Text of NH SB 464 (2026)

SB 464-FN - AS INTRODUCED 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANALYSIS This bill changes the standard for civil rights enforcement by requiring that prohibited conduct be substantially motivated by hostility toward the victim's protected characteristics. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type. 26-2245 09/06 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to civil rights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. Amend RSA 354-B:1, I to read as follows: I. All persons have the right to engage in lawful activities and to exercise and enjoy the rights secured by the United States and New Hampshire Constitutions and the laws of the United States and New Hampshire without being subject to actual or threatened physical force or violence against them or any other person or by actual or threatened damage to or trespass on property when such actual or threatened conduct is substantially motivated by hostility towards the victim's race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or disability. "Threatened physical force" and "threatened damage to or trespass on property" is a communication, by physical conduct or by declaration, of an intent to inflict harm on a person or a person's property by some unlawful act with a purpose to terrorize or coerce. 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027. LBA 26-2245 10/20/25 SB 464-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS INTRODUCED 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