The bill amends RSA 173-B to enhance protections for individuals from domestic violence by establishing clearer definitions for terms such as "abuse," "domestic violence," and "family or household member." It introduces mandatory law enforcement responses to reports of abuse, requiring agencies to investigate allegations, create written reports, and forward them to the appropriate prosecuting authority within 24 hours. The bill also specifies that civil protective orders cannot replace criminal investigations and outlines prerequisites for filing such orders, including the necessity of pending criminal charges. Additionally, it creates a Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Training and Support Fund to improve law enforcement responses and mandates the appointment of a domestic violence law enforcement coordinator.

Key provisions include affirming the rights of protected persons to use physical or deadly force under certain conditions, while clarifying that force is not authorized in response to mere presence without a reasonable belief of imminent harm. The bill ensures that foreign protective orders receive full faith and credit if the issuing court had jurisdiction and the defendant was notified, and it emphasizes the confidentiality of victims' addresses. The proposed changes to law enforcement training and operational requirements are expected to incur increased expenditures, with funding sourced from the General Fund and Highway Fund. Local governments may also face increased costs related to enforcing protective orders, although these may be offset by future reimbursements from the training fund. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6:12
HB1740 text: 6:12