Bill > HB243

This bill modifies New Hampshire's child protection laws to address reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect, introducing several key provisions. The bill allows reports to include the name and contact information of the person making the report and warns that maliciously filing false reports could result in civil and criminal penalties. It specifically creates a new section of law (RSA 169-C:31-a) that prohibits intentionally making false statements about child abuse or neglect to various agencies, with potential legal consequences. The bill also clarifies liability for mandatory reporters, stating that professionals who knowingly fail to report suspected abuse can be subject to civil liability, while those who report in good faith are protected from liability. Additionally, the bill establishes that individuals harmed by intentional false reports can bring civil actions for monetary damages, and mandatory reporters (such as teachers, doctors, or counselors) who fail to report suspected abuse could be held civilly responsible for harm caused by their inaction. The new provisions aim to both protect children by encouraging accurate reporting and discourage false or malicious reports that could harm individuals. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and could potentially impact judicial and correctional systems through new criminal and civil penalty mechanisms.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0065&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB243