This bill amends the Civil Rights Act by establishing a new standard for civil rights enforcement in New Hampshire. It repeals the existing RSA 354-B:1 and reenacts it to define unlawful acts motivated by hostility towards individuals or groups based on various characteristics, including race, religion, sexual orientation, and disability. The bill specifies that individuals who knowingly commit acts such as using unprivileged force, committing violence, damaging property, or making threats related to these characteristics will be subject to civil liability under RSA 354-B:2, along with the remedies outlined in RSA 354-B:3 and RSA 354-B:4. Additionally, the bill clarifies that "threatening to commit" involves communicating an intent to inflict harm that a reasonable person would interpret as a credible threat.

Furthermore, the bill includes a provision stating that it does not prohibit conduct or speech protected under the United States Constitution or the New Hampshire Constitution. It also establishes that it is unlawful for any person to interfere or attempt to interfere with the rights secured by this chapter. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 354-B:1
SB464 text: 354-B:1