Bill > SB278

This bill modifies New Hampshire law regarding termination of parental rights by expanding the grounds for termination to include equivalent criminal convictions from other jurisdictions. Specifically, the bill allows courts to terminate parental rights if a parent has been convicted of murder, manslaughter, assault, or related attempt/solicitation/conspiracy crimes not just in New Hampshire, but also in other courts of competent jurisdiction. The bill adds language to existing statutes that broadens the qualifying convictions to include equivalent offenses from other states, which means similar crimes proven in other state courts could now serve as grounds for terminating parental rights. The bill will take effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to have a minimal fiscal impact of less than $10,000 annually. The purpose appears to be creating a more comprehensive legal framework for protecting children by allowing termination of parental rights based on serious criminal convictions, regardless of where those convictions occurred.

Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=1095&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=SB278