New Hampshire SB 621: establishing a homicide cold case commission for the purpose of acting as an intermediary between the department of justice and the family of cold case homicide victims.

Bill Text

SB 621-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2193

 09/05

SENATE BILL 621-FN

AN ACT establishing a homicide cold case commission for the purpose of acting as an intermediary between the department of justice and the family of cold case homicide victims.

SPONSORS: Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Carson, Dist 14

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

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ANALYSIS

 This bill establishes a cold case commission for various communications regarding the status of cold case homicides.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2193

 09/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT establishing a homicide cold case commission for the purpose of acting as an intermediary between the department of justice and the family of cold case homicide victims.

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

 1 New Paragraph; Department of Justice; Cold Case Homicide Unit. Amend RSA 21-M:8-m by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph: 

 VI. Communications with the family of any victim concerning the status of any cold case unit case may be handled by the cold case commission established under RSA 21-M:8-n. The commission may also assist with communication with the public concerning the status of any cold case.

 2 New Section; Cold Case Commission. Amend RSA 21-M by inserting after section 8-m the following new section: 

 21-M:8-n Cold Case Commission. 

 I. There is established a cold case commission to handle communications with family members of any victim whose case is under the purview of the cold case homicide unit in RSA 21-M:8-m, as well as the public. 

 II. The cold case commission shall consist of the following members: 

 (a) Two members from the department of justice, designated by the attorney general.

 (b) Two members who are family members of cold case homicides, appointed by the governor.

 (c) One member of the New Hampshire Coalition of Missing and Murdered Persons, appointed by the governor.

 III. The commission shall not have any investigatory powers of its own, but shall be authorized to handle communications with family members and the public concerning the status of cold case homicides. 

 IV. The department of justice shall share sufficient information with the commission for the commission to be able to fulfill its function, but this section shall not be construed as to require the disclosure to the commission of any information protected by law or any information that the attorney general determines should not be disclosed in order to protect the integrity of any criminal investigation or the privacy rights of any individual. 

 V. The commission shall not receive information concerning any victim whose family member serves on the commission. 

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage. 

 LBA

 26-2193

 11/18/25

SB 621-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT establishing a homicide cold case commission for the purpose of acting as an intermediary between the department of justice and the family of cold case homicide victims.

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

$261,000

$266,000

$271,000

 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

METHODOLOGY:

This bill establishes a cold case commission within the Department of Justice to act as an intermediary between the Cold Case Unit and the families of homicide victims and to assist with communication to the public regarding case status. 

The Department of Justice states this bill will result in an increase in state expenditures beginning in FY 2027. To meet the additional coordination, communication, and liaison requirements created by the commission, the Department reports it will require one full time Attorney and one full time Victim/Witness Advocate. The Attorney position is estimated to cost $137,000 in FY 2027, $138,000 in FY 2028, and $138,000 in FY 2029. The Victim/Witness Advocate position is estimated to cost $124,000 in FY 2027, $128,000 in FY 2028, and $133,000 in FY 2029. Combined, the total estimated increase in state General Fund expenditures is $261,000 in