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HB 1696·NH·house

relative to the issuance of a summons instead of arrest.

Signed into LawFiled Dec 12, 2025
Sponsor: Jennifer Rhodes (R)
Latest Action

Signed by Governor Ayotte 05/18/2026; Chapter 75; eff. 01/01/2027

May 19, 2026

Summary

The bill lets a peace officer give a person a summons rather than arrest them when there is probable cause for a misdemeanor or violation, except for abuse, protective‑order or stalking offenses. The recipient must appear in court and stay "of good behavior"; failing to do so is a new misdemeanor. It aims to reduce arrests for low‑level offenses while still ensuring court compliance.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

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