This bill introduces Chapter 188-K to the New Hampshire Revised Statutes, establishing due process protections for students, student organizations, and faculty members at publicly funded colleges and universities. Key rights outlined in the bill include written notice of allegations, access to evidence, the presumption of innocence, the right against self-incrimination, and the ability to confront witnesses. It mandates an impartial hearing and allows the presence of an advisor during proceedings. Institutions may adopt more protective measures but cannot provide less protection than what is specified in this chapter. The bill also addresses the relationship between these new rights and existing collective bargaining agreements, stipulating that conflicting procedures will take precedence until the agreements expire, after which the new provisions will apply.

The bill's implementation is expected to incur significant costs for the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and the University System of New Hampshire (USNH), with CCSNH estimating expenses between $0 to $100,000 in FY 2026 and $100,000 to $500,000 in subsequent years. USNH anticipates an indeterminable but significant annual expense of $500,000 or more, primarily due to the need for additional staff to manage the new disciplinary processes. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and both institutions have raised concerns about potential conflicts with existing laws, such as Title IX, which may complicate compliance and further increase costs.