NH Family Justice Updates – Abolishing Family Court

Thank you to everyone who came out to the public hearing on Feb. 11!

There was little opposition and overwhelming support!

(HB657-FN – abolishing the family division, creating the optional office of the family mediation & reassigning the jurisdiction to ensure due process and civil rights)

HB657-FN Press Release
HB657-FN Key Points

In case you missed it, click below to watch the hearing.

Upcoming Executive Sessions and Work Sessions

(last opportunity to weigh in before the bill goes to the full House of Representatives for a vote)

Tuesday, February 18 – House Children and Family Law Committee
⚠️Room 206-208, Legislative Office Building, 33 N State Street, Concord, NH
10:30AM – Executive Session (committee voting) on:

HB 350-FN, requiring that all family division hearings be video and audio recorded and broadcast live
✅ Support ✅

HB 335-FN, requiring psychological evaluations of all parties and children where parental rights and responsibilities are contested.

❌Oppose❌

Please call/email your support to the representatives on the committee.
This will be the last opportunity to weigh in before the bill goes to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

Monday, March 3 – House Children and Family Law Committee

Room 206-208, Legislative Office Building, 33 N State Street, Concord, NH

‼️11:00AM – Work session on HB553-FN.
❌Oppose❌

This is a priority bill to kill for child and family justice. Please attend the work session if you can. The public is not typically invited to speak, as the public hearing is the public participation portion of the bill process. However, the committee needs to know the public is watching and staying on top of what they’re doing with this bill. In the meantime, please focus on making your position known to these two reps who may be on the fence.

👤Vice Chair Debra DeSimone

📧debra.desimone@gc.nh.gov

📞603 362 4314

👤Rep. Sheila Seidel

📧Sheila.Seidel@gc.nh.gov

👉Key points and complete analysis here.

🗒️ Reason Magazine: New Hampshire’s Bad Parenting Bill Is a Nightmare

🗒️Granite Grok Article: Thoughts on HB 553: The “Make Parenting Illegal” Bill.

Upcoming Bill Hearings: Mark Your Calendars

Attend in Person and Testify (this has the most impact)

Call/Email Reps

Submit Support/Opposition Testimony Online

Tuesday, February 18 – House Judiciary Committee

Room 206-208, Legislative Office Building, 33 N State Street, Concord, NH

⚠️1:00PM – HB 587-FN – allowing admission of one-party audio and video recordings in certain circumstances.
✅ Support ✅
This bill allows a person to record or possess a recording of what he or she reasonably believes to be a crime and to provide it to law enforcement for use in court.

You can also submit your support or opposition and written testimony online here.

Additionally, you find committee member contact info here, and may call them individually and/or send them an email.