[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6454696,"mediaKeyId","5860666-80cdeffaf92ef4279bb85bdfa6f2d257","parentId",5860666,"title","Committee recommends ITL on DCYF-reporting bill after debate over redundancy and need for oversight","audioSeconds",3700,"startMs",556000,"endMs",4256000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860666-80cdeffaf92ef4279bb85bdfa6f2d257&start=556&end=4256","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860666-80cdeffaf92ef4279bb85bdfa6f2d257/thumbnail_556000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6454696/New-Hampshire/Committee-recommends-ITL-on-DCYF-reporting-bill-after-debate-over-redundancy-and-need-for-oversight","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454696-9fd192e339b8b7ba981b8236c07ac58f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775151240&Signature=Z7GMH7F0t7oaDYre7DGZ5Y4KtzHInmilgw1KKZJ-pTus2Sf1ExLO56slyjTv3qBqlHHqlxMamkG1N3qSrsIqZWVI0cItG9yhXngPSmLVyaJ7BSzt8IccPpNRnONnI40ZxBvlZJ-qQNawziPHAeAjLxwhqyGAoIC8sZqNvBewv~9rWAR8CvRWoAEBlxV5u5LsW~ZrzWRdNJ~RvBBwmUx6IiXElnwOnadN2KqcIDQqCYZSfsupJry-aI9jB8DsTg228xZw-4e0ytkbymzTN~yan4lXYR543-k61LAG0P8rEbS6Rb1zozXP7R-1R4XhXdq-tpsn6j2AqOHTrVJvhpm0PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-09-26T15:23:19Z","article","The New Hampshire House Children and Family Law Committee voted to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL) on HB518, a bill that would have required additional reporting or oversight related to the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF).

Vice Chair Seidel moved the ITL motion and argued the bill was redundant because DCYF already reports to the Department of Health and Human Services and the legislature. \"It just feels like it is a redundant bill,\" Seidel said.

Representative Love strongly opposed ITL and urged the committee to retain the bill as a tool to investigate alleged failings at DCYF. \"DCYF is a mess,\" Love said during debate, listing child deaths and abuse allegations and urging a fact-finding mechanism to examine staffing, training and hiring practices.

Representative Pearson and other members noted existing oversight channels, saying the DHHS oversight committee and the DCYF advisory board routinely receive reports. \"I chair DHHS oversight committee for the last five years... there is a DCYF oversight committee in itself,\" Pearson told the committee, and advisory-board members said monthly reports are provided by the commissioner.

Committee members debated whether the bill would be useful as a legislative tool. Some members favored an interim study so the committee could craft legislation with more detail; others said having the bill as a tool to require particular reporting items was important.

The clerk called the roll after discussion. Members recorded in the roll call included Representative Pearson, Representative McMahon, Representative Nelson, Vice Chair Seidel, Representative Corson, Representative Markell, Representative Petrino, Representative Sherr, Representative Levesque, Representative Greg, Representative Raymond and Representative Georges as saying yes on the ITL motion; one representative recorded a no vote during the roll call. Representative Love continued to press for tools to audit hiring and investigative practices at DCYF during discussion. The transcript does not provide a numerical tally announced on the record for that roll call in the excerpt provided.

Following the vote, committee members agreed there would be no minority report and directed continued work in committee forums and advisory boards. Several members urged pursuing additional mediation, oversight and improvements to DCYF processes through existing advisory structures and the subcommittee rather than by advancing the bill in its present form.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Children and Family Law (09/30/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The House Children and Family Law Committee recommended ITL on HB518, a bill proposing additional reporting or audit authority over the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). Members split between those who called DCYF \"a mess\" and those who said existing oversight and advisory boards already receive reports.","taxTitle","Children and Family Law, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17742,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6454701,"Committee votes ITL on bill to move family-division cases back to superior court",1861,1118000,2979000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860666-80cdeffaf92ef4279bb85bdfa6f2d257&start=1118&end=2979","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860666-80cdeffaf92ef4279bb85bdfa6f2d257/thumbnail_1118000.jpg","/articles/6454701/New-Hampshire/Committee-votes-ITL-on-bill-to-move-family-division-cases-back-to-superior-court","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454701-068100f05bf46da4f54dc695ddbb3d60/orig.mp4?Expires=1775151240&Signature=f6qkKuiI5sTKfi-E650qDiPxEdjFaDoLUEyAG3UOaJkC6DWLgiuaYgXTLEdUhMrBO0jpo1-DT3dSYXDHv9JEW~DeFzkJeCEXyNc6BeH8IUhz0DBRFtoA8EYBC6pieaMBeM7B60QqrTKLuYfx~6BWxPraXBiT69aAS~BDal9u3MwuADmgdm3GRl8gmBwH1NA4X7rr7WYLA2WgIBTNrvh19d4eQig5QSWO2hxYxFkrLPxFh6XTQVY19Mma7ciYYweBT0g~7eqCpCpk1sYFhOn~oyXg8UP~qWZsgKDzNlH7k2LDpNij4-gZPE4CklxWVGT5tDr6gGWy7GeDvlX7XCqCxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Hampshire House Children and Family Law Committee voted to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL) on HB652-FN, a bill that would have transferred jurisdiction over family matters from the family division of the circuit court back to the superior court.

Representative Pearson, chairman of the committee's subcommittee on the family division, argued that the family division was created and later extended because it addresses litigants' needs more effectively than superior court. \"The family division operates in 32 locations across the state and handles over 18,000 cases annually,\" Pearson said, and he warned that moving those cases to superior court would overwhelm dockets and remove specialized expertise.

The bill drew sharp debate. Representative Law said he would vote against ITL and preferred an interim study to refine reforms, noting procedural and rule concerns in family court practice. \"I'd rather see an interim study,\" Law said. Representative Gregg, who has worked on the special committee reviewing the family division, acknowledged mistakes can occur but said abolishing the division was not the right remedy and supported keeping specialized courts with targeted reforms.

Representative Corzine and others told the committee they had heard constituents' complaints about access, evidence rules and perceived bias; Corzine described public distrust of the courts and argued oversight and improvements were needed. Representative Pearson described ongoing reforms, including new forms and expanded mediation, and said that appeals and statistical review are the proper remedies for problematic rulings.

After discussion, the committee recorded a committee vote on the ITL motion. The clerk announced: \"On the motion of ITL, the vote is 12 to 2. The motion passes.\" Members recorded as voting yes include Representative Pearson, Representative McMahon, Representative Nelson, Representative Bridal, Representative Markel, Representative Petrino, Representative Sher, Representative Levette, Representative Greg, Representative Raymond, Representative Georges and the chair; Representatives Love and Corson were recorded as no.

The committee's majority recommendation means the bill is not advancing in its current form. Several members urged continued work by the special committee and its subcommittee on targeted reforms such as increased mediation, improved forms for pro se litigants and statistical review of judicial performance.

Supporters of reform said more resources' notably more mediation and judicial capacity' would be needed to address systemic problems without dismantling the family division. Opponents of abolishing the family division said existing oversight channels and ongoing rule and practice changes are preferable to wholesale jurisdictional change.

The hearing record shows robust debate but no final legislative change on the floor at this hearing; proponents of change were encouraged to continue work through the committee process and interim study efforts.","The House Children and Family Law Committee voted to recommend ITL (inexpedient to legislate) on HB652-FN, rejecting a proposal to transfer family-division jurisdiction back to superior court. Committee members debated specialization, case volume and options for reform.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee recommends ITL on DCYF-reporting bill after debate over redundancy and need for oversight

Committee votes ITL on bill to move family-division cases back to superior court