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New Hampshire House advances a string of committee recommendations after hours of debate; reprimand passes
Summary
The New Hampshire House in Concord advanced multiple committee reports on bills covering family law, child privacy, education and public safety, rejected several measures as inexpedient to legislate, and voted to reprimand a member for misconduct. Key debates centered on parental alienation, a child-data ban, extreme risk protection orders and a proposed tobacco tax.
The New Hampshire House met in Concord on Feb. 5, 2026, and moved a long slate of committee reports after extended debate on several high-profile bills.
Members spent significant time on family-law and child-protection measures. The House considered the majority committee report on House Bill 13-23, a measure to define "parental alienation" in statute. Representative Heather Raymond rose in opposition, citing a 2022 brief from the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and saying "parental alienation should not be admissible in court" and that judicial experts have rejected the concept as a statutory standard. Supporters, including Representative Cofield, argued the bill addresses recurring, harmful patterns and would provide a consistent definition to guide judges; Cofield said, "Parental alienation is a pattern of manipulation that deprives a parent of their rightful relationship with their children." The committee report on HB 13-23 was advanced by the House and sent to the Finance Committee.
Lawmakers also debated HB 14-60, which would prohibit commercial sale or distribution of certain…
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