New Hampshire HB 1552: relative to orders of protection.

Bill Text

HB 1552-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2807

 12/09

HOUSE BILL 1552-FN

AN ACT relative to orders of protection.

SPONSORS: Rep. Love, Rock. 13

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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ANALYSIS

 This bill requires the non-adverse parties obtaining temporary and permanent protective orders to sign a statement acknowledging their understanding that any material false statement made in connection with the protective order may be grounds for a charge of perjury.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2807

 12/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to orders of protection.

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

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

 IV. The clerks of the circuit courts shall supply forms for petitions and for relief under this chapter designed to facilitate pro se proceedings. All such petitions shall contain the following words: I swear that the foregoing information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge under the penalty of perjury. I understand that making a false statement on this petition will subject me to criminal penalties for perjury pursuant to RSA 641:1. 

 2 Petition for a Protective Order Filed on Behalf of a Minor. Amend RSA 169-C:7-a, III to read as follows: 

 III. All petitions filed pursuant to this section shall include the following words: I swear that the foregoing information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge under the penalty of perjury. I understand that making a false statement on this petition will subject me to criminal penalties for perjury pursuant to RSA 641:1. 

 [III.] IV. Any acts of abuse or neglect alleged in a petition shall be referred to the department pursuant to this chapter. 

 3 New Paragraph; Domestic Relations; Orders of Protection; Perjury Statement Requirement. Amend RSA 458:16 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph: 

 IV. In exercising the power to issue temporary and permanent restraining orders pursuant to this section, the superior court shall require the non-adverse party to be informed and to sign an affidavit acknowledging his or her understanding that any material false statement made relative to the order may be prosecuted for perjury pursuant to RSA 641:1. "Non-adverse party" shall mean the party which is protected by the issuance of a temporary or permanent restraining order. 

 4 New Paragraph; Parental Rights and Responsibilities. Amend RSA 461-A:10 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph: 

 III. In exercising the power to issue temporary and permanent restraining orders pursuant to this section, the superior court shall require the non-adverse party to be informed and to sign an affidavit acknowledging his or her understanding that any material false statement made relative to the order may be prosecuted for perjury pursuant to RSA 641:1. "Non-adverse party" shall mean the party which is protected by the issuance of a temporary or permanent restraining order. 

 5 Stalking; Orders of Protection; Perjury Statement Required. Amend RSA 633:3-a, III-a to read as follows: 

 III-a. A person who has been the victim of stalking as defined in this section may seek relief by filing a civil petition in the district court in the district where the plaintiff or defendant resides. The court shall require the person filing the petition to be informed and to sign acknowledging his or her understanding that any material false statement made in the petition shall be prosecuted for perjury pursuant to RSA 641:1. Upon a showing of stalking by a preponderance of the evidence, the court shall grant such relief as is necessary to bring about a cessation of stalking. The types of relief that may be granted, the procedures and burdens of proof to be applied in such proceedings, the methods of notice, service, and enforcement of such orders, and the penalties for violation thereof shall be the same as those set forth in RSA 173-B. 

 6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.

 LBA

 26-2807

 12/3/25

HB 1552-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to orders of protection.

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 *Appropr