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Judiciary warns House cuts could close courthouses and delay cases; asks for security and YDC case funding
Summary
Judicial Branch leaders told the Senate Finance Committee the House phase of HB 2 reduces their operating budget and risks courthouse closures, layoffs and multi‑year delays for many circuit‑court matters; the branch asked for funds for security, sheriff reimbursements, and to handle a large backlog of YDC‑related cases.
Chief Justice Mark Howard and administrative leaders of the Judicial Branch told the Senate Finance Committee that the branch’s efficiency budget and the House phase of HB 2 together create resource shortfalls that would slow court operations, reduce security coverage and potentially force courthouse closures.
The Judicial Branch submitted an efficiency budget that the presentation described as roughly $118 million for FY26 (the branch called it 3.8% over FY25 adjusted authorized). The House reduced the branch’s request; presenters said the House figure is about $114 million for FY26, producing a biennial back‑of‑the‑budget reduction that will require program and staffing tradeoffs.
The branch highlighted three immediate operational consequences if those funded levels hold: reduced sheriff and court‑security staffing reimbursements, potential closure of two circuit courthouses (Hooksett and Goffstown), and unfilled positions (the testimony estimated 15–20 layoffs could follow if two new superior court judges are appointed without corresponding funding). Judicial leaders said roughly 75% of the branch’s expenses are personnel and about 92% of funding is general fund, limiting options for internal offsets.
Judicial officials also flagged the YDC (youth development center) litigation and claims workload as a new and large demand on superior‑court resources. The branch said about "1,389" YDC‑related cases exist; roughly 550 of those involve private contractors and are not eligible for the state claims process, leaving roughly 600 cases where the State is the primary defendant and which will remain in superior court unless otherwise resolved. The Judicial Branch asked for resources to staff and process those complex cases.
To help offset cuts, the branch said it plans court‑rule adjustments to raise some filing and records fees; those changes, officials said, could bring roughly $5.1 million into the general fund over the biennium. The Supreme Court also created an internal efficiency commission and instituted a hiring freeze for non‑critical external hires while the branch assesses workload and service impacts.
Why it matters: The judiciary cautioned senators that the House budget would cause delays across civil and criminal calendars and specifically warned that circuit court matters—divorce and parenting, small claims, landlord‑tenant, domestic violence—could face years‑long docket delays and statutory deadlines might need statutory extensions.
Committee context: Judiciary leaders asked senators to consider restoring targeted funding for security and YDC case processing and to weigh the branch’s proposed fee adjustments and efficiency measures before final budget decisions.
