Committee Summary for House Children and Family Law (01/27/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB1323 00:09:27.040 - 9:05:09 AM	Executive Session	relative to parental alienation.	Rice, Kimberly(R)[B-]2025
HB1717 00:48:13.760 - 9:43:55 AM	Executive Session	relative to the jurisdiction of the circuit court, family division.	Sabourin dit Choinière, Matt(R)[A-]2025
HB1762 00:52:54.079 - 9:48:36 AM	Executive Session	relative to the calculation of child support.	Sabourin dit Choinière, Matt(R)[A-]2025
HB1710 00:57:04.559 - 9:52:46 AM	Executive Session	relative to procedures relating to child abduction.	Markell, Jay(R)[B]2025
HB1185 01:07:46.319 - 10:03:28 AM	Executive Session	relative to the offense of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.	Markell, Jay(R)[B]2025
HB1460 01:09:44.560 - 10:05:26 AM	Executive Session	prohibiting the sale of location and other sensitive data regarding children.	Litchfield, Melissa(R)[B+]2025

HB1323: Deborah Childs, Executive Director of Time to Put Kids First Information Only00:09:27.040 - 9:05:09 AM; Deborah Childs provided an overview of parental alienation, describing it as a pattern of behavior where one parent pits a child against the other, leading to emotional damage like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and crime. She shared her personal experience founding the nonprofit after her granddaughter's custody case and serving over 81,000 families. Childs emphasized that the bill defines parental alienation in statute to raise awareness, allow recognition and intervention, and provide judges with consistent guidelines. She noted New Hampshire would be the first state to define it, though many states use the concept in custody cases. She holds a doctorate in ambiguous grief, related to losses in separation and divorce. During Q&A, she defended the concept against claims of 'junk science' by clarifying it's based on observable behaviors, not medical diagnosis, and is culturally widespread. She distinguished it from controversial 'parental alienation syndrome' and argued it's already in NH statute as alienating behaviors. Childs addressed concerns about DSM absence by noting terms like child abuse and domestic violence are also not in the DSM but are legally actionable. She advocated for the definition as a starting point, similar to domestic violence statutes, to regulate judicial discretion and promote education.
HB1323: Representative Petrino Oppose00:17:40.640 - 9:13:22 AM; Representative Petrino expressed concern over leading medical, psychiatric, and psychological associations terming parental alienation as junk science, questioning why they view it that way based on science rather than mere observation.
HB1323: Representative Greg Oppose00:21:40.080 - 9:17:22 AM; Representative Greg raised a point of order about the unusual expert testimony in executive session without notice for opposing experts. He criticized the bill's vague definition (e.g., 'pattern of behavior that would damage a relationship,' disparaging remarks, manipulation) as speculative and hard for judges to apply consistently, potentially exacerbating family court complaints.
HB1323: Representative Raymond Oppose00:23:33.600 - 9:19:15 AM; Representative Raymond referenced ABA and other groups' briefs against parental alienation, citing the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' view that it fails the Daubert test and disrupts best interest analysis. He noted a 2015 study where it was used in 95% of cases with domestic violence allegations to shift custody.
HB1323: Representative Nelson Information Only00:29:15.200 - 9:24:57 AM; Representative Nelson sought confirmation that the law school for legislators training involved experienced Supreme Court judges and family law attorneys.
HB1323: Representative Sher Oppose00:30:39.279 - 9:26:21 AM; Representative Sher inquired about discussions in the training on the risk of weaponization of parental alienation by abusers in custody cases, noting general talks on perjury and false claims but not specifically on PA.
HB1323: Representative Rice Support00:33:01.919 - 9:28:43 AM; Vice Chair Rice moved Ought To Pass (OTP) on HB1323.
HB1323: Representative Greg Oppose00:33:49.600 - 9:29:31 AM; In deliberation, Representative Greg opposed OTP, stating NH would be the first state to adopt the definition despite major associations calling it junk science.
HB1323: Representative Raymond Oppose00:34:46.000 - 9:30:28 AM; Representative Raymond argued the bill is too vague, leaves room for wide judicial interpretation, and fails to address real family court problems like losing custody; he suggested an amendment was needed.
HB1323: Representative Sher Oppose00:35:41.280 - 9:31:23 AM; Representative Sher noted the bill bucks the national trend since the 2022 Violence Against Women Act reauthorization, where states like California, New York, and others restricted parental alienation's use in custody changes.
HB1323: Representative Petrino Oppose00:36:50.880 - 9:32:32 AM; Representative Petrino expressed concern that true factual statements (e.g., about a parent's drug addiction or jail time) could be deemed parental alienation, raising First Amendment issues, and highlighted risks of weaponization.
HB1717: Representative Pearson Oppose00:48:13.760 - 9:43:55 AM; Representative Pearson moved Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL), noting the bill was presented as a fallback if no other family court bills emerged, but two others exist plus a returned bill from last year. Unanswered questions from testimony and existing vehicles for family court issues justify ITL.
HB1717: Representative Lebec Oppose00:49:03.440 - 9:44:45 AM; Representative Lebec supported ITL, citing testimony that there's only one part-time marital master for the state, which would overburden them across courts.
HB1762: Representative Markell Oppose00:52:54.079 - 9:48:36 AM; Representative Markell moved ITL, arguing the bill ties child support to parenting time, potentially causing floodgate litigation from self-represented parties via contempt or modifications, clogging courts. Current RSA 458-C provides an alternative without regard to parenting time, focusing on children's best interests.
HB1710: Representative Markell Support00:57:04.559 - 9:52:46 AM; Representative Markell moved OTP, stating the bill prevents parental abduction by requiring court approval for international child relocation without consent. Adopted in 18-20 states as uniform law, it promotes uniformity; personal experience in family law supports its helpfulness.
HB1710: Representative Petrino Oppose00:58:00.559 - 9:53:42 AM; Representative Petrino opposed OTP, noting 20 states adopted modified versions, and several (Connecticut, Hawaii, etc.) plus NH in 2008-2009 did not fully pass it after amendments and studies. Recommended interim study due to unanswered questions on why states hesitated.
HB1710: Representative Greg Oppose01:00:14.640 - 9:55:56 AM; Representative Greg supported interim study over OTP due to lack of data on implementation in enacting states, unresponsive countries in the Hague agreement, and weaponization concerns.
HB1710: Representative Sher Oppose01:01:20.559 - 9:57:02 AM; Representative Sher agreed on needing more thought, citing the low 'risk of abduction' standard (should be preponderance of evidence) and weaponization risks per NH Legal Assistance.
HB1710: Representative Lebec Oppose01:02:14.720 - 9:57:56 AM; Representative Lebec raised concerns about domestic violence victims fleeing with children being charged with abduction, forcing them to leave kids behind; recommended deeper review beyond other states' adoptions.
HB1710: Representative Markell Support01:03:14.880 - 9:58:56 AM; In response, Representative Markell noted the bill uses 'credible risk' standard, seen in RSA 173-B for protective orders, allowing flexibility. Domestic violence could be a defense; amendments can address abuses later.
HB1185: Representative Sher Oppose01:07:46.319 - 10:03:28 AM; Representative Sher supported ITL, stating HB257 passed the House strongly and is in the Senate, addressing the same issue, making HB1185 unnecessary.
HB1460: Representative Pearson Support01:09:44.560 - 10:05:26 AM; Representative Pearson moved OTP, clarifying the bill targets data sales, not informal sharing among homeschoolers or about camps, addressing bill brief concerns.
HB1460: Representative Sher Oppose01:10:43.600 - 10:06:25 AM; Representative Sher suggested interim study over OTP due to lack of sponsor presence and testimony, preferring to hear from Rep. LeChill later to avoid voting on imagination amid potential problems.
HB1460: Representative Petrino Oppose01:11:50.159 - 10:07:32 AM; Representative Petrino voted no on OTP, uncomfortable without more information.
HB1460: Representative Greg Oppose01:12:35.360 - 10:08:17 AM; Representative Greg voted no, emphasizing due diligence and need for more knowledge.
HB1460: Representative Georgees Oppose01:13:31.840 - 10:09:13 AM; Representative Georgees voted no without more information.

DeSimone, Debra(Chairman)(R)[B+]2025	Nelson, Jodi(Clerk)(R)[B]2025	Rice, Kimberly(V Chairman)(R)[B-]2025
McMahon, Charles(R)[B+]2025	Love, David(R)[B+]2025	Pearson, Mark(R)[B]2025
Korzen, Lori(R)[B+]2025	Georges, Mary(D)[D-]2025	Raymond, Heather(D)[CT]2025
Gregg, Alicia(D)[D-]2025	Petrigno, Peter(D)[F]2025	Grossman, Gaby(D)[IN]2025
Levesque, Cassandra (D)[D-]2025	Malone, Amy(D)[D-]2025	Markell, Jay(R)[B]2025