HB 1158-FN
relative to the definition of intimate partner.
Official record at gencourt.state.nh.us ↗Open this bill in the searchable view → · Follow this bill by RSS
On the record
Quoted from the General Court bill status page, not worked out from the docket.
| Status | HOUSE |
|---|---|
| In the House | INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE |
| Introduced | 1/7/2026 |
| Floor date | 3/5/2026 |
| LSR number | 2629 |
| Local government impact | no |
| Committee code | H26 |
Where it stands
House: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
Every floor vote on this bill was a voice or division vote, so there is no record of how individual legislators voted.
A bill goes on the consent calendar when the committee vote was unanimous or nearly so, and any members who dissented did not object to placing it there. It then passes without floor debate. Ten members may file a petition to pull a bill off the consent calendar and have it debated and voted on separately.
Sponsors
Alexander, Joe(R) Hills 29, Kuttab, Katelyn(R) Rock 17, Manos, Zoe(D) Rock 12, Perkins Kwoka, Rebecca(D) Rock 21, Reardon, Tara(D) Merr 15, Rombeau, Catherine(D) Hills 2, Turer, Eric(D) Rock 6
Prime sponsor in bold. From the General Court sponsor file.
What happened
Every action recorded in the official docket, in order. Each line ends with the journal or calendar that recorded it; where we have the document, that citation links to it.
- January 7, 2026Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety
- January 29, 2026Public Hearing: 01/29/2026 10:00 am GP 159
- January 29, 2026Executive Session: 01/29/2026 10:00 am GP 159
- February 24, 2026Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/11/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC)
- March 5, 2026Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026
Votes
Roll call tallies and individual votes from the General Court roll call files. Presiding, excused and absent are shown separately: one member presides over each House roll call and does not vote except to break a tie.
Inexpedient to Legislate
Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.
Committee reports
Reproduced from the House Calendar in the committee’s own words.
Committee — INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
The bill introduces a redundant and overly broad classification that threatens the due process rights of New Hampshire citizens. Current law under RSA 173B is designed to address domestic violence within the context of family, household, or established romantic relationships. By specifically adding “sexual relationship” as a standalone category—separate from “romantic relationship” this bill seeks to bring casual, non-domestic encounters under the umbrella of domestic violence law. The committee found this expansion unnecessary because New Hampshire already provides robust protections for victims of violence or harassment in non-domestic settings through RSA 633:3-a, stalking, and civil restraining orders. Domestic violence orders carry unique, immediate penalties, including the summary loss of Second Amendment rights and inclusion in domestic violence databases, often based on a “preponderance of evidence” rather than the higher standards of criminal court. Broadening the “intimate partner” definition to include any person from a singular or casual sexual encounter effectively transforms casual social friction into a domestic violence event. This creates a “legal trap” where a citizen could face the life-altering consequences of a domestic violence order for a relationship that was never domestic in nature. We believe the current statutes correctly distinguish between domestic abuse and other forms of criminal conduct, and that maintaining this distinction is vital to protecting both victims of domestic violence and the fundamental rights of all Granite Staters. Vote 13-0.
Hearings and recordings
Recordings are the General Court’s own, on YouTube. Start times are estimates unless stated otherwise, and the player opens early.
- January 29, 2026 at 10:00Criminal Justice and Public Safety public hearing recording (start time not identified)
- January 29, 2026 at 10:00Criminal Justice and Public Safety executive session recording (start time not identified)
- March 5, 2026House floor debate recording (start time not identified)
Page generated 2026-09-03 from data published by the New Hampshire General Court. Granite Record is an independent project, not affiliated with the General Court. The official record always takes precedence. Corrections: [email protected]