Bill > SB464

This bill modifies the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act by changing the legal standard for civil rights enforcement. Specifically, the bill amends the existing law to require that prohibited conduct be "substantially motivated by hostility" towards a victim's protected characteristics, which include race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or disability. Under the revised language, individuals would have the right to engage in lawful activities without being subject to actual or threatened physical force or violence when such conduct is substantially motivated by hostility towards their protected characteristics. The bill defines "threatened physical force" as a communication through physical conduct or declaration of intent to inflict harm on a person or property with the purpose of terrorizing or coercing them. The changes to the law will take effect on January 1, 2027, and while the fiscal note indicates potential indeterminable expenditures for state and local governments, no specific appropriations are allocated. This modification potentially raises the bar for proving civil rights violations by introducing the "substantially motivated" qualifier, which may make it more challenging to establish legal claims of discrimination or harassment.

Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1444&inflect=2