Revision: May 8, 2026, 9:55 a.m.
SB 464-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
23Apr2026... 1369h
23Apr2026... 1572h
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
-----------------------------------------------------------------
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill changes the standard for civil rights enforcement.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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 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:
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 RSA 354-B:1 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: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 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.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
26-2245
04/29/2026
SB 464-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENTS #2026-1369h and #2026-1572h)
AN ACT relative to civil rights enforcement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
|
| |||||
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