New Hampshire HB 62: relative to protection of persons from domestic violence and military protective orders.

Bill Text

HB 62-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES

6Mar2025... 0282h

2025 SESSION

 25-0039

 09/06

HOUSE BILL 62-FN

AN ACT relative to protection of persons from domestic violence and military protective orders.

SPONSORS: Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. Creighton, Hills. 30; Rep. Edwards, Rock. 31; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Rhodes, Ches. 17

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill:

 I. Requires the adjutant general to provide national guard victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment financial assistance to allow the victim to participate in proceedings related to the assault or harassment.

 II. Permits the introduction of military protective orders in proceedings for civil domestic violence protective orders.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

6Mar2025... 0282h 25-0039

 09/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT relative to protection of persons from domestic violence and military protective orders.

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

 1 New Paragraph; Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services; The Adjutant General. Amend RSA 110-B:8 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

 V. The adjutant general shall provide current and former members of the national guard who were the victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment while members of the national guard with financial assistance when the victims participate in adverse administrative proceedings or New Hampshire code of military justice proceedings related to the sexual assault or sexual harassment. The financial assistance shall cover the reasonable expenses incurred from traveling to and from those proceedings. This section does alter or expand a victim’s right to participate in those proceedings. 

 2 New Paragraph; Protection of Persons from Domestic Violence; Definition Added; Military Protective Order. Amend RSA 173-B:1 by inserting after paragraph XV the following new paragraph: 

 XV-a. "Military protective order'' means an order issued against a current member of United States Armed Forces, the New Hampshire national guard, or the national guard of another state or territory by the defendant’s commanding officer, on a form prescribed by the United States Department of Defense.

 3 Protection of Persons from Domestic Violence; Commencement of Proceedings; Hearing. Amend 173-B:3, VIII to read as follows:

 VIII. In any proceeding under this chapter, the court shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence and may admit evidence which it considers relevant and material. Military protective orders shall be admissible evidence in proceedings under this chapter. 

 4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.

 LBA

 25-0039

 3/14/25

HB 62-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2025-0282h)

AN ACT relative to protection of persons from domestic violence and military protective orders.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

 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

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the Adjutant General to provide national guard victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment financial assistance to allow the victim to participate in proceedings related to the assault or harassment. The bill also permits the introduction of military protective orders in proceedings for civil domestic violence protective orders.

The Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services states the fiscal impact of this bill is indeterminable as they cannot predict the number of victims who will require financial assistance to participate in proceedings related to assault or harassment. The Department does not anticipate a large fiscal impact as instances of sexual assault requiring travel will be rare.

The Judicial Branch indicates this bill would have a fiscal impact of less than $10,000.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of MIlitary Affairs and Veterans Services and Judicial Branch