Committee Summary for House Children and Family Law (03/02/2026)

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

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB1039 00:12:20.463 - 9:11:11 AM	Executive Session	relative to the contents of parenting plans.	Nelson, Jodi(R)[B]2025
HB1206 00:20:00.000 - 9:18:51 AM	Executive Session	clarifying the equity jurisdiction of the judicial branch family division.	Love, David(R)[B+]2025
HB1215 amendments discussed 00:24:42.915 - 9:23:33 AM	Executive Session	relative to supporting the preferred method of communication of an individual with developmental disabilities.	Kofalt, Jim(R)[A+]2025
HB1687 00:30:00.000 - 9:28:51 AM	Executive Session	removing the power of courts within the judicial branch family division to issue criminal determinations, judgments, and penalties.	Love, David(R)[B+]2025
HB518 00:48:15.779 - 9:47:06 AM	Executive Session	requiring the commissioner of the department of health and human services to provide a detailed annual report of all costs incurred by the division for children, youth and families.	Layon, Erica(R)[A+]2025

HB1039: Representative Nelson Support00:12:20.463 - 9:11:11 AM; Moved ought to pass and explained the bill enables parenting plans to include an optional section on sharing child's image on social media to protect privacy, reduce conflict, and align with child's best interest. Noted research on 'social media' term being appropriate and broad.
HB1039: Representative Corzine Vote00:12:20.463 - 9:11:11 AM; Seconded the motion.
HB1039: Representative Raymond Vote00:12:20.463 - 9:11:11 AM; Third on the motion.
HB1039: Representative Gray Support00:13:30.000 - 9:12:21 AM; Stated the bill is important for modern issues like social media and AI.
HB1039: Representative Raymond Support00:14:00.000 - 9:12:51 AM; Thanked Representative Nelson for research; no reservations on voting for the bill as no specific definition for social media was found.
HB1039: Representative Scheer Information Only00:14:30.000 - 9:13:21 AM; Shared research on internet platforms but noted it may not help much.
HB1039: Representative Georges Support00:15:00.000 - 9:13:51 AM; Thanked Representative Nelson; emphasized avoiding conflict in divorced parents.
HB1039: Representative Levin Support00:15:30.000 - 9:14:21 AM; Thanked for the bill; noted parents already edit photos to protect kids; important for future with social media dangers and influencers.
HB1039: Representative Nelson Information Only00:16:00.000 - 9:14:51 AM; Thanked committee and suggested future bill on influencing.
HB1039: Clerk Vote00:16:30.000 - 9:15:21 AM; Called roll; all yes votes.
HB1039: Representative Pearson Vote00:17:00.000 - 9:15:51 AM; Moved for consent.
HB1206: Representative Love Vote00:20:00.000 - 9:18:51 AM; Motion for ought to pass previously; revote due to calendar.
HB1206: Representative Petrino Vote00:20:00.000 - 9:18:51 AM; Seconded.
HB1206: Clerk Vote00:20:30.000 - 9:19:21 AM; Called roll; all yes votes.
HB1206: Representative Greg Vote00:21:00.000 - 9:19:51 AM; Seconded for revote.
HB1206: Representative Pearson Vote00:22:00.000 - 9:20:51 AM; Moved for consent.
HB1215 amendments discussed: Chair DeSimone Information Only00:24:42.915 - 9:23:33 AM; Opened hearing on HB 1215; instructed to review two similar amendments focusing on first paragraph difference.
HB1215 amendments discussed: Representative Rice Vote00:26:38.138 - 9:25:29 AM; Happy to make a motion on amendment.
HB1215 amendments discussed: Representative Corzine Vote00:27:00.000 - 9:25:51 AM; Called roll on bill as amended; all yes, 14-0.
HB1215 amendments discussed: Representative DeSimone Vote00:27:30.000 - 9:26:21 AM; Moved ought to pass as amended.
HB1215 amendments discussed: Representative Rice Vote00:27:30.000 - 9:26:21 AM; Seconded.
HB1215 amendments discussed: Representative Raymond Support00:28:00.000 - 9:26:51 AM; Praised the process: idea identified, discussion, expert input, improved amendment; makes lives better.
HB1215 amendments discussed: Clerk Vote00:28:30.000 - 9:27:21 AM; Called roll on OTP as amended; all yes, 14-0.
HB1215 amendments discussed: Representative Pearson Vote00:29:00.000 - 9:27:51 AM; Moved for consent.
HB1687: Representative Markell Oppose00:30:00.000 - 9:28:51 AM; Moved inexpedient to legislate (ITL); bill is duplicate as courts lack jurisdiction over criminal matters already per RSA 490D2.
HB1687: Representative Pearson Vote00:30:00.000 - 9:28:51 AM; Seconded ITL motion.
HB1687: Representative Love Support00:31:00.000 - 9:29:51 AM; Opposed ITL; family courts ignore criminal actions like abuse; need to clarify rules to refer to criminal prosecution as circuit court can but family court cannot always.
HB1687: Representative Scheer Oppose00:41:38.138 - 9:40:29 AM; Cases of abuse reported to police; they decide on charges; sometimes better in family court to reconstitute family; decisions already made appropriately.
HB1687: Representative Corzine Information Only00:32:30.000 - 9:31:21 AM; Clarified bill removes court power to issue criminal determinations; belongs in criminal court.
HB1687: Representative Love Support00:33:00.000 - 9:31:51 AM; Practice isn't law; mandate referral for abuse/domestic violence to investigators; family court lacks jurisdiction.
HB1687: Representative Rice Information Only00:33:30.000 - 9:32:21 AM; Sought clarification: does it require investigation before restraining order?
HB1687: Representative Love Information Only00:34:00.000 - 9:32:51 AM; No; temporary restraining orders issued immediately; permanent after hearing; bill ensures obvious abuse referred to criminal court as family court cannot act on it.
HB1687: Clerk Vote00:35:00.000 - 9:33:51 AM; Called roll on ITL; 13 yes, 1 no (Love).
HB1687: Representative Pearson Vote00:35:30.000 - 9:34:21 AM; Moved for consent.
HB518: Representative Love Support00:48:15.779 - 9:47:06 AM; Representative Love emphasized the current mess within DCYF, with accusations from all directions, and argued that now is the time to examine the funding to address these issues.
HB518: Representative Rice Oppose00:50:00.000 - 9:48:51 AM; Representative Rice stated that information from DCYF is already accessible to anyone, and that directing them in multiple ways reduces their time to protect children and families.
HB518: Representative Pearson Oppose00:52:00.000 - 9:50:51 AM; Representative Pearson, in their sixth year chairing DHHS Oversight, noted that harsh approaches to DCYF are ineffective or counterproductive. They highlighted collaborative efforts yielding monthly reports shared with committees, asserting that legislation is unnecessary and that periodic collaboration provides needed information without disruption.
HB518: Representative Raymond Oppose01:03:15.779 - 10:02:06 AM; Representative Raymond agreed with colleagues, sharing their past dramatic exit from DCYF due to perceived legal non-compliance. They argued the bill's provisions wouldn't improve practices and advocated for better training for workers and judges, enhanced oversight, advisory boards, and comprehensive legislative changes rather than additional reports that don't alter behavior.
HB518: Representative Lowe Support01:05:00.000 - 10:03:51 AM; Representative Lowe nominated Representative Raymond for DCYF Director in agreement but insisted the agency is a mess, with parents fearing it more than anything, calling the situation pathetic and viewing the bill as the first step to fix it.
HB518: Representative Gregg Information Only01:07:00.000 - 10:05:51 AM; Representative Gregg urged considering the broad spectrum in DCYF and family court involvements, noting that unhappiness with the department doesn't mean it erred. They stressed that abusive individuals lack insight, requiring redirection for children's sake, and that updated standards might warrant interventions not taken, calling for open-minded, thorough investigations beyond single perspectives in these tough family situations.