Bill > HB1715

This bill requires electronic filing for domestic violence and stalking petitions starting October 1, 2026, with a key provision allowing courts to exempt parties from electronic filing if extraordinary circumstances would prevent them from accessing the court. Specifically, the bill amends two existing statutes (RSA 173-B:3 and RSA 633:3-a) to mandate that all petitions in these case types must be submitted through the court's electronic filing system. The Judicial Branch notes that this will require developing a new, secure electronic filing portal with specialized features like confidentiality protections, identity verification, encryption, and compliance with criminal justice information systems (CJIS) standards. The system development is estimated to cost between $1.6 million and $3.2 million in the first year, with ongoing annual operating costs of $300,000 to $700,000. Importantly, the bill maintains existing provisions that no filing fees will be charged for these petitions, and parties may proceed without legal counsel. The electronic filing requirement aims to modernize and streamline the process for filing protection orders while maintaining accessibility for all parties.

Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=2212&inflect=2