Bill > HB580

This bill amends existing law to prevent perpetrators of sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or domestic abuse from filing defamation lawsuits against their victims when those victims report the abuse. The legislation specifically prohibits defamation claims except in two narrow circumstances: when the accused can prove the alleged act was a factual impossibility or when the victim has publicly stated that the reported incident did not occur. The bill defines "reporting" broadly to include disclosures to authorities, human resources, speaking to the press, social media posts, or telling another person, and considers a "victim" to be either an alleged victim or a victim determined through legal process. Importantly, if a victim successfully defends against a retaliatory defamation lawsuit, they are entitled to be awarded court costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, and can receive punitive damages in addition to treble (triple) compensatory damages. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and has been determined to have a minimal fiscal impact of less than $10,000 annually. The legislation aims to protect victims from further harassment and provide legal safeguards against retaliation for speaking out about their experiences.

Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0214&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB580