This bill introduces a new section to the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act (RSA 354-B) that establishes a private right of action for individuals who believe their civil rights have been unlawfully interfered with. Specifically, it allows any person who has been subjected to such interference to bring a private lawsuit. The bill mandates that upon the initiation of any action, the court clerk must send a copy of the complaint to the Attorney General, and similarly, any judgment or decree must also be communicated to the Attorney General. This change effectively shifts the ability to initiate civil rights actions from solely the Attorney General to private individuals.

The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to have a significant fiscal impact, with estimated increases in expenditures for the Department of Justice due to the anticipated rise in complaints and the need for additional resources to handle private litigation. The estimated costs for additional staffing to manage these changes are projected to exceed $222,000 in FY 2026, with incremental increases in subsequent years. The bill does not anticipate any revenue generation but may lead to an indeterminable increase in civil cases within the Superior Court system.