HB 1643 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2989
05/09
HOUSE BILL 1643
AN ACT relative to the report of a guardian ad litem.
SPONSORS: Rep. Rice, Hills. 38; Rep. Noble, Hills. 2; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. Packard, Rock. 16; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Nelson, Rock. 13; Rep. DeSimone, Rock. 18; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill removes the authority of the court to request that the guardian ad litem's report propose an allocation of decision-making responsibility; a parenting plan; or a specific parenting schedule.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2989
05/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the report of a guardian ad litem.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Guardian ad Litem. Amend RSA 461-A:16, I-c to read as follows:
I-c. The guardian ad litem shall file a report of his or her investigation no later than the date of the final pretrial hearing. The report shall not propose any of the following [unless specifically requested by the court]:
(a) An allocation of decision-making responsibility;
(b) A parenting plan; or
(c) A specific parenting schedule.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 17, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| March 2, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
March 11, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA DV 182-149 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 4, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study
March 4, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/03/2026 (Vote 9-7; RC)
March 2, 2026: Executive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 230
Feb. 20, 2026: ==RESCHEDULED== Executive Session: 03/02/2026 10:00 am GP 230
Feb. 10, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/17/2026 01:30 pm GP 230
Dec. 10, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Children and Family Law