New Hampshire HB 1464: relative to discrimination, harassment, and violence based on political affiliation or opinion.

Bill Text

HB 1464-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-3119

 09/08

HOUSE BILL 1464-FN

AN ACT relative to discrimination, harassment, and violence based on political affiliation or opinion.

SPONSORS: Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. Burnham, Straf. 2; Rep. Rhodes, Ches. 17

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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ANALYSIS

This bill:

 I. Defines "political affiliation or opinion."

 II. Prohibits discrimination or harassment of individuals based on political affiliation or opinion. 

 III. Prohibits politically motivated interference with a person's economic interests. 

 IV. Provides penalties for violations.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-3119

 09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to discrimination, harassment, and violence based on political affiliation or opinion.

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

 1 New Section; Statutory Construction; Political Affiliation or Opinion. Amend RSA 21 by inserting after section 55 the following new section: 

 21:56 Political Affiliation or Opinion. "Political affiliation or opinion" means a person's actual or perceived membership in, support for, opposition to, or expression of a political party, candidate, ideology, viewpoint, or activity protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or part I, article 22 of the New Hampshire constitution. 

 2 New Paragraph; State Commission for Human Rights; Definitions. Amend RSA 354-A:2 by inserting after paragraph XV the following new paragraph: 

 XVI. "Political affiliation or opinion" shall have the same meaning as in RSA 21:56. 

 3 Unlawful Discriminatory Practices. Amend RSA 354-A:7, I-III to read as follows: 

 I. For an employer, because of the age, sex, gender identity, race, color, marital status, physical or mental disability, religious creed, or national origin of any individual, to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment such individual or to discriminate against such individual in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification. In addition, no person shall be denied the benefit of the rights afforded by this paragraph on account of that person's sexual orientation or that person's political affiliation or opinion. 

 II. For a labor organization, because of the age, sex, gender identity, race, color, marital status, physical or mental disability, creed, or national origin of any individual, to exclude from full membership rights or to expel from its membership such individual or to discriminate in any way against any of its members or against any employer or any individual employed by an employer, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification. In addition, no person shall be denied the benefit of the rights afforded by this paragraph on account of that person's sexual orientation or that person's political affiliation or opinion. 

 III. For any employer or employment agency to print or circulate or to cause to be printed or circulated any statement, advertisement or publication, or to use any form of application for employment or to make any inquiry or record in connection with employment, which expresses, directly or indirectly, any limitation, specification or discrimination as to age, sex, gender identity, race, color, marital status, physical or mental disability, religious creed or national origin or any intent to make any such limitation, specification or discrimination in any way on the ground of age, sex, gender identity, race, color, marital status, physical or mental disability, religious creed or national origin, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification; provided, however, that nothing in this chapter shall limit an employer after the offer of hire of an individual from inquiring into and keeping records of any existing or pre-existing physical or mental conditions. In addition, no person shall be denied the benefit of the rights afforded by this paragraph on account of that person's sexual orientation or that person's political affiliation or opinion. 

 4 New Paragraph; State Commission for Human Rights; Complaint Procedures and Review. Amend RSA 354-A:21-a by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph: 

 IV. In addition to the remedies provided in this section, any person who knowingly violates RSA 354-A:7 with the intent to harass, intimidate, or cause economic harm based on an individual's political affiliation