HB 1465-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3109
09/08
HOUSE BILL 1465-FN
AN ACT establishing mandatory reporting of civil rights violations committed by members of the judiciary.
SPONSORS: Rep. Korzen, Coos 7; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. DeRoy, Straf. 3; Rep. Love, Rock. 13; Rep. Sabourin dit Choiniere, Rock. 30; Rep. A. Davis, Coos 2; Rep. Potenza, Straf. 19; Rep. Belcher, Carr. 4
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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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.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3109
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT establishing mandatory reporting of civil rights violations committed by members of the judiciary.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Abuse of Office; Reporting of Violation of Rights. Amend RSA 643 by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
643:3 Reporting of Violation of Rights Committed by Members of the Judicial Branch.
I. Any state employee, bar association member or attorney permitted to practice law in the state of New Hampshire, or any state or federal employee working in New Hampshire on a grant, or being paid by the state of New Hampshire or any division or organization funded by or through the state of New Hampshire, including judges, clerks, court staff, bailiffs, and court security, shall be a mandatory reporter of violations of civil rights by any member of the judicial branch and any violations of the New Hampshire code of judicial conduct's requirement that a judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety at all times.
II. 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.
III. 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.
IV. 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.
V. Any reporter who make a good faith report under this section shall not be subject to any retaliation based on their good faith report.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
26-3109
11/30/25
HB 1465-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT establishing mandatory reporting of civil rights violations committed by members of the judiciary.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund | None | |||||
Expenditures* | Indeterminable | |||||
Funding Source | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
| ||||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
County Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2026 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/28/2026 03:00 pm GP 230
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary