1 Protection of Persons from Domestic Violence; Commencement of Proceedings. Amend RSA 173-B:3, III to read as follows:

III.

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. .

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

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.