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HB1206 • 2026

clarifying the equity jurisdiction of the judicial branch family division.

clarifying the equity jurisdiction of the judicial branch family division.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
David Love (R), JD Bernardy (R), Lisa Post (R)
Last action
2026-05-05
Official status
SENATE
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

clarifying the equity jurisdiction of the judicial branch family division.

clarifying the equity jurisdiction of the judicial branch family division.

What This Bill Does

  • clarifying the equity jurisdiction of the judicial branch family division.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-05 S

    Inexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

  2. 2026-04-30 S

    Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/07/2026; SC 17

  3. 2026-04-01 S

    Hearing: 04/14/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 13

  4. 2026-03-17 S

    Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7

  5. 2026-03-11 H

    Ought to Pass : MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 2

  6. 2026-03-03 H

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/02/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 10 P. 4

  7. 2026-02-20 H

    Executive Session: 03/02/2026 10:00 am GP 230

  8. 2026-02-10 H

    Public Hearing: 02/17/2026 10:30 am GP 230

  9. 2025-12-01 H

    Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 1 P. 10

Official Summary Text

clarifying the equity jurisdiction of the judicial branch family division.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 1206 - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION
26-2792
12/09

HOUSE BILL
1206

AN ACT
clarifying the equity jurisdiction of the judicial branch family division.

SPONSORS: Rep. Love, Rock. 13; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Post, Hills. 42

COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law

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ANALYSIS

This bill clarifies the equity jurisdiction of the judicial branch family division (now the circuit court, family division).

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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) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2792
12/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT
clarifying the equity jurisdiction of the judicial branch family division.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Judicial Branch Family Division; Equity Jurisdiction. Amend RSA 490-D:3 to read as follows:
490-D:3 Equity Jurisdiction. [
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the
]
The
judicial branch family division shall have the powers of a court of equity in cases where subject matter jurisdiction lies with the judicial branch family division
and where no other special provision has been made by law
. Suits in equity where subject matter jurisdiction lies with the judicial branch family division including, but not limited to, petitions for divorce, nullity of marriage, alimony, custody of children, support, and other similar proceedings may be heard upon oral testimony or depositions, or both, or when both parties consent, or service having been made and a notice of the time and place of the hearing having been given, when both parties appear. Such suits may be heard by any justice of the judicial branch family division at any time, but nothing contained in this section shall be construed as limiting the power of the judicial branch family division to have issues of fact framed and tried by a jury, according to the rules in equity, or the course of such proceedings at common law.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.