CHAPTER 204
SB 464-FN - FINAL VERSION
23Apr2026... 1369h
23Apr2026... 1572h
06/04/2026 2009EBA
2026 SESSION
26-2245
09/06
SENATE BILL 464-FN
AN ACT relative to civil rights enforcement.
SPONSORS: Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Rep. Ammon, Hills. 42
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill changes the standard for civil rights enforcement.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23Apr2026... 1369h
23Apr2026... 1572h
06/04/2026 2009EBA 26-2245
09/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to civil rights enforcement.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
204:1 Civil Rights Act; Civil Rights Enforcement. RSA 354-B:1 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
354-B:1 Civil Rights Enforcement.
I.(a) Any person who, motivated in whole or in part by hostility, including but not limited to animus, bias, or prejudice, toward the race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or disability of the person, group, or organization directly or indirectly targeted by the unlawful act, or the affiliation or association of the person, group, or organization directly or indirectly targeted by the unlawful act with a person or people of a certain race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or disability, knowingly commits one of the following unlawful acts shall be subject to civil liability under RSA 354-B:2 and to the remedies provided in RSA 354-B:3 and RSA 354-B:4:
(1) Using unprivileged force against another;
(2) Committing an act of violence against another;
(3) Causing damage to or trespassing on the property of another; or
(4) Threatening to commit any of the acts listed above.
(b) In this section, “threatening to commit” means the communication, by physical conduct or by declaration, of an intent to inflict harm or damage to a person or property that, taken in the context of surrounding circumstances, would convey to a reasonable person that the actor has the apparent ability to carry out the threat and the real possibility that such harm or damage may occur.
II. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any conduct or speech that is protected under the United States Constitution or the New Hampshire constitution.
III. It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere or attempt to interfere with the rights secured by this chapter.
204:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Approved: June 20, 2026
Effective Date: January 01, 2027
Enacted in accordance with Article 44, Part II of the N.H. Constitution, without the signature of the governor June 20, 2026
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| April 14, 2026 | 2026-1369h |
| April 17, 2026 | 2026-1552h |
| April 20, 2026 | 2026-1572h |
| April 20, 2026 | 2026-1575h |
| June 1, 2026 | 2026-2009EBA |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Feb. 12, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 12, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 8, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| April 8, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| April 8, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
June 24, 2026: Law Without Signature 06/20/2026; Chapter 204; Effective 01/01/2027; Art 44, Pt II, NH Constitution
June 10, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
June 10, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
June 10, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
June 5, 2026: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2009e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
June 2, 2026: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2009e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14
May 7, 2026: Sen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 23, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1369h and 2026-1572h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 63
April 23, 2026: FLAM # 2026-1572h (Rep. Lynn): AA DV 329-9 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 62
April 23, 2026: Amendment # 2026-1369h: AA DV 178-150 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 62
April 15, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
April 15, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1369h 04/08/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC)
April 8, 2026: Executive Session: 04/08/2026 10:30 am GP 230
April 1, 2026: Public Hearing: 04/08/2026 10:30 am GP 230
March 27, 2026: Introduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 9 P. 54
March 26, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
March 26, 2026: Sen. Abbas Moved Ought to Pass; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
March 26, 2026: Refer to Interim Study, MF, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
March 12, 2026: Committee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 03/26/2026, Vote 5-0; SC 11
March 12, 2026: Special Order to 03/26/2026, Without Objection, MA; 03/12/2026 SJ 6
March 12, 2026: SB 464 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
March 4, 2026: Committee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 03/12/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 9
Feb. 5, 2026: Hearing: 02/12/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 5
Feb. 5, 2026: Hearing: 02/10/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:50 pm; SC 5
Nov. 21, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 1