HB 697 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Witness fees for returning court appearances

relative to witness fees in criminal cases.

Allows witness fees in criminal proceedings for civilian witnesses who appear as scheduled but are required to return on another day to testify in the same case.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · January 7, 2026

✓Introduced
✓House
✕Senate
Governor
Law

Analysis

This bill allows witness fees in criminal proceedings for civilian witnesses who appear in court at the place and time designated but are required to return another day to testify in the same proceeding.

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

“In any criminal proceeding, no witness shall be eligible to receive a fee for appearing in court pursuant to a summons to appear except if a civilian witness appears in court at the time and place designated but is required, through no fault of the witness, to return to court to testify in the same proceeding for a second or subsequent day.”

RSA 516:16

“For each subsequent day, the civilian witness shall be entitled to a payment for each day of attendance and mileage for each mile's travel to and from the place of testifying; mileage to be allowed for each day's attendance where the witness is required to leave the town or city in which he or she resides to testify.”

RSA 516:16

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay

Starting text: Bill as introduced

Feb 3, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass11–1
Overall
92% yea
Feb 13, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Rereferred to Committee4–0
Overall
100% yea
May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteRereferred to Committeeadopted
Jan 7, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0
Overall
100% yea
Jan 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

Feb 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary1:57:28–2:06:178m 49slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Public Hearing; Executive Session
Feb 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
Apr 3, 2025Public hearingSenate JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee; Rereferred to Committee — adopted, voice vote
Jan 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 3 P. 23
Feb 3, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2025 11:15 am LOB 206-208
Feb 3, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2025 11:15 am LOB 206-208
Feb 3, 2025House: Ought to Pass 02/03/2025 (Vote 11-1; CC) HC 11 P. 7
Feb 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 12
Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
Mar 18, 2025SenHearing: 03/18/2025, Room 100, SH, 02:15 pm; SC 13
Apr 3, 2025SenHearing: 04/03/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 15
May 1, 2025Sen: Rereferred to Committee, 05/01/2025, Vote 4-0, CC SC 19
May 1, 2025SenRereferred to Committee, MA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
Jan 7, 2026SenCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 01/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 46
Jan 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 01/07/2026; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Introducedversion

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