HB 1696-FN
relative to the issuance of a summons instead of arrest.
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 | SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
|---|---|
| In the House | PASSED/ADOPTED |
| In the Senate | PASSED/ADOPTED |
| Introduced | 1/7/2026 |
| Floor date | 3/5/2026 |
| LSR number | 2420 |
| Chapter | 0075 |
| Local government impact | no |
| Committee code | H26 |
Where it stands
House: PASSED/ADOPTED · Senate: PASSED/ADOPTED
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
Rhodes, Jennifer(R) Ches 17, Berry, Ross(R) Hills 44, Mannion, Dennis(R) Rock 25, Roy, Terry(R) Rock 31, Sweeney, Joe(R) Rock 25
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 21, 2026Public Hearing: 01/21/2026 11:30 am GP 159
- February 18, 2026Executive Session: 02/18/2026 11:30 am GP 159
- February 24, 2026Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/18/2026 (Vote 11-1; CC)
- March 5, 2026Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/05/2026
- March 5, 2026Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Judiciary
- March 24, 2026Hearing: 03/24/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:50 pm
- April 9, 2026Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/09/2026; Vote 5-0; CC
- April 9, 2026Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026
- May 7, 2026Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/07/2026)
- May 7, 2026Enrolled (in recess of) 05/07/2026
- May 19, 2026Signed by Governor Ayotte 05/18/2026; Chapter 75; eff. 01/01/2027
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.
Ought to Pass
Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.
Ought to Pass
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 — OUGHT TO PASS
This bill provides law enforcement with a commonsense tool to manage low-level offenses without compromising public safety. Currently, New Hampshire’s “arrest-to-charge” culture for minor misdemeanors and violations often results in the unnecessary detention of individuals who pose no flight risk or danger to the community. This bill explicitly authorizes peace officers to issue a written summons in lieu of a physical arrest for misdemeanors and violations when probable cause exists. This shift reduces the administrative burden on local police departments, keeping officers on the street rather than tied up in hours of processing for minor offenses that would likely result in personal recognizance bail regardless. Furthermore, this bill ensures that this flexibility does not come at the expense of accountability. The bill establishes a clear criminal penalty for anyone who fails to appear in court or fails to “remain of good behavior” while released on a summons. By making a failure to appear a separate misdemeanor, the law provides a strong deterrent against skipping court dates. Importantly, the bill provides an affirmative defense for “uncontrollable circumstances,” protecting those who face genuine emergencies. The committee did hear concerns that this bill would be a “trap” for defendants who would not know what “of good behavior” means. The committee rejected this theory. This legislation strikes a proper balance: it trusts our professional law enforcement officers to exercise their discretion, respects the liberty of Granite Staters for minor infractions, and ensures that the judicial process remains respected and enforceable. Vote 11-1.
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 21, 2026 at 11:30Criminal Justice and Public Safety public hearing recording 3:24:02–3:27:25, about 3 min (estimated)
- February 18, 2026 at 11:30Criminal Justice and Public Safety executive session recording 1:51:19–1:54:19, about 3 min (estimated)
- March 5, 2026House floor debate recording (start time not identified)
- March 24, 2026 at 13:50Judiciary hearing recording (start time not identified)
- April 9, 2026Senate 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]