Bill > HB225

This bill provides employment protections for military spouses when their service member is involuntarily mobilized for war, national emergency, or contingency operations. Specifically, the bill amends existing labor law to prohibit employers from discharging, refusing to hire, or taking adverse employment actions against spouses of military personnel who are involuntarily deployed. The law would allow affected spouses to file complaints with the Department of Labor if they experience employment discrimination related to their spouse's deployment. If an employer is found to have violated these protections, they could be liable for reinstatement, back pay, and lost benefits. The bill mandates that any leave of absence for these employees would be unpaid, without accrual of benefits, similar to Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protections. The Department of Labor will be required to develop rules for handling such complaints, and the protections will apply to both public and private employers. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to have minimal administrative impact on state resources, though potential costs could arise from potential legal actions or reinstatement of wrongfully terminated employees.

Business and Industry, Labor and Employment

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0216&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB225