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Broad rewrite of domestic‑violence law draws fierce debate over victims’ access and due process
Summary
House Bill 17‑40 would repeal and replace RSA 173‑B, shifting many domestic‑violence protections into a criminal‑justice framework (mandatory investigations, arrest, and linking civil orders to criminal charges); supporters say it restores due process and stronger enforcement, while advocates and crisis centers say it would remove critical civil remedies and harm victim safety.
A proposal to repeal and replace New Hampshire’s domestic‑violence statute prompted sharply divided testimony before the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on July 6. House Bill 17‑40, introduced by Representative Matt Sabourne, would move civil protective orders into a framework tied to criminal charges, require police to investigate domestic‑violence reports promptly, and make arrest mandatory where probable cause exists.
Representative Sabourne described the bill as fixing a “patchwork” statute that courts and litigants have struggled to interpret. “HB 17‑40 fixes this by treating domestic violence as what it is — a crime — and replacing a broken statute with one that is clear, enforceable, and fair,” he told the committee (Representative Matt Sabourne, SEG 1296–1339).
Supporters included prosecutors,…
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