Committee Summary for Senate Judiciary (02/17/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB624 0762s 00:12:52.639 - 12:11:38 PM	Executive Session	restricting access to certain hemp-derived products.	Gannon, Bill(R)[B-]2025
SB624 0762s 00:16:10.959 - 12:14:56 PM	Executive Session	restricting access to certain hemp-derived products.	Gannon, Bill(R)[B-]2025
SB414 00:17:25.520 - 12:16:11 PM	Executive Session	relative to enforcement of marital property settlements.	Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2025
SB464 00:18:44.960 - 12:17:30 PM	Executive Session	relative to civil rights enforcement.	Abbas, Daryl(R)[B-]2025
SB465 0586s 00:19:48.559 - 12:18:34 PM	Executive Session	classifying xylazine as a schedule III controlled drug.	Gannon, Bill(R)[B-]2025
SB551 00:23:10.559 - 12:21:56 PM	Executive Session	relative to legal protections for legal reproductive health care services.	Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2025
SB552 00:30:55.919 - 12:29:41 PM	Executive Session	permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances.	Avard, Kevin(R)[B]2025
SB619 2026-0674s 00:38:58.880 - 12:37:44 PM	Executive Session	establishing procedures for expedited court hearings and disposition of confiscated animals.	Abbas, Daryl(R)[B-]2025
SB621 0136s 00:41:12.079 - 12:39:58 PM	Executive Session	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.	Long, Pat(D)[F]2025
CACR1 00:51:33.200 - 12:50:19 PM	General Working Session	relating to the governor. Providing that there be a lieutenant governor who shall assume the duties of the governor if the governor is incapacitated.	Moffett, Michael(R)[B+]2025
CACR11 00:56:19.359 - 12:55:05 PM	Public Hearing	relating to sheriffs. Providing that no person shall hold the office of county sheriff after he or she has attained the age of 75 years.	Reardon, Tara(D)[F]2025
HB54 01:12:40.880 - 1:11:26 PM	Public Hearing	allowing alternative treatment centers to operate for-profit.	Thomas, Wendy(D)[CT]2025
SB657 01:22:56.560 - 1:21:42 PM	Public Hearing	relative to the oversight of artificial intelligence.	Perkins Kwoka, Rebecca(D)[F]2025
SB667 01:53:10.480 - 1:51:56 PM	Public Hearing	relative to the assault of emergency room personnel.	McGough, Tim(R)[B+]2025
SB619 2026-0788s 02:21:49.120 - 2:20:35 PM	Executive Session	establishing procedures for expedited court hearings and disposition of confiscated animals.	Abbas, Daryl(R)[B-]2025

SB624 0762s: Committee Chair/Sponsor Information Only00:12:52.639 - 12:11:38 PM; The chair explains the bill's origin in addressing underage access to high-THC products in stores, introduces amendment 0762s aligning penalties with marijuana offenses and adding penalties for sales to minors under Title 13, allowing municipal actions.
SB624 0762s: Danielle Ellson, Deputy Chief, NH Liquor Enforcement Information Only00:15:11.600 - 12:13:57 PM; Ellson details the amendment: adds THCA prohibitions based on testimony, aligns misdemeanor penalties and fines with marijuana laws, adds penalties for selling illegal hemp to under-21s mirroring alcohol/tobacco statutes, enables liquor commission administrative actions and local municipal enforcement against individuals.
SB624 0762s: Committee Members Vote00:16:10.959 - 12:14:56 PM; Motion to adopt amendment 0762s passes with one opposed. Motion to pass the bill as amended passes on consent.
SB414: Committee Chair Support00:17:25.520 - 12:16:11 PM; Chair supports the bill, noting it aids in quicker collection of entitled settlements, feeling sympathy for affected individuals like the testifying woman.
SB414: Senator Oller Support00:17:25.520 - 12:16:11 PM; Thanks the committee for support.
SB414: Committee Members Vote00:17:25.520 - 12:16:11 PM; Ought to pass motion passes with one opposed.
SB464: Committee Members Information Only00:18:44.960 - 12:17:30 PM; Discussion on vagueness of terms like 'substantial hostility' weakening enforcement, potential disparities; motion for interim study to refine with stakeholders.
SB464: Senator (Sponsor) Support00:18:44.960 - 12:17:30 PM; Agrees to interim study to address issues and collaborate for agreement.
SB464: Committee Members Vote00:19:48.559 - 12:18:34 PM; Interim study motion passes on consent.
SB465 0586s: Committee Member Support00:19:48.559 - 12:18:34 PM; Explains need to classify xylazine as Schedule III due to mixing with fentanyl causing overdose deaths; amendment exempts veterinary use as its only legitimate purpose.
SB465 0586s: Committee Members Vote00:20:59.679 - 12:19:45 PM; Motion to adopt amendment 0586s passes with one opposed. Ought to pass as amended passes on consent.
SB551: Senator Reen Oppose00:23:10.559 - 12:21:56 PM; Moves ITL; supports NH's abortion laws up to 24 weeks but opposes involving other states' laws, preferring non-interference.
SB551: Senator (Sponsor) Support00:24:07.919 - 12:22:53 PM; Requests withdrawal of ITL; bill shields NH providers, patients, law enforcement from out-of-state prosecutions, aligning with non-interference principle.
SB551: Senator Abbus Oppose00:25:16.799 - 12:24:02 PM; Supports ITL; notes jurisdictional issues, no evidence of NH prosecutions under other states' laws, concerns over binding future legislators without CACR, interstate enforcement pacts, and civil judgments.
SB551: Senator Support00:27:27.840 - 12:26:13 PM; Emphasizes shield law protects NH providers from out-of-state laws; cites medical student concerns, need in rural areas, 18 states with similar laws.
SB551: Senator Support00:28:29.120 - 12:27:15 PM; Notes occurrences in other states, NH risks losing doctors without protection.
SB551: Committee Member Oppose00:29:44.320 - 12:28:30 PM; Distinguishes from mailing drugs case; supports ITL due to bill exceeding shield needs.
SB551: Committee Members Vote00:30:55.919 - 12:29:41 PM; ITL motion passes with opposition.
SB552: Senator Support00:30:55.919 - 12:29:41 PM; Moves ought to pass; focuses on women's privacy/safety in bathrooms, locker rooms, sports fairness due to biological differences, prison safety; defers to wardens.
SB552: Senator Oshley Oppose00:32:17.200 - 12:31:03 PM; Questions which women are protected; cites testimony of biological women misidentified as trans and persecuted, perpetuating stereotypes of trans danger.
SB552: Committee Member Support00:34:45.520 - 12:33:31 PM; Acknowledges misidentification incidents but argues they are mistakes; prioritizes biological women's privacy/safety concerns over trans concerns; notes historical sex-based facilities.
SB552: Senator Oppose00:36:50.480 - 12:35:36 PM; Can't visually determine sex; privacy in stalls; safety is criminal issue, not presentation; criticizes sponsor's past inflammatory remarks; views bill as fear-mongering.
SB552: Committee Members Vote00:38:58.880 - 12:37:44 PM; Ought to pass motion passes with opposition.
SB619 2026-0674s: Committee Chair Support00:38:58.880 - 12:37:44 PM; Supports as compromise reducing to 14-day procedure; stakeholders including Humane Society, law enforcement, owners satisfied.
SB619 2026-0674s: Senator Abbus Support00:40:10.480 - 12:38:56 PM; Moves ought to pass with amendment.
SB619 2026-0674s: Committee Members Vote00:40:10.480 - 12:38:56 PM; Amendment adopted unanimously; ought to pass as amended passes on consent.
SB621 0136s: Committee Member Oppose00:41:12.079 - 12:39:58 PM; Moves ITL; AG's office has expanded resources, bill unnecessary; risks privacy, confidentiality, tainting investigations with public info release.
SB621 0136s: Senator OshA Support00:42:23.440 - 12:41:09 PM; Notes amendment presented; allows hearing annual report details for survivor closure.
SB621 0136s: Senator Yan Support00:43:39.920 - 12:42:25 PM; Amendment lines 22-30 provide opportunity for answers without specifics.
SB621 0136s: Counselor Oppose00:44:31.200 - 12:43:17 PM; Well-intentioned but risks conflicts in cold cases that may reactivate; potential family suspect issues; hard to apply without problems.
SB621 0136s: Senator Support00:46:27.920 - 12:45:13 PM; Amendment lines 26-27 prohibits disclosing case-specific info, protects by law or AG determination to safeguard investigations.
SB621 0136s: Senator Carson Oppose00:47:37.280 - 12:46:23 PM; Questions value if no updates; raises false hopes; DNA solves old cases; prefers direct contact over commission/reports costing money.
SB621 0136s: Committee Members Vote00:48:55.119 - 12:47:41 PM; No vote on amendment; ITL on bill passes with opposition.
CACR1: Senator (Sponsor) Support00:51:33.200 - 12:50:19 PM; Introduces CACR1 to raise sheriff age limit from 1700s-era 70 to 75, noting modern health/lifespan; open to no limit.
CACR1: Senator Daryl Lavis, District 22 Support00:52:32.720 - 12:51:18 PM; Supports no age disqualification for elected position; contrasts with minimum ages; notes pay issues for experienced deputies; let voters decide; fine with 75 as finite point.
CACR11: Charles Misus, High Sheriff of Rockingham County Support00:56:19.359 - 12:55:05 PM; Charles Misus supports CACR11, arguing that modern medical advances mean individuals over 70 are capable of demanding roles like sheriff, which is executive in nature relying on experience and judgment. He notes that while NH's 10 sheriffs face age limits, over 240 police chiefs do not, emphasizing voter choice over blanket restrictions. He highlights recruitment challenges in law enforcement and accountability via elections. He shares a personal example of hiring 74-year-old retired Chief Dave Goldstein as a lieutenant for his knowledge and contributions to mental wellness programs, asserting age should not disqualify capable leaders.
CACR11: David Goldston, Lieutenant Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator, Rockingham County Sheriff's Office Support01:09:31.120 - 1:08:17 PM; David Goldston offers to answer questions on CACR11, noting his age in his 'subtogenarian years' gives him authority on the topic. He suggests alternatives like term limits instead of age caps and reminds that NH's constitution has been amended 149 times since 1792, indicating flexibility for change.
HB54: Representative Wendy Thomas, Merrimack Support01:12:40.880 - 1:11:26 PM; Representative Wendy Thomas introduces and supports HB 54 FN, which modernizes therapeutic cannabis regulation by allowing for-profit operation of alternative treatment centers (ATCs). She emphasizes it generates revenue for public services without tax increases, improves affordability for patients, and promotes fiscal responsibility and public health. She clarifies for-profit is a business model enabling lower-interest loans to buy equipment, increase production, and lower prices, without mandating gouging consumers; ATCs can choose to remain nonprofit.
HB54: Sue Hamela, representing NH Citizens Alliance for Action Oppose01:17:25.280 - 1:16:11 PM; Sue Hamela opposes HB 54 FN, recalling Governor Sununu's veto of a similar bill for incentivizing out-of-state interests and risking commercialization of the marijuana industry. She urges a full audit of ATCs' finances before changes, as they currently have sole-source contracting for the medical market. She stresses verifying claims of high prices and the need for scaling without blindly trusting modernization arguments, noting for-profit status shifts accountability from regulators to investors, altering the program's compassionate safeguards.
SB657: Senator Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, District 21 Information Only01:22:56.560 - 1:21:42 PM; Senator Rebecca Perkins Kwoka introduces SB 657 as an initial draft to protect against AI risks in daily life, business, and elections. The bill establishes an AI oversight position in the DOJ, creates a civil right of action for undisclosed harmful AI uses (e.g., impersonation), and encourages a study commission including departments like Labor and Health and Human Services. She acknowledges it's a starting point, welcomes input on First Amendment concerns (with affirmative defenses included), public health applications (e.g., preventing misinformation in outbreaks), and employment impacts, and plans to consult the Tech Alliance for refinements.
SB657: Senator [Unnamed, likely Perkins Kwoka] Information Only01:31:19.440 - 1:30:05 PM; The senator follows up on concerns about AI impersonating state agencies, emphasizing the need for consumer protections to distinguish official from non-official channels. They also raise issues about AI potentially tampering with information from the state treasurer's office, which could cause financial damage, and question the commission's composition regarding financial representation.
SB657: Mora Weston, New England Connectivity and Telecommunications Association Oppose01:34:00.800 - 1:32:46 PM; Mora Weston testifies on behalf of NECTA, representing telecom companies like Breezeline, Charter Communications, and Comcast serving 485,000 customers in NH. They express concerns that SB 657 is too broad, potentially capturing beneficial AI uses in customer service, network management, and product development. They highlight risks of unintended consequences, unwarranted litigation due to vague definitions of deceptive AI use, no need to prove actual harm in lawsuits, and potential jeopardy to federal broadband funding. They recommend a study commission with stakeholder input instead of criminalization and finding the bill inexpedient to legislate.
SB657: Senator Oler Information Only01:40:57.520 - 1:39:43 PM; Senator Oler questions Weston about the industry's preference for a surgical approach to AI regulation, challenges concerns over disclosure in AI uses like chatbots, and probes the breadth of definitions that might inhibit beneficial technologies. They acknowledge the fear of unintended consequences but note public concerns about AI's pervasive and unpredictable use.
SB657: Unidentified Representative Information Only01:46:19.280 - 1:45:05 PM; The representative questions the witness about which parts of the bill's definitions on deceptive use of AI give stakeholders heartburn, specifically regarding misrepresentation, synthetic content, and disclosure omissions. The witness responds that the definitions are broad and vague, particularly the creation of synthetic content believed to be authentic, without requiring harm or reliance, leading to significant causes of action.
SB657: Witness (likely from tech association) Oppose01:47:45.199 - 1:46:31 PM; The witness explains that many member companies' AI services fall under the bill's definitions, causing concern due to the broad and vague language around deceptive uses, especially creating synthetic content without clear harm requirements. They caution against the bill due to potential loss of federal funding from a White House executive order, though not opposing all AI regulation, and prefer stakeholder engagement via a commission.
SB657: Senator (unidentified) Information Only01:50:18.080 - 1:49:04 PM; The senator questions the witness about a White House executive order warning states against AI consumer protections, noting it's a unsustainable threat as similar actions have been sued successfully. The witness acknowledges the caution but reiterates concerns over the bill's vagueness and breadth, preferring targeted legislation and a commission.
SB667: Senator Tim McHugh, District 11 (Merrimack, Amherst, Milford, Wilton) Support01:53:10.480 - 1:51:56 PM; Senator McHugh introduces SB 667 as an add-on to SB 59, enhancing penalties for assaults on emergency medical care providers in ERs, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians, volunteers, and scrub techs. He shares personal experience as a paramedic, references a failed 1998 bill, and notes post-9/11 shifts in societal views. The bill maintains the 'knowingly' standard to protect those with mental illness. He argues ERs are dangerous workplaces and includes volunteers as they are perceived as staff. Questions address confusion with police, the 'knowingly' element, and differentiation from mental health crises.
SB667: Karen Rosenberg, Policy Director, Disability Rights Center Oppose02:01:42.400 - 2:00:28 PM; Rosenberg opposes SB 667 as unnecessary and potentially harmful, noting existing protections under SB 58 (passed a few years ago) for warrantless arrests in crises without criminalizing mental illness or disabilities. She argues enhanced felonies won't deter those in crisis (e.g., dementia, psychosis) and could delay treatment. Instead, she suggests resources for de-escalation and supports for healthcare workers to create safer environments without more charges.
SB667: Holly Stevens, Director of Public Policy, NAMI New Hampshire Oppose02:05:44.719 - 2:04:30 PM; Stevens opposes SB 667, recognizing risks to ER staff but arguing it punitively impacts those in mental health crises without improving safety. Enhanced penalties don't deter, as people in crisis won't know or understand consequences. Existing laws like SB 58 and warrantless arrest statutes already protect safety. The bill could lead to higher charges, jail time, and worsened crises, denying due process; she recommends ITL (inexpedient to legislate).
SB667: Charlene Fiori, Executive Director, New Hampshire Nurses Association Support02:09:09.119 - 2:07:55 PM; Fiori supports SB 667, citing rising workplace violence in healthcare leading to dissatisfaction, shortages, and toxic environments. The bill complements SB 29 (signed last year) on safety commissions and reporting. She notes increased violence over 5-10 years, including knowing acts, and believes higher penalties deter. References ANA policy on state laws; will send formal testimony with links. Questions highlight that SB 58's protections (effective Aug 2023) may not suffice, emphasizing need for deterrence amid rising incidents.
SB619 2026-0788s: Senator Abbas Information Only02:21:49.120 - 2:20:35 PM; Senator Abbas explains the amendment 2026-0788s, which makes a minor change on lines 17-18 to clarify that a defendant's waiver of arraignment, a common practice, shall not delay the 14-day hearing required under the bill.

Gannon, Bill(Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Abbas, Daryl(V Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Carson, Sharon(R)[B]2025
Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2025	Reardon, Tara(D)[F]2025