Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Senate adopts committee amendment and sends parental-alienation bill to finance after contested debate
Loading...
Summary
After committee amendment exemptions were adopted, the New Hampshire Senate voted by voice to order House Bill 13-23 (parental alienation) to the Committee on Finance amid a contentious floor debate about risks to domestic-violence survivors and the timing of court hearings.
The New Hampshire Senate adopted the committee amendment to House Bill 13-23 and ordered the bill to the Committee on Finance after a pointed debate over whether the bill could harm survivors of domestic violence.
The bill, described to the chamber by Senator Abbas as defining parental alienation "to mean a pattern of behavior damaging the relationship between a child and family member," would give courts a statutory standard to consider in parental-rights cases. The committee amendment adopted on the floor requires courts to make a written finding and exempts restraining orders and civil-protection orders filed in good faith from qualifying acts of parental alienation.
Supporters said the amendment strengthens due process and speeds judicial review. "This will allow a hearing to be before a court within 60 days, which reduces the harm that's caused by alienation," Senator Abbas said, urging colleagues to "join me and support the committee's recommendation of ought to pass as amended." Senator Sullivan added the measure "is solely to make sure that children have stability in their home...and that they are being pitted against one parent or the other."
Opponents warned the statute could have unintended consequences in domestic-violence cases. "A battered parent who is victim to an abusive alcoholic spouse could be met with affirmative defense and lose custody of their child," Senator Long said, citing testimony that similar policies can yield dangerous outcomes and that scrutinizing a child's statements could retraumatize them.
The Senate adopted the committee amendment by voice vote and then voted to adopt the committee recommendation of "ought to pass as amended". The motion was recorded by voice; the clerk ordered the bill sent to the Committee on Finance for further consideration.
The immediate outcome is procedural: HB 13-23 advances to the finance committee. The Senate did not record a roll-call vote on second reading; the body voted by voice. The bill now awaits the committee's fiscal review and possible placement on a future calendar.
