New Laws Strengthen Public Safety, Expand Protections for Victims, and Close Gaps in New Hampshire

July 14, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
​Media Contact:
Alyssa Dandrea, [email protected]

Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking will have greater access to safety and justice under a new set of laws signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte. Together, these bipartisan measures close gaps in victim protections, improve how state systems respond to survivors, and enhance offender accountability.
 
The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence applauds the passage of HB1469, HB1522, HB1576, and HB1651, which reflect years of collaboration among survivors, advocates, lawmakers, and community partners to build a more responsive system, where survivors have greater access to justice and communities are better protected.
 
“Supporting victims of crime has long been a bipartisan priority in New Hampshire,” said Amanda Grady Sexton, the Coalition’s Director of Public Affairs. “These new laws build on that strong tradition by removing barriers survivors have faced and making sure our laws better reflect the realities of victimization.”
 
“We are grateful for the longstanding commitment of elected officials from both parties to improving the rights and protections available to victims,” said Public Policy Specialist Pamela Keilig. “We also deeply appreciate the survivors who shared their experiences and the many partners whose collaboration and expertise helped make these important changes possible. Collectively, these laws demonstrate how thoughtful policy changes can create a more coordinated and comprehensive approach that advances our shared goal of a safer and more just state.”
 
HB1469 — Licensing of massage businesses
HB1469 requires all massage businesses in New Hampshire to be licensed, creating a clearer pathway for the state to identify and hold illicit massage businesses accountable before they become established in our communities. The law strengthens oversight of the industry while helping ensure that legitimate businesses meet appropriate health and sanitation standards. This bill will take effect on July 1, 2027.
 
“Illicit massage businesses can operate as fronts for human trafficking and other forms of exploitation,” said Keilig. “Requiring businesses to be licensed gives the state an important tool to distinguish legitimate providers from businesses that may be exploiting vulnerable people. It is a practical public safety measure that will help prevent trafficking operations from continuing here in New Hampshire.”
 
HB1522 — Domestic violence and coercive control
HB1522 strengthens New Hampshire’s civil domestic violence statute by recognizing the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, as defined in RSA 644:9-a, as an act of abuse. It also creates a statutory definition of “coercive control” and makes a technical update to the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee, which was established in law in 2025. This bill took effect on July 2, 2026.
 
“Domestic violence is not limited to physical assault,” said Keilig. “Abusers may use intimate images, surveillance, threats, isolation, financial control, and other tactics to intimidate a survivor and take away their independence. This law better reflects what survivors experience and gives courts clearer guidance when evaluating patterns of abusive behavior.”
 
HB1576 — Restitution for crime victims
HB1576 improves the restitution process for crime victims by strengthening enforcement when offenders fail to make required payments. It also ensures that victims are notified when the status of their restitution changes or payments is interrupted. The law increases offender accountability and helps victims receive compensation ordered by the court. This bill will take effect on June 1, 2027.
 
“Restitution is not a favor to a victim. It is part of the sentence imposed on the person who committed the crime,” said Grady Sexton. “Victims should not be left wondering why payments stopped or be expected to navigate the system on their own. This law creates greater transparency, strengthens enforcement, and recognizes that restitution can be an important part of a victim’s recovery.”
 
HB1651 — Sexual assault restraining orders and survivors’ rights
HB1651 expands access to civil protection for survivors of sexual violence by establishing a sexual assault restraining order. The law closes a critical gap by allowing survivors to seek protection regardless of whether they had a qualifying family, household, or intimate relationship with the offender. This bill will take effect on January 1, 2027.
 
The law also strengthens New Hampshire’s Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights by improving survivors’ access to information about the status and location of their sexual assault evidence kit and extending the period during which kits must be preserved.
 
“A survivor’s ability to obtain protection should not depend on their relationship with the person who assaulted them,” said Keilig. “Sexual violence may be committed by a coworker, acquaintance, classmate, neighbor, or stranger. This law gives survivors a meaningful legal option to protect their safety while also ensuring they have better access to information about evidence collected in their case.”
 
The Coalition is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, and human trafficking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy.