any mandatory reporter as defined in paragraph I who fails to comply with this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be subject to a $1,500 fine and one week incarceration in a county correctional facility.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
Also: Rep. Susan DeRoyR, Rep. David LoveR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Arnold DavisR, Rep. Kelley PotenzaR, Rep. Mike BelcherR
Public testimony
48 signed in online · 16 wrote testimony
96% support4% oppose0% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“Constitutional cluster of Fraud [RSA 491-A:1 effective until July 12, 2024; see also RSA 491-A:1 set out below.] 491-A:1 Salaries Established.…”
“Testimony in Support of HB 1465 New Hampshire House of Representatives Dear Chairman, Vice Chair, and Members of the Judiciary Committee: My name is Kevin Clifford and I am a New Hampshire resident.…”
“I am writing in support of this bill! It’s time We the People have some accountability in our judicial branch”
“I oppose this bill because it reduces transparency or public accountability and does not meaningfully improve outcomes for New Hampshire residents.”
“In the public interest of openness and accountability of the judiciary.”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate18–0Overall100% yea
- Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary5:00:58–5:23:1822m 20slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; ==RESCHEDULED== Public Hearing; Public Hearing
- Mar 5, 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
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 21
- Jan 28, 2026House==RESCHEDULED== Public Hearing: 01/28/2026 03:00 pm GP 230
- Jan 28, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2026 02:30 pm GP 230
- Jan 28, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/28/2026 02:30 pm GP 230
- Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/28/2026 (Vote 18-0; RC) HC 9 P. 41
- Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 116
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Background reading
Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.
UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law Library — A research guide summarizing New Hampshire's mandatory-reporting duty and DCYF child-protection process.AI-generated
- KNOW & TELLNH context
Child Advocacy Center of New Hampshire — A New Hampshire program explaining how adults recognize and report suspected child abuse.AI-generated
Psychiatric Times — Argues that fabricated abuse claims can be used as leverage in custody disputes and harm those accused.AI-generated
Children's Rights — Contends that broad reporting mandates and penalties drive over-reporting that can harm families.AI-generated
- Mandatory Reporting Was Supposed to Stop Severe Child Abuse. It Punishes Poor Families Instead.Investigative
ProPublica — Reports on how expanded reporting requirements and penalties flood hotlines and affect low-income families.AI-generated
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law — Discusses the good-faith immunity that shields reporters and the concern that penalties could deter reporting.AI-generated
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.