New Hampshire legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Hampshire HB1770: relative to the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities and establishing a presumption of equal parenting time.
Status: Failed, March 11, 2026
What the bill says
An act relative to the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities and establishing a presumption of equal parenting time. Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. DeRoy, Straf. 3; Rep. D. Kelley, Hills. 32; Rep. Perez, Rock. 16; Rep. Sirois, Hills. 32; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32; Rep. Popovici-Muller, Rock. 17 COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANALYSIS This bill: I. Replaces the discretionary best-interest standard in RSA 461-A:2 with a constitutional presumption of equal parenting time. II. Defines equal parent.
From the introduced text, January 7, 2026:
AN ACT relative to the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities and establishing a presumption of equal parenting time. Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. DeRoy, Straf. 3; Rep. D. Kelley, Hills. 32; Rep. Perez, Rock. 16; Rep. Sirois, Hills. 32; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32; Rep. Popovici-Muller, Rock. 17 COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANALYSIS This bill: I. Replaces the discretionary best-interest standard in RSA 461-A:2 with a constitutional presumption of equal parenting time. II. Defines equal parenting as a 50/50 overnight split with limited deviation. III. Establishes strict scrutiny for any reduction in a fit parent's time. IV. Limits rebuttal to clear and convincing evidence of specific harm under RSA 170-C:5. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics. Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.] Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) …
Sponsors
- Sabourin dit Choinière, Matt (R, 30) · primary sponsor