HB 1715-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3000
09/07
HOUSE BILL 1715-FN
AN ACT relative to the electronic filing of domestic violence and stalking petition case documents.
SPONSORS: Rep. Manos, Rock. 12; Rep. Beauchemin, Hills. 3; Rep. Gregg, Hills. 7; Rep. Johnson, Straf. 11; Rep. Meuse, Rock. 37; Rep. Newell, Ches. 4; Rep. Selig, Straf. 10; Rep. M. Smith, Straf. 10; Rep. Booras, Hills. 8; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires filings in cases concerning domestic violence and stalking petitions to be filed electronically subject to the court granting an exception in extraordinary circumstances.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3000
09/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the electronic filing of domestic violence and stalking petition case documents.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Protection of Persons from Domestic Violence; Commencement of Proceedings. Amend RSA 173-B:3, III to read as follows:
III.(a) For all petitions filed on or after October 1, 2026, filings in cases commenced under this section shall be filed using the court’s electronic filing system. The court may fully excuse a party from electronic filing if extraordinary circumstances would render electronic filing such a hardship that the party would be denied access to the court.
(b) No filing fee or fee for service of process shall be charged for a petition or response under this section, and the plaintiff or defendant may proceed without legal counsel. Either a peace officer or the sheriff's department shall serve process under this section. Any proceeding under this chapter shall not preclude any other available civil or criminal remedy.
2 Stalking. Amend RSA 633:3-a, III-a to read as follows:
III-a. A person who has been the victim of stalking as defined in this section may seek relief by filing a civil petition in the district court in the district where the plaintiff or defendant resides. Upon a showing of stalking by a preponderance of the evidence, the court shall grant such relief as is necessary to bring about a cessation of stalking. The types of relief that may be granted, the procedures and burdens of proof to be applied in such proceedings, the methods of notice, service, and enforcement of such orders, and the penalties for violation thereof shall be the same as those set forth in RSA 173-B. For all petitions filed on or after October 1, 2026, filings in cases commenced under this section shall be filed using the court’s electronic filing system. The court may fully excuse a party from electronic filing if extraordinary circumstances would render electronic filing such a hardship that the party would be denied access to the court.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
26-3000
12/8/25
HB 1715-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to the electronic filing of domestic violence and stalking petition case documents.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $1,600,000 to $3,200,000 | $300,000 to $700,000 | $300,000 to $700,000 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires that domestic violence and stalking petitions, and related filings, be submitted electronically through the court’s electronic filing system for all petitions filed on or after October 1, 2026. The court may excuse electronic filing only in extraordinary circumstances.
The Judicial Branch states this bill will require the development of a purpose-built, secure electronic filing portal for protection order cases, because the temporary COVID-19 email-based filing process cannot be used permanently. The existing e-filing system does not support confidential protection orders due to its fee structure, approved case list, and lack of sealed-file functionality. A new system must support confidentiality under RSA 173-B, identity verification, encryption. CJIS-compliant infrastructure, automated routing into Odyssey, and law enforcement integration.
The Branch explains that statewide online filing for these petitions does not currently exist and will require a one-time system development project, followed by ongoing annual operating costs. The one time cost to build the portal will range from $1,600,000 to $3,200,000 in FY 2027 with ongoing system operating costs of $300,000 to $700,000 in General Fund expenditures. This bill does not appropriate funds for the new online portal and the Branch states they cannot absorb the costs into their operating budget.
Category | Description | Range | |
System Design & Development | Build secure web portal, guided forms, encryption, user interface | $750,000 | $1,500,000 |
Hosting & Security Infrastructure | CJIS-compliant servers, penetration testing, | $200,000 | $400,000 |
Case Management Integration | Connect to Odyssey, automate routing | $300,000 | $700,000 |
Identity & Access Management | Multi-factor authentication, audit logs, secure uploads | $150,000 | $250,000 |
Language & Accessibility | WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, translation (English/Spanish) | $100,000 | $200,000 |
Testing, Rollout & Training | Pilot, statewide launch, staff/advocate training | $100,000 | $200,000 |
Total Estimated Cost for Portal in FY 2027 | $1,600,000 | $3,250,000 | |
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 2026 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/16/2026 01:30 pm GP 159
Dec. 12, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1