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HB 652 · 2026 · House · Children and Family Law Committee

Abolishing the family division courts

AI-generated

abolishing the family division, creating the office of family mediation, and reassigning the jurisdiction of the family division.

Abolishes the family division, creates the office of family mediation, and reassigns the family division's jurisdiction.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill abolishes the family division, creates the office of family mediation, and reassigns the jurisdiction of the family division.

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 office of mediation and arbitration shall be administered by the judicial branch administrative council.”
RSA 490-E:3
“There is hereby established in the state treasury a separate fund to be known as the mediation and arbitration fund, which shall be used to help fund paid mediation and arbitration in the judicial branch and support the operation of the office of mediation and arbitration and the office of family mediation.”
RSA 490-E:4
“No mediator from either office, arbitrator, or other neutral party involved in dispute resolution under contract with the New Hampshire judicial branch or qualified intern acting under the direct supervision of a supervisor under contract with the New Hampshire judicial branch shall be held liable for civil damages for any aspect of judicial branch dispute resolution processes, unless such person acted willfully.”
RSA 490-E:5
“The office of mediation and arbitration and office of family mediation [may] shall establish a quality assurance program to support the administration of family mediation and alternative dispute resolution programs in all courts.”
RSA 490-E:6

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. JD BernardyRPrimeClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Lisa PostRClerk· Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Also: Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Susan DeRoyR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Sep 30, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate12–2
    Overall
    86% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseDivisionRecommit (Rep. DeSimone)Adopted183–161
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseDivisionLay HB652 on Table (Rep. DeSimone)Adopted268–66
    Overall
    80% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law4:36:59–4:58:2521m 26slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law1:50:49–2:06:0415m 15slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Sep 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family LawWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor28:27–31:333m 6slocated in the stream transcriptRecommit (Rep. DeSimone) — adopted, division 183-161
  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law1:26:25–1:27:301m 5slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:06:47–6:10:544m 7slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB652 on Table (Rep. DeSimone) — adopted, division 268-66

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 3 P. 21
  2. Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 01:30 pm LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 5, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  5. Sep 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 09/30/2025 11:00 am GP 230
  6. Sep 30, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 09/30/2025 (Vote 12-2; RC) HC 51 P. 19
  7. Oct 2, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study
  8. Jan 7, 2026HouseRecommit (Rep. DeSimone): MA DV 183-161 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 82
  9. Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  10. Feb 10, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/10/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 7 P. 3
  11. Feb 16, 2026HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Nalevanko, Kaczynski, Sabourin dit Choiniere, D. Kelley, Barton, Sirois, Perez, DeRoy, Bernardy, Post) 02/16/2026 HJ 5 P. 3
  12. Feb 19, 2026HouseLay HB652 on Table (Rep. DeSimone): MA DV 268-66 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 113

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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