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HB 1608 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Grand jury minutes and officer indemnification

AI-generated

relative to grand jury minutes and relative to the defense and indemnification of certain government officers and employees.

Entitles criminal defendants to grand jury minutes from their case and extends defense and indemnification protections in licensing board complaints and investigations to assistant county attorneys, county attorneys, and municipal prosecutors.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill states that a criminal defendant shall be entitled to any grand jury minutes applicable to his or her case, which shall be required to be taken. This bill also extends certain defense and indemnification protections against complaints filed with or investigations by a professional licensing board, committee, or regulatory agency to include those against any assistant county attorney, county attorney, or municipal prosecutor.

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

“The grand jury [may] shall appoint one of their number to be clerk to preserve minutes of the proceedings before them, which shall be delivered to the attorney general or county attorney.”
RSA 600:5
“A criminal defendant shall be entitled to any grand jury minutes relevant to his or her case.”
RSA 600:5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jack FlanaganRPrime

Public testimony

9 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

78% support22% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I strongly support this bill. The only people who should be making decisions regarding their children's' health / immunization are the parents or legal guardians. Thank you for supporting this bill.”
— Pamela Harders, Manchestersupports
“Why is the government giving anyone money? Stop that and lower taxes. If the feds what to build something they can pound sand and build it in D.C.”
— John Beto, Templesupports

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
  • Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamRefer for Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 28
  2. Jan 28, 2026House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 01/28/2026 01:00 pm GP 230
  3. Feb 4, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2026 03:30 pm GP 230
  4. Feb 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2026 03:30 pm GP 230
  5. Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study 02/04/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 7 P. 16
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 27

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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