New Hampshire HB 1632: relative to the lethality assessment program screening tool.

Bill Text

HB 1632-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-3010

 09/08

HOUSE BILL 1632-FN

AN ACT relative to the lethality assessment program screening tool.

SPONSORS: Rep. Manos, Rock. 12; Rep. Beauchemin, Hills. 3; Rep. Gregg, Hills. 7; Rep. Johnson, Straf. 11; Rep. Meuse, Rock. 37; Rep. Newell, Ches. 4; Rep. Selig, Straf. 10; Rep. M. Smith, Straf. 10; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

-----------------------------------------------------------------

ANALYSIS

 This bill requires a lethality assessment program screening tool to be used in various investigations related to domestic violence.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-3010

 09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the lethality assessment program screening tool.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 New Paragraph; Domestic Violence; Lethality Assessment Program. Amend RSA 631:2-b by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph: 

 III-a. The lethality assessment program (LAP) screening tool shall be administered by all law enforcement agencies with the victim in suspected domestic violence responses or investigations. The results of each LAP screening that are screened in shall be filed by the law enforcement agency or the prosecutor with the court at arraignment of defendant. 

 2 New Paragraph; Violation of Protective Order; Lethality Assessment Form. Amend RSA 173-B:9 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph: 

 VI. The lethality assessment program (LAP) screening tool shall be administered by all law enforcement agencies with the victim in suspected violation of protective order responses or investigations. The results of each LAP screening that are screened in shall be filed by the law enforcement agency or the prosecutor with the court at arraignment of defendant. 

 3 New Subparagraph; Stalking; Lethality Assessment Program. Amend RSA 633:3-a, VIII by inserting after subparagraph (b) the following new subparagraph: 

 (c) The lethality assessment program (LAP) screening tool shall be administered by all law enforcement agencies with the victim in all suspected stalking-domestic violence responses or investigations. The results of each LAP screening that are screened in shall be filed by the law enforcement agency or the prosecutor with the court at arraignment of defendant. 

 4 New Paragraph; Restraining Orders; Lethality Assessment Program. Amend RSA 458:16 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph: 

 IV. The lethality assessment program (LAP) screening tool shall be administered by all law enforcement agencies with the victim in all suspected violation of protective order responses or investigations. The results of each LAP screening that are screened in shall be filed by the law enforcement agency or the prosecutor with the court at arraignment of defendant. 

 5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage. 

 LBA

 26-3010

 12/2/25

HB 1632-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the lethality assessment program screening tool.

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

$268,000

$239,000

$249,000

 Funding Source(s)

General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

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

$0

Indeterminable

 Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires all law enforcement agencies to conduct a lethality assessment screen under the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) and sets criteria for when screens must be completed. Currently, LAP participation is voluntary, limited to trained officers, and administered by the Department of Justice, with about 45% of police departments submitting LAP data. Mandating statewide participation would significantly increase the demand for training, data management, and technical assistance. To meet these obligations, the Department of Justice would need to add two positions: a full-time investigator to provide LAP training and support, and a program coordinator to manage statewide training, data collection, analysis, and ongoing assistance to law enforcement agencies. Below are t